USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 75
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stationed at Calexico, Calif .; and David Lu- one of the most enterprising and successful cian, who resides on the homestead, married business men of Clearfield county and has been a resident of Curwensville for the past thirty- eight years. He is a native of New England, born at Portland, Me., July 2, 1858, and is a son of W. N. and Caroline (Lovett) Dyer. Elizabeth Bunchko. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The hospitality of their home is known all over Pike township.
JOHN A. GRAHAM,* a prominent citizen of Girard township, who owns a valuable farm of 170 acres and also operates a general store, being located fourteen miles east of Clearfield, was born in Girard township, in 1875, and is a son of Parley and Jane (Liv- ingston) Graham. Parley Graham was also born in Girard township, where he spent his life and for a number of years served in the office of township supervisor.
John A. Graham was educated in the public schools of Girard township and his business interests have always been centered here. He carries on general farming and stockraising, his land being well adapted to both industries. He keeps a well assorted stock of seasonable goods and his patronage comes from quite a wide surrounding territory.
Mr. Graham married Miss Gertrude Fara- baugh, who was born, reared and educated in Cambria county, Pa., where her parents yet reside. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Graham: John P., Sarah J. and Bertha Irene. Mr. Graham is an Odd Fellow and is identified with Clearfield Lodge, No. 1027, of which he is secretary. He is a wide awake business man and a public spirited cit- izen.
FRED J. DYER, proprietor of the Fred J. Dyer & Co. store, the largest general mercan- tile establishment in Central Pennsylvania, to- gether with the Fred J. Dyer & Co. mill, is
W. N. Dyer was also a native of Portland, where he was reared and educated. He came to Pennsylvania and settled in Blair county in 1861. He was a cooper by trade and had plenty of employment as coopering was a very important industry at that time and all sugar and molasses hogsheads as well as all barrels, were made by hand. This business he carried on in Hollidaysburg and in 1876 he moved from there to Clearfield county and when the railroad was extended to Curwensville, he came here. He was a shrewd and successful business man and owned cooper shops at one time in Cambria, Blair, Center and Clearfield counties, giving employment to many men. He was also a man of excellent judgment and of sterling character and served Curwensville in the office of burgess for two years. He was married in Maine to Caroline Lovett and two children were born to them in that state: Au- gusta and Fred J. Two others were subse- quently born in Blair county: Lewis C. and Carrie G. W. N. Dyer died at Curwensville in June, 1904, his wife surviving until July, 1910. Their burial was at Portland, Me. They were members of the Presbyterian church.
Fred J. Dyer was three years old when he was brought to Clearfield county. His parents realizing, however, that their children could have much better educational advantages in New England than in Clearfield county at that time, sent Mr. Dyer and his older sister to the home of their grandparents at Portland, and there both remained until they had secured a
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good education. When Fred J. Dyer re- turned to Clearfield county he became a clerk in a store his father was operating in connec- tion with his coopering business, at Lumber City. In 1872 he came to Curwensville where, with John B. Alley & Co., he learned the tan- ning business. In 1882 he embarked in the general mercantile business on the corner of Filbert and Meadow streets, this location at the time being considered a more or less unde- sirable one for his undertaking, by his business friends. However, the result has shown that Mr. Dyer had better foresight than his would be advisers for now his business house stands in the very center of the town. Later he be- came general manager and superintendent of the above tanning firm but in 1892 retired as an active official, his individual business inter- ests having so developed that his time is fully taken up with them. In addition to his large store at Curwensville, Mr. Dyer conducted branch stores at Curry Run and at Grampian until 1894. In 1900, in partnership with his brother, Lewis Dyer, and E. Elms, he organ- ized the Hambleton Leather Company, with tannery in West Virginia, but the buildings were burned in March, 1910. Mr. Dyer was also the builder of his up-to-date mill, which draws custom from a distance of fifteen miles, and in both store and mill customers are as- sured of courteous treatment, honest service and immediate attention. Mr. Dyer was the main organizer of the Electric Light Com- pany, at Curwensville, was a charter director and formerly vice-president of the Curwens- ville National Bank, and has been concerned in the founding and fostering of a large num- ber of the town's leading industries, setting an example of public spirit and enterprise that is commendable in any citizen. In 1890 he
erected his private residence, on the corner of Locust and State streets, which is one of the most attractive in the borough.
In March, 1878, Mr. Dyer was married to Miss Henrietta Thompson, a daughter of James and Katherine Thompson, and they have five children: John, Willis, Ellen, Kath- erine and Marion. All reside at Curwens- ville, with the exception of Willis, who is mar- ried and lives in the State of Washington. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, Mr. Dyer is an independent Re- publican. For twelve years he served as a member of the school board, of which he was president for some time, and for twelve years was a member of the borough council. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Masons. Un- doubtedly Mr. Dyer is a man possessing high qualities of business ability and he impresses a visitor very favorably in the expression of his practical views.
FRED KOHLER, one of the best known citizens of Brady township, is probably one of the most venerable, his birth having taken place December 21, 1819, in Wittenburg, Ger- many, the home of his parents, who were George Frederick and Sophia Kohler.
In 1833 the parents of Mr. Kohler decided to leave Germany and find a new home and better opportunities for their children by com- ing to America. After much preparation they embarked on a sailing vessel and after about six weeks on the Atlantic Ocean, were safely landed at the port of New York. The father was a dyer by trade and he soon found em- ployment in what was known as the Dressler factory, in New Jersey. It was his desire, however, to secure land and give his sons an opportunity to become farmers. From New
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Jersey he moved to Erie, Pa. In the mean- while one of his daughters had married a Mr. Troutwine, quite an important man, for whom the town of Troutville, in Clearfield county, was named, it being built on land that he owned. George F. Kohler made a visit to his son-in-law and was so pleased with the ap- pearance of the country in Brady township that he made arrangements for the purchase of the farm which his son, Fred Kohler, now owns and shortly afterward moved on the place. He did not long survive but his widow lived to the age of ninety-three years. Six children were born to them, namely : Rosanna, Sophia, Fred, Amiel, Frederica and Wilhel- mina, Fred and Amiel, the latter of whom lives in Clarion county, Pa., being the only surviv- ors.
Fred Kohler was fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents to America. He had attended German schools but had to learn to speak in English after reaching the United States. He was about sixteen years old when the family settled on the present farm. At that time he saw no immediate way to make any money in this section and decided to fol- low the suggestion of a relative that he return to New York City, where he could find em- ployment and make excellent wages by engag- ing in steam-boating. Thus he followed the water for some years and then went to Cali- fornia during the first gold excitement, in 1849, not, however, before he had made a payment on the old homestead to the other heirs. He remained in California for some years, meeting with many thrilling adventures and being fairly successful at gold mining. He then returned to Clearfield county and took charge of his present farm of 200 acres, 100 of which is cleared. It is fine land and is sit-
uated between Troutville and the Jefferson county line. For a number of years after- ward, Mr. Kohler devoted much of his time to the lumber industry.
Mr. Kohler was married first in 1860, to Miss Nancy Crawford, who died two years later, leaving one child, George, who is a resi- dent of DuBois, Pa. The latter married Eliz- abeth Ferris. In March, 1867, Mr. Kohler was married second to Miss Mary Harwick, a daughter of John and Margaret (Kippler) Harwick, of Huntingdon county, Pa., and five children were born to them, as follows: Sam- uel, who married Catherine Broshes; Wil- liam, who married Catherine Knarr; Eliza- beth, who married Solomon Conrad; Sophia; and Fred A., who married Agnes Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat and is serving as a member of the school board of Brady township. In spite of advancing years Mr. Kohler still takes an active interest in pub- lic affairs and in neighborhood happenings. He is held in high regard by all who know him and this circle is very wide.
K. A. SLOPPY, justice of the peace in Knox township, who also conducts a meat business at New Milport, is one of the en- terprising and successful business men of this section and is held in respect and neigh- borly esteem by those who have known him from infancy, for he was born at New Millport, May 13, 1863. His parents were Henry J. and Patience (Curry) Sloppy, the former of whom still survives and resides at New Millport.
Henry J. Sloppy was born in Snyder county, Pa., August 26, 1837, and accom- panied his father, Christopher Sloppy, to
39
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Clearfield county, settling in Pike town- ship, where the latter followed the carpen- ter trade. The family is of German extrac- tion. Henry J. Sloppy was married first to Patience Curry, a daughter of Richard Curry, who died and left one child, K. A. Her burial was in the Lutheran cemetery near New Millport. His second marriage was to Nora Bloom, a daughter of George
Bloom, and they had five children: James K., Hallie Almeda, Trilby S., Donald and William Byron. After marriage, Mr. Sloppy located at New Millport, where he lived until after the death of his first wife, when he entered the Union army, becom- ing a member of a company in the 149th Pa. Vol. Inf. He was wounded in the fore- head at the battle of Fort Steadman, but remained in the service until the close of the war, when he returned to New Mill- port. He is a leading citizen and for thirty years has held public office in the township, serving ten years as a justice of the peace, was postmaster, also school director, and at present is township assessor. In his politi- cal views he is an independent Democrat. For some years he has been station agent at New Millport for the N. Y. Central R. R., and also transports the mail. He at- tends the Lutheran church.
K. A. Sloppy obtained his education in the schools of Knox township and after- ward became a clerk in a general store and for two years conducted a store of his own and for three years was connected with the store of L. C. Lanach, at Clearfield. He then returned to New Millport. He is well established in the butchering business, hav- ing a large trade and delivering meat at New Millport, Olanta and Kerrmoor on al-
ternate days. In 1907 he was elected a justice of the peace to serve until 1912, hav- ing previously served five years as constable of Knox township.
Mr. Sloppy was married July 2, 1874, to Miss Jennie Lanach, a daughter of Jackson and Ctaherine (Miller) Lanach, natives of Virginia, but residents of Clearfield. Mr. and Mrs. Sloppy have seven children : Orpha M., Oral J., Gussie Almeda, George, Guy, Kelly and Ivan. Mr. Sloppy's two elder children are successful and popular teachers, Miss Orpha M. having taught for eight terms and now being engaged at the Clover Run school in Clearfield county. She is a graduate of the Clearfield County Normal school. Oral. J., who is teaching the home district school in Knox township. has been engaged for five terms. Mr. Sloppy's second son, George, assists him in his meat business. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at New Millport, of which Mr. Sloppy is a trustce and for three years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. The family is promi- nent in the pleasant social life of the place.
GEORGE W. SMITH, who carries on general farming in Westover borough, was born in Bell township September 12, 1856, and is a son of Charles E. and Rebecca (Barnhart) Smith.
Charles E. Smith was born in Union county, Pa., and died in 1896, aged seventy- six years. In his childhood he was brought to Banner Ridge, Chest township, by his parents, who were John and Emma (Sny- der) Smith, the latter being a daughter of Jacob Snyder, one of the early settlers in Burnside township. The grandfather of
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Charles E. Smith was one of the earliest settlers in the county and both he and wife were of strudy, vigorous stock, enduring many hardships in early life but living into extreme old age, the former dying at the age of 108 years, and the latter at that of I12. Charles E. Smith was reared near Bethlehem and after his marriage he fol- lowed lumbering as his main business. He was forty-six years old when he moved to Mercer county, Pa., and nine years later re- moved to New Washington, where he re- sided for fifteen years. He cast his politi- cal vote with the Democratic party but never was willing to accept office. He mar- ried Rebecca Barnhart, who died in 1886, aged sixty-eight years. Their children were as follows: Anna, who is the wife of O. Kitchen, of Kansas; Kate, who is Mrs. Pendergast, living in New York City; John who is in the lumber business in West Vir- ginia; William Smith, who lives in Maryland, is a farmer; Charles, who is deceased; Nancy, who is the wife of D. Fettrolf, of Warren county ; Louis, who lives in Mary- land; Samuel, who resides in York county ; Daniel, who is deceased; and George W.
George W. Smith obtained his education in the public schools and afterward operated the home farm for his father before pur- chasing the Riddle farm, which he subse- quently sold and moved to Westover, still being interested in farming and lumbering, From the age of sixteen to twenty years he was engaged with his brother in digging artesian wells at Baltimore, Md.
Mr. Smith married Miss Savilla E. Ro- land, who was born January 1, 1861, a daughter of William and Nancy (Brochler) Roland, of Indiana county, Pa., and a grand-
daughter of Daniel Roland, and they have had three children: Orpha, who died at the age of twelve years; and Dora and Melvin, both of whom are at home. Mrs. Smith is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Smith has been quite active politically and has served in the borough council at Westover and on the school board and has been a delegate on several occasions to con- ventions of the Republican party. He is one of the representative men of Chest township.
S. C. READ, one of Lawrence township's prominent and useful citizens, residing on his farm of eighty acres, was born in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, Pa., June 16, 1858, and is a son of Amos Alexander Read.
S. C. Read grew to manhood on the home place and attended the Goshen Township schools until he was about eighteen years of age, since when he has been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He owns eighty acres and has fifty-six of these under cultivation, having systematically cleared his land, not more than four acres at one time. In 1878 he cleared the first two acres and two more in 1879. After the great storm of 1880 through this section, much valuable timber was blown down and no more clearing was done in consequence until 1884, when two additional acres were cleared, Mr. Read doing all the work thus far under his father's superintendence. In March, 1885, he built a part of the present comfortable farm house and in July of this year was married and in the same year he cleared two more acres of his land. In 1886 he made further progress in building his house which he com- pleted in 1894, in the former year also erect- ing his large barn and laying a drain that car-
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ries off all waste water. The drinking water is secured from a fine spring on the place. Al- though Mr. Read has done almost all the work on his farm by himself he has his possessions in fine condition, his fields well fertilized and cultivated, his orchards healthy and productive and his stock in the condition that pleases a careful breeder. He carries on general farming, according to modern methods, for he is an intelligent and progressive agri- culturist, a leading member and an official of the Clearfield County Grange and for eight years has been treasurer of the Clear- field County Agricultural Society. Among the interesting exhibits of the office of the agricultural society is the old fair record book which was started by James Wrigley when the first county fair was held, in 1860. Mr. Read still uses the same, all transac- tions of the society since then having been entered in this volume. In politics, Mr. Read is a Democrat and he has frequently been the choice of his party for office. From 1905 until 1908 he was township as- sessor and during that time registered more school children than had any other official. For three years he was also precinct as- sessor and for one year was committeeman.
In July, 1885, Mr. Read was married to Miss Elizabeth Ardrey, a daughter of James and Hannah (Poorman) Ardrey, of Center County, Pa., and they have the following children: Leda H., who is a stenographer with a business firm at Phil- ipsburg; Aaron Shira, who lives in the east end of Lawrence Township; Thompson Graham, who lives at Readville; and Mrs. Laura M. Sankey, who lives near Goshen Church. Mr. Read is a member and is also
secretary of the board of trustees of Goshen Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to Golden Eagle Lodge No. 318 at Clear- field.
HENRY BUCHER SWOOPE, who is ex- tensively engaged in the coal business at Ma- cera, Clearfield county, Pa., was born at Cur- wensville, this county, in 1881, a son of Ro- land D. and Cora (Arnold) Swoope. He is a grandson of the late Hon. Henry Bucher Swoope, who was widely known in his life time as a lawyer, a brilliant orator, and the founder and first editor of the "Raftsman's Journal," of Clearfield Pa., and of the "Pittsburg Evening Telegraph," and who at the time of his death in 1874 was United States Attorney for the Western dis- trict of Pennsylvania. The father of our sub- ject is a well known lawyer of Curwensville.
Henry Bucher Swoope of the present notice was given a good English education and after completing his studies entered into industrial life with a determination to succeed. He soon turned his attention to the coal business with which he is now connected as manager of the Corona Coal and Coke Company and also of the H. B. Swoope Company-both flour- ishing concerns. He was also connected with the organization of the Madera Trading Company in 1903, and with that of the Ma- dera National Bank, of which he is vice-presi- dlent and the Madera Water Co., of which he is treasurer. In these different enterprises Mr. Swoope has shown good business ability and is recognized as one of the active and pros- perous citizens of the community. As he is still a young man, doubtless the future holds much in store for him. He is a brother of
HENRY B. SWOOPE
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Roland D. Swoope, Jr., editor of the present volume. Mr. Swoope was married in Jan- uary, 1905, to Miss Maude H. Moore.
WILLIAM H. LYONS, whose finely improved and well cultivated farm of forty acres is situated in Sandy township, Clear- field county, Pa., one mile north of West Liberty, was born in this township, Novem- ber 25, 1860, and is a son of John and Catherine Ann (Hoover) Lyons, and a grandson of Henry Lyons, who settled in Clearfield when the larger part of the land was covered with forest.
John Lyons was born in Clearfield county and he devoted his life to farming and lum- bering. He married Catherine Ann Hoo- ver, whose father, John Hoover, brought his family to Clearfield from Schuylkill County. John Lyons and wife reside on a farm that adjoins that of their son, William H., and they are among the most highly re- spected residents of Sandy Township. Ten children were born to them, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of George Heber- ling ; Belle, who is the wife of Herman Shaf- fer; Sarah Jane, who is the wife of Philip Trapper; Emma, who is the wife of Ray- mond Rensell; Etta Louella, who is the wife of Clark Leach ; Nora, who is the wife of William Walbern: William Henry ; James, who is deceased ; and John D. and Norman.
William H. Lyons has spent his entire life in the section of country in which he was born and is widely known. After his school days were over he worked for some time in the woods at lumbering. In 1881 he bought his present farm from Ira A. Fuller and has made all the improvements,
which include the erection of a handsome eight-room frame residence, which is beau- tifully located and presents a very attrac- tive appearance from the public highway. Mr. Lyons is a practical and intelligent farmer and has brought his land up to a high producing capacity. He has a steady market for all of his produce, at DuBois, and makes a specialty of raising potatoes.
Mr. Lyons was married in April, 1885, to Miss Clara Kiel, a daughter of John Kiel, and they have five children, namely : Charles, who lives at West Liberty, and married Lela Dunlap; Mabel, who married Thomas London (and they live in Jeffer- son County and have two children-Alfred and Evelyn) ; Floyd, who lives at DuBois, (married Bertha Kessler and they have one son, Edwin) ; and Blanche and Sylvester, both of whom live at home. Mr. Lyons' children have had excellent educational opportunities at DuBois. He is a valued member of the Grange.
J. D. BAILEY, who carries on general farming and dairying on a highly improved farm of 132 acres in Lawrence Township, is one of the substantial farmers and rep- resentative citizens of Clearfield County. He was born July 6, 1860, on the home farm in Pike Township, Clearfield County, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Sarah Elizabeth (Boal) Bailey, and a grandson of Daniel Bailey, who was one of the pioneers of Clearfield County.
Daniel Bailey located on a farm in Pike Township after his marriage and died there at the advanced age of eighty years. He married Jennie Passmore, who died aged eighty-one years, and they reared the fol-
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
lowing children: Isaac, Abraham, Calvin, Harrison, Levi, Newton, Lewis, Ruth, Ann, Joseph, and George. All of the chil- dren with the exception of Abraham, Jo- seph and George, moved west to Iowa, and all are now deceased. Daniel Bailey and wife were members of the M. E. church and were buried at the Center Church Cemetery.
Joseph Bailey was born on the home farm in Pike Township, and after his mar- riage engaged in lumbering and agricul- tural pursuits. He was politically a Re- publican and served as road supervisor. He was an attendant of the M. E. church. At one time he was the owner of 700 acres of land, leaving 250 acres to his heirs, the remaining amount having been sold for a stone quarry, which had not been devel- oped at the time of his death. Joseph Bailey married Sarah Elizabeth Boal, and to them were born three sons and three daughters: Alice, is the wife of V. U. Spence of Curwensville, Pa .; Boyd, died aged two years; Martha Jane, is the wife of John Ogden ; J. D .; Annie G., is married and resides in the State of Washington; Charles C., resides on the old Bailey farm in Pike Township. Joseph Bailey died aged seventy-nine years and his wife died at the age of forty-three years, both being buried at the Center Church Cemetery.
J. D. Bailey was educated in the local schools of Pike Township and at Curwens- ville, where he attended one term. He sub- sequently remained on the home farm un- til about two years after his marriage, tak- ing possession of his present farm in 1889. Hle bought the land from the Welch heirs, remodeled the barn and built all the other
buildings on the place, and has one of the best improved and modern farms in the county. The house and barn are both equipped with running cold water and elec- tric lights, and there is a fine spring and reservoir on the land. Mr. Bailey at one time kept a large number of thoroughbred Jersey cows, but now has from twenty- eight to thirty-five head of milch cows and retails about 300 quarts of milk daily at Clearfield, delivering from house to house and to the hotels of the city. Mr. Bailey also carries on farming extensively in con- nection with dairying, and is one of the most enterprising and substantial farmers of the county. Mr. Bailey is a member of the Grange, of which he is also steward. and was also a member of the executive committee at the time the hall was built. He is also identified with the fire insurance company connected with the Pomona Grange, the officers of which are as fol- lows: Peter Gearhart, president; E. C. Davis, vice president ; Edward Harmon, secretary ; J. D. Bailey, treasurer, and the twenty-seven directors of the company all reside in Clearfield County. Mr. Bailey is also a director of the Farmers & Traders Bank, and is a stockholder of the Curwens- ville Bank. Mrs. Bailey has an interest in the Fire Clay Company, which is located near Curwensville.
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