Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 80

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 80

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Mr. Bressler was forced to make some im- provements in the buildings but the old farm house is still comfortable although it was erected 100 years ago. Mr. Bressler still has ten acres of woodland on the place.

On January 7, 1857, Mr. Bressler was mar- ried to Miss Jane Elizabeth Passmore, who was born at Curwensville, July 28, 1839, a daughter of George C. and Mary Ann (Hart- sock) Passmore. Mr. and Mrs. Bressler have had the following children: Margaret, who is deceased, was the wife of Robert Bloom, also deceased: George, who lives in Curwens- ville, married Ida Hammond; Mary Emma, who died when aged five years; Franklin, who lives at Patton, Pa., married Della Turner, who is deceased; Ezekiah, who is a resident of Curwensville : Fannie, who is the wife of Ed- ward Thomas, of Patton, Pa .; Jennie, who is the wife of William Walker, of Clearfield county ; James E., who is in business at Houtz- dale, married Dortha Boaring; Lavinia, who is deceased, was the wife of Samuel Cruik- shank; John T., who lives at home and assists his father; Edith, who is the wife of Steward McCollough, of Huntingdon; and Viola, who is the wife of G. Welt, of Curwensville. Mr. Bressler and wife are members of the Primi- tive Methodist church. In his political views he is an independent with strong leanings to- wards the Prohibition party. He has never cared for public office but served acceptably through one term as road supervisor.

GEORGE H. SLOPPY, proprietor of one of the largest and most modern hostelries of DuBois, Pa., the Hotel Logan, which is cen- trally located at No. 120 N. Brady street, is a representative business man of this borough and a member of one of the old Clearfield

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

county families. He was born at DuBois, Pa., one of the finest lobbies and writing rooms in July 26, 1879, and is a son of Milton J. and Mary ( Hout ) Sloppy.

Milton J. Sloppy was born in Clearfield county in 1855, his father having located here in his early manhood. Milton J. Sloppy ope- rated the stage line between DuBois and Cur- wensville before the railroad was completed and was probably as well known as any man in this section. He also filled out a long ser- vice as town constable, for eighteen years be- ing the only officer of that kind at DuBois. His death occurred on New Year's Day, 1906. He married Mary Hout, who still survives, making her home with her son, George H. She was born in Jefferson county, Pa., of Ger- man parentage. To Milton J. and Mary Sloppy six children were born, namely: Wil- laim, Harry and George; Baryl, who is the wife of John Irwin: Grace, who died in in- fancy : and Lela, who is a student in the Du- Bois High School.

George H. Sloppy attended the Du Bois pub- lic schools and after leaving the High School entered the employ of John E. DuBois, and worked in the latter's box factory for five years and while there was given the nickname of Dudley, by his comrades, by which he is known to many of his friends. From the box factory, Mr. Sloppy went to work in the tan- nery operated by Mr. DuBois and A. R. Van Tassel, where he was employed for nine years, after which he accepted a position as clerk in his present place of business, the hotel being then under the management of James Cham- bers. In 1906 Mr. Sloppy became manager and owner and in 1909 he remodeled the en- tire building and equipped it with all modern improvements. It is now a beautiful brick structure, with fifty-five sleeping apartments,

any hotel in the place, with a cuisine that is unexcelled and with close attention paid to the comfort of every guest. Mr. Sloppy is very moderate in his charges, his rates being from $1.50 to $2 per day. He is an active citizen, being a member of the DuBois Business Men's Exchange and is interested in everything that promises to add to the commercial advance- ment of this prosperous borough. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he is iden- tified with the Elks and the Eagles.

MRS. LUELLA BLOOM, a lady who is well known for her many admirable qualities as well as her business qualifications, resides on her very valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated three miles south of Clearfield, Pa. She is the widow of the late W. Sloss Bloom, and a daughter of A. A. and Jerusha ( Bloom) Kelley.

Mrs. Bloom was born near Bloomington, Pa., and was educated at Lumber City and in the Pine Grove schoolhouse, in Lawrence township. Her father was a native of Lumber City, where he was married and he and his wife lived on a farm near by, on which he died at the age of sixty-eight years, and was buried at Bloomington. His wife is still liv- ing and resides at Curwensville. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Five children were born to them, namely: Luella, who is Mrs. Bloom; Lavert, married to Clara Brooks, of Curwensville; Mary, who conducts a photographic gallery at Curwensville; Eliz- abeth, who is the wife of Wesley Milligan, of Curwensville; and Frank, a resident of Cur- wensville, who married Mary Daugherty.

In February. 1890, Luella Kelley was mar- ried to W. Sloss Bloom, who died in Decem-

J. M. CORNELY. M. D.

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ber, 1906, at the age of fifty-five years. His burial was in the Bloomington cemetery, un- der the direct charge of the order of Eagles and the Grange, of Clearfield, he having been a prominent member of both organizations. He was a son of David E. and Mary (Sloss) Bloom. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bloom went to housekeeping on the present farm which they bought from John F. Read and was known in the neighborhood as the Joseph Tait farm. All the attractive and substantial buildings were built by Mr. and Mrs. Bloom. He was an excellent business man and in ad- dition to general agriculture, including some stock raising, opened up a fine coal bank, a 42- inch vein which has been very profitable. More recently a new 32-inch vein has been opened. Since taking charge of the place Mrs. Bloom has shown excellent business capacity and every branch of the farm industries is in a flourishing condition. Her residence is a model of comfort and she has recently in- stalled a telephone.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bloom, all of whom still live at home: Kay, Guy, Wava and Hazel, the two younger ones being students in the Clover Hill School. Mrs. Bloom and children are members of the Pres- byterian church, to which Mr. Bloon was also attached. He was a stockholder in the Farm- ers' and Traders' Bank at Clearfield.

J. M. CORNELY, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Madera, Pa., is a native of this place, born November 12, 1877. He is a son of James and Christina ( Bowers) Cornely, the former of whom is now deceased.

J. M. Cornely was educated in the public schools of Madera and the Lock Haven Nor- mal School, spending two years in this insti-

tution, after which he became a clerk in a gen- eral merchandise store at Madera and contin- ued for eighteen months. In the meanwhile he devoted some time to medical study and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1907. For one year he practiced in the Williamsport Hospital, where he had wide ex- perience, and then returned to his native place and established his office. He has built up a substantial practice and enjoys the confidence of the people in his professional skill.

Dr. Cornely was married December 29, 1909, to Miss Blanche Minds, a daughter of James H. and Julia Minds, residents of Beu- lah, Clearfield county, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Dr. and Mrs. Cornely attend the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican and has served one term as town clerk. He is identified fraternally with the Masons at Osceola; the L. O. O. M. at Houtzdale ; and the I. O. R. M., at Madera.

DALLAS PATRICK, general farmer, who has resided on his present home place in Bell township, for the past thirty-three years, is also an honored veteran of the great Civil war, to which he gave three years of his young manhood and suffered from many of its haz- ards. He was born at Cherry Tree, Clearfield county, Pa., in 1846, and is a son of James and Eliza (Rummell) Patrick.

James Patrick was a son of James Patrick, and was born in Ireland. He was a child when his parents brought him to America. He was reared in Lancaster and Cambria counties, Pa., and came from the latter county in 1839, settling near Cherry Tree, where he followed farming and lumbering during all his active life. His death occurred April 1, 1879, at the

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age of seventy-one years. He married Eliza Rummell, who died in 1886, aged eighty-four years.

Dallas Patrick had but meager school op- portunities. He gave his father help on the farm and also worked in the woods until the outbreak of the Civil war. He was only a stripling of sixteen years when, in September, 1861, he enlisted for service, entering Co. A, 11th Pa. Reserve Corps, Army of the Po- tomac, under General Meade. Three years of the hardest kind of service followed. At Spottsylvania Court House, he was wounded and again at Cold Harbor. in 1864, and on August 18, 1864, he was captured by the Con- federates at the Weldon Railroad. He was one of the unfortunates who were compelled to spend six months of suffering in Libby Prison and at Belle Isle. He was finally re- leased and after his discharge returned home to Cherry Tree. It was some time before he, regained his strength that prison life had sapped but a good constitution conquered and in the course of time he went back to lumber- ing in which he has been considerably inter- ested ever since. From Indiana county he came to Bell township, Clearfield county, in 1889, and has resided here ever since. He is well known all over this section. He recalls old times in a very entertaining way and his stories of the early days in the lumber camps are exceedingly interesting. He at one time made a record in hauling. while in Jefferson county, transporting at one time 1.100 pounds of hemlock bark. It was an unusual feat and created much comment all through the lum- ber regions.

Mr. Patrick was married October 29, 1873. to Miss Sarah A. Weaver, who was born Oc- tober 6, 1848, in Jefferson county, Pa., a

daughter of Jesse and Mary Ann (Magee) Weaver. The father of Mrs. . Patrick died in 1901, aged seventy-one years, and the mother in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick have seven children, namely: Harry A., who was born January 29, 1875, resides at home; Mary Ann, who was born August 22, 1877, is the wife of D. B. Dunlap, of Blairsville, Pa., and they have four children; John Franklin, who was born May 2, 1881, lives at Blairsville, married Elizabeth Connell, and they have one child; Bessie Gertrude, who was born Janu- ary 24, 1884, is the wife of H. N. Kerr, of Blairsville, and they have two children; Elsie Maria, who was born June 23, 1886, is the wife of Frank P. Beatty, of Blairsville ; Eliza- beth Nell, who was born July 8, 1889, is a graduate of the Normal School at Burnside, and is a successful teacher; and Frances Jeanette, who was born September 25, 1896, is a student. Mrs. Patrick taught school nine terms before her marriage. She is a member of the M. P. church at Newtonburg. Mr. Patrick is a Democrat at present in his po- litical attitude. He recalls the great interest he took during slavery days, being then in close sympathy with the Abolition movement although only a boy at the time. He is a val- ued member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, being identified with the post at Al- toona, Pa. He has served three terms as a member of the Bell township school board and has always taken a good citizen's interest in the welfare of his section.

J. LEWIS LEIB, who is proprietor of the largest drug store at Curwensville, Pa., is a representative citizen of this borough, inter- ested in its commercial prosperity and its pub- lic affairs. He was born September 14, 1869,

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at Sherwood, Md., and is a son of Thomas and Mary H. Leib.

Thomas Leib for thirty-four years was identified with the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the Baltimore offices. He also owned a farm of 212 acres, in York county, Pa., to which he retired and on which he was living at the time of his death, in February, 1905. Follow- ing this event the farm was sold, his widow coming then to Curwensville, where she still lives. Thomas Leib was a man of sterling character. He was identified with the Prohi- bition party. With his wife he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Three chil- dren were born to Thomas and Mary H. Leib, namely : Harry L., who resides near Stew- artstown, York county; Della, who is the wife of Dr. Harry Hooven, of Hartford, Pa .; and J. Lewis, of Curwensville.

J. Lewis Leib attended Stewartstown Acad- emy and after he had decided to enter the drug business, he attended Maryland College at Baltimore, where he was graduated in phar- macy. From there he came to Curwensville and became a clerk for a Mr. Reeser, then in the drug business here, and finally bought an interest and afterward bought his present build- ing on State street, of Mrs. Joseph R. Irwin, where he has conducted a first class drug store ever since.

Mr. Leib was married April 20, 1897, to Miss May Dixon Kemp, a daughter of Maj. Thomas Kemp, of Baltimore, Md., and they have three children: Kemp, Gretchen and Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Leib are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. Mr. Leib has other business interests aside from his drug store and is interested in a flourishing building and loan association. In politics he is a Repub-

lican and he has been a member of the bor- ough council for two years. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

MACK DAVIDSON, who carries on gen- eral farming in Bell township, owning what is generally agreed to be one of the best tilled and most productive farms in this section, be- longs to an old county family and was born on the Davidson homestead, February 22, 1863, a son of Joseph H. and Mary Jane (Henderson) Davidson. Mr. Davidson has three brothers: Frank M., residing in Bell township; James M., residing at Bradford, Pa. ; and Thomas M., living at Mahaffey.

Mack Davidson started out to take care of himself when only thirteen years of age and has been successfully engaged in the same way ever since. He worked for strangers and by the time he was twenty-four years old not only had secured a fair education but a wide circle of friends and enough capital to make him feel justified in marrying. His parents had died when he was only five years old and his older brother, Alexander, took charge of him. When only a boy he engaged in hauling lum- ber and managed a team of horses so that neither they nor the commodities transported were in any way endangered. After mar- riage he bought his present farm and has so improved it and carefully and intelligently cul- tivated it that it has become one of the most valuable properties in Bell township.

Mr. Davidson was married to Miss Jenny Reed, who was born September 5, 1869, in Green township. Indiana county, Pa., a daugh- ter of A. and Elizabeth (Buterbaugh) Reed, the former of whom died in 1884 and the lat- ter in 1896. Mrs. Davidson has six brothers and sisters living. Her great-grandfather,

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

John Buterbaugh, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., August 3, 1799, and died aged ninety-six years and six months. He accom- panied his parents to Indiana county in 1831, where he married Elizabeth Learn, a member of an old pioneer family of Clearfield county. In 1894, at the age of ninety-five years, Mr. Buterbaugh celebrated his anniversary, gath- ering about him all of his living descendants, and when he died in the following year, was survived by fifty-seven grandchildren and fif- ty-six great-grandchildren. In early days he was a Whig in politics and later a Republican, and he served two terms as a justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have had the following children: Harry M., who married Goldie Staggers and they have one child: Mer- rill, who is deceased; Howard, who is a gen- eral laborer; and Zoe, Neil, Stella, Fay and Reed, the last named being a baby of one year. In politics Mr. Davidson is a Democrat and is a very loyal party worker. He is serving in his third term as township supervisor and has also been overseer of the poor. He is one of Bell township's respected and representative citizens.

WILLIAM F. KRACH, who is associated with his father, Frederick Krach, in a hotel business at DuBois, Pa., under the firm name of Frederick Krach & Son, proprietors of the Keystone Hotel, has been a resident of this borough since he was ten years of age. He was born December 5. 1880, in Schuylkill county, Pa., and is a son of Frederick and Minnie ( Fredenberger) Krach.

ticipated in the War of 1871, and during his absence, the death of his first wife occurred. In 1875 he came to America and located first at Tamaqua, Pa., where he started into the hotel business, opening the Krach House there, which he conducted until he came to DuBois, in 1890, where he bought the Terp House, from Richard Evans. It contained twenty-four bed rooms and was situated on Brady street and the regular rate was $1.50 per day. That hotel Mr. Krach subsequently sold to Pierson & Logan and then bought the Globe Restaurant, which he conducted for six months. Mr. Krach then showed his confi- dence in the business future of DuBois by fur- ther investment, becoming the owner of prop- erty on which he erected the Keystone Hotel, which stands at Nos. 337-339-341 W. Long avenue. He opened for business in 1894 and has been liberally patronized. He has sixteen bed-rooms and all other apartments necessary for the comfort and convenience of guests and his charges are one dollar per day. In 1906 he admitted his son, William F. Krach, to partnership, under the firm name as above mentioned. Mr. Krach was married second, in Schuylkill county, Pa., to Minnie Freden- berger. who died in 1893, aged fifty-three years. She also was a native of Germany and was a most estimable woman. Seven children were born to this marriage, as follows: Gott- leib; Millie; Carolina, who is the wife of J. R. Ferguson; William F .: George; Elsie, who is the wife of William Stephenson, of Pitts- burg, Pa .; and Lulu, who is the wife of Wayde Bloom. With the exception of Mrs. Vonlear and Mrs. Stephenson, Mr. Krach has all his children settled near him, at Du Bois.

Frederick Krach was born in Germany, De- cember 3, 1845, and was reared on a farm. When he reached the legal age for military William F. Krach obtained his education in service, he entered the German army and par- the public schools of DuBois and then entered

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the employ of his father, with whom he has ever since continued, in 1906 becoming his partner and gradually relieving the father of the responsibilities of management. On Sep- tember 16, 1901, Mr. Krach was married to Miss Lilly May Shaffer, a daughter of Isaac Shaffer, of DuBois, and they have four chil- dren : William, Lillian, Helen and Clarence. Mr. Krach is a member of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the DuBois lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles. He is numbered with the borough's able young busi- ness men.

JOHN C. DIEHL, justice of the peace, a general farmer in Chest township, and a lead- ing factor in Democratic politics in this sec- tion, was born August 28, 1861, in Greenfield township, Blair county, Pa., and is a son of Samuel and Mary ( Mock) Diehl, and a grand- son of John Diehl, whose father had founded the family in Blair county.

Samuel Diehl was born April 19, 1839, in Greenwood township, Blair county, where he followed farming and lumbering until 1886, when he came to Clearfield county and estab- lished a blacksmith shop and to some extent continued to be interested in lumbering in Chest township. His death occurred January 2, 1910, while visiting a son at Tyrone. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He married Mary Mock, who was born in May, 1840, and was a daughter of Joseph and Mary Mock, who were born in Bedford County, Pa., and a granddaughter of Mary Ritchie. To Samuel Diehl and wife the following children were born: George M., of Cambria County ; Joseph, of Tyrone, Pa .; Fred, of Chest Town- ship; Frank, of Beccaria Township; Edward. of Irvona, Pa .; Blair, of Jordan Township:

Mary Jane, wife of E. Kearns, of Cambria County; Catherine, wife of E. F. Claar, of Bedford County; and Rosanna M., wife of George Arford, of Puritan, Pa.

John C. Diehil attended school through boy- hood in Blair County and for some thirteen years afterward was engaged in work in the woods near Altoona and then engaged in lum- bering and farming on the Frank Campbell place in Chest Township. He then moved to Wilson Run and built a sawmill there which lie subsequently sold and in 1893 built a second mill, near North Camp, which he operated for three years. After selling that mill he settled down to farming on his present place in Chest Township, where he has a well improved prop- erty and is in the enjoyment of a large degree of comfort.

Mr. Dielil was married to Miss Margaret Miles, who was born in May, 1866, in Jordan Township, Clearfield County, and is a daughter of George I. and Elizabeth (Leonard) Miles. who came from Center County to Clearfield County and settled in Chest Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Diehl eleven children were born, namely : Samuel M., who lives in Cambria County, married Cora McGarvey, and they have one child; Jonas who assists his father ; Ward, who is a resident of Irvona, Pa .; and Dana K., Mary Elizabeth, Evida A., Robert L., Ralph, Laura J., Melvin G. and Chester Calvin, all of whom are residing at home.

Mr. Diehl has been an active and interested citizen ever since coming to Chest Township. He has always endeavored to bring about im- provement and progress in the public schools and has served on the school board at different times, has also been constable and township supervisor, and in 1907 was elected a justice of the peace in Chest Township.

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

ARCHER DAVIDSON, general merchant, born, on the old family homestead, October 16, at Curwensville, Pa., where he is interested in 1847, is a son of Anthony and Jane MeGar- vey, and a grandson of William McGarvey. some of the borough's most important business enterprises, has been a lifelong resident of Clearfield County.

Mr. Davidson started in the general store business in March, 1898, as an interested part- ner with Ross Bros. & Davidson, at Curwens- ville. The business name changed to Thomp- son & Davidson when John I. Thompson be- came a purchaser, and he in turn sold to Ham- mond, Berkey & Co., Mr. Davidson becoming the manager and continued in that relation until 1907, when he organized the Bickford Store Company and the Bickford Meat Market. The Bickford firm controlling this united busi- ness, the second largest in the mercantile line at Curwensville, consists of the following men of capital and prominence : Archer Davidson, Dr. J. A. Woodside: and S. M. Bickford. This firm occupies the corner of State and Wal- nut Streets, Curwensville, in the heart of the business district, and their trade is drawn from a large outside territory, their customers find- ing it to their advantage to patronize this es- tablishment rather than to send their capital farther away.

Mr. Davidson was married to Miss Dora F. Thompson, a daughter of Watt H. Thompson, of Curwensville. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican but is far more of a business man than politician. He has served, however, very acceptably, also, as a member of the borough council, and is identi- fied with the Curwensville Loan Association. Fraternally he is both a Mason and Odd Fellow.

JOHN J. McGARVEY. farmer and fruit grower, in Chest Township, where he was

Anthony MeGarvey was born in Ireland and accompanied relatives to America when he was a boy of twelve years. His father came from Ireland at a later date and subsequently died at Philadelphia. Anthony McGarvey came from that city and was one of the first settlers in Chest Township, where he followed farin- ing and lumbering during the whole of his ac- tive life, surviving into old age. He was married to a lady who had been born in Ire- land, who died when their son, John J., was only three years old. Anthony McGarvey was married second to Mrs. Ellen Hunter, who was of Scotch descent. Jolm J. McGarvey has one sister, Elizabeth, who is the widow of Daniel Gorman, of La Jose, and a half-brother and a half-sister: Robert H., who resides on the old homestead; and Kate, who is the wife of J. Sunderland, of Clearfield.

John J. MeGarvey obtained a district school education, although, in his boyhood, school opportunities near his father's farm were mea- ger, and afterward engaged in farming on the old homestead until he secured a farm of his own, where he has resided ever since. In addi- tion to general farming he has also engaged in lumbering, has followed threshing for many seasons and is also largely interested in raising fruit.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 80

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1040