Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 84

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 84

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As far back as the records go, the Dunlap men have given support to the Democratic party. Formerly Mr. Dunlap acceptably filled numerous township offices but no longer ac- cepts these responsibilities. He and wife are members of Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal church.

HON. JOSEPH ALEXANDER, of Bigler township, Clearfield county, who is now serv- ing as state senator, is a man who has filled many positions of trust to the satisfaction of the public, his abilities having won for him recognition as one of the leaders of the Re- publican party in this section. As a descend- ant of one of the oldest and most influential

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families in the country, he has the advantage of an honored name, to which his career has added new distinction.

The Alexander family is of Scotch-Irish blood, descendants of Jaines Alexander, who served under Gen. Washington during the memorable winter at Valley Forge, Pa., 1777- 78, as an officer in the commissary depart- ment. He settled in Kishacoquillas Valley, in Cumberland county, Pa., part now Mifflin county, Pa. Having heard from John Reed, an old hunter and trapper, a favorable report of the lands lying on Clearfield Creek, he in 1784 took out warrants for four tracts of land. The first, which he entered in his own name, cornered on the creek at what was then a small ash sapling but grew to be a large tree, which was washed away some time in the sev- enties. Upon it were legible the letters, "J. A." and "J. R.," which were cut there at that early date as the initials of his own name and that of his friend, John Reed. This ash tree was the oldest land mark on the creek, and had an important part in the court trials concern- ing lands in that region, because the James Alexander warrant, being the oldest, was the starting point to determine other surveys and warrants. This land begins at the head of the narrows and lies mostly on the northeast side of the creek. On the opposite side he located the John McConnell tract, and farther up the creek he located the John McGill and Cullen tracts. His friend, William Brown, located six other tracts still further up the creek, ex- tending to what was called the Crab Orchard.

About midsummer of the year 1785, James Alexander returned again to his lands on Clearfield Creek, accompanied by his eldest son, Robert. They went by way of Lock Haven, then Great or Big Island on the Sus-

quehanna river, and procured there a flat-boat which they pushed with poles and dragged partly by means of a horse all the way to Muddy Run, a tributary of Clearfield Creek. With them they took provisions for a some- what protracted stay. The exposure endured on this trip is said to have had a serious effect on the health of James Alexander, although he did not die until six years later, in 1791. Jolin Reed, the hunter, was in their company during a part of the journey, having crossed the mountains by an Indian path to meet them at a point on the Susquehanna river. While as- cending the Clearfield Creek at a place now unknown Jolin Reed and Robert Alexander crossed over a hill, while James Alexander kept to the stream with the horse and boat. In crossing the hill they discovered a shining ore, some pieces of which John Reed put in his shot pouch. He afterward reported that, hav- ing sent this ore to Philadelphia, the mint had returned a silver coin ; many persons saw this coin, which he alleged had been made from the discovered ore. Many a treasure seeker sought diligently for the spot where the ore was found, but in vain.

When dividing his lands, James Alexander gave his four younger sons-Hugh, Reed, Joseph, and William B .- the four tracts on Clearfield Creek. Three of them sold their claims to Sir Henry Philips, a gentleman from England, but William B. not only re- fused to sell what his father had left him, but secreted himself for two days that he might not be solicited to agree to the papers needed to legalize the other sales. His brothers finally induced him to agree to their transfer by promising him his choice of the four tracts of land.

William B. Alexander was born in Kishaco-

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quillas Valley, March 27. 1782. He was obliged to go forty miles across the mountains named after the lifelong friend of his father, on horseback along Indian paths to reach a mill.

Judge William Brown, who was a very early settler of what is now Mifflin (then a part of Cumberland) county, and a well known and highly respected citizen. In the year 1800, when eighteen years of age, William B. Alex- ander visited the lands in Clearfield county (then part of Huntingdon county) and made choice of a tract which his father had entered in his own name. It is worth recording that on this journey to Clearfield he took with him a pint of appleseed from Kishacoquillas Val- ley and gave it for planting to an old man who lived several miles from his lands. Nine years later, when he came to settle on his tract, he planted an orchard of trees grown from that seed, now well known as the old Alexander orchard. After making his choice and before settling, he made what was then a long jour- ney westward on horseback, visiting West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. On his return he stated that 200 acres of land, part of the present site of Wheeling, W. Va., were offered to him for the horse which he rode, so cheap was the land in that section at that time.

On April 23, 1806, soon after his return, William B. Alexander married Miss Nancy Davis, daughter of John Davis, of Kishaco- quillas. He then rented a farm and remained in that valley three years longer; but in 1809 he moved to Clearfield county, following an Indian path across the Allegheny Mountains, and conveying his wife and two young chil- dren and all his effects on pack horses. He settled upon the estate, which he continued to occupy until a few months before his death. To illustrate the inconveniences and discom- forts of that early settlement, we need only state the fact that for many years he was

William B. Alexander died at the residence of his son, William B., March 30, 1862, aged eighty years and three days. His wife, Nancy D. Alexander, died at the old homestead, April 1, 1861, aged seventy-three years and six months. They were the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom lived until after the death of their father. William B. Alexander Jr., the father of our subject, was a resident of Decatur township, later the part erected into Woodward township.

Hon. Joseph Alexander was born on his father's farm in a log house of the earlier days. He has been extensively engaged in agricul- ture and lumbering, and as a business man ranks among the best in his locality. He has an honorable war record as a member of Com- pany B, 149th P. V. I., of the famous "Buck- tail Brigade," in which he enlisted August 14, 1862, and served until the close of the war. He took part in many important battles, and was wounded during the first day of the Battle at Gettysburg in the charge by General Stone's brigade at the railroad cut. He remained on the field all day and in the evening was car- ried by colored stretcher-bearers of the Con- federate army to a barn on the McPherson farm, where he lay upon some straw until the early morning of July 4th, when Lee aban- doned the place. In the closing days of the war Mr. Alexander's regiment was sent north to recruit and to guard prisoners at Elmira, N. Y. Mr. Alexander was detailed on de- tached service, was a member of the guard of honor that escorted the remains of the la- mented Lincoln from the White House to the capitol, where the dead President lay in state

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for some time. Mr. Alexander served the re- work was specially commended by the super- maining period of his service as orderly, visor of census, J. Simpson Africa. He also mostly at the Old Capitol Prison during the trial of the conspirators who plotted the assas- sination of the president. Mr. Alexander was discharged from the service June 27, 1865, and in leaving the army was given the follow- ing commendation, signed by the officers with whom he had been associated during his de- tached service.

"We, the undersigned, take great pleasure in certifying that 'Orderly' Alexander, late of Company B, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers, since being in special service, has done his duty as a soldier and conducted himself as becom- ing a gentleman. We can cheerfully recom- mend him for any position that he is capable of filling, as a trusty and faithful man, strictly temperate and willing to make himself use- ful."

Very respectfully, etc., (Signed) LIEUT. WALTER F. HALLECK, CAPT. J. H. BASSLER, MAJ. GEORGE BOWERS.

Mr. Alexander has always been an ardent Republican, his first vote having been cast for Lincoln, while he was in the army. Until re- cent years the Democratic party has had a large majority in his locality, but this is now re- versed. Notwithstanding the odds against him in the earlier days, he was chosen to vari- ous positions in Woodward township, serving as town clerk, auditor, supervisor and overseer of the poor, and for two terms as assessor ; he was also a school director in the Madera inde- pendent district. On the formation of Bigler township, he was chosen assessor and held the office three consecutive terms, and one term as school director. In 1880 he was appointed census enumerator for his district, and his

served three years as jury commissioner and with Dr. J. P. Burchfield, his colleague, inau- gurated reforms in the selecting of jurors. In 1883 he was nominated for the office of pro- thonotary, unexpectedly and made no can- vass; but at the election lie led his ticket, al- though his opponent was no less a personage than the Hon. James Kerr. His well proven ability and strict integrity won for him the confidence of all classes, his election as repre- sentative of his native county three terms in the legislature indicating his hold upon the popular regard. He is now senator of the Thirty-fourth Senatorial district of Pennsyl- vania, comprising the two large central coun- ties of the state-Center and Clearfield.

CAPT. J. ELLIOTT KRATZER, justice of the peace at Curwensville, Pa., and a repre- sentative citizen of Pike township, is also an honored veteran of the Civil war, during which stormy period he experienced some of the greatest hardships of a soldier's life but also gained distinction and promotion for un- usual bravery. Captain Kratzer was born in Pike township, Clearfield county, Pa., January 14, 1837, and is a son of Anthony and Rachel (Hoover) Kratzer.

Anthony Kratzer was born in Blair county, Pa., but from early manhood his life was passed in Clearfield county. He engaged in lumbering and lived at Curwensville until after his marriage and the birth of six children, when he moved on his farm in Pike township, where he engaged in farming and milling. He was a man of more than ordinary business ca- pacity and although he died at the compara- tively early age of forty-six years, he had ac-

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cumulated 600 acres of land in Pike township. By trade he was a shoemaker and at one time he also conducted a hotel at Curwensville, on the present site of the Park House. He was a Democrat in his political views but never consented to hold office. His ashes rest in Oak Grove cemetery. Anthony Kratzer married Rachel Hoover, who was born in Clearfield county. She survived her husband for a long period, her death occurring at the age of eighty-five years and her burial being in the State of California. The children born to Anthony and Rachel Kratzer were as follows: Jane Ann, who died in California, was the wife of James Addleman; J. Elliott : James, who is a resident of Wisconsin, married Susan Lecch; William, who was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, during the Civil war, was a member of a Pennsylvania regiment; Lou- ella, who is the wife of John Bacher, of Cali- fornia: Sarah Ann, who is a resident of Cali- fornia; John, who was killed at Bull Run, dur- ing the Civil war, was a member of Co. K, 42nd Pa. Vol. Inf .; and Edward, who is a resident of Punxsutawney, Pa. The parents of the above family were members of the Presbyterian church.

which he later was made second lieutenant. He served one and one-half years with that rank and later was commissioned captain of Co. H, 190th P. V. It was while serving as second lieutenant of Co. K, that he was wounded at Gettysburg, in the right arm, just above the elbow. After he was commissioned captain and was inspecting the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps, of which he was in- spector general, he daringly galloped his horse within the enemy's lines and before he could escape was captured by the Confederate pick- ets. He was sent to Libby Prison and from there was transferred to Salisbury and later to Danville, each bastile being a little worse than the previous one, and in the succeeding Feb- ruary was returned to Libby Prison where he was finally paroled and was given then a leave of absence. After the surrender of General Lec, Captain Kratzer was ordered back and was detailed on court martial service and was finally honorably discharged and mustered out in 1865. Capt. Kratzer's army record, from the beginning to the close, reflects credit on a brave soldier. He is a valued member of the Grand Army Post at Curwensville, of which he has been commander several times.

J. Elliott Kratzer attended school at Clear- From the army Captain Kratzer returned to Curwensville, where he has resided ever since. In March, 1865, he was first married to Miss Kate Goodwin, of Clarion county, Pa., who (lied in 1892, aged forty-six years, and her burial was in Oak Grove cemetery. Eight children were born to them, namely: May, who is the wife of William Jackson and they reside in California: Joseph, who lives in Wis- consin; Elliott, who is deceased, is survived by his widow, formerly a Miss Blackburn ; Alice, who died in infancy: Kate, who is de- field, where he had academic advantages, after which he engaged in business as a clerk in a store at Curwensville and then went west to Iowa where, for two years, he served as book- keeper in a business house. It is probable that homesickness brought him back to Curwens- ville and after reaching home he took charge of his father's mill and operated it until the outbreak of the Rebellion. He was one of the first to offer himself when the famous "Buck- tail" Regiment, the 42nd Pa. Vol. Inf., was organized, becoming sergeant of Co. K. of ceased, was the wife of John McDermit; C.

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Fred and Bessie, who both reside at Spokane, Wash .; and John, who is a linotype operator and printer. In June, 1906, Capt. Kratzer was married to Amanda A. Carlisle, of Luth- ersburg, Clearfield county.

In politics, Capt. Kratzer is a Republican. For five years he has been serving acceptably in the office of justice of the peace and very seldom have any of his decisions been referred to another court. He is identified fraternally with the Masonic order and also with the Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

FRANKLIN FINSTHWAIT, a promi- nent young business man, cashier of the First National Bank at Cherry Tree, Pa., was born at West Newton, Pa., August 28, 1879, son of Franklin B. and Caroline ( Everhart) Fins- thwait. He is a descendant on the pater- nal side of James Finsthwait, born Janu- ary 14, 1759. of English ancestry, and his wife Mary, who were natives of Kent county. Delaware, where many of their descendants are living today. They had five daughters and one son, as follows: Sarah C., born February 22, 1806; Ann S., born December 19, 1807: Eliza M., born April 10, 1810; Susan G., born February 3, 1812; Mary S., born June 21, 1814; and James, born March 1, 1816, a few weeks after the death of his father. The daughters all married and reared families of children.

James Finsthwait, Jr., the date of whose birth is given above, and who is next in the present line of descent. died in 1872. His wife in maidenhood was Lucy Collins Messick, born September 17, 1810, near Georgetown, Sussex county, Del. She died in 1890. They had two daughters and four sons as follows:

Caroline Collins, born August 11, 1839; Franklin Buchanan, born March 15, 1841; James Purnell, February 28, 1843; Minos Gibson. December 5, 1844; Frederick Marion, January 28, 1847; Sarah Marilda, December 29, 1849. James Purnell Finsthwait was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Caroline married George P. Hitch of Laurel, Sussex county, Del. They live at Norfok, Va., and have four children living, having lost two in infancy. Gibson married Appia Davis of West Middlesex, where they now live; they have four daughters. Frederick married Su- san Everhart of West Middlesex; they live in Chicago and have no children. Sarah mar- ried G. W. Bement, of Lansing, Mich .; she is a widow with two sons, and lives in Lansing.

Franklin B. Finsthwait, whose nativity has been already given, was connected during his entire industrial period with the oil industry and was formerly a member of the Oil Ex- change at Pittsburg. He is still living at the age of 66 years and is a resident of Swissvale, Allegheny county, Pa. On January 7, 1873, he married Caroline Everhart, of West Mid- dlesex, Mercer county, Pa., and of this union there were four children, namely: Ida Har- rington, born November 16, 1873; Lloyd E., born June 3, 1877, who is engaged in the wholesale dry goods business at Pittsburg ; Franklin, born, as already stated, August 28, 1879, who is the direct subject of this sketch ; and Donald E., born January 1, 1882, who is an employee of the American Tobacco Com- pany at Pittsburg. Ida is residing at home.

Mrs. Franklin B. Finsthwait is a descendant on the paternal side of Michael Eberhart, who came from Germany in the ship "Friend- ship," landing at Philadelphia October 16, 1727. He settled in Lehigh county, Pa., and

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died in 1788. He had two sons, Henry and Paul.

Paul Eberhart, son of Michael, was born in 1827 on the Atlantic Ocean. He was reared and lived in Lehigh county, Pa., until he was 46 years old, when in 1773 he moved to West- moreland county. Pa., where he died at a ripe old age. He had four sons-Jacob, John, Christian and Frederick.

Abraham F. Eberhart (or Everhart, for he changed the spelling of the family name), son of Frederick Eberhart, was born in Mercer county. Pa., October 22, 1810, and was mar- ried in 1841 to Susan Haywood of Mercer county, Pa. He died November 2, 1881, aged 71 years. The following is a record of his children : Sarah E. Everhart, born October 22, 1842, was married May 15, 1866, to Dr. J. W. Hillier of Mercer county, Pa. They have no children. Mary M. Everhart, born October 22, 1843, was married October 22, 1860, to Horatio N. Warren of Buffalo, N. Y. They had two sons. Dr. Albert E. Warren and Henry D. Warren. Caroline Everhart, born January 21. 1846, married Franklin B. Fins- thwaite, as already noted. William M. Ever- hart, born March 26. 1848, married Rhoda Long, of Mercer county, Pa., and they have two sons. Henry Clay Everhart, born August 2. 1850, died March 3, 1854. Susan Ever- hart was born March 2, 1855, and married F. M. Finsthwait.

Franklin Finsthwait began his education in the common schools, subsequently graduating from the Wilkinsburg ( Pa.) high school. His first industrial experience was gained in the employ of the P. Lorillard Tobacco Co., where he remained for a time. In 1897 he entered the Second National Bank as a messenger, and continued there until 1901, at which time he went to the Mellon National Bank as clearing

house clerk. He was later promoted to the position of receiving teller, which he held until he resigned in order to accept his present po- sition as cashier of the First National Bank of Cherry Tree, Pa., in March, 1903. He is also treasurer of the Cherry Tree Electric Light Co. and of the Cherry Tree Water Co., in all these varied positions showing good business ability and a comprehensive grasp of affairs. He is a member of and an elder in the Presby- terian church of Cherry Tree, and also of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue lodge at Ebensburg, Pa. In politics he is a Republican and is at present a member of the borough school board.

Franklin Finsthwait was married in Octo- ber, 1908, to Helen McKeage, who was born in July, 1887, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Harter) McKeage. Her father is a miller and lumberman residing at Cherry Tree. Our subject and wife are the parents of two children, Franklin MeKeage, and Ruth Everhart.

ARTHUR A. BELL, general farmer and master of Greenwood township Grange, is a member of an old Clearfield county family and was born May 7, 1873. on the old Bell farm in Greenwood township. He is a son of John W. and Elizabeth (Cook) Bell.

John W. Bell was born in Greenwood town- ship, Clearfield county, Pa., July 12. 1838, and died February 7. 1904. For many years he was a prominent man in this section and one of the largest landowners. He was married first in 1862, to Elizabeth Cook, and they had five children, Arthur A. being the fourth born. John W. Bell was married secondly on Decem- ber 28, 1876, to Mrs. Eliza C. Thompson, who still survives.

Arthur A. Bell with his brother and three

LEWIS C. ROWLES. M. D.

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sisters, attended the country schools in Green- wood township, besides one term at Lumber City. He then became associated with his father in the timber business. After his mar- riage he settled on one part of the homestead farm and lived there until 1906, when he came to his present farm which contains 150 acres, one-half of which is still in woodland. He is interested also in 1,200 acres of coal land in Greenwood township. Mr. Bell has improved his place with the substantial buildings now in evidence and carries on general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Bell was married September 15, 1892, to Miss Belle Young, who was born Novem- ber 24, 1870, in Greenwood township, a daughter of Nelson Young, and they have six children: John Wade, Alice Dorothy, Bessie Lorain, Leslie Glenn, Williard Cook and Ella Elizabeth. Mr. Bell was reared in the Baptist church of which his father and mother were prominent members. In politics he is a Re- publican but has never been willing to accept public office. He is actively interested, how- ever, in all agricultural movements and for a number of years has been a leader in the Grange.

ISAIAH JURY,* a representative citizen of Girard township, residing on his well im- proved farm of fifty-three acres, which lies twelve miles northeast of the borough of Clearfield, was born in this township in 1850 and is a son of John F. and Elizabeth (Grif- fins) Jury. John F. Jury was also born in Clearfield county and followed an agricultural life until his death in 1906.

Isaiah Jury obtained his education in the schools of his native township, after which he turned his attention to farming and stockrais-

ing and has carried on these industries ever since, keeping thoroughly abreast with the times in agricultural progress and following methods which he has found eminently suc- cessful. He is a man with broad and enlight- ened views and has interested himself very largely in the advancement of the public schools and has served many years on the township school board, of which he has been president since 1908. He has also served in the office of overseer of the poor.

Mr. Jury was married June 3, 1873, to Miss Mary Shaw, of Wallacetown, Pa. She is a lady of education and culture and for thirteen terms was a school teacher. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jury, namely : Inez, who is teaching school at Shawsville, and has been thus engaged for seven terms; Win- nifred, who has taught for four terms, being now engaged at the Congress Hill school; Ar- chie, who assists his father (married Miss A. Maines, of Shiloh, Bradford township) ; and Clemmens I., who died June 13, 1882. Mr. Jury and family are members of the U. B. church at Shiloh.

LEWIS C. ROWLES, M. D., physician and surgeon, at Grampian, Pa., where he is also a representative and useful public spir- ited citizen, was born near Houtzdale, Clear- field county, Pa., March 1, 1879, and is a son of Matthew and Letitia (Lewis) Rowles.

Matthew Rowles was born in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, and he and wife reside at Clearfield. They have five living children : Mrs. C. A. Crews, of Cumberland, Md .; Mrs. Frank Stage, of Clearfield; Lewis C .; Burton, of Clearfield ; and Alice, of Cum- berland, Md. Of the above, Mrs. Stage was formerly a successful teacher. In politics,

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Mr. Rowles is a Democrat and at one time was a school director in West Clearfield. Mrs. of seventy-three acres, which is situated one Rowles is a member of the Lutheran church.

Lewis C. Rowles attended school at Clear- field and graduated from West Clearfield High School. He later took a course in the summer Normal school and afterward taught school for two years in Bell township. He also learned the carpenter's trade before he was twenty years of age. In 1898 he enlisted as a private soldier in Co. E, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served through the Spanish-American war. In the meanwhile he had done his preparatory med- ical reading and in 1905 was graduated from the Philadelphia Chirurgical College and im- mediately entered into practice, establishing himself at Grampian in September, 1905. Dr. Rowles has been very successful in many grave surgical operations and has gained the confi- dence of his neighbors and fellow citizens in his skill and ability. He keeps fully abreast of the times, holding membership in the county and state medical bodies and the American Medical Association.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 84

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