USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 93
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HERMAN CHARLES KASTEN, man- ager of the A. F. Kelley store at Grass Flat, Cooper township, Clearfield county, Pa., has spent a number of years in the mercantile busi- ness and possesses not only the business capac- ity but also the personal gifts that insure suc- cess in this line. He was born January 24, 1877, in Germany, and is a son of Frederick C. and Catherine (Christopher) Kasten.
The parents of Mr. Kasten were natives of Germany and came to America in 1882, where the father engaged in the saw-mill business but now lives retired at Williamsport, Pa. The mother is deceased. They had eleven
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children and of the family the following sur- son of Adam and Susanna ( Musser) Hilliard. vive: Ralph, who is a cabinetmaker, lives at Williamsport; Augusta, who is the wife of Joseph Rockel, a merchant of Williamsport ; Frederica, who is the wife of Emil Smaltz, who is connected with a timber company ; Herman Charles; and Ida, who is the wife of August Ertle, a merchant at Williamsport.
Herman Charles Kasten came to America from Baden, Germany, when a child of five years and was next to the youngest in his par- ents' family. He obtained his education in the schools of Williamsport, Pa., where he com- pleted a course in the Williamsport Commer- cial College, after which he became a grocery merchant and continued in that line for thir- teen years. For nine years he conducted a general mercantile business at English Center, Lycoming county, Pa., and in 1906 he moved from there to Peale, Clearfield county, where he was engaged until 1908, when he became manager of his present store at Grass Flat.
In January, 1901, Mr. Kasten was married to Miss Ethel Mary Whitehead, who was born in Potter county, Pa. Her father was Ezra Whitehead and both parents died when she was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Kasten are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. He belongs to Lodge No. 1091, Odd Fellows, at English Center; Lodge No. 233, K. O. T. M., at the same place, from which he later transferred to Lodge No. 99, Williamsport. He is identified politically with the Republican party.
Adam Hilliard was born in Butler county, Pa., and devoted his entire active life to farm- ing. His death occurred in 1890, in Jefferson county, at the age of seventy-two years. He married Susanna Musser, who died in 1893, aged seventy-five years. Her parents were Henry and Betsey Musser, while Mr. Hil- liard's parents were Jacob and Sarah Hilliard. Henry Hilliard has one sister and three broth- ers, namely: Jacob, who lives at Saxonville ; Jolın and Daniel, both of whom live at Du- Bois; and Kansas E., who is the widow of J. Jones, and lives at DuBois.
Henry Hilliard learned the blacksmith's trade after his school days were over and fol- lowed it more or less for fifty-five years. After he married he moved to Frostburg and worked there at his trade for four years mov- ing then to Paradise Settlement, in Jefferson county, and twenty years afterward came to his present farm in Bell township. He cleared this land and now has a valuable and produc- tive farm of 100 acres. During the Civil war he served as a soldier for six months, enlist- ing in 1863 in Co. C, 2nd Pa. Vol. Inf., un- der the command of Gen. Lininger. His com- pany was mainly used for picket duty but also was concerned in considerable light skirmish- ing. He was mustered out at Pittsburg, in 1864, and returned to peaceful pursuits.
Mr. Hilliard was married to Lucy Smith, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., in Au- gust, 1839. a daughter of Peter and Lydia (McPherson) Smith, and a granddaughter of Peter and Susan Smith and of John McPher- son. the last named having served in the Revo- lutionary war. They were from Center county. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard have had the
HENRY HILLIARD, who settled in Bell township, Clearfield county, Pa., when all this section was still covered with woods, now lives retired, after an active life, mainly de- voted to agricultural pursuits. He was born in Clearfield county, March 26, 1836, and is a following children: Charles P., who married
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Carrie Bloss, has three children and one grandchild; Lydia Ann, who married Henry Filhart, and they have seven children and one grandchild; Malvern, who married Margaret Klein and has five children; John, who mar- ried Jane Miller and has eight children; and William, who lives at home. Mr. Hilliard is a member of the Evangelical church. In poli- tics he is a Democrat. He is numbered with the representative and substantial men of Bell township.
J. S. BRIEL, one of the representative business men of Karthaus, Pa., of which he has been a resident since 1882, is engaged in the funeral directing business, is a stock- holder and director in the Karthaus Fire Brick Company, and a director and formerly treas- urer of the Karthaus Rural Telephone Com- pany. He was born in Covington. township, Clearfield county, Pa., November 27, 1854, and is a son of John and Margaret (McGoni- gal) Briel.
John Briel was born in 1827, in Germany, a son of John and Margaret Briel. Grand- father John Briel came to America in 1838, having married a second time, his first wife having died in Switzerland. He worked in a foundry at Baltimore, Md., until 1842, when he came to Karthaus and for a time was in the employ of Peter Karthaus but later returned to Baltimore, where his second wife subse- quently died. Their youngest child was born on a raft in the Susquehanna river. They had six children, namely: John; Mary, who is the wife of John Hoyt, of Baltimore; Nancy, who married a Mr. Ritz, of Balti- more; George, who was drowned in his fif- teenth year; and Margaret and Agnes, all be- ing now deceased.
John Briel (2d), father of J. S. Briel of
Karthaus, was eleven years old when he ac- companied his parents to America. He was suffering from fever and ague when his peo- ple came to Karthaus and was unable to come with them but later also became a resident of Karthaus and learned the blacksmith's trade under Peter Karthaus, on the place where his son lives. Some years later he went to Salt Lick and worked as a blacksmith for Edward McGarvey and then started into business for himself at Mulsonburg and continued as a blacksmith and lumberman during the re- mainder of his active years, his death occur- ring May 23, 1869. He was an energetic, in- dustrious man and made an honorable name for himself in business although he had many drawbacks to contend with.
John Briel was married in Clinton county, Pa., to Margaret McGonigal, who was born at Bellefonte, Pa., and spent the closing years of her life at Frenchville, in Clearfield county, where she died September 8, 1909. Her par- ents were Hugh and Grace McGonigal, who were natives of Ireland. Nine children were born to John and Margaret Briel, as follows: Nancy J., who is the wife of Ernest T. Mig- not, of Girard township; John Samuel; Grace, who is the wife of Sylvester McGovern, of Baltimore; Anna E., who is the wife of Fer- dinand A. Mignot, of Covington township; Agnes and Cecelia, both of whom died in childhood; Sarah, who is the wife of John D. Gill, of Cambria county, Pa .; George D., who died in Covington township when aged nine years; and Joseph J., who died in Covington township at the age of fourteen years. The father of the above family was a Democrat in politics and on several occasions was elected to township offices. He was a leading mem- ber of the Catholic church at Frenchville.
John Samuel Briel attended the Covington
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township schools and then learned the black- smith's trade which he continued to follow there until 1882, when he came to Karthaus, where' he opened his own smithy and con- ducted it until 1892. In that year he em- barked in the hardware business with Dr. W. L. Gilliland but at the end of two years with- drew from the firm. In the meantime, in 1893, he formed the firm of Mignot & Briel, with Ernest F. Mignot as a partner. They built a modern mill, a three-story structure, with roller process and conducted a very suc- cessful business until 1905. when they leased the mill and in 1909 sold the property.
Mr. Briel was one of the enterprising citi- zens who prospected when clay was discovered here and did much to bring the subject to the attention of the public. As a wide awake and public spirited citizen he has shown an interest in and has lent his influence in the direction of bringing about various movements that have resulted in benefit to this section. As a busi- ness man he has always stood high.
Mr. Briel was married August 17, 1879, to Miss Lucy A. Hugar, who was born in Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pa. Her par- ents were James and Rennet ( Bigleman) Hu- gar. Her maternal grandfather, Christopher Bigleman, served as a soldier under the great Napoleon and took part in the Siege of Mos- cow. Her paternal grandfather, Francis Hugar, emigrated from France to America and purchased a tract of timberland in Girard Township, where he developed a farm on which he lived until his death in 1876.
James Hugar, father of Mrs. Briel, was born January 15. 1837, at Bloomington, Clearfield County. Pa., being a son by his father's first marriage and by his mother's second marriage. He married Rennet Bigleman, who was born
at Mulsonburg, Pa., August 15, 1834. She is a daughter of Christopher and Frances (Gross- tat) Bigleman, who spent their last years at Mulsonburg. James Hugar and wife now re- side at Karthaus, having moved here from Covington Township. Mrs. Briel was the first born of her parents' family, the others being : Antied, who lives at Karthaus; John, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Angeline, who is the wife of Victor Renaud, of Karthaus; Caroline, who is the wife of James Murray, of Goshen Township; Ida, who died when aged seven years; Joseph, who is a resident of Renova: Fred, who died when aged eighteen years; and Edmund, who lives at Renova. For many years the father of Mrs. Briel en- gaged in teaming and was also a pilot on the river. The family and its connections are members of the Roman Catholic church at Frenchville.
Mr. and Mrs. Briel have had fifteen children born to them, not all of whom survive, but those living make up a happy, united family and are well known and respected members of society. The family record reads as follows : Clara, who died at the age of two years: Ce- celia, who resides at Karthaus, is a professional trained nurse: Ida, who lives at Frenchville; James John, who is a resident of Karthaus; a babe that died unnamed and which was a twin with James John; Maude, who married Ferdinand Maines, and has two children- Clare and Gard : Frances, who is a teacher in the public schools at Frenchville; Janet, who lived to the age of seven years; Ferdinand, who met an accidental death on October 21, 1908, from the discharge of a gun ( was a prom- ising youth of fourteen years); the tenth in order of birth a babe that died unnamed ; Gen- eva, Henrietta, Julia and George, who are all
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making fine school records; and a babe, the youngest of the family, which passed away be- fore being named. The children have all been reared in the Catholic church, and have had school and social advantages. In politics he is a Democrat and has served as auditor and on the school board more or less for the past twenty-five years. He is identified with the Elks at Clearfield, and the I. O. R. M. at Kar- thaus. He is a member of the St. John and Paul Roman Catholic Church.
JULES DERMINER, one of the foremost men of Girard Township, where he has lived for thirty-nine years, owns 170 acres of val- uable land, ninety of which is cleared. He was born in France, in 1851, obtaining his educa- tion in his native land.
In 1871 Mr. Derminer came to America and to Clearfield County, Pa., where he went to work for an uncle, who lived in Girard Town- ship. One year later he entered the employ of a Mr. Leconte, and remained with him until 1873, when his parents came from France, pur- chasing a farm of 172 acres in Girard Town- ship. They spent their remaining years on this farm, where the mother died in 1891 and the father in 1897. Mr. Derminer settled on a farm purchased from Mrs. Spackman and called the Spackman farm and has made many improvements as the years have passed. He carries on general farming and stock raising. For many years he has been prominent in the public affairs of the township and in 1892 was elected township auditor and served in that office until 1898. From 1899 until 1910 he served as school director and in 1904 was elected secretary of the school board. He was reelected to this office in 1906 and has served to the present time, 1910. Girard Township
is noted for its excellent schools and this is due, in great part, to the interest taken in them by the township's representative men.
Mr. Derminer was married in Girard Town- ship to Miss Mugnot and they have eight chil- dren : August, Mary, Arthur, Helen, Kate, Andrew, Lizzie and Clement. Mr. Derminer and family are members of the Catholic church at Frenchville.
IRA E. MATTHEWS, superintendent of the fire brick plant of Hiram Swank Sons, which is being completed at Irvona, Clearfield county, Pa., was born in Iowa, September I, 1881, and is a son of John E. and Philena (Rickets) Matthews.
Abraham Matthews, his grandfather, was born in Maryland, his parents coming from the north of Ireland, and his great grandfa- ther moved from Maryland to Altoona and thence to Glasgow, Cambria county. Abra- ham Matthews settled in Beccaria township, Clearfield county, in 1838, being a pioneer set- tler in the county, in which he lived practicaly all his life. He cleared the farm now known as the homestead in the early 40's. When he began the work of clearing it, he walked from Glasgow, worked all day and walked back at night, and he continued these heavy labors until he had constructed a log house to the square, on which elevation he could sleep with- out so much danger of the wolves devouring him. When he got the house built to the square, he would bring his rations for one week, and squirrels and wood mice were so plentiful that he had to tie his food to a limb with a string, and then at times they would jump to the basket or gnaw off the string which supported it. When he got a few acres cleared he would sow it in wheat or other grain : then
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there was a steady task to keep the deer from eating it up entirely. He had a dog, which he trained to chase the deer from the grain and by perseverance and a good backbone he managed to accumulate a goodly portion of this world's goods. Many were the hardships of the early settlers at that time. All his merchandise was brought on horseback or by wagon from Water street, Huntingdon county, or Tyrone, and at that time wagons had no locks and chains were scarce, so when he came to descend a steep hill with a heavy load, he would stop at the top, cut a tree suited to the size of the load, and at- tach it to the back of the wagon, but forward, and this would serve as a drag and prevent the load from shoving the oxen, as horses were scarce at that time. His wife, Mary ( Ander- son) Matthews, was born in Maryland. They died in Clearfield County, Pa., the former in 1903, at the age of eighty-eight years, six months and two days, and the latter at the age of forty-six years.
John. E. Matthews was born in Beccaria township, Clearfield county, in 1854. Soon after his marriage he moved to Clinton Coun- ty, Ia., where he worked at farming for three years, living there from 1879 to 1881. He then came to Clearfield County, where he owns 273 acres of land, 120 acres being under cul- tivation. He makes a specialty of stock rais- ing. He married Philena Rickets and they have four children: Charles A., who is a vet- erinary surgeon in practice at Cumberland, Md .; Ira E .; Lottie, who resides at home and Jennie, who is a student in the High School.
Ira E. Matthews attended the High School at Eutahville for three years and later the summer sessions of the Normal School which were conducted by such well known educators as Silas Frampton, J. Frank Rowles and
Prof. J. V. Clark, after which he taught school for one year. In 1900 he resumed his studies and passed one term in the State Normal School at Westchester and later, after teaching through a great part of 1901-2, he spent a year at Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Pa. In thus thoroughly equipping himself, Mr. Matthews was prepared to fill almost any po- sition where education and careful training might be demanded, and he first accepted a sit- uation with the contracting firm of McAtee, Ache & Reed, as time-keeper, at Clearfield. Four months afterward he became concrete in- spector for the N. Y. Central Railroad, and resigned there in order to become concrete foreman with the railroad contracting firm of MeMannian & Simms. He continued with that firm and two years later was made super- intendent of concrete work and continued to superintend general construction with that company until June, 1910, when he became su- perintendent of construction and superintend- ent of the plant for Hiram Swank Sons, at Irvona.
The Irvona Fire Brick plant of Hiram Swank Sons, is one of the finest of its kind in the country. This plant is being erected by the four sons of Hiram Swank of Johnstown, Pa. Hiram Swank is a pioneer in the manu- facture of fire brick, he establishing his first plant at Johnstown, in 1856, which is still in operation, conducted by his four sons under the firm name of Hiram Swank Sons. The construction work on the Irvona plant was started in June, 1910, after experts had vis- ited the largest and most modern plants of this kind all over the country, the object being that nothing that would add to the convenience and utility of the new plant should be omitted. The laying out, construction and equipping of
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the plant has been directly under the super- lation of the machinery, will reflect great vision of the present superintendent, Ira E. credit on him as a careful and accurate busi- ness man. Matthews. The main building has dimensions of 306x77 feet, and the boiler-house exten- In politics Mr. Matthews is a Republican. He is identified fraternally with the Elks at Tyrone and the order of the Moose at Coalport. sion is 70x30 feet. The frame is entirely of steel. The plans are for sixteen kilns, with a contemplated extension of 300 feet additional space to the main building. The product in- cludes the manufacturing of nine-inch brick NELSON F. MOTT, general farmer and mail carrier, in Bell Township, Clearfield Coun- ty, Pa., was born January 19, 1872, in Jeffer- son County, Pa., and is a son of David H. and Letitia M. (Miller) Mott. and all kinds of shapes. If the output was re- duced to nine-inch brick exclusively, the ca- pacity provided for would be 80,000 brick daily. At the end of one year if plans are completed employment will be afforded 175 men.
The plant is constructed in such a manner that the clay and coal can be conveyed to their respective places without resorting to manual labor, by means of elevator trucks. The con- cern owns an abundance of the finest grade of clay and has both the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroads insuring good rates as well as fine accommodations for shipping both the raw material and the finished product. During the months since this plant has been under construction, real estate in proximity has increased from one hundred to one hun- dred and fifty percent. The value of the plant is stated to be $100,000.
Mr. Matthews is a young man to have so thoroughly mastered the details of the busi- ness in which he is engaged. He has accom- plished much in his thirty years, having taught school for six years before turning his atten- tion into the present channels, and since then has been engaged in construction work in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Can- ada and also passed several months in New Brunswick, 300 miles from civilization. The completion of the present plant and the instal-
David H. Mott was born in Bell Township, Clearfield County, on the farm now owned by Mrs. S. S. Mott, widow of Sam'l S. Mott. He has followed farming and lumbering all his life and is still quite active, although now in his sixty-third year. He married Letitia M. Mil- ler, who is somewhat younger than her hus- band. Her parents were Angus and Eliza- beth ( Ballentine) Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Mott have had four children : Nelson F. ; Elmer, who is deceased; W. Benjamin, who lives in West Virginia; and Angus Miller.
Nelson F. Mott, when his school days were over, engaged for ten years in the saw-mill business and for the years following his marriage, at Curry Run, and farmed one year at McGee's Mills. In 1906 he erected his present residence adjoining his grandfather's old homestead. It is situated near the old Whiskey Run schoolhouse, which was the first structure used for school purposes in Clearfield County.
Mr. Mott married first, Mrs. Maggie I. Peo- ples, a daughter of John Peoples, of Rockton, Clearfield County, Pa. Mrs. Mott died Octo- ber 8, 1902, at the age of twenty-five years. They had three children, two of whom are now
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deceased, the one survivor being Arthur, now aged ten years. Mr. Mott was married sec- ondly to Mrs. Pearl ( Bagley) Kring, widow of Jacób Kring. Mrs. Kring has one son, Ralph, who is fourteen years old and is attend- ing school. Mr. and Mrs. Mott are members of Alt. Bethel Methodist Protestant Church. in which he is a steward. He has passed all the chairs in the lodge of Odd Fellows at Ma- haffey. Mr. Mott has carried on general farm- ing with his father but since 1906 his time has been mainly occupied as a Rural Free De- livery mail carrier, distributing from McGee's Mills. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.
DAVID FULTON, a well-to-do resident of Burnside township, where he is engaged in agriculture, was born on the old Fulton home- stead in this township, August 20, 1840, son of Simon and Elizabeth (Young) Fulton. He is a grandson of David H. Fulton, a native of Frankstown, Blair county, Pa., who in 1838 was sent to Philadelphia to learn the tailor's trade, from which place he came to Clearfield county. Settling near the Squire Smith home, he took up farming and also followed his trade in the vicinity. He died in 1867 at the age of ninety-seven years. He married Eliza- beth Rorabough, a daughter of David Rora- bough.
Simon Fulton was born in Center county, Pa., and after coming to Clearfield county was brought up to agriculture on the parental homestead, and he followed that occupation on the homestead all the rest of his life. He was a member of Mt. Zion church, and in pol- itics a Democrat. He married Elizabeth Young, a daughter of Henry and Hannah (Saylor) Young. She died in 1854. Of ten children born to Simon and Elizabeth Fulton, but three are now living, namely: David, the
subject of this sketch; Hannah, who is the widow of A. Thompson, late of Burnside; and Rebecca, the wife of John Fishel, of Five Points, Clearfield county, Pa.
David Fulton had practically no school ad- vantages in his boyhood. He assisted his father in cutting timber until his marriage at the age of twenty-seven years. In 1864 he enlisted for one year in Company F. 5th Regt. Pa. Heavy Artillery, and served in the army of the Potomac under General Meade, taking part in several battles. He was mustered out June 30, 1865. On his return home he bought land and was engaged in lumbering during the winters. He came to his present home in 1868, and having purchased it, engaged here in general farming and lumbering, in which pursuits he has been quite successful. He is a Republican in politics and has served as over- seer of the poor and on the school board.
Mr. Fulton married first Elizabeth Ann Smith, who was born in Clearfield county in 1845, a daughter of James and Mary Smith. She died leaving three children, now living, besides two that are deceased. The living are : James, who is associated with his father in farming and lumbering; Harrison, who is married and resides in Alabama; and Simon, unmarried, residing in West Virginia. Mr. Fulton married for his second wife, Nancy Ellen Oaks, born in September. 1865, a daughter of Martin and Nancy (McGarey) Oakes, old settlers in Clearfield county. Of this marriage there were three children: Ma- bel, now aged seventeen years, who is keeping house for her father : Blair, aged fourteen, and Carrie, aged eight. Mrs. Mary E. Fulton died in 1903.
LESLIE STEWART .- One of the leading citizens of Clearfield County, and prominent in
DAVID FULTON
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the business and political affairs of the com- munity, is Leslie Stewart, now a resident of the borough of Clearfield. Mr. Stewart was born in Beccaria Township in Clearfield Coun- ty on the 22d day of March, 1868, and was the son of Joseph and Rebecca Stewart. His fa- ther, Joseph Stewart, came to this country from Ireland in 1836, ond in 1845 settled in Clear- field County, which was then an almost un- broken forest. He was one of the pioneers who opened the region to settlement and started it on its career of industrial development.
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