Biography of Joseph W. Cochran

Joseph W. Cochran. Of the agriculturists of Shawnee County who have been the architects of their own fortunes, and who, from small beginnings, have worked their way to independence and position, Joseph W. Cochran is a leading representative. He began his career without advantages of any kind, and his early struggles to gain a foothold necessitated the use of all his energies, but his present fine farm of 107 acres, in Menoken Township, illustrates what may be gained through the exercise of industry and well directed effort. Mr. Cochran was born on a farm near Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, May … Read more

Biography of Hon. Samuel S. Guyer

The Honorable Samuel S. Guyer was born at Lewistown, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1814. In his early manhood he was a contractor in New York City and in the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal System. In 1839, with his mother, sister and two brothers, he removed to Peoria, Illinois, from which base he engaged in the business of building flat boats and carrying cargos of merchandise to trade with the planters between Natchez and New Orleans. In the great tornado at Natchez in 1842, he lost all his possessions and barely escaped with his life. Returning to Peoria he studied law … Read more

Yoder, Elmer Simon – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Elmer Simon Yoder, 75, of Elgin, died Saturday at a care center in La Grande. A full obituary will follow later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is handling arrangements. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the day of May 26, 2008 _________________________________ Elmer Simon Yoder, 75, of Elgin, died peacefully May 24 at a local care center in La Grande following an extended illness. No services are planned at this time. He had requested no flowers. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Elmer was born March 11, 1933, in Belleville, Pa., one of 11 children. His … Read more

Biography of Frederick S. Kohler, M. D.

The wise system of industrial economics which has been brought to bear in the development of Nampa has challenged uniform admiration, for while there has been steady advancement in material lines there has been an entire absence of that inflation of values and that erratic “booming” which have in the past proved the eventual death knell to many of the localities in the west, where “mushroom towns” have one day smiled forth with “all modern improvements” and practically on the next have been shorn of their glories and of their possibilities of stable prosperity until the existing order of things … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. C. Postlethwaite

J. C. Postlethwaite, attorney and banker, was born in Mifflin County, Pa., August 22, 1848. He attended school at Mount Union, Pa., and came to Manhattan, Kan. in 1869, and worked in the banking establishment of W. P. Higinbotham. Came to Jewel (sic) County in 1870, and took a homestead. He studied law, and was admitted to practice in 1873 and has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. The Jewell City Bank was organized in 1880, when Mr. Postlethwaite became cashier and one of the owners. He is a Mason, and was the first Master of … Read more

Biography of John C. Fields

John C. Fields. Among the worthy farmers of Fawn Creek Township, Montgomery County, whose industry, perseverance and good management have brought them into comfortable circumstances, is John C. Fields. Mr. Fields has been a resident of Montgomery County since 1870, in which year he took up a pre-emption claim in what was then the Cherokee Strip. He has steadily added to his holdings since that time, and is now one of the substantial men of his community, having a well-cultivated property of 650 acres, and being a director of the Tyro State Bank. Mr. Fields was born in Mifflin County, … Read more

Early Exploration and Native Americans

De Soto and his band gave to the Choctaws at Moma Binah and the Chickasaws at Chikasahha their first lesson in the white man’s modus operandi to civilize and Christianize North American Indians; so has the same lesson been continued to be given to that unfortunate people by his white successors from that day to this, all over this continent, but which to them, was as the tones of an alarm-bell at midnight. And one hundred and twenty-three years have passed since our forefathers declared all men of every nationality to be free and equal on the soil of the North … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Walter D. Meals

Meals, Walter D.; judge; born, Mill Creek, Pa., Jan. 4, 1872; educated in the public schools of Harrisburg and Lewiston, Pa.; Juniata College, Huntington, Pa.; graduated from Keystone State Normal School, 1888; taught school in Minnesota two years; graduated, Law Dept., University of Michigan, 1892, degree of LL. B.; admitted to the bar, and began practice in Lewistown, Pa.; came to Cleveland in March, 1894, and has practiced here since that time; member Iris Lodge, Masons, Criterion Lodge, K. of P., and B. P. O. E., No. 18; chairman Cuyahoga County Republican Executive Committee, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, judge Court … Read more

Biography of Oscar B. Steely, M. D.

Oscar B. Steely, M. D., is a prominent resident and physician living at Pocatello, Idaho, and is surgeon of the Idaho and Montana division of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. Dr. Steely was born in Belleville, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1862, and is descended from English and German ancestry. His forefathers in both lines were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and his maternal grandfather (Baker) did patriotic service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His parents were William and Sarah (Baker) Steely, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father, who for many years was a successful dealer in meats, died … Read more

Biography of Stephen R. Magee, M. D.

Stephen R. Magee, M. D. Among the representative orange groves and vineyards of Arlington in Riverside, mention should be made of that owned by D. Magee. The improvements on this place were commenced by Mrs. Magee in August, 1875. It was then a wild and barren plain. Mrs. Magee in that year preceded the Doctor to California and located on a forty-acre tract, on what is now the corner of Center and Palm avenues. She caused a small cottage to be erected, in which herself and children were domiciled, and then at once commenced the planting of ornamental trees and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew Lytle

Andrew Lytle, deceased, was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in 1812. His parents moved to Akron, Ohio, when he was a small boy. At the age of twenty-one years he went back to Pennsylvania and married Hannah Hull. This lady was the daughter of Abner and Martha (Skinner) Hull, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. In 1834, two years after his marriage, he moved to Portage County, Ohio. Next he moved to Bidwell County, Missouri, and two years later to Nauvoo, Illinois. From the latter place he removed to Salt Lake, where he remained several years. In 1850 he came … Read more

Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Census Records

1790 Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Census Records Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial  Hosted at USGenWeb Census Project Census Index File 1 of 2 File 2 of 2 Hosted at Census Guide 1800 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Census Records Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial  Hosted at Census Guide 1800 U.S. Census Guide 1810 Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Census Records Free 1810 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial  Hosted at Census Guide 1810 U.S. Census Guide 1820 … Read more

Biography of Hon. James Kerr Kelly

HON. JAMES KERR KELLY. – Among the men of distinction in our state, none have held a position of eminence for a longer time than Senator Kelly. It requires stamina to stand for thirty years upon “the hard and wintry peaks of fame.” We are the more assured of eminent qualities of the Colonel when we consider that he came to this coast and started upon bed-rock. Family ties, name, favoritism, may elevate men of no ability to high positions in older communities; but in the Oregon of an early day artificial conditions did not exist. A man came near … Read more

Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Cemetery Records

Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Cemeteries hosted at Mifflin County PAGenWeb Project Allen Grave Cemetery Barrville Mennonite Cemetery Bell-Sigler Family Bortel family plot Culbertson Cemetery Dixon Family-Lockport Dunmire-Ely Cemetery Heister’s Mill Cemetery Holy Communion Lutheran Cemetery (Yeagertown) Kinsel Cemetery Memorial Cemetery Moist Cemetery Norton Cemetery Old Lewistown Cemetery Postlethwaite Cemetery Rothrock Cemetery / Hoyt Family St. Mark’s Episcopal Cemetery – New Section St. Mark’s Episcopal Cemetery – Old Section Swigart Cemetery Sunderland Cemetery West Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Cemetery Woodlawn Cemetery … Read more

Biography of John Duffy Robertson

John Duffy Robertson. Of the men who have attained commercial prominence, based upon character as well as ability, and made their influence felt not only in one locality but throughout the State of Kansas, there is every reason to give permanent record to the career of the late John Duffy Robertson. Mr. Robertson was one of the pioneer merchants of Jewell. He helped found and build up that town. In a few years his success was more than local as he possessed the rare faculty of being able to handle many diverse interests, and these interests became rapidly extended until … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse O. Snyder

In charge of the great plant of the Western Meat Company at South San Francisco which employs hundreds of men and turns out thousands of dollars worth of products monthly, is Jesse O. Snyder, a resident of South San Francisco for the past twenty years or more and one of its leading boosters. Mr. Snyder is a native of Pennsylvania and it was in Chicago that he gained his fundamental knowledge of the packing business. Before coming west he was with Swift & Co. He worked himself up to a responsible position with these interests who sent him out to … Read more