BIO: L. Scott BRICKER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ L. S. BRICKER is a representative of the mercantile interests of Boalsburg, Centre county, and in his life there is an exemplification of what can be accomplished through diligence and earnest application, guided by sound judgment. He is now conducting one of the best groceries and general provision stores in the place, and by courteous treatment of his customers and fair dealing has built up a good trade, receiving a liberal share of the public patronage. The Bricker family has long been identified with the interests of Centre county. Joseph Bricker, the grandfather of our subject, came from Lebanon county, Penn., and was a carpenter of Millheim at an early day in its history. There his death occurred in 1855. In his family were the following children: Henry (now deceased), who was a blacksmith at Salona, Penn.; John C., the father of our subject; William, a farmer; Samuel, a tailor and merchant; Joseph, a farmer - all of Fremont, Ind.; Mrs. Louisa Hoffnagle and Mrs. Elizabeth Lingle, also of Fremont, Ind.; Mrs. Rebecca Miller, of Millheim, Penn.; Mrs. Malinda Best, of Kansas; and Catherine, wife of John McGill, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. John C. Bricker, father of our subject, was born in Millheim, August 18, 1827, where he obtained a meagre education in its public schools, and at an early age served an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade. About 1840 he established a shop in Boalsburg which he conducted a number of years, when he moved to Pine Grove 284 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Mills, Penn., and in 1860 bought a farm two miles west of Boalsburg, where he lived till 1874, when he removed into Boalsburg, and died there in 1877. He married Rosanna Condo, who still lives in Boalsburg, and by her he had six children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: Emma, now the wife of B. B. Cramer, an inn keeper of Punxsutawney, Penn.; Mitchell, a coachsmith, living in Lewistown, Penn., who married Sarah Hassinger; Laird, also a coachsmith, who married Clara Wirtz, and died of typhoid fever February 9, 1880; and L. S., the subject of this review. Our subject was born May 12, 1859, at Pine Grove Mills, Ferguson township, Centre county. While at the Branch school in College township he obtained his primary education, his first teacher being John Bathurst. As he was eighteen years of age when his father died, he immediately took up the shoemaker's trade under Robert Gunsollus, of Boalsburg, and continued to follow the same in that place for eleven years. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster at Boalsburg, which position he satisfactorily filled for four years and a half, when he was removed for political reasons, and he left the office as he had entered it with the confidence and respect of all, and has the satisfaction of knowing that his office was one of five fourth-class offices in Centre county, graded as "excellent." Since 1893 he has successfully conducted his present store. Mr. Bricker was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Stover, a native of Unionville, Centre county, and the ninth in order of birth in the family of twelve children born to William and Sophia (Richard) Stover, the former a native of Hartslog Valley, Huntingdon Co., Penn., the latter born at "Rattlesnake Inn," on the summit of the Alleghany Mountains. For a time Mrs. Bricker was a student in Eden Seminary (since dissolved), but completed her literary education in the Boalsburg Academy, after which she successfully engaged in teaching school in the village of Unionville and Union township, Centre county. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Maud, who was born February 9, 1881, and died November 3, 1883; John W., born November 27, 1883; and Howard, born October 22, 1888. Mr. Bricker is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party in his community, and for ten years served as chairman of the township committee, while in 1896 he was a candidate on that ticket for the office of treasurer of Centre county. His honorable business methods and his upright life have gained him prestige in the community where he has long made his home, and his genial manner enables him to make friends easily, and when once a friendship is gained it is always his. 1870 Harris Township, Centre County census - John Bricker, 43 Rosan [Rosanna] Bricker, 41 Emma Bricker, 17 Mitchell Bricker, 15 Laird J. Bricker, 13 L. Scott Bricker, 11