BIO: Robert Nelson LOYD, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2010. 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. _____________________________________________________________________ ROBERT NELSON LOYD. A unique interest attaches to everything which is associated even indirectly with the days when this section was a "waste, howling wilderness," and its thriving towns existed not even in the fertile imagination of the hardy pioneer who cleared the forest from the sites upon which they have since been established. The subject of this sketch, who was born November 9, 1825, in Philipsburg, Centre county, at what is now known as Grant's Corner, is a son of Charles Loyd, an Englishman by birth, who went to that locality as a young man, with Dr. Plumb, and for some time conducted a boarding house for Philips and Plumb. He was also the "boss farmer" for Mr. Philips, who was then engaged in clearing extensive tracts of land. Charles A. Loyd was married at Philipsburg to Miss Mary A. Nelson, and his death occurred a few years later, when he was aged thirty-one. Being a member of the State militia, he was buried with 502 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. military honors. Three children were born of this union, viz.: (1) Robert N. is our subject. (2) Sarah Ann married Joshua Carney, of Philipsburg, and both died and were buried at that place. (3) Martha married William Washburn, and died at Philipsburg. Our subject's mother was born in Delaware about the year 1800, and died in 1875. In early womanhood she accompanied her mother and stepfather, Mr. McCloskey, to Centre county. She was of old New England stock, her ancestors having come to America in early Colonial days. After the death of her first husband, she married a Mr. McCloskey, whose mother taught the first school at Philipsburg, the sessions being held at night. As Mr. Loyd was a mere child when his father died, he was placed under the care of an uncle, William Parker, residing at Bellefonte, and he afterward kept the "Black Bear Hotel," four miles east of Philipsburg. In the spring of 1840 he returned to Philipsburg, where he has since resided. In 1842 he learned the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed until 1859, when he engaged in the hotel business, building the "Loyd House." This he conducted for twenty years with gratifying success, and in the meantime he was interested also in the lumber business to some extent. Since retiring from the hotel he has given but little attention to business, looking well to his property. He was one of the six who organized the old Moshannon Bank in 1881. He is interested in mining at Winburne, and owns some real estate at N. Philipsburg. Mr. Loyd was married the first time, in 1849, to Miss Amanda J. White, a native of Philipsburg. They had two children: (1) Charles, who is married and resides at Vulcan, where he is engaged in mining, and (2) Martha, who was educated at Tinton Seminary, in Blair county, Penn. She married E. W. Bradner, and has four children: Robert, John, Josephine and Carrie Russell. The mother of these died in 1852, and Mr. Loyd for his second wife married Miss Elizabeth Ayers, who died leaving one daughter, Miriam, now the wife of George W. Morrison, of Jersey Shore, Penn.; they have three children - Edwin Loyd, Louis and Frederick. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Loyd married Miss Mary Ann Stewart, by whom he had five children: (1) Ida M., who married William E. Tyson, and has one son - Edwin Loyd; (2) Lula Belle, who was educated at Bordentown, N.J., and is now at home; (3) Robert P., (4) William P. and (5) Harry A. Death again entered our subject's home, taking the mother of this little family; and Mr. Loyd formed a fourth matrimonial union, this time with Miss Margaret Cross, his present wife. They have no children. Mr. Loyd is an Episcopalian in religious faith; socially he has for many years been a member of the Masonic fraternity; politically he is a Republican, and he has always taken great interest in public questions. He has been a councilman for several years, also served on the school board, and was supervisor several terms. In 1863, when the State was invaded, he responded to the Governor's call for "emergency men," and served under Capt. Ganoe and Lieut. Williams, of Bald Eagle.