BIO: John R. ARDARY, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 539 & 540. _____________________________________________________________ JOHN R. ARDARY, general farmer and dairyman, in Pike Township, where he owns 131 acres of valuable land, situated three miles south of Curwensville, Pa., was born in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, Pa., December 11, 1873. His parents are James M. and Martha (Price) Ardary. James M. Ardary was born in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, March 12, 1844, a son of Elisha Ardary, who was born in Center County and came to Clearfield County with his parents, who were James and Eleanor (Coulter) Ardary. Elisha Ardary attended school near Clover Hill, on Big Clearfield Creek, in Lawrence Township, and remained at home until he was married to Elizabeth Thompson, who died in 1847. To this marriage the following children were born: Eneas, who was a soldier in the Civil War, and being captured by the enemy, died in Andersonville Prison; Samuel, who lives at Clearfield; James M., who resides on Irwin Hill, Curwensville; John, a carpenter, who resides at Curwensville (married Alice Caldwell); and Zenas, a lumberman, who lives at Hawk Run and married a daughter of Henry Hurd. Elisha Ardary was married secondly to Mary (Holly) Lanhead and three children were born to that marriage: Love and George, both of whom live on the old farm in Lawrence Township; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Gates, of Curwensville. After his second marriage, Elisha Ardary moved to Curwensville and lived there at the time of his death. James M. Ardary was educated in Lawrence Township and in Iowa. After he returned to Curwensville, he was married, in September, 1870, to Martha Price, a daughter of William and Hannah Price, and nine children were born to them, namely: Howard, living in the West; Bertha, who died when aged eight years; John R.; Frank, who lives at Pittsburg; Clark, who is a mine foreman, in California; Emma, who is a trained nurse, at Cleveland, O.; Mame, who is a musician, living at Akron, O.; William P., who died at the age of fourteen years; and Stanley, who lived but one year. For nine years after his marriage, James M. Ardary lived in Lawrence Township as a farmer and then moved to Curwensville and from there to Kerrmoor, then to Pike Township, buying a farm near Bloomington, and from there came to Irwin Hill, Curwensville. John R. Ardary attended school in Lawrence Township and at Kerrmoor, after which he spent some years as a farmer and for seven years was employed in a dairy at Kerrmoor, after which he bought his present farm from his father. In March, 1909, he started his dairy and now operates a house to house morning delivery, through Curwensville, disposing of from twenty-three to twenty-five gallons of milk daily. His cows are of mixed breed but are good producers and his business is in a prosperous condition. He keeps hired help and has all his land under cultivation that he can spare from pasturage. In March, 1900, Mr. Ardary was married to Miss Jennie Smith, a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Haag) Smith, and they have two children (twins), Martin Watts and Marian Watts, who are bright students in the public school. In politics, Mr. Ardary is a Republican.