BIO: Joseph L. DALE, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 668 - 670.
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  JOSEPH L. DALE, a prominent citizen and progressive agriculturist of Pike 
township, who resides on his valuable farm of 104 acres, situated two miles 
southwest of Curwensville, belongs to one of the old county families and was 
born on this farm on May 8, 1840.  He is a son of John P. and Martha (Henry) 
(Bell) Dale.
  John P. Dale was born in 1799, near Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pa., and 
died in Clearfield county in October, 1883.  He had but few educational 
privileges in youth, having to walk a distance of three miles through the 
winter snows, to reach the schoolhouse, but he learned to read, spell and 
calculate and became a fine penman.  When he came first to Clearfield county 
the present thriving borough of Clearfield was represented by one old cabin on 
the old Read farm.  Mr. Dale was accompanied by his mother who built a large 
stone house on the State road and frequently traded bread she baked to Indians 
who brought her meat.  When he was only ten years old he carried the mail 
between Bellefonte and Franklin, making the dangerous trip on horseback, and 
dangerous indeed it was as on one occasion he encountered twenty-one hungry 
wolves.  Frequently he stopped at the Indian camps, in the winter time, and 
warmed himself by their fires.  He treated them all justly and they were kind 
and friendly to him and his family, and in after years he often told of the 
real nobility of character the supposed savages showed when they were dealt 
with justly.
  John P. Dale was thrice married and after his first union he came to the farm 
now owned by his son, Joseph L.  After the death of his wife he moved to 
Bridgeport and lived in a small house on a hillside above the place and while 
there operated a sawmill.  From there he moved to Curwensville, where he 
entered into partnership with a Mr. McPherson in the tanning business and while 
living there his second wife died.  He was married a third time at 
Curwensville, and afterward moved to a farm of 100 acres, three miles west of 
Curwensville, which is now owned by John Woods, afterward purchasing the 
present farm.  He was living at Curwensville during the Civil War.  For fifty 
years he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  A lifelong 
Democrat he was prominent in township politics and served acceptably in 
township offices.  He was a man of whom nothing but good can be recalled, a 
typical pioneer, and his memory reflects honor on his descendants and on the 
section in which his industrious and useful life was spent.  Although thrice 
married he did not leave very many children.  His first wife was Margaret 
McClure, who died with their infant child.  His second marriage was to a Miss 
McCracken, and five children were born, only one of whom, the eldest, William 
Dale survives.  His third union was with Mrs. Martha (Henry) Bell, widow of 
William Bell and daughter of James Henry, of Center county, where she was born.  
Four children were born to John P. and Martha Dale:  James, Jennie C., Joseph 
L. and Martha.  Of these, Jennie C. is now deceased.  The mother of this family 
died in 1881 and both she and the father rest in the old McClure cemetery, 
which is situated near the Dale farm.
  Joseph L. Dale attended school at Locust Ridge schoolhouse, two miles from 
Curwensville.  It was a subscription school, the free school system not yet 
having been introduced.  He learned to read in the New Testament, no regular 
reading books having yet found their way into Pike township.  Some years later 
he attended school for one year in New York State.  When the Civil War broke 
out, Mr. Dale was an enthusiastic supporter of the Union and gave proof of his 
loyalty by enlisting for service in the army, entering Co. B, 149th Pa. Vol. 
Inf., the famous Bucktail regiment, and remained until the close of the war.  
During this time he was exposed to all the dangers which war brings in its 
train and he was ever at the post of duty, but he fortunately escaped both 
wounds and capture.  After he returned home he bought the farm from his father 
and has continued to reside here until the present.  The pleasant title of 
Glendale Farm has been given the place and it is known all over this section 
for its productiveness both as to grain and excellent stock.  Mr. Dale has 
sixty acres under cultivation.
  In 1865 Mr. Dale was first married, the lady being Miss Christiana Esau, who 
was born in Germany.  She died in March, 1895, the mother of ten children, 
namely:  John A., who lives in Curwensville; William L., who married Anna 
Hagerty; Idella, who died young; Harry and Mary, both of whom are deceased; 
Frank, who resides at Altoona, married Alice Hagerty and they have four 
children - Malcolm, Joseph, William and Martha; Walter, who is in business at 
Altoona, married Mabel Doughman, and they have four children - Lorna, Dortha, 
Elizabeth and Frederick; Paul, who resides at Curwensville; Annie, who is the 
wife of John Hudson, of Curwensville, and they have two children - John and 
Margie.  Mr. Dale was married second on April 25, 1896, to Mrs. Clarissa (Cole) 
Hoover, widow of Allen Hoover and a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Welch) Cole.  
Mrs. Dale was born at Center, Pa., April 22, 1845.  She, with her husband, is 
interested actively in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which 
both are members.  Mr. Dale is identified with Susquehannah Grange, at 
Curwensville, an organization that claims the majority of the enterprising and 
successful farmers of this section as members.  In politics Mr. Dale has always 
been a Democrat and on the Democratic ticket has frequently been elected to 
township offices and has served as constable, school director, tax collector 
and overseer of the Poor.  He is one of the leading members of Kratzer Post, G. 
A. R., at Curwensville, and for many years has been a member of the local lodge 
of Odd Fellows.