BIO: Miss Margaret HOYT, 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 694 & 695.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  MISS MARGARET HOYT, who is a representative of one of the best known and most 
substantial families of Clearfield County, Pa., continues to reside on the old 
Hoyt farm of 400 acres, situated in Greenwood Township, in which she owns a 
one-third interest.  Miss Hoyt was born at Curwensville, Pa., December 10, 
1836, and is a daughter of Dr. and Mary (McClure) Hoyt.
  Dr. Hoyt came of Connecticut stock, of the same family that, as history tells 
us, ninety days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 
1776, had prepared a similar declaration and had issued it.  This fact 
indicates that the Hoyts were men of enterprise, patriotism, and courage and 
the same traits have been manifested in the later generations.
  The father of Miss Hoyt was born September 12, 1793, at Hudson, N. Y., a son 
of Phineas and Julia Anna (Pennoyer) Hoyt.  He was afforded excellent 
educational advantages and appears to have spent his boyhood and youth in 
study, at one time being a pupil at Dartmouth College.  He studied medicine 
with Dr. Woodward and Dr. White, in Otsego County and received his medical 
degree in 1818, locating for practice in Half Moon Township, Center County, Pa.  
Shortly afterward he moved to Pike Township, Clearfield County, making the trip 
on horseback, and carrying his possessions with his medicines in his 
saddlebags, which have been preserved by his daughter, Miss Hoyt.  He engaged 
in medical practice and later engaged also in merchandising at Curwensville.  
In 1842 he moved to Greenwood Township, near Lumber City and Kerrmoor, where he 
built a mill in 1843, which he later deeded to his son, David Hoyt.  He 
acquired about 1000 acres of fine timber land in Clearfield County.  He lived 
into honored old age, his death occurring in February, 1885.  He was widely 
known and was universally respected.
  Dr. Hoyt was married in January, 1820, to Miss Mary McClure, a daughter of 
Thomas McClure, of Pike Township, Clearfield County.  They lived in Pike 
Township, near McClure's Cemetery, until after the birth of four children, and 
then moved to Curwensville, where the six younger children were born.  The 
family record is as follows:  Hiram, who was born in 1821, died in 1824; 
Julianna, who was born in 1823, died in 1824; Harriet, who was born April 9, 
1825, died in February, 1906; David Wilson, who was born April 13, 1828, died 
in 1889; Elizabeth M., who was born May 29, 1830, is the widow of Martin Watts, 
to whom she was married January 18, 1854; Mary E., who was born November 2, 
1832, married Martin Stirk, and died December 4, 1863; Margaret, who was born 
December 10, 1836; Christianna, who was born September 21, 1840, died August 
21, 1843; and two sons, died in infancy.  The mother of the above family died 
in September, 1886.  Both she and husband were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church.  For many years their hospitable home was the center of a 
great deal of the pleasant social life of the time in this section.
  Miss Margaret Hoyt was the seventh born in her parents' family.  She 
remembers attending school in one of the early buildings standing on Filbert 
Street, Curwensville, where Mr. Ross was the teacher, and also a subscription 
school taught by Miss Goodfellow.  After her parents moved to the present farm 
in 1842, she had school opportunities in Ferguson Township and recalls William 
T. Thorp, Sr., as a favorite teacher.  Her father's house always being one of 
lavish hospitality, distinguished guests were often entertained and around the 
generous board or at the fireside she heard all the important questions of the 
day discussed.  Miss Hoyt still retains much interest in what is going on in 
the world and is a very capable business woman.  In addition to the land 
interest already mentioned, she is a stockholder in several banks.