BIO: John L. LIGHTNER, 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 389 - 391.
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  JOHN L. LIGHTNER, who for more than twenty-three years has served as justice 
of the peace at Coalport, Pa., has been prominently identified with the 
progress and development of this section of Clearfield County during a long 
period.  Born in Clearfield County, Pa., August 26, 1850, Mr. Lightner is a son 
of John and Annie (Groom) Lightner, and a grandson of John Lightner, a native 
of Germany and a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War.
  John Lightner, the father of John L. Lightner, was born near Carlisle, in 
Cumberland County, Pa., in 1805, and when but thirteen years of age left home 
to make his own way in the world, securing his first contract in the 
construction of the old tidewater canal and assisting to build the Columbia 
bridge which was burned during the Civil War.  For some time he kept the Oulet 
lock on the Pennsylvania Canal, but subsequently, in 1847, brought his family 
by team and wagon to a farm near Blain City, and paid $1,000 in gold for a farm 
of 150 acres, which he eventually cleared of the pine, hemlock and hardwood 
timber.  Here Mr. Lightner died May 28, 1890.  He married Annie Groom, who was 
born in Bucks County, Pa., and they became the parents of fourteen children, of 
whom seven grew to maturity, as follows:  William, engaged in the lumbering 
business up to the time of his death in 1909, served during the Civil War as a 
member of the 105th Pa. Vols., and has the distinction of being the only man in 
Irvona when that town was laid out; Martha, born in Columbia, Lancaster County, 
married John W. Davis; Thomas G., a resident of Blain City, formerly owned 700 
acres of coal and timber land on the present site of the town of Coalport, 
removed to Tyrone in 1867 and there conducted the Clearfield Hotel until his 
return to Clearfield County about 1886, where he is now living retired; John 
L., between whom and his elder brothers five children are deceased; Adda 
married Thomas McQuillen of Tyrone; Alice is the wife of James McClure, of 
Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County; and George, a farmer of Chest Township, 
Clearfield County, married a daughter of Judge Hockenberry, formerly associate 
judge of Clearfield County.
  John L. Lightner attended the local schools and took a four years' course at 
Tuscarora Academy, in Juniata County, a Presbyterian institution at what was 
then known as Academia.  He graduated in 1871, after a four-years course in 
civil engineering, and immediately engaged in teaching, a profession which he 
followed for twelve years in Clearfield County and one term in Cambria County.  
About 1883 he identified himself with the firm of Shaw & Dotts, and while with 
them laid out Blain City and sold the lots, after which, for a time, he was 
associated with Harry Krotzer.  Mr. Lightner was instrumental in securing the 
brick plant for Irvona, which will employ a large number of people, and in many 
ways has assisted in the building up of this part of Clearfield County.  He has 
devoted some time to the insurance business, purchased the Thompson interests 
after Mr. Thompson's death, and since March, 1902, has been actively interested 
in the land business, as a superintendent of the firm of Whitmer Land Company 
and others, but he has not let his business activities keep him from what he 
considers his duties as a citizen and he has always been found doing his full 
share in this way.  Mr. Lightner has ever been ready to give sound advice and 
settle disagreements, and his reputation as a peacemaker led his fellow 
citizens, in 1887, to elect him to the office of justice of the peace, in which 
capacity he has acted to the present time.
  In February, 1903, Mr. Lightner was married to Miss Zellah McCune, the 
daughter of Easton McCune, of Irvona.  In National and state matters the Judge 
casts his vote with the Democratic party, but in local affairs lets his 
judgment decide which is the candidate best fitted for the office.