BIO: George H. PLANTEN, 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 582 & 583. _____________________________________________________________ GEORGE H. PLANTEN, division foreman for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Westover, and a prominent citizen of the borough, was born at Clacton-on-Sea, county Essex, England, October 9, 1860. His parents were William and Susan (Dove) Planten, and he is a grandson of John and Sarah Planten, the former an English farmer who lived to a good old age. William Planten, who was born in Suffolk, England, also spent his industrial years in agriculture, and is still living at the age of 83 in London, England. His wife, Sarah Dove Planten, died in 1910 at the age of eighty-four. The Dove family from which she sprang are well known in English maritime circles as large ship owners. Of their children, in addition to the subject of this sketch, there are three sons living and two daughters, namely: Anthony, a steamship captain, residing in Scotland; William, a seafaring man residing in England; Charles, a care taker, in London, England; Alice, wife of E. Holmes, of London, England; and Elizabeth, wife of J. J. Easton, also of London. George H. Planten, after his school days were over, entered the English army, in which he served five years. At the age of 20 years he came to America, settling first in Philadelphia, where at first he did manual labor and afterwards was in the milk business for one year. Going then to New York, he became connected with the bridge building industry and worked at it for three years in various states. Leaving his employer in New Orleans he went by steamer to Costa Rico, South America, to work for a German-French Railway company and was in their employ fifteen months, engaged chiefly in bridge construction. He was next sent to the vicinity of Montreal, Canada, to construct a bridge over the St. Lawrence river. After this work was done, he returned to New York and soon after entered the employ of a French and Belgium railway company, who sent him to Venezuela as superintendent of bridge and trestle work. Returning then to Philadelphia, he married, and soon after entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Cresson, and has since remained with this company as foreman a period of eighteen years. He came to Westover in 1894. He is a member of the United Evangelical church, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Patton. Politically a Republican, he has been active on behalf of his party and served the local committee two terms as president and three years as chairman. He was also a delegate one year to the party convention at Harrisburg. He was elected justice of the peace in 1906 but resigned the office in 1908. As an instance of his faithful performance of duty, it may be mentioned that on one occasion he received a $50 prize from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, for services to the company. Mr. Planten was married in 1903 to Mrs. Grace Zella Lake DeCoursey Stout, who was born in Ireland, March 14, 1860, a daughter of Patrick Sexton and Mary Annie (Burch) DeCoursey. Mrs. Planten's parents are both deceased, her father dying in 1896 at the age of 72 years, and her mother in 1895 at that of 69. They came to America in 1867, residing first in New York and later removing to Providence, R. I., where the rest of their lives were spent, Mr. DeCoursey being engaged in business as a merchant tailor. Their children, in addition to Mrs. Planten, were Zella, Ellen, Edward, Johanna, James and Patrick Henry.