BIO: William WINGERT, 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 406 - 413. _____________________________________________________________ WILLIAM WINGERT, of Luthersburg, farmer and lumberman, and one of the most substantial residents of Brady township, where he owns much valuable property, including 1,500 acres of both timbered and farm land, is one of the successful and representative men of this section. He was born March 9, 1842, near Punxatawney, Jefferson county, Pa., and is a son of Frederick and Mary Margaret (Laudaman) Wingert. Mr. Wingert's parents came to this country from Germany, being accompanied by four children - Henry, George H., Frederick and Margaret - which constituted their entire family at that time. They settled temporarily in Jefferson county, Pa., until Frederick Wingert, the father, had had the time and opportunity to find a more permanent settlement. This after a while he did in Brady township, Clearfield county, where he purchased sixty-two acres of wild land. This whole region at that time was practically a wilderness, and in the clearing of a farm Mr. Wingert, the elder, found himself confronted by a task that made large demands upon his strength and resolution. But the early settlers of this region were, as a rule, men not easily appalled, and Mr. Wingert was worthy to rank with the best of them. He soon got to work, therefore, made a small clearing for a beginning and built thereon a small cabin of round logs, the cracks being plastered inside and outside with mud or clay, as was the pioneer custom. This humble domicile had but one door, which, as it was then impossible to obtain nails without going to great trouble and expense, was hung on wooden hinges otherwise secured and was furnished with a wooden latch. Before the door was hung, however, it was necessary to fill the doorway with bundles of straw, to keep out the cold, as it was now getting late in the fall. The cabin contained one small window, consisting of nine lights of 6 x 8 glass panes, and in one end was a fireplace. The cabin was a story and a half in height and the roof was put on without a nail. In place of a stairway to the upper portion, two upright poles, supplied with pegs for steps, led to an opening in the ceiling, by which means the family ascended to the half story above. At first they were without even a stove or a time piece, or even chairs; but necessity is the mother of invention, and substitutes for these things, which would nowadays be considered absolutely essential, until Mr. Wingert was able to provide them. The crowing of the cocks announcing the dawn, told them when it was time to get up, for there was no lying in bed after there was light enough for them to see to work by, and for the rest of the day until evening, the sun was their clock. For a long time the only roads were cow paths through the woods. In this cabin home three more children were born - Peter, Jacob and David - the birth of William, our direct subject, having occurred, as we have seen, while the family were sojourning in Jefferson county. The family now numbered ten members and as the sons grew up, each had his duties assigned him. The little clearing was still further enlarged each year; some of the timber after being felled was burned, as there was no market for it at that time. Much of it, however, owing to the difficulty of felling, was simply killed by having a ring cut clear around through the bark, and it was then left to rot on the stump. A small quantity was made into shingles, which were sold to store keepers at from $5.50 to $6.00 per thousand. These shingles had to be 26 inches long, with a good average width and a five-eighths butt. The store keepers would build arks, load them with shingles and float them down the river on the spring floods to Middletown and other markets. The shingles were not paid for by the store keepers until after the latter had received their returns from the dealers down the river, and even then they paid only about one0third in cash and the rest in trade. Pine, oak and chestnut, of the finest quality, were among the commonest kinds of timber. For a considerable period the Wingerts had neither horse nor wagon. When they first settled here they had a cow from which they raised a calf to be used as an ox, and then, buying another calf, they had a yoke of cattle to do the work of pulling and hauling. Instead of a cart or wagon they used a sled, which the father constructed entirely of wood, no iron or nails being used in it; and this was made use of winter and summer. Before long Mr. Wingert bought 100 acres more land, paying for it gradually in hand-shaved shingles, which he made in the winter, attending to the farm work, with the help of his elder sons, in the summer time. He raised enough grain and produce for the family needs on the land already cleared, continuing to prosecute the work of clearing the rest of his purchase, destroying the timber, except such kinds as would split easily for shingles. Such timber, for which there was then no market, would now be worth a large sum. Having now made a fair start in the establishment of a homestead, he began the erection of a new and more commodious dwelling. This in itself was a task of some magnitude, as there were then no planing-mills in the vicinity and everything had to be done by hand, the axe and adze being the tools chiefly employed, though the saw and plane were used, the latter in smoothing the lumber for the floors. Logs were hewed on four sides for the uprights, which were carried up two stories. The joists were also planed by hand, as well as the linings and partitions, which were planed on both sides. Nails at that time were very high, $8.00 per hundred. By this time, in addition to their oxen, they had a horse team, Mr. Wingert having previously bought a cheap mare from which a colt was raised, the two animals forming the team, and proving useful in many ways. On the completion of the new house, the family moved into it, the event being a red letter day in the family history. It was regarded by all their neighbors as a good house, and cost them quite a little in money, to say nothing of the heavy labor involved. Thus, step by step, and year after year they moved forward to an improved condition of life, each member of the family doing his full part as he became old enough. The boys all grew to manhood on the homestead, and as the elder ones became of age the father made arrangements with them for their continued stay at home, agreeing to give them each $100 per year in land, besides food and clothing. As the land at that time was selling at $4.00 per acre, it took four years of hard work to pay for 100 acres of land. This arrangement was continued until most of the sons owned 100 acres - excepting only the three youngest. These, on the father's final retirement from active labor, received their portion in cash, which, owing to the increase in the value of land, amounted to about $1,000 apiece, Peter becoming the possessor of the old homestead, on the condition that he should contribute one-third to the support of his father and mother as long as they lived. The mother was the first to pass away, dying March 27, 1885, at the age of seventy-seven years, six months and twenty-five days. The father, John Frederick Wingert, died July 13, 1887, aged eighty years, seven months and fifteen days. All the children at this time were still living, and it was ten years before there was another death in the family. Then, on October 20, 1897, Peter passed away at the age of fifty-two years, ten months, twenty-eight days. George H. followed him July 16, 1904, aged seventy years, seven months, eight days. Then came Margaret, who died in the year 1908, aged sixty-nine years, seven months, four days; afterwards Jacob, who died at the age of sixty-four years in January, 1909. Margaret was the wife of David Swope. The survivors at this writing are Henry, the eldest brother, who resides in Brady; William, our direct subject, residing in Luthersburg; and Frederick and David, living in or near Bucyrus, Crawford county, Ohio. William Wingert was but an infant when he accompanied his parents and the rest of their family to Clearfield county. His educational opportunities were very limited, but he attended a subscription school on his father's farm for a time. When but eight or nine years old he had to help to saw the timber for shaved shingles, pulling one end of the saw; and he also made himself useful in supplying wood for the big fireplace that occupied most of one side of the log house. About the time that each of the brothers had paid for his own land, he began to work on it, sometimes having the assistance of his sweetheart. Thus they grew up and married. William in his turn finally got his land paid for and commenced working on it. He remained at home, however, another year or more, exchanging his work with his younger brothers he helping at home, and they at times helping him on his land, the account being called square on both sides. In 1864 Mr. Wingert enlisted for one year or during the war in the 100th Pa. Volunteers, which was assigned to the 5th Brigade, 9th Army Corps. The remembrance of these days is still vividly upon him, as he says, "At that time our whole country was sorrow stricken and draped in black, many fathers and mothers weeping for their sons, many a wife weeping for her husband. But in June, 1865, the whole country rejoiced over peace and liberty once more restored between the North and the South, and almost the entire North rejoiced that the great battles had been fought and the great and final victory won; that our country was once more a country of freedom and liberty. On our way home the women and children of the city of Washington strewed the streets with flowers and roses for the soldiers to walk over - all from joy; and ever since our country has had peace at home. May it long continue, so that the generations which come after us may reap the benefit of the hardships we endured while playing a soldier's part in the mighty struggle that almost divided the Nation." In 1868 Mr. Wingert moved onto his own place at Coal Hill, where the Jefferson Coal & Iron Company now have a coal mine in operation. He cleaned up a considerable part of that land and then started in the saw-mill and lumbering business, at the same time continuing his farming operations. After getting a little money he began investing to some extent in real estate in DuBois, which place was then enjoying a healthy growth. His investments proved successful and after increasing his cash capital he bought some stock in a private bank, called the Bank of DuBois. This he did on the positive representations of the president and cashier that it would pay not less than six per cent in dividends, and that he would be put to no trouble in the conducting of the bank, as they would run it. This they did, but not to a fortunate or profitable issue, for on March 14, 1895, it closed its doors. The bank had a capital of but $50,000, of which our subject owned $10,000 in stock. Being a private institution, each stockholder was indirectly liable for its indebtedness. This caused Mr. Wingert a lot of trouble and expense, but he finally got out of the matter with a loss of over $26,000.00 in cash, besides considerable other property that he had to sacrifice. This experience, however, severe as it was, did not discourage Mr. Wingert. He continued to prosecute his farming and lumbering interests and along these lines his efforts were crowned with success. Today he owns five good farms, besides 990 acres of rough or uncultivated lands, amounting altogether to about 1,500 acres. To this should be added also several brick buildings in DuBois and some valuable vacant lots in that place. He is also a stockholder and director in the DuBois National Bank, and is interested in a timber lot at Oregon, Pa. In 1868 Mr. Wingert was married to Louisa Swope, and of this union were born four children, all of whom are now living, namely: John J., Mary Emma, Ellis A. I., who are married, and Lula Ella, who is single and resides at home. Mr. Wingert has dealt generously with his children. We have seen how he worked for his father until he was of age for $100 per year. He on his part, agreed to pay each of his sons $300 per year. The younger son, Ellis, worked for awhile on those terms and then married Miss Mary Hartzfield, upon which his father deeded to him a farm and gave him with it all the farming utensils necessary, including a wagon and team of horses. Of this marriage have been born five sons, all of whom are living. Mr. Wingert's elder son, after his brother's marriage, continued to work for his father, and the latter raised his wages from $300 to $600 per year, also deeding to him a farm with all the farming utensils, including wagon and team. The two farms above mentioned as given by Mr. Wingert to his sons were underlaid with coal, which they sold - the one in fee simple at $140 per acre, the other (John J.) selling the coal only at $100 per acre, and now having his farm rented. The latter has built himself a nice brick house in Luthersburg. He married Frances Weber and they have two children, a son and a daughter - Roy Sylvester and Lillian Alberta. Mary E. is the wife of W. H. Nevil of DuBois. Her father bought her a nice lot and built her a substantial brick house thereon, presenting her with the deed. Ellis Ai, whose marriage to Mary Hartzfield has been referred to, lives in Brady township, and they have five children - Chester, Lloyd, Edgar, Clifford and Marlin. Much more could be said of Mr. Wingert's career did space allow; still a few words more are due to our subject. A retrospective glance shows clearly that his main characteristic through life has been that resolute, persevering industry and thoroughness for which the German people are noted. His business affairs have been but briefly touched upon. In addition to the large sum he lost by the bank failure, he has at different times sustained other losses of no inconsiderable magnitude, as for instance, on a timber tract investment in Wisconsin he lost some $12,000, besides several other losses of from $1,000 to $4,000, yet he never lost courage or determination, but as soon as he realized that he had suffered a misfortune, went to work to repair it, and in this manner has overcome all adverse circumstances. He has long been one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the community; he has paid out thousands of dollars to laborers, and during the summer of 1910 he built a telephone line from DuBois to Curwensville, a public improvement that was much needed and which has proved a great boon to the citizens of both places. His limited schooling has been briefly referred to. Of this period he says himself: "During my first years as a boy, I did not know that there was any such thing as a public school. After we got the shabby little schoolhouses, we only had two months in a year, and I had to stay at home and help to saw shingle timber. I could only go when the weather was too stormy or rainy to work. Counting all my days' schooling, I do not think it would reach four months during my life time." Yet he has served on the school board for the last fifteen years, and his communication forming the basis of this article proved that though his education has been self acquired and in the face of very adverse circumstances, amounting almost to an absolute lack of opportunity, he has by self application acquired the ability to express his thoughts in writing in a clear and impressive manner, and the same applies to other branches of knowledge for which the average person has use. Such a life is an encouragement to all of limited opportunity. Though general conditions are more favorable now than they were in Mr. Wingert's boyhood days, there are still some who complain of want of opportunity. Let them reflect on reading this brief sketch and they cannot but feel that such a career is an inspiration, and consequently take courage to do their best and win their way to success like the subject of this memoir.