BIO: John N. WORK, 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 708 & 709. _____________________________________________________________ JOHN N. WORK, who is interested in general farming in Bell township for the past eighteen years has been identified with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and is one of the oldest and most trusted employes living in this section. He was born April 25, 1865, on the old Weaver farm in Bell township, and is a son of Joseph S. and Rolinda (McMasters) Work. Joseph S. Work was born in Indiana county, Pa., a son of John Newton Work, and died in Clearfield county, in September, 1900, at the age of sixty-two years. He came to this county when a youth of eighteen years, working at McGee's Mills until his marriage, when he bought the old Weaver farm in that neighborhood, and followed farming and lumbering during the remainder of his life. He was never very active in politics but was an intelligent and fair-minded citizen and cast his vote in support of good government. He married Rolinda McMasters, who was a daughter of Eben and Rebecca McMasters. She was born in Burnside township, Clearfield county, and died in 1872. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were parents of the following children: Beatrice, who is the wife of William Croft, of Tyrone; Rebecca, who is the wife of E. Sunderland, of McGee's Mills; John N.; Mary, who is the wife of Andrew Gaylor, of Mahaffey, Pa.; Margaret, who is the wife of F. Cuenley, of McGee's Mills; Eugene, who lives at home; Josephine, who is the wife of Fred Haigh, of Jefferson county; and Robert A., who resides near Lock Haven, Pa. John N. Work attended school until he was about fourteen years of age and then went to work in the woods where he continued until he was twenty-one, this hard labor serving to develop him into a strong and vigorous man. He then turned his attention to railroading and since May, 1893, has been connected with the great Pennsylvania system. He is well known to both employes and officials and stands very high in the estimation of all as to his reliability and efficiency. This has been his main business for many years but, with his brother, he also gives some attention to the home farm. Mr. Work was married to Miss Ella Irwin, who was born May 16, 1865, at Muddy Run, Cambria county, Pa., a daughter of Alexander and Katherine Irwin, the former of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Work have had six children: Frederick, who lives on the home farm; Max Orville, who died at the age of nineteen years; Mabel Rolinda and Cecil Monroe, both of whom are pursuing higher courses at school; and Joseph S. and Martha Catherine. Mr. Work casts his vote with the Democratic party but has never desired any public office.