BIO: Oliver COLGATE, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 384-385.
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  OLIVER COLGATE, Shirleysburg, Pa., is a native of Cromwell township, 
Huntingdon county, born February 29, 1828, son of Daniel and Agnes 
(Cluggage) Colgate. Asaph Colgate, grandfather of Oliver, was a 
Virginian by birth, and a soldier in the Revolution. The maternal 
grandfather was of Irish descent, and a native of Huntingdon county, 
Pa. Daniel Colgate, son of Asaph, was born in North Carolina, and 
removed while young to Pennsylvania; he was a farmer. He married Agnes, 
daughter of James Cluggage; she was born in Huntingdon county, of a 
family who were among the early settlers of the region. Of their family 
of ten children, seven are deceased: Emeline, died February 20, 1892, 
aged eighty-one; Elizabeth, died April 30, 1854, aged forty-one years, 
was the wife of Lewis Carothers; James, died February 28, 1894, at the 
age of eighty; Richard, died August 12, 1891, aged seventy-two; Daniel, 
died August 10, 1895, aged seventy; Martha, died November 17, 1882, 
aged sixty-six years; and an infant. Those surviving are: Nancy; 
Oliver; George, residing in Kansas. Daniel Colgate, the elder, died in 
1836; his wife in 1859, aged seventy-seven. They were members of the 
Presbyterian church.
  Oliver Colgate, being raised on his father's farm, had the benefit of 
the farmer boy's double education, attending school during the winter 
months until he was about twenty years old, and aiding in agricultural 
labors during the remainder of the year; thus learning practically the 
business in which he has been all his life engaged. In the spring of 
1859 he began farming for himself, near Mount Union, Pa., on the farm 
of the Shaver heirs. There he remained six years, and then returned to 
the homestead, where during one summer he was occupied with carpentry. 
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Colgate resumed farming, on the Alexander 
farm, near Shirleysburg; after spending four years there, he removed 
below Shirley, remained a year, returned to Cromwell township for a 
year, and then removed to the farm lately owned by Rev. Mr. Lane, in 
Shirley township, and cultivated if for two years. In 1877 he removed 
to Black Log valley, and there remained seven years. In 1884, having 
purchased the farm owned by Mr. Douglass, he took up his residence upon 
it, and has since that time given his attention to its cultivation. Mr. 
Colgate was elected supervisor of Shirley township in 1888, and served 
for a year; in 1894, was elected justice of the peace, but declined the 
office; in 1896, was elected assessor of Shirley township, for a term 
not yet expired. During the war of the Rebellion he was twice drafted 
for army service. He is a "straight" Republican.
  Oliver Colgate was married in 1859 to Catherine, daughter of Benjamin 
and Catherine (Matthews) Bear. Their children are: Henrietta (Mrs. A. 
B. Smith); and Araminta, who died in 1863, aged six months. Mrs. 
Catherine Colgate died in July, 1864, aged twenty-nine years. Mr. 
Colgate was married a second time, in July, 1867, to Ellen, daughter of 
David and Fannie (Stevens) Hutchinson. Their children are: James F., 
married to Isabella Hatfield, resides in Huntingdon, Pa.; Alice M.; 
Bruce; and William.
  The parents of Mrs. Ellen Colgate were both born in Ireland, where 
also her father died. He was a farmer. Her mother came to this country 
in 1849, and resided in Newton Hamilton, Pa., where she died. She was 
the daughter of Archibald and Ellen Stevens. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Hutchinson were: Francis; Ellen (Mrs. Colgate); Maria (Mrs. Saxfen 
Hishley), died in 1887, aged fifty-three; David, an engineer, resided 
in Indianapolis, Ind., was killed while on duty. The father's death 
occurred in 1839, and the mother's in 1851, at the age of forty-nine. 
They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Daniel Hutchinson, 
father of David, and grandfather of Mrs. Colgate, was a farmer of 
Scotch descent, living in Ireland. He attained to a very great age. He 
had five children: David; John; Daniel; Mary; and Elizabeth; all 
deceased. Mrs. Colgate's maternal grandfather, Archibald Stevens, was 
also a farmer; he was besides engaged in a weaving establishment. His 
wife was Mary Annott; their children were eleven in number: Fannie 
(Mrs. Hutchinson); Margaret; Rachel; Elizabeth; Archibald, and those 
who died in youth.