BIO: Robert M. Anthony, Jefferson County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kitty Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/ http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/beers/beers-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1083-1084. _____________________________________________________________________ ROBERT M. ANTHONY, after a long and honorable business career, in which he has acquired a handsome competence, is now living retired at his pleasant home in Perry township, Jefferson county. He has been the architect of his own fortunes, and has builded wisely and well, not only winning success in his business ventures, but also gaining the respect and confidence of those with whom he has had dealings. Mr. Anthony was born in Indiana county, in 1824, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the State. At an early day his grandfather removed from Rhode Island to Philadelphia, later located in Armstrong county, subsequently lived in Indiana county, and thence came to Jefferson county, where he was numbered among the prominent and enterprising citizens. In 1840 our subject came to this country with his parents, Levi and Mary (Miller) Anthony. His father was born in Indiana county, and in the year mentioned purchased land in Henderson township, which he transformed into a good farm. He had two sons and three sons-in-law who were Union soldiers in the Civil war, and one son lost his life in the battle of the Wilderness. The family numbered twelve children, namely: Jacob, Margaret, Mary A., Elizabeth, Nancy J., Henry M., P. J., James D., Levi T., Harrison, Evaline and Robert. In the usual manner of farmer lads of that period Robert M. Anthony spent his childhood. After attaining his majority he wedded Elizabeth C. Calhoon, of Armstrong county, daughter of Hon. John and Catherine Calhoon. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony began their domestic life on the east branch of the Mahoning, where his father had purchased land some years previous. He there erected a sawmill and continued the manufacture of lumber for about three years, when he sold his interest in the business to his brother, Jacob, and purchased 220 acres of timber land in Clearfield county, on which was a sawmill. He there continued to manufacture lumber for two years, marketing his products in Curwensville, when he sold out to Arnold & Hartshorn. He then purchased a farm near Putneyville, Penn., to which he moved his family in 1854, making it his home for eleven years, during which time he built a large bank barn, erected a brick residence and made many other improvements. He sold that property in 1865, and for the past thirty- two years has resided at his present home in Perry township, Jefferson county. Here he has erected a fine residence and good barns, and has added to the place all the improvements and accessories of a modern farm of the 19th century, so that he now has one of the finest country homes in Jefferson county. Our subject and his wife have become the parents of seven children, namely: (1) Hattie J., born in Henderson township, in 1851, was educated in the common schools and in Dayton Academy and Indiana Normal, married Dwight Bardeen, of Steuben county, N. Y., and resides on a farm near Hornellsville, that State. (2) Mary C., born in Clearfield county in 1853, is the wife of R. R. Hickox, of Jefferson county. They now reside in Elreno, Okla., and have six children living - Kern H., Alto and Verona, who are married; Robert G., George and Lizzie, who are single. (3) Charles Newton, born in Armstrong county, in 1855, was married in 1883, to Ida Means, of Jefferson county, and superintended his father's farm until 1894, when he was stricken with consumption and died, leaving a widow, and four children - Mabel May, Cora Belle, Fannie Fern and Ruth, who still remain on the old homestead. (4) Nancy E., born in Armstrong county in 1857, is the wife of J. F. Stockdill, who owns and occupies a large farm near Dayton, Armstrong county. They have four children - Charles A., John, Bessie and Robert. (5) Elizabeth F., born in Armstrong county, in 1860, is the wife of E. Barton Moore, a farmer of Warsaw township, Jefferson county, by whom she has one son, Charles. (6) Alice E., born in Armstrong county, in 1862, is the wife of W. A. Wells, of Frostburg, by whom she has two children - Mary E. and Anthony. (7) Margaret A., born in December, 1865, is the wife of J. S. Jordan, who owns and occupies a fine farm in Oliver township, Jefferson county. They have three children - Quay, Nellie and Arthur. Robert M. Anthony was a Whig in early life; he is now a stanch Republican. He has served as supervisor and assessor for one term each, and for eight years was school director, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church; in social circles they occupy an enviable position. After a well-spent life he is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil and his pleasant home in Frostburg, where he is surrounded by many friends.