BIO: Theophilus Pantall, Jefferson County, PA

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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 1076-1077.
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THEOPHILUS PANTALL, one of Jefferson county's most progressive 
citizens, resides near Punxsutawney, and has probably done as much as 
any other one individual to promote the prosperity of that locality.  
He helped to organize the First National Bank and the Citizens Bank of 
Punxsutawney, in each of which he is a director and large stockholder.  
He is the owner of valuable real estate in the same place, at 
Clayville, and in Young township.  The mammoth "Hotel Pantall," at 
Punxsutawney, is among his possessions.
  Mr. Pantall's parents, James and Elizabeth (Reece) Pantall, were of 
English origin, having come to America from England in 1825, after 
their marriage, bringing with them two children.  They located in 
Centre county, Penn., for a time, then made their permanent home near 
Punxsutawney, in Jefferson county; the mother died in 1867, the father 
in 1882.  The latter was a miller by trade, and for some years had 
charge of Dr. John Jenks' mills at Punxsutawney, but later engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, in which his last years were spent.
  Theophilus Pantall was born in 1841 at the old homestead near 
Punxsutawney, where his life has been passed.  Like many of the 
successful men of the day he was reared to farm work, and his education 
was obtained in the schools of the vicinity of his home.  Since 
engaging in business he has been chiefly occupied with lumbering and 
real-estate interests, but his sagacity and foresight have made him a 
leader in many of the enterprises which have developed the resources of 
the locality and pushed Punxsutawney to the front.  He is a self-made 
man; beginning without a dollar, his large possessions to-day are due 
to his own personal efforts.  He has been a shrewd and capable business 
man and money-maker.  He recalls with pleasure the first half dollar he 
ever earned; it was received in payment for the splitting of one 
hundred rails for Mrs. Mary Jordan, of Jefferson county, Penn.  Mr. 
Pantall is now largely engaged in dealing in live stock, principally 
for the local market.  He slaughters from 500 to 1,000 head of beef 
cattle annually.  He was one of the promoters of the enterprise which 
resulted in securing of the Punxsutawney Iron Works, and was also the 
largest contributor to the enterprise.  In addition to his possessions 
in Punxsutawney he has a fine farm of 200 acres in Young township.  
Although Mr. Pantall takes a keen interest in public questions and is a 
steadfast Republican, he has never been an aspirant for office.  His 
first vote in a Presidential campaign was cast for Abraham Lincoln.  
Socially he is identified with the F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and the 
K. of P.  He has a pleasant home.
  His wife, who was Margaret Work, to whom he was married in 1860, was 
a native of the same locality.  Of their five children the eldest 
daughter, Lillian, married J. U. Moore, a merchant of Piqua, Ohio, and 
died, leaving a daughter, Helen, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Pantall.  
Their only son, Lon, is the able and popular cashier of the First 
National Bank of Punxsutawney, and of the three surviving daughters, 
Clara, wife of J. F. Goheen, a merchant of Lindsey; Lottie, who married 
J. Dorn, also a merchant of Lindsey; and Minta, wife of W. A. Sutter, 
assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank of Punxsutawney.  The family 
attend the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Pantall is a 
prominent member, as are all of their children.