Montour-Philadelphia-Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Ostrander, Ogden H. 1837 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 3:17 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. OGDEN H. OSTRANDER, one of the most widely known citizens of Northumberland County, is a highly esteemed resident of Riverside, where he is engaged in civil engineering, in the real estate business, and as an expert accountant. He was born in New York City, October 12, 1837, and is a son of Philip H. and Julia A. (Van Loon) Ostrander, both of whom were natives of New York City. Our subject was reared and educated in New York City, learned the profession of a civil engineer, and then spent six years in the employ of the New York & Hudson River Railroad. He then gave up his profession and moved to Danville, Pa., to accept a position in a large general store; later he spent one year in Philadelphia; then he returned to Danville and became accountant for Grove Bros., of that town, which position he held for a period of seven years. This position he resigned to accept an appointment as postmaster of Danville, and at the expiration of his term, in 1869, he again took up his former profession as a civil engineer. In 1869 he laid out the village of Riverside, which lies on the bank of the Susquehanna River, opposite the borough of Danville, and is located in Rush township, Northumberland County. Our subject built a handsome brick residence, with a brown-stone front, on the corner of Avenue D and Sixth street; the house is surrounded by a well-kept lawn and beautiful shade trees and shrubberies. He also built and sold some twenty other model residences, and induced many people to make Riverside their home. Mr. Ostrander has supervised the erection of many of the residences and business structures of Riverside, including the bridge that was built in 1875, which connects Danville and Riverside, and the Danville Water Works. In 1871 he erected the Union School building, paid the bills and carried all indebtedness for several years, when it was transferred to the school district. He has been interested in the growth of both Danville and Riverside, has served as president of the Glendower Mills, now known as the Mahoning Rolling Mills, and has served as accountant for nearly all the mills and manufacturing establishments in Danville. He has also served as justice of the peace, as school director, and has been a member of the village council of Riverside. In 1898 the borough of Sunbury made a contract with George F. Steefer and Mr. Ostrander for the "making of an official map of the borough, and in 1899, after about a year and a half of labor, the work was completed, at a cost of about $2,000. Mr. Ostrander was wedded to Melissa D. Brown, a daughter of George B. Brown of Danville. George Brown was born in Columbia County, now Montour County, September 13, 1816, and is a son of Samuel and Dorothy (Neice) Brown, the former a .native of England and the latter a native of Holland. George Brown engaged in farming until he was seventeen years of age and then began clerking in a store at Mifflinville, Pa. In 1834 he moved to Danville and purchased the store of S. M. Bowman & Company; he then studied dentistry and later opened a dental office. In 1856 he opened and conducted a stationery store, and to him belongs the honor of establishing the first daily newspaper of Danville. He was united in marriage to Sarah A. Gearhart, a daughter of John Gearhart, and as a result of this union four children were reared, namely: Benton B.; Melissa D., our subject's wife; John G.; and William G. Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander are the parents of the following children: George B., a clerk residing at Wilkesbarre, Pa.; Walter S., a civil engineer and surveyor of Riverside; Sarah B., who is attending school; and Henry and Mary, who died in infancy. Mr. Ostrander is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is the oldest past master living of Danville Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M.; is past high priest and past commander of the Knights Templar; also a member of Danville Chapter. Our subject is a member of the Baptist Church and has served as trustee many years; he also aided in the building of the Episcopal Church of Riverside. Mrs. Ostrander is a member of the Methodist Church. In politics our subject is a Democrat, but was formerly a Republican, having cast his first vote for Lincoln. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/pafiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb