In Memoriam Jacob Bilger of Curwensville, Pennsylvania Born October 7, 1824 Died August 10, 1901 Though dead, he still speaketh.
A PROMINENT CITIZEN CALLED AWAY 1 Jacob Bilger, one of Curwensville s Pioneers, Dies at the Advanced Age of Seventy-seven Years Jacob Bilger died at his residence on State Street in the borough of Curwensville, on Saturday, the 10th inst., at 2:40 P.M. in the 77th year of his age. He was born in that part of Union county, PA, that was afterwards formed into Snyder county, on the 7th day of October, A.D., 1824. His father was born in Berks County and he was also named Jacob Bilger, and was a mason by trade. His grandfather, who was a tailor by trade, emigrated from Germany at an early day. The subject of this sketch had little advantage in the way of education, his attendance at school being limited to a few months in his early life, but by close application he made of himself a self educated man in the broadest sense of the term. His family was very large, consisting of 12 children, among whom the subject of this sketch was the tenth. At an early age Jacob Bilger s parents moved to Huntingdon County and lived in Shavers Creek Valley, near Neff's Mills, and while they resided there, Jacob Bilger went to New Jacob Bilger 1824-1901 Berlin and there learned the lucrative trade of tinning. He managed to save enough from his wages from time to time to purchase an outfit of tools, and then followed tinning at the home of his parents for about two years or until December, 1847, when he was married to Hannah Gray, who has been the partner of his years and now survives him. About the time of his marriage he began to look for other fields and, with a brother-in-law, Henry Sykes, the father of well known J.B. Sykes who operated recently at Newtonburg in this county, and the former of whom is now a citizen of Troutville, he came to this county and with his brother-in-law, purchased a tract of timber land in Bloom Township and bought a lot in Curwensville where A.L. Bilger now lives. 1 This article and photograph appeared in the Clearfield, Pennsylvania Raftsman s Journal on August 15, 1901. It was reproduced in the Clearfield, Pensylvania Monitor on that same date.
In the Spring of 1848, he and the family of his parents moved to this county and, as no houses were to be had in Curwensville, he settled in Grampian and his parents moved on the Joseph Boon farm in Penn Township, where they lived until they settled on the old homestead in Bloom Township, which now belongs to the estate of John Bilger. Jacob Bilger began building in Curwensville and moved his family to that place in the Spring of 1849, where he followed his trade and accumulated property. One of his earliest investments was the purchase, for three hundred dollars, of a tract of land on the headwaters of Anderson Creek, which he sold a little later to Philip Blanchard for the sum of eight hundred dollars, and made what was then considered a sufficient sum. But this land, if held until the present, would have been worth millions instead of hundreds. The deal above mentioned taught him to retain his purchases and some of the land that he acquired with the proceeds of this sale was owned by him at the time of his death, and the timber from some of it recently brought the sum of $40,000 in the market. In 1851 he acquired other property in Bloom township and then built a water power saw mill, and later purchased another one a little lower down on Huey Run. These he continued to own and operate until they were supplanted by a steam saw mill on the site of the first one, which he held until sold recently with the timber above mentioned. He also devoted some of his time to making and floating square timber to the eastern market, and there are few men who run the river who are unacquainted with him. In 1874, he purchased the old McBride hardware store in, Curwensville, and the next year he built a brick store building which he has continued to use for the purpose of this business to the time of his death. Jacob Bilger was a man of powerful build and strong physique, but a year ago he fell a victim to grip, which left him with an impaired heart. He recovered in part, but while he was the very picture of health, the slightest exertion overcame him. Lately he failed rapidly, and on Friday night last he became ill, and although he was conscious until noon Saturday, his heart action gradually weakened until the hour named above, when he peacefully passed to the great beyond. He was a man of sterling worth, of impeachable integrity and respected by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed from his community. While entirely undemonstrative in religions matters, he united with the Lutheran church at the early age of sixteen. When he came to Curwensville he found no Lutheran church there and he, with Jefferson Gates, Abram Gates, Stephen Graff and George Kettlebarger purchased a lot upon which a Lutheran church should be built; but their hopes were not realized until about a year ago, after all but himself and George Kettlebarger had passed away when the beautiful little Lutheran chapel was erected upon this plot of ground kept for this purpose through all these years. In the meantime, Jacob Bilger joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and, although he contributed of his means to the erection of the Lutheran Church and often attended its services, he felt it unwise in his last days to go through the formality of changing his membership. He was
a firm believer in the broadest doctrines of Christianity and had no fear of the passage over the dark river. He died with an unshaken faith in a glorious resurrection. The funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church in Curwensville on Tuesday at 2 o'clock P.M., the body lying in the church from 10 A.M. until that hour to permit the public to view the remains. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Rue of the Methodist church, Rev. Dise of the Lutheran, and Rev. Barbour of the Presbyterian. The funeral was largely attended, and one of the most beautiful and impressive portions of the service was R.H. Brainard singing the beautiful hymn, "Lead Kindly Light." The deceased is survived by a widow and nine children, this being the first death in the family. They are: Hannah Bilger the widow, Martha Broome widow of Henry Broome deceased, Alfred L., Edmond C., Reuben G., Lemuel H., Minerva I. wife of George W. Gray, and Alice E. wife of John Reeser, all of Curwensville; George M. of Clearfield; and Gertrude M. wife of James M. Taylor of DuBois. He is also survived by four sisters: Mrs. Susan Thomas of Bloom Township; Mrs. Ellen Hockenberry of White Pigeon, Michigan; Mrs. Rebecca Sykes of Salem, Oregon; and Mrs. Matilda Place, of Wisconsin. He had been a Democrat all of his life and adhered firmly to the principles of the party in which he believed, lived the life of an honest, industrious citizen, and died with the respect of his neighbors and the admiration of all who knew his many good qualities.
JACOB BILGER DEAD 2 One of the Pioneers of Curwensville and one of its Most Prominent Citizens, has Passed to His Rest at an Advanced Age Jacob Bilger, one of the oldest and most widely known citizens of our sister town of Curwensville, and father of one of the editors of the REPUBLICAN, departed this life at his residence on State street, in that place, on Saturday, the tenth day of August, A.D. 1901, at 2:40 p.m. aged seventy-six years, ten months and three days. He was born in that part of Union county, in this state, that afterwards was organized into Snyder county, on the farm of his father, near what was then known as Swansfordstown and is now known as Middleburg, on the seventh day of October A.D. 1824. His grand-father was named George Adam Bilger and was a tailor by trade. He had emigrated from Germany at an early day and settled in Barks County and afterwards moved into Union, now Snyder, County. George Bilger followed his trade but owned, and sometime occupied, a fine farm between Middleburg and New Berlin in Union county. He was the father of seven children, namely: Jacob Sr. (the father of the subject of this sketch), George, John, Frederick, Betsey (married to a man named Hazlet), Beckie (married first to a man named Frane and afterwards to a man named Miser), and Susanna (married first to a man named Boyer and afterwards to a man named Mitchell). George Bilger insisted upon his boys learning his occupation but, on hearing his son Jacob express to some companions his determination to quit that trade at his majority and learn the trade of a stone mason, he immediately humored the boy s desire and allowed him to apprentice himself to a man of the calling which he preferred. Jacob Bilger, the elder and father of our subject, thus began his years of maturity as a stone mason, an occupation he followed during the entire balance of his life. Jacob married Magdalena Gilbert and was the father or twelve children, nine girls and three boys. His children were Sallie, (afterwards Sallie Bickel), Lydia (afterwards Lydia Bridge), Hettie (who died at the early age of six), Ellen (afterwards Ellen Hockenberry), George, Lucinda (afterwards Lucinda Cunningham), Sophia (afterwards Sophia Shipton), Susanna (wife of John Thomas of Bloom township), George, Jacob (our subject), Rebecca (married to Henry Sykes), and Matilda (afterwards Matilda Place). The members of the older generation and the Centre County family branch always pronounced the name with the hard sound of "g," while the family of the subject of our sketch pronounces the name with the soft sound of that letter. D. M. Bilger, the head of the Centre County branch, a well-known Moshanon lumberman, was a first cousin of the deceased. 2 This article and photograph appeared in the Clearfield, Pensylvania Republican August 16, 1901. It was reproduced in the Curwensville, Pensylvania Review that same date
Jacob Bilger, the elder, bought a farm and, although he always followed his trade and taught his sons George and John the same, he left his son Jacob to look after the farm until adverse fortune caused the elder Bilger to lose it, when the family moved to Huntingdon County and settled near Neff's Mills. Jacob Bilger, our subject, returned to Union county and learned the then lucrative trade of tinning at New Berlin. Having saved sufficient money to purchase tools, he followed that occupation at the hone of his parents for almost two years. In December 1847, Jacob married Hannah Gray, of Green Tree, Huntingdon County, who has been his companion these many years and is now left to survive him. About that same time, he began to look for a more promising field and came with his brotherin-law, Henry Sykes (the father of the wellknown Benjamin J. Sykes of Troutville, Jacob Bilger Sykes of Sykesville, George W. Sykes of the firm Sykes & Ellis of Reynoldsville, and others) to Clearfield County. While here, Jacob purchased a tract of timber land in Bloom Township which is yet a part of his estate and is known as the upper saw mill tract. He also bought a lot in Curwensville where his son Alfred L. Bilger now resides. In the spring of 1849, Jacob moved the family of his parents to this county and then came himself. As no house was to be had in Curwensville, they all settled at Grampian for a short time. His parents then moved out onto the farm of Joseph Boone in Penn Township where they lived until they moved Jacob Bilger 1824-1901 to their homestead in Bloom Township, now owned by the estate of John Bilger, deceased. It was here that his mother, Mary Magdalena (Gilbert) Bilger died in 1857 and his father Jacob Bilger died in 1863 (aged seventy-five years). While in Grampian, Jacob built a home in Curwensville and moved there in late 1849. He followed his trade for many years at a time when the rafting on the river made it very rewarding and he invested his savings from time to time in real estate. He often told, with great amusement, of his pleasure when be made five hundred dollars on an eight hundred dollar sale of a tract of land on the head waters of Anderson Creek to Philip Blanchard whence Mr. Blanchard then afterwards cut enough pine timber to have made a princely fortune. This experience, which was so philosophically viewed by Mr. Bilger, taught him to hold on to his property. The large estate which he has since accumulated has shown the wisdom of his judgment.
About 1850, Jacob and the above mentioned Henry Sykes erected a water power saw mill on Huey Run in Bloom Township. Jacob afterwards bought a second one lower down on the same stream. These he continued to operate for a number of years and they were supplanted by a large steam saw mill which he sold during the present summer for forty thousand dollars, while retaining the land. In 1874, Jacob purchased the old McBride hardware store in Curwensville, and in 1875 erected a brick store building and conducted that business in the same until the time of his death. He also found time to manufacture and float square timber to the eastern market, and few men who ran the river in former days were unacquainted with him. Like his father and grandfather before him, he owned several farms and some of his greatest enjoyments in life were derived from agricultural pursuits. His educational opportunities were very limited, having attended school only for a few months in his early life and that being taught in the German language. But while his educational advantages were so restricted, he was of unusual natural intelligence and had a retentive memory. He had an insatiable ambition for knowledge and, by persistent reading, made of himself a thoroughly selfeducated man. He was a lifelong student and an omnivorous reader, well posted upon all current questions, a good conversationalist, and a user of well-chosen words. He was a Democrat in his politics and an active partisan, but broad enough in his views occasionally to honor, with his vote, a worthy candidate of the opposite political faith. Jacob Bilger was entirely undemonstrative in religious matters. He united with the Lutheran Church at the early age of 16 but, when he came to Curwensville, he found no Lutheran Church there so he, with Jefferson Gates, Abram Gates, Stephen Graff and George Kittelbarger, purchased a lot upon which they hoped to see a church erected. A Lutheran congregation, known as the Mt. Carmel congregation, was organized of which he was a deacon. But, as there were no new acquisitions to their number, the project of building a church had to be deferred. After all of those named, except himself and George Kittelbarger had passed away, a beautiful little Lutheran chapel was finally erected upon this lot -- kept for that purpose through all the years. In the meantime, he had united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. While, in his later years, he contributed largely of his means to the Lutheran church and frequently attended its services, he retained membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a firm believer in the broadest doctrines of Christianity and had no fear of the passage over the dark river. He would die with an unshaken faith in a glorious resurrection. He was a man of sterling worth, of unimpeachable integrity, and respected by all who knew him. Following the custom of his father and grandfather, he taught his trade to all of his sons, excepting George M., but all of them later abandoned it for more congenial pursuits. Alfred L. is a plumber in the employ of the Pennsylvania Hide and Leather Company, Edmund C. and Reuben G. are in charge of their father's lumbering interests, Lemuel R. has conducted the hardware business, and George M. is a well-known member of the Clearfield County Bar.
Jacob was a man of large strong physique and of great endurance, and these, joined to industrious habits, made him prodigal of his health and strength. He knew but little sickness until an attack of grip about two years ago left him with an impaired heart. He recovered for a time and while he was the picture of perfect health, the slightest exertion caused him suffering. Recently his decline was more pronounced and although he was able to be about as usual, and on the evening preceding his death sat on his porch and entertained a number of his friends, he experienced an attack of heart failure on last Friday night from which he never fully rallied. While he was able to recognize and converse with his family until noon of Saturday, his heart's action gradually weakened until 2:40 p.m. of that day when he quietly and peacefully passed to the great beyond. The funeral services were conducted from the Curwensville Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the body lying in the church from 12 noon until that hour. The funeral services were conducted by Reverends Rue of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Dise of the Lutheran Church, and Barber of the Presbyterian Church. The funeral service was largely attended and one of its most impressive features was the singing by R.H Brainard of the beautiful hymn, "Lead Kindly Light." Six of his grand-sons acted as pall bearers. The deceased is survived by his widow Hannah Bilger and nine children, namely: Martha Broome (widow of Henry Broome), Alfred L., Edmund C., Reuben G., Lemuel H., Minerva Gray (wife of George W. Gray), and Alice Reeser (wife of John W. Reeser), all of Curwensville; George M. of Clearfield; and Gertrude Taylor (wife of James M. Taylor, of DuBois). This is the first death in this large family. He is also survived by four sisters, namely: Mrs. Ellen Hockenberry of White Pigeon, Michigan; Mrs. Susanna Thomas of Bloom Township, this county; Mrs. Rebecca Sykes of Salem, Oregon; and Mrs. Matilda Place who resides in Wisconsin. Of these, Mrs. Hockeriberry has been lying at the point of death and may, ere this, have passed to the land of shadows. A Further Tribute to His Memory by Reverend. B. S. Dise In the death of Jacob Bilger, not only did the family lose a good husband and father, but the community lost a good citizen, an upright business man, a good neighbor and a true Christian. It has been the good fortune of this writer to have formed an acquaintance and enjoyed his friendship and love for five years. Only a short time, but that has plainly proven the goodness of his heart and the nobleness of his life. Faults he had, and who has not, but his life-impress for love to God and love to man is fashioning of her lives (sic), and though dead, he still speaketh. As one of the pioneer citizens of our beautiful town, his name, with the names of Patton, Arnold, Gates, Irvin and others, will often be named by future generations as the men to whom this community owes much for business enterprise, moral standing and all the interests that make this place desired by a man as a home for himself and those dependent. Blessed by a strong physique, everything he undertook was done with a will and determination that meant success. This trait of industry has influenced others "to do with their might what their hands find to do." While quick in noting wrong in others, he was ever ready just as quickly to
forgive and had well learned to keep under the body that the nobler impulses of life might be developed. He lived to a good old age. He was early in life indoctrinated in the truths of our holy religion and had gained the confidence and esteem of the brethren in his church -- Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church of Curwensville that, as early as 1857, he was honored by being chosen one of the officers in the same. The church having disbanded during the civil war, he later united with the Methodist Episcopal Church where his faithful wife has been a devoted member for many years and, with such a companion, the home religion was not forgotten. His memory is blessed.