BIO: Alfred L. CAROTHERS, 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, page 340.
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  ALFRED L. CAROTHERS, Lodema, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Cromwell township, August 10, 1846. He is the son of Lewis and 
Elizabeth (Colgate) Carothers. Lewis Charles, father of Alfred L. 
Carothers, was born in Shirley township. Here he grew up and learned 
carpentry, at which trade he worked nearly all his life. He died in 
June, 1878, aged seventy-five. His wife was a member of the 
Presbyterian church.
  Alfred L. Carothers was educated in the public schools of Cromwell 
township, and at Juniata Seminary in Shirleysburg, Pa. In 1861 he began 
teaching school in the winter. He taught for two terms in Shirley 
township, and for three in Cromwell township. In 1865, Mr. Carothers 
went to Venango county, Pa., in the employ of John Bare as teamster in 
the oil fields, receiving $50 a month and board. At night he studied 
the art of drilling oil-wells, and after a few weeks, becoming 
dissatisfied with his position as teamster, he began to drill wells, 
receiving $5 a day. Shortly after he added the business of dressing 
tools. At the end of nine months, Mr. Carothers had earned $300; this 
whole amount was lost by the failure of his employer, Colonel Foote, of 
New York. Discouraged by his loss, Mr. Carothers left the oil fields as 
soon as he had earned money enough to take him home. When a boy he had 
learned carpentry with his father. He now turned his attention to 
farming and to his trade. In 1878, Mr. Carothers bought the farm of 116 
acres which he now owns. He is a staunch Republican, and has filled 
various township offices; he was assessor for nine years. In August, 
1895, Mr. Carothers was appointed postmaster of Lodema, which position 
he still holds.
  Alfred L. Carothers was married February 23, 1869, to Maggie, second 
daughter of Samuel Bowman. She died in 1876. They had three children: 
Myra A. (Mrs. Frederick Graf), of Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburg; Ira, 
died in infancy; and Alberta S., at school in Pittsburg. In February, 
1878, Mr. Carothers was married a second time to Mary A. Youtzy. Their 
children are: Harry H., at home; Emma J.; Della May; Alfred F.; Bessie 
D.; Raymond E.; Coyle; and Lodema.