BIO: William J. CARLIN, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-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, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

  W. J. CARLIN, one of the representative business men and prominent 
citizens of Brush Valley, Centre county, and a leading merchant of 
Rebersburg, was born February 23, 1850, at Potters Mills, in Potter 
township, Centre county.
  George Carlin (father of our subject), who was weaver by trade, was 
employed in the woolen-factory at that place.  He was a native of the 
North of Ireland, whence when quite young he came to the United States 
with his parents, who located in Philadelphia, where both died.  They 
possessed but limited means, and the father dying when the children 
were yet small, much responsibility rested upon George, who was the 
eldest.  The others were James, a railroad engineer, who served in the 
Confederate army as colonel of an Alabama regiment, and died at 
Carthage, Mo.; William, also a railroad engineer, running on the 
Pennsylvania Central between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, who was a 
skilled mechanic and constructed an engine from the metal contained in 
a gold dollar; and Jane, who became the wife of John Hoyt, and died in 
Reedsville, Penn.  John Hoyt was bookkeeper for William Mann, Jr., & 
Co., axe makers.  He was killed by the cars while crossing the tracks 
at the axe factory, in 1872.
  In Philadelphia George Carlin learned to weave carpets, blankets, 
cassimeres, etc., and when a young man came to Potters Mills, Centre 
county, in order to obtain work at his trade.  There he married Miss 
Catherine Toner, also a native of Ireland, who came to America with her 
parents, Thomas Toner and Catherine his wife.  As the Potter Mills had 
closed down, Mr. Carlin removed to Mifflin county, Penn., in 1850, and 
obtained employment in Mann's axe factory as a temperer, which position 
he held until 1869, when he returned to Centre county, and purchased a 
home in Sprucetown, where his death occurred in 1875, when he was aged 
68 years.  He was a large and powerful man, weighing about 200 pounds, 
and his death was caused by a third stroke of paralysis.  His wife was 
called to her final home in 1884, and was laid by his side in 
Sprucetown cemetery.  He was an intelligent, well educated man and fine 
penman, and during his early life engaged in teaching in Chester 
county, Penn.  Politically he affiliated with the Democratic party.
  Our subject is the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven 
children, a brief record of the others being: John T. was a member of 
Company A, 46th P. V. I., during the Rebellion, but after serving 
eighteen months was discharged in 1863, on account of disability; he 
later became ticket agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at 
Spruce Creek, Hollidaysburg and Indiana, Penn., respectively, and died 
at Yeagertown, Mifflin Co., Penn., in 1869; Sarah died at Potters Bank, 
Penn.; Mary died in infancy; Maria died at Potters Bank, at the age of 
twenty-eight years.  George died at the same place; and Jane died at 
the age of nineteen.
  W. J. Carlin was an infant when taken by his parents to Mifflin 
county, and in the public schools of Reedsville he obtained his primary 
education, which was supplemented by a course in the Lewistown Academy, 
where he paid his own tuition, earning the money as an employee in 
Mann's axe factory.  After the return of his parents to Centre county, 
he attended the schools of Potters Mills for a time, his teacher being 
George Peters.  He then began teaching in Tylersville, and successfully 
followed that profession for six years.  In Boalsburg, Centre county, 
he married Miss Emma Leitzell, a daughter of Aaron and Alvina (Hackman) 
Leitzell.  Mr. Carlin's first experience in the mercantile business was 
as a clerk in a store in Reedsville when small but a boy, and later he 
held a similar position in the store of W. J. Thompson & Brother at 
Potters Mills, while for a time he served as bookkeeper for J. S. 
Shipman, a wholesale grocer of Titusville, Penn., with whom he remained 
through the year 1872 until the spring of 1873.  Previously, however, 
he had also served as clerk in the establishment of R. H. Duncan at 
Spring Mills.  On leaving Mr. Shipman he came to Rebersburg, where for 
a time he taught school, and was also agent for various sewing 
machines.  In August, 1893, he purchased the general store of L. B. 
Frank, which he has since successfully conducted, now having the 
leading mercantile establishment in the place.
  In politics Mr. Carlin is a stanch Democrat, and is a leader and 
counsellor of his party in his locality, taking a keen interest in its 
success.  For three years he ably served as constable of Miles 
township, and since 1882 has served as justice of the peace.  He is a 
prominent member of the Odd Fellows Society, No. 1031, of Rebersburg, 
which he represented in the grand lodge at Pittsburg, in May, 1896, and 
both himself and wife are active members of the Lutheran Church,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  288

while he has also served as secretary of the Sabbath-school for ten 
years.  They have a comfortable home in Rebersburg, whose latch-string 
is always out, and their many friends are always sure to receive a 
hearty welcome.  A man of known reliability, Mr. Carlin has often been 
called upon to act as administrator of estates, and as agent in 
settling other business transactions, the duties of which he has always 
promptly and faithfully discharged.  In connection with his mercantile 
pursuits and official duties, he also acts as agent for W. B. Rankin, 
of Bellefonte, who represents various insurance companies.  He is a 
careful, methodical business man, whose success is due entirely to his 
own perseverance, enterprise and good management. "Squire Carlin," as 
he is familiarly known, is one of Rebersburg's best citizens, and 
stands high in the esteem of all who know him.

1860 Brown Township, Mifflin County census -
George Carlin, 48  
Catharine Carlin, 45  
John Carlin, 18  
Sarah Carlin, 16  
Maria Carlin, 12  
William Carlin, 10  
Jane Carlin, 8  
George Carlin, 6