BIO: Elias FETTEROLF, 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. _____________________________________________________________________ E. FETTEROLF, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Spring Mills, Centre county, is now enjoying, in well-earned ease, the reward of previous years of toil. He is a native of this section, having been born October 3, 1830, at Troxelville, in what is now Snyder county. His family has been identified with that locality since the time of his grandfather, who was a pioneer settler. The grandmother, Mrs. Catherine Fetterolf, attained the age of ninety-nine years, and was held in high esteem by later generations in the community which she had seen arise upon the spot where stood the forests that her contemporaries cleared away. Peter Fetterolf, our subject's father, was born there in 1801, and always made his home in the same locality, farming being his occupation until, having acquired a comfortable fortune, he retired to Troxelville to pass his declining years, purchasing a lot and building a residence. He was six feet, one inch in height, bony and muscular, and in his day was a powerful man. Quiet and unobtrusive in manner, he never sought public office or official position, but his neighbors were not blind to his abilities, and he was called upon to fill the office of supervisor. He took much interest in politics, first as a Whig, and later as a Republican, and was prominent in religious work, he and his wife being leading members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Fetterolf, whose maiden name was Sally Swartz, was also a native of Snyder county, born in 1802. Both lived to the age of seventy-five years, the father dying in 1876 and the mother in the year following. Their children were: Henry, a farmer in Kansas; Susan (Mrs. John Hendricks), of Snyder county; Polly, who married George Karn, and died soon afterward; Hannah S., who married George Huffman, and died in Sioux City, Iowa; Catherine (Mrs. Jacob Bingerman), who died in Snyder county; E., the subject of this sketch; Philip, who died in Snyder county, leaving a family; Daniel, who died (unmarried) in Snyder county; and Elizabeth (Mrs. Frederick Schrayder), of Selinsgrove. As the son of a busy farmer, Mr. Fetterolf's education was subordinate to the demands of the farm work, which during his boyhood was unrelieved by labor-saving machinery, and often occupied a large part of the winter season as well as the summer. The schools were not of the best, either, the community where he then lived retaining the old-fashioned subscription schools, until after his time, notwithstanding the efforts of his father and a few other progressive citizens to secure the modern system. A remarkably retentive memory, which enables him to recall certain events that happened when he was but two years old, has given Mr. Fetterolf a wide range of information, and his intelligent views of men and things reveal an active mind which would have made effective use of a thorough education. In the fall of 1848 Mr. Fetterolf began an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade with John Kessler, seven miles from Selinsgrove, receiving at the end of two years' work the sum of $25.00. In 1850 he went to Potter township, Centre county, and worked "The Loop " as a journeyman blacksmith, and later he was similarly employed at Milroy, Troxelville and Laurel-ton, where he finally engaged in business on his own account. After a year and a half there he moved, in 1853, to Spring Mills, and rented a shop, which he conducted for some time. Two years he then spent in Nittany Valley, Benner township, Centre county, but he returned to Spring Mills later, and after continuing his trade a short time, he decided to give it up and engage in agriculture. The change was made in 1856, Mr. Fetterolf renting a farm in Gregg township, Centre county, from William Allison. As prosperity smiled upon his efforts, he purchased some adjoining land, which he cultivated, while still occupying the other farm as a tenant. In 1886 he sold his property, and, relieved from business, removed to Spring Mills, where he bought a substantial brick residence. Mr. Fetterolf was married in Union county, in the fall of 1850, to Miss Rachel Wyand, daughter of George Wyand, a prosperous farmer. She was a native of Snyder county, born July COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 307 27, 1829. After nearly half a century of wedded life, she passed away February 11, 1896, lamented by all who had come within her sphere of helpful influence. Her remains were interred in the cemetery at Spring Mills. Seven children blessed this union: Edward, who died in infancy; Mary E., now Mrs. George Crawford, of Spring Mills; Sarah M. (Mrs. Philip Meyer), of Boalsburg; Elizabeth (Mrs. J. K. Bittner), of Gregg township, Centre township; Birdie (Mrs. C. A. Krape), of Spring Mills; R. F., a Lutheran minister, stationed at Millersburg, Dauphin. Co., Penn.; and Priscilla E., who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Fetterolf has reason to be proud of his children, and he has given them the best educational opportunities which his means enabled him to secure, his own experience teaching him the value of such privileges. Upright in character, and honest in dealings, Mr. Fetterolf has won the respect of his associates wherever he has gone. Since 1850 he has been an active member of the Lutheran Church, and has been almost continuously in office. For eight consecutive years he served as elder, and for eight years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school, to which, in his younger days, he devoted much of his time and attention. His political allegiance was first given to the Whig party, but in the readjustment which followed the discussion of the slavery question, he became a Republican, and has ever since supported the principles of that organization. 1870 Gregg Township, Centre County census - Elias Fetterolf, 38 Rachael Fetterolf, 39 Mary Fetterolf, 17 Sarah Fetterolf, 16 Elizabeth Fetterolf, 14 Foster Fetterolf, 8 Reuberta? Reubensa? Fetterolf, 6 Jane Fetterolf, 3