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711. SARAH6 (Sallie) JANE CLIFFORD (James5, Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1); born 14 March 1842 in the Ligonier area, Westmoreland County; died 27 August 1892 in Altoona, Blair County; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Altoona;2212 married JOSEPH S. STEELE; died before the 1880 federal census, when Sallie was listed as a widow.2213 Also living in Sallie's household in 1880 was her daughter, listed as Lula, and Sallie's brother Phillip B. Clifford (#717). For 19 years Sarah was a teacher in Altoona schools. She was a member of the Order of Chosen Friends and Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. As for most of our Altoona Cliffords, she was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her obituary states she was a daughter of Captain James and Matilda Clifford. Her husband was deceased at the time of Sarah Jane's death.2214 There was a Joseph Steel in Company F, 135th Pennsylvania Volunteers, the same Company that Carson Clifford was in.2215 I suspect this Joseph Steel was the husband of Sarah Jane Clifford.
712. CARSON6 W. CLIFFORD (James5, Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1); born 11 September 1845; died 10 May 1918; buried in West Wheatfield Township Cemetery, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.2216 Carson married SARAH MELISSA LICHTENFELS; born April 1853. She was a daughter of John Fredrick and Margaret (Brendling) Lichtenfels. After Carson died, Melissa eventually maried John Eichenlaub and remained living in Altoona. Information on the Lichtenfels from "Clawson Genealogy", by Keith Clawson.
In 1880, Carson and Sarah Melissa and children James F. Clifford (age 7), Edward W. Clifford (age 5), George F. Clifford (age 3 ) and Isaiah Gilson Clifford were in West Wheatfield, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.2217 In 1900, the family (all children were at home except for George F., who was married, see below) was in Altoona, 2111 13th Avenue.2218 In 1910, Carson, Sarah, and children (James) Frederick, Hugh, and Paul were still in Altoona, Blair County.2219 The 1880 federal census for Indiana County, Pennsylvania, reports Sarah Melissa's father born in Germany (Baden).2220 In 1920, about 2 years after Carson had died, Melissa, as Sarah M. Clifford, was living with her son Fred Clifford in the household of John Eichenlaub, born circa 1857 (carpenter, married, but no wife listed), and a Delbert H. ?Vorman on 18th Street, Altoona, Pennsylvania.2221 No relationships were given for this household. Sarah M. was listed as housekeeper and J. Fred Clifford and Delbert H. Vorman as boarders, with Fred Clifford and Delbert Vorman and their parents listed as born in Pennsylvania. For both John Eichenlaub and Sarah M. Clifford, the census lists them born in Pennsylvania, their mothers born in Pennsylvania, and their fathers born in Germany. In 1930, John Eichenlaub, age 70 and wife Sara C. Eichenlaub were living in Altoona; both reported their mothers born in Pennsylvania and their fathers born in Germany.2222 On one side of the Eichelaubs in 1930 was Israel Clifford (enumerated as Isak Clifford) and family; he was a son of Carson and Melissa. On the other side was Lester Clifford and family; he was the grandson of Carson's brother Edward. According to Lacy (Clifford) Lewis's "Early memories," Melissa was from Germany, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, located across the Conemaugh River from Lockport. There is a "Little Germany" and a Germany Cemetery located in West Wheatfield, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Perhaps Melissa was from the Germany in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and her father was born in Germany in Europe. Carson eventually worked in the railroad car shops in Altoona. Carson was a Lutheran and was in the army infantry during the Civil War; he served from 14 August 1862 until 24 May 1883, rank of Private in Company F, 135th Regiment.2223 On 29 January 1864, Carson enlisted again, serving in Company A, 186th Regiment, dates not known; he was discharged with the rank of Corporal. The 135th Regiment was in the Army of the Potomac and was in the area of Washington D. C., near Virginia. The regiment pulled guard duty, picket duty and other routine duties. In April and May of 1863, the 135th was in the Chancellorsville Campaign in Virginia. On 26 July 1890, Carson filed for a Civil War pension; on 16 June 191(8?), Sarah M. Clifford filed for a pension as Carson's widow.2224 From Lacy (Clifford) Lewis's "Early memories," page 3: The first child [sic, the first child was Sarah Jane Clifford] born to James and Matilda Clifford was Carson Clifford at 1841 or 2, he was the only one of the family to go to war - the Civil War 1861-65. After the war, Carson married Melissa, a girl from what they called Germany, a little town across the river from Lockport… . After the war, Carson and first son of Matilda and James Clifford, Melissa who was much younger lived in rooms at the River end side of the house, a very private house and its own garden - afterwards they came to Altoona, where Carson worked for the R. R. Co. ![]()
713. MARY6(MOLLY) CLIFFORD (James5, Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1); born 29 January 1848; died 4 February 1930; married, circa 1870, GEORGE C. FELTON; born 25 January 1845 in Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; died 10 June 1919.2242 George was a son of (tentative) William and Margaret [-?-] Felton.2243 Both Mary and George are buried in Pomfret Manor Cemetery, Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Mary and George moved from probably Westmoreland County to Sunbury, Upper Augusta Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. George and presumably Mary were in Sunbury by 1878, when George C. Felton paid a mercantile tax for Class 14 tobacco in Sunbury.2244 In 1880, George and Mary and family were enumerated in Sunbury, where George was listed as a railroad depot manager.2245 They had a daughter, who died October 1882 in Sunbury.2246 Mary definitely was in Sunbury by 1884 when she was visited by her brother Edward Clifford.2247 By 1896, George was a Sunbury Division train dispatcher.2248 In 1897, George was living at 134 Arch Street, Sunbury, and listed as a clerk in the freight office of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Sunbury.2249 In 1900, George was enumerated as a "Clerk, First (?freight) House."2250 By 1920, George had died and Mary was living with grown sons and their families in Sunbury Borough.2251 When both George died (1919) and Mary died (1930) the family was living at 134 Arch Street, Sunbury, Pennsylvania.2252 Mary perhaps was the family historian. She was the last child of James and Matilda (Redick) to pass away. Records of Shipman Funeral Home, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, list her father as James Clifford; but her mother was listed as Matilda McKee, which I am sure is an error. Mary (Clifford) Felton provided Robert S. Clifford (#1384), re "The Robert Sebastian Clifford Chart," information on Charles and Jane (Lytle) Clifford's family. The 1900 federal census for Sunbury reports Mary and George were married for 30 years, and Mary had nine children, five living in 19002253
There were other Feltons living in the Sunbury area of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the 1880s and 1890s. One was Lafayette E. Felton and family. I can not connect these Feltons to our George C. Felton. 714. EDWARD6 CLIFFORD (James5, Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1). Edward Samuel Clifford (or Samuel Edward) was born 6 January 1850; died 30 November 1924; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania;2267 married in Altoona, LAVINIA STEELE2268 or HICKS2269 (also called Laura); born April 1849; died 3 December 1922.2270 The family was living in Altoona by 1880.2271 In 1900, Edward, Lavina and children Elsie, William, Edward, and Clair, were living on 10th Avenue, Altoona.2272 In 1910 and 1920, Edward, Lavinia and daughter Elsie were still living on 10th Avenue, Altoona.2273 Edward was an engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He started work as a water boy in Lockport at age 12 when a contracting firm was building the second track through Lockport. The next year he started work with the PRR as a track hand and was promoted to engineer in 1873. Edward eventually worked in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops in Altoona, retiring in February 1915, at age 65, because of disability, with 50 years and 7 months service.2274. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Altoona and a member of the Royal Arcanium.2275 His obituary was in the Altoona Tribune, 1 December, 1924.
715. REBECCA6 E. CLIFFORD (James5 Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1); born 20 October 1852 (the 1900 federal census reports Rebecca born February 1852);2282 died 14 June 1914; buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery, West Fairfield, Westmoreland County. Rebecca was buried 16 June 1914, the same day that her brother Hugh McCune Clifford died. Rebecca did not marry. In 1900, Rebecca and her mother were living in Lockport.2283 In 1910, Rebecca was living with her niece, Lillian Clifford (#1344) in the Lockport house, at that time reported owned by Rebecca, in Fairfield Township.2284 This from the Ligonier Echo (Westmoreland County), 24 June 1914: Miss Rebecca Clifford, aged 62 years 4 mo 6 da died at her home in Lockport of apoplexy, Sunday June 14th. Funeral took place Tuesday of last week. Interment made at West Fairfield [Methodist Church Cemetery, West Fairfield, Pennsylvania]. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Felton of Sudbury [sic], and three brothers, P. B., Edward, and Carson of Altoona. Another brother, Hugh; died on the day she was buried. Rebecca came into possession of the Clifford's Lockport house, which was subsequently owned by Lillian (Clifford) McKinney and then Lillian's daughter Rebecca McKinney. 717. PHILLIP6 BANNON CLIFFORD (James5, Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1); born 12 February 1856; died 28 January 1928 in Altoona, Cambria County, Pennsylvania; married MARY ALICE GIBSON; born 6 May 1860 in Canoe Creek, Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania; died 12 January 1943; buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Altoona. She was a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Hetrick) Gibson.2285 Phillip Bannon Clifford was listed as John P. Clifford in the 1870 federal census.2286 He or his parents apparently took the name Bannon from McCunes living in Lockport, see under his brother, Hugh McCune Clifford (#718). In 1880, Phillip B., single (called Bann in family circles),2287 was living with his widowed sister Sarah Steele in Altoona, where Phillip was listed as working in a gas retort building.2288 In 1900, Phillip was enumerated with Alice and all their children except Wesley (who was not born until 1902) in Logan Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania. 2289 In 1910, their children Amy, Sarah, Minnie, Phillip and Wesley were still living at home in Altoona with Phillip and Alice.2290 In 1920, Minnie, Wesley, and "granddaughter" Ruth Clifford (daughter of James and Ruth (Rife) Clifford), were living with Phillip and Alice on Pottsgrove Avenue, Altoona.2291 At this time, Bannon was enumerated as a railroad inspector. In 1930, Alice and son Wesley were still living in Altoona.2292 At this time, daughter Lacy (Lewis) and her family were on one side (dwelling 32, family 34) of Alice's house (dwelling 33, family 35), and on the other side (dwelling 34, family 36) was son James R. Clifford and his family. Reverend Philip Bannon Clifford was a lay minister of the Methodist Church. Besides his ministerial duties, he was instrumental in forming the East End Fire Company of Altoona. This remarkable self-educated person (he started work at age 8 in the Lockport brick factory) was also a student of the classics. His private library, of over 3000 volumes, was said to be one of the finest private collections in Altoona and vicinity. All his interests and church duties were carried out after physically-demanding labor during the day; family legend has him as a section gang leader until age 65 for the Pennsylvania Railroad.2293 When Minnie Clifford was born in 1895 and Jessie Clifford was born 1899, their father was listed as a carpenter.2294 Photo 16. Reverend Phillip Bannon Clifford (#717) (1856-1928), circa 1890. From the late W. Robert Brown (#2036), who lived in Belair, Maryland. Philip Bannon Clifford was a subject of a chapter entitled "P. B. Clifford, Preacher and Mechanic," which appeared on pages 52-56 of Pen Pictures of Friends and Reminiscent Sketches, by R. N. Tllland, 279 pages, 1911. To quote in part: … he found "sermons in stones and Psalms in running brooks." But be was also a great book lover, absorbing all forms of knowledge that came his way voraciously. The classical poets held him in their thrall, and those who would inspect his private library at his pleasant home in the East End would find a collection seldom seen outside the shelves of the professional man or collector. From Lacy (Clifford) Lewis's "Early memories:" [Page 1]: My father [Phillip Bannon
Clifford] worked for the P. R. R.
in Altoona at 50 miles east [east of Lockport?] as gang leader, besides
his church work. Father, as a lay or local minister for M. E. Church -
he was a busy man - he often took me with him to Lockport, for I never
asked for new clothes etc, and I could leave on a minute's notice - I
had short, shingled dark hair - clean, for everyone took a bath in a
wooden tub in the warm kitchen, near the big iron stove.
[From page 6] Bannon or P. B. Clifford - born 1856, married Mary Alice Gibson 1881 and came to Altoona to live. We never knew how he got his theological education, but by around 1890 he had Rev. added to his name and helped to organize the Fifth Ave. M. E. Church - 5th Ave. & 4th St. Altoona, Pa. His church was everything to him and his children - we were all baptized there - he was also a gang leader for the P. R. R. - and retired from that job - when about 65 or so - as a local preacher, ever since I can remember [the underlined words are Lacy's] he preached many places in the surrounding country - going anywhere on call, attending his church, prayer meetings, class meetings and reporting to Quarterly Revivals Conference, regularly - I often made out his reports and copied his sermons, for him, etc. (How I wish we had just one of them). He had a big library at 3000 books - a great reader. His favorite book - Ben Hur, (we have his copy in our trunk) - he went to see Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur about 1900 (I guess), at Crawfordsville (I think) Indiana at 1900 I guess. He died 1928 - my dad. [From page 8] Now more about my father… . Dad loved his children and home - I, as baby sitter, a child watched [?] and my regular job, was generally up when he left for work at 6 o'clock in the morning, and he never left without kissing my mother goodbye. I remember he carried his dinner in a split basket, over his arm - and we kids always watched for him when he came home at night, about 6 p. m. - he walked to and from work about 2 miles each way, with often a little bite of sandwich or something left over from his lunch when he came home for us, which we grabbed - also a few pieces of wood, which we played with. These were good days - early 90's - Dad also taught each child to kneel by the bed and say aloud "Now I lay me down to sleep" - and then each one was thrown into bed - that is he held the little body balanced in his strong arms, and swinging it, said "One for the money, two for the show - three to make ready and four, for the go." then into bed and gently off to slumberland. This till we were about 6, then another 3 yr. old got thrown into bed. He told us, as the group increased to 6, stories, sang songs of the south, like "Pompey Snow" and "Old Mrs. Flipperly Flop" etc. as probably his mother sang to him as a child - I remember this one "Every tingle on the shingle, makes an echo in the air - then in fancy comes my mother, as she used to, years ago, to survey her darling sleeper, ire she left him, till the dawn, Oh, I see her bending o'er me, as I list to this refraim, which is played upon the shingles, by the patter of the rain."
718. HUGH6 MCCUNE CLIFFORD (James5, Charles4, Charles3, James2, unknown Clifford1); born 1858 or 1859,2299 in Lockport, Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania; died 16 June 19142300 in Hoboken, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh area, located west of Aspinwall, in the vicinity of the present day United States Veterans Hospital). Hugh died the day his sister Rebecca Clifford was buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery, West Fairfield, Westmoreland County. Hugh is buried in Ligonier Valley Cemetery, Ligonier, Pennsylvania. He married (first) 26 May 1881 in Conemaugh2301 (East Taylor Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Johnstown area) SARAH BOUCHER; born 17 September 1856; died 11 January 1887; buried in Ligonier Valley Cemetery.2302 Hugh married (second) 17 September 1889 in Elk Creek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania,2303 IDA LOUISE ZINN; born 20 August 1859 in Amboy, Ashtabula County, Ohio; died 10 September 19452304 in Warren, Pennsylvania; buried in Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Pennsylvania. Ida (Zinn) Clifford married circa 1906 Justin J. (Jesse) DeVoge, born circa 1858.2305 See the Zinn web site. Timeline perspective for the year 1858 and 1859, the years Hugh McCune Clifford and Ida Zinn were born:The McCunes were neighbors of James and Matilda (Redick) Clifford in Lockport, Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County. Two of their children were Hugh McCune and Bannon McCune. Apparently my grandfather Hugh McCune Clifford was named after this Hugh McCune and Hugh Clifford's brother Phillip Bannon Clifford was named after this Bannon McCune, although Phillip Bannon was listed as John P. Clifford in the 1870 federal census.2306 My grandfather, the person I was named after, was the stimulus for me becoming interested in my ancestors. I knew next to nothing about Hugh McCune Clifford and nothing about his family and ancestors. My Dad's parents separated when my Dad was about age six. He went with his mother to a different county and possibly never saw his father again. All I had was one picture of my grandfather, a few anecdotal comments from my father, and information on an insurance policy and delayed Social Security application of my father's. Hugh was with his parents in Lockport in 1860 and 1870.2307 I could not find him in the 1880 federal census for Pennsylvania, but suspect he was in Westmoreland County. Hugh married Sarah Boucher in Conemaugh (a suburb of Johnstown), Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 26 May 1881.2308 When Hugh married Sarah, he was living in Derry, Westmoreland County, and Sarah was living in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County. In the "Boucher Family,"2309 there is a picture of Sadie (Boucher) Clifford on page 257. Next to her picture, on the same page, is a picture of Hugh McCune Clifford (which is the photo that I have), but the caption is mislabeled as "Dr. Edward Marcellus Clifford." On page 258 of "The Boucher Family," next to the photograph of Kate (Boucher) Clifford, is her husband Edward Marcellus Clifford but is mislabeled as "Hugh M. Clifford." To confirm these errors, one has only to compare the photograph of Edward M. Clifford opposite page 15 of Hedley (1918a) with the photographs labeled Edward Marcellus Clifford and Hugh M. Clifford in "The Boucher Family," pages 257 and 258. The person shown as Hugh M. Clifford was Edward Marcellus Clifford and the person shown as Dr. Edward Marcellus Clifford was Hugh McCune Clifford. The Bouchers2310Sarah (Sadie) Boucher was the sixth child of Hiram and Abigail (Slater) Boucher. Hiram's parents were David and Mary Eve (Friedline) Boucher. Other children of David and Mary Eve were Susan Boucher (married Abraham Brandt), Daniel Boucher (married Jane B. Parke), Josiah Boucher, John Boucher (married Sarah E. Hamlin), Isaac Boucher, David Boucher (married Maria Miller), Elizabeth Boucher, Simon Boucher (married Coihecine Jones), and Henry Boucher (married Kate Mattew ?Matthew).2311 By David's second wife, Sara (Stahl) Boucher, David had four additional children: Emma Boucher, Charles Wesley Boucher, Anna (?Jane) Boucher, and Lucius Boucher. In 1860, David, age 70, was enumerated with Sara (as Sarah) Boucher, age 56, Emma Boucher, age 14, Wesley Boucher, age 13, Jane (?Anna) Boucher, age 10 and Lucius Boucher, age 8.2312Hiram Boucher, Sadie (Boucher) Clifford's father, was born 7 December 1821 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania; died 18 October 1889 in Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Sadie's mother, Abigail Slater, was born 13 January 1822 in Ligonier; she died 19 February 1905. Hiram was a farmer; in 1850 he and Abigail and first three children were living in Ligonier Township.2313 In 1870 and 1880, Hiram, Abigail and family were still in Ligonier Township.2314 Children of Hiram and Abigail (Slater) Boucher were2315 (1) (?Frances) Elizabeth Boucher, born 14 March 1844, died 11 October 1915, married, December 1867, Jacob T. Ambrose, born 6 December 1837, died 1921; (2) Mary Eve Boucher, born 12 June 1846, died 15 April 1892, buried in Ligonier, married William C. Knox; (3) Amanda Boucher, born 1849, died 1945, buried in Ligonier, married Hamilton Smith; (4) Caroline (Carrie) F. Boucher, born 4 August 1851, died 1942, married, November 1877, Oscar Adams Emerson (Reverend); (5) John Newton Boucher (see next paragraph), born 12 October 1854, died 1933, married, 29 April 1909, May Idona Hargnett, a daughter of John and Euphemia (McDonald) Hargnett; (6) Sarah (Sadie) Boucher, born 17 September 1856, died 11 January 1887, married Hugh McCune Clifford; (7) Bertha Kate Boucher (enumerated as Catherine Boucher in the 1860 and 1880 federal censuses, but as Kate in the 1870 federal census), born 9 July 1859, died 20 March 1913; married Edward Marcellus Clifford (see #1256), a son of Christopher and Susan (McElroy) Clifford, and therefore a second cousin once removed of Hugh McCune Clifford; and (8) David Wilbert Boucher, born August 1861, died August 1863. Sarah (Boucher) Clifford's brother John Newton Boucher2316 was a schoolteacher and a graduate of Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, class of 1876. He then read law and was admitted to the bar in 1879. Although he apparently regarded his literary works as incidental to his legal accomplishments, we know him best for his histories of Westmoreland County, especially his comprehensive four volumes (with F. Yardley Hedley) of Old and New Westmoreland. One has only to attempt a long genealogy or other treatise, with all the modern-day computerized aids to writing, indexing and publishing, to appreciate the talents of people like John Newton Boucher writing and compiling in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The 1918 four volume set on Old and New Westmoreland, with F. Y. Hedley, would be a life-time literary achievement for most. But to Boucher, this was considered incidental to his other accomplishments in the legal field. John Newton Boucher also wrote the 1906 History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.2317 (see Document 4) and a history of Pittsburgh in 1908, as well as the Westmoreland County part of the 1903 Twentieth Century Bench and Bar of Pennsylvania (Coopers and Brothers, Chicago). John Newton Boucher married May Idona Hargnett. She was a half-sister of Pamelia Hargnett who married Lemon Thomas Beam (#671). Pamelia's parents were John Hargnett (born 13 April 1811, died 13 June 1896) and Susan (Armor) Hargnett (died 1848). May Idona Hargnett's parents were John Hargnett and his second wife Euphemia (McDonald) Hargnett (died 19 January 1908). Both John and Euphemia are buried in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery, Ligonier, Westmoreland County. Euphemia was a daughter of Catherine (Carnahan) McDonald.2318 Document 5. Letter of John Newton Boucher (1854-1933) to Robert S. Clifford (#1384), dated March (no year). With permission of Mary Ann Cottrell (#2050), daughter of Robert S. Clifford. The first paragraph reads: "My dear Sir: I send herewith the Indian stories of Charles and James Clifford as printed in a History of Westmoreland County [Boucher J. N. 1906. History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Volume I, see "References] of which I am the author and also a genealogical sketch of the Clifford Family of this county as published in a volume of biographical sketches of prominent families of this county, edited by John W. Jordan of Philadelphia. Both are correct or as nearly correct as a great deal of care and research can make them." [Note: Two of John Newton Boucher's sisters married Cliffords: Sarah married Hugh McCune Clifford (#718) and Bertha Kate married Edward Marcellus Clifford (#1256).]. Photo 17. John Newton Boucher (1854-1933), date not known. From Hedley (1918a), opposite page 284. Hugh and Sarah's first child, Katie E. Clifford, was born 25 August 1882.2319 The next year Hugh purchased lot #94 on Chestnut Street in Derry, Derry Township, Westmoreland County.2320 There is no indication from the deed that a house was on the lot. Their second child, Lillian Hamilton Clifford, was born 5 April 1886 in Derry. Katie died 31 December 1886 of diphtheria. She is buried in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery. On 11 January 1887, 10 days after the death of Katie, Sarah (Boucher) Clifford, age 30, also died of diphtheria; she is also buried in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery.2321 After the death of her mother, Lillian was raised mainly in the household of the Lockport Cliffords, especially by her aunt Rebecca Clifford (#715). From Lacy (Clifford) Lewis's "Early memories," page 6: [writing about Hugh continued from page 5, a page that is missing-HFC] …he passed by Lockport, while his mother was living. His first wife, Saide and daughter Katie died when Katie was at 7, of diphtheria, and Beckie adopted his other daughter Lillian and raised her - when Lillian grew up, and married Edward McKinney and herself had three children, 2 girls and 1 boy, that I know of, Molly was one of the girl's name - the boy, Edwin McK. became an engineer [I believe Edwin was a civil engineer-HFC] of some kind in Ptg. [Pittsburgh] later. All well educated. Lillian, herself taught Latin in nearby schools for many years - she was educated at a State Teachers College in Chester, Pa. I've now lost track of all of them. On 10 February 1888, a Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, newspaper item reported Hugh visiting his sister Mary Felton in Sunbury. Also in 1888, Hugh purchased another lot (and house?) in Derry, probably where my father, Ralph Zinn Clifford (#1346), was born.2322 Hugh was a freight engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad; probably most runs were east-west runs between Pittsburgh and Johnstown. My Dad would often mention that when he was a little boy his father would sometime let him ride in the cab of his locomotive. On 31 May 1889 Hugh's train was hauling freight on one of the lines through Johnstown, when the South Fork dam on South Fork Creek, a tributary of the Conemaugh River, gave way. The result was the horrendous Johnstown Flood of 1889. Hugh's locomotive was the last one across the great stone bridge in Johnstown. See "Hugh McCune Clifford and The Johnstown Flood of 1889," at the end of this section. On 17 September 1889, Hugh married Ida Louise Zinn in Elk Creek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania.2323 Ida was born in Amboy, Ashtabula County, Ohio, located about 2 miles southwest of Conneaut, Ohio. Ten days after Hugh and Ida married, 27 September 1889, Hugh and presumably Hugh's bride, Ida, visited Hugh's sister Mary (Clifford) Felton in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.2324 Ida's parents were Josiah J. and Wilhelmine (Peterson) Zinn. Josiah, a miller, moved several times in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. At the time of Ida's birth, he had a mill near Amboy, Ohio. The Zinns, although their history is mainly centered in Erie County, Pennsylvania, lived for a time in the Greensburg-Jeannette area of Westmoreland County, and this is where Hugh M. probably met Ida Zinn. An 1889 deed2325 shows Josiah Zinn, of Greensburg, buying land in Elk Creek Township, Erie County. The Zinns were probably living permanently in Elk Creek Township in September 1889 when Ida and Hugh married. By the early 1890's, or perhaps even earlier, Hugh had gone into some sort of business venture with his father-in-law, Josiah, and brother-in-law, Harley Zinn, "doing business as Clifford and Zinn and Company."2326 I do not know what kind of business. Possibly between 1890 and 1892, Hugh and Ida had a first child who probably died in infancy, probably before my father was born. This is based on information provided by my father in 1954 to obtain a delayed birth certificate (for Social Security purposes). The delayed birth certificate states "the number of children of his mother [this refers to my father's mother] is 2 of whom 1 is now living." There is no indication from other documents or family legend that Ida was previously married. I never heard my father or mother mention another child of my father's parents. Hugh and Ida's son Ralph Zinn Clifford was born in Derry, Pennsylvania, 11 January 1893. Also in 1893, Hugh M. and his brother Gilson (#719) purchased another Derry, Pennsylvania, lot.2327 The Clifford and Zinns business apparently failed. On 17 April 1897 Sheriff H. F. Seaner issued a writ of fieri facias, (according to Black, 1979, page 565, this is a writ of execution commanding the sheriff to levy and make the amount of a judgment from the goods and chattels of the judgment debtor) against Hugh M. Clifford, J. J. Zinn and Harley Zinn.2328 On 17 April 1897 the property of Clifford, Zinn and Company was sold for taxes at a Sheriff sale.2329 This involved two city lots in West Greensburg (Hempfield Township), presumably originally the Zinn's, and one in Derry, presumably the home of Hugh M. Clifford and probably where my father, Ralph Clifford, was born. The Sheriff sale also included a lien by John Newton Boucher (brother of Hugh's first wife Sarah) for an unpaid $100 loan to Hugh M. Clifford. Hugh's brother James B. Clifford (#716) died, unmarried, in April 1899, and this entailed a document listing James B. Clifford's mother, siblings and siblings' spouses selling James's Lockport property. This deed, in the name of Mrs. Matilda Clifford et al., indicates that Hugh and Ida were still together in Derry, Pennsylvania, in early 1899:2330 "… County of Westmoreland, State of Pennsylvania. On this the Twenty first day of May anno Domini 1899 before me personally came the above named H. M. Clifford and Ida L. his wife, T. G. Clifford and Annie his wife who in due form of law acknowledged the foregoing indenture …" Later in 1899, Hugh's brother Thomas Gilson Clifford died. He died in debt leaving a widow, Annie. Recall that Hugh and Gilson jointly owned property. Hugh M. Clifford then sold his half share of the lot to Annie Clifford, widow of Gilson, for $10.00. The transaction was written 9 March, 1900,2331 suggesting that Hugh and Ida had separated by this time. The transaction listed Hugh's address as Ashtabula County, Ohio, and Ida's as Venango County, Pennsylvania. The witness of this deed was Joseph Clifford, who was probably Joseph Beachley Clifford (#1260), a brother of Edward Marcellus Clifford who married Kate Boucher, a sister of Hugh's first wife, Sarah (Boucher) Clifford. I believe Hugh and Joseph, besides being second cousins once removed, were friends. Joseph married Lillas (also called Lillian) Greenawalt. I wonder if Lillian (Greenawalt) Clifford was the namesake of Hugh and Sarah (Boucher) Clifford's child Lillian Clifford (#1344). Ida's mother, Wilhelmine (Peterson) Zinn, died in March 1900. By June 1900, when the 1900 federal census was taken, Ida and son Ralph Clifford and Ida's father, Josiah, and brother Harley were living as roomers in the household of C. [Charles] C. Kramer in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania.2332 The next record I have of Hugh McCune Clifford is a 22 July 1901 letter from Elijah Reed (#805) of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to James E. Clifford (#1379). Elijah writes, "Hugh Clifford is here today and tells me that you are somewhat interested in the Cliffords… ."2333 The next record I have of Hugh is a 1906 or 1907 letter to James E. Clifford from The Lewis Publishing Company that starts, "My Dear Sir: Mr. H. M. Clifford was here today trying to purchase a set of the recently published History of Westmoreland County for you but we could not find any …" Regrettably the General Agent in Greensburg, W. S. Dunbar, did not date his letter. Apparently James E. Clifford, who was a first cousin of Hugh M. Clifford and who was compiling information on Cliffords, had asked Hugh to obtain copies of the 1906 History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; volume I by John Newton Boucher and volume II by J. W. Jordan. (The four volume set of Old and New Westmoreland was not published until 1918, and by that time Hugh was dead.) Apparently Hugh and Ida were divorced by 1906, the year that Ida married Justin J. (Jessie) DeVoge. The 1910 federal census lists Jessie DeVoge (his father was born in France) and wife Ida and step-son Ralph Clifford living in Oil Creek Township, Venango County (the Shamburg area-not far from where my mother, Edith Marie Fleming Clifford, lived); the census reports that the couple had been married 4 years.2334 I have not yet found Ida (Zinn) Clifford's divorce record nor a 1906 marriage record to Jessie DeVoge in Venango County, Pennsylvania. Jessie worked in the oil fields (a pumper) and apparently was from the Oil City-Titusville, Pennsylvania, area. He was a Deacon and amongst the first officers chosen when the Shamburg Christian Church, Oil Creek Township, Venango County, near Pleasantville, was organized as the first Christian Church in Venango County, Pennsylvania in 1903.2335 My father would have been about 16 when Ida and Jessie married. Dad had nothing but kind things to say about Jessie DeVoge. I can only speculate on whether Hugh had contact with my father in the 14 years that Hugh lived after Ida and Hugh separated. I can not remember my Dad saying that he did, although he had Hugh's Hamilton railroad watch, but I believe this was sent to him by his half-sister Lillian (Clifford) McKinney, perhaps many years later, but I am not sure. My Dad, via letters, did keep in touch with Lillian. I do not believe my father saw his Dad after his parents separated. My last record of Hugh until he died in 1914 was in 1910, when Hugh was living as a boarder with Edward Mitchell in Woodlawn (now part of east Aliquippa), Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Hugh was listed as a locomotive engineer and his age was reported as 54.2336 By 1914, Hugh M. Clifford was living at 190-36 Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.2337 In March of that year, he was admitted to the Pittsburgh North Side City Home in Hoboken, O'Hara Township, Allegheny County, now part of suburban Pittsburgh.2338 He died there 3 months later. The immediate cause of death, given on the death certificate,2339 was "aortic insufficiency" (presumably due to a leaky heart valve). The Hoboken Home is but a stone's throw from the Pennsylvania Railroad's Western Line tracks. Hugh was born less the 50 yards from the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks and he died less then 50 yards from the railroad tracks. His death certificate stated that Hugh was a railroad engineer and was married. All other categories, including Hugh's dates and names of Hugh's parents were left blank. The informant was listed as "Records of the Institution." From the Ligonier Echo, 24 June 1914 Hugh Clifford. aged 54 years; died at North Side City Home at Hoboken, Allegheny County Tuesday June 16th. His remains were brought to Ligonier Wed. afternoon of last week and interment made in the Valley Cemetery by the side of his wife who was a sister of Mrs. Dr. J. T. Ambrose of Ligonier. He had been an engineer of the P. R. R. for many years, but was ill the past three years at hospital. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Felton of Sunbury, and three brothers, P. B., Edward and Carson, of Altoona; also by one daughter Mrs. Lillian McKinney of Lockport [not correct; Hugh was also survived by his son, Ralph-HFC]. There was no mention of Hugh's second wife or his son, Ralph. There is no stone for Hugh in Ligonier Valley Cemetery, which is not that unusual, but the Ligonier Valley Cemetery Book does not list his name in the Burial Book. However, his granddaughter Rebecca McKinney (#2041) stated, and without being privy to the above obituary, that he is buried in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery. My sister Josephine Frase visited the Cemetery in the 1980s and noted a space for another burial along side Sarah (Boucher) Clifford. Photo 18. and 19. Left: Hugh McCune Clifford (#718) (circa 1858-1914). Right: Ida (Zinn) Clifford (1859-1945). The photographs were possibly taken in 1889, when Hugh and Ida Zinn were married. From the photograph album of my mother, Edith Marie (Fleming) Clifford Photo 20. Ida Louise (Zinn) Clifford DeVoge (see #718) (1859-1945); photograph taken circa 1915, probably in the Shamburg area, Oil Creek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. From the photograph album of my mother, Edith Marie (Fleming) Clifford.
Hugh McCune Clifford and The Johnstown Flood of 1889The Lockport Cliffords were a railroad family. The Pennsylvania Railroad's (now ConRail) main line (Pittsburgh to Philadelphia) goes through the small hamlet of Lockport, Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; and in the mid and late 1800's trains would stop there to take on water. At one time in the 1800's, when Lockport had a population of about 150 (thanks to a brick works), there was a railroad station as well. The Clifford's Lockport home was about 50 yards from the railroad tracks.James Clifford (#251), Hugh McCune Clifford's father, worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a watchman during his later years and his sons also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Carson Clifford worked in the car shops in Altoona; Philip Bannon Clifford was a section gang leader out of Altoona; and Edward, Hugh M., and Gilson Clifford were freight engineers-the other son, James, Jr., was a merchant in Lockport. Hugh M.'s work region was probably mainly between Pittsburgh east to about Altoona. I suspect he was still living in Derry at the time of the 1889 Johnstown Flood. Hugh's first wife, Sarah (Boucher) Clifford, had died in January 1887. Hugh was 31 at the time of the flood and had not yet married his second wife, Ida Zinn. Hugh M. Clifford has been mentioned in at least two accounts of The Johnstown Flood of 1889: Shaw, D. (1958) The Day the Dam Broke, True Magazine, Spring, 1958; and McCullough, D. G. (1968) The Johnstown Flood, Simon and Schuster, 302 pages. Hugh Clifford is mentioned on pages 134-135 of Shaw (1958) and page 145 of McCullough (1968). I do not know the primary sources for the information on Hugh McCune Clifford in Shaw (1958) or McCullough (1968). In 1991, Robert M. Drucker,2342 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, could not find records of Hugh Clifford in the Penn Central Collection, neither regarding Hugh's employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad nor his experience as an engineer in The Johnstown Flood. However, Dr. Drucker reported that two large dumpsters of personnel cards have not yet been processed. May of 1889 was an unusually wet month in western Pennsylvania. By month's end, most streams in the Johnstown area were at flood stage or nearly so. Then on 30 May a cloudburst inundated the region. This was too much for the old earth-filled dam on South Fork Creek, a small tributary of the Conemaugh River, located about 14 miles upstream of Johnstown and at the time owned by the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. This club consisted mainly of wealthy members from Pittsburgh. The dam broke at 3:10 p.m., 31 May 1889. According to McCullough (1968), page 102, the amount of water roaring down the Conemaugh valley was equivalent to turning the water going over Niagara Falls into the valley for 36 minutes. When the dam broke, Hugh's train would have been in or close to Johnstown proper (there were other freight trains operating in the area and also a dayliner passenger train). As the flood waters of the Conemaugh River swept through suburban Woodvale and then into Johnstown, Hugh M. disconnected his cars, some apparently being tanker cars filled with crude oil; and with his whistle blowing, raced his locomotive down the line and across the great stone bridge spanning the river. According to my father, the brakeman and conductor reached safety by running up a hill. Hugh's locomotive was the last across the bridge prior to the flood waters drowning the city. The stone bridge was not taken out by the flood, but became jammed with an enormous amount of debris, including a number of freight cars. The debris caught fire and many lost their lives in this conflagration alone (over 2000 people lost their lives in the flood). According to McCullough's and several other accounts, the debris and then fire at the bridge would have been the result of many factors. For example, other freight trains were operating above the bridge, and a number of freight cars including tankers were on sidings; also a variety of debris, including inflammable materials of factories and homes, would have been swept downstream to become jammed at the stone bridge and contribute to the subsequent fire. In contrast, Shaw's (1958) account, would seem to imply that one of the abandoned tanker cars of Hugh Clifford's train was chiefly responsible for perhaps starting or at least maintaining the fire at the stone bridge. Hugh McCune Clifford's second cousin, Lemon T. Beam and Lemon's son Charles Beam, perished in the flood-see under Lemon Thomas Beam (#671). In the book On the Main Line, The Pennsylvania Railroad in the 19th Century (E. P. Alexander, 1971, Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. Publishers, 310 pages), there is a picture, page 136, of the type locomotive operated by Hugh M, Clifford at the time of the flood. It is locomotive number 490, standing on the great stone bridge a few days after the flood, with the engineer in the cab. One would like to think this was the locomotive of Hugh M. and the engineer in the cab was Hugh M. Clifford. Photo 21. Locomotive Number 490 on the great stone bridge over the Conemaugh River in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in June 1889. Figure 138 in Alexander, E. P. 1971. On the main line. The Pennsylvania Railroad in the 19th Century. Clarkson N. Potter, Inc./Publisher, New York. The caption beneath the picture reads: "In the disastrous flood of 1889, most of the debris brought down by the waters piled up against the Pennsylvania's stone bridge to a height above that of the train shown. Many people trapped in the wreckage were burned when it caught fire, and the estimated total loss of life was 10,000 to 12,000. The photograph is of locomotive 490 with a reconstruction train after most of the debris had been cleared in June 1889."
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