W.J. Colegrove
W.J. Colegrove, Smethport, was born in what is now Norwich township,
McKean Co., Penn. His father, Jonathan Colegrove, late of McKean
county, N. Y., in 1815, and was one of the pioneers of said county, having
removed hither from from Chenango county, N. Y., in 1815, and was one of
three brothers (the others being Park and Benjamin), all of whom resided
for many years in what was then Sergeant township, but is now Norwich township.
They were born in the town of Sterling, Windham Co., Conn. Jonathan
Colegrove was educated at the district school of his native town, and at
Plainfield Academy. He was married to Miss Eliza Gallup, a native
of Griswold, Conn., and removed to Chenango county. After serving
in the army at Sackett's Harbor in the war of 1812, he lived on a farm
which he worked summers, and taught school, winters, for some years, after
which they came to McKean county, where he followed faring and teaching,
also had charge of the large Ridgway landed property until 1852.
He was twice county commissioner, being the first at the it's organization,
and when it was connected with Potter county; he was also treasurer one
term; served one term as representative of his district in 1824-25; was
the first postmaster of Norwich when the mail was carried from Smethport
to Lock Haven once in two weeks on horseback, the rider carrying a "tin
horn" to give warning of his approach. The children born of this
union were Eliza F. (the late Mrs. Daniel Rifle), William W. (who died
when five years old), Horace (who married Emily Burlingame, and whose death
occurred in Norwich township in 1888), William J., Laura Ann and Laura
Ette (twins). The only survivors of these children are William J.
and Laura Ann. Mrs. Colegrove died in 1859 in her seventy-fourth
year. Jonathon Colegrove was respected by all who knew him for his
sterling integrity and his business qualifications. He was an oldline
Whig from their organization, and on the dissolution of that party became
a zealous Republican, and so continued to his death. Through his
influence, a zealous Republican, and so continued to his death. Through
his influence, while in the legislature, he obtained an appropriation from
the State for the while in the legislature, he obtained an appropriation
from the State for the Smethport Academy, which was subsequently built
and opened to the public. He died in 1872 in his ninetieth year.
W. J. Colegrove, the subject proper of this sketch, was born in 1821, and
was educated at the common schools of Norwich township, and Smethport Academy,
after which he married, in 1841, Miss Eunice H. Wright, of Kanona, Steuben
Co., N.Y., and they began their married life on the old homestead farm
in Norwich township, McKean Co., Penn., he teaching school, winters, for
some years. There they remained until 1880, when they removed to
Smethport, he having since 1852 had charge of the Ridgway estates, which
were located in McKean and Elk counties, embracing two tracts of land,
each containing 40,000 acres, situated in said counties, and of which he
had exclusive control, being authorized to sell, collect and make titles
without restriction. This continued until the decease of the principal,
when the executor wished Mr. Colegrove to continue as before, which position
he still occupies. A portion of the estate had been sold when Mr.
Colegrove assumed its management, but he has now disposed of all, except
about 16,430 acres in McKean County. Mr. Colegrove was elected in
justice of the peace, in 1842, while residing in Norwich township; has
also served two terms as commissioner of McKean County, and was a member
of the board during the erection of the present fine courthouse, which
was begun and completed during his term from 1879 to 1881, inclusive.
Mr. Colegrove was instrumental in the creating of a new post-office at
Colegrove, of which he was postmaster until 1880; he was also appointed
by Gov. W. F. Johnston as sheriff of McKean county, in 1851, to fill the
unexpired term of E. Bard. He is a prominent and active worker in
the Republican party, his first vote, however, having been cast for Clay
and Frelinghuysen, Whigs; but he has voted for every Republican candidate
since the organization of the party, and he was the elector of his district
at Grant's last election. He is a Prohibitionist in principle, but
not a third-party man . Mr. and Mrs. Colegrove have four children:
Harriet Amelia, who married Thomas Saunders, of Westfield, Tioga Co., Penn.;
Alpha William, now on the old homestead; Lydia Sophia, widow of the late
John S. Ross, of Coudersport, Penn., and Clarence Melville.