Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/660

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES the position o f principal of the Danville high school, rentaining at the head o f this institu­ tion fo r twenty years. We soon popularized him self by elevating the high school to a de­ gree o f excellence seldom attained in a country town. Possessing, in addition lo a vast store o f knowledge, the faculty o f bringing himself into happy fellowship with the young in their aim s and aspirations, he at once endeared him­ se lf to his |>u|)its and imprcsse*! them with his rare ability as a tetichcr. .Mr. D err now (inds himself surrounded in all circles by those who were his pupils at one time or another during his long career as a teacher. It would be difficult, inileed. lo limit the extent to which Danville is imlebted to him for its mental cul­ ture. In 1881 he receiveonsible position w as marked by a gradual improvenieni in the schools under his charge, besides Ihe mm.sually pleasant relations existing be­ tween the teachers and superintendent. In 1882 M r. D err went into the Ixjot and shoe business in Danville, in partnership wilh W illiam E. [jin g cr. The same confidence re­ posed in him as a teacher was shown during his career as a merchant, and at no lime was the firm o f Derr & Lunger without a liberal portion of the town's jxitronage. In 1887 he and -Mr. l.un gcr dissolvcfl |«rtncrship, Mr. I > r r actjuiring the sole ownership and con­ tinuing the business until 1898. l)tiring this time he also took up life insurance work, in which he is still cngagcil. In J873 M r. Derr marrie<l Martha B. Row ycr. daughter o f John Rowyer, o f Dan­ ville. and this union was blessed with one child. Clarence F. M r. D err is a Knight T em plar, a member o f Danville Ixxlgc No. 224. F . & .A. M .. and Chapter N'o. 2.39. R, A. M . He is a Republican in politics and has taken some i»ari in public affairs, serving three y e ars as councilman. In June. i8f»3, he en­ listed in the Untied States service for the ‘'E m ergen cy" when Lee invadcerr. was l» r n Ju n e 23. 1883. and died .April 22. 1905. H ad he been spare<l until Ju n e following he would have Iteeii twentytw o years o f age. He w as a young man o f fine character, his dis]tosiiioii. as show'ii in his intercourse with his fellowmen. being uni­

form ly kind, generous and obliging. Although o f retiring manners and without any vanity, yet he hail many talents, well cultivated. He w as finely educated and w as well read. He w as fond o f music and he loved the beautiful, the pure and the good. A ll in all. whether as a child or as a young man, whose estate he had just attained when cut down by the Grim Reaper, he w as such a person as commanded the love and respect uf everyone. H e w as a member of the .Mahoning Presbyterian Church. He was a graduate of the Danville high school, belonging to the class of 19 0 1. Immediately after graduating he entered the Danville N a­ tional Rank as clerk, a position which he held at the time o f his death. “ O h! Clarence, we do not think o f Death as ever having come to you. W c think o f you as some strangely beautiful l>eing, that one day rose out of these earthly marslies, where hunts the dark fow ler, and uttering your note of divine farew ell spread your wings toward the open sea o f Eternity, there to await our coniing.” J A S P E R N E W T O N P U R S E L, o f l>anvillc, is clerk for Ihe D.anvjllc Structural Tub­ ing Company, whose plant is one of the two large industrial establishments where so many residents o f Ihe borough find empio^mcnt. He is a brother o f William G. Pursel. one of the owners. M r. Ihirsel w as born in Danville Dec. 2 1. 1874, son o f Hugh Pursel. who has been a resident o f this place since >845. Mr. Pursel's grcat-grcat-grandmothcr was an A rnw inc: her brother was a colonel in the English arm y during the Revolution. Jacob Pursel. great-grandfather o f Mr. Pursel. came to this region from New Jersey, and was the first settler in Frosty Valley. H is w ife w as Jan e Hill. Hugh Pursel, son o f Jaco b and Jan e (H ill) Pursel. w as liorn in iSoo in A'allcy township, lived in Frosty A'allcy, Limestone township, with his parents, and learned blacksmithing, which trade he continued to follow until some time a fte r his marriage. He worked at that calling in .Milton, .Northumberland and Jersey Shore, and while at the latter niacc Iwugiit a tract o f 17 3 acres in the Nippcnose valley. Limestone township, all then in timber. Som e time later he moved onto this tract, built a log house and bam. and started the work o f clearing, continuing to live there until 1845. when he moved with his fam ily to Danville. There he was employed .at his trade in Rratidon's black­ smith shop until the spring o f 1850. when he