The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-04-14
Death of Hon. John A. Proper.


eleven children, only one of whom sur
wives him, Isaiah Proper, of WaIlaceville,
Venango county, who is in his S0th year
and in feeble health. His wife, Sarah
Proper, passed to the other shore on
April p, 1904. He is survived by three
sons and four daughters, as follows: Mrs.
Daniel Walters OF Tionests; Mrs. s. A.
Warner of Litchfeld, Illinois; o. W.
Proper, Mrs. +. r. Lsnson, J. +. Proper,
Miss Eu Retta Proper and f. c. Proper,
all of Tionesta. Funeral services were
held at his late home Tuesday afternoon
at 200 O'Clock, conducted by Mrs. Clara
Watson of jamestown, N. Y, and the
body was laid to rest in Mt. Collins
cemetery.
John Archer Proper was born in Plum
township, Vepaugo county, Pa, on Sept.
u, 1915. His fathers name was Daniel
Proper of Holland Dutch, and his mother
Margaret (Archer) Proper, of Highland
Scotch descent. His grandparents were
pioneers of Plum and Cherrytree town
ships. In youth subject received the
limited education which the schools of
that early day afforded and he improved
these opportunities, going TO school and
working on his fathers farm until he was
of age, when he went from home, going
to Randolph, N. Y. where he worked for
some time. He lex engaged as a jobber
in the lumber business in Warren and
Venango counties. The writer obtained
from Judge Proper some years ago the
following statement of his interesting life
which | give in his own words as near as
possible: ~ was named for my mater
nal grand fatber, John Archer. My
grandparents, the Archers, died within a
short time OF each other during the war of
1872. When the soldiers passed through
Cherrytree village where they had settled,
on their way to Erie, they caught the
camp fever aud died and were buried
among the first in the old Cherrytree
graveyard. l was married to Sarah
Grove in September, lS47, in Plum town
ship. She was a daughter OF Jacob Grove,
who was a son of Peter Grove, the famous
pioneer and Indian fighter. His family
consisted of two girls and two boys"
Concerning himself he further says: Il
numbered on the Conewango about eight
years. At that time the Indians helped
me to run my lumber; they made good
raftmen as we'll as good pilots. l ran the
Allegheny river for over 80 years. As a
pilot l ran RATS for Guy Irwin and Judge
Chamberlain and never stove or wrecked
a raft. / knew the river we'll and oflimes
al both day and night from Warren to
the mouth of the Ohio"
These sketches are interesting as they
relate to the early days and illustrate the
vast enterprises and hsrdships of the
pioneer in the lumber industries of this
portion of our State, in which our subject
was so prominent an actor. AS imme-
distely connected with his Forest county
life, he came into what is now its borders
in lS47, and purchased warrants 3sl6 II
aud he thus narrates it:
81 then bought the tracts on Little Coon
creek, cleared up a field or two with great
labor, raised hay and farm products,
on it and sawed off about IL, ZOO, 900 feet of
lumber. l originally supposed that there
was only 1000 acres in these two tracts,
but Richard Irwin surveyed it for me,
and il turned out to be 1900 acres. l
afterward sold this property to John A.
and Joseph G. Dale"
In the fall of 1856 he purchased two
farms in Clarion county and lived on
them until the fall of 1867. Selling these
places he then moved to Tionesta where
he has resided yer since.
"Man in his time plays many parts"
has been truly said, and our subject was
no except ion to the general rule. After
coming to Tiont sta he purchased the Tio-
nesta House at the mouth of the creek, a
famous old inn of the town in its day.
He was the well known proprietor for a
few years and bought other valuable
property in the same vicinity. He in
company with John Reck, deceased. was
extensively engaged in merchandising,
the firm being known as Proper Il Reck.
They eventually sold out the store to NJ.
Einstein. After this he was largely en-
gagged as an oil producer, especially in the
BalltOwn field, which business was sue
cessful in his hands. He also purchased
a large tract of over 500 acres adjoining
the borough known as the ''Arbuckle
tract" lately known as the proper
farm." This he cleared up in fine shape
and placed thereon valuable buildings, |
and 1t is worthy of note that the first crop
he put out was a field of wheat which
yielded wonderfully, having enough for
himself and shipping away two car loads
by rail. Can l do better than to here
quote from The History of Forest Coun-
ty," where it says:
Judge Proper has been one of the
most rugged and enterprising pioneers of
that section of the county, of remarkable
strength, courage and powers of endur-
snce; a natural wooGsman and noted
hunter. having in recent years, when
nearly 20 years of age, hunted and killed
as many as four deer in one day."
This is a fine tribute but to it may be
added that for over half a century he has
been a citizen of what Is now Forest
county, that he was one of the last links
uniting this generatio with the earlier
settlers of this section. To boys who have
grown up, become men and to their
families he was always a familiar and
welcome person, and was one of the most
widely known and respected citizens of
the northwestern part Of our State. As
an Associate judge he was not one in
name only, for he had the natural ability
and fearlessness to decide for himself
what justice and mercy required when
the houses he built, the industries he
promoted are all monuments and wit
nesses of his energy and activity, but
this long and useful life is now ended and