In the central part of Karthaus township, about four miles north from the village of Karthaus, is located one of the finest farms in this county, two hundred acres in extent, the property and home of Isaac C. McClosky. He is not a native of this county, but was born in Clinton county on the 8th day of February, 1826, and was the oldest of a large family of children, sons and daughters of Thomas and Sophia McClosky. The family came to Karthaus in the year 1848, and located on lands previously purchased by Isaac, then only one hundred acres in area, and having only about five acres cut over, and with no other improvement. Here the family lived until the month of September, of the year 1854, when the parents and several of the children went to Iowa, Isaac remaining to improve and cultivate the land, and which was destined through his enterprise, thrift and energy, to become not only the best and most productive in the township, but one of the best in the county. Enlarging and extending his possessions from time to time, Mr. McClosky has become the sole owner of some six hundred acres of desirable land, besides having a half interest in as much more. In connection with his agricultural pursuit, he has engaged extensively in lumbering, and his investments in this direction have been productive of good results. Something like thirty years ago, he established a general merchandise store on his farm and did, for many years, a successful business, and upon the starting in trade of his son, at Belford, he discontinued the store at Karthas Hill and took an interest in the son's business, the management of it, however, being left wholly to the latter.
In the affairs and well-being of the county and of his township, Mr. McClosky has always taken a deep interest and is identified with every progressive step, yet, he has been no aspirant for political office and although frequently pressed to become a canidate, he has frequently declined, and never held any position except that of school director of the township, and perhaps other minor offices, being too much occupied with his own business to give more than his counsel and vote to political matters. In political life, he is consistently and thoroughly Democratic, and by his influence and standing in the party is looked upon as its leader in Karthaus towship.
On the 25th day of October, in the year 1854, Isaac C. McClosky married Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Thomas Ross McClure, a highly respected resident of Pike township. Of this marriage, ten children have been born, five of whom are still living.
Source: Pages 675-676, History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich, Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1887.
Transcribed August 1999 by Gloria Gloss for the Clearfield County Aldrich Project
Contributed for use by the Clearfield County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/~clearfield/)
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