Charles F. Barclay, merchant and lumberman, Sinnemahoning, was born in Owego, N.Y., May 9, 1844, and is a son of George A. and Eliza (Allen) Barclay. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Mary (Bartholf) Barclay, natives of Sussex county, N. J., and his maternal grandparents were Ebenezer and Fanny (Williamson) Allen of Owego, N.Y. Mr. Barclay's father was reared in Owego, N.Y., where he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1838 he went the entire length of lake Michigan and back again with two Indians, in a bark canoe, on a fur trading expedition. Prior to this, as well as afterward, he worked at his trade, and was employed on bridge construction for the Ithaca & Owego Railroad. Until 1845 he resided in Owego where he held the office of under sherrif for several years, and in May, 1845, he settled in Wharton, Potter Co., Penn., where he was engaged in farming, lumbering and mercantile business until 1867. Selling out in that year, he moved to Cheboygan, Mich., where he conducted a lumber business for twelve years, though his residence has been in Sinnemahoning, Cameron Co., Penn., since 1865. In 1839, Mr. Barclay married Eliza Allen, of Owego, N. Y., by whom he has had three children: George B., Mary E. (Mrs. R. Z. Roberts) and Charles F. Mr. Barclay during his residence at Wharton was postmaster there fifteen years, and has represented Cameron county in the legislature two terms.

Charles F. Barclay, the subject proper of this sketch, was reared in Potter county, Penn., and received a high school education. August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 149th P. V. I. (Second Bucktails), and at the first day's fight at Gettysburg (July 1, 1863) he was taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby, Danville, Macon, Savannah and Charleston prisons, being placed under fire at the latter place; and then sent to Columbia, S. C., where he was exchanged. Re-joining his Company at Elmira, N.Y., he was there honorably discharged as captain of same, July 2, 1865 and same year he embarked in mercantile trade with his brother, George B., at Sinnemahoning, in which he has successfully continued. Since 1867, he has been extensively engaged in the lumber business, operating one large mill, to which four miles of railway bring the logs. The mill turns out about 8,000,000 feet of lumber per annum. Mr. Barclay was married August 22, 1872, to Margaret A. L., daughter John and Martha (Mason) Brooks of Sinnemahoning. He is a prominent member of the F. & A. M. and of the G. A. R., and in politics is a stanch Republican.

This page was last updated on  Friday, August 23, 2002.

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