BIOGRAPHY: C. C. FIELDS, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the JuniataValley, Comprising

the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.

Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 519-520.

C. C. FIELDS, flour manufacturer and farmer, WayneTownship, Mifflin County, Pa., was born December 7, 1847, in WayneTownship. He is a son of William and Keziah (Graham) Fields. His paternal grandfather came from Ireland at an early period, and settled in MifflinCounty, where he engaged in farming. William Fields, father of Mr. C. C. Fields, was born in WayneTownship in 1810. He received a fair education in subscription schools and commenced life on the farm. He soon, however, became a teamster and a canal boatman, in which latter occupation he soon rose to such prominence as the commander of various boats,that to this day the name of Captain Fields is one of the best known among old canal men. In middle life he discontinued boating and devoted his time during the winter to the supervision of his farm, a tract of over 130 acres, in WayneTownship, and to stock-raising, while in the summer he was employed along the canal in the capacity of stone mason and carpenter. He died in 1891 at the home of his son, C. C. Fields, at Mt.Union. Captain Fields married Miss Drake, born in WayneTownship. They had two children, both of whom died young. His wife died in a few years, after which he was again married to Keziah Graham, born in

WayneTownship, daughter of a farmer of that township, who died in the State of Indiana. The children of this marriage are: Mary M., deceased; C. C., of

Wayne township; George, of Newton Hamilton; William P., of Kansas City, Kan.; J. Frank, of NewtonHamilton; Annie (Mrs. George Sailor), of Mt.Union; Jane, deceased, was the wife of Dr. Rhodes, of Mt.Union; and Sydney (Mrs. Jackson Vanzandt), deceased. The mother of these children died in 1888. Captain Fields was prominent and useful in the community; he was active in the Democratic party. He served as school director, and was a commissioner of MifflinCounty for one term. He was one of the founders of the Central Banking Company at Mt.Union. Mr. Fields was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

C. C. Fields, after attending the public schools of WayneTownship, studiedfor one term at the Kishacoquillas Valley Seminary. He remained on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he spent one year at railroading. In 1865 he went to VenangoCounty, where he worked for two and a half years in the oil fields. He saved a little money there, but lost it by having loaned it. Returning home, he opened a little store at McVeytown Station in partnership with George Hanawalt. One year later he sold out and became engaged in harness making, at which he worked for a number of years. He then returned to Mt.Union. After laboring there for a short time he was appointed engineer at Mattawana, near McVeytown, where he remained six months, again returning to Mt.Union, where he worked for one year as engineer in a flour mill. After another six months at the Mattawana mills, he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad company at the stone quarries at McVeytown Station. He was next an engineer at a sawmill at Singer's Gap, Huntingdon county. Returning again to Mt.Union, he

worked at the East Broad Top Railroad for some time, and was afterwards fireman for two and a half years at the Lucy Furnace, and then for three years engineer of the steam mill at Mt.Union. Following this, Mr. Fields for eleven years successfully carried on the butchering business at Mt.Union. On account of the panic, he discontinued this and took charge of the Union mills, in WayneTownship, now owned and operated by the Fields Brothers, who have much improved the machinery of the mills, and enlarged the capacity to twenty-five barrels per day. He also, at the same time, oversees the work on his farm.

Mr. Fields was married in 1871, in MattawanaMifflinCounty, to Miss

Rebecca Kauffman who was born at Mattawana, and daughter of Henry Kauffman, of MifflinCounty. They have six children, as follows: E. Clark, a butcher, residing at Mt.Union; Alice, deceased; Myrtle; Indiana; Annie; and Charles.

Mr. Fields, who is extremely popular in the community, being respected for his integrity, industry and many good qualities, is an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat. At one time he belonged to the I. O. O. F.