John Wriglesworth is a representative farmer and lumberman of Penn township, Clearfield county. His farm of sixty acres is conspicuous for the manner in which it has been improved and cultivated, and is evidently the homestead of one of the most enterprising men of the community. The neat and substantial two-story dwelling is surrounded by good barns and other outbuildings, and everything about the place denotes the progressive spirit of the owner. It is the old family homestead upon which he was born April 8, 1859 and there he has spent his entire life.

Joseph Wriglesworth, the father of our subject was a native of Bloom township, Clearfield county, born on what was known as the "old Billie Wriglesworth farm," and removed to the present home of our subject in 1854. It had been partly improved by the Collonsworths, and to its futher development and cultivation he devoted his time and attention until his death in 1861. He married Mary Ann Oats, a native of England, who was brought to America when a child, and who died in 1872. Grandfather William (or "Billie") was killed with a tree in 1847.

Our subject is one of five children, the others being as follows: (1) Sarah, the eldest, is the wife of Melick Spencer of Penn township, who resided on the Spencer farm until 1894 when he moved to Du Bois, and has since worked in a tannery. Their eight children--Harry (who was married August 11, 1897, to Ollie Whitmer, of Du Bois), Joseph, Firman, Ivan, Fred, Verne, Birt and Lecta--are all at home. (2) Catherine died on the old homestead at the age of twenty-seven. (3) Mary wedded Amos Bonsall, of Brady township, Clearfield County, who now resides in Penn township on his farm known as the old Jesse Spencer farm. They have two children--Homer, aged twelve, and Effie, aged ten. (4) Joseph, who is at present in Michigan, was born on the old homestead, and married Mirtie Hoover, of Grampian, Penn. For a time, he resided in Du Bois, where he conducted a dairy for a year or two, and then located near the homestead. In his family are five children--Howard, Ernest, Alice, Hettie and Clanio--all at home.

In 1880 John Wriglesworth was married to Miss Lydia Spencer, daughter of Andrew and Eliza Spencer, of Penn township, and they began their domestic life upon the farm where they still reside. After the father's death the children operated the farm, and our subject never left the parental roof, devoting most of his time to the cultivation and improvement of the place. Six children came to brighten the home--William, born in 1882; Myrtle, in 1884; Clair, in 1887; Charlie, 1890; Harvey, in 1892; and one that died in infancy. Mr. Wriglesworth uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, has taken quite an active part in all local affairs, and gives his earnest support to all measures calculated to advance the moral, educational and material interests of the community. He has always supported the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a member in good standing.