|i' i^ i^
^vj#. it P P {*' ^^
t^ ■ J^ 1^^ '^ '^ f -
■^ If w ,s.w-;' r*-. . ■'•' - ''v^.^' ,ak'
iv >^ 1^
1' ■ n^
I 1 ■ a.
J 11. 11 1 1 ) I IJ^JJ.
, I 1 1 1 iV , '
I I' r 1 J 1 1 •
ISO
Zovcneri
HISTORY
OF
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS
COMPILED UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF
JOHN W. JORDAN, LL.D..
OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II,
NEW YORK CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 190(i
^.'
[the NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY I
ASTOR, LENOX MO TILDEN FOUNOATIOKa. 1906 ^
PREFACE
As a proper acconipaiiimciit to jucli a narrative history as is contained in the first vohmie of tliis work, is the department of Genealogical and Per- sonal History, prepared under the editorial supervision of John W. Jordan, LL. D., of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Its purpose has been to present many of the most important family records of Westmoreland county. History, proper, of necessity, is a narrative of what has been accomplished by people in the mass, and can take little note of individuals. Here begins the mission of the genealogist and investigator of the personal lives of those who have borne the heat and burden of the day, in tracing whence and from whom they came, in portraying their deeds and the spirit with which they were actuated, and holding up their effort as an example to those who come after- ward. The storv of such achievements is a sacred trust committed to the people of the present, upon whom devolves the perpetuation of the record. The custodian of records concerning the useful men of preceding generations, and of their descendants who have lived lives of honor and usefulness, Vv-ho places his knowledge in preservable and accessible form, performs a public service in rendering honor to whom honor is due, inculcating the most valua- ble lessons of patriotism and good citizenship. This fact finds recognition in the warm welcome given in recent years to Genealogical and Family His- tories. Such are in constant and general demand, and are sought for m the great libraries, by book, magazine and newspaper writers and lecturers, from foreign lands, as well as from all portions of our own country. Such a work as this now in hand will possess an especial value for those who, out of a laudable pride, seek to trace their descent from those who battled for the making of the United States, and who may thus establish their eligibility to membership in various patriotic orders.
With reference to the genealogical and biographical matter contained in these pages, it is to be said that in its preparation the publishers have observed the utmost care. With such a mass of material, as a matter of neces- sity, the work must needs be committed to various writers. If, in some cases, the sketch should be incomplete or faulty, the shortcoming is ascribable to the paucity of data furnished, many families being without exact records in their family line. In all cases the sketches have been submitted to the subject or to his representative, for correction and revision.
It is believed that the present work will prove a real addition to the mass of literature concerning the people of the historic region under consideration, and that, without it, much valuable information therein contnined would be irretrievably lost, owing to the passing away of many custodians of faiuily records and the disappearance of such matter.
THE PUBLISHERS.
INDE>
PAGE
Abl)aticchio, Archangelo 272
AcUerman. Henry S 72
Adair. William F 503
Albert. David E 2yy
Albright. Smith M 150
Alcorn Family 539
Alcorn, George A 540
.Alcorn, George E 540
Alcorn. Roliert N 54°
Allwine. Samuel 447
Alter. Frank R 4S9
Amann. Peter 254
Ambrose. Jacob T 469
Anient. William S .I24
Anderson. Alonzo L 523
Anderson, George C 269
Anderson. John E 494
Anderson. John R 636
Andrews. David G 332
.\rmbrust, John L 420
Armitage. John L 429
Armitage, William 564
Armstrong. Robert A 526
.\rter. Daniel A .^o
Aspey. L. S 469
Atkinson, David S 76
Bailey. George W •. 619
Bair. David 5/6 '
Bair. Edward H S9
Bamforth. Henry 613
Barkell. W. J 201
Barkley. Emanuel 519
Barkley, Harvey F t78
Barkley. John W .307
Barnes. Edward 256
Barnhart. Lowry A 616
Barr, John S 5^7
Bashiom, Alexander 610
Baughman, Jeremiah 524
Baiighman, Wilson 365
Baxter. Elmer J. . .' 184
Baxter. Harry H 497
Beacom. James S 130
Beale. John C 492
Beamer Family 402
Beamer, Henry G 555
Beamer, Michael 403
Beamer. William J 403
Beancr. George W 592
Bearer. Harry J 242
Bcatty, Albert M 192
Beatty, John F 526
Bcatty. John. Jr • .504
Becker, John G ; 639
Behm. Henrv 479
Bell, Albert H 29
P.\GE
Bell, Samuel 535
Beltz, Joseph |Si
Bender Fainily 486
Bender, Joseph 487
Bender. Samuel 487
Bemiett. John W 644
Best. Robert C 589
Birchfield, Samuel E 287
Black, F. A 585
Black, John R 149
Blair, Charles L 596
Blair. William B 586
Blank, John A 645
Blank, John J 496
Blower. Daniel R 499
Boale. John .A 430
Bolton, Charles H 273
Boltz. Jacob A 338
Borland. . Harry C 550
Borlin, James 394
Borlin. James B 394
Boucher, Charles W 178
Boucher Family 7
Boucher, John N 10
Bovard, John R 324
Bovard. Robert 0 595
Bowman. Adam K 89
Bowman. William C 528
Boyd, James K 236
Bradley. John 622
Brant, Cyrus C 31S
Brant. John A 4.^6
Breniser Family j'i
Breniser. Harry R 79
Brinker, Frank D 579
Brinton. George M 531
Brown, W. H I97
Bruner. R. Dennis W 427
Brunot Family I35
Brunot, John B 136
Bryce, .A. H 125
Bryce Brothers Company 125
Brvce, J. M 125
Bullers. Joseph 182
Bumbaugh. W. S 233
Bumer, Frank 253
Burk, George 54^
Burns, Daniel 391
Bussard. W. H 193
Butler, Daniel T 480
Buttermore. Sinith 214
Byerly, Charles W 87
Byers, Noah 1 77
Ca dwell. John D 438
Ci ipbell, John G 560
Ca-Miahan, Charles B 541
VI
IXDEX.
PAGE
Cams, William M 177
Carpenter, James M 217
Carroll, James 105
Carroll, James C 607
Carson, Albert J 635
Caven, A. H 196
Chichester, Frederick W 36
Clifford, Abram B 246
Clifford, Edward 246
Clifford, Edward M 246
Clifford Fainily 245
Clifford, Josepii 246
Cochran, Robert H 564
Cochrane, James 578
Coldsmith, Charles F I43
Cole, Price J 389
Connor. Charles 593
Connor, Peter M 595
Cooper, Kenneth 640
Cort, Nevin A 174
Corwin, JMyron 310
Coshey, Harry D 106
Cowan, Walter H 297
Cox, George W 199
Craig, Andrew 545
Craig Family 408
Crawford, George W 517
Crawford, John W 329
Creighton, John H 266
Cribbs, James C 404
Crise, Blair F 343
Crowell, Charles C 440
Crumley, Robert 367
Curtis, Francis M 182
Daily Independent 234
Dalbey. Erank R 588
Darr. Adam T 223
Davies. R. W 307
Davis, Henry E 527
Davis, John D 517
Davis, Philip H 291
Davis, William N 100
Dawson, Garrett W 536
DeHaven, Dennis E 352
Denman, David M no
Denman, Everet N no
Dewalt, Jacob 347
Dice, Samuel S 322
Diirstein, Edward L 350
Dillinger, Samuel 117
Diskin, Thomas J t57
Dom, William T., Jr g2
Donaldson, William 55
Dorn, George n
Dorn, Louis T 12
Dougherty, Joseph T 55S
Douglass, James E 259
Duff, Leonard J 109
Dugan, Wilmer G 197
Dullinger, Frank S '51
Dunn. James T 42
Ehalt, Charles F 54
Eicher, Alexander 77
PAGE
Eicher, John F 171
Eicher, Lewis R 172
Eiseman, Cameron H 475
E.iseman, William H 565
Elkin, William 218
Ellis, Robert 195
Erickson, William D 570
Euwer, A. N 187
Euwer Family 185
Euwer, R. A 186
Euwer, William F 210
Feather, Walter H 627
Felgar, George B. McC 612
Ferguson, William 167
Findley, Andrew B 354
Findley, Lloyd S 13
Fleming, Alexander 215
Flemm, Charles M 492
Flyte, Guy B 467
Fogg, Charles H 49
Foight Family 85
Foight, John G ii?
France, Claud D 603
Francis, Evan J 557
Frank Family 305
Frank, John H 306
Franklin, Herbert E 639
Frantz, William 235
Freeble. James L 253
Freeman, John 175
Fretts, Abraham 0 640
Frost, James 319
Fry, Charles S '. 280
Frye, Edward M -. 227
Fullertou, Byram M 509
Fullerton, Nathan N 50S
Funk, Cyrus M 98
Funk Family 45.H
Funk, William G 454
Gaither, Paul H 31
Gallagher, James FI 10
Gallagher, Thomas F n
Gardner, James 538
Garwood, Emor M 105
Gay, Freeman C 75
Geyer, Andrew J 153
Geyer, John C 353
Gilbert Family 471
Gilbert, Levi T 200
Gilland, James E 65
Gilligan, John 295
Girt, Silas M .59S
Glassburn, Samuel G 552
Glinz, August . 39i
<joehring. Christian 232
Goehring, Frederick 232
Gongaware, Lewis W. ^ 524
Good, Frank 60
Good, George W 59
Goodenow, Purley M 560
■ Goodlin, John F 81
Gosser, Adam 54<>
Graham, Israel M 3^2
IXDEX.
vu
PAGE
Graham, R. F 44i
Greenawalt, Jacob \V 239
Grecnawalt, Rebecca 239
Greer, Clarence W 242
Gregg, Curtis H 128
Gribbin, James 152
Griffith, David 34°
Griffith, George R 357
Groft, William A 547
Guffey, John C 530
Guy, Henry U 116
Guy, John 115
Haines, Tobias 616
Halliman, Michael E 229
Hamilton, Samuel \V 442
Hamor, George D 179
Hargnett, John 121
Hargrave, Frank B 271
Harkins, James 335
Harkness, George \V 434
Harman, John A 45°
Harrold Family 581
Harrold, Henrv C 606
Harrold, Samuel L 582
Harshey, John F 425
Harvey. David F 309
Hawk. George W 623
Hawthorne, Andrew 248
Hayden, John R 57
Havmaker. John C 59©
Head Family 375
Head. John B 376
Head. Joseph C 377
Head. William S 37^
Heasley. John G 554
Heckmann. Oswald 465
Heffelfinger. Parker F 622
Heimbergcr, William 537
Henrv, Francis E 449
Henry, Harry T 637
Henry, James C 123
Henry, "Paul 633
Hensel. .Albert C 274
Hensel, William A 109
Herbert, Robert W 435
Herrick, Herman 483
Herrmann. Philipp 277
Hershev, W'Hlliam 579
Hill, Charles M 618
Hine Family 539
Hine. Jacob M 539
Hine, Thomas D 539
Hissem. Reuben K 351
Hitchman, James S 187
Mitchman, William J 263
Hodgson, Robert 537
Hoffman, Charles M 604
Hoffman, Charles W 298
Holtzer, Charles L 205
Hoofring, Erick L 519
Hopkinson, James W 292
Hornc, George R 599
Horner, Myers W 144
P.\GE
Horton, Joseph C 390
Houseman, Frank 400
Houseman, Marietta 20
Houser, John J 137
Howard. John L. . . 206
(Howard, William J 455
Howell, George W 118
Hoyman, Michael D 501
Hudson, David P lor
Hudson. William 621
Hudson, William M 41
Huey, George W 417
Huff, George F i
Huff. Lloyd B 67
Huffman. E. P 55r
Hugg, Jules 563
Hughes, John W 238
Hugus. George R 621
Hunger, George A 412
Hunter, John A 560
Hunter. William D 249
Huntley, Thomas A 574
Hurst Family 161
Hurst. Harry R 163
Hurst, William P 163
Huston, John W 35S
Hutchinson. Amos K 55
Hutchison. Alexander F 615
Hutton, David S 2S1
Jamison Family 37
Jamison, Robert S 37
Jaquette, Charles H 202
Jarrett, Henry D ,^45
Johnson, George H 443
Johnston, Samuel D 494
Johnston, \V. W 47
Jones. Daniel W 284
Jones, Edwin . . . : 251
Jones, Sanniel 230
,Jones, Samuel S ." 238
Jones, William B., Sr 275
Jordan, Henry J 145
Jordan. Johnston B 389
,Kahl, John S^
Kalp. J. Lloyd T40
Kaufman, Albert S 190
Ktaggy. Henry L 104
Keating. James 563
Keck. Frederick L 174
Keck. Johann M 4C3
Keck, Leonard 63
Keefe, Thomas 574
Keenan. Edward W' 262
Keller, Eugene -A. 3,39
Keller, Joseph P 125
Kellv. Michael 475
Kellv. Michael J 476
Keltz, William B 616
Kenly. Edward B 69
Kennedy. James L 68
Keimedy. John W =85
Kenn.sl, Jonas M '. 207
f 1 I
i- i- V- \- i:
^ \r ^ y^ h- \^ I t
(r !?> i' 1* i^ y '
r 1 1
IXDEX.
PACE
K€nncy, Tlieodorc C 169
Kepple, Michael 587
Kern, Daniel M 357-
Kilgore, John P 41S
King, Jolm H 55
Kissell, Edwin R I39
Kline, Amos B 52
Kline. John J 45^
Klingensniith, Joseph F HO
Koffltr. Valentine 398
Koontz, Lloyd 148
Krctz, Philip 5°
Krick, Henry J 390
Kronier. Nicholas 197
Kuhn Family 418
Kiihns, John B 410
Knhns, Ralph B 221
Kunkle, Cyrus F 411
Knnkle, Daniel 42
Kunkle, Elmer A 649
Kunkle, John E 648
Kunkle. J. L 435
Kyle, Edmund M '. 318
Laird, Francis V 462
Laird. James M 457
Laird. Thomas 491
Lamhing, M. A 218
Landymore. James W 638
Lange. Henry 296
Larimer, John R 510
Latimore. William J 267
Latla, Jolm 18
Laufftr, Edward C 507
l.auffer. Jerry 549
Laughlin. William J 386
Lehman. Samuel R 482
Leighty, Mrs. J. H 175
Lemnion, Dayton 0 332
Lemmon, James Q 285
Leslie, Alexander 183
Lev enstein, B. E 611
Lewellyn, Fred M 206
Lightcap. John S , 304
Lindquist. Oscar 543
Lock, John W 600
Logan. James L 605
Long, Cyrus T 107
Long, J. K 99
Loop. Samuel C 551
Loucks, .'Xaron 445
Loucks, Ahraham S 445
Loucks, E. Ralph 446
Loucks Family 443
Loucks, Martin S .{]-]
Loughrev, James E 36 -
Love, Joseph P 137
Love, Robert S 405
Lowe, Lester L 794
Lowry, Charles A 321
Lowry, Samuel O. W 16
Lyle. David M . . . 126
Lyrrh, I larry 573
PACE
Lyon, Robert A. F 12
Lytic, M. A .VI
Macbeth, Clarence W 216
Mabon, James 1 448
Maier, Louis 290
Maloy, Patrick J 155
Markic, Cyrus 62'j
Marsh, Daniel T 401
Martin, Thomas C 628
Mariz Family 97
Martz, George W .^ 98
Mason, Clark S C13
Mathias, J. Michael 634
Mayers, William K 647
McAllister, Frank J 3917
McCaleb, John D 127
McCann, Peter F 179
McCarty, David H 181
McCarty, William 506
McConaughy, Francis x^'^
McConnell, Alexander D 13
McConnell, Harriet S 45.1
McConnell, John N 79
McCreary. John 139
McCullogb, Welty 131
McCune. James 502
McCurdy, Joseph A •. 6
McDonald. Charles R 556
McFarland, John 361
McFadyen, John W 641
McCeary, Martin N 66
Mclntire, Samuel P 477
McTntyre, John H 99
McKean, Hugh C 642'
McKean. Robert J 3^5 '"'
McKelvey. Samutl M 176
McMahon, Cassius C 515
McMa,ster, Joseph W ^, 296
McMullen, Joseph H 452
McMurray, Humphrey L 359
McNaughton, William 143
McNutt. All)ert M 523
McNutt, David 0 28.
McNutt. Robert W 51
McQuilkin, Robert R 624
Mellon. Thomas *. .. . 407
Menoher, John F 32
Menoher. Watson A 3-'-
Miller Brothers lO-
Miller, Clifford E !'>■
Miller, Elwood 3-"
Miller, Irwin C r.-
Mitinger. John F (•
Mitinger, Joseph E , '_■
Mitinger, William L (>■
Momeyer, Charles E 554
Moody, John W 155
Moore, John W lOO
Mcore. Morrison R 294
Moorhead, James S 48
Morgan. William T 6oi
Morrison. Harry T 532
1^ i^ I
i 1 i i i i i i . I J 1 I I 1 J ^
i- i 1 J I i i i
' I i i J J 1 J i, . I J f I J J I 1 1 1 i I J 1 i
J i J • ■ •
f f r
. J J
fvi
IXDEX.
XI
Welt>-. William T loi
Wengen, Albert G S"
Wenrich, Henry E 582
\\'entling-Jack Family 428
Wentling, John F 429
Werkman. Edward 586
Wherrj . Charles O 449
\\'hitehead. Peter 533
Whitesell Family 416
Whitesell. Harr>- W 417
W'hitesell, James 540
Whitesell. J. F 417
Willets. Ambrose 493
Williams. Albert K 618
Williams. Daniel M 620
Williams, Edward V 529
Williams. Francis M 548
Wills. Charles T 464
'.Villson, Ale.xander 643
Wilson, Harrj- C 416
PAGE
\\'ilson. John A 544
Wineman, Gustavus A 814
Wineman. Jacob E 20S
Winsheimer, Lawrence 165
Winsheimer. Thompson R 166
Wirsing, James J 22
Witt. Daniel 501
\\o\i. Thomas F 633
Woods. .AJfred R 189
Wright, G. F 228
Young, Almon R 293
Young, Andrew P 597
Young, William F 324
Zahniser, Frank R 67
Zillmer, Frank W 395
Zimmerman. Hcnrj- R 498
Zuck, Jacob R 331
(I
i'ool. Pool. J.
vm
INDEX.
PAGE
Kenney, Theodore C 169
Kepple, Michael 587
Kern, Daniel M 357-
Kilgore, John P 415
King, John H 55
Kissell, Edwin R 139
Kline, Amos B 52
Kline. John J 456
Klingensmith, Joseph F no
Koffltr, Valentine 398
Koontz, Lloyd 148
KreU, Philip ' 50
Krick, Henry J 390
Kromer, Nicholas 197
Knhn Family 418
Kuhns, John B 410
Kuhns. Ralph B 221
Kunkle, Cyrus F 411
Kunkle, Daniel 42
Kunkle, Elmer A 649
Kunkle, John E 648
Kunkle. J. L 435
Kyle, Edmund M ; 318
Laird. Francis V 462
Laird. James M 457
Laird. Thomas 491
Lamhing. M. A 218
Landymore. James W 6.38
Lange, Henry 296
Larimer, John R 510
Latimore, William J 267
Latta. John 18
Lauffer, Edward C 507
Lauffcr. Jerry 549
Laughlin. William J 386
Lehman. Samuel B 482
Leighty. Mrs. J. H 175
Lemmon, Dayton 0 332
Lcmmon. James Q 285
Leslie, Alexander 183
Lcvenstein, B. E ■ 611
Lewellyn, Fred ]\I 206
Lightcap, John S > 304
Lindquist. Oscar 543
Lock, John W 600
Logan, James L 605
Long, Cyrus T 107
Long, J. K 99
Loop. Samuel C 551
Loucks. Aaron 445
Loucks, Ahraham S 445
Loucks, E. Ralph 446
Loucks Family 443
Loucks, Martin S 444
Loughrev, James E 36 -
Love, Joseph P 137
Love, Rohert S 405
Lowe, Lester L 194
Lowry, Charles A 321
Lowry, Samuel O. W 16
Lyle. David M 126
Lyrch, Harry . . . .' 573
P.\GE
Lyon, Robert A. F 12
Lytle, M. A 32r
Macbeth, Clarence W 216
Mabon, James 1 448
Maier, Louis 290
Maloy, Patrick J 155
Marklc, Cyrus 629
Marsh, Daniel T 401
Ma,rtin, Tliomas C 628
Martz Family 97
Martz, George W 98
Mason, Clark S C13
Mathias, J. Michael 634
Mayers, William K 647
McAllister, Frank J 399
McCaleb, John D 127
McCann, Peter F 179
McCarty, David H 181
McCarty, William 506
McConaughy, Francis 338
McConnell, Alexander D 13
McConnell, Harriet S 455
McConnell, John N 79
McCreary, John 139
McCullogh, Welty 131
McCune, James 502
McCurdy, Joseph A ■. 6
McDonald, Charles R 556
McFarland, John .361
McFadyen, John W 64t
McGeary, Martin N ' 6(5
M'clntire, Samuel P 477
Mclntyre, John H (,9
McKcan, Hugh C 642 '
McKean, Robert J 325
McKelvey, Samuel M 176
McMahon, Cassius C 515
McMa,ster, Joseph W , 296
McMuIlen, Joseph H 452
McMurray, Humphrey L 359
McNaughton, William 143
McNutt. Albert M 523
McNutt, David O ....283
McNutt, Robert W 513
McQuilkin, Robert R 624
Mellon. Thomas '. . . . 407
Menoher. John F ^2^
Menoher. Watson A \ 32S
Miller Brothers 192
Miller, Clifford E 192
Miller, Elwood 326
Miller, Irwin C IQ2
Mitinger, John F 60
Mitinger, Joseph E 62
Mitinger. William L 6r
Momeyer, Charles E 554
Moody, John W I55
Moore, John W lOO
Mcore, Morrison R 294
Moorhead, James S 48
Morgan. William T 631
IMorrison. Harry T 532
IXDEX.
XI
PAGE
Welty, William T lot
Wcngert, Albert G 511
Wenrich, Henry E 5H2
Waitling-Jack Family 4^8
Weiitling, John F +29
Workman, Edward 586
Wherry. Charles O , 449
\\'lutehead. Peter 533
Whitesell Family 416
Whitesell. Harry W 417
Whitesell, James 540
^\"hitefell. J. F 417
Willets, Ambrose 493
Williams. Albert K 618
Williams. Daniel M 620
Williams. Edward V 529
Williams. Francis M 548
Wills. Charles T 464
Willson, Alexander 643
Wilson, Harry C 416
P.\GE
Wilson. John A 544
Wineman, Gnstavus A . . . 84
Winenian. Jacob E 208
Winsheimer. Lawrence 165
Winsheimer. Thompson R 166
Wirsing. James J 22
Witt. Daniel 501
Wolf. Thnnias F 633
Woods. Alfred R 189
Wright. G. F 228
Yonng, .'Mmon R 293
Young, Andrew P .■ . 597
Young, William F 324
Zahniser, Frank R 67
Zillmer, Frank W 395
Zimmerman. Henry R 498
Zuck. Jacob R 331
i*ool.
Pool. J.
I
I
k
HISTORY.OF WESTMORELAND COL'iMY
HON. GEORGE ERAXKLIN HUFF, the present member of Con- stress from the twentv-first district of Pennsylvania, whose home is in Greens- burg, is the son of George Huff HI, and was born July i6th, 1842, at Norris- tcwn, Pennsylvania. The history of the Huff (originally von Hoof) family, is closelv identified with that of Fjerks county as to its settlement in America. Tlieir ancestry is traced in the following from the European List of Heraldry and Genealogy in the \'ienna Library, as translated by Gottleib Hausser, of Altoona, Pennsylvania.
"origin of the GEXE.\L0GY of the von hoof FAMILY,
its first historical notoriety, and further circulation from authentic sources."
The generation of von Hoof is originally traced to have resided in Bavaria, where it did in olden times belong to the Knighthood, free from duties to the Empire. It had its permanent estates near the City of Passau. It is noted in the \'ienna tables of genealogy as a generation which was famous amono-st the Bavarian Knighthood and nobility and the first ancestor was Baldwin von Hoof, who dwelled in his own castle, so called from the ancient Knights, and he lived in the castle and estate Hoof, situate near Passau. The emblem in his shield consisted of a cross-log, signifying that his ancestors were princes. At his helmet he wore an emblem resembling a flower pot, a lily reaching out from it, which denoted that he was of French extraction. This is the origin of the heraldic emblem of this generation, and the emblem yet existing can be traced to these tokens on shield and helmet. The maiden name of Baldwin's wife was Isabelle von Stolberg. Baldwin came to his death in the first crusade in the month of July, A. D., 1099, whilst taking part in the storm- ing of Jerusalem. He only left one son, whose name was Waldemar, who also took part in the crusade, but escaped with his life and safely arrived in Ger,- many. After fighting for several years as a brave Knight in the Orient, he united himself in the bonds of matrimony with Julia von Helmhorst. and the Duke of Piavaria appointed him governor of the City of Aua:sburg. \\'aldemar died A. D. 1154, and left their sons, Julius, Ernst and Wolfgang von Hoof. Julius took possession of the family castle, but his generation died out and ceased to exist already in the fourteenth century. Wolfgang preferred the divine profession, and died as Bishop of Ortia in Italy.
Ernst was a warrior, and served for a long time in the army of the Ger- man Emperor. Fredericus Barbarossa. who, in consideration of his services, endowed him with an estate in the \'al!ev of the Rems, Lower Suavia, and who also renewed the old title of nobility and emblematical heraldry, confirmed bv letter and approved, as can be seen in the record of Heraldry in the City of Vienna, and this document, which has been issued in Mayence in the vear
1 172, is renewing the above title of privileges. Ernst flourished in Lower 2—1
HJSTORy OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Suavia, and his posterity is found up to the year A. D. 1348, hut in that vear they fell victims of an epideniic disease which had come from Asia, and was like a pestilence, commonly called the 'black death,' and only one, Rudoljih von Hocf, remained alive, but the original estate was already in other hands, and Count Ebcrhard der Greiner, of Wurtemberg, employed him ar woodrangcr. He was stationed at Aichelbcrg, and his wife's maiden name was JVlechtdde von Stadion. He died in Schorndorf at a very old age in 1394, and left four sons, but only one of them, Elias vcii Hoof, marriccl, a Christine Junginger. He purchased an estate in the vicinity of Schorndorf, and lived there with his wife a very peaceable life. He did not regard his old title of nobility, and his descendants followed the culture of grapes and husbandry.
In the Peasant's War all the sons of Hoof's lost their lives in the battle at Roeblingen, except Elam, who was subseciuently magistrate at Pleidel- sheim. He was married to Anna JMaria Gessler of .Besigheim, and died, well advanced in years, A. D. 1567. His two sons' names were Johann Anton and Jacob Friedrich vcii Hoof. Johann Anton's descendants removed to. Graub- uendten during the thirty years' War, and from that time no account could be had of them.
Jacob Frederick settled down in rjcsigbeim as merchant and inn- keeper, and married Elizabeth Dietcrich. He died in the year 1602. His son Justus von Hoof served in the Spanish .\rmy for a long time and also took an active part in the campaigns in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, and finally settled d< wn in the City of Lauffen, on the Neckar. where he married (jertrude Loeffler. He died in the year 1652, and left three sons, whose names were Conrad, Wilhclm and George von Hoof. The descendants of these sons have sjjread over Wm'tembcrg and liaden and one of them, Wilhelm, owing to a great famine which wSs prevailing in Wurtemberg in 1771, moved away and emigrated, no doubt to America, but no certain accounts of the further fate of the family could be obtained.
I. John Frederick von Hoof, son of Paul von Hoof, was born in Berling, Germany, July 8, 1734, and when a young man emigrated to America. On October 25, 1757, he was married to Susanna, a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth 'Keim. He was a farmer by occupation and a Lutheran in religion. Not regarding the family title he droped the von and since 1840 the name in America has been .spelled "Huff." John Frederick Hoof died April 26, t8i6, and was buried in the old graveyard on Ranch's farm on the road leading from Seisholtzville to Huff's Church, the latter being in Herfcrd town- ship. Berks county. His wife, Susanna, died May 12, 1809, aged 69 years, and was buried in the same place. By their marriage the following children were born : Frederick, George, Henry, Susanna, with other sons and daughters. Susanna was married to Abraham Mensch, of Herford township.
II. George Huff, son of John Frederick, and the grandfather of the Hon- orable George F. Huff, of Greensburg, was born August i, 1779, at Hufif's Church. Fie was a farmer and a hotel keeper and of the Lutheran religious faith as had been his father. He was married to Anna IMull, by whom the following named children were born : Lydia, married James Bartram ; Hettie, married Charles ^IcNuIty : Maria, married David Sassman ; and George George Huff II. was liberal in his donations to the Church, and gave the prem- ises upon which was built Huff's Church and also the land used for burial pur- poses. He died February 24th, 1845.
III. George Huff, IV, son of George Huff III, was born at Huff's Church in 1813. He was married to Caroline Boyer and they were the par-
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTV.
•ents of George Franklin Huff. He was a merchant and first lived at Huff's Church, and in 1840 moved to Norristown, and from there to Middletown, in Dauphin County, and live years later removed to Altoona, Pennsylvania. He died in 1858.
The maternal genealogy of Hon. George F. Huff is as follows :
I. ^lichael George Kuhns (Kunzen-Koons) left Germany and arrived in Philadelphia on September 27, 1727, and purchased a tract of land adjoining that owned by Ludwig Eiiglehart in ^Montgomery county. On April ist, 1732, he was married to Eva Englehart. The last will of Ludwig Englehart sets forth among other things, the following: "Also the seven children of my sister, Eva. wife of George M. Kuhns, namely, Frederick; Mary, wife of John Stelles ; r^Iargaret, wife of Johannes Reimer ; Susanna, wife of John Ludwig Reimer ; Catharine Kuntz, wife of ^Michael Kreps ; and Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Seaber (Zeiber)." George j\L Kuhns died in Montgomery county August loth, 1759, and Eva, his wife, died at the same place June 27, 1772.
H. Catharine Kuhns, daughter of George M. and Eva Kuhns (I) was born February 9, 1750, at "The Old Tavern," in jMontgcmery count}-. She was married to ^Michael Kreps and they were the parents of eight children. IMichael Kreps was born Janu^iry 23, 1744, and died April 20, 1791. After his death his widow married James Reichard ( Richard ) and died Januarv 6, 1814. and was buried at Swamp Church in Montgomery county. The chil- dren born to them were : Catharine, Henry, Eliza, John, Jacob, .Sarah. Hannah and Philip.
HL Sarah Kreps, daughter of IMichael and Catharine Kuhns-Kreps (II) was born February 28. 1784, at New Hanover Square, Mcntgomery countv, in a house that was erected in 1754 and is still standing. On March 3, 1800, she was married to Henry Boyer, by whom she bore the following children : Michael Boyer, born July 10, 1801, and died December 21, 1886; Catharine, born January 23, 1803, married to John Rhoads and died in September, 1883 ; Elizabeth, born September 29, 1804, married first to John Gressmer, on whose death she was married to J. Weidner. She died November 23, 1850. Sarah, born February 3, 1807, married Jacob Allebach, and died October 13. -1859; Henry, born June 11. 1809, married Nettie Shilling, and died November 17, 1858: Jacob, born December 21, 181 1, and married Lucy Ludwig, and died ]\Iarch 17. 1858: Hannah, born December 5, 1813, married Dr. Charles F. Sel- lers, and died March 20, 1882: Maria, born June 13, 1816, married Marshall B. Campbell, died October 12, 1862; Caroline, born September 5. 1817. married ■George Huff. HI. and died February 3. 1876: Phihp, born October 27. 1820: Angelinc, born February 12, 1822, married Rev. Frederick W. Dechant, and died February 4, 1890.
IV. Caroline Boyer, daughter of Henry and Sarah Kreps-Boyer, born September 5, 1817, was married to George Huff and became the mother of Hon. George F. Huff. At the date of her marriage her father was Steward of the County House of Berks county, at Shillington Post Office. Politically he was a Democrat. His father. Jacob Boyer, was born in 17^4 and resided in Perkiomenville, ilonteomery county. He had eleven children, including Henry. Jacob Boyer died February 11. 1796.
Henry Boyer, born October 19. 1778, was married to Sarah Kreps. March 13, 1800. and died March 18, i8s7. He was buried in Boyertown cemetery. Fie was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, renresenting Berks coimtv in the years 1823, 1824. 1825. 1826, and agn.in in 183 r. He was the early founder of Boyertown, laid out lots there in 1835, and was instrumental in Tnaving it incorporated in 185 r.
HISTORY OF IVESTMOREL.-IXD COUNTY.
Michael K. Boyer, brother of Caroline Boycr-Huff, was born in iSoi and was also a member of the Legislature frcni Berks county in 1836. lie was Prothonotary of the same county in 1848, and was again in the Legislature from Jetiferson county in 1855. He held a positicni in the Land Department in Washington, D. C, and died December 21, 1886.
IV. George Franklin Huff, son of George and Caroline Boyer-Huff, is widely known as one of the most enterprising and public spirited men in West- moreland county, and is closely identified with nearly all of its many industrial and financial enterprises. When four years of age he accompanied his parents to Middletown, where he attended the ]niblic schools until 1851, when his parents moved to Altoona. There he attended the public schools initil seven- teen years of age, when he entered the car shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona and learned the car finisher's trade. So faithful and true to every duty was he that three years later he was, without solicitation on his part, highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to a bank- ing jiouse in Altoona, that of William M. Lloyd and Comjxuiy. He accepted the position and in 1865 his employer sent him to h^bensburg to establish a bank there. He succeeded remarkably well and a year later was re-called to Altoona.
In 1867 he removed to Greenslnirg, where he established the banking house of Lloyd, Huff and Company, known as the Greensburg Deposit Bank, and having branches at Latrobe, Irwin, Mount Pleasant and Ligonier. Tlie panic of 1873 caused these several institutions to go out of business, but liieir pro])erty ])aid their full indebtedness with interest.
In 1 87 1 ;\lr. Hufif established the Farmers' National Bank of Greensburg with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. He was its first presi- dent and remained as such until 1874, when he became the active manager of the house as its cashier under General Richard Coulter as president. By Act of Congress the bank was reorganized as the Fifth National Bank of Pittsburg, Mr. Huff being elected its vice-president, which position he held imtil 1876, when he resigned. In 1874 he, with others, organized the Greensburg Banking Company, wliich soon became a leader in the rural banking business of West- ern Pennsylvania. He was cashier of this bank until 1887, during which time through his untiring efforts and business sagacity, a very large volume of busi- ness was secured.
In 1881 the First National Bank of Greensburg was chartered, and Mr. Huff" became one of its most potent directors, which position he still retains. Since then the First National Bank has absorbed the Greensburg Banking Company, and has now a larger deposit and surplus than any other institution in the county.
Mr. HufT also became largely interested in the coal and coke industry of Westmoreland county. He was the prime mover in organizing the Greens- burg Coal Company, the Alexandria Coal Company, Mountain Coal Company, the Argsde Coal Company, the L^nited Coal and Coke Company, the Mutual ]\Iining and Alanufacturing Company, the Manor Gas Coal Company, the Madi- son Coal Company, the Salem Coal Company, the Latrobe Coal Company, Car- bon Coal Company, and several others. Most of these companies were since con- solidated in the Keystone Coal and Coke Company, of which Mr. Huff is presi- dent. It and the companies with which he is connected, employ about 7,500 men and produce now in the neighborhood of six millions of tons of coal per year, or twenty thousand tons per day. He was also one of the organizers of the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the main line of which passes
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 5
through tlie Connellsville coking coal region, he being its treasurer until the offices were removed to Philadelphia. He was one of the founders of the Greensburg Electric Street Railway Company, the Greensburg Fuel (artificial and natural gas) Ccmpany, and the Greensburg Steel Company. He was formerly president of the Greensburg Electric Light and the Westmoreland Water Companies.
The development of the Jeannette natural gas region also felt his potency as well as the general upbuilding of that sprightly town. He donated seven acres of valuable land for manufacturing purposes at Burrell, a station near Greensburg. The thriving towns cf Youngwood, Southwest Greensburg, and other outlying sections of Greensburg were laid out largely by his efforts, and he has always been financially interested in the Kelly & Jones Company and its various improvements.
He is also a director of the American Surety and Trust Company of Wash- ington, D. C, the President of the Westmoreland Hospital Association, and is further interested in coal companies outside of the Keystone Coal and Coke Company in nearly every section of the bituminous region in Pennsylvania.
Adjoining Greensburg he has a large landed estate containing about 500 acres, upon which the family residence is built. It consists of highly cultivated farm land and original forest, all of which is beautified by a system of landscape gardening and parks ; and through the entire farm there are winding driveways of over four miles in length, which are kept up by Mr. Huff and are at all times thrown open for the pubHc to enjoy.
Air. Huff is a progressive Republican. His political career began in 1880 when, as a member of the Chicago Republican Convention, he was one of the 306 who supported General U. S. Grant for a third term as President. In 1884 he was a candidate for the office of State Senator in the Thirty-ninth Sen- atorial District, composed of the County of Westmoreland. He was elected by a majority of seven hundred, althciigh the county had for long years been re- gfarded as the Danocratic stronghold of the West. Since then the county has been generally Republican.
In 1888 Mr. Huff was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of Westmoreland county, but another was selected under the conferee system. In 1890 he was chosen as Congressional candidate by the Republicans in the district and elected by a large majority, representing the counties of Westmore- land. Indiana, Armstrong and Jefferson. He served in Congress until 1893, and in 1894 was elected Congressman-at-Large from Pennsylvania. In 1902, 1904 and 1906 he was returned to Congress, and now represents the counties of \Vestmoreland and Butler. During his service in the National House of Representatives, Air. Huff has proved his ability to well represent the large and varied interests of his constituents, and no member of Congress from the Commonwealth stands higher than he. He is now prominently mentioned as a candidate for the Governorship in 1906.
On March 16, 1871, Air. Huff was united in marriage with Henrietta Burrell, a daughter of the late Jeremiah AI. Burrell. twice President Judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and later United States District Judge for the Territory of Kansas. ludge Burrell died at Greensburg, Octo- iaer 21. 1856. (See sketch of Judge TUirrell in that part of the first volume of this series relative to the Westmoreland Bench).
Air. and Airs. Huff are the parents of eight children, four of whom are living, namely, Lloyd Burrell, Julian Burrell, Carolyn Burrell and Burrell Richardson.
6 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
JOSEPH ALEXANDER McCURDY, a leading member of the Westmoreland county bar, residing at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, comes of Scotch, Scotch-Irish and English ancestry. He was born in Derry township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Friday, December ii, 1857, the second son of Alexander J. and Sarah (Pounds) McCurdy.
In an open boat, during the days of religious persecution in Scotland, were five brothers escaping by a dangerous voyage from Galloway to the coast of Down, Ireland. These true hearted men were named McCurdy, and from one of them Joseph A. McCurdy is descended. The Mayflower, which crossed the Atlantic in 1620. contained one of his paternal ancestors and two of his maternal ancestors. His grandmother, Mary Doty, descended from Edward Doty, who was one of the_ forty-one men who signed his name to the first con- stitution of government ever subscribed by a whole people in the history of the world. Mr. McCurdy's mother, Sarah Pounds, descended from Thomas Pounds, who in 1635 came from London to New England, and his wife was one of the children who came in the Mayflower. William Drummond, who came- from Scotland to New Jersey, had among his grandchildren Mary Drummond,. the maternal grandmother of Mr. McCurdy. The maternal great-grandmother was Sarah Collier, descendant of William Collier, a London merchant, who came to America in 1633 and was assistant governor of Plymouth colony for thirtv vears. The great-great-grandmothers on the paternal side were Hannah Cannon, wife of Stephen A. Pounds, and Ella Cannon, wife of William Drum- mond. Three of his great-grandfathers, Alexander McCurdy, Joseph Pounds- and Nathaniel Doty, were in the War for Independence, and two of his great- great-grandfathers. Stephen A. Pounds and William Drummond, were killed in that struggle. For more than a century, Mr. McCurdy's ancestors have re- sided in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
Alexander jNIcCurdv, the great-grandfather, w-as born in Leister, Ireland, 1744; came to America in 1756, settling on the banks of "Crooked Creek," in Westmoreland county, (now included within Indiana county). Subsequently he lived near the Salt Works, on the Conemaugh river. He died near Liver- more, aged ninety-four years. He was a Revolutionary soldier in Captain Matthew Scott's Company, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Regiment, and was wounded in both arms in Yorktown and became a pensioner. For a short time he accompanied his son Samuel in the War of 1812, and was employed in training soldiers in military exercises. He possessed considerable wealth, was a noted musician, a strict seceder and well known for his knowledge of the scriptures. He was married about 1785 to Jane Heridenon, by whom were born: U'illiam, Alexander H., Andrew, Samuel, Keziah,- Ann and Jane.
Alexander Henderson McCurdy, the grandfather of J. A. McCurdy, was born at Crooked Creek, 1794. He was a farmer and carpenter. He was a pump manufacturer for many years. He owned the "Piper Farm." near Latrobe, where he resided many years previous to his death in 185 1. About 1820 he married Mary Doty, by whom was born : Samuel Henderson, Nath- aniel; Alexander Jackson, Mary, Phoebe and Jane. The mother of these children, Mary (Doty) McCurdy, was born in 1793 and died 1887. She was a lineal descendant of Edward Doty, who came in the Mayflower. Rev. Francis- Doty (son of Edward) was a minister in the first settlement of Taunton, ]\Ias- sachusetts. For utterances contrarv to some of the Pilgrim Fathers' practices, he was driven to Long Island in 161 t. The Dutch settlement issued a patent to him, "for a Colonic, Messpath Kill, twenty-eight of March. 1642." Some of his descendants settled in New Jersey. Three of these, Nathaniel, Jonathan
HISTORY OF irESTMOREL.lXD COUXTY
and Zebulon Dotv, sons of Xathaniel Doty, Sr.. (grcat-grcat-grandlathcr) set- tled in Derry township, Westmoreland county, about 1785.
Nathaniel Doty, Jr., (great-grandfather), born 1757, died in 1844: he had served in the Revolutionary war. He married Jane Cethoven, and one of their children, jNIary, was married to Alexander H. AlcCurdy, whose third son, Alexander Jackson ^IcCurdy, father of J, A, McCurdy, was born in Derry township, June 4, 1829. He was a farmer and was for some time in the employ of the Pennsylvania canal and later engaged in the ccnstruction of the Pennsyl- vania railroad. Politically he was an active Republican, He died September 2, 1S84. He married Rachel Lightcaj), who died in 1852, leaving a daughter, INIary Susan, born February 22. 1852, who was married to \\'illiam Fishell, and died in August, 1880, ]\lr. !\lcCurdy married (second), in 1854, Sarah Pounds, born ^lay 12, 1S33, eldest daughter of Joseph and Mary (Drumond) Pounds, By the union of Alexander Jackson McCurdy and Sarah Pcamds, seven children were born : Rev. Irwin Pounds, D, D, ; Joseph A., see forward: Hannah Alay, deceased; John Druiiiniond; Ella S, ; William \\', and ^linnie ]\Iay,
Jose]jh A. McCurdv was reared midst the rural scenes of his father's home in Derry township, and attended the common schools. During 1869-70 he re- ceived valuable instructions from Rev. W. H. McFarland. After attending the State Xormal school at Edinbcro, Pennsylvania, one term, he commenced teaching when but sijcteen years of age. He obtained his education by teaching winters and attending school summers. He graduated from the State Xormal school at Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1878, He was a student in the classical courses, first in the University of Wooster, Ohio, then in Lafayette College, Easton. Pennsylvania, in 1879-80, He was principal of the schools at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, in 1880-81, and became one of the owners and the editor of the Mount Pleasant Dozen, which he changed to the Journal. He improved and greatly enlarged the circulation of that paper, but after two years relinquished the editorial chair for his life-work in the legal profession. Mr. McCurdy became a law student in the office of Moorhead & Head_, at Greens- burg, Pennsylvania, Ajiril, 188,3. ^\ hile thus studying he was principal of the Greensburg High School one term. He was admitted to the Westmoreland county bar August 31, 1885, and soon gained a lucrative i)ractice. He has been solicitor for his county and attorney in many important law cases. He was district attorney of Westmoreland ccainty from 1892 to 1895, bcin,g the first Republican elected to that office. He is the senior member of the law firm of McCurdy and Cunningham. He was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1886, when Hon. Welty McCullougli was elected to congress. In his church connections he is a member of die First Presbvterian church of Greensburg. He has been a director of the Westmoreland Hospital Associa- tion of Greensburg since its organization. Mr. ^IcCurdy was married, Sep- tember 10, 1885, to Jane Brady Armstrong, daughter of Col, James and Rachel (Welty) Armstrong, of Greensburg. She died February 28, 1888, leaving an infant, Rachel Welty, who survived her but five months. Mr. McCurdy was married, June 29, 1897, to Florence Ludwick, daughter of Humphrey Fuller- ton and Josephine Cort (Zimmerman) Ludwick, of Manor. I'eniisvlvania,
BOUCHER FA:\IILY. The name Boucher is purely of French origin, although the first ancestor in .America spoke the German language. This was likely brought about by the family being among the Huguenots, who were banished from France by the Revocation of the E(lict of Xantes in idSs,
8 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Otherwise he could scarcely have come to America with a French name and a German tongue. But this is entirely speculative and tlic family has long been recognized as distinctively Pennsylvania German. It was a numerous one in Westmoreland ccamty half a century or more ago, particularly in Ligonicr Vallcv. but they who bore that name then are nearly all gone now, and their descendants are scattered throughout the western states.
I. Daniel Boucher, the founder of the family in America, came from the German States of France, most likely from Loraine. The tradition is that he crossed the Atlantic ocean in a ship called the "President." In his Bible, which the writer has seen, he wrote that he, with his wife and children, landed at Philadel])hia on June 2Cth, 1755. They settled in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, in what is now known as Albany township, where he purchased lands and became a farmer. The location is twenty-two miles from the city of Reading, on the present railroad leading from Reading to Slatington. He was of the German Reformed faith in religion, and was mainly instrumental in erecting a church edifice called "Bethel," near his home. It has been rebiult three times, but still retains the name given it by its pioneer founder. Little is known of him further than that he lost heavily in the Revolution, that lie died in the early years of last century, and that his remains were buried in the churchvard near the church which he built. He had sons named Peter, William, Philip, Jacob and Henry. Peter died without issue ; William settled in Ross county, Ohio, in 1801 ; Philip remained with his father and fell heir to his estate, much of which still remains in the name of his descendants ; and Jacob settled in Schuvlkill county.
n. Henry Boucher, youngest son of Daniel Boucher, was born in Berks countv. March 10, 1759. He was married to Mary Shoemaker, and removed to Hamburg, Pennsylvania, where he became a farmer and shoemaker. In 1801, in company with a neighbor named Jacob Will, he started west on horse- back for the purpose of purchasing lands and moving on them. They rode as far as the Miami Valley in Ohio" but there the fever and ague prevailed to such an alarming extent that tliey returned, ai^id upon reaching Somerset coimtv, Pennsvlvania, purchased lands, to which they moved with their fam- ilies in the spring of 1802. The land bought by Henry Boucher is about three miles from Glade. There were four hundred and fifty acres in the tract, and it was conveyed to him by John Gross. He spent the remainder of his days there as a farmer and died on November 19, 1834. His \yife, Mary Shoe- maker, who was born January 22, 1762, survived him until May 12, 1840. They are both buried in the cemetery at Glade, and the dates given are taken from their tombstones. Their children were : Jacob, Henry, Christian, David, Solomon, John, Elizabeth, Magdalene, Mary, Rebecca, Catharine, Sarah and Hannah. Christian died in his youth. Henry, Solomon and John brought up large families and lived and died in Somerset county. Hannah married Jere- miah Strawn, who removed to Ottawa, Blinois, and was the ancestor of that branch of the Strawn family.
HI. David Boucher, son of Henry Boucher (2). was born in Haiuburg, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1789, and when twelve years old came with his parents to Somerset county. He was bred a farmer, and acquired land in Turkevfoot township. On 'May 19, 1814, he was married to ]\Iary Eve Fried- line, who was born August 23, 'i794- They were the parents of a large family. There were two daughters: Elizabeth, who died when quite young: and Susan, who was married to Abraham Brant, of Ligonier \'alley, and with a large fam- ily survived her husband manv years. Their sons were: Daniel, died in Ilh-
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTV
iiois ; Hiram, to whom \vc will refer hereafter ; Josiah, Isaac and David, who died in California ; Henry, who new resides in Kansas ; and John and Simon, ■who died in that state! Hiram alone remained in Ligonier \'alley, all the •others except Simon having gone to California in search of gold soon after its •discovery.
In 1833 David Boucher removed from Somerset county to Ligonier, pur- chased lands near that place from William Ross, and became a very successful farmer. His wife, Alary Eve, died at Ligonier on January 11, 1842. David was a man of deep convictions, and manifested great earnestness in any cause which enlisted his attention. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Repub- lican. He was most noted, however, in church work, being a Methodist of the old style, and by no means lax in supporting his church and in upholding its principles. On November 11, 1844, he was married to !\Irs. Sarah Stahl, to whom the following children were born : Charles Wesley ; Lucius Cha])man ; Emma, married John ^^'ood ; and Anna, married Morgan Beam ; they and their descendants live in and near Pittsburg. David Boucher died April 12, 1868, and his second wife survived him until !Marcli, 1887.
I\". Hiram, son of David Boucher (3) and Alary Eve, was born in .Som- erset county. December 7, 1821, and came to Ligonier \'alley with his parents in 1833. (Jn January 26, 1843, he was married to Abigail Slater, of Lig- onier township, by Rev. Stevens. He united with the Alethodist Episcopal church of Ligonier, and was one of its leading members thrciighout the re- mainder of his life. He was especially a potent factor in the Sunday school work of the church, and taught a class of both old and young men for more than a quarter of a century. Few men were more competent for this work than he. Though, like many others in the first half of the last century, he had received but a limited education in his youth, yet, being more or less of a life- long reader, he became well versed in the Bible, and was familiar with many of the books relating to it, and in this line of thought he had few equals among the laity of his ccmmunity. He spent his entire life as a farmer in Ligonier \'alley. and died of bilious fever October 18, 1889. Abigail Slater, his wife, was born in Donegal township, January 13, 1822, daughter of Samuel and Mary Show Slater. The first ancestor of the Slater family came from Eng- land and became a resident and farmer in Donegal township during the Revo- lution cr shortly afterward. He had three sons Martin, Samuel and Isaac. Alartin built and managed Alount Hope Furnace, situated two miles southeast •of Donegal. Samuel and Isaac were farmers in that township. Isaac was mar- ried to Abigail Ulrey shortly after the Revolution. In volume I of this work will be foimd the story of the escape of Abigail Ulery and her sister from the Indians during the Revolutionary war. She was born December 29, 1765, and was brought up on the Slater farm near Lig-onier. LTpon her marriage "vvith Isaac Slater they removed to Donegal township, where thev lived the re- mainder of their lives. Isaac Slater died in 1836, and his wife Abigail sur- vived him until October 29, 1855, when she died in her ninety-second year.
The sons of Isaac Slater and Abigail Celery were Joseph a.nd Samuel. The latter born February 2. 1794. He was their third child, and was married to Mary Show, who was born in Maryland, March 14, i860, and was brought up near Connellsville, Pennsylvania. In 1824 Samuel and Mary Slater removed from Donegal township, having purchased lands two miles southwest of Lig- onier, from the Ulery heirs, one of whom was .Abigail, Samuel Slater's mother. L'pon this land, now known as the Slater farm, thev resided the remainder of their days. Mary Show Slater died on June 27, iS7r). and her husband Sam-
]0 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY
iicl survived her until January 30. 1882. Both are buried in the Brant ceme- tery, near their old home. Their children were Abigail, Julia, Christenia, Isaac, Catharine, Sarah and Mary. It was Abigail, the oldest of the family who was. married to Hiram Boucher. Though past four-score years and four, she sdll survives him, and resides near Ligonier.
The children of Hiram Boucher and Abigail Slater were: Elizabeth, mar- ried to Dr. J. T. Ambrose, of Ligonier; Mary Eve, married to William C. Knox, of Ligonier township, died April 15, 1892; Amanda, married to Hamil- ton Smith, of Ligonier, (Mr. Smith died August 7, 1897) ; Caroline, married to Rev. O. A. Emerson, of the Pittsburgh Methodist Episcopal Conference ; Sarah, married to Hugh M. Clififord, of Derry, died January 11, 1887; Kate, married to Dr. Edward Al. Clifford, of Greensburg; David WHbert, died in 1863, aged two years ; and John Newton, of Greensburg.
V. John Newton Boucher was a teacher in the Westmoreland schools, and was graduated from Mount Union College at Alliance, Ohio, in 1876. He is a member of the Greensburg bar, and the author of the Westmoreland portion of the "Twentieth Century Bench and Bar of I'ennsylvania," published by Cooper Brothers, of Chicago, 1903, and of the historical narratives cciitained in volume I of this work, entitled "A History of Westmoreland County."
VL The sixth generation of this family are the children of Dr. J. T. Ambrose and wife; of William C. Knox and wife, Mary; of Rev. O. A. Emer- son and wife; Lillian, daughter of Hugh M. Clififord and wife Sarah, and the daughter of Dr. Edward M. Clifford and wife.
VH. The seventh generation are the children of William and Alaigail Knox Graham, of Ligonier Valley ; of Dr. A. H. Caven and Blanche Emerson Caven of Youngwood, Pennsylvania ; and of Charles Emerson and Sallie Luke Emerson of Creighton, Pennsylvania.
JAMES HENRY GALLAGHER, the present recorder of deeds for Westmoreland county, was born November 23, 1867, at New Alexandria, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of General Thomas F. Gal- lagher and Elizabeth Kier McBride Gallagher, his wife. She was daughtei of Henry and Elizabeth McBride, of Loyalhanna township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
To better acquaint the reader with the progenitors of Mr. Gallagher it may be said that the first to come to America, was Thomas Gallagher (i), born in Donegal county, Ireland, July 28, 1750. He died February 21, 1844, near Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, aged ninety-four years. He was buried in the LTnity Presbyterian graveyard. He married Isa- belle Mcllhaney, daughter of James Mcllhane}', of Ireland. She died January 14, 1817, and was buried in the same church yard in which her husband was buried. They came from Ireland in 1810, landing in Baltimore, May 10, of that year and after visiting the Pattersons and other relatives of that section, they came over the mountains in "Mountain Wagons" to Greensburg, tirst settling in Washington township, but later in Unity. In Ireland, Mr. Gal- lagher w-as an under-landlord and the proprietor of an inn. He was captain of volunteers under the king in his native country. The children of this: American ancestor — Thomas Gallagher and wife, were : James, Thomas, died unmarried at Harrisburg, Penns\lvania, and was buried in the Episcopal cem- etery of that city, where a suitable monument marks his resting place. Major George, John. Mary Ann and Isabella, who died on board ship, aged ten years.
II. James Gallagher, son of Thomas (i) was born in Irclraid, October
HISTORY OF JVESTMORELAXD COUXTY. ii
14. 17S9, died March 3, iSSi. He married, February 6, 1821, Elizabeth Foster, the daughter of Thomas and Catherine Foster, iice Harrold. She was born December 14, 1802, and died I\farch 29, 1891. Their children were: i. i\lajor General Thomas Foster Gallagher, born January 17, 1822, died November 3, 18S3; 2. Major George, deceased; 3. \\ illiam F., deceased; 4. Isabella, de- ceased; 5. Sarah Ann, deceased; 6. .Mary Jane, wife of Dr. Joseph L. Cook, of Westmoreland county ; 7. ]\lartha, deceased ; 8. Elizabeth F. ; 9. James S. ; 10. Robert Taylor, deceased.
III. Major-General Thomas F. Gallagher, oldest son of James Galla- gher (II) was a lifelong- merchant at New Alexandria, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He had a remarkable career in military and business life. Prior to the' rebellion he was a prominent figure in the Pennsylvania militia move- ments, and advanced from the office of lieutenant to majcr-general, having been captain-brigadier and major-general, and after the rebellion became major- general of that body of state troops. His record as an officer during the great civil conflict from 1861 to 1865, was one of a marked success. He enlisted lulv 2, 1861, and was made the colonel of the Eleventh Pennsylvania "Re- serves" (fortieth in line). During his service he attained to the rank of brig- adier-general. He was commissioned as a leader against the famous "IMorgan Raiders," participating in their capture. (An extended account of his army record will appear in the Civil war chapters, volume I of this work). The chil- dren of General Gallagher and wife were : Elizabeth, deceased ; Anna Maria, deceased; Sarah Agnes, deceased; Margaret McBride, wife of JefTery W. Taylor. Esq., of Greensburg ; Isabella, wife of Dr. James R. Jack, of New Alexandria; and James H. (Gallagher.
I\'. James H. Gallagher was educated in the public schools of his native town and graduated from Duffs Business College of Pittsburgh; in 1887. Afterwards he was engaged in the real estate business in Greensburg, and was deputy clerk of the Orphans' court and deputy register and recorder of Westmoreland county. Mr. Gallagher was elected in the autumn of 1902, and in January. 1903. sworn into office, as recorder of deeds. His nomination was accorded him without opposition, and he was elected by three thciisand, three hundred and forty majority. He was renominated in April, 1905, by the Re- jniblican party, with no opposition, for another term of three years, and was elected by a majority of abcait six thousand. He was chosen chairman of the Republican county committee by acclamation in 1904, and did splendid work during the Roos'evplt-Fairbanks presidential campaign, aiding materially in bringing about a majority of nine thousand two hundred and forty-eight for the ticket in his county, dcaible that of any former election. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, a Knight Templar, and also belongs to various social orders.
GEORGE Dr)RN, deceased, who was a leading business man of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born January i, 1818, in a pleasant little valley in Northern Germany, near the river Rhine, in the ancestral home of the Dorns. under the great confederation of states that formed an interregnum of the German empire from 1815 to 183;.
He was carefully trained to habits of industry, honesty and economy, and received his education in the rural schools of the fatherland. At the age of eighteen he conceived the idea of emigrating to this country, in quest of more profitable employment than he could then secure in Germany. In 1836 he located .in Pennsylvania. ?.nd after a considerable struggle for work obtained
12 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
employment on the Pennsylvania turnpike. Although young in years his ex- cellent deportment and display of good judgment in the care of teams secured for him the responsible position of stable manager at Turtle creek, where he had charge of all the horses used on one section of the pike. Atter a few- years service at the latter place he removed to Greensburg, where he assumed control of the pike stables, continuing until the building of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, which monopolized the trade and travel of the state, and the old pike, unable to enter into competition, was soon abandoned as a public highway, becoming a local thoroughfare. In consequence of this great change in mode of travel, Mr. Dorn engaged in a new line of business, opening a large livery stable at Greensburg. As a liveryman he met with remarkable success, and with his usual energy soon controlled the leading livery stable in western Pennsylvania, not including Pittsburgh, and was for over thirty years one C'i the most widely known and popular liverymen in his section of the state. In addition to this line of work he was interested in various other industrial enterprises in the county. George Dorn was a self-made man, worth over ■$100,000 at the time of his decease, all of which he acquired by honest industry and frugalilty. His business obligations were always promptly met and his contracts honorably fulfilled. He was popular and well liked both as a citizen and business man on account of his generous nature and sterling integrity. His life was one of activity and event ; he enjoyed none of the educational ad- vantages of the present era, nevertheless he was a man of varied information, endowed with a strong mind, the hewer of his own fortune and honest archi- tect of his own fame. In 1881 he sold the lot where the present jail building stands. Politically he was a strong Democrat, and ever evinced a lively inter- est in all pertaining to the welfare of the community. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and was noted for his charity to the poor. He was an excellent linguist, speaking with fluency and ease the German, French and English languages.
George Dorn married Elizabeth Alayberry, of Ligonier, and they had children : Julia, married John Long, a son of Samuel Long, who was a highly respected citizen of Hempfield township ; George, bookkeeper for Lewis Tranger for many years, died 1872 ; John, cne of the owners of the Greens- burg brewery ; Jacob, died in young manhood ; Harry Markle, died August 17, 1895 : and Louis Tranger, who has been a partner in the Greensburg Brew- ing Company for the past seventeen years, doing a very successful business. The death of George Dorn occurred July 2. 1885, and was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. Airs. Dorn passed away March i, 1891.
ROBERT ANDERSON FULTON LYON. The Lyon family, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was founded in this country by John Lyon, son of William Lyon, who with his family emigrated from Enniskillen county, prov- ince of Ulster, Ireland, to the province of Pennsylvania in the year 1763, set- tling in Cumberland county, now Milford township, Juniata county, about two miles west of Mifflintown. The warrant for the land of two hundred and sev- enty-three acres which was granted, is dated September 18, 1766. The prov- ince granted in 1773. John Lyon and others twenty acres of land for use of the Presbyterian church of Tuscarora, where the remains of Mr. Lyon were in- terred. He died in 1780. He married, in Ireland, Alargaret Armstrong, sister of Colonel John Armstrong, a prominent and patriotic Pennsylvanian, of pro- vincial and revolutionary times. She was a woman of bright intellect and fine conversational powers. She died about 1793, and her remains were also in-
(Mx^(yi^tJttxf a^ nCtacnAmMj
HISTORY OF JVESTMORELAXD COUXTY. 13
terred at Tuscarora. Their children, all of whom were born in Ireland, were: AN'illiam, James, John, Mary, Frances, Margaret and Agnes.
John Lyon, third son of John and :\largaret (Arnistrcng) Lyon, came into- possession of one-half of the old homestead, the other half reverting to Sam- uel Lvon. He resided on the old farm until June i, 1797, when he conveyed the same to Stephen Douglass and removed to Butler county, Pennsylvania,, where he died about 1820. The will of John Lyon was dated December 3, 1779. He married Alarv Harris, daughter of Captain Thomas Harris, and their chil- dren were: Thomas Harris, John, James, Margaret, Hilary, Catherine, and Xancy.
fohn Lycn, second son of John and Mary (Harris) Lyon, married Ann Harper, daughter of Daniel and" Catherine (Gordon) Harper. Their children were: Gordon ]\L, Harris, Alary, Daniel Harper, John, Joseph, George, Thomas Wilson, and Catherine.
Gordon M. Lyon, eldest son of John and Ann (Harper) Lyon, married (first) yiary ^ilarshall, of whom one daughter, Elizabeth, was born: she mar- ried R. P. Douglass. ;\Ir. Lyon married (second) Mary Anna, daughter of Jacob and Alary (Byerley) Kifer. Their children were: Thomas Franklin, Mary Emma, Margaret Cecelia, Robert Andersen Fulton, and Elmer Ells- worth, who married Clara E. Whitaker.
LLOYD S. FLNDLEY, engaged in the restaurant business in Greens- burg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born July 9, 1864, at West Overton, the son of George and Alatilda (Nef¥) Findley. George Findley is by trade a blacksmith, and conducted a shop with good success in Mount Pleasant for a number of years. He subsequently removed to Kansas, where he has resided for a number of years. His wife was Matilda NefT, who died in- November, 1901. Their children were: Cassins Markle, died in the west; Robert Taylor, Lloyd S., Ada M., died November 26, 1898: and Charles S.
Llovd S. Findlev was formerly a conductor in the employ of the Pcnn- svlvania railroad for several years. He has been doing a very successful res- taurant business in Greensburg for the past ten years. Mr. Findley married, October 16. 1883, Susan Barbara Kuhns, daughter of Reuben and Sarah- Kuhns, of Greensburg. Their named children were : Ada Matilda, born Sep- tember 30, 1884: Wilbur Lloyd. October 2, 1885: Sarah, October 19, 1887, died October 3, 1889; Florence May, July 5, 1889: Josephine Marie, Alay 5,, 1819: Susan Barbara, April 20, 1893: Agnes Naomi, October 14, 1905: Roy Reuben, September 16, 1897; Robert Taylor, August 13, 1899: Francis Kuhns,. April 26, 1901 ; Margaret Elizabeth, Alarch 22, 1903 ; and Gladys Althea, Feb- ruary 10, 1905.
JUDGE ALEXANDER DANIEL McCONNELL was born in Loyalhanna township, Westmoreland county on Alarch 10, 1850. He is one of the two judges of the several jury courts of Westmoreland county, and since September i, 1873, has resided at Greensburg.
( I ) The founder of the family in the Cnited States was Daniel McCon- nell, a native of Dumfrieshire, Scotland, born 1710. When yet a young man he came to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he married Peggy Kirk- patrick, a young woman of Scotch-Irish ])arentagc. To them were born four sons and several daughters. Tlie sons were Sanuiel, David, Hugh and Daniel. The first three of these sons were married to sisters, daughters of Thomas Whiteside, an English gentleman, who came to Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
14 HISTORT OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
vania, in the eighteenth century, and who there married Margaret Porter. To them were liorn five daughters and three sons. The three daughters who were intermarried with the three McConnell brothers, as above stated, were named Rebecca, Martha and Violet. Samuel, the oldest of the three McConnell brothers, married Viclet, the yongest of the three Whiteside sisters, while Hugh, the youngest of the brothers married Rebecca, the oldest of the sisters. David ]\lcConncll married Martha Whiteside, who in order of birth was the third of the five daughters of Thomas and Margaret (Porter) Whiteside.
In respect to church connection the McConnells were seceders of the old type, while the Whitesides were Presbyterians. In those days this difference was regarded as a very substantial matter, and the parents of the respective ■contracting parties, in each case, objected to the marriage on that account, but in each case the marriage took place in spite of such objection.
(II) David McConnell, second sen of Daniel and Peggy (Kirkpatrick) McConnell (I) was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 1764. lie mar- ried Martha Whiteside, in 1785, and lived in Lancaster county until 1800, when he came to Westmoreland county. They had a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to maturity and reared families, exceut one, who died in in- fancy. They nearly all located in western Pennsylvania, where their descen- dants are still to be fcanid, but many of them are also dispersed throughout al- most all of the northern and western states. They have engaged in a great variety of pursuits. .Among them are business men, farmers, and mechanics. The various professional pursuits have attracted many of them, and among them are to be found scores of teachers from all the original laranches of the family. At this writing (May, 1905) there are now living of David McCon- nell's lineal descendants four ministers, of whom Rev. Samuel D. McConnell, D. D., LL. D., and Rev. David McConnell Steel, both of New York city, are two; four lawyers, of whom two are judges, and five physicians. Of the fam- ilies of the four sons of David McConnell, three of them were, for many years, represented in the Eldership of Congruity Presbyterian church.
(III) The eldest son, Daniel, grandfather of Judge Alexander D. Mc- Connell. was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1794, and when but six years of age he came with his parents to Westmoreland coiunty, where he continued to reside until the time of his death. He married, January 16, 1817, Hannah McBride. She was the daughter of James McBride, son of James JMcBride, Sr., who had settled on the Loyalhanna creek in what is now known as Loyalhanna township, long prior to the Revolutionary war. Both of these James RIcBridcs performed military duty in the Revolutionary war. At the date of taking up the land on Loyalhanna creek, the nearest neighbor of the McBrides was ten miles distant from them. Several times they were driven from their lands by the Indians, but they always returned, and the farm has ever since been held in the McBride family, and is now owned by another James McBride, a lineal descendant of the original James McBride. Daniel McConnell was a farmer and resided on his farm in Salem township until his death, March 8, 1865. His widow, Hannah (McBride) McConnell, died at the same place. April 14. 1884. There they reared a family of ten children — three sons and seven daughters. Of these David Kirkpatrick McConnell (IV) was the eldest son. He was born November 18, 1819. He also was a farmer. David Kirkpatrick ^IcConnell was, on October 31, 1844, intermarried with Harriet Sloan, third daughter of John Steel Sloan and Jane (Christy) Sloan, of Salem township. \Vestmoreland county. The Sloan and Christy families were both Scotch-Irish pioneers in Westmoreland county and of the Presbyterian
HISTORY OF JFESTMORELAXD COUXTY.
15
faith. The Christy family located in the neighborhood cf Xew Salem prior to the revolutionary war, and the Sloans near the same place a few years later. It therefore appears that the ancestors of the subject of this sketch, as thev are represented in the families of his four grandparents, have all been identified with the history of Westmoreland ccimty for more than a century. David Kirkpatrick JMcConnell and Harriet (Sloan) JMcConnell had nine children, five sons and four daughters, all now living except John S., who met death by an accident. David Kirkpatrick McConnell( father of Judge AlcConnell) died on December 5, 1900, leaving to survive him his widow whc still lives on the old homestead in Salem township. Their children are :
1. James Graham McConnell, of Colorado.
2. John Sloan ]\IcConnell who died in Colorado several years ago, but whose family, consisting of a widow, Hannah (Richards) !\IcConnell, a daugh- ter, wife of Rev. Charles Beatty of Pittsburgh, and a son Robert K. McConnell, who is a member of the Allegheny county bar — now reside in Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania.
3. Alexamler Daniel McConnell (\') of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
4. Sarah ]\lcConnell Reynolds of Arkansas, wife of Hon. J. E. Reynolds.
5. r^Ielissa INIcConnell Fester, wife of James W. Foster, of Salem town- ship, Westmoreland county.
6. Mary AlcConnell P.uchanan. widow of D. 'S]. Puchanan, of Salem township, Westmoreland county.
7. Kathcrine ^IcConnell Sterling, wife of James 'M. Sterling, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
8. David Ellsworth McCcimell, of Salem township, and
9. Robert Henry AlcConnell, of Mctor. Colorado.
(\") Judge AlcConnell was educated in the public schools of Loyalhanna and Salem townships. New Salem Academy, and \\'ashington and Jefferson College. For several years he was the assistant of H. J\L Jones, superintendent of public schools of \\^estmoreland county. He located in Greensburg, in Sep- tember, 1873, as a teacher in the public schools, and soon thereafter was elected principal of these schools, and continued to serve in that capacity until June r, 1876. On motion of Senator Edgar Cowan, August, 1877, admitted to prac- tice in the several courts of Westmoreland county, and has continuously since that time devoted himself exclusively to the law. He was prepared for ad- mission to the bar in the office of the late Judge James A. Hunter. In politics he has always been a Republican. He was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1878. In the following year he was nominated as a candidate for the legislature, but at that time the county was overwhelmingly Democratic, and a reduction of the amount of the Democratic majority was the full measure of his success. He received the nomination of his party in Westmoreland county for congress in 1882, but the rule of rotation that year threw the nomination in the district to Fayette county. He was nominated for judge of the court of common pleas in i88g. The Republican party, however, met defeat that year as it did for several years thereafter. A law was enacted in 1895, allotting two judges to the tenth judicial district, and Governor Hastings, on practically the- imanimous endorsement of the W'estmoreland county bar. appointed him, on June 17, 1895, to the new position thereby created. He received the Republican nomination, and in November of the same year was elected for a full term of ten years bv a majority of about three thousand. He was, on April 15, 1905, without opposition, nominated to succeed himself by the Rei)ublican party, and on July 3, following, he was endorsed by the Democratic countv committee and his
i6 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTY.
name directed to be also placed on tl:e Democratic ticl-Lct as the candidate of that party. During his term of office many miportant questions have been presented for solution, notably among these was a recent c|uestion pertaining to the law governing the approval of the contract for the erection of the new court house, now in course of construction. The correctness of the decision rendered bv him in that matter, was stubbornly contested but it was unanimously approved by both the superior and the supreme courts of the state. Westminster College conferred on Judge McConnell, June i8, 1902, the degree of LL. D., an honor which has, in the last century, only been conferred on four other members of the Westmoreland county bar, viz. : Justice Coulter, Hon. Edgar Cowan, Hon. H. P. Laird and Hon. James A. Logan. Judge McConnell is a regular at- tendant of the First Presbyterian church of Greensburg. He is one of the trustees of the Morrison Underwood fund which by its donor was devoted to certain educational purposes. He is also a director of the Westmoreland Hos- pital, located at Greensburg. He is a member of the Masonic society, and of the Scotch-Irish society of Philadelphia. He was intermarried, March 24, 1876, with Ella J. Turney, eldest daughter of Adam J. and Emma (Eyster) Turney. of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Adam J. Turney was a grandson of Rev. John William Weber, a pioneer Reformed minister, who established numerous churches in western Pennsyl- vania, among which is the church on the corner of Smithfield street and Sixth avenue, in the city of Pittsburgh.
Emma (Eyster) Turney is the daughter of Rev. Michael Eyster, a Lu- theran minister, who died, while yet a young man, in Greensburg. Judge Mc- Connell and wife are the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter. Kirk, the eldest son, is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, and is now a student at law. Turney, the second son, is a clerk in the bank of the Barclay Trust Company of Greensburg, while Alexander, Emma and Robert are yet in school. They were all born in Greensburg. Judge McConnell be- lieves that his position recjuires him to administer the law as it is, rather than as he might desire it to be, and that it forbids the use of it as a personal instru- ment wherewith to reward friends or punish enemies, that in the facts of every case is to be found the law of that case, and that no amount of patient labor expended on the proper ascertainment of the facts, or of research, in the ac- curate ascertainment of the law, can be anv greater than what is due to everv case great or sluall. He believes too that the epigram of President Roosevelt should be unflinchingly applied in a court of justice, viz.: that "everv man shall have a square deal, no less, no more." That faith he has carried into act on the bench, and both political parties by renominating him have given ap- proval of his course.
SAML'EL O. W. LOWRY, a real estate dealer and general financial operator of the firm of Lowry & Boarts, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was born near the borough of Greensburg, July 4, 1843. Rf^bert Lowry, fatlier of Sam- uel C). W. Lowry, was born in the North of Ireland, and when he was but nine years of age came to Philadelphia with an uncle, having lost his father in early childhood. He learned the cloth weaver trade in Philadelphia. In 1839 he came to W^estmoreland county, Pennsylvania, having married Xacy Thornton in Philadelphia. She was a native of Ireland, coming to America in her teens. Robert Lowry walked the entire distance from Philadelphia to this county and settled near New Alexandria, where he farmed with Samuel Patterson, of Derry township. Later he moved to Greensburg vicinity, where he farmed and
HISTORY OF J]-ESTMORnLAXD COUXTY. 17
hauled ccal from a coal-pit. He died, in .May, 1898, aged eighty-three years. Their children were : :\lary Jane, born 1838. died May, 1905 : she married George Lindsay; Martha, born 1840, died 1868, married James H. Steel; ;\lar- garetP. born 1842, married Joseph W. Steel, and died about 1900; Samuel O. W., born July 4, 1843; James X., born 1S45, was killed July 10, 1864, at Spottsvlvania, \ irginia ; "he was a soldier in the Union cause during the Civil war: Matilda, born 1847, married William Hice, of Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania; Robert C. born 1849, died October 21, 1904, at Greensburg, Pennsyl- vania, and was buried at Xew Alexandria, Pennsylvania ; Agnes, born about i8s I. married Rev. T. C. Sproul, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; EHzabeth, born 1854, is single and resides at New Alexandria.
Samuel O. W. Lowry was born July 4, 1843, obtained a good common school education in Westmoreland county, and then learned the trade of liar- nessmaker and satkller. wliich he followed for others and for himself for sev- eral years. He enlisted in the Union army, February 16, 1864, as a member of Company K, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Rich- ard Coulter, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He was assigned to the Fifth Army Corps, General G. K. Warren commanding, the Third Division com- manded by General Crawford, and Second brigade, General Baxter, command- ing. He saw much active service, having participated in nearly all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from the "Wilderness" tight to Lee's surrender at Appomattox, including those great engagements known in Civil war history as Spottsylvania (where his brother was killed). North Ann, Cold Harbor,, Petersburg. Mrginia, and Hatch Run. He was at the grand review in Wash- ington, in 1865. and returned withcitt serious illness or any wounds. He rcr sumed his harness trade a short time and then became a salesman for sewing machines on the road, continuing until 1874. He then embarked in the har- ness and saddle trade at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and followed that until 1887, when he engaged in real estate business at that place, continuing until 1897, when he removed to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, engaging in the same business and forming a partnership with L. N. Boats in 1901. He has numer- ous financial interests, making his a busy life. He is secretary and treasurer of the Greensburg Petroleum, Gas and Mining Ccmpanv of Burkesville. Ken- tucky; also connected with the Eli Sell (ieneral Merchandise Company. He is a stockholder and director in the ^\'ilkinslnIrg Trust Company, besides real estate interests at McKeesport, Pennsylvania. His residence is on a twenty-five acre farm, well improved, adjoining the borough of Green.sburg, where he en- joys the comfcTts of an independent life. Politically Mr. Lowry is a Repub- lican. While a resident in i\IcKeesport he served six years as member of the school board and the same period as member of the common council. He is an elder in the N\"cstminster Presbyterian Church of (ireensburg. He is a mem- ber of Colonel .Samuel Black Post, No. 59, G. A. R., at McKeesport, Pennsyl- vania, of which he was the commander in 1897.
Mr. Lowry married, IMay 11, 1871, M. Emma, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Reed) Patterson, both now deceased. Mrs. Lowry was born July 31, 1849. The children of this union are: Maggie Reed, born January. 1875, married GecTge W. Rogers. Robert J. N., born .\ugust, 1878, killed by being thrown from a mail car. of which he was a United States postal clerk, March 18. 1905. He had served seven years in the L'nited .States navy department and was in the .Spanish-.Amcrican war. He had only been married two weeks when he lost his life. Thomas C, born June. 1880, still at home and associated with the Grceitsbtiri; Rcriezv: he was in the navy three years. Nancy T., born
i8 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
1882, married George L. Pollins. Samuel W., born November 29, 1884, married Mae Randolph, September, 1904, and they have Emma Grace, born November 15, 1905. Mary Emma, twin sister of Samnel, born November 29, 1884. Un- like many other prosperous business men Mr. Lowry believes in enjoying the profits of his business in home life and travel. With his wife and children he has made several extended tours through the south and west as far as the Pacific coast. Although sixty-two years of age he is scarcely taken for one^of more than fifty-five. It may be added that he is a lover of his home and greatly attached to the children of his household, and it is his rule to present each one of his children with a gold watch upon the day they attain their majority.
HON. JOHN LATTA, one of the best known members of the West- moreland county bar, and a man universally admired and respected by the com- munity at large. He was born March 5, 1836 in Unity township, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, son of Moses and Eliza (Graham) Latta, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. The progenitor of the Latta family in \Ycstmoreland county was John Latta, grandfather of Hon. John Latta, who, with his brother Moses, settled in Mount Pleasant township, where the Mammoth Coke Works are now located. He married a Miss Storey of New Jersey, and by her had four children, among them being Moses Latta.
Moses Latta, father of John Latta, was born in 1790 in Mount Pleasant township, six miles north of the borough of Mount Pleasant, and in early life removed to Lenity township, where he followed the occupation of farming. During the war of 1812 he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Reynolds, but before his company reached the seat of war, a treaty of peace had been signed, and the troops returned hccne. He married Eliza Graham, daughter of Robert Graham, a native of Greensburg, and by occupation a horse dealer. Their children were : Mary Jane, wife of George R. Hughes, who resides on the old Latta homestead, and John, of whom later. Moses Latta died in February, 1848. when he was fifty-eight years old.
John Latta received his early educational training in the common schools of his native place, and subsequently attended Sewickley and Elder Ridge Academies, in which he spent about five years, thus forming an excellent foundaticTi for a professional career. Determining to become a legal prac- titioner Mr. Latta formulated all his plans with that end in view. He entered, in 1857, into the study of law in Yale College, graduating from that institu- tion in 1859, and in November of the same year was admitted to the bar of Westmoreland county. He has since been in almost continuous practice of his profession. He was elected state senator in 1863, discharging the duties of that responsible office with efficiency and credit. He was elected to the legis- lature in 1871 and 1872, serving for two terms. Two years later he was nominated and elected lieutenant governcT of Pennsylvania, serving in that office for four years ; he led the state ticket in the election, his majority being something over four thousand. When his term as lieutenant governor ex- pired, Mr. Latta returned to Greensburg, resuming the practice of his profes- sion. As a lawyer Hon. John Latta holds an eminent place in the ranks of his profession, and is a man of the people, ever advocating the interests of the poor and oppressed. Added to his other qualifications he is endowed with a natural gift of eloquence, and is one of the most prominent and convincing speakers of the county. Fraternally he holds membership in the Masonic Or- der belonging to the K. T.. and is a R. A. ]\I. : also A. O. U. W. He married, September 12, 1865. Emma A. Hope, a daughter of C. C. Hope, of Union-
HISTORY OF WESTMORRLAXD COUXTY. 19
town, and a sister of \\' H. Hcpc, a land speculator of the city of Alexico. Four children were born to them, three of whom are living: Cuthbert H., born Sep- tember 7, 1866: Mary Maude, born March 17, 1868, married W. B. Ryan, general traffic agent for a Mexican railroad, who resides in the city of JM'exico; and Isabel G., born February 17, 1875. Mrs. Latta died in 1876, and on De- cember 13, 1877 'Mr. Latta married Rose McClellan, a daughter of E. B. Mc- Clellan, of Ludwick borough, and their children were: Rose, born December 21, 1879, married Joseph T. Brunot, now deceased; Marie Josephine, born July 2^'. i88i, married R. T. Jamison; John, born May 15, 1883, died in 1885 ; Pol- lard, born January 15, 1885; and Sarah Marguerite, born October 18, 1886.
THE XLXL FAMILY. Colonel :\lillard Fillmore Null, the present capable prothonotary of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born April 5, 1854, at the old ^NIcKeans Stand (now Ruffsdale) in East Huntingdon town- ship, \\'estnioreland countv. He is the son of Hcnrv Harrison and Ellen (Dom) Null.
Captain Phillip Null, great-grandfather of Colonel M. F. Null, the Amer- ican ancestor, was born at \\'rightsvill9, York county, Pennsylvania, al)out 1755. His parents were Huguenots, from the French-German district, known as Alsace-Loraine and were French people. Phillip settled in Reading, Penn- sylvania bout 1 73 1. In 1780 he w-ent as a captain of the revolutionary war in the militia to North Carolina, and was at the battle of Camden, August, 1780. where General Gates was defeated by Cornwallis. He was also under the command of General Francis Marion, for whom he named his youngest son. He settled at Lincolnton, North Carolina, and married Margaret Beau- champ ( "Bushong") about 1781. She was of Rockingham county, Virginia. Their eldest son, Henry Null, the grandfather of Millard F. Null, was born April 24, 1783, in North Carolina, the eldest of six children. The family re- sided several years at the home of their grandfather, Pierre Beauchamp, in \'ir- ginia. They crossed the Alleghany mountains in 1799, locating in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, on land upon which now stands St. Joseph's Acad- emy at Greensburg. After a few years the family, except three children, re- moved to Putnam county, \'irginia, locating on several hundred acres of land taken on an officer's script. His son Henry and two married daughters re- mained in Westmoreland county. Captain Phillip Null died at Point Pleasant, \'irginia in 1834 of cholera, while en route to visit his son Henry at Greens- burg, Pennsylvania.
Henry Null, grandfather of Colonel jNIillard F. Null, and one of the three who remained in Westmoreland county, located at "McKeans Old Stand" in East Huntingdon township. He married Elizabeth Pool, of Reading, Penn- sylvania, May 20, 1804. They had seven sons and two daughters, all reared at McKeans Old Stand (Ruffsdale), each child having a farm given him by his father. Hcnr>- 2sull began life's activities as a farmer. He became promoter of many large business enterprises and was a large contractor, constructing por- tions of the old Pennsylvania canal in Indiana county. He. with his sons, built several miles of the National Pike road, and also helped construct the Washington and Bedford Pike of which he became a charter member and for many years a director of the middle division. He procured the charter for the Cross Pike, ronnectinc: the Philadeli)hia and Pittsburgh Pike with the Wash- ington and Bedford Pike of which he built some portions. He w'as also the man who procured the charter for the Slack-Water navigation along the Youghioghcny river. He finally located at Rufifsdale, then called "McKeans
HISTORY OF U'ESTMORELAXD COUNTY.
Old Stand" and established a postoffice there. He owned some one thousand five hundred acres of land, as the fruits of his unceasing energy and toil, coupled with his business sagacity. He never sought publicity, but was made the candidate for the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1882, and sent as a delegate to the Harrisburg Convention which nominated General \\'illiam Henry Har- rison for president in 1836. His manliood was such that even those who dif- fered greatly from him were ever ready to admit his fairmindedness and gener- osity. In religion he was a pronounced Presbyterian, as was his good wife, both of whom were lifelong Christian examples of true devotion. He died October 9, 1845, after a brief illness. He left a wife, six sons and two daughters, all of whom emulated the good name and character of their father.
Henry Harrison Null, father of Colonel Millard V. Null, the fourth son of Henry Null was born February 16, 1815, at "McKeans Old Stand" (Ruffs- dale) in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania. At the death of his father lie became the owner of the old Null homestead. He married, July i, 1845, EHen Dom, daughter of Phillip and Margaret (Gerhardt) Dom, of Wellersburg, Pennsylvania. She was the great-granddaughter of Sir John Jacob Hentz and wife, Eleanor Krauch, of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany ; she was a lady of great prepossession, cultured and beloved by all within the range of her wide acquaintance, and her kindly ways and charming graces were fully retained throughout her entire life which closed December 27, 1904. Their children were: ^larietta, married (first) Andrew Yont, now deceased, and (second), John J. Houseman; Minerva, widow of Joseph W. Hough, who at the time of his death was treasurer of Fayette cctinty. Pa. ; Josephine, (!Mrs. John Dempsey Boyd, of Uniontown) ; Millard Fillmore, of whom later; Jessie Beuton, (Mrs. Samuel Alwine, Jr.); Sumner F'remont ; Edwina married (first) Dr. Smith Fuller, Jr., now deceased; (second), James Clark Work, of Uniontown, Pa. ; Eleanor Nevada ; Henry Harrison, Jr., married Elsie G. Roth, of Allentown, Pa.
At the date of Henry Harrison Null's death in May, 1905, he had twenty- five grandchildren, twenty-three of whom were living, including the following: By his daughter, Mrs. Housman, Harry Null Yont ; by Mrs. Hough, Henry Harrison Null Gerhardt Hough ; by Mrs. Boyd, Henry Harrison Null Boyd, now superintendent of the H. C. Frick Coke Comjiany plants in Fayette county, Pennsylvania ; Burgess Beauchamp Boyd, with the same company at Alverton and Tarr ; Logan Dempsey Boyd ; Josephine Null Boyd. When a youth, Henry Harrison Null made his first trip as a wagoner over the Alleghany mountains in 1834. He followed this from time to time as late as 1861. From 1845 to 1872 he was an extensive farmer. During the last named year he removed to Greensburg. having been postmaster at Rufifsdale for twelve years. He also served as internal revenue collector. He Was a leading factor in the building of the Wellersburg and West Newton Turn Pike road, and was for a quarter of a century president of the Robbstown and Mount Pleasant Pike Road Com- pany. He opened the well known Null Hotel at Greensburg, and operated it until he died. May 16, 1905, after many months of patient suffering. He had lived over ninety years and noted with great interest the wonderful events of the past century. Politically it may be said that this venerable man early be- came a leader and not from selfish motives but from true principle. He cast his first vote for General Harrison in 1836, and had voted for every Whig and Republican presidential candidate including Theodore Roosevelt in the Au- tumn of 1904. The subjoined is an extract taken from a local paper the day after his death: "In 1872 the familv moved to Greensburg. Here he was
i
7^,7/.^'/im
^T ^J^^^<^.
HISTORY OF U'ESTMORELAXD COUXTV. 21
known as possessing a liberal and patriotic spirit. In his business relations he was scrupulously honest. He had a large acquaintance throughout the entire county, and by all with whom he came in contact he was held in highest es- teem. He was a voracious reader and one of the best informed men on public events in Greensburg. His views were liberal and he was outspoken in his sentiments. He was opposed to capital punishment and an advocate of women's rights and suffrage, of liberty of conscience, and of all principles of freedom, secular and religious. Strongly characterized with a humanity loving spirit, he was greatly interested in reforms for society at large. He was a whole- souled man, ever ready to assist those who appealed to him. Until within a few months of his death ]\Ir. Null possessed a remarkable memory of events of the early part of the century. He was a recognized authority en public hap- penings. Since 1856 he had kept a diary, recording each day's happenings with an accuracy which commanded on many occasions reference bv historians. These diaries contain a great wealth of interesting data."
^lillard Fillmore Null obtained his education in the public schools of Westmoreland county, and by a course in Milton Academy. He went from the school room to serve as an assistant for the engineering corps that laid out the Southwestern Pennsylvania railway. He also taught school in his na- tive county for seven terms. He again took up surveying and mine engineer- ing for a number of years, part of the period in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Later he became associated with the H. C. Frick Coke Company at its' central works as timekeeper, paymaster and superintendent, serving in all fourteen years. Politically, he inherited Republicanism from his father. In 1883 his party induced him to become a candidate for surveyor, but notwithstanding he ran over five hundred ahead of his ticket, his party was not victorious. From that date he has taken a more active part in politics, and in 1900 was elected as prothonotary of Westmoreland county and re-elected in 1903. At the time when the Central High school of East Huntingdon township was established, he was a director and had much to do towards its establishment and the sequel has proved his wisdom. He has been connected with the Presbyterian church since 1885, first at his old home and since 1901 as a member of the First Presbyterian church of Greensburg. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to K. C. of K. T. Lodge, No. 18 at Greensburg. Of Mr. Null's domestic relations it may be stated that he married. ]\Iarch 29, 1877, at Bells Mills, South Huntingdon township. Charlotte Bell, daus'hter of the late ex-Sheriff William Bell and wife, Frances (Bennett) Bell. Mr. Bell was born January 16, 1816 at Bells Mills, the son of Walter and Pollv (Fm- ley) Bell. Walter Bell was born at Shipi)ensburg. Pennsvlvania. in 1769 and removed to Westmoreland county in 1787, locating at Bells Alills, for whom they were named. He died August 12, 1868. 'He married Pollv Finley, daughter of Andrew and Jane Finley, of Port Royal and came from North Carolina, originally. The Finleys were of Scotch extraction.
William Bell. ^Irs. Null's father, was of Scotch blood. He died on the old homestead, at Bells IMills, December 24. 1888. The family were of the Presbyterian faith. He served as sheriff of this county from 1862 to 1865. He was most generous and noted for his hospitalitv and was acquainted far and near. His wife was the daughter of David and Sarah Bennett, born i82r). near Port Royal. _ David Bennett was the son of lohn Bennett, who emigrated from France. His wife was Sarah Hough, of German ancestrv. Their chil- dren were: I. Charles McCully, educated at the High School aiid Seminary at Greensburg, graduating in the classical course in 1899. He studied for a law-
22 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
yer and registered, but is now in the accounting department of the Keystone Coal and Coke Company. 2. Walter Bennett, attended the public schools of Creensburg and Leech's Business College of the same place, taking stenography and typewriting. \\'hen sixteen years of age he served as page two terms for Senator Robbins, in Washington, D. C. For the past si.x years he has been associated with the American Sheet Steel and Tin Plate Company, located at Sccttdale, Pa. 3. Eleanor attended the common schools of Westmoreland county and Darlington Seminary at West Chester, Pa. 4. Genevieve. 5. Millard Fillmore. 6. Galia Minota. 7. Henry Harrison.
Colonel M. F. Null, as he is always called, is an unassuming man, who may justlv be proud of his ancestry, and his highest aim in life is to be able to properly educate his family, that they may bear well their part as good citizens and members of society, as have tho generaticns before them, bearing the name of Null.
CAPTAIN JAMES J. WIRSING, a valiant soldier in the great war of the rebellion, and one of the highly esteemed residents of Greensburg, was born in Donegal township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1840, the son of Jchn and J\Iary (Shafer) Wirsing. The progenitor of the Wirsing family in America was his paternal grandfather. Rev. John Casper Wirsing, who was born December 27, 1766, in Titzingcn by "Waertzburg on the Main," Germany. He was a commissioned officer in the German army, and emigrated to America October 3, 1789. On board the ship on which he was sailing he became acquainted with Catlierinea Elizabetha Biltherr, who was born in German v April 12, 1768, and had scld her time for a period to pay her passage to America. Mr. Wirsing inirchased her time and they were mar- ried January I, 1793. Soon after landing in the United States Mr. Wirsing went to Baltimore where he remained some time, then removing to Westmore- land county, which he made his future home. He was a local preacher in the ]\Iethodist church, and was a well educated man of good address. In 1825 he removed to Somerset county, near Petersburg, Pennsylvania. He had the fol- lowing children: Catherine: John, father of Captain J. J. Wirsing; Henry, married Mary King, and had a son, John Wirsing, who resides in Fayette county. Henry, died in 1888: Mary Ann Shadrach ; Thomas B. : Samuel H., married Catherine Zipley and Helena Frantz. The father of these children died in 1835.
John Wirsing, second child and eldest son of Rev. John Casper Wirsing, was born January 7, 1798. By occupation he was a farmer, and was very suc- cessful in that line. In early life John Wirsing removed to Donegal town- ship where he held many local offices. He was a stanch Democrat, and a very active worker for that organization. December 18, 1821 he was united in marriage to Mary Shafer, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1801, a daughter of Peter Shafer, who served with Washington in the war of the revolution until the cessation of hostilities. In 1807 Mr. Shafer removed to Donegal township where he patented three hundred acres of land, and where he lived an industrious and exemplary life. The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wirsing: Peter, deceased; Catherine, married John Kooser of Iowa ; Eliza, married W. R. Hunter ; Harriet married H. M. Milhof: Margaret, deceased; Thomas, of Illinois; John S., of Mount Pleasant township ; Jeremiah, of Scottdale ; and Captain James J. Wirsing.
James J. Wirsing was educated in the common and private schools of his native countv, and thus received an excellent foundation for a successful bus-
J
■ HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 23
iness career. He was engaged in farming until he was about nineteen, and then learned the trade of plasterer which he followed for several years. When the great Civil war was in progress, and the call for volunteers was urgent, Mr. \Mrsing assisted very materially in raising a company of soldiers in the Ligonier valley. He was offered the captaincy of this company, but declined this, accepting the position of second-lieutenant. His company joined the Eightv-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at Arlington Heights in September. 1862, and became Company C of that regiment. He was present at the battle of Fredericksburg, and January 12, 1862 was pro- moted to the position of first lieutenant. He participated in the battle of Chau- cellorsville, and during that engagement was badly wounded, being shot twice through the leg and hip, and on this account received a furlough of sixty days. He repined his regiment on its march to Gettysburg. He was promoted to the captaincv August 29, 1863, and commanded his company in all of the battles until October 2, 1864, Tn August of that year he was shot in the breast, and on October 2 was shot through both shoulders and left leg at Petersburg, and so badly wounded that he was left for dead on the battlefield. He was ap- proached by a rebel soldier who was in the act of shooting him when a confed- erate officer interfered and saved his life. He was removed to Richmond where he was confined in Libby prison for a time, then paroled and sent to Annapolis, ;Maryland. He returned home on a leave of absence after two months in Annapolis, and being unable to join bis regiment was honorably discharged as a prisoner of war on January 3, 1865. From the time of his discharge from service to 1878 he was engaged in plastering and as clerk in a dry goods and hardware store in ]\Iount Pleasant. In 1878 he was elected treasurer of West- moreland county, and discharged the duties of that office with honor and credit. Since 1882 he has been engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business, and he has been highly successful in that line. As a citizen Captain Wirsing has the respect of his townspeople, who admire his integrity and honesty, and his hospitable, genial disposition has gained for him many friends. In political belief Captain W'irsing accords with the Democratic party. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R.. U. V. L., Military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Philanthropy Lodge, No. 225, A. Y. M.. and numerous other organizations. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Captain Wirsing was married, June 5, 1867, to Charlotte ;M. Fluke, daughter of William S, Fluke. ex-sheriff"of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. Their chil- dren are: Myrtle, J. Edgar, William F., Herbert, IMary E,, Ralph, Mabel, and Martha.
HON. JOHN B. STEEL, of Grcensburg, Pennsylvania, first presi- dent judge of tile Separate Orphans' court of W'estmoreland county, is the eldest son of William and Sarah Jane (Brown) Steel, born February 17, i86r, on the Hannastown farm, the seat of the famous old town of Hannastown, which was burned bv the Indians in 1772, in Hempfield township, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania.
Judge Steel came from that sturdy Scotch-Irish race that has done so much for the cause of liberty and the development of the country, being Scotch- Irish in everv line of his ancestrv. His great-grandfather, James Steel, was born in Castle Blaney, near Carrick Macross, Ireland, about 1741, and who emigrated to America after the Steel Roy insurrection (1772") stopped on the eastern side of the mountains at that Scotch-Irish hive in Cumberland, now Franklin county, and moved westwarrl about 1773, settling on land in Sewick-
24 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTY.
ley manor, now ]\Iount Pk'asant twonship, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, about the time of the formation of Westmoreland county. Here he bought land from the Penns, and became an important land owner in his day of land that is now in the Connellsville coking coal region, four hundred acres of the land bought by him has been passed down through his descendants, and is now owned by his great-grandson, Joseph W. Steel. True to the characteristics of his race he became an agitator for freedom, was a member of Mount Pleas- ant Association formed to protect this western country, was three years in the Revolutionary army, took the oath of allegiance required by all foreign born citi- zens, before Hugh Martin, a justice of this county, March 3, 1777, and served with his brothers-in-law, Robert and Andrew Donaldson, in the campaign of the Jerseys. He was married (first) to Elizabeth McMasters, a sister of James McMasters, who lived near his farm. They bad two children : Joseph Steel, intermarried with Barbara lilystone, of Franklin township, this county; and Jane Steel, intermarried with William Hunter, near what was then Louden- ville, now Perrysville, Richland county, Ohio. About the close of the Revolu- tionary war, James Steel was married to Elizabeth Donaldson, and they had three children: Elizabeth, born September 24, 1785, intermarried with Alex- ander Hamilton, of what is now Ruffsdale, Pa. ; James Steel, born on the day of the adoption of the United .States constitution, September 17, 1787, inter- married with Martha ]\lcCutheon, of Franklin township, this county, and John Steel, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, born April 7, 1789, intermarried with his cousin, Martha Walker, the daughter of Andrew and Sallie (Donaldson) Walker, of Virginia, near Steubenville, Ohio. James Steel, the great-grandfather, died September 10, 1823, and was buried at the Middle Presbyterian church, ]\Iount Pleasant tf)wnship, Westmoreland county. Pa.
John Steel, the granclfathcr, acquired the old homestead in Mount Pleas- ont township, and in 1826 i)urchased the Robert* Hanna farm on which was located Hannastown, the former county seat of Westmoreland county, which then embraced all western Pennsylvania. This property became the home- tead farm of John Steel, the father of Judge Steel. To John Steel and Martha Walker were born nine children : Sarah, intermaried with Heny Byers, of Grapeville, Pa. ; Eliza, intermarried with Andrew Machesney, of Greensburg, Pa. : James, intermarried with Elizabeth Hanna, Pleasant Unity, Pa. : Joseph Walker, intermarried with Malinda Brechbill, of Greensburg, Pa. ; John, intermarried with Susan Geiger, Beatty, Pa. ; Margaret, intermarried with James M. Steel, her cousin, Salem township, Westmoreland county. Pa. ; ]\Iary J., intermarried with Henrv T. Hanna, of Smithton, Pa. ; Martha inter- married with Major David P. ^lechling, of Greensburg, Pa. ; and William Steel, intermarried with Sarah Jane Brown, of Hannastown, Pa. All of these are now deceased, except ]Mary J. Hanna and William Steel. John Steef, the grandfather, died Alay 22, i860, being one of the foremost business men and largest land owners of his county. He is buried at the Congruity Presbyterian church.
William Steel, the father of Judge Steel, was born October i, 1833, and was married to Sarah J. Brown, April 3, i860. He is a large owner of valu- able real estate and coal land, has alwavs been identified with farming and stock- raising interests of the county, was Westmoreland's pioneer in the rearing of shorthorn cattle, and one of western Pennsylvania's foremost importers and breeders of pure bred draft horses. William and Sarah J. Steel, are both liv- ing at the Hannastown farm, in Salem and Hempfield townships, this county, and their children are: Hon. John B. Steel, of Greensburg, Pa.; Mary Herron,
HISTORY OF IVESTMORELAXD COUXTY. 25
intermarried with George Coleman, East End Pittsburg, Pa. ; Eliza :\Iartha, intermarried with Samuel C. Patterson, near New Alexandria, Pa.; Agnes Eeatty. intermarried with George S. Barnhart, near Greensburg, Pa.; Helen :\lilligan intermarried with Samuel C. Hugiis, near New Alexandria, Pa. ; IMar- garet Elder, intermarried with Samuel B. Moore, near Latrobe, Pa. ; Clara Ma- finila, unmarried, residing at home ; William Oliver Steel, deceased : Joseph Walker Steel : Sarah Jane Steel, unmarried and residing with their parents ; and Henrietta :\Iarie, intermarried with L. A. Nichols, of Wilkinsburg, Pa.
On the maternal side the ancestry of Judge Steel is also Scotch-Irish ■. they came from Scotland with numerous other Covenanters, under King James' con- fiscation act, settling in county Donegal, Ireland. :Matthew Brown, the seventh grand-ancestor, was a captain in Colonel George Walker's famcrus Derrv Reg- iment which rendered such valiant service to the cause of civil and religious libertv at the siege of Londonderry, and at the battle of the Boyne. His sword is stiil preserved an a precious relic by Howard Brown and William Brown, his descendants in Pittsburgh. His grandson, also Matthew Brown, by name, left countv Donegal with his family in 1774, and came to America in company with the Reverends Dobbin and Lynn, who afterwards founded an academy at Gettvsburg and taught the first abolition dottrine on the very field where ninetv vears after freedom received her crowning laurel. He settled at Green Castle. Franklin county, and was there buried, leaving to survive him five chil- dren: David, the great-great-grandfather of Judge Steel; John, intermarried with Catharine Foster, sister of Robin Foster, of near New Alexandria, Pa. ; moved to Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county. Pa.; Andrew, of Arm- strong county". Pa. ; Samuel Brown said to have moved to Mrginia ; Mary, in- termarried with James Watt, Franklin county.
David Brown, the great-great-grandfather of Judge Steel, was married to Margaret Oliver, whose niother was an Erskine, of the house of Erskine, Scot- land"; he purchased in 1802 the land now owned by John Oliver Brown, his de- scendant, at the mouth of the White Thorn Run, near New Alexandria, Penn- svlvania. To them were born six children : Alary, intermarried with Nathaniel Alexander, Allegheny township, Westmoreland county. Pa. ; Thomas Oliver Brown, grandfather of Judge Steel; Elizabeth, intermarried with Thomas ( iailey, Clarksburg, Pa. ; David, intermarried with :\Taria Beatty, Salem town- ship : Margaret, intermarried with John Coleman. Elders Ridge, Pa. ; James, intermarried with ^Margaret Elizabeth Wilson, of Salem township. On the death of David Brown he was buried in the New Alexandria Covenanter church- vard, and his real estate became the property of Thomas Oliver Brown, grand- father of Judge Steel, and James Brown.
Thomas Oliver Brown was married to Nancy Beattie Brown, a daughter of Robert Beattie and :Martha ('\\'elsh) Beattie, and a granddaughter of 'Will- iam Beattie, of Knock Bracken, near Belfast, Ireland, and came from a fam- ily several of whose members were banished for participation in the Irish rebellion of 1798. Their children were: Martha Welsh, intermarried with :Major D. P. Marshall, Arkansas: David Oliver Brown, intermarried with Mary Stewart. Saltsburg, Pa. ; Sarah Jane Brown, intermarried witli William Steel ; Margaret Erskine, intermarried with John Elder, Derry township, Westmore- land countv. Pa. : Nancy A., intermarried with Henry Scanor, of Wijifield, Kansas: Mary Elizabeth, intermarried with James Monroe, of Saltsburg, Pa.; Thomas Oliver Brown is buried in the Reformed Presbvtcrian churchyard at New Alexandria, Pa. All of his children except Sarah Jane Steel are now de- ceased.
2G HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Judge Steel is distinctively a self-made man, worked on the farm, and attended district school and academy during his early life, and later entered Geneva College as a classical student and graduated from that institution in 1885. He read law with Judge James A. Hunter, was admitted to practice in the several courts of Westmoreland county, August, 1888, opened an office for the practice of his profession with Hon. Welty McCullough, and on the return of the latter from congress in the spring of 1889 the law firm of McCullough and Steel was formed, which continued until the death of Mr. McCullough, six months later. He afterwards continued the business oi the firm at their former offices, and at once sprang into full practice at a bar composed of some of the leading legal minds of western Pennsylvania. Later he took into part- nership with him H. Clay Beistel, who read law at Dickinson law school and in his office. He has always been a staunch Republican, and for many years has been one of the leaders of his party ; he was the chairman of the organiza- tion in 1894, was the candidate of the Republican party for president judge of the court of common pleas in 1899, and was defeated by one hundred and sev- enty-one votes, by the then present incumbent. Judge Doty, after a most des- perate contest in which almost thirty thousand votes were polled. He was put forward by his county and section of the state as a candidate for congressman at large against Hon. Galusha A. Grow, and was elected by the Republican state convention as a delegate at large to the Republican national convention that selected McKinley and Roosevelt. On the creation of the Separate Or- phans' court judgeship in Westmoreland county m 1901, Judge Steel was ap- pointed, on April 26, of that year, as president judge of the Separate Or- phans' court, to fill said position ; he was conceded the nomination by his party, and was elected by a large majority at the November following for the ten years' term beginning first Monday of January, 1902. He is one of the trus- tees of the First Presbyterian church of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He has helped to organize and is director in a number of the leading banks of his county, is the owner of and interested in the development of coal in Wash- ington and Westmoreland counties ; is one C'f the directors of the John W. Pollins Company, the Greensburg Finance Company, the Pittsburgh and South- western Coal Company, and is a large owner of coal, farm and town properties.
J. HOWARD PATTON, prominent in the business enterprises of Greensburg and Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant of fam- ilies, many members of whom have been important factors in the settlement and upbuilding of this commonwealth. He was born July 29, 185 1. at Union Furnace, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and descends through the follow- ing lines of ancestry.
(I) John Murray, a native of Scotland, came to America late in life with his two sons, William and John, and their families.
fll) William ]\Turray, a native of Scotland, born February 24. 1690. emi- grated to America in 1732. accompanied bv his father and brother John. They settled on the Swartara in the Province C'f Pennsylvania. He married Isabella Lindley, of Scotland, who bore him five sons : Samuel, William, James, John, and Thomas. William Murray (father) died on his farm, July 24, 1773.
(in) James IMurray, born in Scotland, in 1729, accompanied his parents to America in 1732. He was the owner of a farm adjoining the borough of Dauphin. Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, for which he entered an application in the land office in 1768. He was chosen to rejircsent Upper Paxtang town- ship in 1775. in the committee of safety for Lancaster county, and attended the
I
i
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 27
meetings of the committee in Lancaster on November 8, 9, and 10. At tliat time he was a captain of a company of footmen, of the Fourth Battahon of As- sociators in the county of Lancaster. At a military convention representing the tiftv-three battalions of Associators of Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, he was present as a captain. With John Rogers and JoTin Harris, on July 8, 1776, by appointment of the Provincial Conference, he superintended the electicai at Garbers Mill, for the sixth district of Lancaster county, to choose delegates to the convention that assembled on the fifteenth of the month, which framed the first constitution of the commonwealth. During the remainder of that and the following year he was almost in constant active military service with his com- pany. His company, a roll of which appears in Dr. Egles notes and queries, first series, page 7, and in Pennsylvania archives, second series, volume XHI, page 310, went into the continental service in July, or early in August, 1776. In a return of the troops quartered in and near Philadelphia, made August 27, of that year, it is reported sixty strong. It participated in the battles of Tren- ton and Princeton. He commanded one of the companies of the Tenth Bat- talion, Lancaster county militia, and was with the expedition up the West Branch in 1779. The exposure to which Captain Murray was subjected during the revolutionary struggle brought on an attack of rheumatism, from which for many years prior to his death he was a constant sufferer. He married Re- becca McLean, a native of Scotland, who died August 7, 1795. His death occurred in his farm adjoining the borough of Dauphin, Dauphin county, Fcb- ruarv 15, 1804. The remains of both rest side by side in the old Dauphin cem- etery. Their oldest daughter was:
(IV) Margaret ^^lurray, born 1756, in Paxtang township, Lancaster county, ("now Dauphin county) Pennsylvania, died April 27, 1826, at Hunting- don, Pennsylvania. She was married May 7, 1776, by the Rev. John Elder, to John Simpson, (see page 800, Vol. 8, Penn. Archives) born 1744. in Bucking- ham township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. His parents. John and Mary Simpson went south and were residents of North Carolina in 1783, and Georgia in 1791. The son learned the trade of blacksmithing, and in 1763 set- tled on the Susquehanna in what was then Upper Paxtang township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) county. He was commissioned second lieutenant by Captain James Murray's Company, on August 15, 1775, in the Fourth Battalion of As- sociators of Lancaster county. Lieutenant-Colonel Cornelius Cox, of the bat- talion, ordered him to remain in the continental smith shop at Bristol on Jan- uary' 28, 1777. He served during the greater port of the Revolution, towards its close in command of a company of militia, and then returned to his farm. In the spring of 1793 he removed to Huntingdon, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. Their eldest daughter was :
(V) Rebecca Simpson, born April 8, 177/, in Paxtang township, Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, died October 13, 1845. '" Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. She married, April 16, 1801, John Patton, born December 25, 1757, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, died I\Iay 23, 1836, on his farm in Woodcock valley, Walker township. Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania. In his earlier years he resided in the town of Huntingdon, and the following is taken from the records there : He was the second sheriff of the county, being ap])ointcd by the Free Men of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, David Redick. vice-president, October 29. 17S8: again, November 6, 1789, by Thomas Mifflin, president of council; December 3. 1790, by Thomas Mifflin, president of council; December 3, 1791, by Thomas ^lifflin, governor; December 3, 1794, by Thomas Mifflin, governor ; November 5, 1800, by Thomas McKcan. governor ; October 27,
28 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
1806, 'ijy William Findley, governor; November 3, 1812, by Simon Snvder, governor; October 26. 1818, by William Findley, governor, for a term of not less than three years, and possibly six years, covering a period of over thirty years as sheriff. He was an efficient public ofificer.
(VI) George W. Patton, son of John and Rebecca (Simpson) Patton, was born September 6, 18 17, and died March 7, 1882, in Philadelphia. He was one of the lessees of Union Furnace and manager at Blair Furnace. He re- moved to Altoona in 1852, and in 1854 was chosen first chief burgess of the town, re-elected in 1855, and in i86t was appointed postmaster, serving eight years, and in 1870 was elected associate judge of P.lair county, subsequently re- moving to Philadelphia. He was twice married (first) June 10, 1845, to Alary Burket, who died March 28, 1856, and had issue: T. Blair Patton, general superintendent of the Pennsylvania industrial school, Huntingdon; William A. Patton, assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania railroad, Philadelphia ; and J. Howard Patton, of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. Patton married (second) December 19, 1861, Emma J. Hawksworth, of Altoona, and had issue: IMary V. Patton. wife of Harold A. Freeman, St. David, Pa.; and Margaret Murray Patton, who died Decembei- 15. 1889.
((VH) J. Howard Patton, born July 29, 1851, moved to Altoona with his parents in 1852. After receiving his education in the public schools, he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1870, spending ten years in the general superintendent's office. He moved to Claridge, Westmoreland county, in 1885, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and was inter- ested in and opened up the Claridge Gas Coal Company's works of which he still has charge. He moved to Greensburg in 1889. where he organized and is president of the following companies : Atlantic Crushed Coke, Lucesco Coal, Huron Coal, Howard Gas Coal, Hempfield Foundry, Greensburg Storage and Transfer, and other coal interests I'n Westmoreland county. Politically Mr. Patton affiliates with the Republicans. He is a Lutheran in his religious faith. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being advanced to tlie deijree of a K. T. ...
Mr. Patton has been twice married (first) April 13, 1880, to A. Louisa Cunningham, of Holdensburg, Pennsylvania, who bore him one child, Howard C. Patton, born February 15, 1881, who atended the Ohio Military Institute, at Cincinnati, and is now the superintendent of the Huron Coal Company and Howard Gas Coal Company, in which his father is actively interested. Mrs. Patton died November 24. 1882. For his second wife ]\'tr. Patton married Jessie R. Geiger, youngest daughter of the late Judge Levi Gei^er and his wife, Rosalinda Geiger, of LVbana, Ohio. While Mr. Patton is a busy man of af- fairs, he is not so absorbed in business as to forget the better things of life — the enjoyment of friendship and.his family and fireside ties — and is ever readv to take part in any matter of general interest to the public and for the better- ment of mankind.
MICHAEL JOSEPH RORKE, proprietor of the Hotel Cope, at Greensburg. Pennsylvania, was born in Dublin, Ireland, September 2, 1866, the son of Thomas and Jane (King) Rorke, both of whom are deceased, died when their son Michael J. was quite young, and thus he was left to fight the conflicts of life alone. When seventeen years of age. in company with acousin, John Finnegan. Michsel J. Rorke came to America, landing in New York Citv! February 4, 1883. The same year he found employment at the Blue Rock quarry, near Connellsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, making "Belgium
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. . 29
Blocks." Here he labored for one year and then engaged in the hotel business, clerkino- at the Yough House, at Connellsville, Pennsylvania, where he remained five years. He then took charge of a hotel at Scottdale for two years, then pur- chased a hotel in Homestead, Pennsylvania, which he operated for ten years, after which he sold the same and leased the Hotel Cope at Greensburg, w^hich he is now managing in a highly successful manner. Two years after his arrival in the United States his brother Nicholas followed him, and has been associated with him in business the greater part of the time since. Nicholas Rorke is mar- ried and the father of three children. Michael J. Rorke obtained a common school education, and this was supplementetl by attendance at Duff's Business College of Pittsburg. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and a Democrat in politics. At Homestead, Pennsylvania, in i8y6, he was elected bv a majority to the position of inspector of elections, and was a member of the Fire Company. He is a member of the O. of E. Lodge, Xo. 511, at Greens- burg: the fire company at Greensburg; the C. AI. B. A. and the "L. and H." at Homestead. Mr. Rorke was married January /, 1890, to .Sarah U'Xeill, daughter of Bernard and INlariah O'Xeill, of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where she was reared.
ALBERT H. BELL, a prominent member of the bar of Westmoreland county, was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Xovember 20, 1857, and is a represen- tative of an old Westmoreland county family. While born in the then far west, he was reared in the Ligonier valley, removing to Greensburg in 1880, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession.
David Bell ( grandfather ) was a native of Westmoreland county, and was a brother of Judge James Bell, one of the early associate judges of the county. David Bell was a school teacher during the greater part of his life ; in politics he was a Democrat, and he took a lively interest in supporting his party. He married A,Iarv Robinson, also a native of Westmoreland county, a daughter of John Robinson, who was one of the pioneer settlers, and a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, and whose wife was Isabella Guft'ey, a sister of John Guffey, the ancestor of the numerous and widely dispersed Guffey family.
John R. Bell, son of David and Alary (Robinson) Bell, was born in West- moreland county, December 17, 1824. He was a man of considerable ability and served the public in various important positions. He was a school teacher for a number of years : served as justice of the peace in Donegal township, and in 1879 was elected clerk of the county courts, a position which he acceptably occupied for three years. After 1883 he lived a retired life. He was a staunch Democrat, and always took an active part in political affairs. His first wife was Margaret Singer, a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Matthews) Singer. Their children were: Airs. Emma Lenhart, of Greensburg: Albert H., and Airs. Alay AI. Cairns, deceased. The mother of these children having died, Air. Bell married Alargaret Kalp, and to them were born three children, among whom was James E. Bell, secretary and treasurer of the Alerchant"s Trust Com- pany of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Albert H. Bell, second child and only son of John R; and Alargaret ( Singer) Bell, attended the public and private schools of Westmoreland cunty, laying an excellent foundation for advanced studies in Mount Union College, which he entered at the age of nineteen years, and where he pursued a two years course. Following the example of his father and grandsire, he was a school teacher in his early manhood, teaching for seven years in \\'estmoreland county, and conducting a normal class at Alount Pleasant for one year. Dur-
30 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTV.
ing his father's term of service as county clerk, from 1880 to 1883, he served as deputy clerk, entering upon his duties with the advantage of a previous six months experience (in 1876) as clerk in the office of the prothonotary. While faithfully discharging his duties as deputy clerk, he was also at the same time engaged in the stud\- of law under the preceptorship of James S. jMoorhcad and Hon. John B. Ilcnch, judge of the superior court, beginning his reading in the same year in which he entered upon his official duties. He was admitted to the bar in 1884, since which time he has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He is well equipped, industrious, and takes rank with the foremost of his professional colleagues. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church of Grecnsburg, in which he has long served as an elder. He has always been deeply interested in education, served six years on the school board of Grecnsburg, five years as secretary, and for the past nine years a member of the board of trustees of Westminster College. He is also a member and past officer of the State Educational .\ssociation, and is a life member of the board of trustees of the INIorrison Underwood Donation Fund, a trust created for the benefit of the Grecnsburg High School. Mr. Bell married, March 19, 1885, INlary C. Clarke, of Grecnsburg, a daughter of Judge James C. Clarke. Their children were : James Clarke and Mary M. Bell, now iiursuing their studies in Westminster College, and .Mliert H. .Bell. Jr.
DANIEL .\. ARTER, one of the leading physicians of Grecnsburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born in Salem township, Colum- biana county, Ohio, October 26, 1828, the son of Colonel Simon and Elizabeth (Burger) Arter. He is of English descent. His grandfather, .'\braham Arter, was born in Maryland. He led a quiet, exemplary life, and was a con- sistent church member. He removed in 1802, to Columbiana county, Ohio. The wife of Abraham Arter was Magdalena Hahn, and among their children was a son, Simon Arter.
Simon Arter, the father of Daniel A. .\rter, was born near Strasburg. Maryland, where he was reared and trained to the life of a farmer. In political belief he was a Whig, and afterwards a Republican, and was noted for being upright and liberal in his dealings. He was an active member of the Evangeli- cal Lutheran church, and was elected colonel in a militia organization. He married, in 1824, Elizabeth Burger, daughter of Daniel Burger, of Ijcdford county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Arter was born in 1806. Her grandfather, Nicholas Burger, emigrated to this country from Switzerland, settling in Bed- ford county, and in 1806 removed to the section that is now Columbiana county, Ohio. Seven sons and four daughters were born to Colonel and Mrs. Arter, among them Dr. Daniel Arter. The death of Colonel Arter occurred February 27, 1883, after a useful and well spent life.
Daniel A. Arter attended the public schools of his native place, and later the New Lisbon Academy from which he was graduated in 1847. Having de- termined to become a medical practitioner, he entered into the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. D. Springer, of New Lisbon, Ohio. He con- tinued the study of liis chosen profession in the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, where his industry and earnestness soon won for him an honorable place in his class. He entered into practice in Blairsville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and after a five months residence in that i)lace he removed to Lockport. Dr. Arter removed, August 2, 185 1, to Grecnsburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as one of the leading physicians
^.A faf^'-^^'-S),
. L_ac3et- 'f-&ir ■
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTY. 31
of the town, conducting an active and prosperous practice. There has probably been no other physician in this part of the state that had a hu-ger chentele, his operations extending throughout Westmoreland and into the counties of Indiana, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, and Allegheny, and which is an evi- dence of his widespread popularity and thoroughness as a physician. He has been a hard and incessent worker, but with all this he is well preserved, hale and hearty — looking many years younger than he is. He was one of the or- ganizers of the Westmoreland National Bank, and stockholder in same ; also served as director of the Greensburg Building and Loan Association from De- cember 3, 1877, to December 4, 1882; as president from December 4, 1882, to October 5, 1885. He resigned the presidency, was re-elected director De- cember 5, 1886, and has been a director ever since. Dr. Arter is pre-eminently a self-made man. Beginning with no capital but ambition and a determination to win, he soon acquiretl a lucrative practice and an honorable place in the world of his profession, and is the owner of considerable valuable real estate, having handled considerable property. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he takes a deep and lasting interest in the welfare of that organization. He is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., R. A., A. O. U. W., anil Philanthropy Lodge, Xo. 225, F. and A. M., and trustee of Masonic Fund of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has constantlv held the office of trustee since 1865 except about fourteen months.
Dr. Arter married (first) in -1851, Mary Jane McCune, daughter of Sam- uel McCune, of Blairsville, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Charlotte B., born March 3, 1852, wife of Charles R. Miller, of Greensburg; Mary E., born October 15, 1854, married \\'. B. Stanley, a mechanic, of Salem, Ohio; S. Mar- cus, born November 17, 1856, married Sarah E. Loughrey, and is clerk in the county register's office. Mrs. Arter died in 1856, and Dr. Arter married (sec- ond) October 15, 1857, Caroline A. Miller, daughter of Jacob M. Miller. Their children were : Elsie B., born October 22, 1858, and Anna S., born July II, 1863, married H. S. Sembower, of Uniontown, Pa., and died June 18, 1888. ]\Irs. Caroline A. Arter died April 24, 1894.
PAL'L HL'GUS GAITHER, one oi Greenburg's leading attorneys, was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1852. His earliest American ancestor was John Gaither (English), settled at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1621. His grandfather, on the paternal side, was Zachariah Gaither. His father's name was Samuel, and he was born in Washington county, Mary- land. (Jctober 26, 1806. He was by profession an attorney-at-law. Mr. (_;aithcr's mother was Lydia Hugus Gaither, born August 15, 1812, in Som- erset county, Pennsylvania. Her father was Michael Hugus, whose early ancestors were French Huguenots.
Mr. Gaither was raised in Somerset. Pennsylvania, and studied law with his father. He began the practice of his profession in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1875, being at that time admitted to the Westmoreland county bar. He located at Greensburg in February, 1886, in jjartnership with Mr. J. A. Marchand, solicitor of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. His present j;artner is the Hon. Cyrus E. Woods. Mr. Gaither has long been known as one of the leadin.g members of the bar of Westmoreland county. In his office work, his long connection with the Pennsylvania railroad, and his. ex- tensive corporation practice are sufficient warrantv for his reputation for ability in that direction. He was a candidate for judge in 1895, and stood
32 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
so high in the estimation of his party that he had no opposition for ths nomination. He was defeated at the November election, however, the county going overwliehiiingly Repubhcan ; ijut he came from the contest with no bitterness of feehng and with his reputation and integrity unassailed. Among some of the cases m which Air. Gaither was prominently concerned are those of Robb vs. Carnegie, 145 Pa. 324, a case which became prominent in the courts of Pennsylvania, by reason of the important legal questions involved. Also that of Baker vs. Westmoreland and Cambria fviatural Gas Company, 157 Pa. 593; the case of Clarke et al. vs. Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in which the rights of riparian owners were involved, and which is reported in 145 Pa. 438. Also the case of Whitehead vs. Jones, 197 Pa. 511, deciding the question of the rights of tenants in common, with respect to a very valuable tract of land ; anil also the case of Case Manufacturing Company, plaintiff in error, vs. Peter H. Saxman et al., which was tried in the circuit court of the United States, at Pittsburg; appealed to the supreme court of the United States, and argued in that court on January 16, 1891 ; reported in One Hundred and Thirty-eighth United States supreme court report, page 431. This case involved the consideration of the law with respect to the novation of contracts ; evidence that notes were received as payment, and acts of a financial manager as binding on his company. Mr. Gaither is a lawyer of versatile ability, and can excel in any branch of the profession which he enters. Like most country lawyers his practice has not been ex- clusively in any one line. We believe, however, that he is seen at his best in the trial of a corporate case, when arguing questions of law to the bench, or upon a review of his cause in the appellate courts. As a jury lawyer, moreover, he has shown an ability approximating that of the ablest advocates of his time. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian church. He has traveled extensively in Europe and Palestine, and has made many addresses in non-denominational work.
WILLIAM B. PARKS, a prosperous business man of Greens- burg, was born September 13, 1838, in the vicinity of Courtney Station, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, a son of James and Mary (Woods) Parks James Parks (.father) was born in Tyrone, Ireland, where he was reared and educated, attending the common schools adjacent to his home. When twenty-five years of age he determined to seek a new home for himself amid new surroundings and accordingly emigrated to the United States, settling in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his days. At the early age of fifteen years he married, and the death of his wife occurred nine months later. He married a second time, this wife dying one year later, survived by one child, and at the age of twenty-five years he married his third wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Woods, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and they had eight children : Alexander, de- ceased ; Martha, Nancy, Alice, deceased ; Ann Jane, William B., mentioned hereafter : Thomas, and James, deceased.
William B. Parks received the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that day, attending those in the First ward in Allegheny City until he was thirteen years of age. He then engaged in the trade of brick making with his father, becoming an expert mechanic, and at the age of tvventy-two years began an apprenticeship at the trade of machinist, which he followed for twelve years. He then returned to his former trade, brick
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTY. 33
iiiakiii'T, at wb.ich he labcircd for twenty con.'secutive years, and at the ex- piration' of this period of time located in Greensbtirg, Westmoreland county, established a general merchandise business, and has conducted the same with a large degree of success up to the present time (1905). Mr. Parks married, lulv 25, 1862, Amanda Baker, daughter of Joseph Baker, who bore him "three children, all now deceased. Her death occurred December 23, 1865. Mr. Parks married for his second wife Eliza Brugh, a daughter of'lacob and Catherine (Pool) Brugh, the ceremony being performed March 28," 1868. Their children were : William B., married Tilly Askil : Catherine,. married Frank Peebling; C)ma Stone: Thomas, married Ida Augustine; James deceased, married Lizzie Orr ; and Pearl, deceased.
JOSEPH KE;\IP ROBIXSOX, proprietor of the Greensburg Steam Laundrv. was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1862, the son of William and Maria AI. (Kemp J Robinson.
The American ancestor was Irwin Robinson (i), who was a native of Ennis Killen, county of Fennaugh, Ireland. Being an English subject, when the Revolution came on in America, he was drafted into service and sent to this country to take part in that struggle. He was through the whole conflict as a British solilier. including the battle of Yorktown. He carried a Bible in his pocket, and it was struck by a Yankee bullet, cutting quite a good-sized hole in the book. At another time he was struck by a bullet in his arm, which ball he carried the remainder of his days. He was present at the surrender' of Lord Cornwallis, captured by W' ashington, and after peace was declared returned to England. He soon found he had been fighting on the wrong side, and although entitled to a pension from the En.glisii government, he refused to accept it. and later became one of the most loval Americans. He studied medicine for three years and practiced his profession, especially in surgery.
His love affair was indeed quite full of romance. At twenty-five years of age he was a manly fellow, Ave feet nine inches high ; hair brown and straight. He "fell in love" with Catherine Elliott, a beautiful slender figure. She had dark brown eyes and wore curly ringlets. She was but fifteen \ears of age, and for this reason they were forbidden to marry. Several times her parents locked her up in her bed-chamber. The house was a cottage of one story. At the time of the elopement her parents had kept her full; a month in her room, her bed being pushed against the wall made of stone, but the girl was not to be outwitted, and silently worked her plans to com- pletion. She finally succeeded in getting a hole through the wall large enou,gh to let herself out and on one dark night she crept through (the moon bein,g invisible) and met her lover and they rode away on horseback and were married. They became the parents of George and Jnlm Robinson. These three, with the Elliott family, left England for Amiriia in 1702. They came in a sailing vessel and were on the ocean from May until Sep- tember and encountered fearful storms. Mrs. Irwin Robinson brnught plenty of flax along, thinking, it is related, that she could not get it "in the woods; of America." They located in what is now Blair county, Pennsylvania. They purchased land of a Mr. Hollidav. where now stands the city of Hollidays burg. Pennsylvania. The Elliotts settled in the Ligonicr valley, between' Fairfield and Ross Furnace. The daughter's love of parents caused them to settle in a less productive country four miles southwest of where Boliver
2-3
34
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTY
stands to-day. Chambersburg was the nearest place at wliich supplies could then be procured. They followed a trail across the wild country on pack- horses midst numerous tribes of Indians. Land was cheap, four dollars per acre.
Irwin Robinson was a Methodist, but Quaker in habits and language. Mrs. Robinson's mother's name was Mary Woods. She had been a member of the Church of England (Episcopalian), but became a Methodist and three of her sons became Methodist preachers. The whole family were •zealous in church work. Irwin Robinson and wife, the American founder of this family, had twelve children : George, John, Jane, Hance, Irwin, Thomas, Mary, James, William, Elliott, Christopher and Elizabeth. George was born July 5, 1788, died November 3, 1869. He was the grandfather of Joseph K. Robinson, whose name heads this sketch. He married Susanna Brinker, born May 23, 1795, and died August 7, 1887. They settled about four miles from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on a farm. Methodist services were frequently held at their home. Their children were: William, Susanna, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, John, Henry, Jacob, Daniel, and James. The three latter always resided in Greensburg, Pennsylvania .
I 11) ^\'illiam Robinson, father of Joseph K., of the above named family, w-as born in Hempfield township, March 19, 1818, and' died May 31, 1884 He was a merchant, owning a store in Greensburg for many years. He was a man of much intelligence and a devoted Christian and prominent mem- ber of the Methodist church. He was for many years a class leader. Po- liticallv he was a hearty supporter of the Republican party, and was an active member of the A. F. and A. jNI., holding the various offices of the order. He married Maria Margaret Kemp, daughter of Solomon and Mary Magdalena (W'entling) Kemp, March 3, 1847. She was born November 24, 1825. Her father's family were natives of Germany. Their children were: Emma Homer C. Mary S., Anna M., William, Lydia B., George F., Joseph Kemp of whoni further, and Jessie.
(Ill) Of Joseph Kemp Robinson it may be said that he received his education in the Greensburg schools and learned the stone-cutter's trade, following the same for six years. For five years prior to this, however, he was a news agent at Greensburg. He established himself in the laundry business in Greensburg in 1887, and is now located in a three-story brick building. His business extends to thirty-five towns in Westmoreland county. His plant is fully equipped with all modern lanndrv machinery. He was a member of Company I, Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards, for five years, but was never called out for actual service. He is identified with the Woodmen of the W'orld, and is a member of the First Reformed Church at Greensburg. He married, June 5, 1893, near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Mary Margaret Kunkle, daughter of Amos and Sarah (Kepple) Knnkle, farmers of Westmoreland county, residing in Hempfield townsliip. ( See elsewhere in this work for the Kunkle family history). Their children were: Helen K.. W'illiam H., Joseph J., Sarah Maria and Carl Emery, all born ni Greensburg, Pennsylvania, ^fr. Robinson's life as a business man has been devoted to three occupations only — five years a news agent, six years a stone- cutter and eighteen years a laundryman. He is an unassuming, thorough- going business man, whom to know is but to admire and respect. He is also the proprietor of the large auditorium building on Maple avenue, a building devoted to general entertainment.
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTY. 35
AAIOS POOL W'E.WER. The names of two well-known fam- ilies of \\'estmoreland county are borne by Amos Pool Weaver, of Greens- burg, one representing his paternal ancestry and the other the family to which his mother belonged. Both patronymics are synonymous with good citizenship.
lacol) P. \\'eaver, son of Jacob and Sarah (Kichl) Weaver, was born October 9, 1843, in Greensburg, and served as a conductor on the Penn- svlvania railroad under Andrew Carnegie. Later he was engaged in the planing mill and lumber yard business in Ludwick borough, under the firm name of Pool & \\'eaver, for thirty years was a farmer in Unity township, and in 1906 retired from the farm and resided in Greensburg. During the Civil war he served as a private in Company C, Fifty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania A'olunteers, commanded by Colonel Thomas Gallagher. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. He married, December 24, 1868, Mary Jane Pool, whose family history is given below.
Mr. and Mrs. \\'eaver had children: Minnie S., Amos Pool, mentioned hereafter ; Jacob P., Jennie P., Howard Z., Samuel P., and' Sallie K.
Zachariah Pool was born March 21, 1780, in Baltimore county, Mary- land, of English ancestry on his father's side and through his mother of German descent. Earlv in life he went to Chambersburg. Pennsylvania, and in 1812 moved thence to Hempfield township, Westmoreland county. His calling was that of a shoemaker, which he followed in connection with farming. Although never an aspirant to office he was elected in 1827 tax collector of Hempfield' township. His political principles were those of the Democratic party, and he was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. j\lr. Pool married, September 19, 1805, Barbara PlufFman, of Chambers- burg, and fourteen children were born to them, one of whom, Samuel, is mentioned hereafter. ]\Ir. Pool's industrious and useful life was prolonged well-nigh to the century limit, his death occurring December 6, 1877, when he had reached the extraordinary age of ninety-seven years, eight months and fifteen days. His descendants were numerous, including, in addition to his fourteen children, one hundred and one grandchihlren, one hundre;d and forty great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren, in all two hundred and sixty four.
Samuel Pool, fifth child of Zachariah and Barbara (.Huft'iian) Pool, was born August 12, 181 1, and followed the trade of a boot and shoemaker. In the sphere of politics he adhered to the Republicans, and in matters of religion to the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which he was a member. He married. September 18, 1834. .Sophia Fredrica Bierer, and of their eleven children the seventh was a daughter. Mary Jane, born May 19, 184S, in Hempfield township, and became the wife of Jacob P. Weaver, as mentioned above. Mr. Pool died September 29, i8go. He was a man whose character was above suspicion, and he left behind him an honored name.
Amos Pool Weaver, son of Jacob P. and Mary Jane fPool) Weaver, Avas born September 9, 1871. in Greensburg, Westmoreland couiitv, and is a blacksmith by trade, making a specialty of that 1)ranch of the business known as horseshoeing. He is a public-spirited citizen, giving evidence of being such by serving as a member of hose company No. 2, Greensburg fire department, and officiating as treasurer of the company. He also belongs to the Grand Fraternity, of which he is treasurer, and the Woodmen of the
36 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUXTV.
World. He is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. IMr. Weaver married, December 22, 1898, in Greensburg, ( )ma Stone, born December 2, 1873, in Alleghen\^ City, Allegheny county, daughter of William B. and Eliza A. Parks, the former a merchant of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have one child, Frank Parks, born March 17, 1904. in Greensburg.
JAAIES E. LOUGHREY. One of Greensburg's enterprising busi- ness men of the younger generation is James E. Loughrey. He is a grand- son of John Loughrey, who was born in Derry, Ireland, emigrated to tlie United States about 1835, and settled in Greensburg. He married Jane McFarland, and the two enjoyed the respect of their neighbors and friends in their new home on this side of the sea.
James F. Loughrey, son of John and Jane (McFarland) Loughrey, was born in 1849, in Greensburg. where he received his education in the common schools. When about sixteen years of age he left school and learned the marblecutter's trade with a firm in Pittsburg, and this calling he followed all his life. In 1877 he married Frances E., daughter of David and Martha (Steel) Mechling, the former a farmer and a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Loughrey had children : James E., mentioned hereafter ; Carrie E., married in 1902, William H. Fisher, a jeweler of Greenslnirg, and has one child, Frances Elizabeth ; Martha and Jane F.
James E. Loughrey, son of James F. and I-"rances E. (Mechling) Loughrey, was born February 27, 1880, in Greensburg, and was educated in the common schools of his native town. After leaving school at the age of . sixteen he obtained employment with the Greensburg Steam Laundry, where he remained four years and a half. He then became connected with the Westmoreland Laundry, with which he was associated one year aiTd a half. At the end of that time, 1901, he moved into his own building and established the Keystone Laundry. The undertaking prospered and he is still busily engaged on the same site. Mr. Loughrey's syinpathies and affil- iations arc with the Republican party, to which he gives the support and encouragement of his vote.
FREDERICK WILLIAM CHICHESTER. One of the foremost business men of Greensburg is Frederick William Chichester. He is a rep- resentative of an old New England family which has been for two hundred years resident in Fairfield county, Connecticut. His great-great-grandfather. Abraham Chichester, is mentioned in the annals of the Revolutionary war as a colonel in the Patriot army. The race has been largely engaged in the sphere of commerce. George Alonzo Chichester, a cattle drover, was the father of George Edward Chichester, who is a leaf-tobacco merchant of Danbury, Connecticut. He married Fannie Van Vallier De Klyn. and four children were born to them, three of whom survive : Frederick WilHam, of whom later; Edward G., a broker in Pittsburg; and Mary Antoinette, at home.
Frederick A\'illiam Chichester, son of George Edward and Fannie \'an \'allier ( De Klyn) Chichester, was born August 9. 1873. in Danbury Con- necticut, where he received his .education in the public schools. From early bovhood he had the advantage of a thorough business training under the guidance of his father, and in 1890 was offered and accented a position as general bookkeeper with the Danbury National Bank, where he remained four years. In 1894 he went on the road for his father, covering territory
^
^^/^. yj ^^:i^!>^^u^^'tr^
1
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 37
extending from Xew York city to Omaha, Nebraska. After working in this capacity for about two years he went to Pittsburg, where he was as- sociated with a coal company until 1898. He then removed to Greensburg, where he engaged with the firm of Maxwell & Wildman, succeeding that firm under name of Chichester & Hudson. In 1902 he engaged in the whole- sale grocery business and has since organized the Westmoreland Grocery, an incorporated company, and the pioneers of the wholesale grocery business in Westmoreland county. The enterprise has prospered beyond the expec- tations of its originators and the business is growing rapidly. Mr. Chichester is a member of Union Lodge, No. -40, F. and A. M., and Eureka Chapter, No. 10, both of Danburv, Connecticut. He also belongs to Pittsburg Com- mandery, No. i, K. T.,' Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., both of Pitts- burg, in addition to being identified with Greensburg Lodge, No. 511, B. P. O. E. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Chichester married in 1901, Laura, daughter of Josiah Wagner, a prominent farmer of Irwin, Pennsylvania, one child, George DeKlyn.
JAMISON FA]\IILY. Robert S. Jamison was born near Greens- burg, Pennsylvania. July 13, 1835, and died March 14, 1903, at Redlands, California, where he had gone a few weeks before on account of ill health. In his youth he received a fair common school education, and having been reared on a farm became a land-holder almost as soon as he was of legal age. Although devoting much time to other pursuits, he was a farmer all his life, and was a leader in scientific methods for improving the land, using labor-saving machinery and introducing new and better strains of live stock. He took an active part in establishing the Westmoreland Agricultural So- ciety, being its president for a luunber of years. In early manhood his mind was attracted to the growing importance of the coal and coke industry of western Pennsylvania. With keen foresight of the needs of the future, he began to study the coal basins of his own locality. In 1880. associating him- self with others, he began buying coal lands extensively in Westmoreland county and continued to do so for more than twenty years, and time has amply proved the wisdom of these ventures. All the properties purchased by him have become incorporated into large and flourishing industries. At the time of his death he was president and large owner of the coal and coke company that bears his name. In private life he was genial, fair, uniformly courteous and charitable. He was a member of the Second Reformed Church in Greensburg, and one of its officers for many years. He married Caroline Wible, also native to Greensburg, who died ?ilay 24, 1905. Both are buried in St. Clair cemetery. The names of their ten children are : Mary Emma, died 1877: William W., Joseph Henrv. died 1865; John :\[.. Thomas S., Charles M.. Robert S., Hugh D., Richard H., and Jay C. "Jamison.
The family history in this country begins with l-'rancis famison, Sr., who with his wife, four sons anil two daughters emigrated from the north of Ireland in 1764, and settled in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. His chil- dren were: John, Robert, Margaret. Rosanna, Marmaduke, and Francis. IVIr. and Mrs. Francis Jamison, Sr., lived to a ripe old age, and both died while on a visit to their children in Westmoreland county and are buried at Ridge Church.
II._ John Jamison (1749-1819) came to Westmoreland counlv in 1769 with his brother Robert, and each took patent to about three hundred acres
•^8 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
of land. Robert Jamison located in Unity township, and his grandson, Joseph Jamison, owns and still lives at the old homestead. John Jamison located in Hempfield township, and after remaining for more than one hun- dred years in his family the land is now owned by the Westmoreland Water Company, the present reservoir covering the site of the original buildings. In 1774 John Jamison married Janet Martin*, daughter of John Martin, of Big Cove, Fulton county, Pennsylvania. She was a sister of Hugh Martin^ who also came to Westmoreland county about that time. The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Jamison were: Francis, John, Hugh, Robert, Benjamin, James, Margaret. Janet, Mary, and Martha. Hugh and James inherited the old homestead and spent their lives upon it.
ni. Hugh Jamison (1785-1873), father of Robert S. Jamison, married Jane Stuart in 1817. A farmer by occupation, he taught for many winters in the public schools near his home. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His children were: John (1818-1902), Daniel Stuart (1822-1891), Hugh Martin, now living in the state of Texas; Margaret J., now living in Greens- burg, and Roljert S. Jamison (1835-1903).
WILLIAM STOKES TURNEY, one of the prosperous, active busi- ness factors of Greensburg, engaged in the commission and storage business, was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1857, the son of Robert Williams, and Elizabeth (Cook) Turney.
(T) The great-great-grandfather was a native of Germany, emigrated to America and settled in eastern Pennsylvania, probably before the middle of the eighteenth century. His name was Dorney, but like many other names in this country, it has undergone a change, being now spelled Turney.
(il) Daniel Turney, the great-grandfather, was born in the province of Pennsylvania, eastern part, whence several of his brothers departed for new homes. One settled in Ohio, another in Tennessee, one located in North Caro- lina, and Daniel Turnev crossed the Allegheny mountains to Westmoreland county, settling near the site of "ye ancient" Hannahstown, which was Greens- burg's predecessor as the countyseat. He was a farmer. Among his eight children was one called Jacob, Sr., the third child.
(Ill) Jacob Turney, Sr., son of Daniel Turney (II), was born in 1788, early in life located at Greensburg, and afterwards held the office of county commissioner, county treasurer, etc. He was an active Democrat, and on his return from a state convention at Harrisburg, to which he had been sent as a delegate, he contracted a cold while crossing the mountains, from the effects of whicli he died some years later, January 4, 1827. His wife, to whom he was married January 23, 1810, was Margaret Singer, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, born May 11, 1792. who bore him seven children: Daniel, Nancy W'illiams (deceased), Samuel Singer (deceased), formerly editor of the Aro^iis. and later postmaster at Greensburg for twelve years. Lucian B. (deceased), Lucinda, married Richard B. Kenly ; Robert Williams, and Jacob, Jr., all of whom are now deceased.
(IV) Robert Williams Turney, son of Jacol) Turney, Sr., and Margaret (Singer) Turnev. was born in Greensburg. Pennsylvania, January 17, 1822, died Julv 28, 1893. He learned the trade of cabinetmaker. Later he was en- gaged by the Pennsylvania company to survey its original line, and when com-
*For the story of the capture of Janet Martin ly the Indians, seepage 114 of the first volume of this series.
HISTORY OF H'ESTMORELAXD COUXTV. 39
pleted he was appointed as the first passenger conthictor on the system. Sub- sequently he was made ticket and freight agent at Greeiisburg borough, which otifice he' held at the date of his death. He married Elizabeth Cook, born Sep- tember 21, 1820, and still surviving. She is the daughter of David and Mary Cook. David Cook descended from Captain James Cook, of England, and was a son of John Cook, of the same country, who settled in Hagerstown, Maryland. David Cook was born in Hagerstown, ?^Iaryland, in 1793, and died in 1865. He came to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and clerked in a store. He was also countv commissioner several terms, as well as register of will and recorder, be- sides serving two terms as associate judge of Westmoreland county. He was an ow-n cousin of Governor George Geary, of Pennsylvania. He married JMary McKinney, who came from Glasgow. Scotland, when but fifteen years of age. She was the daughter of Alexander ^IcKinney, who came from Scotland and settled at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but later removed to Greensburg. The children of David Cook and wife were : William A., Mary, Margaretta, Jane Ann, Theressa, and Charles. The children of Robert W. and Elizabeth ( Cook) Turney were: Anzonnetta, David C, Jacob, Anna Belle, Robert W., Jr., Mar- cellus R., William Stokes, Mary Elizabeth, and Margaret.
( V) William Stokes Turney, the seventh child of Robert W. and Eliza- beth ( Cook) Turney. born July 7, 1857. at Greensburg. Pennsylvania, received a good common school education and was made assistant freight agent at Greensburg. Later he embarked in the produce and commission business at Greensburg, which line he is still operating in. He votes the Democratic ticket. He has been a school director in his borough for seventeen years. He has served as deacon and elder in the First Reformed church of Greensburg, of which he has long been a member. Mr. Turney has been twice married (first) March 26, 1877, to Mattie R. Fry, born February 12, 1858, died August 25, 1891. Their children were: Harry L.. born Xovember 5, 1878, died August 18; 1897: Edward K., born August 24, 1880: E. AIcC, born August 23, 1882. For his second wife, ]\Ir. Turnev married, December 29, 1892, Priscilla Etta Fry. She was born May 18, 1871. By this marriage, one daughter, Eliza- beth Cook, was born Ts'ovember 6, 1893. Both of Mr. Turney's wives were the daughters of Isaac and Margaret Fry, of Youngstown, Pennsylvania.
LE\T PORTSER. A list of Greensburg's respected citizens would be incomplete without the name of Levi Portser, wliose grandfather, Christian Portser, came across the sea from Germany as a young man and became a farmer in York county. Later he moved to Westmoreland, settling in Hemp- field tow'nship on what is now the Sherey farm. He afterward sold this prop- ertv and removed to Delmont, having purchased a farm just outside of the town, where he lived during the remainder of his life.
Joshua Portser, son of Christian Portser, was born in Yr)rk county, and learned the trade of blacksmith in Greensburg. After finishing his apprentice- ship he opened a shop in Delmont which he subsec|ueutly moved to the salt works, returning later to Delmont, where he conducted a shop- until 1833. He then bought a farm of one hundred and six acres in Hempfield township, four miles north of Greensburg. where he resided during the remainder of his life. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, yir. Portser married Elizabeth Martz, of Frank- lin township, and of their nine children six are living: Mary, widow of Simon Row; Williani, who lives on the homestead: Levi, of whom later: i\Iatilda, wife of Jacob Mainhart, of Pittsburg: James D., of Manor Station : and Sarah,
40 HISTORY OF U'ESTMORELAXD COUNTY.
wife of James Orr, of Greensburg. Mr. IVirtser, the father of the family, died in 1874, at the age of seventy-one.
Levi Portser, son df Joshua and EUzabeth (Martz) Portser, was born January 29, 1837, in Hempfield township, and received his education in the common scliools. At twenty years of age he apprenticed himself to the trade of plasterer, which has since formed the main business of his life, although he has engaged to some extent in contracting and building. He learned his trade in Greensburg, and since 1857 that town has been his home, his part in the building and growth of the place having been no inconsiderable one. From 1893 to 1898 he owned valuable coal lands in Mellan and Franklin townships, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and rt the present time is the possessor of coal lands in \"irginia wliich he is developing with the ex]iectations of beginning shipments this s])ring. In 1903 be built the handsome modern residence in East Greensburg which he now occupies. Mr. Port.ser served part of an un- expired term as burgess of East Greensburg, being appointed to finish the un- served time of Dr. George Culbertson. He is now |)resident of the school board. He has taken all the Masonic degrees up to that of Knight Temjilar, and is one of the oldest members in Greensburg in point of membership, having joined in 1863. He is a Democrat in politics. During the Civil war he was among the three months men sent out in 1863. January 5, 1870, Mr. Portser married Isabella, daughter of Robert and Caroline Cochran, then residents of Indiana county, Pennsylvania. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Portser were the parents of six children : Rol)ert K., now an attorney in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, who served in the Spanish-.A.merican war, in the Philippines: Iden M., a Greensburg phy- sician; Carrie B., wife of Joseph W. Steel, of Greensburg; Bessie V., resides with her father; Wallace W., who graduated from Bucknel University, and is now employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with an engineering corps: Edwina I\I., deceased. Mrs. Portser died December 5, 1903.
CURTIX PHILIP STEIXER. It is safe to .say that no citizen of South Greensburg is better or more favorably known to the population at large than is Curtin Philip Steiner. His great-grandfather, who emigrated to this country from Germany, was the father rf six sens, the names of five of whom have been preserved: Philip, Joseph, John, Henry, and Jacob.
John C. Steiner, son of Philip Steiner, mentioned above, was born '"^ 1840, in \\estmoreland county, where he grew up on a farm and learned the ti , if a shoemaker, whicii he followed for some years. Later he engaged in farming and other occupations. In July, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, Two Hun- dred and Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving- until th.' close of the war, and receiving a wound in the bead from a spent ball. Wb'"j living in New Stanton he was for fifteen years a justice of the neace, and since his re- moval to Scottdale, in 189=;. has held the same office. He belongs to the G. A. R., the Grange, the J. O.' U. A. M., the I. O. O. F., and the K'. of M. He is one of the leading Democrats of Scottdale, and is a member of the Lutheran church Mr. Steiner married Harriet C. Pool, and their children are : Lizzie M.. wife of Luther M. Hays, of East Greensburg; Curtin Philip, of whom later; Catherine T., wife of James E. Funks, of New Stanton: Charles E., of Scottdale; Anna M.. at home; Joseph M., engaged in the cigar business in Scottdale: Samuel O., in partnership with his brother Joseph ^I. ; and Sarah H., at home.
Curtin Philip .Steiner, son of John C. and Harriet C. (Pool) Steiner, was born October 10, 1863, in New Stanton, and received his education in the com-
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 41
mon scliools. ^^■l^en no more than twelve years of age he worked for neigh- boring farmers during harvest, and when somewhat older was employed in the stone quarry. About the time of attaining his majority he worked for one vear in a general store in New Stanton, after which he found employment as a locomotive fireman on the Pennsylvania Railway. This position he held four vears, and at the end of that time was made engineer. In 1892, after running his engine for three years, he resigned his position and engaged in the cigar bus- iness in Scottdale. In 1897 he became the proprietor of the Central Hotel in Scottdale, which he disposed of by sale six months later. For some months thereafter he represented a Pittsburg house as a traveling salesman, and then •went to Connellsville, where he once more engaged in the cigar business. In January, 1900, he settled in South Greensburg, and again became the proprietor of a hotel which his genial qualities as a host soon made extremely popular. In consequence of the fact that his business speedily outgrew the dimensions of his building, Mr. Steiner erected, in the summer and winter of 1903, a re- markably fine hotel structure of light pressed brick, supplied with all the mod- ern hotel improvements. In April, 1904, he took possession of this building, which he opened under the name of the Colonial Road House and which has since been one of the leading hotels of Greensburg, noted alike for the admir- able manner in which it is conducted and for the obliging qualities of its host. ]\Ir. Steiner also erected two residence properties in Greensburg, of which he is still the owner. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Steiner married, August 4, 1897, Mary L. Gallagher, of Connells- ville. and their children are : James Donald and Joseph Curtin.
WILLIAiNI ]\I. HUDSON, one of the leading and substantial busi- ness merchants of Westmoreland county, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1857, son of George and Nancy R. (^Mansfield) Hudson.
He is a descendant of James Hudson, a native of Wales, who emigrated to the United States, locating in Chester county, Pennsylvania. On the maternal side. William M. Hudson is of Irish ancestry, his great-grandparents having lived and died in Ireland, his grandmother being the first of the family to leave her native land, and whose mother lived in Ireland at the advanced age of one hnr-?fied and five years. His paternal grandfather was James Hudson, who ■ . .^Dcrn in Chester county, Pennsylvania. In early manhood James Hudson learned the trade of carpenter. He resided for some time in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and about 1816 removed to Westmoreland county, locating on a smaM'farm of about forty acres, which he purchased in Unity township, near Pleas'ijiit Lenity, where he lived for about twenty-five years. He then pur- chased a- farm of about one hundred acres near Crabtree, residing here tmtil four or five years prior to his death, when he removed to Allegheny township. He was independent in politics, voting always for the man whom he considered best fitted for the position. He married and had nine children, George being the only surviving member of his family. James Hudson's death occurred in Allegheny township, when he was about eighty-four years of age, and his wife, Mary ("McCasland) Hudson, also nassed awav in that township.
George Hudson, father of William M. Hudson, was born in Unitv town- ship, November 24, 1819, received his early education in the common schools of his native place, and 'subsequently attended the old Greensburn^ Academy. ^^'hen about twenty-one years of aee he commenced teaching school, continuing in this employment for about sixteen years, becoming one of the well-known
42 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
early teachers of Westmoreland county. He then turned his attention to farming, following this occupation in Salem and Hempfield townships until 1879, when he removed to Ludwick horough, where he lived a retired life until 1905, when he moved into Greensburg proper. In 1849 ^i^- Hudson married Nancy R. Mansfield, of Unity township, daughter of Abraham and Isabella (McGee) Mansfield. To them eight children were born, three of whom are still living: William M., of whom later; Martha Alice, and George E. George Hudson is a Republican and is now serving his second term as member of the school board. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and is one of the esteemed men of tlie county.
William M. Hudson was reared at home and educated in the common schools of his native place. In 1879 he removed to Ludwick borough with his parents, and for several years was in the employ of the firm of Donahue & Kuhns, at Crabtree, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he had entire charge of the grain business. In 1891 he became a member of the firm, and two years later Mr. Kuhns died, his son, J. U. Kuhns, taking his interest in the business. Some time later the death of Mr. Donahue occurred, and Mr. Hud- son and Mr. Kuhns jiurchased his interest in the business, which has since been conducted under the firm name of Hudson & Kuhns, and which has proved a very successful business. Mr. Hudson is a man of character and standing, has made his own way in the world, and is in every way worthy of the success which has crowned his efforts. In politics Mr. Hudson affiliates with the Re- publican party. He has served as auditor of the borough and two terms as councilman. As a citizen he is popular and well-liked, and has served with honor and credit the positions of trust and responsibility which he has held. He is unmarried and makes his home with his father.
DANIEL KL'NKLE. In a list of Greensburg's most respected citi- zens the name of Daniel Kunkle would stand very high. Mr. Kunkle's great- grandfather, Jacob Kunkle, emigrated from Germany, and after a time settled on a farm in Westmoreland county where he lived some years, returning finally to his former home east of the mountains and there ending his davs.
Jacob Kunkle had a son who passed his life in Westmoreland county, and was the father of Michael Kunkle. The latter was born in Sewickly township, and was a prosperous farmer, owning a farm one mile north of Greensburg. He held the rank of major m a Westmoreland county regiment, was a Democrat in politics and an active member of the German Reformed church. He mar- ried Mary Mechling, and eight children were born to them, only two of whom are now living: Daniel, of whom later; and Amos, a resident of Greensburg. Mr. Kunkle died at the age of sixty-eight, and his death was caused by an ac- cident with a threshing machine.
Daniel Kunkle, son of Michael and Mary (Mechling) Kunkle, was born March 16, 1831, in Hempfield township, and received his education in the com- mon schools. At nineteen years of age he apprenticed himself to the painter's trade, which failing health obliged him to abandon about six years later. He- then- engaged in the grain and lumber business in Ludwick borough, in part- nership with a Mr. Lobaugh. At the end of six years Mr. Kunkle withdrew from the firm, and for more than fifteen years conducted a sucessful lumber business on his own account. He then retired and established his two sons in the lumber business at Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, where the enterprise was con- ducted by theni for a number of years. Since his withdrawal froni business Mr. Kunkle has lived in retirement. He is the owner of a portion of the old
y^d<^^J^J'i^^-^r\Acr\\><r^^rKy^^
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 43
homestead as well as other property. His record as a citizen bears witness to the regard in which he is held by his neighbors, by whom he has been twice elected burgess of Ludwick borough and retained four years as a member of the school board. His political affiliations are with the Republicans. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Kunkle married in 1858, Rebecca, daughter of j\lason Smith, a prominent farmer of Unity township, and they had two sons: Harry and William. Mrs. Kunkle died in 1882. and Mr. Kun- kle married, October 23, 1884, Mary, daughter of Samuel Gault, by whom he had children: Edna; Oliver G., born March 9, 1891, aged fifteen years; Daniel Wrav, born April 28, 1901, aged five years; John Paul, born July 30, 1903, aged three years.
HON. EDWARD E\'ERETT ROBEINS, a prominent lawyer and financier who has served the public in various important positions, including that of state senator and member of congress and who rendered military serv- ices during the recent war with Spain as a major of United States \'olunteers, is of English decent, tracing his ancestry to the earliest colonial period.
(I) Richard Robbins, his emigrant ancestor, came from England in i6Jo, having voluntarily expatrated himself for political reasons, his activity in bpposition to the restoration of the monarchy being so pronounced that in or- der to ensure personal safety he deemed it wise to come under an assumed name and in the guise of a servant. He settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he became active in public aflfairs.
(II) Samuel Robbins, son of Richard (i) served in the Narragansett (King Philip's) war, 1674-5, and was granted a tract of land in Vohuitown, Connecticut, by the general court. He died in Watertown, Connecticut, October 21, 1708.
(III) Richard Robbins, son of Samuel (2), settled upon the land above referred to in 1709. He married Anna Bathrich, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, t
in 170I. - ICL^'-vi-fi'^ VVXMC^iK- '■iMAJ^^xjUlJ^
1 M ) William Rohbins, son of Brirrtnel (\), was born in 1795 and died in Keziah ]\Iinor.
(V) Brintnel Robbins. son of Moses (4), was born in 1756 and died in 1836. He married Mary Boardman in 1777. He enlisted in the War of the Revolution at New London. Connecticut, and served in 1775-6, 1778-80 in the companv comanded by Captain Samuel Robbins. He participated in numerous battles and was commissioned ensign at the end of the war. He also bore an active part in the support of tlie government during the War of 1812, and built vessels on Lake Erie for Commodore Perry, but only received compensation for the work after a prolonged litigation. Before 1790, with his wife and two children, he removed to western Pennsylvania, s])ending the first winter in Connellsville, where he worked iron ore in the Turnbull furnace. He subse- quentlv purchased a farm at Port Royal and thence went to Long Run, where he built a flouring mill. He bought, in 1780, a large tract of land lying on the Youghiogheny river from the Pennsylvania government, and which is yet in the possession of his descendants. He removed in 181 2 to Pittsburg, where he became an extensive ship builder and coal operator, as well as farmer. He es- tablished the first retail milk business in Pittsburg, serving his customers frojTi a large can conveyed about the town on a wheel barrow by a colored servant. He built in 1813 two schooners which he loaded with a cargo of flour and cheese, for the West Indies. At New Orleans the ves.sels were manned with crews of Spanish sailors. They were never heard of after leaving the port.
44 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Brintiiel Robbins removed to Greensbiirg in 1830, where he lived the remaining part of his hfe. He was a pensioner of the Revolutionary war. He died July 25, 1836, and is buried in Harold graveyard, near Greensburg.
(VI) William Robbins, son of Brintnel (5), was born in 1795 and died in 1834; he was married to Agnes Sloan. (5^-v.<^ ^^-«.t<^
(Vn) Joseph Robbins, son of AN'illiam (6) and Rarehd Gordon Robbins, was born at Robbins' Station, Pennsylvania, in 1824. He was married (first) to Rachel Robbins, and after her death, Margaret Cristy. He was the pioneer coal operator in the Youghiogheny district, opening up an extensive mine at Osceola in 1848. He was active in public affairs, served as school director for twelve years, and was a delegate to various Republican conventions. He was a Presbyterian in faith and membership.
(\'ni) Edward Everett Robbins, son of Joseph, was born at Robbins Station. Pennsylvania, in September, 1861. He began his education in the public schools in that place, pursued advanced branches in Elders Ridge Aca- demy, and entered Washington and Jefferson College, from which he was a graduate in 1881, at the age of twenty, with the degree of master of arts, being sixth in a class of thirty-six. He prepared for his chosen profession in the law department of Columbia University, New York, and graduated in 1884, being admitted the same year to the bar of Westmoreland county. In the following year he was nominated for district attorney. He was elected to the state sen- ate in 1888, and served efficiently in that body for a term of six years. Mr. Robbins introduced and secured the passage of the bill appropriating five thous- and dollars to the Childrens' Aid Society, thus securing the present home for this deserving institution. This was the first state aid for any purpose by the people of Westmoreland. He also introduced the law providing for free text i)Ooks in the public schools, and was chairman of the judiciary committee of the senate. He was especially active in the movement for equalization of taxes and the enactment of a law for this purpose.
During the fifty-fifth congress the Dingley tariff bill was enacted when the coal and iron schedules were under consideration in the house. Mr. Robbins addressed the committee of the whole with much force and success. His work in behalf of a protective tariff was both brilliant and able. His work for Cuban Independence and speeches for that cause were widely read and commanded at- tention. He visited the island of Cuba and understood the conditions there. Mr. Robbins was one of the three members of congress who volunteered and entered the army at the outbreak of hostilities with Spain and was commis- sioned captain and quartermaster First Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, May 14. 1898.
In politics he is a Republican, and has borne an active part in supporting the principles and candidates of the party. When the Spanish-American war came on he offered his services to the government, and was assigned to duty as quartermaster with the rank of captain on the staff of General John A. Wily, commander of the First Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, at Camp Thomas, Georgia, by special order No. 143, issued from the adjutant-general's office at Washington. Mr. Robbins has long been in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, serving as private, lieutenant, major, brigade quartermaster, and commissary general of the state Dn the staff of Governor Stone. This exper- ience was of great value^o him in the Spanish-x\merican war, and he was de- tailed to the special duty of equipping and shipping troops to the front. His success brought him a promoti'rn, and August 21, 1898, by special order 196 lie was made a chief quartermaster with the rank of major of United States
I
I
THE
NEW YORK
f PUBLIC LIBRARY 1
pwr.tiaiions.
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAXD COUXTV.
45-
\'olunteers, and placed in charge ( f the transport "Seneca," and sent with United States commissioners, Admiral Schley and Gordon to Porto Rico. He served at Ponce, San Juan, Santiago ; was in charge of the United States trans- ports "i\Iobile," "^"Chester," and "'Grant." After the conclusion of peace, Quartermaster-General Luddington offered him a commission as major in the regular army, but he declined and tendered his resignation and was honorably discharged by special order 243 of the adjutant-gjneral. issued from Washing- ton, receiving from the secretary of war, November 14, 1898, specially com- mending his services.
\\'ith high standing in his profession, Mr. Robbins cares for a large and important personal practice and is also solicitor for the Baltimore and Ohio and the Ligonier \'alley Railroad companies, and professional adviser for various corporations with which he is identified, and which are large commercial and financial factors in the business of his city and county. He is president of the Garrett Coal Company, organized the Pittsburg and Baltimore Coal Company,, a diretor in the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, of Greensburg, the Wilmerd- ing National Bank of W'ilmerding, Connellsville Basin Coke Company, and a stockholder in other banks and industrial corporations, and in the Tribune Press Publishing Company, of Greensburg, a member of various clubs — the Ameri- cus, the Duquesne and the University. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and he is president of the board of trustees of the First Presbyterian church of Greens- burg.
Mr. Robbins married, December 17, 1897, Luella Moore, daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth S. Moore, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. They had two children: Edward E., born December 2, 1900; and William M., born ^larch 26, 1902.
JOSEPH ROBBINS was born April 4, 1824, at the Robbins home- stead, where he still lives. In 1847 he embarked in the coal business, opening- the first coal road to run on the Youghiogheny river, at Osceola, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His first venture was on a lease on the basis of one- fourth cents per bushel royalty. The coal was mined and floated down the river in boats, when the water was sufficiently high to carry them, and sold at Cincinnati, at the rate of ten cents per bushel. The means of transportation was extremely ventursome. about one-half of the boats being lost in the river. However, during the first four years of his coal business he was very success- ful, meeting with little or no loss, but during the fifth year he lost some boats. by parting of the line at Cincinnati. Several also went over the dam at Pftts- burg, some at Blenerhassett Island, and one at Louisville. During this time, however, the coal business had increased until he was selling coal at Cincinnati, Louisville and New Orleans. His coal was confi.scated by the Confederate government at the outbreak of the war, and he concluded the business was en- tirely too hazardous to continue, and closed out his interests. The firm was, knovvn as Horn and Robbins, composed of Peter Horn and Joseph Robbins, and in connection with their coal business they kept a general store and oper- ated a sand works. In 1857 I\Ir. Horn sold out, retired and went west. In 1859 ^fr. Robbins sold his coal, store and sand interests to Messrs. Kellv and Stout.
In the year of 1847. when the scheme of improving by slack water the- Youghiogheny river was taken up, Mr. Robbins became one of its most active supporters, and aided in raising the amount required to construct the two dams, one at Elrods, and one at Buena \'ista. The company was organized bv nieet-
46 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
ing at West Newton. Alexander Plummber, president, Moses Robbins, Will- iam Larimer, Cyrus ]\larkle and Joseph Robbms were the organizers and first directors, and William Day was selected as engineer. He had constructed dams for the state on the Kiskiminitas river to feed the canal. The two dams to be constructed cost about $100,000, and this was raised by subscription to the capital stock of the Youghiogheny Navigation Company. The contract was let to William Alston for the first lock at Elrods, and Theodore Swan for the one at Buena Vista. These locks provided slack-water navigation from McKeesport to West Newton. The contractors encountered great difficulty in building the dams — in following the specifications. It required the dams to be built of plank and filled in with concrete. It was discovered that the plank would not retain the concrete and the dams would not hold water. The com- pany had agreed with the coal operators to have the dams finished in 1848. The work was not completed until 1849, ^^''d many coal works were opened and boats loaded along the river, and after the river was frozen up many of the boats were lost. Navigation was opened in September, 1849, '^"d was continued until the winter of 1861, when the heavy freeze caused the ice to gorge and the tops were taken oiif these dams. A committee was then ap- pointed to raise money to repair the Navigation Company's loss, consisting of Thomas S. Cass, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Swan Caldwell and Joseph Robbins. They met at the office of Mr. Cass, in Pittsburg. Mr. Cass was then acting as president of the Ft. Wayne Railroad, and the matter was turned over to his clerk and subsequently to Andrew Carnegie, who was his assistant, and these three men raised the money and had the dams repaired and naviga- tion resumed. In the winter of 1865-66 the ice was exceedingly heavy. The dams were then again badly damaged, and as part of the subscriptions were yet unpaid Mr. Robbins was required to make up quite a sum for the repairs al- ready done. About June i, 1866, without any apparent cause, the upper dam gave way and the result was that the lower dam was broken and the slack- water of the Youghiogheny river was gone forever. The washout in the dam was a break over twenty feet in width and came without warning, leaving the boats which were being loaded along the river at the coal tipples down on the bottom of the river, where they remained until broken up and destroyed by the floods of the succeeding year. ,
After this Mr. Robbins retired to the farm on which he afterwards lived, comprising about three hundred acres of land, which was taken up bv his grandfather, Brintnel Robbins. In addition to farming Mr. Robbins was ac- tively engaged in other enterprises, being at one time the general manager for Thomas Moore of his large mining and distilling interest. He was an organ- ' izer of the Metropolitan National Bank, at Pittsburg, and is still connected with its management. He took an active part in politics as a Republican, and served for many years as a school director and delegate at various conventions. Pie is an active supporter of the Presbyterian church. His business career was very successful, and his interests in coal and other matters were alwavs exten- sive. A tract of coal which he owns has been mined by W. L. Scott, and is now being mined by the Pittsburg Coal Company. At the present time Mr. Robbins is hale and hearty, and takes an active part in business, politics and everything about him.
JOSEPH ROBBINS. The earliest known ancestor of the familv of w'hich Joseph Robbins, of North Irwnn, is a representative was Brintnal Robbins, a native of Connecticut, and a soldier of the Revolution, his captain
HISTORY OF IVESTMORELAXD COUXTV. 47
being Samuel Robbins. His last year in the service saw him an ensign. Hezekiah Robbins, his son, lived at Robbins Station, on a farm, the town being named after him. He built a frame grist mill at Possum Hollow, near Guffev's Station, antl operated it, also cultivating his farm, following these two occupations all his life. He built the United Pre.sb\terian church at Circleville. now known as the Bethel church, and was made an elder in it.
Thomas \^'. Robbins, son of Hezekiah Robbins, was born July 12, 1812, at Robbins Station, and was a farmer all his life. For many years he served as justice of the peace, and in politics was first a Whig, but later a Repub- lican. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church. He married, June 26, 1838, Sarah P., born February 7, 181 1, daughter of James E. and Lydia (Painter) McGrew, of Sewickley township, and their children were: Lydia AL, born April 11, 1839, •i^^'i December 17, 1889; Joseph, mentioned hereafter; Mary E., born April 10, 1846, died June 17, 1847. Mr. R-obbins died February 27, 1873. His widow survived him for a number of years, her death occurring January 21, 1892.
Joseph Robbins, son of Thomas W. and Sarah P. (McCirew) Robbins, was born August 10, 1841, on a farm near Coulterville, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His education was such as the country schools give and was discontinued at the age of fifteen, when he went to vv'ork on the farm. August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Captain A. L. Pearson and Colonel E. [. .\llen commanding. He participated in the following battles: Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Aldie, Gettysburg, \\'apping Heights. Rap- pahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anne River, Telopotomy, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg — as- sault, Petersburg — Jerusalem, Plank Road, Petersburg — mine explosion, Weldon Railroad and Peebles Farm. This brilliant record came to and end at Hatches Run, where he was wounded in the leg, February 6, 1865. For a week he was in a hospital at City Point, was then transferred to Baltimore for a month, and afterward for a month more to York, Pennsylvania. He left the hospital on a twenty-dav furlough home, when this ex]Mred returned to York, and was honorably discharged June 2, 1865. He then returned to Westmoreland county, near Stewartsville, and in 1900 retired from active farming to North Irwin, where he purchased the property on which he now resides. He is now serving on the council and school board, and is a Re- publican in politics. He is a member of the I'nited Presb\terian church, of which he has been an elder seven years. He married, ]\Iarch 26, 1874, Mary E., born .April t8, 1857, daughter of William F. and Margaret (Tay- lor) Irwin, of Irwin, and their children were: i. Kate Irwin, born I'eb- ruary 13, 1875, died January 20. 1895. 2. Sarah Margaret, born Decem- ber 15. 1877, is the wife of John Crookston, of North Irwin, and has one child. Robert Ray. 3. William Thomas, born .April 25, i88r, married ^largarct Piper, of North Irwin. 4. Martha Jane, born March 23, 1883. 5. John Irwin, born January 31, 1887. 6. James Edward, born May 3, 1890, died August 24, 1890. Mrs. Robbins, tlic mother of these children, expired May 26, 1891.
DR. W. W. JOHNSTON, engaged in the practice of medicine in Grecnsburg. was born in Lovalhanna township, \\'estmoreland county, Oc- tober 7, 1852. a son of Elrod and Nancy f.Mcorn) Johnston. .At the time of his father's death, Elrod Johnston inherited the old family homestead
48 HISTORY OF WHSTMORELAKD COUXTV.
upon which he had been born and reared and on which he spent his remain- ing days and three of his brothers acquired adjoining farms. His home, was the place of entertainment for the traveler and all who came his wav, the household being noted for its unlimited hospitality. He followed farm- ing throughout his entire life and was highly esteemed in the conununity as a reliable business man and worthy citizen. In politics he was a Repub- lican and for many years held local office. He belonged to the Loyalhanna Baptist church, and died in that faith at the age of eighty-four years. He was twice married, his first wife being Nancy Alcorn, by whom he had si.K children : Anna, widow of S. A. Wiley, now living with Dr. Johnston ; Carilla, w^ife of Walter Shoup of Loyalhanna township; William; Ira, on the old homestead; Elrod, of Greensburg; and Nancy, wife of O. J. Closson, of Greensburg. His second wife was Elizabeth Wiley and they had one son, Harry K., who resides on the old homestead with his brother Ira.
Dr. Johnston spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and in the acquirement of his education attended successively the common schools, Saltsburg .\cademy and the Indiana Normal school. In 1877 he entered upon the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. L. Crawford, of Saltsburg, and in the fall of 1878 matriculated in Bellevue Hospital Med- ical College, of New York, from which he was graduted in the spring of 1881. He then located for practice in Saltsburg, where for ten vears he enjoyed a good patronage and then pursued a post graduate course in New York city, subsequent to which time he has practiced in Greensburg, with a patronage that is indicative of the public confidence in his skill and ahilit\-. He belongs to the Westmoreland County Medical Society and politically is a Republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He was married, in 1881, to Mary Ralston, of Congruity, Pennsylvania, and they had one child, Lloyd M. Mrs. Johnston died in 1888 and in 1891 Dr. Johnston married Mollie Lloyd, of Delmont, W'estmoreland county. They have two children, Nancy E. and Ira Ralph.
JAMES S. MOORHEAD, of Greensburg, is the son of James and Jane Elizabeth (Sharpe) Moorhead, of Indiana, Pennsylvania. His ancestors were among the first settlers of the present county of Indiana, his great-grand- father having been captured by the Indians about 1760, and taken to Quebec, where he was exchanged for French prisoners captured by English soldiers and colonists. His maternal ancestors were related to the Sharpes in the Cum- berland valley of Pennsylvania.
James S. Moorhead w-as born November 5, 1847, ^n'l was educated at Elder's Ridge Academy, and at Washington and Jefiferson College, from which last institution he was graduated in 1868. He read law with the firm of Steward & Clark, of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Mr. Clark was his cousin and afterward became a justice of the supreme court of Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar in Indiana in 1870, and on June 7 of the same year was ad- mitted to the Westmoreland bar and has since been steadily engaged in the practice of the law. Like most thorough lawyers, he has never turned aside from his chosen profession to seek political preferment, unless it be once in 1895 when he was a candidate on the Democratic state ticket for judge of the superior court of Pennsylvania. Even this place was in the line of his profes- sion, and whilst he was defeated, the state going strongly Republican that year , his friends had the consolation of knowing that had he been elected he wouhJ have brought to the bench a mind eminently qualified for that high position. He has, however, served as a school director for twelve years, and the hi^,di
HISTORY OF U'ESTMORELAXD COUXTY. 49
standing of the Greensburg schools is in no small measure due to the interest he manifested in this line of work. He is a lawyer equally strong either before a court or jury, or in giving the counsel essential to the conduct of large busi- ness enterprises. He has tried a number of homicide cases, but his work has principally been in the more lucrative practice in the civil courts below and the supreme court of Pennsylvania. Particularly has he tried many cases in the new branch of litigation which has come before the courts of the state in the last twenty years growing out of the oil and gas and coal industries.
In the case of the Westmoreland and Cambria Natural Gas Company vs. DeW'itt, et al. (130 Pa. State 235), Air. Moorhead's contention that a lease for the purpose of drilling for oil or gas is in the nature of an easement with respect to the surface for the puqjose of entry, examination and drilling opera- tions and that the real subject of possession by the lessee is the oil or gas ob- tained in the land, was denied by the lower court, but was sustained by the supreme court of Pennsylvania. Of equal or possibly of greater importance from a judicial point of view are the cases of Alilligan vs. Dick, 107 Pa. State 259; Gumbert's Appeal, no Pa. State 496; Cunningham's Estate, 106 Pa. State 536: ruling cases, in all of which Air. Aloorhead was the leading counsel, which may be examined by the student or practicing lawyer to advantage. Alany others may be cited, but we deem these sufficient for this brief review. His address in memory of the late Chief Justice Alercur (Pa. State Rep. 116, p. XXV') is an illustration of his style of English.
Whether his language be spoken or written, whether it be in the form of a public address or an argument before a court or a jury, it is always character- ized by a finish which is far superior to that of the average lawyer. In every forum he advocates his cause' with the honesty of a philosopher, the precision of a scholar, and with a dignity becoming the announcement of a judicial man- date. There are probably members of the bar in our large cities who surpass him in the lines to which they have devoted their special attention, but we doubt whether, in the varied attainments of an all-around practitioner, he has a superior either on the bench or in the bar of Pennsylvania. Mr. Aloorhead, aside from his professional work, has found more time than most lawyers to read history, poetry and the higher grade of fiction. It is not infrequent that his addresses are adorned by classic references evoked from the ideal world by the genius of a poet or the novelist. He is yet in the vigor of his manhood and we trust has many years of useful work before him.
CHARLES H. FOGG, one of the most jjrominent and successful civil and mining engineers in Greensburg, is a representative of an old and honored family which settled in America in the seventeenth century. The founder of the family was Samuel Fogg, who came from Exeter, England, in 1630, and settled in Hampton. New Hamp.shire. James Fogg, a descendant of Samuel Fogg, and the great-grandfather of Charles H. Fogg, was born in Scarboro, Maine, in 1771. James Fogg, son of James Fogg, was born in Saco, Maine, May 10, 1799. He married Elizalieth P.radbnry, and had children. among them being a son, James H. Fogg, lifirn in Saco, Maine, June 10, 1835. He is a prosperous man of business, dealing in stock and lumber. He married Lydia A. Haley, daughter of Mark Haley, and among their children was Charles H., of whom later.
Charles H. Fogg, son of James H. and Lydia A. (Haley) Fogg, was born in P)iddeford, Alaine, February 7, 1861. He had the advantage of a most ex-
50 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
cellent education, attending the University of Maine, where he was graduated as a civil engineer in June, 1881. He came to Greensburg in September, 1882, having accepted a position as assistant civil engineer in the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, and held this position for several years. He then formed a business partnership with W. W. Jamison, under the firm name of Jamison & Fogg, in general civil and mining- engineering. This partnership was dis- solved in 1903, and Mr. Fogg continued in the same branch of business alone, and worked up a very lucrative business. Later he associated himself with Morris L. Painter, and they are doing business under the style of Painter & Fogg. Mr. Fogg is very enterprising, energetic, and possessed of great de- terniination. He is very systematic and accurate in his work, and has the reputation of being one of the most reliable men in his profession. He married, December 27, 1887, Rebecca Barclay, daughter of Thomas J. Barclay, and they have six children: Hester B., James Henry, Sarah B., Joseph B., Rebecca B., Lydia Ann.
RE\'. PHILIP KRETZ, pastor of the Most Holy Sacrament church, at Greensburg, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1857, son of Wende- lin and Mary (Volz) Kretz. When twelve years of age he entered St. Vin- cent's College, in Westmoreland county, where he acquired his education, and on July 15, 1880, was ordained to the priesthood. In October of the same year he "was sent to Rome to study the higher branches of theology, and upon his return was made a member of the faculty in St. Vincent's College, where for five years thereafter lie taught theology. He was given, in 1889, a charge at St. MarVs church, in Elk county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for five or six years. He was then sent to a mission in the Alleghanies, having charge of St. Boniface and St. Lawrence congregations. He was sent to Baltimore in 1895, where he had charge of Fourteen Holy Martyrs church, and in September, 1899, he was transferred to Greensburg to take charge of the Most Holy Sacra- ment church. This was the first Catholic property west of the Alleghanies, having been purchased by the church in 1789. After coming to Greensburg, Father Kretz saw the necessity of having a more commodious school building, and in July, 1904, the erection of the present structure, one of the most sub- stantial buildings of Greensburg, was began and was ready for occupancy March i, 1905. The building is supplied with all modern ventilating appli- ances and the various modern improvements found in the schools of the present and is a handsome and substantial structure. Father Kretz died August, 1905.
ALBERT CHARLES SNIVELY, an attorney of Greensburg, was born in ]\Iount Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 29, 1869.
(I) John Snively, the great-grandfather, came from Germany to Hagers- town, Maryland, in 1780, when but a mere boy. His parents were of the Lutheran faith. He died in 1806. Pie married Amy Wilkinson and they had three sons : John, Abraham, Hugh. The last two removed to Pittsburg and Ohio, respectively.
dl) John Snively, the eldest son of John (i). was the grandfather of Albert Charles Snively. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, 1803, and came to Mount Pleasant township in 1807. He, too, was a Lutheran : he had a fair common school education. The date of his death was 1888. He mar- ried Catherine Fausold, born in Cumberland, Maryland, 1800, and came to Westmoreland county in 1818. They were married in 1824. She died in 1877. Of the ten children born to her only two now survive.
THE
?VV V,-
;rx
.0^^
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 51
(III) Hiram Snively. the father of Albert Charles, was born in ^^lount Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1834. He possessed a good common school education ; is a Democrat, and has held manv township offices. He was assessor live terms and tax collector twice. During the dark days of the Civil war period, he was rejected from service on account of his physical disability. He married Mary Ann Chorpenning, Sep- .tember 16, 1858. She was the daughter of David and Hester (Benford) Chorpenning. Her father was born in Somerset county in ,1799 and died in 1868. Her mother was also a native of Somerset countv, born 1807 and died 1867.
( I\') Albert Charles Snively was educated in the puljlic schools of ]\Iount Pleasant township, the Blount Pleasant Institute and Greensburg Seminary. He began teaching in the public schools of Westmoreland county in 1888, fol- lowing it for eight terms. He studied law with Albert H. Bell and G. Dallas Albert. He was admitted to the bar of Westmoreland county, January 26, 1896, and has practiced his chosen profession ever since. He is a supporter of the Democratic party, has been tax collector, and is at present school director in Irwin borough ; treasurer of the Irwin Realty Company, and secretary of the Sunset Distilling Company. In church connections he is a member of the }iIethodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Mason- town (Pennsylvania) Lodge, No. 459; K. of P. Lodge, No. 415, Irwin; B. P. O. E. Lodge, No. 486, Jeannette. For three years he was a member of the Na- tional Guard of Pennsylvania, in Company I, serving in 1894-95-96. He married. July 28, 1903, in \\'estmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Nettie A. Christner. of Mount Pleasant. Mrs. Snively was educated in the public schools and at the Normal. Her parents are Rev. A. Dickey and Samantha (Pyle) Christner. To I\Ir. and jVIrs. Snively have been born one child, Al- "berta Christner, born February 17, 1905, at Irwin, Pennsylvania. ^
DANIEL A. MOWRY is the oldest representative of the fourth gen- .^.jtlfi^j* eration of the !\Iowry familv in Derry township, AVestmoreland countv. The -^ family is of Swiss lineage and was established in America by the great-great- ^
grandfather, who emigrated from Switzerland and settled in Dauphin county, ' ^^ Pennsylvania, about the time of the outbreak of the Revolutionary war. His °f "^ son. Michael Mowry, removed from Dauphin to Westmoreland county, and ac- quired a large tract of land in Derry township, from the heirs of Major W'ilson. This tract has in subsequent years been divided and subdivided and now a por- tion is in possession of Daniel A. l\Iowry. The original homestead is now owned by ex-Governor John Latta, of Greensburg. Michael Mowry and his wife died at the age of seventy-two years. Their two children, Conrad and Catherine, were born in Dauphin county.
Conrad Mowry w^as reared upon the home farm in Derry township, learned the weaver's trade and followed that vocation during the active years of his life. He continued to reside, however, upon a portion of the old MowTy home- stead, which had come to him as his patrimony. He and his wife JNIatilda lived to the age of seventy-two years, it being a coincidence that the paternal grandparents and great-grandparents all died at the same age. Conrad and Matilda Mowry also had two children : John and Nancy, the latter the wife of Alichacl Shehan.
John Mowry. born at the ancestral home in Derry township, December 24. 1809. learned the cooper's trade in early life and followed that pursuit until about 1856. when he entered tlie employ of the Pennsvlvania Railroad Com-
HISTORY OF U'ESTMORELAXD COUNTY.
pany and was thus engaged until his retirement from active husiness hfe. He, too, made his home upon the farm where he was born and reared. He held membership in the Lutheran church, in which members of the family have been active workers for more than a century, many of them holding office in the church. The political faith of the family has ever been in accord with Demo- cratic principles, and John JMowry also followed in the path of his ancestors in this particular. He died Decemljer i8, 1883. In early manhood he married ^lary A. Crusan, who was of Scotch descent, the emigrant ancestor having come to Westmoreland county more than a hundred years ago. John and Alary A. Mowry had nine children, of whom three are living: Daniel A.; Michael Y., of Derry township ; and Nancy R., the wife of Samuel A. Wareham, of the borough of Derry.
Daniel A. Mowry was born in Derry township, Westmoreland county, June 13, 1847, was reared upon the home farm and educated in school No. 15, of his native township. From the age of ten years he was earning money in various ways and when seventeen years of age his name was on the pay roll of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, while at the age of nineteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade in the town of New Derry. \\'hen he had completed his term of indenture he opened a shop in iMillwood, which he conducted nine years, doing a large amount of railroad work. In 1878 he re-entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany in the capacity of a blacksmith for car inspectors in the motive power de- l^artment, and in 1888 he was placed in charge of the company's store at Derry Station, where he remained until his election to the office of county commis- sioner in 1902. He was six times a nominee for county offices, having been nominated five times for the position of prothonotary. While the Republicans normally have a very large majority, he was defeated on one occasion by only a hundred and fifty votes and he was elected to his present office by a very large majority, which is indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence re- posed in him by his fellow townsmen. He has always been a staunch Demo- crat and an earnest worker for the growth and success of the party. He is now serving as secretary of the board of county commissioners. For thirty-two years he has been a member of the A. O. of U. W. and for more than thirty years of Lamont Lodge, No. 568, A. F. and A. M. He is a member of the Veteran Employers Association of the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad, and has been a life long member of Trinity Lutheran church, at Derry, serving as a member of the church council and secretary of the board. Mr. Mowry was married June 14, 1869, to Margaret A. Akins, of Derry township, a daughter of Andrew Akins. They have become the parents of eleven children, of whom nine are living: Maud E., the wife of L. A. Loughner, of Penn town- ship, Westmoreland county ; Mary M., wife of W. P. Best, of Derry Station ; Albert T., of Derry township, foreman in the machine shops at Conemaugh. Pa. ; Andrew J., of Derry township, who is with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Daniel A., an engine preparer at Derry; Myrtle F., wife of L. S. Kelly, of Derry township; Charles C, Bertha L. and Charlotte J., at home.
AMOS B. KLINE. The Kline family has long