USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 13
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bier, who had been with him on the march, in the camp and on the battle-field, declared that no truer, braver soldier ever wore the blue than Major Richard M. Birkman.
TUDGE JOHN P. BLAIR. A worthy de- scendent of a time-honored family and a fitting representative of that grand old Scotch- Irish race so distinguished for high moral character, unflinching courage and undying patriotism, is Ex-Judge John P. Blair, who ranks high among the foremost jurists and the ablest lawyers of Pennsylvania. He is a son of Rev. David and Margaret (Steele) Blair, and was born at Indiana, Indiana county, Penn- sylvania, March 28, 1835. Among the liberty- loving and God-fearing Scotch-Irish Presby- terian families of the north of Ireland, was the Blair family from which Judge Blair is de- scended. His paternal grandparents, Hugh and Jane Blair, were members of Donagar Associate Presbyterian church and were highly respected in the community in which they resided. They were the parents of eight sons and three daughters. They came to the United States in 1802, and after spending one winter at Steuben- ville, Ohio, removed to near Hartstown, Craw- ford county, Pa., where Hugh Blair purchased a four hundred acre tract of land. He here lived an exemplary life and died January 5, 1837, when in the ninety-sixth year of his age. His wife had preceded him to the tomb by two years, having passed away on March 10, 1835, aged ninety years. Their eighth son, Rev. David Blair, a graduate of the oldest theologi- cal seminary of the new world and the founder of the United Presbyterian church in Indiana and adjoining counties, was born in the parish of Donagar, in Antrim, Ireland, in November, 1786. In early life he was somewhat delicate. Having fitted for college with Rev. McLean, he entered Jefferson college in 1810 aud would
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have graduated in the class of 1812 if his health had not given way early in that year. Recovering his health somewhat, he spent the required four sessions at Dr. Anderson's Theo- logical seminary,-was ordained in October, 1818, to the ministry of the Associate Presby- terian church and installed as pastor of the United congregations of Indiana, Crooked Creek and Conemaugh. He spent nearly half a cen- tury in laboring for these churches, and as the result of his labors nearly twenty congregations were built up out of them-an unparalleled fact in the history of the United Presbyterian church. While inheriting the sturdy independ- ence and iron-willed determination of his own race, he was remarkably liberal, charitable and enlightened in his views. Rev. W. S. Owens pays this just and eloquent tribute to his char- acter :
" He resisted the narrow spirit of exclusive- ness and advocated always the broad principles of Christian charity and unity. No man worked harder to secure that happy union of 1858 (union of Associate and Associate Re- formed churches) which gave birth to our United Presbyterian church. In the great civil war he was a Union man and his pulpit gave forth no uncertain sound on the mighty issues then pending." Rev. David Blair, in 1821, married Margaret Steele, of Hun- tingdon, who was a help-meet to lıim in the fullest sense of that term. After a long life of quiet and unostentatious usefulness she was called hence April 6, 1865, when in the sixty-fourth year of her age. In 1862 he re- signed from active pastoral work. In 1882, in the ninety-fifth year of his life and in the land of his noble life-work as an able minister and excellent man, death quietly summoned him to the realms of everlasting peace.
Hon. John P. Blair was reared at Indiana, and after completing his academic studies, en- tered Washington college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1852. In 1853 he
entered the law office of liis eldest brother, Hon. Samnel S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg, and after the required course of reading was ad- mitted to the bar in 1856. During the ensuing year he located at New Castle, Lawrence county, this State, where he practiced until 1859, when he was elected district attorney of that county. He resigned when the late war broke out and enlisted as a private in Co. F., 12thi regt., Pa. Vols. At the end of his three months' term of service he re-enlisted as a private and was elected first lieutenant of Co. I, 100th regiment, Pa. Vols. He held this position until after the battles of Second Bull Run, Chantilly and Antietam, when the company, whose ranks had been greatly thinned by the battles through which it had passed, was consolidated with Co. G, and he was commissioned captain of the new-formed company, which was designated as Co. G. When Hilton Head and Beaufort were captured, in the fall of 1861, he was detailed from his company to act as provost marshal and judge advocate general of the Port Royal district, which position he held until his brigade was sent north to join McClellan on the Penin- sula. He was twice wounded. At the first assault on the enemy's earth-works in the rear of Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, a grape- shot struck his sword and inflicted a wound in his side and at the Second Bull Run battle, where his company suffered severe loss, he re- ceived a painful gun-shot wound. After pass- ing through the campaign against Vicksburg, under Grant, and the campaign in east Tennessee, under Burnside, he suffered from a fever, the seeds of which were sown at Vicksburg and which clung to him so tenaciously as to event- ually disable him for further service, and he was honorably discharged on the 31st day of May, 1864. Soon afterward and before his own recovery his mother died, leaving his father alone-the other children being married and residing elsewhere-and at the request of his father he left New Castle and commenced the
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practice of his profession at Indiana, when his health was sufficiently restored, in the fall of 1865. He was soon employed in important cases and in a short time attained a high stand- ing at the bar. He tried his cases upon their merits, became an impressive, earnest and suc -. cessful jury pleader and developed those quali- ties so essential to a calm, unbiased and unim- passioned consideration of legal matters. His ability, learning, and thorough knowledge of the law recommended him to the public as capable of filling the highest judicial position within the gift of the people of Indiana county, and in 1874 he was elected president judge of the Fortieth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, composed of the county of Indiana. When Judge Blair took his seat on the bench, he found the busi- ness of the district many years behind, owing to the fact that the county had previous to his election been included, with Armstrong and Westmoreland counties, in the Tenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and its judge had found it impossible to keep up with the busi- ness of three counties. Judge Blair entered upon the duties of his office with the purpose and ambition of disposing of this accumulated mass of business, still further increased by the financial disturbances commencing in the fall of 1873, with such rapidity as would be consistent with care and accuracy, and would leave the dockets entirely clear at the end of his term. It was no ordinary task, but a labor of gigantic proportions ; yet he succeeded in its accomplish- ment and left a clean docket to his successor in office at the end of his ten years' term. He de- cided causes upon their merits alone after such careful and thorough examination of every au- thority bearing upon them, as the circumstances would allow, and by his entire impartiality and able decisions won the esteem of the public and attained high standing as a judge before the supreme court. The records of his district will show that, notwithstanding the number of jury cases tried by him, he has the rare distinction
of never being reversed in any of them. At the end of his term, in 1885, he resumed and has continued successfully the practice of law in Indiana and various other counties and before the supreme court of Pennsylvania. Judge Blair is a regular attendant of the Presbyterian church and a member of the Union Veteran Legion. He is a stock-holder and director and the solicitor of the First National Bank of Indiana. He has one of the finest residences and most beautiful homes in Indiana county.
On February 14, 1866, he was married to Elizabeth Sutton, daughter of James and Sarah Sutton, of Indiana. Judge and Mrs. Blair are the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter : Margaret S., James S. and David.
In politics Judge Blair has ever steadfastly held to the principles of the Republican party. As a lawyer he is well read and easily grasps the salient points of his cases. As a counselor his comprehensive knowledge of the general principles of law render his advice very valu- able and as a jury pleader he is logical in argu- ment and convincing in manner. Before public bodies and in large assemblages or important gatherings, he is a strong and impressive speaker, who clothes logical argument in appropriate and eloquent language.
CAPT. ADAM C. BRAUGHLER, com. mander of Indiana Post, No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic, and a prominent citizen and substantial business man of the borough of Indiana, is a son of Solomon and Nancy (Boyle) Braughler, and was born in Canoe township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1837. He is of German ancestry on his pa- ternal side and Irish descent in his maternal line. His grandfather, Adam Braughler, came from Germany to Bucks county, and in 1817 removed to what is now Canoe township, where he died at a ripe old age in 1842. His son,
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
Solomon Braughler (father), was born at Quakertown, Bucks county, December 27, 1803. He came in 1817 with his father to Canoe township, where he followed farming and stock-raising till his death which occurred in May, 1870. He was a presbyterian and a demo- crat and held several township offices. He married Nancy Boyle, who was born in White township June 9, 1805, and passed away Jan- uary 6, 1886. She was a member of the Pres- byterian church and her father, Johnson Boyle, came when a young man from county Antrim, Ireland, to what is now White township. He was a farmer, and re-visited his native land several times.
Adam C. Braughler was reared on his father's farm in Canoe township and attended the com- mon schools until he was eighteen years. of age. He then served an apprenticeship of two and one-half years at the trade of carpenter, which he followed until the dark and stormy days of 1861, when he was one of the first to respond to the Union call for troops. He enlisted as a private in Co. D, 78th regiment, Pa. Vols., and served until November 4, 1864. He was pro- moted to orderly sergeant soon after enlisting, and after the battle of Stone river was commis- sioned second lieutenant. From August, 1862, to January, 1863, he was stationed as a recruit- ing officer at Pittston and Freeport, Pa. In January, 1863, he rejoined his regiment and participated in the battles of Hoover's Gap, Macleymorc's Cove, Chickamauga and Grays- ville. He fought above the clouds at Mission- ary ridge and in all the battles of the campaign of 1864, from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Ga., and then was placed under Thomas and served for six months beyond his term of enlistment. In the fall of 1865 he became a member of the grocery and shipping firm of Brilhart, Ellis & Co. In 1867 David Ellis retired from the firm, and in February, 1872, Mr. Braughler purchased J. H. Brilhart's interest and since then has successfully conducted a large grocery
and queensware business. He enlisted as first lieutenant in the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, when it was organized in 1875, served in the Pittsburgh riots of 1877 and received his present commission as captain August 7, 1880. He is commander of Post 28, G. A. R., and has been adjutant of encampment No. 11, U. V. L. since its organization. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of L. and the Jr. O. U. A. M.
On April 4, 1865, he united in marriage with Sarah C. Donahey, a daughter of Wm. B. Donahey, of Black Lick township. They are the parents of five children, one son and four daught- ers : Mary, Iva, Sadie, Jessie and William A.
Capt. Adam C. Braughler is an unswerving republican in politics, was a member of the borough council for four years and is now in the twelfth year of his service as school director. He is a member of the Indiana Presbyterian church, has won friends and patronage in busi- ness by straightforward and honorable dealing and is an enterprising and prominent citizen of Indiana, who takes deep interest and an active part in the military, educational and business affairs of the county.
¥ TAPHRAIM CARPENTER was of New England birth, having been born at Sharon, Vermont, August 10, 1788. When a young man he taught in the academy at Greens- burg, Pa., and there studied law. He com- menced the practice of the law at Indiana in 1819, and remained there until his death, June 10, 1860 (at the age of seventy years). For many years he was deputy attorney-general for Indiana and adjacent counties. He was ex- ceedingly particular and precise in his business habits, and made an excellent prosecuting officer."
ITHOMAS B. CLARK, of Indiana, is an ar- tist who occupies a front rank in the pro- fession of photography. He was born at Union-
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INDIANA COUNTY.
town, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1858, and is a son of Samuel M. and Harriet (Semans) Clark. His paternal grandfather, Sam- uel Alexander Clark, was the only son of Wil- liam Clark, who emigrated to this country from northern Ireland about the time of the Revolu- tion, and earned his first dollar on this side of the ocean with his musket, in the defence of Independence. When peace was declared he bought land near Uniontown, and settled on it, living there until his death, which occurred in 1828, at the age of eighty-five years. A coin- cidence in this family was that his wife and himself were born in the same year and died in the same year. Samuel M. Clark, son of Sam- uel Alexander Clark, and father of Thomas B. Clark, was born in the year 1822, in Fayette county, Pa., where he has always resided. He learned the trade of carpenter, which he has followed ever since. For many years he has been a resident of Uniontown, where he is em- ployed at his trade. He is a member of the Baptist church, and in political matters has always given his undivided support to the Re- publican party. He married Harriet Semans, who was a daughter of Thomas Semans and died December 16, 1872, aged forty years. She was a faithful and devout member of the Bap- tist church, and left a family of one son and two daughters.
Thomas B. Clark was reared at Uniontown, where he received his education in the public schools. Leaving school, his first employment in life for himself was as a clerk in a grocery house. In 1874 he engaged with E. A. Lingo to learn the art of photography, and after serv- ing a four years' apprenticeship he formed a partnership with Mr. Lingo's brother, Albert Lingo, under the firm-name of Lingo & Clark. They opened a photographic gallery at Indiana, which they conducted successfully for three years, when Mr. Clark purchased his partner's interest and has continued the business until the present time. His photographic gallery 7
and art studio is situated on Philadelphia street. No artist in Indiana county sustains a higher reputation for fine work than Mr. Clark, whose pictures are first-class in representation, execu- tion and finish, while no better commendation of his skill need be mentioned than what is offered by his extensive, influential and con- stantly increasing patronage. His establish- ment is well and tastefully furnished, and is provided with the latest photographic appli- ances. Courteous operators are employed, and photography in all its branches is executed in the highest style of the art.
June 15, 1882, he united in marriage with Laura E. Kline, daughter of Wellington B. Kline, a prominent dry-goods merchant of In- diana. Their union has been blest with two children, both sons : Wellington and George.
In politics Mr. Clark is a republican, and has served his borough for five years as a mem- ber of the school board. He is a member of the Indiana Presbyterian church, Palladium Lodge, No. 346, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Improved Order of Heptasophs. He is ever alive to the rapid advances of his chosen profession in this wonderful age of prog- ress, and is abreast of the times as a progressive photographer.
W ILLIAM S. COLLINS is a leading citi- zen of Indiana, prominent in business and social circles as well as in the church and secret societies of which he is a member. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., June 6, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Young) Collins. Joseph Collins is a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and came to Indiana county in 1852, locating at West Lebanon. He is a machinist, and worked at his trade until 1868, when he removed to Green township, where he bought a saw-mill, which he run for twenty-one years, moving it first to Canoe township, and some six years
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
after to Jefferson county, where he run it until 1889. He then found the work too arduous, and sold the saw-mill and bought a farm, on which he now resides in his old age. He is now in his sixty-ninth year. He has always been a stirring, energetic man, cautious and frugal and has acquired a competency. He is an esteemed member of the Presbyterian church. He married Rebecca Young, a daughter of Joseph Young, of Westmoreland county, and now in her sixty-sixth year. Her father, Joseph Young, was all his life'a farmer in Westmoreland county.
William S. Collins was reared in Indiana county and received a common-school educa- tion. When his father moved from West Lebanon, in 1868, to Green township, he went with him. He remained in his father's employ until 1873 ; then, wearying of the monotony of the work, he learned the art of photography, which he followed for five years. In 1878 he accepted a position as book-keeper and clerk for the lumber firm of J. M. Guthrie & Co. So faithfully did he discharge his duties that for several years he had complete supervision of their business in West Indiana. In the spring of 1889 he united with his father in the general mercantile business, under the firm name of J. Collins & Son, since which time they have built up a large trade. They deal in dry-goods, groceries, and all the different arti- cles which go to make up the stock of a first- class store. During the Great Rebellion, William Collins served three months in Col. Gallagher's regiment, and aided in Morgan's capture.
[ He was married, in 1865, to Harriet J., daughter of Alex. Henderson, of Indiana county, by whom he has five children : Joseph V., Minnie E., George A., Bertram L. and Sarah J.
William S. Collins is a prohibitionist, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of William Penn Council, No. 305,
Royal Arcanum, and Ware Union, No. 326, E. A. U., Branch No. 341, O. I. H., and Conclave No. 180, Improved order of Hepta- sophs. He is a public-spirited citizen and always ready to give his assistance to any scheme which may benefit Indiana.
VINCENT M. CUNNINGHAM, a thorough-
going and successful business man and the proprietor of one of the oldest and leading general mercantile establishments of the enter- prising borough of West Indiana, is a son of John H. and Mary P. (Thompson) Cunning- ham, and was born in Armstrong township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1852. His American paternal ancestors came originally from Ireland, and his grandfather, Archibald Cunningham, was born in the latter part of the eighteenth century in the western part of this State. He followed farming in Indiana and Westmoreland counties. He mar- ried Rosanna Hutchinson and reared a family of nine children : Jane, married Andrew Patter- son ; Elizabeth, wife of William Cochran ; Mary, married to William McAdo; George, Ruth, wife of John Lucas; John H., Archi- bald, Jr., Martha, married to Rev. Mr. Chap- man ; and Rosanna, wife of L. E. Freet. The second son, Jolın H. Cunningham (father), was born September 11, 1817, in Young township and removed to Armstrong township, where he followed farming until 1864. In that year he returned to White township and purchased a farm.
In 1867 he engaged in the general mercan- tile business in the room now occupied, for the same purpose, by the subject of this sketch. He was a republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a man of good business ability. He had held several township and borough offices, was highly esteemed in the different communities in which
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INDIANA COUNTY.
he had resided and passed away December 17, 1871, at fifty-four years of age. He married Mary P. Thompson, daughter of James Thomp- son, a native and farmer of this county, a rela- tive of Judge Joseph Thompson, and a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church. He died at Indiana in 1872, at seventy-eight years of age. Mrs. Cunningham was a member of the M. E. church, and died January 29, 1874, aged fifty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Cunning- ham had twelve children, six of whom are liv- ing : A. S., John M., Vincent M., Joanna M., wife of J. T. Gibson ; Phebe J., married to W. W. Lockhard; and Laura C., wife of Charles Wood.
Vincent M. Cunningham was reared until eleven years of age on his father's Armstrong township farm, and then came to the site of West Indiana. He received his education in the common schools of Armstrong and White townships. Leaving school, he assisted his father in the store and on the farm till 1872. From 1872 to 1875 he was engaged in farming in White township. In 1877 he embarked in merchandising at Cook port, where he re- mained for five years and enjoyed a good trade. He closed out, however, in 1882, at that place in order to remove to West Indiana, where he had effected the purchase of his father's store. He refitted the entire premises, put in a new and general stock of goods and entered upon his present successful career as a leading mer- chant of Indiana.
He united in marriage, on September 19, 1877, with Mary E., daughter of Isaac McHenry, of Clearfield county, Pa. Their children are : John Simmons, Charlie V., Laura B., Edwin B., Mary E. and Joanna M.
V. M. Cunningham is a member of Clymer Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Honor, William Penn Council, No. 305, Royal Arcanum, Indiana Conclave, No. 180, Improved Order of Hepta- sophs, Local Branch, No. 341, Order of the Iron Hall, and Indiana Methodist Episcopal
church, in which he is now serving as steward. He is a republican, has served as auditor of West Indiana and is now treasurer of his borough. He has carefully followed the laws of commercial progress and prosperity, and as a natural consequence has won mercantile suc- cess and an extensive patronage.
JOHN M. CUNNINGHAM, a man of good business ability, a popular liveryman, the proprietor of the well-known Cunningham liv- ery, feed and sales stables of Indiana, and a dealer in carriages, buggies and sleighs, is a son of John H. and Mary P. (Thompson) Cun- ningham, and was born three miles west of Indiana, in White township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1848. His paternal grandfather, Archibald Cunningham (see sketch of Vincent M. Cunningham), was of Irish de- scent, and followed farming until his death. His maternal grandfather, James Thompson, of Scotch-Irish descent, was a native of this coun- ty, followed farming in White township and died at Indiana in 1872. John H. Cunning- ham (father) was born on the Cunningham homestead in 1817, and owned a farm, of which forty acres to-day are included in the site of West Indiana. In that borough he was after- wards engaged for many years in the general mercantile business. He was a republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a man of good business qualifications, a well-respected citizen, and died December 17, 1871, at fifty-four years of age. He married Mary P. Thompson, who was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died Jan- uary 29, 1874, aged fifty-three years. They reared a family of three sons and three daugh- ters : A. S., John M., Vincent M., Joanna M., wife of J. T. Gibson ; Phebe J., who married W. W. Lockard, and Laura C., wife of Charles Wood.
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John M. Cunningham was reared as all farmers' sons were at that day, and trained to farm work. He received his education in the common schools, engaged in farming and after- wards became interested in stock-dealing. In 1877 he removed to Indiana, where, in 1880, he engaged in his present livery business. He erected his large livery, feed and sales stable in 1887. It is substantially constructed and most conveniently arranged, being 60x100 feet in di- mensions. It is two stories high, with box-stalls and buggy-rooms, has all the modern improve- ments, including the Casper oat-cleaner, and . built according to Mr. Cunningham's own plan. He has a well-selected assortment of carriages and buggies and a large stock of sad- dle and harness horses. He also deals exten- sively in carriages, buggies and carts, which he has manufactured especially for him. He has a handsome three story residence, to which lie has added a large and convenient store-room, which he rents. He owns a well-improved tract of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Wilkin county, in the celebrated Red River Valley of Minnesota. As a man he is pleasant, agreeable and genial ; as a citizen public-spirited and progressive, and as a business man is prompt, accurate and reliable. His success in life and his large business patronage are due to his energy, honesty and methods of fair dealing in his various enterprises. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a republican in political affairs and a man who enjoys the respect of his neighbors and patrons.
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