USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 15
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Le Hall
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INDIANA COUNTY.
as pastor of Union and Brady's Bend churchies, of Armstrong county. His pastorate of these two churches was a very pleasant and successful one and extended over a period of eleven years. It terminated in 1867, when he became pastor of the Presbyterian church of Mansfield, Ohio, where he labored with acceptance and good re- sults until 1874. On June 30th of that year he was installed as pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Indiana, which he has served ac- ceptably ever since. When he assumed his present charge the membership was threo hun- dred and fifty, but now the church-roll bears the names of five hundred and twenty members. In 1858 Jefferson college conferred the degree of D.D. upon him for his ability, learning and valuable services in the ministry. In 1857 he was elected at Jefferson college as professor of Latin and Literature, and in 1858 he served as a member of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, held in New Orleans. In political matters Dr. Hall is a democrat from principle.
December 2, 1856, he married Elizabeth Walker, daughter of David Walker, of Butler, Pa. Their children are: Edward Payson, Henry Walker, Laura Baudelle, Mary Camp- bell and Caroline Rowland. The eldest son, Edward Payson Hall, is an attorney of the pension bureau, in Washington City, and the second son, Henry Walker Hall, is a successful artist of New York city, who spent three years in art studies in Paris, France, and is now en- gaged in illustrating.
Dr. Hall is of fine physique and dignified bearing. He is an impressive and earnest speaker, whose style is characterized by clear- ness, simplicity and strength. As a minister of God and an ambassador for Christ, no one lias ever mistaken his character or his purpose. While gentle to all men, yet he is never pliant, and his every word, tonc and gesture bears the unmistakable impress of sincerity. Ratlier timid in disposition, with no desire to preach
on set occasions, yet he is bold as a lion in the pulpit, in rebuking vice, folly and injustice.
In the biography of Dr. Hall in the Ency- clopedia of the Presbyterian church in the United States, Rev. Alfred Nevin, LL.D., says : " He (Dr. Hall) is a man of fine scholarship and much culture, and his motto seems to be, ' Do all the good you can and say nothing about it.' In his preaching he emphasizes Christian morality, honor, manliness, integrity, truth, chivalry, charity and helpfulness, as in the sight of God and in the love of Christ. He teaches that salvation is largely character and exalts Christ's offices of Prophet (or Teacher) and King, as well as his office of Priest. He abounds in illustrations from nature. He makes an impression on the community by his efforts to tone up public morals."
J. CLEMENT HASINGER. Although one of the younger business men of Indiana, J. Clement Hasinger is noted for the indus- try and frugality which so much tend to make business a success, and when we add to this the simple encomium that means so much. He is an honest man, we have noted his whole character. He is a son of Clement and Susannah (Rising) Hasinger, and was born at Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 24, 1862. His father, Clement Hasinger, was a native of Bavaria, and in 1853 came to Indiana, where he engaged in the grocery busi- ness for some twenty-five years, when he retired from active business life, leaving to his sons, as a result of his untiring energy, a well-estab- lished business. He was a member of the Catholic church and a democrat. He died December 8, 1888, aged sixty-three years. His wife was a danghter of Martin Rising, who came to this country with her parents in 1839, landing at Baltimore. They settled in Cherry Hill township, where Martin Rising bought a
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
farm on which he still lives, being now eighty- five years of age. He is a member of the Cath- olic church, as is also his daughter, Mrs. Has- inger, who lives in Indiana with her sons, and is now in the fifty-third year of her age.
J. Clement Hasinger received his education in the public schools of Indiana. Leaving school, he assisted his father in the grocery store until the latter gave up the business, in 1888, to' him and his brother, John E., who have since done business under the firm-name of Hasinger Bros. John E. also runs a cigar fac- tory at Indiana, while J. Clement owns a bread and cake bakery.
On October 5, 1880, he was married to Mary, youngest daughter of Conrad Bergman, of Indiana. They have two children, a daugh- ter, named Florence, and a son, William Ralph.
J. Clement Hasinger is a democrat in politi- cal opinion, and a member of the Catholic Knights of St. George. The Hasingers-father and sons-are an example of what industry and frugality, the noted German characteristics, will accomplish.
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JOHN S. HASTINGS. One of the most useful and important industries of any town or city is the lumber business. A repre- sentative lumber manufacturer and dealer of Indiana county is John S. Hastings, a soldier of the late war and the proprietor of the Hastings planing-mill. He was born near Dayton, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1848, and is a son of Enoch and Eliza (Sutor) Hastings. He is a descendant of the old Hastings family of England. His grandfather, John Hastings, resided near Belle- fonte, Centre county, this State, where he died. His son, Enoch Hastings, was born in 1781, removed to Armstrong county, near Day- ton, where he worked at his trade of black- smith and was engaged for many years in farming and operating a flouring-mill. He
soon became a leading citizen in the com- munity in which he resided. He was a member and deacon of the Baptist church and served as a justice of the peace and in local offices for many years. He died on his farm near Dayton in 1855, in his seventy-fourth year. He married Eliza Sutor, daughter of John Sutor, who was a native of Scotland and after coming to this State located in Washing- ton county, but subsequently removed near Marion, this county, where he followed farm- ing till 1875, when he passed away in the ninety-sixth year of his age. Mrs. Eliza Hastings was born in Washington county and was brought at seven years of age to this county, where she was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, with which she united in early life, but subsequently joined the Bap- tist church. She died in 1883, aged about 72 years, and her remains were interred at Marion, while her husband's, body was en- tombed in the Glade Run church-yard in Armstrong county.
John S. Hastings was reared on a farm un- til he was 16 years of age, and received his ed- ucation in the common schools and Dayton academy. On February 23, 1864-just shortly after his sixteenth birthday-he enlisted in the United States Signal Corps and served till he was honorably discharged at San Antonio, Texas, April 20, 1866. During the last named year he went to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he work- ed at the trade of carpenter with William Dick, and in the fall of 1867 came to Indiana. There he finished his trade with his uncle, John Sutor, for whom and with whom he worked until 1872. He then purchased his uncle's half-interest in a planing-mill and be- came a member of the firm of Lowry, Hastings & Co. In 1877 he purchased Lowry's interest, and the firm was Hastings & Leach until June, 1879, when Mr. Leach sold his share to Col. D. S. Porter and the business was carried on in the name of John S. Hastings.
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INDIANA COUNTY.
The Hastings planing-mill is a two-story frame, 50x113 in dimensions, and is run by a forty-five horse-power engine and supplied with all late and improved machinery. The central portion of the mill was erected in 1866; next the southern addition was built and later the eastern addition was erected. Mr. Hastings keeps constantly on hand a large stock of rough and dressed pine, oak, hemlock and all other kinds of lumber and manufactures doors, sash, blinds, frames, scroll work, stair rails, lath and shingles in large quantities to supply the wants of his many patrons. He is also a contractor and has built a great many buildings. The Indiana county jail, First Presbyterian church of Kittanning and Jackson street Bap- tist church of Scrauton, Pa., being among the number.
He was married, February 28, 1884, to Vir- ginia Coleman, a resident of Indiana, but a native of Wheeling, W. Va. Their union has been blessed with one child, a son, named Ralph Wendell Hastings.
John S. Hastings is a republican in politics and supports his party whenever it is necessary, but is no politician. For twenty years he has been identified with the material interests and prosperity of Indiana. Every movement for the advancement of the borough has met with his approval, enlisted his attention and secured his support. His business has built up with the town in its steady and substantial growth and de- velopment of the last two decades. His busi- ness has expanded slowly from year to year until it has attained very respectable proportions and extends over considerable area of territory. Mr. Hastings is a notable example of a wide-awake and self-made man.
THOMAS E. HILDEBRAND. Prominent among the leading representatives of the drug business in this section is Thomas E. Hildebrand,
the proprietor of the oldest drug house in Indiana county and one of the young and progressive business men of Indiana borough. He is a son of William B. and Sarah (McClaran) Hilde- brand, and was born at Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1860. His ances- tors were early settlers in this State. The Hil- debrand family is one of the old families of Adams county. His paternal grandfather, Wil- liam Hildebrand, was a son of John Hilde- brand, of German origin, and married Elizabetlı Swigart. One of their sons was William B. Hildebrand (father), who was born in Adams county in 1825 and removed in 1853 to Indi- ana borough, where he embarked in the drug business, which he followed until his death, which occurred in 1886, when in the sixty- first year of his age. He was an experienced and enterprising business man who had estab- lished a wide reputation for honorable dealing and was highly esteemed by the many who knew him. On account of his business ability and experience, in 1876 he was elected secretary of the Indiana State Normal school of Pennsyl- vania. His services were so satisfactory in this position that he was annually re-elected till his death, in 1886. He was a member of the Indi- ana Presbyterian church, in which he had served ten years as a trustce. In politics he was a re- publican, but aside from a general interest in political matters he devoted his time chiefly to the management of his business undertakings. In 1859 he married Sarah McClaran, by whom he had six children, three sons and three dauglı- ters : Thomas E., Gertrude, Frank, Walter, Willie M. and Mary (deceased). Mrs. Sarahı Hildebrand was born at Blairsville, this couuty, in 1826, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. She is a daughter of Hon. William McClaran, who was of Scotch-Irish descent.
He was born in Indiana county, where he always lived. He was an old line whig, a strict Presbyterian and a man who com- manded respect by the integrity of his actions
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and the uprightness of his life. He represented his native county twice in the State legislature and served two terms as register and recorder of Indiana county, being elected to the latter posi- tion in 1842 and re-elected in 1845.
Thomas E. Hildebrand was reared at Indiana, where he received his education in the public schools and the State Normal school of that place. His first employment was in the drug business with his father, whom he assisted till the death of the latter, when he purchased and assumed entire charge of the drug store and has continued successfully to conduct it ever since. In 1889 he tore down the old building and erected on its site his present large and beauti- ful three-story brick drug house, 21 x 75 feet in dimensions. His establishment is on Philadel- phia street, and is one of the best furnished drug houses in the western part of the State. His stock is large and varied in order to meet the numerous demands of his constantly increas- ing patronage. He is a skillful and accom- plished druggist and an agreeable gentleman of excellent business qualifications.
In 1884 Thomas E. Hildebrand was made teller of the Indiana County Deposit bank, which position he still holds. He is a member of the Cosmopolitan club, which is composed of the young business men of Indiana. Mr. Hildebrand is a republican in political opinion, las served three terms as auditor of his borough and takes considerable interest in political af- fairs. He is also well informed upon the im- portant events of this wonderful age, and has acquired quite a fund of general information.
JOHN H. HILL, one of the Hancock and English democratic presidential electors of Pennsylvania in 1880, a well-known member of the Indiana bar since 1874 and a soldier of the Army of the Potomac during 1864 and 1865, was born at Elderton, Armstrong county, Penn-
sylvania, October 12, 1848, and is a son of Dan- iel and Eliza A. (Trimble) Hill. On both his paternal and maternal side he is of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather, Daniel Hill, Sr., was a native and resident of some county in the eastern part of the State until he attained his majority, when he joined the hardy pioneers who were venturing into the forest regions west of the Allegheny mountains at the risk of their lives. He settled in what is now Westmoreland county, where he died. His son, Daniel Hill, was born in 1817, learned the trade of mill- wright, and removed to Armstrong county, where he remained until 1855. He then came to Indiana county and embarked in the lumber business on the Susquehanna river, which he followed up to 1880, when he removed to White township and has been engaged in farming ever since. He is a Presbyterian in religious belief, a democrat in political faith and has served in various township offices. He married Eliza A. Trimble, who was born in 1811 and died in 1866. She was a daughter of Thomas Trimble, a life-long resident and well-to-do farmer of Westmoreland county, who died in 1850.
John H. Hill was reared principally at Cher- ry Tree, this county. He attended the common schools, Pine Flat academy and Cherry Tree col- lege, a chartered institution which has since gone down. In 1870 he entered Washington and Lee university at Lexington, Va., and became a student in the law department of that institution, from which he was graduated in the law class of 1873. One year later he was admitted to the Indiana county bar, and since that time has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in the courts of this and adjoining counties. In 1864 he enlisted in Company K, 88th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (from Philadelphia), participated in all the principal battles of his regiment, and was honorably discharged under general orders at Washington City in 1865. He is a member of Indiana Post, No. 28, G. A. R.
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INDIANA COUNTY.
In 1873 he married Mollie I. Kingports, daughter of David R. Kingports. They have one child, named Don James Hill.
John H. Hill is considerably interested in manufacturing, and is the senior member of the firm of J. H. & W. B. Hill, proprietors of the Hill flouring mill and Hill woolen factory, of White township, which are in operation. In addition to his investments with his brother in milling and woolen manufacturing, he owns a grain and stock farm of considerable size. He is a ,stanch democrat, one of the democratic leaders of the county, and has served as school director for six years and as a member of In- diana borough council for the same length of time. He was chairman of the Democratic county committee for three years. He was nominated by his party for protlionotary, and again for district attorney, and, although polling the full democratic strength and receiv- ing complimentary votes from the opposition party, yet was bound to be defeated in a county largely republican. Mr. Hill is an active and energetic worker in his profession and enjoys a good practice.
H TON. GEORGE W. HOOD. Among the prominent citizens and public men of Indiana county who are held in high esteem for integrity, good judgment and business and pro- fessional ability is Ex-State Senator George W. Hood. He is a son of James and Margaret (Trimble) Hood, and was born in White town- ship, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1846. The historic north of Ireland, which contributed so largely to the worthy pioneer stock of early settlers in Indiana county, was the birth-place of his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Jane (Henderson) Hood. They left the home of their childhood and early associations in life and settled in 1799 in what is now Indiana county, where Thomas Hood died in 1861, aged 83 years. Of the family which
they reared in their new found home one son is James Hood (father), who was born in 1810. Upon arriving at manhood he engaged in farm- ing, which he pursued until 1880, when he retired from active business life. He resides at Indiana, is well preserved for his four-score years and is a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a republican in politics, has always been active in support of his party and served creditably as treasurer of Indiana county from 1851 to 1853. He mar- ried Margaret Trimble, who died January 1, 1888, and reared a family of six sons and three daughters.
George W. Hood was reared on the home farm in White township. He attended Dayton academy in Armstrong county and Tuscarora academy of Juniata county, and then entered Westminster college, Lawrence county, from which well-known institution of learning he was graduated in the class of 1870. After grad- uating he read law with Hon. A. W. Taylor and was admitted to the Indiana county bar in December, 1872. The summer of the ensuing year he spent in traveling through Europe for the purpose of gaining general information of the habits and customs of its people and the laws and institutions of its leading nations. "During the latter part of 1873 he opened a law office at Indiana, where he has been engaged ever since in the active and successful practice of his pro- fession. In 1882 he made a trip to Europe on professional business and spent some time in Ireland, England and France. In 1884, in recognition of his many valuable political ser- vices and on account of his fitness for the posi- tion, he was nominated for State senator by the Republican party of Indiana county. He was elected in November, 1884, and for four years creditably represented the Thirty-seventh Sena- torial District of Pennsylvania. He served on the committees on federal relations, judiciary (both general and special) and congressional appointment. His legal ability and profes-
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
sional ability and political experience well fitted him for the efficient service which he rendered on those four important committees. During the session of 1885, Senator Hood with Senator Biddis, of Pike, and Ex-speaker Faunce, of Philadelphia, Robinson of Delaware and Sponsler of Perry, were the committee ap- pointed on the Senate and the House for the purpose of inquiring into the fitness of district Judge Kirkpatrick of Allegheny county. He had refused to resign after a petition had been sent into legislature for his removal on account of his physical disability to fill the office. The com- mittee removed. His entire course in the State senate was such as to gain him many warm friends in the ranks of the opposition as well as among his own colleagues on the republican side of the senate. While ever alive to the interests of his own district, yet he never slighted the actual needs or just requirements of any other section of the State. In 1890 he was appointed and served as supervisor of the Eighth Census District of Pennsylvania. His patriotism was shown in the late war, when, at the age of seventeen years, he entered Co. F, 2d Battalion (six months) Pa. Vols., and yielded most will- ing service in the armies of the imperiled Republic in her ever-memorable struggle against. dismemberment and dissolution. His interest still continues unabated in lis companions in arms of the Great Rebellion, and is manifested by his membership in, and services for Indiana Post, No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic.
In 1878 he married Sarah E. Ehrenfield, daughter of Rev. A. C. Ehrenfield, of Indiana. Mrs. Hood died November 12, 1879 and left one child, a son named Augustus. On December 22, 1888, Mr. Hood united in marriage with Adalene M. Quigg, a handsome and talented lady of Oswego, New York.
Senator Hood is a large and fine looking man of good address and affable manners. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, has a large law practice and is a very pleasing speaker. In 1887 he
was largely instrumental in the organization of the Indiana Water company, of which he was and is its president. Their water works are on the artesian well system and carry fifty pounds pressure in their pipes, which can be increased to one hundred and thirty pounds in case of fire. He owns land in Idaho, is interested in the irrigating system of that State and has twice visited the Pacific coast states. Senator Hood devotes his energies to the practice of his profession and to such financial and business duties as naturally come to a man in his position. He is a popular republican leader, has been very successful in the political arena and stands well with the masses, whose true interests he has alway advocated and defended.
SUMMERS M. JACK. One of the promi- nent names which go to make up the strength and give importance to the Indiana county bar is that of Summers M. Jack, the late efficient district attorney and one of the rising lawyers of western Pennsylvania. He was born at Summersville, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1852, and is a son of Lowry and Cornelia (Baldwin) Jack. As the name would indicate, the Jack family is of Scotch origin. Jacob Jack, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared in Scotland, which he left when a young man to come to this State, where he settled in Cen- tre county at an early day in its history. He married Sarah Collin, of that county, and after- wards removed with his family to Clarion county, where he died in 1831. His son, Lowry Jack, was born in Clarion county, Pa., July 18, 1830. He is a carpenter and painter by trade, but is chiefly engaged in the lumber business, and resides at Summersville, Jefferson county, this State. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is a republican in politics, has served as a school director, and held other township offices. His wife is a na-
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INDIANA COUNTY.
tive of Summersville, which was named for her uncle, Summers Baldwin. Her father, Alonzo Baldwin, owned at that time the large tract of land which included the site of that town. Alonzo and Eliza (Carrier) Baldwin (maternal grandparents) were natives of Connecticut, and came from that State to Pennsylvania early in life, where they were married. Alonzo Bald- win died in 1858, when in the sixty-second year of his age, and his wife passed away two years later, at the age of sixty years.
Summers M. Jack was reared at Summers- ville, where he received his early education in the public and private schools of that place. He completed his education at the State Normal school at Indiana, tlien was engaged in teaching for two years in the common schools of Jeffer- son county, and came to Indiana borough, where he was vice-principal of the high school. He filled this position satisfactorily for four years, when he relinquished teaching, although it offered him some very remunerative positions, and commenced reading law with the Hon. Silas M. Clark. After two years of diligent and assiduous reading, he was admitted in 1879 to the Indiana county bar. The same year he opened an office and entered upon the active practice of his profession, which he has followed successfully ever since at Indiana. In the fall of 1883 he was elected by the Republican party as district attorney of Indiana county, and his course of action during his term was so highly satisfactory that in 1886 he was re-nominated and re-elected as district attorney for a second term, which expired January 1, 1890, when he retired from the office, after six continuous years of hard and faithful services in the inter- ests of the county. Since returning to his in- dividual practice as a lawyer, he has continually increased his influence and extended his prac- tice.
He is well read, thorough and practical, and prosecutes his cases with all possible care and attention. He is a clear thinker, an earn-
est and effective speaker, and a diligent and persistent worker.
On November 8th, 1881, he united in mar- riage with Margaret F. Mitchell, daughter of W. J. and Sarah E. (Adair) Mitcliell, of West Indiana. They have two children, both sons : William J. and James L.
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