USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 20
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Bailey, Banks & 3:ddle.Fhila
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, INDIANA, PENNA 5:
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INDIANA COUNTY.
governing qualities of a high order and a quiet firmness that is felt in every department; whilst his close personal supervision is keeping it true to both the letter and the spirit of Normal edu- cation. Besides educational work, he has de- voted much time to the sciences: 1, a collec- tion of the birds of Pennsylvania; 2, a collection of the insects, plants, minerals and many mam- mals, etc.
"To fitly describe this model institution as we see it and as its history has been given us would far exceed the limits of this article, and therefore but the merest outline must suffice. The school building is one of the most striking
and attractive features of the town. It is situ- ated close to the town on a beautiful elevation which commands a most extensive and pictur- esque view. The building is constructed of brick, is four stories high above the basement, which is of stone, is 250 feet front and 180 feet back in three sections. The campus, or sur- rounding grounds, comprise twelve acres and contain a beautiful natural grove of stately oaks, maples and elms, while the ornamental trees and shrubbery are scattered over the lands in profu- sion, and flowers of every hue and tint, of count- less varieties, arranged in the most tasteful and artistic manner, adorn the terrace on which the building stands. The interior of the building is peculiarly adapted to its requirements. From the laboratory and highest class-room down to the kitchen everything is perfect. The various departments are all supplied with everything necessary to comfort or to the intellectual, moral and physical development of the students-at least, everything that such an institution can pos- sibly supply. The rooms are all high, spacious and well lighted, the walls and ceilings frescoed, the furniture new and elegant, the dormitories neat and clean, and their floors carpeted; baths, lavatories and closets are located on all the floors and on both sides of the building, the class-rooms and laboratory supplied with every known accessory to the teacher's profession, and
the whole is subjected to the most careful ar- rangement and supervision. As might be ex- pected from the location of the building, its sunny exposures, pure air and perfect sanitary arrangements, the health record of the school is remarkable. But every facility and inducement to ample physical exercise is afforded; indeed, the rules of the school require it. The building is furnished with a fine gymnasium and several ball alleys, while out under the trees and on the open lawns there are four or five lawn tennis courts, several croquet, foot-ball and base-ball grounds, with other forms of amusement and recreation.
"The school was first opened on the 17th day of May, 1875, and from that time to this has steadily increased in numbers and influence until it stands to-day in the very front rank of the normal schools of the State. Every year of the fifteen of its existence has witnessed a larger eurollment of students than the one preceding it. The last annual catalogue shows an enroll- ment of 756. The total attendance during the history of the school was 7,327, of whom 461 took the full course and graduated. Of these, 137 were male and 324 female students. Of these graduates, all but twenty-five became teachers, many of them for several years, while a majority of them are still so engaged. Sixteen of them became professors in normal schools and colleges, sixty-one principals of graded and high schools and three of them county superintendents. In other professions seven became ministers, eight went out as missionaries, five entered editorial sanctums, eleven studied medicine and thirty- two became lawyers. Several of the last are among the rising young attorneys of Pittsburgh.
"That Indiana is becoming a centre of educa- tional influence and normal-school training is not an accident. From its very inception and through all sacrifices the best citizens of the town and county have freely devoted their time and money to the institution. Among its best friends were John Sutton and Joseph R. Smith,
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widely-known and public-spirited men, who were part of its board of trustees from its first organization until their deaths. Hon. Silas M. Clark, of the Supreme Bench of the State, was also an original trustee, and is now president of the board."
In 1874, Dr. Snyder united in marriage with Maggie Estella Smith, daughter of James B. Smith, of Westmoreland county. To their union have been born three children: Laura Calloway, Tyndal E., and Clay D., who died January 8, 1890, aged fifteen years.
Dr. Snyder is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has ever well performed every duty of good citizenship. His present field of labor is one for which he is eminently fitted. It is a field adapted to his genius, his varied learning, his skill as an educator and his long experience as a successful disciplinarian ; but it is also a field of labor which leaves but little repose for his well-prepared and vigorous mind. His ideal of education is lofty but not impracti- cable; he would impart to a school the character of a family and would educate so as to fit pupils for intelligent citizenship and usefulness in life as well as for business and professional success. He has studied closely the principles which underlie all true processes of education and has made all his educational methods follow the order of nature. He believes in the natural, progressive and symmetrical development of all the powers and the faculties of the pupil, and bends all his energies to the accomplishment of that result. His success has been highly grati- fying, and while a leader in the new education, the object of which is to give culture and de- velop the power of thought, yet he is never car- ried away by enthusiasm to the introduction or use of any new method that has not been care- fully tested and found to be promotive of true development. Dr. Snyder as a teacher in the common schools, as a college professor, as a principal of graded schools, as superintendent of city schools and as president for the last year
of one of the largest and most advanced Normal schools in the United States, has had wide and successful experience in studying the needs of our common school system and especially the lack of properly qualified teachers. By correct normal training of teachers, he would seek to inaugurate the reforms so much needed in so many of the public schools. While seeking for reforms in the common schools he is also active in introducing needed and valuable improve- ments in normal school work. He is a close student, a clear thinker and a forcible writer and highly appreciated are his labors iu behalf of the normal school system, which is a powerful agent in the upbuilding of our national life.
DANIEL STANARD was the first resident lawyer who located permanently at Indi- ana. He was a native of Vermont, and came here, a young lawyer, in 1807. He was over six feet in height, erect and of commanding presence. His fine appearance would arrest attention anywhere. Although his early educa- tion was limited, by study and application he became a man of more than ordinary intelligence on most subjects.
" He was a successful practitioner of the law up till 1836, when he retired from active prac- tice, and died March 4, 1867, at the age of eighty-five years."
TTON. THOMAS ST. CLAIR, M.D. Among the many sons of Indiana county whose talents, opinions and public services have made them eminent in civil affairs, none are better or more favorably known for ability and integrity than Ex-Senator Thomas St. Clair, one of the public men and leading physicians of western Pennsylvania. He is a son of James and Jennie (Slemmons) St. Clair, and was born in what is now White township, In-
Thos Ablain
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INDIANA COUNTY.
diana county, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1824. Sen- ator St. Clair is of Scotch-Irish descent, and is a descendant of the St. Clair family of Scot- land, which was founded in the middle ages by Sir Walderne de St. Clair, a Norman knight, who married Margaret, daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy. Their second son, Wil- liam, settled in Scotland, and one of his de- scendants, William St. Clair, became prince of the Orkneys, under the King of Norway, and High Chancellor of Scotland under the Royal house of Bruce. In 1741 the St. Clairs ex- changed their lofty title and island domains for the earldom of Caithness, which they still hold under the Anglicized name of Sinclair. Two of the descendants of one of these earls, through a younger son, were Gen. Arthur St. Clair, president of the Continental Congress in 1787, and commander-in-chief of the armies of tlie United States in 1791, and his cousin, James St. Clair, Sr., a Revolutionary soldier and grandfather of Ex-Senator Thomas St. Clair. James St. Clair, Sr., whose parents were natives of the north of Ireland, was born in 1741, in eastern Pennsylvania, where he owned a valu- able farm and mill, nine miles from York. He served throughout the Revolutionary war, mar- ried a Miss Miller and died in York county in 1806, at the age of sixty-five years. One of his sons was James St. Clair (father), who was born in York (now Adams) county, May 1, 1774, and died in Centre township, this county, April 8, 1855, aged eighty-one years. He came to Brush Valley township in 1809, and subsequently removed to what is now the north- ern part of White township, where he followed farming for many years. He was an old-line whig in politics, and married Jennie Slemmons, of Irish descent. They were the parents of ten children. Mrs. Jennie St. Clair was born in Lancaster, but reared in Washington county, was a member of the Presbyterian church, and passed away October 15, 1855, at seventy-one years of age. She was a daughter of William
Slemmons (maternal grandfather), who re- moved, in 1790, from Lancaster to Washington county, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1820, when he was in the sixtieth year of his age. He had received appointments from the governor of justice of the peace continuing for thirty years. His wife was a Miss Boggs, by whom he had seve- ral children. He was noted for his great gen- erosity, open-handed liberality, scrupulous hon- esty and warm-hearted hospitality.
Thomas St. Clair was reared on his father's farm until he was fifteen years of age. He re- ceived his literary education in the common schools and Indiana academy. In 1843, at nineteen years of age, he commenced the study of medicine with the late Dr. John W. Jenks, of Punxsutawney, but at the expiration of one year removed to Indiana, where he completed the required course of reading with Dr. James M. Stewart. In 1845 he entered Jefferson Medical college, and was graduated from that well-known institution in 1847. He then re- turned to Indiana, where he formed a partner- ship with Dr. Stewart, which lasted for two years. At the end of that time (1849) he opened an office for himself, and has practiced there as a physi- cian and surgeon continuously and successfully ever since. He was the first surgeon west of the Allegheny mountains, in Pennsylvania, who ever successfully removed an ovarian tumor. The first tumor of this kind which he removed weighed forty pounds, and since then he has performed this operation fourteen times, and in every case successfully. He has been a mem- ber and steward of the M. E. church for the last five years. He has served his borough as a member of its council, and was president of the Indiana County Agricultural society for three years. His political career commenced in 1864, when he was elected by the Republi- can party as State Senator from the Thirty- seventh Senatorial District of Pennsylvania, composed of the counties of Indiana and Arm-
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
strong. In 1876 he was re-elected from the Thirty-seventh district, then composed of the counties of Indiana and Jefferson, and again served as a member of the State Senate from 1877 to 1880. During his entire service in that distinguished body he carefully guarded and faithfully advocated the interests of his · constituents of all parties, and upon questions of State and national character always favored a conservative but yet firm and honorable course of action.
Senator St. Clair was married on February 24, 1848, to Charlotte D. Patton, who was a daughter of John Patton, and who died in June, 1868. On March 30, 1869, he married for his second wife, Sarah, daughter of Moses Walker, of Washington county. By his first marriage he had seven children : John P., who married Martha Daugherty, and is proprietor of a flour- ing-mill, at Homer City ; James H., of Indiana ; Dr. Charles M., who graduated at Jefferson Medical college in 1878, practiced with his father for ten years, married Sarah D., daugh- ter of Dr. James. M. Taylor, and is now exten- sively engaged in the flouring-mill business, at Latrobe, Pa .; Charlotte D., married to J. Les- lie Hazlett; Jennie S., who died when young, in 1862 ; Mary L., wife of Griffith Ellis; and Josephine.
During the war he was connected with the surgeon-general's volunteer surgical corps, and attended the wounded after the Seven Days' fight and the battle of Gettysburg. He is a reform republican in politics, and, with the proverbial independence of his Scotch-Irish blood, always has the courage of his convic- tions in voting for or against the nominees of the Republican party. In the gubernator- ial contest of 1890 he believed that the true interests of Pennsylvania demanded the de- feat of the "ring rule " and " bossism " of the Republican party, and took the stunıp in favor of "Pattison and Reform," the same as he did so successfully in 1882. As the sworn
and unrelenting enemy of all "cliques" and " rings," whose unscrupulous methods so often defeat the will of the people, Senator St. Clair commands a large political following in all par- ties, and wields a great influence over the agri- cultural and industrial classes. As a public speaker he is logical, earnest, eloquent aud truthful. Thomas St. Clair has lived a consci- entious and blameless life, and is lacking in none of those generous and nobler traits which bind man to man by the golden ties of esteem and friendship.
TAMES ST. CLAIR, one of the progressive
men of Indiana, who by his assiduity, honesty and frugality has gained a good repu- tation in mercantile circles, is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Miller) St. Clair, and was born in White township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1844. He is of Scotch descent, and is the great-grandson of the old Revolu- tionary soldier, James St. Clair, Sr. James St. Clair (grandfather) was born in what is now Adams (then York) county, May 4, 1774, and died in the spring of 1855. He was a hale, hearty man, and full of energy when he moved, in 1816, into White township, where he took up a quarter section of government land. His wife was Jennie Stemmons, a native of Lancaster county. She died in the same year as her hus- band and when in the seventy-second year of her age. They left nine children. Their son, Isaac St. Clair (father), was born in "Little York," York, county, in 1816, and came with his father into Indiana county when a child. He was a farmer in White township, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He was a life-long republican, casting his first presi- dential vote for Gen. W. H. Harrison and his last vote for Benjamin Harrison. He married Sarah Miller, a native of Ireland, who was brought to this country by her parents while an infant. She lives in Indiana, is a member of
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INDIANA COUNTY.
the Presbyterian church and is in the seventy- fourth year of her age.
James St. Clair, named in memory of his grandfather, was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the farm until the oil fever of 1870, when he went out as an oil prospector. He returned in one year and served as a clerk for the Adams Express com- pany for three years. He has been a dealer in agricultural implements ever since 1875, and has prospered in that line of business. His well-stocked establishment is sitnated in a busi- ness part of the town.
He married Amanda Jane, daughter of John and Eliza Anthony, of Indiana, in 1872, and has three children : Vernie, Helen and James E.
He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a republican in politics. The St. Clairs are a long-lived race and the descendants of those who emigrated from Scotland to this country have all evinced their Scotch origin by their industry and thrift.
WI ILLIAM M. STEWART, formerly a leading member of the Indiana connty bar and now a well-known citizen and promi- nent business man of Philadelphia, is a son of Dr. James M. and Matilda E. (Elliott) Stewart, and was born at Frankstown, Huntington county, Pennsylvania, Jannary 15, 1817. Dr. James M. Stewart was born in Huntingdon, where lie was well educated and read medicine with Dr. Henderson. He attended the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated. He came, in 1814, to Indiana, where he practiced medicine and surgery for one year, when his house and library bnrned and he returned to his native county. After one year's practice in Hunting- don county, he came back to Indiana, where he was professionally engaged until his death, which occurred March 27, 1869, wlien he was
in the seventy-eighth year of his age. His practice extended into all the surrounding conn- ties of Indiana and he was a man who ntterly despised every form of irregular practice that had any tendency to imposition. He represent- ed this connty in the Legislature in 1831, but refused a re-election in order to give his entire time and attention to his profession. In 1849, Gov. Johnston appointed him associate judge of Indiana connty, which position he held for five years. Dr. Stewart was appointed, by Gov. Curtin, during the late war, as one of the board of surgeons for examining surgeons, and set with his associates, Dr. Trail Green, of Easton, Pa., and Dr. Smith, of Philadelphia, for that pur- pose. He was highly complimented by his medical brethren for the efficient manner in which he discharged his duties. He was in favor of only passing young men who were fully competent. It is said that his examina- tions were the most exhanstive and cansed great trepidation among the applicants for positions. His services were demanded by eminent persons at a great distance, one of whom was Judge Jeremiah Black. Dr. James M. Stewart was a son of Judge David Stewart, of Huntingdon connty. Dr. Stewart was a republican in poli- tics and married Matilda Elliott, danghter of Judge Benjamin Elliott, a prominent citizen of Huntingdon county. Mrs. Stewart passed away in 1862.
William M. Stewart was reared at Indiana and received his education at Jefferson college, from which he was graduated in September, 1837. After graduation, he read law witlı Judge Reed, of Carlisle, Pa., who was the prin- cipal of a law school in that place, was examined by Judges Gallagher and Watts and Charles B. Penrose and was admitted to the Indiana county bar in 1839. He then opened an office, was very careful and successful in the management of his cases and soon rose to the front rank in his profession. In 1854, Judge Clark entered his office as a law student and
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
four years later became a member of the firm of Stewart & Clark, which continued in exist- ence until 1875. In 1873, Mr. Stewart re- moved to Philadelphia where he had engaged, in 1869, in the banking business with B. K. Jamison, succeeding partner of P. F. Kelly & Co., under the firm-name of Jamison & Co. It is a private bank and is located on the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia.
On July 13, 1847, he was married to Eliza- beth Clopper, daughter of Edward Clopper, of Greensburg, and a very kind and estimable woman and granddaughter of Hon. John Young, president judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania (see his sketch). They have four sons, of whom William M., Jr., the youngest, is an active member of the Philadel- phia bar. The eldest, James M., is civil engineer for the Oregon Pacific railroad, Oregon.
During his legal career of over thirty years at the Indiana bar Mr. Stewart had a more ex- tensive practice than any other lawyer in the county. He is a republican in politics, was a candidate in 1862 for Congress against John L. Dawson, of Fayette county, and was defeated by a very small majority in his district, then democratic by a large majority. In that con- test Indiana county honored him with the largest majority which she ever gave a repub- lican candidate for any office. Mr. Stewart was a member of the whig convention which nominated Henry Clay in 1844 and was one of the delegates from Pennsylvania to the Chicago National republican convention of 1860, who voted for Abraham Lincoln when Cameron's name was withdrawn. He now gives his at- tention mainly to financial matters. He was for a number of years president of the First National bank of Indiana, and is now president of Saltsburg bank, besides being a member of the banking firm of Jamison & Co., of Phila- delphia. He resides at No. 2008 Walnut street, and he and his wife are consistent mem- bers of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal
church, of Philadelphia, of which he has been a vestryman for ten years. He is a man of good judgment, enterprising, although conserva- tive and cautious, and his counsels in financial matters, when fully followed, always lead to a successful and honorable disposition of any problem under consideration.
JOHN T. STUCHUL, an active, progress- ive and successful member of the Indiana county bar, is a son of Robert H. and Hannah D. (Thompson) Stuchul, and was born in South Mahoning township, Indiana county, Pennsyl- vania, May 12, 1855. The Stuchul family is of German extraction and the American branch is descended from ancestors who emigrated from Holland to this country in an early day. Jolın T. Stuchul's paternal great-grandfather was Christopher Stuchul (the name is written Stuchul, al and ell by different families of the name). He was a farmer in Washington town- ship, where he settled when it was principally a wilderness. He was a son of John Stuchul, who came to what is now White township about 1785. Christopher Stuchul was a farmer. One of his sons was John Stuchul (grandfather), who was born in Washington township in 1796 and died in 1852. He was a farmer, a member of the Associate Presbyterian or Seceder churcli and married Rebecca Mahan, who bore him seven sons and one daughter. Three of these sons-John, Christopher and William-served during the late war, in which Christopher died. Another son, Robert H. Stuchul (father), was born August 28, 1826, in Washington township, and moved with his father to Mahoning town- ship when about six years of age. He is a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of South Mahoning township. He is a hard-working and thorough-going man, an earnest meniber of the United Presbyterian church and a republi- can who has always worked faithfully in the interest of his party. He married Hannah D.
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INDIANA COUNTY.
Thompson, who was born in South Mahoning township, August 7, 1835, and is a member of the United Presbyterian church. Her father, James Thompson, married to Eliza Wilson, was a native of this county and died in 1842. He was a farmer by occupation and was a son of Robert Thompson, married to Hannah Simpson, who was a son of James Thompson, Sr., mar- ried to Mary Parks, who was of Scotcli descent. They were all members of the Seceder church. James Thompson was a native of eastern Penn- sylvania and in company with the Moorheads and other early settlers came into this county, where they located near the present county- seat.
John T. Stuchul was reared on his father's farm in South Mahoning towuship, where he received his early education in the common schools. He pursued his academic studies in Dayton academy and Plumville select school, and studied the languages under Rev. D. H. Blair, a private tutor who was a classical scholar and a successful teacher. At eighteen years of age he commenced life for himself by engaging in school work, which he followed for seven years. He then (1880) left the profession of teaching, entered the office of Hon. A. W. Taylor, of Indiana, as a law student, and after completing the required course of reading was admitted, in June, 1882, to the Indiana county bar. Immediately after admission he opened a law-office and has been steadily engaged since in building up the present lucrative practice which he enjoys.
October 28, 1886, he united in marriage with May Tucker, daughter of George Tucker, of South Mahoning township. To their union has been born one child, a daughter, named Martha Thompson Stuchul, born Nov. 30, 1887.
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