USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 53
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
well-selected stock of drugs, proprietary medi- cines and toilet articles and enjoys a good trade.
November 2, 1865, Capt. Cochran united in marriage with Martha M. Jackson, daughter of John Jackson and sister to Gen. S. M. Jackson, of Apollo (whose sketch appears in this volume). They have niue children : Stella M., wife of C. W. Bollinger ; A. Bright, who is in the drug business with his father; Lizzie B., Effie T., Annie M., Margaretta K., Frank W., T. Clyde, aud James H. Chambers Cochran.
Capt. Cochran is a republican and frequently is a delegate to conventions of his party. He is a member of Apollo Council, No. 168, Royal Arcanum, Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 1993, Knights of Honor, Encampment No. 1, Union Veteran Legion, and Chas. Whitworth Post, No. 89, Grand Army of the Republic. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian church for several years, and is a man of sound judgment and cor- rect business principles. He is active in church work, is conscientious and zealous in whatever he undertakes, and by honesty, energy and in- dustry has always sought to wiu success.
W. J. ELWOOD. The name of Elwood has been associated with Apollo since its first settlement. William Elwood, the grandfather of W. J. Elwood, settled on Tur- tle creek, Westmoreland conuty, Pa., in the year 1783. His son John came to Apollo, or, as it was then known, Warren, in 1831, where he was married to Mary Patterson, of Washington county, and where they resided until his death, in 1872. They had born to them four sons, one of whom, B. F., died when quite young. W. J., R. D., and T. J. are still living. Their names were identified with the M. E. church, in which they were active and useful members. In politics John Elwood was a whig, but early took sides with the Abolition party, casting the first abolition ticket ever voted in Apollo. By occupation he was a cab-
inet-maker, also contractor and builder. He was an active citizeu aud interested in all the moral enterprises of his day. Of his three sons now living, R. D. served throngh the war as captain in the 78th regiment, Pa. Vols. At the close of the war the three brothers associ- ated in the mercantile aud manufacturing busi- ness under the firm-name of Elwood Bros., which firm was dissolved in 1873, W. J. re- maining in Apollo, R. D. removing to Pitts- burgh, where he is now engaged in business, and T. J. to Leechburg, where he still resides.
W. J. Elwood, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1835. His occupation was that of a carpenter uutil his counection with his bro- thers in business. On the dissolution of the co-partnership he established a business of his own, which, by careful attention aud good bus- iness qualifications, has been highly successful. He is a respected member of the M. E. church as well as an active and esteemed citizeu.
On January 16, 186-, he was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of James McCauley, living near Apollo. His family consists of seven sons and three daughters: R. D., who is in business with his father ; Min- erva, a teacher ; John S., a bookkeeper iu the Apollo Rolliug-mill; James McCauley, a stu- dent at Elder's Ridge academy ; Elizabeth, Belle, William F., Russell, Charles and Wal- ter F.
Politically, W. J. Elwood is a republican, and keeps himself well informed on political affairs. He has been closely identified with the trade and prosperity of his town for over a quarter of a century, and is always interested in any enterprise calculated to promote the growth and prosperity of Apollo.
TOHN M. FISCUS, one of Grant's veterans of the Army of the Potomac, and an ex- perienced iron-worker and popular republican of Apollo, was born on the Fiscus homestead
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ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
farm, in Valley township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1841, and is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Martin) Fiscus. Christopher Fiscus, from which the Armstrong county family of that name is descended, was a native of France, and emigrated from that country to the United States during the latter half of the eighteenth century. He followed farming in Westmoreland and Armstrong coun- ties for many years. He owned six hundred acres of land in this county, was a thorough- going man and a successful farmer, married and reared a family of several sons and daugh- ters. One of the sons was Abraham Fiscus, the father of the subject of this sketch, and who was born in what is now Burrell township in 1791, and died in 1853, at sixty-nine years of age.
He was a farmer, who took commendable pride in always having his farm neat and clean. Just, generous and sympathetic, he was popular in his community, where he was often consulted by his neighbors on business affairs. He was a lutheran in religious faith, a republican in politics and served as one of the first officers of Valley township, when it was organized, in 1835. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, serving under Gen. William Henry Harrison. He was twice married; his first wife was a Miss Ourie, who bore him seven children, of whom six are living. After her death he married Elizabeth Martin, who was a daughter of John Martin, of Allegheny township, and died in 1853, aged seventy-seven years. By his second marriage he had eight children : Sarah J., Sidney, Elizabeth, John M., William, Harry, Hugh and Amanda.
John M. Fiscus was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools of his native township. Leaving school, he worked on his father's farm until the late war commenced. On September 3, 1861, he en- listed in Co. K, 78th regiment, Pa. Vols., and served until March, 1863, when he was dis-
charged on account of disability from a severe spell of sickness. As soon as his health was sufficiently recruited (September 3, 1864), he enlisted in Co. H, 5th regiment, Pa. Vols., was promoted to sergeant and served until June 30, 1865, when his company was discharged. He performed cheerfully whatever duty was re- quired of him as a soldier and as an officer. While in the last company, which was known as Battery H, Heavy Artillery, he served in front of Washington, at Manassas and on the Rapidan. When the war was ended he came to Apollo, where, on August 3, 1865, he engaged as a common laborer, at one dollar and twenty- five cents per day, in the old sheet-iron mill. After some time he secured the position of heater, which he held until 1874, when he went to Pittsburgh, where he became a sheet- roller in the rolling-mill of Moorehead, Mc- Clean & Co. In June, 1887, he returned to Apollo, and two months afterwards was em- ployed as a sheet-roller in the Apollo rolling- mill, which position he still holds.
On July 26, 1863, he was married to Annie M. Stiveson, daughter of William Stiveson. Their children are : Lizzie C., wife of M. E. Haddock ; William S., married Minnie Shoe- maker, and is a sheet-roller in the Apollo roll- ing-mill ; Lolla M., Hugh W., a heater; and Logan T., now learning the trade of sheet- roller.
John M. Fiscus is a member of Mineral Point Lodge, No. 615, I. O. O. F., Apollo Council, No. 168, Royal Arcanum, and George G. McMurtrie Command, No. 14, U. V. U., which he organized at Apollo, March 1st, 1888. He is also a member of the Amalga- mated Association of Iron and Steel workers. John M. Fiscus is a prominent republican, and an active worker in his party. He is a high tariff advocate, and believes that the success of "protection " principles means good wages, sound prosperity and the highest possible devel- opment of home industries.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
JACOB FREETLY is a resident of Apollo borough, Armstrong county, Pa. He was born in Lancaster county on the 8th day of July, A.D. 1816. His father, John Freetly, was of German descent, and his mother, Mary (Logan) Freetly, was of Irish parentage. They had eight children, two sons and six daughters. John Freetly, the eldest son, was educated at the Western university, Pittsburgh, Pa., and studied divinity at the Theological seminary, Allegheny, Pa. He was pastor of the United Presbyterian church, Henderson county, Ill. He and three of his sisters died in that State, the other three sisters dying in Pennsylvania, leav- ing Jacob Freetly, the youngest child, the only surviving member of the family. His mother died when he was two, and his father when he was four years of age, leaving him to the care of an elder sister, with whom he remained until he was eight years of age. He was then taken by a family by the name of Reed, with whom he remained ten years, during which time he worked on the farm for his board and clothing. After leaving John Reed, who at that time resided in York county, on the banks of the Susquehanna river, he labored at farm work in the summer and attended school in the winter working morning and evening to pay his board, until he acquired sufficient education to teach. After saving some money he entered the West- ern university, Pittsburgh, Pa., and pursued the study of the higher branches under Dr. Bruce, then president of that institution, and minister of the Seceder church of that city. He read law under Hon. Thomas Mellon, and was ad- mitted to practice his profession in 1849.
Jacob Freetly was admitted to the Armstrong county Bar in 1851, and is still engaged in the active practice of his chosen profession. He was married September 10, 1835, to Fanny McKee Boggs, daughter of David and Mary Boggs, and sister of Hon. Jackson Boggs, who was for several years judge of the courts of Armstrong county. Jacob Freetly was the father of five
children, of whom John and Cyrus died in in- fancy. Mary Jane, the oldest daughter, was born September 20, 1837, and was educated principally by her father. She is an active member of the M. E. Church at Apollo. She married John B. Guthrie, Esq., son of James Guthrie, of Apollo borough, and an attorney- at-law by profession. To them were born two children: Lauretta A., who is a graduate of the Blairsville Ladies' seminary. Slie was for sev- eral years engaged in the profession of teaching. She is a member of the M. E. church, and actively engaged in church and Sunday-school work. Walter J. (see sketch), a graduate of Allegheny college, and by profession an attorney- at-law. The second daughter, Annie E., was born November 14, 1839, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. She is married to Samuel Smith, a nailer by profession, who has acquired considerable property and a comforta- ble and respectable home and position at Sharon, Mercer county, Pa. They have one daughter, Mamie McKee. She is a graduate of the Sharon high school, and for several years has been engaged in the profession of teaching, in which she has achieved more than ordinary suc- cess. The only living son, David Boggs Freetly, was born October 31, 1843, received a good school education ; was a private in the 139th regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Co. E, under Captain Sample and Col. Colure. He is now engaged in the production of oil in the Armstrong county oil fields, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Jacob Freetly is one of the oldest members of the Armstrong county bar, and it may be truly said that the legal profession has no superior in the business world. In every county in the State it has its able advocates, and Armstrong county is not inferior to its neighboring coun- ties for honest and intelligent attorneys. In politics Mr. Freetly is a republican, and has served as burgess and poor director for a num- ber of years at Apollo. He is a member of the
Quincy A Fullerlow
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ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
Presbyteriau church. In his field of profes- sional labor he has been a quiet but active and successful practitioner for over forty years. His life recorded is one of activity and usefulness.
REV. JOHN Q. A. FULLERTON, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Apollo, a popular minister of education and ability, and a faithful Union officer of the late war, is a de- scendant of the distinguished Fullerton family of eastern Pennsylvania. He was born iu Al- legheny city, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1845, and is a son of Humphrey and Nancy (Gormley) Fullerton. The Fullertons are of Scotch-Irish origin, and have been au American family, by residence, for nearly two centuries. The family has produced, both in the old and the new world, many men who have distinguished themselves in civil and polit- ical life and in the learned professions. Rev. John Q. A. Fullerton is a lineal descendant in the fourth generation from Hon. Humphrey Fullerton, the first president judge of Franklin county, and whose grandfather received a sword from King William, for his courage at the bat- tle of the Boyne, and whose father came from Scotland or Ireland to Chester county, Pa., in 1723. Judge Humphrey Fullerton's son, Hon. David Fullerton, was born in Lancaster county iu 1772, received a fine education, removed to Franklin county, where he was successively a farmer, a president of the Greencastle bank and a politician. He was an old-line whig, a great admirer of Henry Clay, and a man of great firmness. He was a member of the State Sen- ate of Pennsylvania for twelve years in succes- sion. He was elected a representative from Pennsylvania to the Sixteenth Cougress, in which he served and was active in the discussion of the Missouri Compromise. When he left con- gress he declined a reuomination and returned to Greencastle, where he died February 1, 1843. His son, Humphrey Fullerton, was born in
Frankliu county in 1795, and died in Califor- nia iu 1849. He received a good education, but preferred a business pursuit to a professional life and engaged in the general mercantile busi- uess in Pittsburgh, which he followed uutil his death. He married Nancy Gormley, who was born in Allegheny county in 1811, and died in Allegheny city in 1871. Mrs. Fullerton was a daughter of John Gormley, who was one of the early business men of Pittsburgh. Iu 1803 the first successful iron business in that city, the Pittsburgh iron fouudry, was built by Joseph McClurg, Joseph Smith and John Gormley, on the site of the post-office building, corner of Smithfield street aud Fifth avenue. At that foundry were made, in 1811-12, the first can- non west of the Allegheny mountains, and the first water-pipe, and the first rolls were also made there. James Hartley, a workman there, discovered the art of successfully making chilled rolls.
Ou both sides Rev. John Q. A. Fullerton is of pure covenanter descent and related also to all the ministers of his name who are couuected with the Presbyterian church in this country. He was reared in Allegheny city, Pa., and Bucyrus, Ohio. After completing his academic studies iu 1866, he entered Priuceton college, from which time-honored institution he was graduated June 30, 1869. With a view to en- tering the Christian ministry he left college to enter upon the study of theology. He eutered Princeton Theological seminary, from which he was graduated April 29, 1873. In the same year he became pastor of the Presbyterian church at Dillsburg, York county, which he served until 1879, when he accepted a call from Curwensville, Clearfield county, and was pastor of that church for six years. Ou January 1, 1885, he came to Apollo and assumed charge of the Apollo Presbyterian church, which he has served very satisfactorily and most successfully ever since. When he eutered upon his pastoral duties, the church had two huudred and fifty
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
members ; it now lias a membership of four hundred. In addition to the charge of this church, he serves Spring church, five miles east of Apollo, and under his charge it has been steadily prosperous.
On August 24, 1871, he united in marriage with Ella Van Doren, of Princeton, New Jer- sey. To their union have been born three children : Jessie Quarrier, Boyd Van Doren and David Humphrey.
When the call to arms was sounded in 1861, Rev. Fullerton was in Ohio, where, on July 30, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 34th regiment, Ohio Infantry (or Piatt Zouaves). He was immediately elected sergeant, was promoted to second licutenant October 10, 1862, then to first lieutenant March 2, 1864, when he was made adjutant of the regiment, which position he held until September 14, 1864, when his term of enlistment expired. He served in West Virginia for some time, where his regi- ment encountered, in their line of duty, every conceivable hardship of military life. He was in the battles of Fayetteville, Lynchburg and Wytheville, in Hunter's disastrous raid and many other lesser engagements. His regiment was then transferred to the Shenandoah Valley and fought under Sheridan. He escaped un- hurt in the various battles in which he was en- gaged, except Fayetteville, where he was struck in the wrist by a rifle-ball. He is a member of Charles S. Whitworth Post, No. 89, G. A. R., at Apollo. Rev. Fullerton is an active and persistent worker in his important field for the advancement of morality and Christianity, and his labors have been blest with abundant suc- cess.
W TALTER J. GUTHRIE, ex-editor of the Apollo Herald, and a young and rising member of the Armstrong county bar, is a son of Capt. John B. and Mary J. (Freetly) Guth- rie, and was born at Apollo, Armstrong County,
Pennsylvania, September 9, 1863. The Guth- rie family is of Scotch origin. The great- grandparents of Walter J. Guthrie were Wil- liam and Agnes (Dixon) Guthrie, who were among the carly settlers of Westmoreland county. They settled near the site of New Salem, where they underwent all the privations of frontier life with the characteristic endurance of the Scottish race, and eventually secnred for themselves a comfortable home. One of their sons, James Guthrie (grandfather), was born in their Westmoreland home, September 20, 1806. In 1833 he came to Apollo, where he died in 1882. He purchased a farm, upon which a part of the town stands to-day. He devoted his life to business pursuits, in which he was very successful. He was a heavy stockholder in the old Warren bridge, was a strong whig, and served as justice of the peace. Hc was one of the founders of the Apollo M. E. church, and married a Miss Beatty, who died in a few years, and left one child, Capt. Jolin B. Guth- rie, father of the subject of this sketch. Capt. John B. Guthrie was born on the old Guthrie homestead farm in 1835, and died on Septem- ber 21, 1875. He received a very good edu- cation, read law, and was admitted to the bar of Armstrong county in 1857. He was en- gaged in the practice of his profession until the late war, when he raised a company of a regi- ment of Pa. Vols., and served his country faithfully.
After the war he resumed the practice of law; but his health became impaired and inter- fered, to a great extent, with his practice. He spent several winters in the south, and made an extended trip throughout the great west for the benefit of his health, but did not experience much relief, Shortly after Gen. Hartranft's inauguration as governor of Pennsylvania, Capt. Guthrie became a clerk in the surveyor- general's office, and served as such for two years. Through the summer of 1875 he failed gradually, and during the autumn days (Sep-
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ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
tember 21st) passed peacefully into the great beyond. He was a republican, a Free Mason and one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge at Apollo. He liad been for many years a prominent and devoted member of the Apollo M. E. church, of whose Sunday school he had been superintendent for several years. He was an exemplary Christian, a kind friend to those in distress and a conscientious man in all that he did. As a citizen, as a lawyer and as a man, none stood higher in his section of Armstrong county than Capt. John B. Gutlirie. He mar- ried Mary J. Freetly, who is a daughter of Jacob Freetly, of Apollo. (See his sketch.) They had two children : Laura A. and Walter J.
Walter J. Guthrie was reared at Apollo. He attended the public schools and Blairsville academy, and in 1880 entered Allegheny col- lege, Pa., from which institution of learning he was graduated in 1884. He then entered tlie office of Joshua Reynolds, and commenced the study of law, which he finished with his grand- father, Jacob Freetly, of Apollo. He was ad- mitted to the Armstrong county bar in Sep- tember, 1887, immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Apollo, and since April 1, 1890, has been a member of the law- firm of Freetly & Guthrie. During two years of the time in which he was pursuing his legal studies he was editor of the Apollo Herald. He is well read in his profession, and is secu- ring a good practice.
Mr. Guthrie is a republican in politics. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, with which he has been identified for several years. He is a member of Lodge and Chapter, and Tancred Commandery, Knights Templar, of Pittsburgh.
A RMAND C. HAMMITT, well-known in social circles of Apollo, is the eldest son of Isaac and Hannah (Cox) Hammitt, and was born December 18, 1854, in Mckeesport, Allegheny
county, Pa. His grandfather, Isaac Hammitt, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, was a sailor in his youth, afterwards taking up boat-building as an occupation. He helped to build the vessels that Commodore Perry commanded in his fam- ous naval victory at Put-In Bay, on Lake Erie. Later in life he moved to the Monongahela Val- ley, where he died. His son, Isaac Hammitt (father), was born in Louisville, Ky., and fol- lowed the same occupation as his father, boat- building, having learned that trade in Philadel- phia. He worked in various localities between Pittsburgh and New Orleans, building many steam-boats, some of which are still plying up and down the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Be- ing a good draughtman, he drew the plans for, and superintended the building of two gun- boats for the Federal government during the great Rebellion. He was also engaged in ship- ping coal to points on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Some of tlie boats for which he drew the plans are still used on the Volga river in Russia. He remained actively engaged in his occupation until a few months before his death. He married Hannah Cox, whose father was a coal merchant of Pittsburgh. They had five children, of whom three sons are living : Armand C., Murat, of Mckeesport, and Sheridan, who makes his home at Apollo.
Armand C. Hammitt was educated in the public schools of Mckeesport, learned the trade of machinist in the Mckeesport locomotive works, and worked for the company owning those works for six years. He has been a roll- turner for some ten years, six of which he lias been in the employment of the Apollo Iron and Steel company.
On the 24th of September, 1885, lic married Virginia Jackson, daughter of Gen. Samuel M. Jackson, of Apollo. They have two children : Samuel Jackson and John K.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and votes the republican ticket, taking an active part in local politics. He is a mem-
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
ber of the borough council, and the Masonic Fraternity. Armand C. Hammitt is one of the progressive young men of Apollo, fully im- bued with the true spirit of enterprise, and deeply interested in the advancement of his borough.
GEORGE M. HUNTER, a skilled and ex- 5 perienced steel and iron worker, and one of Apollo's reliable citizens, was born in Fawn township, Allegheny county, Pa., November 26, 1859, and is a son of Rev. John and Mar- garct (Keever) Hunter. Nearly a century ago John Hunter, the paternal grandfather of George M. Hunter, came from Ireland to east- ern Pennsylvania, and in a short time removed to Allegheny county, where he followed farming and where he died when an octogenarian in years. He was a presbyterian and a democrat. He married Mary Hunter, who was in no wise related to him, and by whom he had eight children. The next to the oldest child was Rev. John Hunter (father), who was born in Mifflin county in 1813, and came first to Butler county in 1837, then removed to Allegheny county in 1839 and in 1874 came to Apollo, where he died June 8, 1886, aged seventy-three years. He was a man of good education, although self-educated. He was a strong republican, was one of the seven members of the first abolition society in Allegheny county, and had two sons who served in the late war. He was genial and sympathetic and served for many years as a local minister in the M. E. church. He served as school director for several years, was a prominent Free Mason and never was neutral on any question of in- terest or importance. For several years before his death he had acted as a general agent for H. G. Fink's medical house. He was over six feet in height, weighed two hundred pounds, and start- ing with no means whatever, acquired a com- petency. He married Margaret Keever, daughter of John Keever, by whom he had eleven chil-
dren, of whom six are living: John K., a ma- chinist, of Owensboro', Pa; Samuel, a book- keeper, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Kate, widow of W. C. White; Albert, a carpenter, of Topeka, Kan., employed by the Santa Fé R. R .; Ma- tilda M., teaching at Apollo, and George M.
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