USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 67
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Augustus T. Pontius was reared on a farm. He received his education in the common schools and Dayton Union academy. He re- mained on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, and taught several terms of school. He then entered the office of Dr. J. R. Crouch, of Dayton, and read medicine until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Co. B, 139th regt., Pa. Vols. He was successively promoted from fifth to first duty sergeant, and was in the line of promotion to a commissioned officer when his right arm was shattered in front of Petersburg, and had to be amputated at the shoulder. He was taken from Petersburg to the hospital at Chester, Pa., from which he was discharged June 14, 1865. He was in the various battles of lis regiment, and always performed his duty unflinchingly and with alacrity. The next year after he returned home, in 1865, he was elected on the republican ticket as county commissioner, and was re-elected in 1869. From 1872 to 1880 he was engaged in the fire insurance busi- ness at Parker City and Kittanning. In 1876 le came to Parker City, where he was commis- sioned as postmaster by Hayes in 1878, and served as such until 1885, when he was removed by Cleveland for making political speeches. He then engaged in the general mercantile business,
which he has followed successively until the present time.
In 1867 he married Laura S. Goodheart, daughter of Dr. George Goodheart, of Dayton, this county.
In politics Mr. Pontius is a straight republi- can, and although active in behalf of his party, yet is not a ward- politician. He served as mayor of Parker City in 1887 and 1888, has been a member of the common and select coun- cil and is now a member of the comnion coun- cil. He is a steward of the Parker City M. E. church, in which he has been choir leader for several years. As a soldier he was faithful, as a business man he is energetic and successful, and as a public official he has always been and is now prompt, accurate and reliable.
E NRASMUS H. RANDOLPH, ex-mayor of Parker City and proprietor of the well- known Randolph Livery stables, was born in Ze- lienople, Butler county, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1837, and is a son of John and Priscilla (Hall) Randolph. The Randolph family is of Scottish origin, and the American ancestors of Erasmus H. Randolph settled in New Jersey some time during the last century. John Ran- dolph (father) was born in 1805, in New Jer- sey, where his father died in 1812. His mother then brought him to Butler county, where lie was reared and learned the trade of saddlery and harness-making. He conducted a shop at Zeli- enople until 1856, when he purchased a farm near Whitestown, that county, which he tilled until 1863. He then sold his farm, retired from active life and the ensuing year visited his brother, W. H. H. Randolph, who lived in Iowa, and at whose house he died Oct. 8, 1865, aged fifty-nine years, nine months and twenty-three days. He was a democrat in politics and had always been an industrious and honest man. He married Priscilla Hall, who was born in 1812, and is a member of the Presbyterian
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church of Butler, Pa., where she now resides. Their family consisted of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom six are living, four sons and two daughters.
Erasmus H. Randolph was reared at Zelieno- ple and received his education in private and the common schools of Butler county. In 1858 he went to Kansas territory, where he worked for three years at the plastering business with his brother Joseph V. From 1861 to 1864 he was traveling over the western territories and during the winter seasons of that time was engaged in teaching. The death of his father, in 1865, rendered necessary his return home, where in a short time he bought a portable saw- mill, which he operated for three years in Butler county. In July, 1869, he came to Parker City, where he was engaged successfully in the oil business for some ten or twelve years. In 1870 he established his present livery business, in which he has continued up to the present time. He has a selected assortment of fine buggies and a large stock of· excellent saddle and harness horses and gives careful attention to the wants of his numerous patrons.
December 20, 1871, he united in marriage with Mary Seaton, daughter of Hiram Seaton, of Butler county, who was a soldier in the late war and fell in defence of the liberties of his country. They have two sons and three daughters: John M., Mary, Edna, Alma and Louis S.
In addition to his livery stables, Mr. Ran- dolph owns considerable real estate in Parker City. He is an unswerving republican, but liberal in his political views and served his city as mayor for two terms (1880 to 1884) and as a councilman for several terms. He was the first city clerk of Parker City, which he has also served as overseer of the poor. He is a member of Parker City Lodge, No. 521, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and has been a Free Mason for over twenty-five years. Erasmus H. Randolph is one of the reliable business men of his city,
whose interests have always commanded his ac- tive support.
A LEXANDER RUSSELL, owner and pro- prietor of the Russell Iron and Engine works, of Parker City, sustains a high reputa- tion as a skilled machinist and a reliable busi- ness man. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Gillchrist) Russell, and was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, June 9, 1852. Robert Russell was a native of Scotland, where he learned the trade of block-cutter or cutting stamping prints for calicoes. He worked at his trade until 1855, when he came to the United States and four years later located in Pittsburgh, where he followed millwrighting until the com- mencement of the "Great Rebellion." He then enlisted in the Union service and served as an engineer in the Mississippi Valley until the Confederacy went down at Appomattox Court- house. After the close of the war he returned to Pittsburgh, where he has been engaged in engineering ever since. He is a machinist as well as an engineer, and has built many engines. He resides in Allegheny city and is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a republican in politics. He married Elizabeth Gillchrist, who was born in the Highlands of Scotland and is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Alexander Russell was reared principally in Pittsburgh, where lie attended the public schools. At seventeen years of age he commenced to learn the trade of machinist, and served an ap- prenticeship of three years. In 1877 he came to Parker City, where he formed a partnership with O. S. Tinsman, under the firin-name of Tinsman & Russell. This partnership con- tinued until 1885, when Mr. Russell established his present iron and engine works on River avenue. His works are extensive and completely equipped with all late machinery and appliances. Mr. Russell manufactures shafting, pulleys, mill working machinery, engines and fittings. He
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builds engines from ten to one hundred horse- power, and makes a specialty of oil engine repair- ing. His office and works are in a large brick building. He is a practical and expert machinist of twelve years' successful experience, and is a thorough master of his art in all of its branches. Work is done in his establishment in the most expeditious and excellent manner, and all orders, whether large or small, are promptly and reli- ably executed. In politics Mr. Russell is a re- publican from principle and supports the men and measures of his party. He is a good citizen and a reliable man and has served his borough for one term as a member of the town council.
Alexander Russell was married in 1879 to Margaret Lambing, daughter of Jacob Lambing, of Parker City. To their union have been born six children, four sons and two daughters : Elizabeth S., Alexander C., John J., Robert W., Neal and Margaret L.
D R. JOSEPH W. SHARP, a grandson of the old Revolutionary hero and frontier Indian fighter, Capt. Andrew Sharp, and a suc- cessful physician of Dayton, is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Ramsey) Sharp, and was born in Armstrong township, Indiana county, Pennsyl- vania, December 28, 1834. His paternal grand- father was Capt. Andrew Sharp, one of the pioneer settlers of the Plum Creek region. He was a native of Scotland, served as an officer under Washington and died at Pittsburgh, July 8, 1794, of bullet wounds received in his boat on the Kiskiminetas in a fight with Indians (see Plum Creek township). . Joseph Sharp, son of the Revolutionary veteran and pioneer settler, Capt. Andrew Sharp, was born on Crooked creek, this county, in 1785, and died in 1860. He owned a good farm and the first flouring- mill at Sharp's Mills. He was a miller by trade, a United Presbyterian in religious belief, and an old-time democrat in politics. He was justice
of the peace for several years before his death in 1860, wlien his son Thomas was elected as his successor and has served in that office ever since. He married Sarah Ramsey, daughter of Hugh Ramsey, who was a native of Scotland and a member of the Dissenters' or Covenanters' church. To Joseph and Sarah Sharp were born seven children, four sons and three daughters : Andrew, Dr. Joseph W., John, of Johnstown, Pa .; Mary A., who married Morrison Hosack, of Clarion county, and is dead ; Alexander, who en- tered Hampden's battery and served through the late war, after which he went to Ft. Smith, Arkan- sas, where he died ; Sarah A., wife of J. T. Hosack, of Jackson county, Kansas ; and Sarah T., a teacher of Benezette, Pa.
Joseph W. Sharp was reared on the home farm and received a good English education in the schools of his neighborhood. Leaving school, he commenced the study of medicine, entered the Medical college of Cincinnati, where he pursued his studies for one year, and then located at Perryville, Ohio, where he practiced for four years. In 1868 he came to Dayton, where he lias been engaged in continnous and successful practice ever since.
He married Mary A., daugliter of Alex- ander Walker. To Doctor and Mrs. Sharp have been born three children, one son and two daughters: Dr. Otis S., who gradu- ated in 1884 from the Cincinnati Medical col- lege, married Emma Gilhausen and has been engaged in the active practice of his profession at Dayton for the past six years; Margaret E., wife of M. C. Hagan, an oil-driller ; and Etta M., wife of Edgar S. Hilliard, a locomotive engineer of Ft. Worthı, Kansas.
Dr. J. Sharp, while supporting most of the principles of the Republican party, yet is rather independent in his views of political measures, and votes for the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for the office. Without solicita- tion, and often against his protest, he has been elected to various borough offices, which, in obedi-
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
ence to the wish of his fellow-townsmen, he always accepted and filled very creditably.
JOHN T. SMITH, who is successfully en- gaged in the merchant tailoring business at Dayton, was born in Centre county, Penn- sylvania, October 2, 1824, and is a son of Capt. Henry and Catherine (Beal) Smith. His pater- nal grandfather, Henry Smith, Sr., was a native of Germany, where he married. He came to eastern Pennsylvania and subsequently removed to Centre county, where he followed farming. He was a methodist in religious faith, and after arriving in the United States became a demo- crat in political opinion. His son, Capt. Henry Smith, the father of John T. Smith, was born near the city of Philadelphia, and went with his father to Centre county, where he was engaged in farming until his death. He was a lutheran in religious faith, a democrat in politics and a scrupulously honest man in business. He served for several years as captain of one of the militia companies of the State. Hc married Catherine Beal, whose father was a native of England, who had settled in eastern Pennsylvania some time after the close of the Revolutionary war. Captain and Mrs. Smith reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters.
John T. Smith was reared on a farm and received his education in the subscription and common schools of Centre county. He learned the trade of tailor and established himself in the tailoring business at Spring Mills, that county, where he remained for two years. At the end of that time he removed to Smicksburg, Indiana county, which he left after a residence of fifteen years and came (1866) to Dayton, where he opened his present merchant tailoring establishment. He has a large patronage and does a good business.
He married Mary Walker, daughter of Wil- liam Walker, and they have three children, two
sons and one daughter: William H., who re- sides in Pittsburgh; Webster L., engaged in a store in Kansas City, and Eva S., wife of James R. King, who resides at Kittanning, and is pres- ident of the Young Men's Christian association of that place.
John T. Smith owns a good house and lot at Dayton, and is comfortably situated to enjoy life. He is a good workman, has the benefit of over forty years' experience in his line of business and generally gives satisfaction to his numerous patrons. He is a republican in poli- tics and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Dayton. He has served creditably as a member of the borough council, although he takes no part in politics.
0 LIVER TINSMAN, proprietor of the Tinsman machine shops of Parker City, and a thorough-going and active business man, is a veteran of the late war, during which he served as a soldier from Pennsylvania and af- terwards from New Jersey. He was born at Rigglesville, New Jersey, January 10, 1843, and is a son of William and Abigail (Fosben- ner) Tinsman. The American branch of the old and substantial Tinsman family of Holland, that traces its ancestry back into the early his- tory of that country, was founded by a Tinsman, wlio came from Amsterdam and settled in New Jersey some time before the Revolutionary war. One of his sons was Peter Tinsman, the grand- father of Oliver Tinsman, and who was engaged in farming and lumbering in New Jersey until his death. He married and reared a family, and one of his sons was William Tinsman (father), who was a life-long resident of New Jersey. Like his father before him, he turned his entire attention to farming and lumbering. He was a democrat in political opinion and a lutheran in church membership and died in 1878. He married Abigail Fosbenner, who was a daughter of a Mr. Fosbenner, of Bucks
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county, Pa. She was a member of tlie Lutheran church and died at her home in New Jersey, in 1879.
Oliver Tinsman was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools of New Jersey. At sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the trade of machinist, but in 1862 left the shop to enlist in Co. C, 37th regiment, Pa. Vols., for a term of ninety days. He served this time and re-enlisted in 1863, in the 3d regiment, New Jersey Cavalry, for a term of three years, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged in Trenton, New Jersey, August 5, 1865. He was on Gen. Burnside's staff at the Wilder- ness fights, Spottsylvania Court-house, Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg. At Bridge- water he was captured by the Confederates, but in a few minutes was re-captured by his own company. At the close of the war he returned home and finished his trade of machinist. He then (1870) came to the oil region of Penn- sylvania, where he worked at his trade until 1876, when he came to Parker City and estab- lished his present machine shops. He is well prepared to do all kinds of work, and makes a specialty of repairing. He gives personal sup- ervision to all work done in his establishment and has secured a large trade. He is an exper- ienced and skilled workman, an enterprising and successful business man and a peaceable and re- spected citizen.
Oliver Tinsman, in 1876, united in marriage with Olive Sage, daughter of James Sage, of Venango county.
In politics Mr. Tinsman is a republican and has been serving for some time as a member of the borough council. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, and holds membership in Parker Lodge, No. 761 and is a member of the encampment branch of that order. He has some valuable property in Parker City, where he owns a half- interest in the water-works. He also owns a half-interest in the Apollo water-works. He lias
also been engaged, at different times, in the oil business and met with very good success. He is energetic and active in every enterprise in which he engages.
DR. WILLIAM J. WINSHEIMER. Among the inany inventions of the nine- teenth century none are of more importance than those of the dental profession, which science is practiced in all its branches by Dr. William J. Winsheimer, of Parker City. He is a son of Lawrence and Margaret (Zeise) Winsheimer, and was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1850. His grand- father, Michael Winsheimer, was a native of Germany, came to the United States and located in Indiana county, of which he was a farmer and where he died in 1878. Lawrence Win- sheimer (father) came from Germany to the United States, with his parents, and loca- ted in Indiana county. In 1840 lie went to Greensburg, Pa., where he engaged in the tailoring business until 1875, when he retired from active life. He still resides at Greens- burg, is in the seventy-third year of his age and is a member of the Lutheran church at that place. He is a strong democrat. He was appointed by Judge Logan (republican), then of Greensburg, to fill an unexpired term of county coroner, to which office he was afterwards twice elected and filled satisfactorily both times. He married Margaret Zeise, who is a native of Franklin county, and went with her parents to Westmoreland county when quite young. She is a member of the Reformed church, and is now in the sixty-third year of her age. Mrs. Winsheimer's father, Frederick Zeise, was a native of Germany and came to Westmoreland county, of which he was a farmer. He died at Greensburg, in 1873.
William J. Winsheimer was reared at Greens- burg, where he received his education in the public schools and high school. After leaving
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school he assisted his father in the store until 1874, when he began the study of dentistry with Dr. Z. L. Waugaman, a prominent dentist of that place. In 1875 he formed a partner- ship with Dr. Boden, which continued until 1876, when he came to Parker City, where he has continued successfully in the practice of dentistry ever since. His work is always satis- factory, as is shown by the large and permanent patronage he receives in the town and surround . ing country. He was engaged in the oil busi- ness for several years, at the end of which time he withdrew, giving his entire attention to den- tistry. He is a brother of T. R. Winsheimer, who is one of the editors and proprietors of the
Westmoreland Democrat, one of the early jour- nals west of the Allegheny mountains, which is published at Greensburg. His partner is B. F. Vogle. On April 28, 1887, Dr. Winsheimer was married to Jennie Agnew, daughter of J. N. and Julia Agnew, of this place.
Dr. W. J. Winsheimer is a strong democrat and has been a member of the county democratic committee for six years. He is a member and an elder of the Lutheran church, and has also been trustee of his church for six years. He is a member of the Order of Solon, and E. A. U. Dr. Winsheimer is a skilled and perfect work- man and has won the highest respect and esteem of his many patrons.
EAST FRANKLIN, PINE, BOGGS, VALLEY, MANOR AND KITTANNING TOWNSHIPS.
THE territory of these six townships con- stitute the central part of Armstrong county.
East Franklin Township was organized from the eastern part of Franklin, on January 27, 1868, and contains an area of twenty-six and a quarter square miles. One of the early settlers was Col. James Sloan, and many of the early tracts were known by peculiar names, such as Polignac, Hop Yard, Quimper and Loire. In 1859 a company was organized for the purpose of making oil from cannel coal, but the burning of their refinery and the development of petro- leum in 1860 caused it to cease operations after having made one hundred barrels of oil.
Montgomeryville was founded in 1851, Belleville in 1855, and Adrian post-office was cstablished June 26, 1862.
Pine Township was formed from Kittanning on June 20, 1836, and derived its name from Pine creek. A Mound-builder's carthwork was near Slabtown, and an Indian village was on Mahoning creek, from which the Læbouf trail led out of the county toward Lake Erie. Fort Muncy or Wallis was erected in 1778 at the mouth of Wolf creek, and on August 8th of that year an Indian war party attacked some reapers in a field, and killed two of them. Orrsville was laid out in 1819, and Golieenville was founded in 1850 by G. W. Gohcen. Wm. Turnbull built a saw-mill in the township prior to 1790, and shortly after 1807 William Pcart, Sr., erected a grist-mill. The Midland Oil
Mining association drilled unsuccessfully for oil in 1876, but in a well at 1060 feet struck a strong vein of gas. The legal name of Pine township is Pine Creek township; but custom has dropped the word Creek. Out of its ter- ritory Valley township was erected in 1855, and Boggs township taken in 1878.
Boggs Township was erected out of the southern part of Pine township on June 10, 1878, and its history is included in that of Pine township.
Valley Township was erected out of Pinc township on December 13, 1855, and was named by Judge Buffington, who declined to have it named for him. Robert Beatty erected a grist and saw-mill in 1810 on the "Monti- cello " tract of land. Monticello furnace was built in 1859, and the post-office of the same name was established July 15, 1864. Troy Hill was laid out some time after the year 1870. Dewalt Mechling settled between 1784 and 1790 on the "Roan" tract in this town- ship. In 1872 natural gas was struck at a depth of 1005 feet.
Manor Township was erected in December, 1849, from Kittanning township. It was named Manor on account of Kittanning or Appleby manor (one of the forty-four manors surveyed under Penn's directions in Pa.), which was within its territory. On this manor, along the Allegheny river, between Tub Mill and Fort runs, was a military fortification, consist- ing of a fosse, parapet and fort. Relics found
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about it and around it indicate that it had been built by the Mound-builders, and subsequently used by the Indians and the French. James Claypole, John Guld and others, between 1790 and 1795, used it as a fort during threatened Indian invasions. Fort Armstrong was built during the Revolutionary war on the site of Kittanning, and Claypoole's Block-house was erected between 1790 and 1795 on the Alle- gheny river. Bloody run is said to take its name from the fact of three men being shot on it by Indians, who were followed and surprised by a company of soldiers at the mouth of Pine creek, where three red warriors were killed by the pursuing party. In 1787 William Green and his sons, James, John and Samuel, from Fayette county, settled in the southern part of the township when the Indians had their war- dances on the site of Rosston. On April 28, 1791, the Indians attacked the house of James Kirkpatrick on Crooked creek, and killed two men, and wounded a child. Manorville was laid out June 28, 1854, and incorporated June 6, 1866, and Rosston was laid out Sept. 18, 1854.
Kittanning Township was taken from Arm- strong township on April 11, 1807, and since then it has been reduced to its present propor- tions by the erection of Plum Creek, Cowan- shannock, Manor, Burrell and Wayne, and the larger part of three other townships. It con- tains the battle-field of Blanket Hill and the post-office of the same name, which was estab- lished May 1, 1850, and is now kept by Mrs. Nancy J. Blose. Fergus Moorhead (see sketch) was captured near Blanket Hill. John Guld, an Indian scout, was an carly settler, and is said to have built Beers' Mills. The paper town of Benton, one of the lost towns of the county, was laid out Fcb. 10, 1836; but its site was never graced by a single house.
The Lower Barren measures, carrying the Freeport Upper Coal bed, extend through the central part of East Franklin, the southern
part of Pine, the northern part of Boggs town- ship, and occupies the larger part of Valley, and nearly all of Manor and Kittanning town- ships. The remaining portions of these town- ships (embracing all of their main, and many of their minor creek valleys) are in the Lower Productive Coal measures. In East Franklin, Pine, Boggs and Valley townships are many heavy beds of ferriferous limestone.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN ADAMS, a prudent, industrious and comfortably situated farmer of Valley towuship, was born in the city of Allegheny, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1842, and is a son of Robert and Eliza (May) Adams. Robert Adams was born during the earlier years of the present century, in Ireland, where his family had been settled for many years. He was reared in his native county, and received his education in the public schools of Ireland. Leaving school, he was engaged for several years in various agricultural pur- suits, and especially that of gardening. In 1840 he emigrated from Ireland to the United States, and soon after landing at New York, he came westward as far as Allegheny city, where he was engaged in market gardening for three years. At the end of that time he came to Armstrong county, where he followed farm- ing steadily for thirty-four years. He died in October, 1877, when he had reached man's allotted three-score and ten years. He was a republican, and a member of the United Pres- byterian church. Before leaving Ireland he married Eliza May, a resident of his native county, who was a member of the U. P. church, and passed away at her home in this county, in 1854.
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