USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 81
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
James Obey was reared in Pittsburgh, and after attending the public schools of that city, learned the trade of engine-builder. He worked at different branches of this business and then became a steamboat engineer ou boats running from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. Leaving the river, he was a rolling-mill engineer for twenty-
two years. In 1860 he removed to Armstrong county and purchased in North Buffalo town- ship the farm of one hundred and fifteen acres upon which he now resides.
July 15, 1847, he married Mary A. Berry, daughter of Joseph Berry, of Pittsburgh, and a native of south Wales, who came with her parents to Pennsylvania in 1838. She was born April 28, 1831, and died October 26, 1877, leaving five children, all daughters: Anna M., born June 23, 1850, married to Robert Hod- son ; Sarah B., born November 6, 1852, and wife of George Davis ; Laura E., born Septem- ber 15, 1854, and wife of W. A. Nicholson ; Mary E., born January 25, 1862, and married to George Evans; and Lucy M., born March 24, 1866, and now the wife of J. R. Campbell.
In politics, James Obey is a stanch repub- licau. He was elected treasurer of the city of Pittsburgh in 1863, and a member of the city council in 1863 and 1864. He is a member, in high standing, of St. Clair Lodge, No. 362, Free and Accepted Masons, of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Main street Methodist Epis- copal church of Pittsburgh, and is thoroughly versed in the principles of engineering, as well as having years of valuable experience in the practice of that science on the western waters and in the great iron mills of western Pennsylvania.
JOHN M. WILLIAMS, postmaster and pro- prietor of the leading drug store at Worth- ington, in West Franklin township, is a son of Jefferson F. and Eliza J. (Huston) Williams, and was born in Manor township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1858. The Williamses are of Scotch descent. John Williams (grandfather) was born in the western part of Peunsylvania, from wlience he removed in early life to Manor township, where he engaged in farming until the late war, when he enlisted in a regiment of Pa. Vols., and died in the service during the fall of 1864. Four of his sons also
36
604
BIOGRAPHIES OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
served in the Union army, and one of them, Jefferson F. Williams (father), was born iu Manor township, this county, in 1830. He followed farming until the fall of 1864, when he enlisted in the 5th Pa. Heavy Artillery, and died at Fort Reno iu December, 1864, of ty- phoid fever, at the early age of thirty-four years. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and a man who was respected by his neighbors and all who knew him. He married Eliza J. Huston, a native of what is now East Franklin township. After his death she mar- ried J. F. Irwin and now resides at Grove City, Mercer county, where she is a member of the Presbyterian church.
John M. Williams was reared on his father's farm until he was seven years of age, when he then accompanied his mother to Dayton, this county, where he attended the Soldiers' Orphans' school. He afterwards attended Glade Run academy, from which he was graduated in the fall of 1878. Leaving school, he engaged in the planing-mill business at Dayton, which he followed until the fall of 1884, when his mill was burned. While at Dayton he read medi- cine with the intention of attending lectures and
practicing, but the loss of his mill compelled him to relinquish his medical studies, and in the spring of 1885 he eugaged in the drug busi- ness at Elderton, where he remained until March, 1888. He then came to Worthingtou aud opened his present drug store. He keeps a large and well-assorted stock of pure and fresh drugs, standard proprietary medicines and choice toilet articles. In December, 1889, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Worthington, which posi- tion he still holds.
He united in marriage with Ida V. Hinder- liter, daughter of John Hinderliter, of Dayton. Their union has been blest with five children, four sons and one daughter : Arthur, Mark, Earl, Joseph and Eliza.
John M. Williams is a republican in politics and has been elected school director of Worth- ington, of whose town council he is a member, He is a member of the Junior Order of United Americau Mechanics and the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Williams gives close attention to the wants of his patrous, and by his medical knowledge is well-qualified to correctly and safely fill physicians' prescriptions. He is industrious, painstaking and active and enjoys a good trade.
PARKS, BETHEL, GILPIN, BURRELL AND KISKIMINETAS TOWNSHIPS.
Historical and Descriptive .- These five town- ships are in the southern part of the county, and lie in the Barren measures, excepting the southeastern part of Kiskiminetas township, which contains a small area of the Pittsburgh coal bed, and the valleys of Roaring run in Kiskiminetas aud Crooked creek in Burrell township, which carry the Lower Productive coal measures.
Parks Township .- Allegheny township, on December 26, 1878, passed from the map of Armstrong county, and in its place appeared the names of Parks, Bethel and Gilpin town- ships, which were formed from its territory. Conrad Weiser passed through Allegheny town- ship in 1748. There were several Indian towns on its territory, near the site of Leech- burg, and about the mouth of the Kiskiminetas, and several whites were killed in the township between 1785 and 1795. Crosbysburg was laid out about 1816, Jacksonville about 1828, and Kelly's Station was established June 14, 1860. Parks township was named in lionor of the Parks family and contains some very fine farm- ing land.
Bethel Township was organized on December 26, 1878, and was named after old Bethel church and school-house, which were on its territory. Bethel Lutheran church is two and one-half miles from Kelly's Station.
Gilpin Township is the last of three town- ships into which Allegheny was divided, and derives its name from John Gilpin, of Kittan-
ning, who, as an attorney, had assisted in the movement for the division of Allegheny into the three townships of Parks, Bethel and Gilpin.
Kiskiminetas Township is named from the Kis- kiminetas river, which forms its southern bound- ary line, and was formed from Allegheny town- ship, June 19, 1832. The Indian town of Toquhesp was near the North west coal works and one and a quarter miles northeast of its site is the "Indian Spring," where on a large rock the Indians carved the rude figure of a medicine man, which is still very legible, with the letters IO O R near the right arm. Among the early settlers between 1790 and 1800 were the Andersens, Kings, Walteubaughs and Wolfs. There were eight salt works in the township in 1845. Kiskiminetas post-office was established in 1824, Spring Church in 1852, Long Ruu in 1857 and Shady Plain, March 2, 1867, with David D. P. Alexander as postmaster.
Burrell Township was formed in 1855 from Allegheny and Kittanning townships, and was named in honor of Judge J. M. Burrell, whose sketch appears in this volume. In 1811, Geo. Beck, Sr., had a powder-mill ; in 1812 a salt works was operated on the Hooversburg tract of land, and in 1825, Frederick Altmau es- tablished a plow manufacturing establishment.
Williamsburg was laid out about 1819 by Wm. Fiscus, Sr., and the first post-office (Pitt's Mill) in the township was established June 16, 1843.
605
606
BIOGRAPHIES OF
The geological map of Armstrong county, published in 1880, unfortunately blends the coloring of the Lower Productive coal and the Pottsville conglomerate areas so as to almost make them indistinguishable from cach other. As R. W. Smith's history gives so much of the local geology of the county, we have merely presented the general geological structure of each township, in regard to coal and lime. From all histories and historical sketches of the county and its different sections, we could gather but little concerning the early settlers, block-houses and Indian occupation of the country. We took special pains to secure the names of the settlers in 1807 from the assess- ment lists of that year in which we preserved the spelling of the names as written on those lists. Six new townships had been formed in 1806, and in several instances the name of the same person undoubtedly appears upon two different assessment lists-one of his old town- ship and the other of his new township. An exhaustive search back of 1807 to find the names of the pioneer settlers would require several years of time, and as all the assessment lists of Westmoreland county back of 1785 have been destroyed, a complete list could not then be secured.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
H TENRY J. ALMS, now engaged in farming in Kiskiminetas township, is a man who owes all of his success in life to his own persist- ent efforts and great energy. He was born in Bell township, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, December 6, 1820, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Smeltzer) Alms. Tradition states that Rev. Andrew V. Alms (grandfather), with twelve other children, were stolen from a school in Germany and brought to America, where Andrew was sold to a man for a certain number of years. At the end of this time he
enlisted in the Revolutionary army under Washington and served under him to the close of the war. He then bought a farm in West- moreland county, on Beaver run. He taught school and a singing-school and preached as a supply. He married a Miss Kunkle, of North- ampton county, by whom he had seven chil- dren : John, George W., Henry, Peter, Michael, Sarah and Catherine. He was a democrat, a member of the Lutheran church and died in 1825. Mrs. (Kunkle) Alms died in 1830. Jacob Smeltzer (maternal grandfather) was born east of the mountains. He came with his par- ents west of the mountains, where he and a play- mate were captured by the Indians, with whom they remained seven or eight years before being exchanged. The others of the family, except a younger brother, were massacred during an Indian raid. He served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. He was a carpenter by trade and took up a tract of land near Perrysville. He married and had seven chil- dren : Jacob, Daniel, Polly, Katy, Elizabeth, Susan and Mattie. He died about 1830 and his wife in 1835. George W. Alms (father) was born in Westmoreland county, on November 10, 1787. He was a blacksmith by trade, a member of the Lutheran church, in which lie was chorister, a Jeffersonian democrat and served in the war of 1812. In 1809, he married Elizabeth Smeltzer, by whom he had nine children : Jacob, Mary A., Hannah, Su- sanna, Henry J., Andrew, George, Joseph and Margaret. George W. Alms died in 1859, at seventy-one years of age and his wife in 1878, aged ninety-two years.
Henry J. Alms was reared in Westmoreland county, where he received the limit ed education of the old subscription schools of that day, but by reading and observation since leaving school, he has acquired a vast amount of information and is a well-informed man. Leaving school, he worked for ten years in coal-mines, was a boatman on the river for three years and then
607
ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1856 he came to Kiskiminetas township, where he pur- chased a farm of seventy acres near Maysville and followed blacksmithing until 1882, when he engaged in his present business of farming.
On December 2, 1851, Mr. Alms united in marriage with Charlotte, daugliter of John Shoup, of South Bend, and who was born June 19, 1836. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Alms : John G., born February 2, 1853 (dead); Abbie A., born June 26, 1854, wife of Reed Walker; and Charlotte E., born September 11, 1855 (dead). On February 5, 1856, Mrs. Alms died. September 15, 1857, he married for his second wife, Fannie, daughter of Jacob Kier, of Indiana county. Six chil- dren have blest this union : Nora, born March 21, 1859, wife of George Mack ; Harry, born September 22, 1860, married to Kate Ringer ; Virginia, born September 8, 1862 ; Thomas, born June 1, 1865; Frank, born October 4, 1868 ; and Maud, born December 4, 1873.
Henry J. Alms is a member of the Lutheran , church, in which he served as an elder for several years. He is a conservative democrat in politics, has held township offices and by honest, energetic and persistent labor has acquir- ed a competency.
A MOS ALTMAN, one of Parksville's lead- , ing merchants and business men, is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth Altman, and was born in Burrell township, Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania, April 21, 1843. His paternal grand- father, Frederick Altman, was born in Germany, from which country he emigrated to Pennsyl- vania, where he settled in Kittanning township. He was a plowmaker by trade, and enjoyed the distinction of having made the first one-half patent plow lever manufactured in western Pennsylvania. His son, Isaac Altman (father), was born in 1805, in Kittanning township (now Burrell), and learned the trade of carpenter and
cabinet-maker, which he followed until his death, which occurred July 2, 1888. He was a republican in politics, and a deacon in St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran church, of which both he and his wife were esteemed mem- bers. He married Elizabeth Robb, who was born in . 1822, in Kittanning township, and still resides on the old homestead, in Burrell township.
Amos Altman grew to manhood on his father's farm. He received, his education in the common schools, and leaving school, was engaged in farming until 1864. In that year he enlisted in Co. B, 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery and served until June, 1865, when he was discharged at Ft. Ethan Allen, Vt., but was not mustered out of the service until he reached Camp Howe, at Pittsburgh. Return- ing home, he followed farming until 1876, when he embarked in the mercantile business at Cochran's Mills, in which he continued for seven years. In 1883 he removed to Parks- ville, where he opened his present general mer- cantile establishment. He has succeeded in build- ing up an extensive and profitable trade, and keeps an excellent stock of dry-goods, groceries, notions and hardware, together with everything else to be found in a first-class mercantile estab- lishment.
In 1867 he married Mary M. Schall, dauglı- ter of Michael Schall, of Burrell township, and to their union have been born six children, three sons and three daughters : Clara E., Su sanna E., Laura H., David C., Charles O. and Ralph W.
Amos Altman is a democrat and has filled tlie township offices of auditor aud collector of taxes During Cleveland's administration he held the office of postmaster at Dime. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, the United Workmen and the People's Mutual Accident As- sociation. Mr. Altman served acceptably during luis term as postmaster and is probably as well acquainted with all the people in his township
608
BIOGRAPHIES OF
as any man in it. He is well and favorably known as a merchant.
SAMUEL S. BLYHOLDER, an ex-State officer of the Patrons of Husdandry of Pennsylvania, and a justice of the peace and leading citizen of Gilpin township, is a son of John G. and Rachel (Bouch) Blyholder, aud was born in Allegheny (now Gilpin) township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1849. John G. Blyholder was born in 1806, in Germany, from whence he emigrated to Pennsylvania, in 1831, and settled at Greens- burg, in Westmoreland county, where he en- gaged in farming. In 1842 he came to Gilpin township, and lived as a tenant, aud in 1859 purchased the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now resides. He was a democrat in politics, filled various township offices, and was a member and one of the officers of the Evan- gelical Lutherau church until his death, which occurred in 1883, when he was in the seventy- second year of his age. He married Rachel Bouch, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, who was born in Armstrong county in 1817, and died August 30, 1890, at the age of seventy-three years.
Samuel S. Blyholder was reared on his father's farm, in Gilpin township, attended the public schools and Irwin high school. He made a specialty of vocal music, which he afterwards taught for ten years, although engaged at the same time in farming. In 1881 he embarked in the hardware business at Leechburg, but after his father's death, in 1883, he disposed of his mercantile establishment and purchased the homestead farm, where he has been engaged ever since in farming. His farm consists of one hundred and forty-seven acres of well-improved land. Among his farm machinery he has in- cluded a steam chopping mill.
December 30, 1880, he married Annie D. Sweeney, daughter of William Sweeney, of West-
moreland county. To their uuion have been born four children, two sons and two daughters : Orrin C., Elma M., Mary F. and Samuel W.
Samuel S. Blyholder is a prominent demo- crat, has filled the offices of school director and township auditor, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. In 1878 he re- ceived the nomination of his party for member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and although the county was republican by one thousand majority, he was beaten only by fifty- four votes. He is a deacon and trustee of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He is a member of Leechburg Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Mt. Joy Grange, No. 537, Patrons of Husband- ry. In the last-named order he has held both county and State offices. He is also a member of the board of trustees of Theil college, of Greenville, Mercer county, and has for several years been a member of the committee on mis- sious, of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Lutheran church. Mr. Blyholder is a good neighbor, a popular citizen, an efficient public official and an earnest worker in lodge and church. He is a man of good judgment, clear perception and great determination, and it is a matter of no sur- prise that he has achieved success and occupies a prominent position in his township and county.
NYEORGE BOWMAN, a well-known and sub- T stantial farmer of Gilpiu township and a strong advocate of Jeffersonian democracy, is a son of Abraham and Frances (Rugh) Bow- man, and was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1813. His paternal grandfather, Abraham Bowman, was born iu Northumberland county and became an early settler of Westmore- land county, in which he resided until his death. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and married Frances Rugh, who was born in Hempfield township, that county, and died in 1852.
609
ARMSTRONG COUNTY.
George Bowman was reared on his father's farm at a time when farmers' sons had to en- counter many hardships. He received his edu- cation in the subscription schools of that period and then engaged in farming. In 1841 he re- moved to Gilpin township, where he purchased twenty-three acres of land, upon which he has resided ever since. He also owns a valuable farm of one hundred and forty-two acres of good farming and grazing land, which is situ- ated in Parks township.
In 1835 he married Sarah Turney, daughter of John Turney, of Gilpin township, and to their union have been born nine children, two sons and seven daughters : Margaret, Frances L., Hannah M., Lavina C., John P., Sarah A., George T., Lydia and Christy A. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have sixty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
George Bowman, his wife and all of his children are members of the Evangelical Luth- eran church. In politics, as in religion, Mr. Bowman's family is a unit, and all of his sons and sons-in-law follow in his footsteps and vote the democratic ticket. Mr. Bowman is an ac- tive worker in the democratic party and has served four terms as road supervisor of Gilpin township, and has also filled acceptably the office of school director. On July 4, 1890, the descendants of George Bowman and his esteemed wife gathered at the homestead and the seventy present represented four genera- tions, while the twelve who were absent were not forgotten in the pleasant and interesting ex- ercises of that long-to-be-remembered occasion. Mr. Bowman has never been idle during his long life and is always energetic and enthusiastic in whatever enterprise he engages. He is thorough-going and wields an influence in his community, in school, church and civil affairs.
W ILLIAM T. CAROTHERS, a man of excellent character and high standing and an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Kiski- minetas township, was born in Conemaugh township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 5, 1850, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Henderson) Carothers. His paternal grand father Carothers was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, came to Indiana county in the early part of the eighteenth century and settled along Black Legs creek. He was of Irish descent. He married Nancy Dickson, by whom he had seven children, three sons and four daughters : James (father), John, William D., Mary (Mrs. Black), Cina (Mrs. Crook- shanks), Eliza (Mrs. Lytle) and Martlia (Mrs. Cravener). Robert Henderson (maternal grandfather) was born in Ireland in 1782, came to America about 1805 and settled in Conemaugh township, Indiana county. He bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, in the woods, which he cleared and improved. He was an industrious farmer and acquired con- siderable property. He served in the war of 1812 and was a democrat, but never aspired to office. He married Margaret Graham, by whom he had eleven children, four sons and seven daughters : William, Edward, Robert (died when young), Joseph, Mary (Mrs. Mc- Means), Elizabeth (mother of subject), Jane (Mrs. Daugherty), Isabella, Margaret (Mrs. Getty), Sarah (Mrs. Longwell) and Lucinda F. (died when young). He was a member of Saltsburg Presbyterian church and was a very strict adherent to the doctrines and practices of his church. He died in 1871, aged eighty-nine years and his wife died abont 1865, at the age of seventy-five years. James Carothers (father) was born on the old homestead in Indiana county, in 1814. He worked as a laborer for some years-part of this time on the Pennsyl- vania canal. In 1853 he moved to Armstrong county, where he bought a farm of two hun- dred acres of very fertile land near Maysville.
e .
en S: T. d d
610
BIOGRAPHIES OF
He was a republican in politics, a member of Olivet United Presbyterian church, in which he was a trustee and a hard worker. In 1846 he married Elizabeth Henderson, by whom he had four children : Robert H., an editor and pub- lisher of Louisville, Ky., is a graduate of Lafa- yette college, was a professor at Shippensburg Normal and went from there to Louisville to become principal of the Young Men's high school ; William T., Lucy F., and Martha A. James Carothers died January 29, 1887. Mrs. Carothers is still living.
William T. Carothers was reared on a farm and received his education in the Maysville public schools. In 1879 hc bought his father's farm and finished his present handsome resi- dence, whichi had been commenced by his father.
On January 2, 1878, he married Minnie J. Stear, who is a daughter of Augusta Stear, a farmer of Armstrong township, Indiana county ; she is highly respected by all who know her.
He is a republican in politics and a member and trustee of Olivet United ' Presbyterian church. In addition to farming he raises con- siderable stock and of late years has given sonie attention to raising thoroughbred horses and cattle. Mr. Carothers is a liberal contributor to his church and to all moral movements or socie- ties deserving of aid and encouragement.
J TOHN S. CHAMBERS, a courteous gentle- man and a native and resident of Kiski- minetas township, was born March 20, 1860, on the farm on which he now resides, in Kiski- minetas township, Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania, and is the youngest child of John W. and Margaret (Hunter) Chambers. His pater- nal grandfather, Benjamin Chambers, was born in Westmoreland county in 1798. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Poke run. In 1819 he married Mary Ralston, daugh- ter of Robert Ralston, and moved to a farm
near Markle, Westmoreland county, where he resided until his death. They had seven chil- dren : John W., father of the subject of this sketch ; Robert, born in 1822, married Eliza- beth Henry; George, born in 1823, married Eliza Jones, sister of Rev. J. M. Jones ; Eliza- beth, born in 1824, married William McKil- lip, who died in 1869, and in 1874 she married William Miller, an elder of Apollo Presbyterian church and one of its original members; James, born in 1826, married Charlotte Marlin, who died in 1886, and in 1889 he married Mrs. Theresa Taylor; Benjamin, born in 1830, mar- ried Nancy McCartney, who dicd in 1855, and afterwards married Sarah Hull; Nancy, born in 1836, married Samuel Hays, and died in 1876; Mary, born in 1843, married David Forry. Mr. Chambers died in 1844, and is buried at Poke run. Mrs. Chambers died in 1879, and was buried in Iowa. His maternal great-grandfather, Hunter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His maternal grandfather, James Hunter, was born in Westmoreland county, near Greensburg, in 1788, and then moved to within nine miles of Indiana, Indiana county, where he resided on the farm owncd by his father. He was an old-line whig, a member and elder of the Presbyterian church at Bethel, a good Christian and a conscientious man. In 1813 he married Mary Ralston, daughter of Matthew Ralston, who came from Ireland and settled in Westmoreland county. They had five children : Matthew, born in 1814, married Hannah Kilgore; Margaret, born in 1815, mother of the subject of this sketch ; James, born in 1817, married Mary Ralston (died 1886); Martha, born in 1818, wife of Jonas Hilderbran, and Mary, born in 1820, wife of William Stewart; she died in 1857. Mrs. Hunter died in 1820, and in 1822 Mr. Hunter married Jane Davis, daughter of William Davis, who was a farmer of Indiana county. To this second union were born six children : Jane, born in 1823, wife of James
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.