Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania, Part 84

Author: Wiley, Samuel T. ed. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Philadelphia [J.M. Gresham & co.]
Number of Pages: 652

USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania > Part 84

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).

In politics, Philip R. McGrann is a republi- can. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Bethel township and has always been a man of energy and activity. He never idles any of his time away, is always prompt and on time with his work and has always been successful in whatever he has undertaken.

TOSEPH MYERS. One of Gilpin town- ship's many prosperous farmers and worthy citizens is Joseph Myers. He is a son of David and Elizabeth (Klingensmith) Myers, and was born in Gilpin township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1819. His paternal grandfather, Adam Myers, was a native of Germany. Before he attained his majority he came to Pennsylvania, where he set- tled in Westmoreland county and purchased a farm. He was engaged in farming until his death, when he was in the ninetieth year of his age. His son, David Myers (father), was born

in Westmoreland county, but came to what is now Gilpin township when a young man. He carried the chain for the surveyors when the townships of Kiskiminetas and Allegheny were laid out. He was a shoemaker by trade, but after his removal to this county he engaged in farming, which he followed until his death in 1830, at thirty-six years of age. He was a democrat in politics and a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church. He married Elizabeth Klingensmitlı, who was born on Brush creek, Westmoreland county, in 1794, and died in 1856, when she was in the sixty-first year of her age. She was an estimable woman and united with the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which she was a member for many years be- fore her death.

Joseph Myers was reared on his father's farm and received a good common English educa- tion. In early life he followed droving for a few years and then engaged in his present busi- ness of farming. When Allegheny township was divided and Gilpin, Parks and Bethel townships erected out of its territory, he aided the surveyors in laying out the boundary lines of these respective townships. He owns a farm of one hundred and seventy-nine acres of well- improved land, which he carefully cultivates.

On June 8, 1841, he married Magdalena Allhouse, daughter of John Allhouse, of Gilpin township. To their union were born six chil- dren, of whom two are living: Abraham, a carpenter residing in Washington township; and Julia, wife of John Smail, of Gilpin town- ship. Mrs. Myers died in 1856, upon the same day upon which her husband's mother passed away. On September 6, 1860, Joseph Myers united in marriage with Elizabeth Lessig, daughter of Squire Joseph Lessig (see sketch of Z. T. Lessig). To this second union were born nine children, of whom three sons and two daughters are living: Mahala, Mary E., Asa, Theodore and Recy. Mrs. Elizabeth (Lessig) Myers died August 7, 1883.

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Joseph Myers is a member of the Lutheran church and an earnest democrat in politics. He has filled the township offices of constable, school director and overseer of the poor. Mr. Myers has shown excellent judgment in the management of his farm and is a man who strictly attends to his own affairs.

ISAAC NOVINGER, a farmer of Gilpin township, who was engaged upon the con- struction of the Pennsylvania canal and rail- road, and who served faithfully for three years in the armies of the Union, is a son of Isaac and Hannah (Hagg) Novinger, and was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1829. His paternal grandfather Novinger was born in Würtemberg, Germany, and be- came one of the early settlers of Dauphin county, where he was often disturbed and har- assed by the Indians. After Indian troubles had ceased he cleared out his farm and resided in that county until his death. His son, Isaac Novinger, Sr. (father), was born in Dauphin county, where he learned the trade of wheel- wright. While working at his trade he was also engaged in farming. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, during which he served at Philadelphia in the year 1814. He died in Dauphin county in 1857, when he was in the sixty-second year of his age. He was a demo- crat in politics, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and married Hannah Hagg, a native of Dauphin county and a member of the Lutheran church.

Isaac Novinger was reared on the farm and obtained his education in the subscription schools of his boyhood days. At the age of nincteen years he removed to Westmoreland county and worked on the construction of the Pennsylvania railroad, between Pittsburgh and Greensburg. He subsequently followed boat- ing for four years on the Pennsylvania canal, and then for four years was engaged on steam-

boats and coal-boats on the Ohio river. On the 18th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. C, 139th regiment, Pa. Vols., under Captain Parr, and served until the end of the war, when he was honorably discharged June 21, 1865. He participated in all the engage- ments of his regiment, was always able to per- form any duty assigned to him and never spent a day in the hospital during the three years of his term of service. When he was discharged he returned to Westmoreland county, where he was engaged in farming until March, 1869, when his father-in-law purchased the farm on which he moved and now resides, and at his death willcd one hundred and ten of its two hundred and ten acres to Mr. Novinger's wife. Mr. Novinger purchased the other one hundred acres, and he and his wife now own the entire farm.

October 4, 1860 he married Mary A. Grinder, daughter of Andrew Grinder, of Westmoreland county. They are the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters : Catherine, An- drew, Thomas, Hannah, Mary E. and Isa.

Isaac Novinger is a strong democrat, has filled nearly all of his township's offices and at present is serving as overseer of the poor of Gilpin township. His farm is well improved and productive, and lies convenient to public highways. But few men have passed through so many dangers and escaped so luckily as he has. He has been a determined, persistent and hard worker during his eventful life, and is now comfortably situated to enjoy the fruits of his many years of labor.

J. B. PARKS. One of the early settled and substantial families of southern Arm- strong county, noted for over three-quarters of a century for thrift, business ability and moral standing, is the Parks family, of near Leech- burg; and one of its well-known and highly respected members is J. B. Parks, an intelligent

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BIOGRAPHIES OF

citizen and extensive farmer of Parks township. He is a son of Robert and Jane (Bratton) Parks, and was born in Mifflin co., Pennsylvania, Nov. 11, 1810. His paternal grandfather was in all probability born in York county, as he removed from there to Huntingdon county. He served in the Revolutionary war under Washington, and was one of those who endured all the pri- vations and sufferings of the dreary winter at Valley Forge. He was an earnest Christian, and was a strict member of the Covenanter church, in which he was a zealous and indefatig- able worker. He owned a good farm in Hunt- ingdon county, and about 1758 married a lady whose name cannot be secured at this writing, by whom he had four sons and two daugliters : William, James, Robert, Arthur, Margaret and Fannie. The second son, Robert Parks (father), was born in York county, August 14, 1769, and removed with his father to Huntingdon county. At sixteen years of age lie went to Mifflin county, where he learned the trade of slioe- maker and purchased a farm. In 1814 he dis- posed of liis shoe-shop and land and came to Armstrong county, where he purchased from John Montgomery a farm of four hundred acres of land about two miles east of Leech- burg. This tract was known as "Farmers' Delight," and he added adjoining farms to it by purchase until lie had a solid body of six hundred and fifty acres of good farming and rich coal land. He purchased his land at about six dollars and fifty cents per acre. At his death this land was divided by his direction between his three sons, and the subject of this sketch fell heir to the homestead part, and has in his possession the original patent for this land, issued by King George III. of England, in 1754. He was a man of large stature, was very industrious and stood high as a citizen and a Christian. He was a democrat of thie strictest type and a consistent member of the Presby- terian church. He was held in such high esteem in Allegheny township, that when it was

divided, in 1878, into three townships, the part in which he lived was called Parks township. He died August 19, 1858, when in the nine- tieth year of his age. On October 19, 1790, he married Jane Bratton, and to them were born twelve children : twins, who died in in- fancy ; Margaret, wife of Joseph Shields, born 1792; Isabella, who married Andrew Arnold, born 1794; Phebe, wife of J. E. Brown, born 1796 ; Elizabeth, wife of George T. Crawford, born 1798; John, born 1800, who married Saralı Gourley and after her death married Elizabeth Shriber ; Jane M., wife of James Fitzgerald, born 1803; Sidney G., who married John Lefever, born 1805; Robert P., Sarah E., wife of Alexander Gordon, born 1808; J. B., William G., who married Rhoda Thompson and then Ellen Parr, born 1813. Mrs. Parks, who died in 1847, aged seventy- eight years, was a daughter of James Bratton (maternal grandfather), who was a native of Ireland, settled on a large tract of land in Mif- flin county, which was afterwards purchased by Robert Parks, and in 1768 married Jane Brat- ton, who bore him six children: Jane (Mrs. Parks), William, Elizabeth (Mrs. Starks), George, Phebe (Mrs. Brown), and Robert. After James Bratton's death, his widow mar- ried Alex. Stolford, by whom she had one daughter : Margaret (Mrs. Stuart).

J. B. Parks received his education in the old subscription schools, taught one term in 1828, became an assistant surveyor on the Pennsyl- vania canal and afterwards helped lay out the borough of Leechburg. He came in 1814 with his father to the farm which he now owns, and after leaving the engineer corps on the Pennsyl- vania canal, he engaged in farming and stock- dealing, which business he has followed success- fully ever since. He has a rich and valuable farm of two hundred and fifty acres on which he lias erected a fine brick dwelling, built a good barn and neat and substantial fences. He is a scientific farmer, uses all the latest improved

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farm machinery and raises some very fine stock.

December 17, 1840, he married Lucinda Hill, daughter of Hon. Jacob Hill, who was suc- cessively a hotel keeper, a merchant, and a member, for two terms, of the Pennsylvania legislature. They had fourteen children, of whom. ten are living : Robert G., a farmer, who inarried Margaret Cline; Hannah U., J. H., a druggist, who married Mary C. Taylor ; Isa- bella C., wife of T. J. Elwood ; John W., married Anna Bladen, and is an engineer in West Penn Steel-works ; Phebe C., wife of S. C. Bole; Thomas J., an iron-worker of Apollo, who married Sarah M. Thompson; W. F., married Mary I. Pinkerton (now dead), and is a dentist of St. Louis, Mo .; Sidney P., and Edmeston B., a teacher. The four who died were : Jane, Ella, Blanche and Ellis. Mrs. Parks was born December 17, 1824, and died January 27, 1878. She was a fond mother, a kind and sympathizing friend and a devoted Christian, and was loved and respected by all who knew lier.

J. B. Parks is a Jeffersonian democrat, has held all of his township's offices, and is an influ- ential man in political affairs as well as business matters. He has been an elder for thirty years of the Leechburg Presbyterian church and was one of the heaviest contributors toward the erection of both the old and new church build- ings. Mr. Parks is of Scotch-Irish descent, and his success in life is mainly due to lis great will-power, industry and good judgment.

R OBERT PARKS, one of the representa- tive farmers of Parks township, is the only living son of William G. and Rhoda (Thompson) Parks, and was born on the farm on which he now resides, in Parks township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1843. His paternal great-grandfather, John

Parks, removed from York to Huntingdon county, where he owned a good farm. He served under Washington at Valley Forge, was a strict covenanter and married a lady by whom he had four sons and two daughters (see sketch of J. B. Parks). His son, Robert Parks (grand- father), was born August 14, 1769, in York county, and after spending some years in Hunt- ingdon and Mifflin counties, came, in 1814, to what is now Parks township, where he bought a four hundred acre tract of land, two miles east of Leechburg, known as "Farmers' De- light." He afterwards added two hundred and fifty acres to it by purchase, and at his death his land was divided between liis three sons. Parks township was named after him. In 1790 he married Jane Bratton, daughter of James Bratton, by whom he had twelve children. One of their sons was William G. Parks (father), wlio inherited the part of the homestead farthest up the river. He was born June 1, 1813, in Mifflin county, and when, in 1858, he came in posses- sion of his present farm, he went to work with a will to improve it. He erected fine buildings, put upgood fences and bought farm machinery of all kinds. His varied and extensive improvements and methods of farming have made it one of the most valuable farms in the county. He has been a resident of Leechburg since 1882, is an exemplary citizen of his borough and is a prom- inent member and zealous worker of the Leech- burg Presbyterian church. He is one of the directors of the Apollo Savings bank, also of the Leechburg Banking company and a director of the Westmoreland and Armstrong County Fire Insurance company. In politics Mr. Parks is a republican. June 14, 1839, he was united in marriage with Rhoda Thompson, of Mercer county, Pa. To them were born four sons : James Bratton, born March 16, 1840, wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863, died Aug. 8, 1863, and buried in Nat. Cem., sec. C, grave 88 ; Robert, John Thompson, born April 14, 1845, died October 20, 1861; and William Findley,

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BIOGRAPHIES OF

born December 18, 1847, and died September 19, 1861. Mrs. Parks was a daughter of John Thompson, a native of county Antrim, Ireland, who came to Mercer county, where he was a farmer, an old-line whig and a deacon of the Covenanter church. November 29, 1804, he married Mary Ann Findley, of county Fer- managh, Ireland, and their union was blessed with fourteen children. Mrs. Rhoda (Thomp- son) Parks was born August 4, 1813, and died February 21, 1848. On June 12, 1860, Mr. Parks married Ellen, daughter of James B. Parr, of New Alexandria, Westmoreland county, Pa.

Robert Parks was reared on the farm, ob- tained a good English education and has been a very industrious and successful farmer of his native township, in which he has always resided.

October 21, 1873, he united in marriage with Sara E. Ralston. To them have been born three children : William Thompson, Elizabeth Mason, who died March 25, 1883 ; and James Bratton. Mrs. Parks is a daughter of John Ralston, who was born at Congruity, Westmore- land county, Pa., March 13, 1809, and died November 9, 1884. He owned a well-tilled farm of two hundred acres, was a republican who had held several of his township's offices and a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he was twice elected elder, but would not accept the office. In February, 1838, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Mason, of near Hannastown, Pa., by whom he had five children : Nancy A. (Mrs. Kelly) of Iowa; Sara E. (Mrs. Parks); Emma J. (Mrs. Irwin) ; Dr. W. C. (see his sketch); and Mary M. (Mrs. Dr. Johnson) now dead.

Robert Parks has one of the best farms in that section, on account of its great fertility and the high state of cultivation in which he keeps it. He has led a busy, useful and honorable life and stands well in the estimation of all who know him. He is a member of the Presbyter- ian church at Leechburg, where he has been an

elder since January 14, 1882, discharging the duties of this office conscientiously and effi- ciently.

G YEORGE TOWNSEND, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Kiskiminetas town- ship, was born March 12, 1844, on the farm on which he now resides, in Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Shoe- maker) Townsend. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Townsend, was born in England in 1760, and came, in 1775, to what is now Kiskimin- etas township, where, about 1780, he married Rachel King, by whom he had seven sons and three daugliters. (For fuller history see sketch of Absalom Townsend.) One of these sons was William Townsend (father), who was born in Kiskiminetas township in 1800. At fifteen years of age he learned the trade of blacksmith with his father, and worked with his brother until his marriage, when he bought the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, and removed to it in the spring of 1829. He fol- lowed farming until his death, on April 6, 1884. He was a democrat, a member, deacon and elder of the Lutheran church at Maysville, and married Elizabeth Shoemaker, an esteemed woman, who was beloved by all who knew her. They had twelve children (two died in infancy), six sons and six daughters : Joseph, Augustus, Elizabeth, Susan, Linus and Polly, all de- ceased ; Margaret, born in 1832, wife of Israel Ashbaugh ; Labanna, born in 1839, married to Julia Armstrong; Israel, born in 1841, married Sarah Shirley ; and George. Mr. Townsend died April 6, 1884, and Mrs. Town- send died September 1, 1889. Both sleep in the cemetery at Maysville. Mrs. Townsend was a daughter of Solomon Shoemaker (mater- nal grandfather), who was born in Loudon county, Va., in 1770, came to Armstrong county in 1799, and settled near Spring

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Church, where he took up three hundred and fifty acres of land, which he and his sons cleared and improved. He was a democrat, a member of the Reformed church for some time at what is now known as St. James', and was one of the organizers of the Lutheran church at-Boiling Springs. In 1790 he married Eliza- beth Uncafer, of Loudon couuty, Va., aud they had nine children, of whom six grew to man and womanhood: John, born in 1795, married Nancy Mimmelright; Joseph, born in 1799, married to Sallie Winel; Catherine, born in 1801, wife of John Earhart ; George, born May 26, 1804, married Elizabeth Grimm ; Margaret, born in 1807, wife of Raymond Densell; and Elizabeth (mother). Mrs. Shoe- maker passed away in 1846, aud Mr. Shoe- maker died in 1854.

George Townseud was reared on a farm, and received his education in the public schools of Kiskiminetas township. At the death of his father he bought the homestead farm, on which he now resides. It contains one hundred and thirty-seven acres, aud is now one of the best farms in the couuty.

On July 2, 1874, he married Frances M., daughter of John Laughlan, who is a farmer of Kiskiminetas township. Four children have been born to this union,-one son and three daughters : Della M., born May 8, 1875; Wil- liam M., born June 14, 1876 ; Mary E., born August 24, 1880, and Hannah P., born Octo- ber 4, 1882. Mrs. Towusend passed away April 28, 1888.

George Townsend is a prominent democrat in politics, but no aspirant for office. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Maysville, of which he has been both deacon and elder. He has been very successful in life, and is one of the influential men of his township.

BSALOM K. TOWNSEND is descended A from the highly respected Townsend and Ulam families of Armstrong county, and his life is an illustration of the many good qualities of his worthy ancestors. He was born in De- cember, 1826, on the old Townsend homestead, in Kiskimiuetas township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Henry and Cathe- rine (Ulam) Townsend. His paternal grand- father, Isaac Townsend, was born in England about 1760. He was a farmer, whose father was a large land-holder, who by bailing his friends lost all he had. Isaac Townsend came to America about 1775, settled in what was then Westmoreland county, now Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, where he bought four hundred acres of land from George Wolfe, for which he paid about seventy-five cents per acre. It is now one of the most fertile farms in the county. He could do almost anything. He was active and energetic aud was a man of good judgment. He was a democrat and was suc- cessively auditor, assessor and road supervisor of his township. He was reared a Quaker, but after his marriage united with tlie Lutheran church, iu which he was an elder for a number of years. In 1780 he married Rachel King, of German extraction and a native of Northamp- ton county. They had ten children : John, Henry, Isaac, Robert, Joseph, William, Polly, Susan and two infants which died. Mr. Town- send dicd in 1838 and Mrs. Townsend in 1847. A. K. Townsend's maternal grandfather, Daniel Ulam, was boru in eastern Pennsylvania about 1745 and moved to Westmoreland county in 1805, where he bought and farmed a large tract of land. He was a democrat, a member of the Lutheran church and an upright mau. In 1775 he married and had eight children : Jacob, a hotel-keeper, married Catherine Lip- pincot; Peter, a hotel-keeper and cabinet- maker ; Daniel, a cabinet-maker, married Susan Townsend; Elizabeth, wife of Baruey Cline ; Catherine, Hannah, wife of Jacob Hill ;

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BIOGRAPHIES OF

and Martha, who married Joseph Townsend. Mr. Ulam died in 1815 and Mrs. Ulamn iu 1839. Henry Townsend (father) was born on the home farm about 1795. He followed farm- ing, but in early life he drilled several salt wells and manufactured salt. He was a demo- crat, and a member of Yockey's Lutheran church. He was a man of high standing, and on February 2, 1829, married Catherine Ulam, by whom he had ten children: Rachel, wife of James Leech ; Martha, wife of James Young ; Linus, married Mary Brown; Caroliue, wife of John Whigham; Absalom K., Leonidas, mar- ried Nancy Brown ; Abner (deceased); Willa- mina, wife of James Jackson ; Harry, married to Margaret Sipes; Bethma F. (dead); and Hannah P., wife of Geo. Wilsou.

Absalom K. Towusend attended the old sub- scription schools and is a well-read mau, who is acquainted with all the current topics of the day. He has inereased his farm (which is one of the best in the county) by successive pur- chases, until he now owns four hundred aeres of choice land. He is a Jaeksonian democrat, au influential citizen and a member of Elder's Ridge Presbyterian church.

On November 6, 1851, Mr. Townsend mar- ried Mary J., daughter of John Gamble, a salt manufacturer, who resided at Kiskiminetas salt- works. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have been the parents of teu children : Linus E., born October 29, 1852, married Margaret Dunmire; Fannie C., born Mareh 30, 1854, wife of Mitehell Steward ; Henry B., born April 9, 1856, mar- ried to Jennie Fairman ; Anna M., born March 4, 1858, wife of Henderson Lafferty, M.D., and is now dead ; Margaret E., born Mareh 11, 1860, was killed in a railroad wreek ; Caroliue W., born March 21, 1862, wife of James Neely and now dead; John F., born January 8, 1864; James L., born July 5, 1866 ; George W., born November 20, 1868; and Absalom H., born October 2, 1874.

JOHN H. WILSON, a very pleasant geutle- man and an industrious farmer of Kiski- minetas township, was born near Elizabeth, Eliza- beth township, Allegheny eounty, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1827, and is the fourth son of Hugh M. and Mary (Henderson) Wilson. The Wil- son and Henderson families settled at an early day in western Pennsylvania. Capt. James Wilsou, the paternal grandfather of John H. Wilson, was a native of Chester county and commanded a company of minute-men. He married Isabella Mitehell and settled prior to 1800 in Allegheny county, where he reared a family of six sons : Hon. John, James, Samuel, Thomas, David and Hugh M. The Henderson family, of Washington county, was planted by Matthew Henderson (maternal great-grand- father), who was one of the founders of Wash- ington and Jefferson college. His son, Rev. Matthew Henderson (maternal grandfather), was born Jauuary 10, 1762, in Chester county, and married (1786) Rebecca Patterson, of Lau- caster county, by whom he had nine ehildren. (See sketch of W. T. Wilson for fuller history.) Hugh M. Wilson (father) was born April 1, 1793, and removed from Allegheny eounty in 1835 to Kiskiminetas township, where he became the owner of over six hundred aeres of land. He died July 31, 1872. He was a republican, and a ruling elder of Olivet United Presbyterian church, and married (December 15, 1815) Mary Henderson. They had eight children : Rebecca (Watson), James D., Rev. Matthew H., Mitchell, Martha (deceased); John H., Thomas J. (de- ceased) ; and William T.

John H. Wilson received a good practical education in the subscription schools of Alle- gheny county and the early free sehools of Kis- kiminetas township. Leaving school, he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, which he has followed ever since. To the one hundred and eighty-two aeres of land in this township which he inherited from his father, he has added by purehase eighteen aeres more, and has a

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong counties, Pennsylvania, Part 84

Author: Wiley, Samuel T. ed. cn Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Philadelphia [J.M. Gresham & co.] Number of Pages: 652

Author: Wiley, Samuel T. ed. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Philadelphia [J.M. Gresham & co.]
Number of Pages: 652