USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume II > Part 11
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The Kyle family, of Reedsville, Pennsylvania, herein re- KYLE corded, descends from John Kyle, who came to Pennsylvania from the town Lorrademore, in the south of Ireland. He located in Lancaster county, there married and about 1775, with wife and child, came on horseback to the Kishacoquillas Valley, locating in what is now Brown township, Mifflin county. He warranted about four hundred acres of land on which he built a cabin at the foot of Back mountain, where he cleared, farmed and lived until his death, dividing his property between his sons. Joseph and Crawford. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians, organizers and charter members of the East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church of Reedsville. His wife was a Miss Crawford, who bore him three children: 1. Margaret. married Hamilton Kyle (not a relative), who died in Sun King Valley, Blair county, Pennsylvania ; she died in Brown township, Mifflin county ; their only son was killed by a kicking horse, while a young man, but their six daughters all married and have many descendants in Blair county. 2. Crawford, of whom further. 3. Joseph, born 1781, inherited the east- ern half of the homestead, became a prosperous farmer and a prominent man in church and state. He served in many township and county offices ; was a member of the state legislature and on February 25, 1845.
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was commissioned associate judge of Mifflin county. He was an elder of the Presbyterian church and of upright, manly character. He mar- ried (first) Mary, daughter of John Brisbin, (second) Jeannette McFar- lane, of Armagh township, Mifflin county. Issue by both wives.
(II) Crawford, son of John Kyle, the immigrant, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, in 1774, died in Brown township, March 8, 1842. He inherited the west half of the homestead farm and there lived, labored and died, prosperous and contented. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a man held in high esteem for his up- right, industrious life. He married (first) Mrs. Ann (Taylor) Mc- Nitt, (second) Jane (McIlhenny) Black. Children by first wife : Mary, born February 10, 1800; Jane, July 25, 1801; John, April 19, 1803; Joseph, January, 1805, died young ; Rhoda, April 22, 1809; Margaret, February 1, 1812; Samuel, August 4, 1814; Joseph, of whom further ; James, October 24, 1818; Jean; Rhoda, Samuel and Janie, died in in- fancy. Child of second wife: Matilda, married James Wilson.
(III) Joseph, son of Crawford Kyle and his first wife, Mrs. Ann (Taylor-McNitt) Kyle, was born in Brown township, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1816, died in November, 1879. He was educated in the subscription school of his locality and grew to man- hood, his father's farm assistant. After the death of the latter he pur- chased the interest of the other heirs in the homestead farm and became its sole owner. There he passed his entire life, and bequeathed to his son the farm first owned by his grandfather ( 1775), and now by the widow of his son, William Barr Kyle. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married, April 17, 1843, Elizabeth, daughter of William and Jane (Davis) Barr. Children: I. Crawford, born March 13, 1844, died August 12, 1845. 2. William Barr, of whom further. 3. Allen Taylor, born August 26, 1848, died 1889; married Elizabeth Reed Mitchell, who survives him, residing on the old Mitchell farm in Brown township. 4. Jennie Elizabeth, married Rev. John C. Oliver, formerly of Spruce Creek, Center county, now of Irwin, Pennsylvania.
(IV) William Barr, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Barr) Kyle, was born on the Brown township homestead, July 14, 1846, died in Reeds- ville, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1909. He was educated in the public school, Kishacoquillas Academy, which he entered when he was fifteen
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years of age, and Tuscarora Academy, at Academia, Pennsylvania. He grew to manhood at the homestead, which was his home until his mar- riage, after which he worked the old Norris farm, which his father had purchased. Six years later he moved to the Kyle homestead, which he purchased after the death of his brother Allen T., and there resided until 1903, when he moved to Reedsville and lived a retired life until his death in 1909. He was the fourth generation to own and cultivate the homestead farm and under his skillful management it was made a very productive property. He was deeply interested in his calling and used all modern aids to success. He was an active member of the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry; a faithful member of the Presbyterian chureli from 1896 until his death, and was an elder for fourteen years. He was a Democrat in politics, and a willing worker in any enterprise for the betterment of his community. He married, December 19, 1876, Mary Taylor, born November 13, 1845, in the Kishacoquillas Valley, daughi- ter of John and Rhoda (Taylor) Henry. Children: I. A son, died un- named. 2. Rhoda Taylor, born January 18, 1883; educated at Wilson College, and resides with her mother in Reedsville. 3. Joseph Reed, born April 21, 1885, died August 23, 1902 ; educated at Reedsville high school.
Mrs. Mary T. (Henry) Kyle is a granddaughter of William and Nancy (Beatty) Henry, both born in Londonderry, Ireland, coming to America in 1770 in the same ship, but unmarried. Three brothers of William Henry came with him, this family being related to the Patrick Henry family of Virginia. One brother settled in the west, one in the south. William and another brother locating in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania. There William married, and about 1790 moved to Mifflin county, where he bought a tract of land in Brown township. He cleared and improved his farm and there resided until his death in 1822, leaving a widow and family. He was an elder of the Presbyterian church and a man of excellent character. Children : James, dicd aged twenty years ; John, see forward ; William, a soldier of the war of 1812, died in Brown township, leaving a son William; Rebecca, married Abner Reed (see McNitt-Reed family sketch) ; Margaret, married Rev. James Sterrett : Lily, married James McFarlane; Francis, never married.
John, son of William and Nancy ( Beatty) Henry, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1783, and was a boy of
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about seven years when his parents came to Mifflin county, where he grew to manhood and, April 29, 1824, married Rhoda Taylor, born in Union township, Mifflin county, November 16, 1804. They settled on a nearby farm in Brown township, which he purchased, containing about one hundred and seventy-five acres, where they resided continuously until death. Both were members of the Presbyterian church ; he was an influential Democrat and associate judge of Mifflin county. He died November 17, 1867, she died April 23, 1868. They had thirteen chil- dren : 1. James Beatty, died in Reedsville, leaving a son, John Thomp- son, now living in Birmingham, Alabama. 2. Samuel Williamson, died in San Francisco, in June, 1912. 3. William, died in infancy. 4. John, deceased; married Rebecca L. Garver and left a daughter, now Mrs. Lee Homer McNitt. 5. Francis, died July 1, 1889. 6. William, died in South America in 1869. 7. Davis, now residing in Reedsville. 8. Robert P., died in Brown township, February 19, 1863. 9. Elizabeth Davis, died in 1883 ; married General John P. Taylor. 10. Joseph, died at the home farm in 1872. 11. Nancy Jane, married John R. Garver, and lives at Kishacoquillas, Pennsylvania. 12. Mary Taylor, married William Barr Kyle, whom she survives a resident of Reedsville (see Kyle IV). 13. Rhoda Garver, married William H. Taylor and resided near Reedsville until her death, in 1911.
Rhoda (Taylor) Henry, wife of Jolm Henry, was a descendant of Robert Taylor, who was the original owner of a tract of about three thousand acres. His son, Henry Taylor, married Rhoda Williamson, of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, and had children : Robert ; Samuel \V., see forward; Matthew, Henry, Joseph, David, Mary, Ann, Jane and Rhoda.
Samuel W. Taylor was born November 6, 1778. He learned the trade of fuller and until his marriage worked in his father's mills, commonly known as Taylor's Woolen Mills. After marriage he began farming, an occupation he followed all his after active years. He died aged eighty-four years. He married, about 1802, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Foster ) Davis ; she died at the age of eighty years. Children : I. Rhoda, born November 16, 1804 (of previous mention ), married John Henry. 2. Catherine, born October 10, 1806, married Francis McClure. 3. Henry P., born February 19, 1809. 4. John D., born November 17, 1811. 5. Samuel W. (2). February 25,
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1816. 6. James I., June 19, 1818. 7. Robert M. S. Elizabeth Jane, married Matthew Taylor.
Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Mary T. (Henry) Kyle lias continued her residence at Reedsville, where she is attended by her only child, Miss Rhoda Taylor Kyle. Both are members of the Presbyterian church and interested in the church and social life of their town.
The Freed family was founded in America by Paul Freed,
FREED born in Bavaria, Germany, emigrated to this country in
1752, settling in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He became a large landowner and left a posterity of hardy, self-reliant men, who are yet found in Richland and Milford townships, besides those who have gone out into other parts of the state and nation.
(II) Jacob, son of Paul Freed, became a landowner and prosperous farmer of Bucks county, married and left male issue.
(III) Abraham, son of Jacob Freed, was a native of Bucks county, later settling in Freeburg. Snyder county, where he partly cleared a farm, on which he resided until his death. He and all his brothers were mem- bers of the Mennonite church, that having been the family religion from the first generation. He married and reared a family of six children. two sons and four daughters, the latter intermarrying with the Delp. Motz, Miser and Schnee families. Abraham, the second son, lived and died on the old Snyder county homestead.
(IV) Jacob, eldest son of Abraham Freed, was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1811, died July 30, 1895. He grew to manhood at the homestead farm, married in 1837, then moved to Bea- vertown, Pennsylvania, where he established a tannery. continuing in successful business for many years. Finally he retired, and until his death, was out of all active business. He was also a landowner, and a stockholder in Selinsgrove National Bank. He was a Whig, later a Re- publican, holding several township offices. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, he having abandoned the Mennonite faith of his fathers. He married, in 1837, Susan Ritzman, born Sep- tember 22, 1822, in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, died February 25. 1893, daughter of John and Catherine Ritzman, early settlers at Cramer. Snyder county. John Ritzman was a miller, owning his own mill prop- erty, also a large farm on which he resided until his death. He had six
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children, all except Susan and Henry moved to Ohio, where they died. Children of Jacob and Susan ( Ritzman) Freed: Amelia, born Decem- ber 8, 1839, married Joseph Dreese and resides in Dayton, Ohio; Henry; born March 1, 1843, died about 1889; Edward, born March 1, 1844, now living retired at Beavertown, Pennsylvania; Mary, born January 1, 1847, married Alfred Smith and resides in Beavertown; Jacob, born March II, 1849, resides at Beavertown; Nathan, born October 1, 1851, resides at Burnham, Pennsylvania; Susan, born October 28, 1853, married Robert Feese, whom she survives, a resident of Beavertown; John, born Sep- tember 12, 1859, resides in Williamsport, Pennsylvania ; S. Lincoln, born February 7, 1861, died 1912; William Ritzman, of whom further; two other children died in infancy.
(V) William Ritzman, twelfth child of Jacob and Susan (Ritzman) Freed, was born in Beavertown, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1863. He was educated in the public school and grew to manhood at the home farm. At age of twenty years he entered mercantile life as clerk in a general store continuing eight years. He thoroughly mastered the details of merchandising and, about 1891, located in Siglerville, where he bought out a general store, and successfully conducted business for six years. He then sold out and purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Mifflin county, which he cultivated for five years. He then located in Lewistown, where he established a general mercantile busi- ness at the corner of Pine and Shaw streets, where he has a good store building, well stocked. He is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the Patri- otic Order Sons of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Milroy.
He married, May 10, 1892, Ellie B. Ingram, born in Mifflin county, daughter of Augustus M. and Elizabeth (Sigler) Ingram, and grand- daughter of James and Martha (Cottle) Ingram. Elizabeth Sigler was a daughter of George (3) and Sarah (Townsend) Sigler, and a grand- daughter of George (2) Sigler, born in New Jersey, February 17, 1762, came to Pennsylvania with his father, also George Sigler, and when a boy was captured by the Indians, carried to Canada and held in cap- tivity for over a year. He finally returned to his home, married and built the "stone house" in which his son George lived, a prosperous far- mer.
A complete account of the capture and captivity of George Sigler
1
th. R. Freed.
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(2) will be found in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Freed have no children.
The Mckinleys of Ireland descend from Mac Duff,
MCKINLEY Thane of Fife, Scotland, whose killing of Macbeth, December 5, 1056, formed a theme for Shakespeare's pen, his "Macbeth" containing the oft quoted lines :
"Lay on Macduff. "And damn'd be he that first cries, 'Hold, enough'!"
Through twenty-one generations in Scotland the descent traces to Findlay, killed at the battle of Pinkie, 1547, while bearing the royal banner of Scotland. He had four sons, who took the name of MacInla. In the twenty-sixth generation "James the Trooper" settled in Ireland (1690) and was the ancestor of most of the Irish Mckinleys. His son, David Mckinley, "the weaver", born about 1705, came to America, set- tling in Chanceford township, York county, Pennsylvania, prior to 1745. From him sprang the Mckinleys of York county and the Juniata Valley, and William Mckinley, twenty-fifth president of the United States. From York this branch settled in Juniata county, where the grand- parents of George W. Mckinley, of Burnham, lived and died.
(II) Alexander McKinley, was born in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, where he married Mary Meloy, also born in Juniata county. He was reared a farmer and always followed that occupation. He was a Republican in politics and a man of excellent reputation. Children : William, deceased ; James, deceased; Mary, died in infancy ; John, died in infancy; George W., of whom further; Lucinda, deceased; Lemuel and Samuel B.
(III) George W., son of Alexander and Mary (Meloy) Mckinley, was born in Tuscarora township, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1833. He was educated in the public school, and early in life began learning the carpenter's trade, and later added to his activities a knowl- edge of the plasterer's trade. In connection with his trades he followed farming, and on March 17, 1886, settled on a farm at McVeytown, where he remained four years. He then settled in Newtown, where for twelve years he was in the employ of the Standard Steel Works Com- pany. He is now living retired in Newtown, a well respected citizen. He
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is a Republican in politics and for five years served as assessor of Derry township. In religious faith he is a Methodist.
He married, in 1856, Mary E. Logan, born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, near Dry Run, June 22, 1844, daughter of John Logan, an early settler of Franklin county. Children : Samuel, Lottie, Harry, Wilson, Nettie and John, died in infancy.
PRETTYLEAF One of the substantial, honorable families of Penn- sylvania is that of the Prettyleaf, to which belongs John Calvin Prettyleaf, of Lewistown. Mifflin county. The original immigrant of the family came direct from Ger- many, landing in New York and later going into Pennsylvania.
(I) Jacob Prettyleaf, the immigrant, came from Germany, year unknown, with the hope of bettering his fortunes in a new and republi- can country. He settled in Derry township and there worked as a day laborer, knowing little English and willing to do whatsoever came to his hand. He married Rebecca Parcley, a native of Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of six children, one of whom was William, of whom further. Jacob Prettyleaf prospered in his new lione and sur- roundings and at his death left quite a good estate. He was a Lutheran, and he and his wife are interred in the Lutheran cemetery at Lewis- townl.
(II) William, son of Jacob and Rebecca ( Parcley) Prettyleaf, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and grew up there. He began farming immediately on leaving school. Later he purchased thirty acres of land just without the borough limits, it having since been in- corporated. and there he lived and died in 1900. He was a Republican and held minor local offices under the party. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He married Elizabeth Forsythe, born in Pennsylvania in 1833, died in 1902, daughter of Matthew and Mar- garet (Kane) Forsythe: Mr. Forsythe was born in Ireland and came to America when quite young : his wife was a native of Pennsylvania, de- scending from an old and long-established family of Pennsylvania : he settled first in Decatur township and later came to Mifflin; they were the parents of seven children. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Prettyleaf : I. John Calvin, of whom further. 2. William, was killed in a railroad acci- dent in 1898. 3. Sarah, married J. P. Bradford, of Ferguson Valley.
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4. Martha, married James Dunn. 5. Mollie, married Joseph Lighter, living on Valley street, Lewistown. 6. Annie, married Rush Russler.
(III) John Calvin, son of William and Elizabeth (Forsythe) Pretty- leaf, was born in Derry township, May 18, 1853. He received his preparatory education in the Lewistown public school, then attended the Lewistown Academy, finishing at the local Normal. Leaving school he engaged in teaching and continued at that vocation for twenty-two years, during which time he built up a notable reputation for himself as an educator. In 1900 he gave up pedagogy and opened a grocery store and a coal yard in Lewistown, since which time he has devoted him- self to these enterprises. He has over $10,000 invested in the business and employs seven clerks, and the business is growing by leaps and bounds. He owns one hundred and seventy desirable acres within the borough limit, which is also increasing in value with each year. He is a Republican, but has never held or asked for office. He has been a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias for thirty years, ranking high in its councils. He is a member of the Lutheran church. He married, in 1878, Martha Martz, daughter of Amos and Sarah (Ort) Martz. Chil- dren: I. Maurice E., of whom further. 2. John Calvin Jr., married Harriet Bogenreif, of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania; one child, Jean. 3. Grace, married Harry Goss; two children : Mabel and Nerr Bryson. 4. Sarah, married Charles R. Hoffmann.
(IV) Maurice E., son of John Calvin and Martha (Martz) Pretty- leaf, was born November 7, 1878. He was educated in the Lewistown public, high school and academy. For eleven years he and his brother, John Calvin Jr., assisted their father in the mercantile business, Maurice E. being manager. In 1911 Maurice E. bought a store on South Main street, No. 102, where he is now doing a remarkably good business. He is a Republican in politics, and attends the Lutheran church. He mar- ried, June 10, 1901, Laura J. Paul, of Lewistown, daughter of William Paul, of Lewistown. They have two children: Maurice Elbert and Francis Paul.
Jacob Martz, grandfather of Martha ( Martz) Prettyleaf, came from Germany and located in Pennsylvania where there were many of his countrymen. He was the father of several children, among them being Amos. Amos Martz, son of Jacob Martz, was born in 1818, in Juniata county, Pennsylvania. He married Sarah Ort, who was also of German
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descent. Amos was a carriage maker, and later moved to Lewistown where he established himself in that business in the fifties, conducting it until his death in 1881. His wife, Sarah, died in 1906. He was a Democrat, and they were both members of the Lutheran church. Chil- dren: Alonzo, Eliphas, Cloyd, Robert; Joseph, deceased ; James; Mar- tha, married John Calvin Prettyleaf, in 1878.
C. S. Brindel, general merchant, established in Burn-
BRINDEL ham, Pennsylvania, in 1909, descends from Abraham Brindel, born in Germany. He settled first in Berks county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800, later moved to Lancaster county, subsequently returned to Berks county where he died at an ad- vanced age near Adamstown. Children: John, of whom further; Daniel, Isaac, Elizabeth, and two other daughters.
(II) John, son of Abraham Brindel, grew to manhood in Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, receiving the limited schooling allotted the farmer boy of that day. He worked on his father's farm until his mar- riage, then moved to Mifflin county, locating in what is now Union township. About 1825 he bought a tract of wild land, built a log house and shop and began working at his trade of cooper. Later he moved to Belleville, where he purchased land adjacent to the present hotel, erected a house and shop and there successfully followed his trade until his retirement a few years prior to his death. He was a Democrat in politics, held several township offices, maintained an active interest in public affairs and was a highly esteemed citizen. He was a faithful member and an official of the Lutheran church at Mechanicsville, a church he was largely instrumental in organizing. He died in 1882, aged about eighty years. He married Mary Umbarger, born in 1801, died 1885, daughter of John Umbarger. Children: I. Cynthia, accidentally drowned aged three years. 2. Catherine, died in infancy. 3. Benjamin, married Nancy Mateer, and died August 24, 1896, leaving four chil- dren. 4. Richard, born July 17, 1829; married Catherine Taylor ; eleven children. 5. Josiah, married Sarah Hafford ; five children. 6. John W., of whom further. 7. Mary Elizabeth, married R. E. Wills.
(III) John W., son of John and Mary (Umbarger) Brindel, was born in Union township, Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, now re- siding in Granville, Pennsylvania. He spent all of his active life in
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agricultural pursuits and now lives retired. He married Nancy Ritten- house, who died in 1907. Children: 1. Elwood, now a broker in New York City. 2. Mary, died 1908; married George Kimberly, of McVey- town, Pennsylvania. 3. Charles S., of whom further. 4. Jennie, mar- ried Adam Kauffman; resides in Granville, Pennsylvania. 5. George, resides at Lewistown Junction. 6. Harry, resides at Alexander, Pennsyl- vania. 7. William, resides in Granville. S. John, resides in Altoona. 9. Robert, of Tiffin, Ohio. 10. Warren, of Granville, Pennsylvania.
(IV) Charles S., son of John W. and Nancy (Rittenhouse) Brindel, was born in Mifflin, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1861. He was educated in the public schools, and followed farming nine years in early life, then five years as a steel worker. He then learned the milling business, locating at Maitland, Pennsylvania, continuing success- fully until 1909, when he located in Burnham, Pennsylvania, where he established the mercantile business of C. S. Brindel. He owns the building which he occupies and is well established in a profitable business, handling«the usual stock of a general country store. Mr. Brindel is a capable, energetic, honorable business man, and has in his son an efficient clerk. He is a Democrat in politics and in Maitland served as super- visor. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and interested in all good works. He married Mae Howenstein, born in Newport, Pennsylvania, in 1867, daughter of William and Lucy Howen- stein, both deceased.
(V) William A. H., only child of Charles S. and Mae ( Howenstein) Brindel, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, near Lewistown, Sep- tember 25, 1889. He was educated in the public school of Maitland, Pittsburgh high school and Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport. In 1909 he entered the employ of his father, C. S. Brindel, at Burnham, Penn- sylvania, and is so connected at this date (1913). He is a young man of sterling business qualities and takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his town. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church ; Lewistown Lodge, No. 187, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Kappa Delta Phi (Dickinson). He is a Democrat in politics.
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