USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 70
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Jonathan Myers, son of David, was born in Allegheny township, Westmoreland county, near Leechburg, Jan. 19, 1817, and settled in what is now Gilpin township, Armstrong county, where he owned three farms. He was a prominent man in his township and county, serving the former as school director and tax collector, and the latter as sheriff, to which office he was elected in 1862; he held it for three years. After his service as sheriff he resumed farming until his retirement, and Casper Tarr, son of Frederick, was born in Armstrong county, and his wife, whose maiden name was Adams, was also of Arm- strong county. Their children were George F., McConnell, Shields, John, Mary, Jane and Ann Elizabeth. One died young. For a number of years Casper Tarr was lock tender he died Nov. 23, 1884. He is buried in the cemetery of the Forks Church, of which he was a leading member and official. In poli- tics he was a Democrat and active in his party. His wife. Anna (Klingensmith), daughter of "Big"" Peter and Catherine (Wanamaker) Klingensmith, died Jan. 19, on the old canal at Lockport, Pa., and at the 1883, and is buried at the Forks Church. same time conducted a country store at that point. Subsequently moving to Kittanning, he had charge of the old cemetery at that place, holding this position until he died. He was a Republican in politics, in religion a member of the M. E. Church. They had children as follows: Elizabeth died in 1875; Hiram is living in Bethel township; Henry died young; Catherine died young ; 'John P. is mentioned below; Mary A. died young; Isaac is living in Gilpin township; Joseph A. is living in Gilpin township; Lewis died in 1863, when six years old.
John P. Myers received a public school education and assisted his father on the farm during his youth and early manhood. When twenty-three years old he came to his present place in Gilpin township, having a fine tract of eighty-four acres upon which he carries of general farming, raising considerable fruit. He is a Democrat in political connection has served on the election board, was school di- rector for fourteen years, and overseer of the poor. He is a faithful member of the Forks
ROBERT F. TARR, M. D., of Kittanning, who has been engaged in medical practice there since 1902, was born Dec. 28, 1860, at Freeport, Armstrong county, and belongs to the fourth generation of his family resident in this county.
Frederick Tarr, his great-grandfather, a native of Germany, on coming to the United States settled first in Westmoreland county, Pa., later moving to Armstrong county. Here he took up a large tract of land in what is now East Franklin township, where the vil- lage now known as Tarrtown is located, and a portion of his land is still owned by his de- scendants, the third generation now being in possession. Frederick Tarr was a man of considerable prominence in his time, and served many years as justice of the peace.
George F. Tarr, son of Casper, was born in Armstrong county, and died Sept. 5, 1876. He was supervisor of the first railroad built through Kittanning. on which road his broth- er's McConnell and Shields were also employed, and for a number of years was employed as supervisor on the old Allegheny Valley road and was the first supervisor of that road at Kittanning. Subsequently he located at what was known as the old lock at Freeport, Pa., and was for many years engaged in the hotel business, in which he was most successful. Ile retired from that line some time before
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his death. Mr. Tarr was twice married, his first wife being Levina Lynch, by whom he had two children, Thomas and Nudia. By
James Knox, one of the sons of George, was born on the Moore farm, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the his second marriage, to Susan Varner, he had locality. He married Rebecca Graham, and a family of five : Robert F., Josephine, Charles, to this union were born children as follows : William and Hattie, Charles, William and Eliza, who married Andrew Campbell, of Hattie dying in infancy. The father was a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the M. E. Porter, and lived in Butler and Armstrong Church.
Robert F. Tarr attended public school in Armstrong county, and also the academies at Whitesburg and Kittanning. He then learned telegraphy, which he followed for some years, being an operator in the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company twelve years. Taking up the study of medicine he entered medical college at Baltimore in 1896, gradu- ating in 1900. Returning to Armstrong county that year he began practice here at Center Val- ley, where he remained for a year, after which he was at Ford City for a short time, coming to Kittanning in 1902. He has built up an excellent practice and has won the esteem and confidence of his patrons and fellow citizens generally, served three years as member of the Kittanning school board, and is a valuable member of the community. He belongs to the Armstrong County Medical Society, to the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and to the American Medical Association.
Dr. Tarr married Mary Milliken, daughter of Andrew Milliken, of Armstrong county, and they have had two children: Jessie R. graduated from the Southwestern State Nor- mal School at California, Pa., and has been a public school teacher in Kittanning for three years ; Ross P. died when three years old.
J. M. KNOX, a large landowner in Perry township, Armstrong county, residing across the line in Parker township, Butler county, is engaged in farming, and has several produc- ing oil and gas wells on his property. He was born on the John Guthrie farm, in Perry township, this county, Dec. 20, 1856, and be- longs to a family established in this country by his great-grandfather, George Knox, who was from the North of Ireland, whence he went to Scotland, later coming to America. "He was twice married, and by his first wife, whose band's death, and is buried with him in the maiden name was Gibson, had two children. \Fairview cemetery. They were members of After her death he married a Miss Graham, the Presbyterian Church. of Clarion county, Pa., by whom he had two sons and one daughter. George Knox settled on the farm where his great-grandson, J. M. Knox, now lives, then known as the Moore place. He died there at the age of eighty-one years.
Butler county ; William, who married a Miss counties ; George; Nancy Jane, wife of Hon. A. L. Campbell, of Petrolia, Pa., former State senator; Samuel, who married Martha Gib- son; and James, twin of Samuel, who died unmarried. The father of this family died, at the home of his son George, at the age of sixty-seven years, and is buried at Parkers Landing. The mother is buried at Petrolia.
George Knox, son of James, was born on the farm now occupied by his son, J. M. Knox, grew to manhood there, and obtained his education in the schools of the vicinity. For a few years he lived on the John Guthrie farm in Perry township, in 1864 buying out the heirs of the old homestead place, where he continued to make his home until his death, April 25, 1893, at the age of seventy- three years. He is buried in the Fairview cemetery in Butler county. Mr. Knox took an active part in the affairs of the locality, serving as road supervisor and school director for several years. In political matters he was a Republican. He married Jane (Steel) Guthrie, widow of William Guthrie, who was drowned in a river in California, while en- gaged in contracting there. By her first mar- riage she had the following children: Ann Eliza, wife of Daniel Walker; John, who re- sides in Perry township; Hugh, of Perry township; Nancy, deceased; Samuel, who lives at Millers Eddy, Clarion county ; and William, of Sugar Creek township, this county. By her marriage with Mr. Knox she had five children: J. M., mentioned below ; Jennie E., widow of James E. Samuel, of East Pittsburgh, Pa .; Nancy, wife of Edgar Say," of near Bruin, Pa .; Mary Eleanor, wife of George Say, of near Bruin; and A. L., who resides on the farm adjoining his brothers in Butler county. Mrs. Knox died April 25 1903, on the tenth anniversary of her hus-
J. M. Knox attended the Shields and Knox schoolhouses in Perry township, and also a school in Parker township, Butler county. After commencing work he farmed and found employment in the oil fields as a driller, in time beginning to drill for himself. He now
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
owns six producing oil wells and one produc- neer of Armstrong county, whither he came ing gas well, five of the oil wells being located on his property in Perry township. He has large holdings of land, having two farms in Perry township of forty-four and a half and one hundred acres, respectively, another tract of 112 acres, two-thirds of which lies in Perry township and the rest in Parker township, Butler county, and a tract of forty-six acres in Allegheny township, Butler county. He resides on that portion of his 112-acre farm lying in Parker township. Most of the build- ings on this property were put up by his father in 1873, though he did some building himself in 1897. Mr. Knox engages in general farm- ing and produces crops above the average, applying his practical methods to every branch of his work. He is an excellent business man, and all of his enterprises have prospered under his thorough management.
On June 25, 1903, Mr. Knox married Mary Barto, of Clarion county, where she was reared and educated. Her father, Dan- iel Barto, was a well known furnace worker of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Knox have one child. George. Mr. Knox takes no part in public affairs or political matters, but he is a Republican in party connection.
The farm on which Mr. Knox lives was formerly owned by his great-grandfather, who bought it for his sons Thomas and Hus- ton Knox, the latter of whom made his home there. He was twice married, his first union being to a Miss Hutchison, his second to a lady named McCoy. His children were: Washington, who married a Logue, of Clar- ion county, Pa .: Rebecca, Mrs. McCall, of Clarion county ; Elizabeth, wife of Gib. Moore, of Butler ; and Peggie, wife of Joseph Graham, of Parkers Landing.
with his wife ( whose maiden name was Mary Smith) from the eastern part of the State, seating two tracts of land in Manor township, viz .: The Michael Mechling tract, called "Mechlingburgh," 105 acres, 59 perches, and the John Gray tract, of 280 acres. He was granted a pension, receiving twenty dollars every six months, which she drew after his death for several years. He died in 1861-62. Mr. and Mrs. Willard were members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was a man of medium build. To him and his wife were born twelve children, of whom are named: Sarah, who married George Wolf, a farmer of Kittanning township, and had eleven children, Jacob, Sally, Lydia, Eveline, George, Harriet, Diana, Polly, Christina, Rachel and Henry Townsend, the last named now eighty years old ; George ; Daniel ; Jacob ; Susan, Mrs. Furnee ; Betsey, who never married ; Hannah, Mrs. Frederick Hague; Mary, who never mar- ried; Mattie, who married John Shoop, and lived in Armstrong county; and John, who married a Schreckengost.
Scott Willard Furnee received a public school education at Kittanning. He began work in a rolling and nail mill, where he was employed for several years. During the Civil war, on April 22, 1861, he entered the Union army, and served for three years and two months, being a member of Company A, 8th Pennsylvania Reserves, under Col. George S. Hays and later under Col. S. M. Bailey, who subsequently was State treasurer of Pennsyl- vania. The command was attached to the Army of the Potomac and Mr. Furnee saw active service in all its battles. In May, 1864, on the second day of the battle of the Wilder- ness, just nine days before the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was wounded in the left ankle and sent to the hospital, eventually coming home, where he was laid up for five months. The injury made him permanently lame, but he finally regained his ability to walk and was able to work, finding employment again as roller in the rolling mills. After two years at that work he became assistant post- master at Kittanning, which position he filled eighteen months, at the end of that time taking a position as clerk in his present line, which he has followed continuously since. He was a partner with A. E. Weilman under the firm name of Weilman & Furnee, selling out to Mr. Weilman in 1893. That year he began business with J. B. Kennerdell, with whom he
SCOTT WILLARD FURNEE, senior member of the firm of Furnee & Kennerdell, of Kittanning, the leading dealers in wall paper, stationery, books, etc., in that borough, has been in business there for over forty years and is well known in social connections, being one of the most prominent members of the G. A. R. in that part of Armstrong county. He has a fine record as a soldier. Mr. Furnee was born in Kittanning Feb. 23, 1842, son of- John and Susan (Willard) Furnee, the former of whom was a carpenter and came hither from Middletown, Dauphin Co., Pa. . ne mother was of Dutch ancestry and was a daughter of Jacob Willard, of Maryland, who enlisted and served as a private in the War of has since been associated. Their store is lo- the Revolution. He was a farmer, and a pio- cated on Market street.
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Mr. Furnee has been an enthusiastic mem- and Birdie F. and Sarah K., both of whom ber of the Grand Army of the Republic for a live at home. number of years, belonging to Post No. 156, in which he has held all the offices; he has served ten years as commander, an unusual record, and one which shows clearly his popu- larity and his devotion to the order. He also belongs to Lodge No. 688, I. O. O. F., and to the Royal Arcanum. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church.
On Oct. 4. 1866, Mr. Furnee married Mar- garet B. Williams, daughter of Daniel and Rachel (McMillan) Williams, both from Washington county, Pa .; Mr. Williams was a stonemason. To Mr. and Mrs. Furnee have been born three children: John, deceased, who was engaged in the manufacture of bath- tubs ; Ida B., unmarried; and Charles Henry Furnee, M. D., physician of Kittanning.
DANIEL H. CORE, cashier of the First National Bank of Ford City, Armstrong county, has been connected with the banking business since 1899. His first experience was gained in the institution in which he now holds the responsible position of cashier.
Mr. Core was born July 21, 1879, at Pitts- burgh, Pa., son of Rev. Jesse F. and Sarah (Heiner) Core. His father entered the min- istry at the age of twenty-three years, and de- voted the remainder of his life to ministerial and denominational work in the service of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For over thirty years he was a member of the Pittsburgh Con- ference, and he served several years as pre- siding elder of the Blairsville and Washington districts, being presiding elder of the latter at the time of his death, July 18, 1898. He was a talented gentleman, a natural-born orator and a powerful preacher, having but few equals and perhaps no superiors as a public speaker in the Pittsburgh Conference. During the Civil war he served as a Union soldier, having enlisted in Company F, 14th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served until peace was declared. He was in several hard- fought battles and was twice wounded. He and another member of his regiment were selected, or recommended, to take the course at West Point Military Academy, but Mr. Core declined the honor. To him and his wife were born seven children: Mary, who died when five years old; Lorena, wife of R. M. Gibson, who is assistant United States attor- ney at Pittsburgh : Paul A. A., an attorney, at Washington, Pa. ; Karl L. W., a construction engineer in the employ of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company at Ford City, Pa. ; Daniel H. ;
Daniel H. Core was educated primarily in the public schools, attending the grammar school at Washington, Pa., and subsequently entering Washington and Jefferson College, where he was a student until his father's death. On that account he left college, and for some time thereafter was a page in the House of Representatives at Washington, D. C., during the sessions of the Fifty-fourth and Fifty- fifth Congresses. In 1899 he was given a po- sition in the First National Bank at Ford City, remaining there until 1902, when he became teller in the Central National Bank of Wilkins- burg, Allegheny Co., Pa. In 1904 he was made cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of Freeport, in 1905 returning to the Central National Bank at Wilkinsburg as assistant cashier. His next change was to the South Side Trust Company of Pittsburgh, of which he was assistant treasurer. Returning to Ford City in 1908, he took the position of assistant cashier in the First National Bank, in January, 19II, becoming cashier. Mr. Core has the highest standing, among all who know him, for honor and a keen sense of responsibility, and his progress has been well merited. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., at Wilkinsburg; of the Royal Arcanum lodge at Freeport, Pa .; and of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Ford City. His religious connection is with the M. E. Church.
In 1907 Mr. Core married Amarilla L. Getz, daughter of Dr. G. M. Getz. They have one daughter, Amarilla J., and one son, Jesse Franklin.
ANTHONY DOVERSPIKE, deceased, was a farmer and lumberman in Mahoning and Red Bank townships, this county, throughout his active years, and was one of the most enter- prising business men of his section. He was much interested in the building of what is com- monly called the Shawmut road through this section, and was very successful in handling coal rights in his locality. Mr. Doverspike was born Dec. 26, 1842, in Mahoning town- ship, son of Daniel Doverspike and grandson of John Doverspike, a native of Germany, who lived in Berlin. In early life he came to this country and purchased a tract of land near Putegyville, Armstrong county, where he fol- lowel farming. He prospered and assisted all of his sons to obtain good farms. He married Catherine Knight, of Clarion county, Pa., and they had four sons and one daugh-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ter. Mr. Doverspike was an earnest member of the Lutheran Church.
Daniel Doverspike, eldest son of John, was born Jan. 9, 1818, within one mile of Putney- ville, and he passed all his life in Mahoning township, dying there; he is buried in the Eddyville Union graveyard. He owned two hundred acres of valuable land, and engaged in general farming. Mr. Doverspike was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, in which he held office, and politically was a Democrat. His wife, Margaret Beck, from Crooked creek, this county, was a daughter of Daniel Beck, and is also deceased. They had a large family, viz. : Catherine married Jacob Long, of Red Bank township; Anthony is mentioned below; George married Margaret Hastings, and they lived at Kittanning, Pa. (both are deceased) ; Isaac D. married Anna Fleming, and they lived in Armstrong county (both are deceased) ; one child died in infancy; Levina, deceased, mar- ried William Wolf; Christina married Hugh Kells, who is deceased; Mary is deceased ; Leah married Chambers Rugh, of Kittanning ; John M. married Emma Bittinger, of Mahon- ing township, this county.
Anthony Doverspike received his education in the schools of Mahoning township, and worked on the farm for his father until he at- tained his majority. He then went into the lumber business, which he continued until 1872, after which, for five years, he was in business at Eddyville, Red Bank township, car- rying on a store. For some time he owned a farm in Mahoning township, which he sold, however, buying a tract of 175 acres in Red Bank township, which he cultivated until his retirement. After he retired from active work, a few years before his death, his sons conducted the farm for him. Mr. Doverspike was very much interested in the Pittsburgh, Shawmut & Northern railroad, commonly called the Shawmut road, and he was instru- mental in having it constructed through Red Bank township. He took up many options on coal in his township, which he sold to the rail- road company, profiting handsomely by this operation. Mr. Doverspike held the office of school director for several terms. He was prominent member of the Lutheran Church. at Eddyville, which he served in the capacity of elder for many years, and in politics was a Re- publican. He died Sept. 9, 1912, and is buried at Eddyville.
seven children, namely: (1) Calvin Daniel, born Jan. 27, 1871, began his education in the public school of Red Bank town- ship, later attending Dayton Academy and Select School at Hawthorn, and the normal school at Clarion. During his boyhood and youth he assisted his father on the farm, but from the age of twenty years he has followed the teacher's profession, having been engaged two terms at Bethlehem, and five terms at Lit- tle Mudlick, Armstrong county. For the most part, however, he has been teaching in Red Bank township, Armstrong county ; he farms during the summer season. He is a member of the Eddyville Lutheran Church, and is now serving as a member of the council. (2)
George Edwin, born Nov. 3, 1872, received his education in the Red Bank township public schools and at the Hawthorn select school. He worked on the farm during his boyhood, and later assisted his father in getting options on coal lands in Red Bank township. He is now employed by the P. S. and N. Railroad Com- pany, in the office near Mosgrove, Pa., where he has been located for five years. He is a member of the Eddyville Lutheran Church, and fraternally is a thirty-second degree Ma- son, belonging to the Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite, Valley of Coudersport. (3) Albert Ira, born June 16, 1875, received his educa- tion in the schools of Red Bank township, and has always resided on the old homestead. He is a member of the Eddyville Lutheran Church. (4) Orpha Irnella, born Oct. 15, 1877, was educated in Red Bank township, and is now the wife of Newton H. Silvis, of New Castle, Pa. (5) Byron Rolsteon, born Feb. 21, 1880, was educated in the schools of Red Bank town- ship, learned the trade of blacksmith, and is now engaged as construction foreman for the Shawmut Coal Company, making his home at Mosgrove, Pa. He is a Republican in politics. He married Pearl Wolf, daughter of David and Jennie (Fink) Wolf, of Oak Ridge, this county, and they have four children, Dee, Mary, Orpha and Anthony David. (6) Edith Ciara Margaret, born Feb. 18, 1883, was edu- cated in Red Bank township, and is now the wife of Melvin C. Rumbaugh, of that town- ship. They have had one child, Ila Henrietta, who died Feb. 23. 1913, when a little more than two years old. Mrs. Rumbaugh is a member of the Eddyville Lutheran Church. (7) William Stanley Clark, born Feb. 22, 1886, received his education in the Red Bank town- ship schools, and the select school at Dayton, and has been engaged in farming on the old
. On Nov. 17, 1868, Mr. Doverspike married Henrietta Bowers, daughter of William A. Bowers, Rev. Daniel Cooper performing the ceremony. They had a family of homestead all of his active life. He married
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Emma Dinger, daughter of Harvey and Susan (Doverspike) Dinger, and they have one child, William Ray. Mr. Doverspike is a Repub- lican, and like the rest of the family a mem- ber of the Eddyville Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Henrietta (Bowers) Doverspike was born Jan. 27, 1851, daughter of William A. Bowers, and granddaughter of Philip Bowers. The latter came to this region from West Vir- ginia and engaged in general farming in Gas- kill township, Jefferson county, until a few years before his death, when he was obliged to retire on account of ill health. His sons then took the farm. He died at the age of seventy- three years. Mr. Bowers was a Democrat in political faith. He married Catherine Kipp, of West Virginia, and they had the following children: Andrew; William A .. deceased ; Susan, deceased ; Mary, deceased ; John, de- ceased; Abraham, living in Jefferson county ; Isaac, deceased; and Anna, deceased. The parents were buried in the family graveyard at their old home in Jefferson county.
William A. Bowers, son of Philip, received a common school education in Jefferson coun- ty, and followed farming all his life, working for his father until his marriage. Later he bought his father's farm about two miles from Big Run, and in addition to agricultural pursuits he was engaged in lumbering, float- ing considerable timber down the creeks to the market at Pittsburgh. He was quite an active man in his community, serving as school di- rector many years, and for several terms was a tax collector. In political connection he was a Democrat. He belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson county. Mr. Bowers married Elizabeth Anthony, and to them were born the following children : Mary Elizabeth, deceased. married John Lantz; Henrietta married Anthony Dover- spike ; Minerva Jane is the widow of James Lantz; Matilda died in infancy ; William R. married Mary Engle, of Armstrong county. The parents are buried at Mount Pleasant, Jef- ferson county.
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