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 89
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J., who died when nineteen months old ; and Vida G., born July 2, 1901. The family attend the M. E. Church. Dr. Keeler is a Democrat in his political inclinations.
PROF. WILLIAM W. IRWIN, superin- tendent of the public schools of Ford City, Armstrong county, Pa., was born May 27, 1875, in Butler county, Pa., son of John T. and Louisa (Thompson ) Irwin.
John T. Irwin was born in Butler county, as was his wife. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, 137th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for a period of nine months. At the expiration of his term he reenlisted, and was transferred to the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, from which he was honorably discharged in July, 1865. During his service he saw hard fighting. and proved himself a brave soldier.
William W. Irwin finished his course at the public schools of his native county, and then went to the normal school at Slippery Rock, from which he was graduated in 1896. Following this he entered Grove City College, and after leaving this institution taught school in Butler county three years. In that short time he proved his ability as a scholar and ex- ecutive, and was made principal of the Mars parents, Samuel and Katherine (Houser ) public school at Mars. Butler county. After a Rowley, were both of German blood. By his second marriage, to Mrs. Clarissa Iseman, John T. Keeler had a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters.
successful career of two years there he was made principal of the Dravosburg public schools, continuing there six years, or until 1907, when he became superintendent of Ford City public schools. Professor Irwin has charge of both the grammar and high schools here, and under his capable direction the pupils are given expert instruction.
In December, 1900, Professor Irwin was married to Martha B. Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown, of Penn township, Butler county. Pa. She died Aug. 24. 1913. Dorothy Belle is the one child of this marriage.
Professon Irwin is very prominent in fra- ternal circles, belonging to the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., of Mckeesport, Pa .. and the Royal Arch Masons of the same place; the Elks of Kittanning, being past exalted ruler of that order the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. His religious home is in the Presby- terian Church. A close student, a fine scholar, and a man who goes into everything thoroughly before forming an opinion, he is eminently fitted to have charge of the instruction of the
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young, especially as he is himself still youth- making until the spring of 1849, when he be- ful enough to be in close sympathy with them, in spite of what he has already accomplished. gan mining at the old Red Bank furnace. By the following summer he was able to send for his family and they resided at Kellers- JOHN C. BUCHANAN, a successful farmer of Wayne township, Armstrong county, was born in Pine (now Boggs) township, this county, March 1, 1859, son of John Buchanan. burg, Pa. Later he moved to Colwell, work- ing at the Mahoning furnace for twenty years. He and his wife had a family of ten children : James, who was born in Ireland ; John F., who John Buchanan was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1848, settling first in Mary- land, where he spent about eight years. Then coming to Armstrong, Pa., he followed iron work until about 1872, when he bought a tract old Robert Orr farm, later adding the Latimer was born at Kellersburg; the following, all born at Mahoning Furnace: William, Patrick, Edward, Rose and Julia; and Josephine, Charles and Joseph, born on the property now owned by the son John F., to which the family of land in Wayne township, a portion of the . came in 1861. Mr. Rabbitt had become mine foreman meantime, holding that position at farm to his holdings, this latter property com- Mahoning Furnace, Brady's Bend and Mos- prising 125 acres. He died in Wayne township grove. The farm was purchased of Patrick in 1885, and is buried in Boggs township. His Redd and contained some indifferent buildings wife was Margaret Campbell, daughter of Michael Campbell, and she, too, was born in Ireland. coming to the United States in 1856. The children of these parents were : Mary, who married John J. Stuart, deceased ; and John C. on the end opposite to the position now occu- pied by those standing. William Rabbitt built the present substantial buildings, including a brick residence, and put the 165 acres in excel- lent condition, his sons doing the farm work John C. Buchanan attended the township school, and remained with his father until he attained his majority, then going into the lum- ber woods, where he remained from 1880 to 1892. He then bought the old homestead, upon which he has since lived, developing it systematically. He has built a fine farm. while he continued at his old occupation, giving it up in 1875. His death occurred on this prop- erty in 1880, when he was sixty-three years old, and he is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Sugar Creek township, having been a consistent member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Politically he was a Republican, and held the offices of school director and supervisor. His widow survived until 1882, when she passed away, and lies by the side of her husband, having been a member of the same church as he.
On Jan. 12, 1892, Mr. Buchanan married Margaret J. Brunt, daughter of James and Mary (Johnston) Brunt, both of whom were born in Ireland. Mrs. Buchanan was born in Rayburn township, this county. Two children have come to this marriage : Henry Grier, born July 14, 1893. who is attending the Dayton Normal Institute, and Mary Anna, born April 28, 1896, also a student in the Dayton Normal Institute. Mr. Buchanan is a Republican, and served very capably for three years on the township school board. The family belong to the Episcopal Church, and are active in its good work.
JOHN F. RABBITT, a general farmer of Sugar Creek township, was born at Kellers- burg, Armstrong Co., Pa., April 20, 1851, a son of William Rabbitt.
William Rabbitt was born in Ireland, where he was reared, educated and taught the trade of shoemaker. He married in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland, Margaret Daley, a daughter of John Dalev, also a native of Ire- land. In 1848 William Rabbitt left his family and came to the United States to prepare a home for them. He located at Rimersburg, in Clarion county, Pa., where he worked at brick-
John F. Rabbitt was educated in the schools at Old Mahoning Furnace and in Sugar Creek township, and then left the parental roof to work in coal and iron mines, which he con- tinued for three years. Then he was in Law- rence county for Brown & Company. of Pitts- burgh, Pa., after which he went into the oil fields of Chicora or Millerstown, Butler Co., Pa., whence he went to the Bullion oil fields. Following this Mr. Rabbitt engaged with the Kittanning Iron & Steel Company as mine foreman at Sligo, Clarion Co., Pa., continuing as such for ten years. Mr. Rabbitt then re- turned to the old homestead and purchased the interest of the other heirs, since which time he has taken a pride in improving his property, among other things putting slate on the roof of his residence instead of shingles. With the exception of thirty-five acres in woodland, the property, which comprises 165 acres in the southwestern part of Sugar Creek township, is under cultivation, and there are two gas wells on it, as well as a four-foot vein of coal
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which has been opened so that this place is The parents are buried in the Mount Zion very valuable. cemetery.
In September, 1873, Mr. Rabbitt married Robert Lowry grew to manhood in Boggs township, and there attended the common schools, which were not so well conducted in his day as they are at the present time. He fol- lowed farming, remaining on the old homestead and taking up the work as his father relin- quished it, and he made considerable improve- ment in the property, which contains 140 acres, tinued to reside until 1906, when he himself gave up active labor and moved into Wick- boro (now Kittanning), residing at No. 1592 Johnson street. He has always been highly respected among his neighbors and friends, has led an industrious and useful life, and de- serves the respite from active cares he is now enjoying. Annie Smith, who was born in Lawrence county, Pa., daughter of James and Ann Smith, now deceased, natives of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitt are the parents of the following children: Rose, who prior to her marriage was a teacher in Armstrong and Butler counties, is the wife of Charles Rimp, and resides in Summit township, Butler county, overlooking the Allegheny river. There he con- Pa., where Mr. Rimp is a farmer; they have three children, Charles, Gertrude and John. William, who died at the age of eight years, is buried in the Sugar Creek Catholic cemetery. Nellie is unmarried. Edward died at the age of thirty-two years at the old homestead, hav- ing been brought here after having been taken sick in California, and he is buried in the Sugar Creek Catholic cemetery. Josephine is unmarried. Charles died when four years old, and he is interred in the Sugar Creek Catholic cemetery. Maggie died in infancy .. Mary died when two years old. Ruth died in infancy. Paul died when twenty-three years old.
The Rabbitt schoolhouse stands on a portion of the farm, and is the third building erected on this site, each one being an improvement over the other. Politically Mr. Rabbitt is a Republican, and has served as a school director. He has brought up the standard of his farmi until it is far above the average, and is a recog- nized authority on agricultural matters in his township.
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ROBERT LOWRY was throughout his active years engaged in farming in Boggs township, Armstrong county, and since his retirement has made his home in Wickboro. He was born Jan. 28, 1832, on the old farm in Boggs township then owned by his father and now by himself, son of William and Esther (Miller) Lowry.
William Lowry, the father, was born in 1799 in Indiana county, Pa., and when a young man came to Armstrong county to work in a tan- nery, intending to remain here only a short time. But as time went on he married, pur- chased a farm and settled down to agricultural pursuits, following that calling until his death, which occurred June 28, 1872. Mr. Lowry was in turn a Whig and Democrat in politics. In church connection he was a Seceder. His wife, Esther ( Miller), born in 1812, daughter of John Miller, died Sept. 30, 1881. They had the following children : Robert, John, Mary, Jane. James, Esther, Rachel and Sarah Martha.
On Dec. 12, 1882, Mr. Lowry was married by Rev. Mr. Lydy, of the Presbyterian Church of Worthington, to Elizabeth A. Pence, who was born Jan. 11, 1836, in Sugar Creek town- ship, Armstrong county, daughter of George and Deborah (McKee) Pence, who are buried in the Cowansville cemetery. George Pence was born in West Franklin township about Oct. 28, 1810, and lived to the good old age of nearly ninety-six years, dying June 1, 1906. He was a farmer by occupation. His first wife, De- borah, died at the early age of twenty-eight years, the mother of three children, Maria E., Elizabeth A. (Mrs. Lowry) and Peter, who lives in Payette, Idaho, where he is prominent as a banker. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have had no children of their own, but they have adopted a son, Charles, who was born Feb. 2, 1885. He is now cultivating the old Lowry homestead in Boggs township, residing there with his family. He was married to Iva Slagle, and they have four children, Robert, Arnold Greer, Mildred and Bernice Elizabeth.
WILLIAM PORTER HUTCHISON, of Rayburn township, Armstrong county, now living retired, is a well known resident of his section, having served his fellow citizens for twenty-seven years in the office of assessor and as overseer of the poor. He was born Feb. 16. 1839, in Butler county, Pa., son of David and Mary (Porter) Hutchison, and grandson of William Hutchison, a native of Ireland.
David Hutchison was born in Butler county. Pa., where he followed farming, also working at his trade, that of brickmason. He died in Perry township, Armstrong county. His first wife. Mary ( Porter), also a native of Pennsyl- vania, was a daughter of Rev. Samuel Porter,
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who was born in Ireland and was twice mar- mercial work. The mother of this family died ried, having three children by the first marriage April 7, 1895. and five by the second. To David and Mary (Porter) Hutchison were born ten children : STITT. The Stitt family is one of the oldest and most representative of sound Ameri- canism in Pennsylvania. Members of this family fought during the Revolution, the war of 1812, and in other conflicts for the country of which they were so proud, and the name has always stood for sterling honesty and fidelity to a strong sense of duty. Rebecca, deceased; Margaret Jane, deceased ; William P .; Samuel and John, twins, both of whom died while in the Union service during the Civil war, in Company H, 78th Regiment, Captain Sirwell; David Reed, deceased (he was a mute) ; Abigail A., deceased ; Eveline B .; J. W. and Sarah E. After the mother of these died David Hutchison married (second) Mary William Stitt was born in what is now Gil- Ann Powell, by whom he had two children, pin township, Armstrong county, and was a Edward Miller ( deceased) and Calvin.
William Porter Hutchison had somewhat meager educational advantages in his native county, and was quite young when he began to help on the farm, though being slight for his age he could not do as much as some boys. His father worked at the mason's trade, and. after his marriage he lived upon his father's farm for a few years, and then removed to Valley township, now Rayburn, in Armstrong county, locating on a tract of sixty-three acres which had never been well cleared and had grown up to underbrush. The old farmhouse on the place faced the cold northwest winds, and but for the hills which sheltered it would have been in danger of being blown over. Thus he began life here under rather adverse conditions, but he set bravely about the task of getting his land into good shape, and in time, as he prospered, built a convenient house and other buildings, and saw that his family had the advantages which had been denied him in his youth. Recently Mr. Hutchison has given up active farm labor, leasing his land, but he continues to live at his old home. He is highly esteemed in his neighborhood, and has the confidence of all who know him. Though he has always been a Democrat he has received the support of Republicans when a candidate for office, and his long service as assessor shows how satisfactory his work in that capacity has been to all concerned. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
On May 18, 1875, Mr. Hutchison was mar- ried in Armstrong county to Margaret Patton, who was born June 27, 1850, in Kittanning township, this county, daughter of John M. Patton, a farmer. To this union were born the following children : William Merrit, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, now in Oklahoma ; Mary Elaina, who is engaged as a teacher in the Troy Hill school; Dora Wallace, a teacher at Speces Corners; and Amy F., who pre- pared for teaching, but is engaged in com-
miller and farmer during his long and active life. In young manhood he served as a soldier in the Revolution, and the war of 1812, found him just as patriotic, for he once more became a soldier and fought for his country. His two brothers, Samuel and Jacob, were also soldiers in the latter conflict, and the former rounded out his days in what is now Gilpin township. These brothers used, as did all the soldiers of the times, the old flintlock gun. William Stitt was a landowner, and died upon his farm in Gilpin township. His children were as follows: Samuel, John, James, Wil- liam, Eliza and Margaret.
Samuel Stitt, son of William, had the fol- lowing family : William, James, Jacob, Samuel, John, Noah, Joseph, Andrew, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Sophia.
John Stitt, another son of William, was born in what is now Gilpin township, and was a miller and farmer all his life. A fine me- chanic, he built the old Stitt mill along Carna- han run in 1818, in what is now Parks town- ship. This was one of the early mills of the county, and all of the wheels were made by hand. So well known and generally recog- nized was the sterling honesty of Mr. Stitt, and the superiority of his process, that the saying became popular, whenever a comparison of merit was needed, "as good as the wheat in Stitt's mill." Mr. Stitt lived here, operating the mill, until his death in 1832. His remains were interred in a private burying ground on Capt. Henry Truby's hill. His wife bore the maiden name of Esther Frantz. Their chil- dren were as follows: Israel, born April 8, 1818; Hiram, Nov. 23, 1819; Delia, Sept. 30, 1821 ; Lavina, Jan. 3, 1824; Levi, Aug. 18, 1826; Hetty, Sept. 18, 1828; Leah, Aug. 24, 1830; and John F., July 26, 1833.
John F. Stitt, son of John, was born on the above mentioned date at the old homestead of his father, in what is now Parks township. He was a carpenter and farmer, and like his father a good mechanic. At different periods
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
he was foreman of building gangs, and assisted
to his other interests Mr. Stitt owns eighty- in the construction of the Canadian Pacific three acres in Parks township, which was railroad. His latter days were spent in his taken up by A. Fiscus, but later sold to Philip Carney, from whom Mr. Stitt purchased it. He has a beautiful home built by him in 1909, and equipped with all modern improvements, and the site commands a magnificent view. Mr. Stitt married Lida M. Hanna, daughter of Alexander and Barbara (Ross) Hanna, and they are the parents of the following chil- dren : Herbert LeRoy, Arthur P., Nellie I., Goldie (died at the age of four years) and Veryl V. Mr. Stitt is an independent voter politically. His family are Methodists. Fra- ternally he is a member of Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 617, F. & A. M., of Vandergrift. native township, where he met his death, being killed by a passenger train on the Pennsyl- vania railroad, on Sept. 22, 1894. His remains were laid to rest in the Stitt cemetery (Laurel Point) in Parks township. He married Anna K. Kauffman, daughter of George and Jane (Eldridge) Kauffman, and she survives, mak- ing her home with her son Thomas A. Stitt. Children as follows were born to John F. Stitt and his wife: Harriet I. married George W. Stitt; Esther J. died young; Levi G. married Lida M. Hanna and lives in Parks township ; Anna M. married Newton A. Long; Thomas A. is mentioned below : Margaret L. married Levi Schall; Benton F. lives at Columbus, Ohio; Edith A. married Charles R. Lanning, of Parks township; Florence married James Kepple, and (second) Prof. James Bandeen, and they reside in Texas.
THOMAS A. STITT, a farmer of Parks town- ship, was born in that township Jan. 21, 1865, son of John F. Stitt, referred to above, and his wife Anna E. (Kauffman) Stitt.
Until he was fourteen years old he attended school, and then began farming, which he has continued ever since with the exception of seven years when he was employed in the Van- dergrift Steel Mills. He owns a tract of thirty- three acres of land lying in Parks and Kiski- minetas townships, and also farms his mother's property, making a specialty of raising fruit, which he sells at the Vandergrift markets. Mr. Stitt is unmarried. He belongs to the Grange and takes an intelligent interest in its work. Politically he is an independent voter.
HUGH A. STITT, sheet roller at North Van- dergrift, was born in Parks township March 6, 1873, son of Levi and Eliza (Kerr) Stitt, grandson of John Stitt, and great-grandson LEVI G. STITT, master mechanic and travel- ing engineer for the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, was born in what is now Parks township Oct. 28, 1860, son of John F. and Anna E. (Kauffman) Stitt. During his boy- hood days Mr. Stitt attended school in his native township. At the same time he assisted in running the farm, and helped his father at carpenter work, gaining a practical knowledge of both. Remaining with his father until twenty-two years old, he then entered the em- ploy of P. H. Laufman & Co., at Apollo, as a carpenter, but later became a millwright and was made a master mechanic. From the spring of 1882 until 1886 he worked with this of William Stitt. As a boy he attended school in his native township, but at an early age commenced working for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, remaining with that con- pany for seven years. In 1893 he went to Apollo to become an employee of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company, which has been ab- sorbed by the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company. Mr. Stitt is now with the Vander- grift plant, and since 1904 has been a sheet roller. His house is on the Stitt homestead. In 1897 Mr. Stitt married Julia Barr, daugh- ter of John Barr, and their children are : Esther, Harold and Robert. Mr. Stitt is a Democrat, and since 1910, has been serving on concern, and upon its absorption into the the school board. He belongs to the Lutheran Church.
American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, he was continued as its valued employee. He built the present fine plant at Vandergrift, which is the most modern in the country. In addition
/ Levi Stitt, son of John Stitt and grandson of William Stitt, was born in Allegheny town- ship Aug. 18, 1826. Like so many of the Stitt family he became a skilled general me- chanic and millwright, at the same time fol- lowing farming. He operated a mill and worked at the carpenter's trade, being good in all lines, and so continuing until his death, which occurred on his farm in Parks town- ship April 21, 1902, while he was planting an apple tree. He married Eliza Kerr, daughter of Alexander Kerr. Their children were: Jane. who married Charles Long: Mary, who married David Fetties; Ellen, who married Daniel Kunkle; Lavina, who married G. M. Wigle; Eden: John, deceased; Hugh .\ .; George ; Howard; and Trusey, the last named deceased.
ROBERT LOUIS RALSTON, of Kittan- ning, is one of the leading lawyers at the bar
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of Armstrong county. He devotes all his Sept. 23, 1849; Eli, Aug. 9, 1851; Teney, time to legal work and holds the confidence of both clients and fellow practitioners.
His family is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The Ralstons of whom he is a descendant came from Ireland in 1803 and settled at Slate Lick, Armstrong county. On the paternal side he is related to the Galbreath family. His mother was a Thornburg, and was a descendant of an old Allegheny county family of that name. His father, James Ralston, and mother, Maria Thornburg, were marred in 1856, and spent their married life on a farm in South Buf- falo township. The family consisted of three children : George T., who resides on the home farm; Laura M., who resides in Kittanning, and the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Ralston was in early life a school teacher. After three years spent in teach- ing in the public schools of the county he entered Westminster College, in Lawrence county, Pa., and graduated from that institu- tion in 1890. He studied law with James H. McCain in Kittanning and was admitted to the bar in 1893. He has been engaged in the the improvements on his home place are the practice of the law ever since.
BENJAMIN WYLAND WYANT, one of the most prominent citizens of Washing- ton township, Armstrong county, is a man of progressive disposition and public spirit and a creditable representative of a most respected family of that section. Born Sept. 4, 1855, in Washington township, he is a son of Adam and Sophia ( Bowser) Wyant, and grandson of Martin Wyant, who was from Bedford county, Pa. He and his wife Christina
Adam Wyant, father of Benjamin W., was born in Westmoreland county, Pa. He was twice married, his first union being with Sarah Yerty, by whom he had seven children : Christian Yerty, born Oct. 19, 1832; Andrew H., 1834; Martin. Feb. 29, 1836; Archibald M., 1838; Elizabeth, 1839; and Rachel and George, who died in infancy. The only sur- vivor of this family is Elizabeth, who married Harvey Frick. For his second wife Adam Wyant married. on March 25, 1847, Sophia On Nov. 28. 1876, Mr. Wyant married Cynthia Ann Dickey, like himself a native of Washington township, born Jan. 26, 1853. daughter of Samuel H. and Dianah (Wolfe) Dickey. Six children have been born to this union : Finnie Lulu, born Aug. 25, 1878, who Bowser, who was born May 29, 1828, in Franklin township, Armstrong county, and is still living on the old farm in Washington township. Ten children were born to this marriage, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Mary, March 2, 1848; Delilah, died when nine months old; Mary Josephine.
April 13, 1853; Benjamin W., Sept. 4, 1855; Emma, Feb. 4, 1858; Catherine, March 13, 1860; John B. F., Aug. 7, 1863; Margaret, Sept. 4, 1866; and Susanette, June 3, 1869.
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