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 96

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618

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 96

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Simon Schaeffer lived at home until his marriage, and in his boyhood attended the common schools of the neighborhood. On Sept. 15, 1864, he enlisted, becoming a mem- ber of Company M, 199th Pennsylvania Volun- teer Regiment, was sent to Richmond, and took part in the battles of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run and Appomattox Court House, and was discharged at Richmond, Va., June 28, 1865. He was taken sick in front of Richmond with fever and ague, and was ill for some time. Upon his return from the army he took up farm pursuits, living in Valley township from 1868 to 1884, and in Kittanning township from 1884 to 1907, owning 140 acres, where he engaged in general farming. In 1907 he settled at Blanket Hill, where he has since done a thriving business as a general merchant. He has always taken a prominent part in public affairs in his locality, served twenty years as supervisor and member of the school board in Valley and Kittanning town- ships, was tax collector one term, and has been a justice of the peace for the last fifteen years. Mr. Schaeffer has been a wide-awake citizen, alert and enterprising in the discharge of the duties connected with the different public trusts with which he has been honored, and his intelligent and broad ideas have made him

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a very valuable worker. He is well read, and has an excellent memory, being in fact well preserved in every respect. He is widely known, all over the county, and his high char- acter has won him excellent standing. He is a Democrat in political connection, a member of the Lutheran Church, and belongs to Fraley Post, G. A. R., at Elderton.

On March 29, 1860, Mr. Schaeffer was mar- ried to Sarah Cravner, of Blanket Hill, who died June 8, 1910. He was married (second) Feb. 29, 1912, to Flora Dunmire, of Plum Creek township, daughter of S. G. and Martha Dunmire. Of his children, all by the first union but Mildred, we have the following record : William Anderson is a farmer in Plum Creek township, and is married to Mary J. Watterson ; John Ambrose, who is deceased, married Anna Boarts ; Isaac A. married Nancy Hemphill and is living in Kittanning; James A., a lawyer, living at Mount Vernon, Ohio, married Minnie Welsh; Lambert Austin is deceased ; Elizabeth is deceased ; Rebecca mar- ried C. M. Heilman, of Wick City, Pa .; Simon Lewis, who is a traveling demonstrator and collector for a publishing house of Chicago, Ill. ; Mildred Irene was the only child of the second marriage.

SAMUEL WALTER GALLAHER, junior member of the firm of Hoey & Gallaher, proprietors of a foundry and machine shop at Kittanning, was born in 1874 in Butler county, Pa., son of Hugh and Annie ( Hep- worth) Gallaher.

Hugh Gallaher was born in Ireland, and was brought to Armstrong county by his parents when a boy. He was educated in the public schools here, and when he attained maturity went into the oil and coal business. This he followed in various parts of Penn- sylvania until his retirement, having met with a fair measure of success.

Samuel W. Gallaher was educated in the public schools of Armstrong and Forest coun- ties, Pa. In young manhood he was appren- ticed to learn the trade of machinist, in the Ford City shops, and after mastering it learned that of toolmaker, at the Daugherty typewriter works. For five years he worked to master the details of these trades, and became very expert in both. For a time thereafter he was with the well known Baldwin Locomotive Works, at Philadelphia. In 1907 he became a partner in the present firm of Hoey & Galla- her. The company was incorporated in 1910, with a capital stock of $50,000. The plant is thoroughly up-to-date, being equipped with

modern machinery, and a specialty is made of all kinds of repairing. When working at full capacity employment is given to from twenty to twenty-five men.

Mr. Gallaher is a member of the Episcopal Church at Kittanning, and serves as a vestry- man. He takes pride in the fact that he is able to belong to the Sons of Veterans because his father served during the Civil war. The record of Mr. Gallaher's life is a history of earnest, persistent, honest effort, intelligently directed, and judging the future by the past his prospects are very bright.

WILLIAM NELSON FOULIS, a drug- gist, in the Third ward, Kittanning, Armstrong county, has been associated with that line of business in Kittanning for a number of years and opened his present store in 1909. He was born in Kittanning Aug. 3, 1874, son of James Foulis.

James Foulis, the father, was a native of Kinross, Scotland, where he spent his early life, marrying there. After the birth of his eldest child, Alexander, he came with his family to this country, in 1871, settling at Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life. By trade he was a stonecutter, and his first work here was on the stone jail. When he died, in 1886, he was in his prime, being fifty-three years of age. His wife, Janet Fairley, was born in 1845, daughter of William .and Margaret Fairley, of Luntuttigo, Scotland, the former of whom was a weaver by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Fairley had five children, namely : Alexander; William, who died in Scotland; Janet, Mrs. Foulis; Margaret, Mrs. Wright, who resides in Scotland; and Elsie, of Scot- land, who is unmarried.

Mrs. Foulis died March 2, 1896, when forty- nine years old. She and her husband were members of the United Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of three children : Alexander; James Fairley, of Kittanning ; and William Nelson Foulis.

William Nelson Foulis was educated in Kittanning and there learned the trade of bricklayer in his youth. He was one of the first to locate in the then new town of New Kensington, Westmoreland county, where he remained for four years, returning to Kittan- ning in 1893. On coming back to the borough he entered the employ of the Brodhead Drug Company, with whom he remained until he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war. On June 4, 1898, he joined Company E,

15th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers,

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

being in the army until Jan. 31, 1899. Return- wife was Sadie Welton, daughter of Samuel ing at once to Kittanning, he resumed the Welton, and by her he had five children, four druggist business, received his certificate as of whom are living: Harry, Anna, Grace a registered pharmacist in 1901, and from that ( wife of Frank Flick) and Cora. His second wife was Emma Dipner, daughter of Thomas Dipner, of Butler county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have an adopted son, Elmer Ross. Mr. Ross belongs to the Methodist Church. Fra- ternally he unites with the Odd Fellows, Elks, A. M., P. O. S. of A., and F. O. Eagles, and time until 1909 was engaged as a drug clerk. He then opened the drug store in Wickboro- now the Third ward of Kittanning-which he has since conducted, and by his reliable service and standard goods he has succeeded in building up a lucrative trade, which is con- stantly on the increase. He is a Mason in in political faith he is a Republican. fraternal connection and in religion a member of the Methodist Church. In politics he sup- ports the Republican party.

In June, 1904, Mr. Foulis was married to Catherine Brodhead, a member of one of the pioneer families of Armstrong county, daugh- ter of Edgar and Levina Brodhead. They have two children: William, born Feb. 22, ively. 1906; and Janet, born March 4, 1907.

JOHN ALEXANDER ROSS, a manufac- turer of Craigsville, Armstrong county, was born at Little Texas, Armstrong Co., Pa., May 8, 1862, son of John A. and Elizabeth (Furney) Ross, who were of Irish and Ger- man descent, respectively.

John A. Ross was born in Washington county, Pa. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and for half a century has resided in Armstrong county, now, at the age of eighty- five years, living with his son, John Alexan- der, at Craigsville. Fifteen children were born to him, thirteen of whom survive: Joseph; Thomas; Agnes, wife of Elmer McMillen ; John Alexander; William ; Sarah, wife of James Riley : Jane, wife of William Maley ; Albert; Mary Belle, wife of Dent Mc- Millen; Amanda, wife of David Ross; Charles; Eva, wife of Samuel Wellon, and Lawrence.

John Alexander Ross was brought to Craigsville when five years old, and was thenceforward reared here. He learned the woolen manufacturing business in all its de- tails, in the employ of the Craigsville Woolen Manufacturing Company, established in 1844. and became sole proprietor of the works in 1902. Two years later he sold three-fourths of the interest, and has since been vice presi- dent of the company, which operates under the name of the Craigsville Woolen Manu- facturing Company. A specialty is made of blankets, flannels and skirts, employment be- ing given to forty people. This concern has one of the leading industrial plants of West Franklin township.

Mr. Ross has been twice married. His first

OBADIAH CRATTY (deceased), for- merly of Parker's Landing, Armstrong county, was born in September, 1835, in Westmore- land county, Pa., son of William and Eliza- beth (Henchew ) Cratty, who were natives of Westmoreland and Butler counties, respect-

Obadiah Cratty received a thorough educa- tion in the public schools of Westmoreland county and at Witherspoon Institute, Butler, Pa. Having thus qualified himself. he taught school for about ten years, and during that period studied medicine, but he never practiced his profession. For several years he held the contract for carrying the United States mails between Butler and New Castle, Pa., and New Castle and Youngstown, Ohio. After residing for ten years at Butler Mr. Cratty went to Parker township, where for two years he was an oil driller, and later a pumper. He then became an oil producer, and branched out into the grain and merchandise business. conducting extensive operations along these lines at Stone House for ten years. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Cratty moved to Parker's Landing, where he established himself as a merchant, and continued to conduct his store until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1885.

In March, 1865. Mr. Cratty enlisted in Com- pany K. 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and after a service of seven months was honorably discharged as corporal. He belonged to Craig Post, No. 75. G. A. R., of Parker City, and was adjutant of same for several years. Mr. Cratty served in the city council for several years, being elected on the Republican ticket. The Presbyterian Church held his membership.

On Aug. 11, 1859. Mr. Cratty was married to Carrie A. Griesemer. daughter of Henry and Catherine (Donnelly) Griesemer, both born in Pennsylvania and early settlers of Al- legheny county. Pa. Mr. Griesemer was in the employ of the Spang Iron Company, acting as their manager at Etna, Pa. His death oc-

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

curred in 1864, when he was forty-eight years been born to this marriage, Elmer and Milton. Elmer Schumaker married Rose Zitler, of Chicago, and they have three children, Lois, old. His wife survived him, living to be sev- enty-six years old. Mr. and Mrs. Cratty be- came the parents of ten children, eight of Ruth and Halsey; he is a Baptist minister, whom attained maturity: Henry L .; Edwin E .; Estella, wife of J. M. Whyte; Sterling H. : Charles W .; Roswell S .; Samuel O., and Clarence K.

REV. ISAIAH W. SCHUMAKER, a Bap- tist clergyman of Manor township, Armstrong county, was born Nov. 16, 1839, in this county, son of Daniel and Catharine ( Ringer) Schumaker.

George Schumaker, his grandfather, was of German descent, and it is believed he was the original ancestor in America to come here from Germany. He married a Miss Miller. and subsequently took up land in Armstrong county, Pa., which he operated, being among the early settlers in his section. His children were : Isaac, John, Peter, Daniel, Joseph, and three daughters. In religious belief he was a Dunkard.

Daniel Schumaker was born in Armstrong county and was a farmer all his life. He and his wife, Catharine (Ringer) Schumaker, were the parents of eleven children: Josiah, who died young; Eliza, wife of Thomas Young ; Joseph ; Sarah, wife of Gideon Heck- man; Isaiah W .; Margaret, wife of Josiah Shall; Lucinda, wife of Isaac Schumaker ; Jolin; Lebenus, a Baptist minister; Mary, wife of C. W. Webster ; and Albert, a Baptist minister, who died unmarried.

Isaiah W. Schumaker attended public school in Armstrong county, and studied under Prof. Samuel Murphy, a noted educator of those times. Mr. Schumaker then devoted eight years to teaching school, two of them being spent in Maryland and six in Armstrong county. He was a close student, and through his own efforts became master of the dead languages, and well informed on all the topics of the day. In 1867 he became a minister of the Brethren Church, and served in that ca- pacity for ten years, when he was admitted to the ministry of the Baptist denomination. He is well known as a clergyman in Armstrong, Indiana, Fayette and Westmoreland counties, and for forty-seven years has labored as a minister of the gospel. Eloquent and force- ful, Mr. Schumaker has exerted a powerful influence for good, and endeavors to live out in his life the principles he teaches.

In 1860 Mr. Schumaker was married to Maria McKee, daughter of Thomas McKee, of Armstrong county. Two children have

and served eleven years as missionary to Japan, but is now retired, on account of fail- ing health. Milton is a physician and surgeon of Tarentum, Pa .; married Maggie Rhodes, of Armstrong county, and they have two chil- dren, Claude (a dentist) and Margaret.

WILLIAM S. LEVIER occupies part of the old Levier homestead in Perry township, Armstrong county, taken up about one hun- dred years ago by his grandfather, who came to this country from France, and was one of the pioneers in this section. He owned a tract of 150 acres. His children, James, John. Daniel, David, Josiah, Christenah, Sarah, Betsy and Mary and Ruth, were all born and raised on this place, and all attended school in Perry township, being fairly well educated for the time.

Josiah Levier, father of William S. Levier, was born March 29, 1819, on the farm where he grew to manhood. The ownership of the farm passed to him and his brother Daniel, Josiah having the southern half, seventy-five acres, upon which the old homestead and the other buildings stood. With the help of his sons he cleared much of the place, and put up the buildings now standing on the property. He had one oil well on his farm. There he continued to reside until his death, which oc- curred July 29, 1897. On April 30, 1858, he married Barbara Elizabeth Binkerd, who was of German parentage, being a member of the family of John Binkerd, of Perry township. She died Sept. 25, 1888, at the age of fifty- two years, and is buried with her husband in the Parker cemetery. Mr. Levier was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Parker. A Republican in politics, he was quite active in local affairs, and served a number of terms as a township official in the capacities of road supervisor, school director and tax collector. Mr. and Mrs. Levier had a family of eight children, namely : One died in infancy ; Eliza- beth C. is the wife of I. N. Johns, residing in Parker City and has children, Byron B., Floyd F., Waldo W., Melvin M .. Hazel I., Violet E., Carl C., and Virginia M .; Daniel R., who resides at Parker, Pa., married Mary Widger and has two children, Ethel I. and Florence J. ; William S. is mentioned below ; John B., of Butler, Pa., died unmarried; George G., married Emma Marshall in Aug- ust, 1913, and now resides in Parker City ;

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Flora M., wife of Samuel T. Thompson, living proved this property, and became a prominent in Parker township, Butler county, has two and successful man of affairs. His death children, George W. and Lena M .; Josiah M., who married Elizabeth Williams, resides at Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. occurred in 1872. He married Sarah Ringer, who bore him twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity : Isaac, William, Peter, Jesse, Joseph B., George, Mary (who married Thomas Montgomery), Catherine (who mar- ried Samuel Young), Margaret and Sarah.

William S. Levier was born Dec. 9, 1864, on the home farm, which lies three miles south of Parker, in Perry township. He received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood, and after his school days were over engaged in work on the farm, upon which he has passed practically all his life. There

Joseph B. Shoemaker was born on the old homestead in Mahoning township July 31, 1839, and there was reared to manhood. He settled in Madison township in 1864, owning are no wells in operation on the property now, a tract of land of about 160 acres there, which and Mr. Levier devotes all of his attention to general farming, having all his seventy-five acres under excellent cultivation except about four acres of pasture and woodland. He takes a good citizen's interest in the welfare of the locality, is a member of the Grange, at Millers Eddy, and has served one term as school director. Politically he is a Republican, but independent in his support of men and measures.

On Sept. 5, 1895, Mr. Levier married Lin- for many years. He held various township nie M. Hilliard, who was born in Butler county, daughter of Robert J. and Jane (Crothers) Hilliard, the former deceased, the latter now residing at Parker City. Mr. and Mrs. Levier have made their home on the farm ever since their marriage. They have one child, Wesley LeRoy. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

MERVIN L. SHOEMAKER, a promi- nent farmer of Madison township, owns and occupies the old homestead where he was born Sept. 29, 1879, son of Joseph B. and Mar- garet A. (Ferguson) Shoemaker.

George Shoemaker, his great-grandfather, with six brothers John, Solomon, Adam, Simon, Samuel and Daniel, emigrated from Germany to America prior to 1770, and first settled in Loudoun county, Va. In 1798 or 1800 George Shoemaker settled at Cochrans Mills, in what is now Burrell township, Arm- strong county. His wife was Margaret Miller, and their children were: Isaac; John; Peter ; Daniel; George; Jesse; Joseph; Catherine. Mrs. Blogher; Margaret, Mrs. Hind; and Hannah, Mrs. Uncapher. Of these,

Peter Shoemaker was the grandfather of Mervin L. He settled in what is now Mahon- ing township, Armstrong county, near Oak- land, in 1824, having purchased 200 acres of land from his cousin Philip Shoemaker, who had settled there in 1814. He cleared and im-

he cleared and improved, and died there March 13, 1900, in his sixty-first year. He was a prominent farmer of his day, and his farm was considered the most valuable in Madison township. He owned the first com- bined reaper and mower brought to the town- ship. In early life Mr. Shoemaker was a member of the German Baptist Church, but later he became a member of the Free Baptist Church at Deanville, of which he was a deacon

offices, was a Republican in political sentiment, and an advocate of prohibition. He married Margaret A. Ferguson, whose death occurred May 19, 1912. She was the daughter of Samuel Ferguson, a native of Ireland, who was a pioneer of what is now Mahoning town- ship, clearing and improving the farm now owned by Joseph Ferguson ; his death occurred there. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker reared a family of seven children, as follows: Carrie, wife of F. E. Claypoole ; Homer H .; Ora A .; Junie F., wife of Adam Shindledecker ; Bertha G., wife of John Shindledecker; Mervin L., and Claude C.

Mervin L. Shoemaker received his educa- tion in the schools of Deanville. With the exception of two years, when he worked as clerk in his brother Homer's store, he has always lived on the homestead, and came into full possession of the property in March, 1912. He has always followed farming as an occupation, being one of those industrious men who have found success by untiring effort and perseverance. He is prominent in his com- munity and well liked by all who knew him.

On May 3, 1903, Mr. Shoemaker married Myrtle, daughter of Robert and Catherine (Smith) Sherrieb, of Madison township, and they have two children, Blair and Joseph B. He is a member of the Free Baptist Church and has always been a stanch adherent to the principles of the Republican party.

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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 96

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 618

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618