Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume II, Part 13

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 II > Part 13

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different times to fill various offices in the church. In January, 1896, he was elected vania. president of the church and remained in that position until his death.

The progress of the bank and its growing importance to the business community afford The deposits of the First National Bank when

The family name was spelled "Niemann" by the best evidences of Mr. Nieman's success. his ancestors. His father, Friedrich Niemann, a lifelong Lutheran, died in Germany in 1872, he was elected cashier amounted to $250,000, at the age of seventy years ; the mother passed and in five years they have increased to the

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

total of over $600,000, with total resources of $8,000,000. This bank is on the "honor roll," that is, one possessing surplus and profits in excess of capital. Of the 7,500 national banks in the United States, only 1,300 occupy this position.

In this community where he has spent so much of his yet early life, little need be said of Mr. Nieman as a business man. The growth of the institution for which his most earnest efforts have been made is proof of his efficiency in his present responsibility. His unfailing courtesy, his genial manner under all circumstances, make him particularly fitted to meet the exigencies of modern business life. His acute business sense seems tempered by a manner which enables him to refuse a proposition with as much grace as another would have in conferring a favor.

Mr. Nieman is essentially a domestic man, devoted to his interesting family. He mar- ried Edith Dawson, daughter of the late Thomas and Eliza (Eggleson) Dawson, of Bellevue, Pa .; her father was one of the pioneer oil men of the old Smith Ferry field. Mr. and Mrs. Nieman have two daughters, Grace and Jean. The handsome family resi- dence standing on Grant avenue, Leechburg, was at one time the home of Capt. Alfred Hicks, later the home of L. W. Hicks, and then purchased by Mr. Nieman.

Mr. Nieman and family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church and he has been sec- retary of its board of trustees since 1907. He is prominent in Masonry, a life long member and past officer of the Bellevue Lodge, No. 530, F. & A. M .; a member of the Duquesne Royal Arch Chapter; Allegheny Commandery, No. 35, K. T., and Coudersport Consistory, thirty-second degree. He is associated also with the Odd Fellows Lodge at Leechburg.

WILLIAM B. DAUGHERTY, brick man- ufacturer, and prominently identified with the business interests of Kittanning in other connections, was born in that city July 13, 1861, son of George B. and Agnes E. (Hill- berry) Daugherty.

Patrick Daugherty had the distinction of being the first permanent settler of Kittan -- ning. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was killed by the Indians at Lake George, New York.

married ; and Hannah, who is the only one of the family now living.

George B. Daugherty was a successful brick manufacturer and contractor. He man- ufactured all the brick and built all the brick work in the present jail, as well as the opera house, now occupied by the Safety Deposit & Guarantee Company, the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Works at Ford City, the Clarion jail, the Indiana courthouse, Kittanning court- house and many other buildings in Kittanning and surrounding places. For years he was the only brick manufacturer of any conse- quence in the region. He was the originator of the poor farm, took great interest in bet- tering the condition of the poor, and for many years was trustee of the county farm. Energetic, progressive, a man of affairs, he was highly respected by the people at large, as well as by his personal friends. Nine chil- dren were born to him and his wife: Dora B., . deceased ; William B .; Alexander R. ; George ; Lucitta, who married Herbert Mallick, hard- ware merchant at Pittsburgh; Emma, de- ceased, who was a teacher in the Kittanning public schools; John; Esther, deceased; and Adella, who married V. Frank Holmes, of Boston.

William B. Daugherty was educated at the public schools of Kittanning, attending until fourteen years old, when he began working in his father's brickyard, subsequently learning the trade of brickmason. Later he engaged in contracting with his father, carrying on an extensive business at Ford City, Falls Creek, Kittanning and other places. The plant of which he is now the principal stockholder and manager is located at Jacob street and Grant avenue, Kittanning, and is a thoroughly mod- ern establishment, equipped with the best line of appliances. A sufficient force of men is kept busy all the while. Like his father, Mr. Daugherty is active in public affairs, has served as a member of the city council, and was school director in 19II.

In February, 1889, Mr. Daugherty was married to Lurania L. Hague, daughter of Frederick Hague, of Kittanning. Two chil- dren, Hays R. and George F., have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty. Mr. Daugherty is a member of Blue Lodge No. 244, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Kittanning lodge of Elks.

James Daugherty, son of Patrick Daugh- erty, was born in Kittanning, and had chil- THOMAS J. HENRY, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born in Apollo Nov. 3, 1858. His early education was secured in the pub- dren as follows: George; James P .; Harmer Augustus ; Mary, who married George P. Kron and is deceased; Nancy, who died un- lic and select schools of Apollo and at Elders-

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ridge Academy. Before taking up medical work he taught school in Apollo and was principal of the Franklin school at Cone- maugh, Pa. Beginning the study of medicine under Dr. W. B. Ansley, he completed his course at the medical department of the Uni- versity of Wooster, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Later he took a post-graduate course at the Philadelphia Polyclinic. In 1884 he settled in Penn Run, where he practiced three years. In 1887 he located in Apollo, where he yet continues in active practice. Dr. Henry belongs to the Armstrong County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania State he served for one year, having enlisted Sept. Medical Society, and is a member of the, American Medical Association. He is an of- ficial examiner for the United States Marine Corps. Fraternally he is a Mason, being con- nected with Blue Lodge No. 437. In politics he is a Republican. He has served on the council and school board several years, and is a director of the First National Bank of this city. During his long practice Dr. Henry has been eminently successful and is justly re- garded as one of the prosperous physicians in the locality.

Mrs. T. J. Henry, formerly Margaret J. Elder, was born in Parnassus, Westmoreland Co., Pa. She graduated from the State normal school at Indiana, Pa., in 1892, and taught school in Apollo for a number of years before her marriage. At present she is serving on the school board of Apollo, hav- ing been elected a director at the last election, November, 1913. She is the first woman to be elected to public office in Armstrong county. . Mrs. Henry is a member of the Woman's Club of Kiskiminetas Valley and of Apollo Chapter No. 125, Order of the East- ern Star.

SYLVESTER G. REDINGER, of Tem- pleton, head of the firm of S. G. Redinger & Son, owns and operates a large sawmill there and is also extensively engaged in building, being one of the best known business men in his section of Armstrong county. Mr. Red- inger has attained a foremost position among the honored self-made men of this region by hard work and ambitious endeavor, and he has carried his various undertakings to suc- cessful completion by intelligent application of the resources at his command and his faculty of making the most of the opportu- nities at hand. He was born Feb. 2, 1866, in Jefferson county, Pa., son of Henry and Mar- garet (Hankey) Redinger.

in Red Bank township, Armstrong county, and settled there, for many years following farming and lumbering, also burning char- coal. In 1895 he sold his property, including a general merchandise store at New Salem, Pa., and moved his family to Los Angeles, Cal., returning three years later. He now lives retired at New Salem, Armstrong Co., Pa. Mr. Redinger has always been a stanch Republican and in his earlier life took an ac- tive part in politics, holding a number of township offices. He was wounded while fighting as a soldier in the Civil war, in which 5, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Pa., in Company B, . 6th Pennsylvania Regiment of Heavy Artil- lery. Mr. Redinger is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He married Margaret Hankey, who was born May 16, 1846, at Butler, Pa., daughter of John and Mary (Buyers) Hankey, and they have had nine children, of whom Sylvester G. is men- tioned below; E. C., a builder and contractor, is now a resident of Los Angeles, Cal. (he is heavily interested in the growing of fancy tropical fruits in Porto Rico, being a pioneer developer of fruit land there, and is county superintendent of Porto Rico) ; Rev. F. M. is pastor of an M. E. Church at Erie, Pa .; W. H. who died in California, was a teacher and in his day was considered the best educated man in Armstrong county ; R. D. is engaged as a farmer on the old homestead; Mary is the wife of W. I. Brocius, of Oakland, Pa .; Urney is the wife of C. A. Smith, of Yatesboro, Pa .; Ortanza is a teacher in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.

Sylvester G. Redinger received his education in the common schools. At the age of seven- teen years he started life for himself, begin- ning lumbering in Red Bank township, Arm- strong county, where he operated for five years. Thence he went to Jefferson county, Pa., for a time, and later to West Virginia, returning from there to Armstrong county, where he located in Madison township, for a period of four years. From that township he moved to Pine township, in 1906 settling at Templeton, which has since been the center of his business activities. Meantime he had commenced building, in 1902 erecting four houses at South Bethlehem, Pa. When he came to Templeton he built a sawmill, estab- lishing the industry which is still one of his principal interests, and also put up five houses, which he rents. In 1907 he built his own home and storehouse, as well as the town

Henry Redinger was born Aug. 25, 1845, hall and ten other buildings in Templeton.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

In 1911 he constructed five houses at Brae- strong, and belongs to the same family as the famous Maj. Gen. John Armstrong, of Revo- lutionary note.

burn, Westmoreland county, and in the spring of 1912 he remodeled his sawmill, doubling the capacity. The motive force is now 200 horsepower. The business has increased stead- ily from the beginning, and the trade is drawn from every part of the county, the

.William Armstrong, grandfather of Charles F. Armstrong, was a resident of Harmar- ville, and died there. He was engaged as a lock tender in the old days of the Pennsyl- firm of S. G. Redinger & Sons having a vania canal. His wife, whose maiden name

reputation for high-class work that has been gained by conscientious attention to the wants of all customers. Mr. Redinger has been remarkably prosperous, having accumulated considerable real estate and personal prop- erty, but his prestige and enviable standing are the best part of his success. Starting life on his own account without capital or influen- tial friends, he has forged steadily ahead, rely- ing upon well-directed labor to gain him the confidence of those he has dealt with. He is the kind of man who prides himself upon being able to "deliver the goods," whatever he undertakes, and as a consequence he has made the name of being one of the most reli- able business men in the county. His business has now reached such proportions that he em- ploys constantly from ten to fifteen men, often more, and he keeps two fine cars which he has found valuable in enabling him to keep track of his widely scattered interests, a fifty- horsepower seven-passenger car and a thirty- horsepower five-passenger. Business has re- ceived the greater part of Mr. Redinger's at- tention, but he is a public-spirited citizen and has held office at times, having served six years on the school board while a resident of Red Bank township. He is a Republican in political association, a member of the M. E. Church, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Templeton, No. 30.

Mr. Redinger was united in marriage, Jan. 25, 1884, with Emma Holben, of Armstrong county, and they have had five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: C. H., who married Hattie Frazier, of Pine township, Armstrong county; H. H .; M. F .; W. H .; and Margaret, now the wife of William Bole, of Rimesburgh, Pa. All of the sons are in business with their father, the firm name being S. G. Redinger & Sons.

was White, was a sister of William White, who at an early date owned the land where Leechburg, Pa., is now situated. It was then known as "White's Plains." William Arm- strong and his wife had the following chil- dren : James, Jackson, William, Robert, Jos- eph, David, and Margaret (who married Hugh Campbell).

James Armstrong, son of William, was born in 1822 on the homestead in Allegheny county, Pa., and became very well known in his section, following the work of contractor and builder. He died in 1876, at the age of fifty-four years. His wife, Ellen (Smith), born in 1826, lived to the advanced age of eighty-five, dying in 1911. They had a fam- ily of ten children: William, James (de- ceased), John, Harry, Samuel, Charles F., Frank, Addison, Fannie (deceased) and An- nie (deceased).

Charles F. Armstrong attended public school in his native district, and began work when quite young among the farmers and truckers in the home neighborhood. When sixteen years old he entered the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, and on Oct. I, 1881, became agent at Lincoln, now Cheswick, Allegheny county. Remaining there until 1885, he next became a clerk in the ticket receiv- er's office at Allegheny, continuing at that point until 1889, when he was given the posi- tion of ticket receiver at Columbus, Ohio. In 1890 he returned to Allegheny, becoming joint ticket receiver at that station for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's east and west lines. From Allegheny Mr. Armstrong came to Leechburg in 1892, and in 1900 as- sisted in the organization of the First Nation- al Bank, of which he became the first cash- ier, serving in that capacity until 1906. In that year he resigned to become assistant cash- ier of the First National Bank at Long Beach, Cal., where he was located for one year, and returning east became cashier, in 1907, of the East Pittsburgh National Bank, at Wilmer- ding, Allegheny Co., Pa. He continued his association with that institution until the fall of 1908, when he returned to Leechburg to assist in the organization of the Farmers

CHARLES F. ARMSTRONG, cashier of the Farmers National Bank of Leechburg, Armstrong county, has been identified with banking interests in that borough since 1900 and has high standing in local financial circles. Mr. Armstrong was born Oct. 21, 1865, at Harmarville, Allegheny Co., Pa., son of James Armstrong and grandson of William Arm- National Bank, which took place Dec. 12th.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

He has since served as its cashier. Mr. Arm- large family: James died in Allegheny town- strong has not limited his interest in the af- ship Oct. 25, 1838, aged ten years, eleven months, twenty-four days; George C. died in that township Feb. 2, 1853, aged twenty- three years, six months, fifteen days; John R. died in Allegheny township June 10, 1856, aged twenty-five years, six months, twenty- one days (all three are buried in the Crosby lot in the Leechburg cemetery) ; Samuel M. is mentioned below; William is mentioned below; Levi Graves, always known as Graves S., is mentioned below ; Ebenezer B. is living in Manor township; Maria married Abraham Warner; Sarah married Findley Hill and (second) Anderson Gourley ; Mary Jane died May 10, 1853, aged four years, seven months, three days, and is buried in the family lot ; Martha is the widow of Dr. Joseph Smith and is living at Apollo, Pennsylvania. fairs of Leechburg to things concerning the bank. He is a director of the Board of Trade and has twice been elected president of that body, holding the office at present. In 1904 he was elected a member of the school board of Leechburg, and was again chosen to that office in 1910. He was one of the organ- izers of the Kiskiminetas Valley Agricultural and Driving Association, which he is now serving as director and treasurer. He is pres- ident of the Leechburg Lecture Association, which was organized in 1872, being one of the oldest associations of the kind in the State. Fraternally he is a Mason, in that con- nection belonging to Pollock Lodge, No. 502, F. & A. M., of Tarentum, Pa .; Orient Chap- ter, No. 247, R. A. M., of Kittanning ; Tan- cred Commandery, No. 48, K. T., and Penn- sylvania Consistory, of Pittsburgh; and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Los Angeles, California. On political questions Mr. Armstrong is identified with the Repub- lican party. He is a member of the Methodist Church and takes an active part in its work.

In 1892 Mr. Armstrong married Anna Maude Van Giesen, daughter of Thomas J. and Cynthia E. (Sloan) Van Giesen. They have had three children: Charles L .; Jose- phine M., who died at the age of six years; and Frank Thoburn.

CROSBY. The Crosby family has been creditably represented in Armstrong county, the late Judge Samuel M. Crosby, of the bor- ough of Leechburg, William Crosby, a farm- er of Parks township, and Ebenezer B. Cros- by, a resident of Manor township, being brothers, sons of Samuel Crosby. James Crosby, the grandfather, was born in Scot- land and come fom that country to America when a young man, settling in western Penn- sylvania, where he died. He was a weaver by trade.

SAMUEL M. CROSBY, son of Samuel, was born May 6, 1833, on the family homestead in Allegheny (now Parks) township, and there began his education in the public schools. Later he was a pupil at the Leechburg Acad- emy, after which he engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed for nine terms, in Armstrong county. After the war he made a trip West and South, remaining some time, and later engaged in the mercan- tile business at North Apollo for a number of years. Having always been ambitious to study law he sold out and began reading with his brother, Graves S. Crosby, who prac- ticed at Parker and Kittanning, and also read law with Wilson Jenks, at Clarion, Pa., being admitted to the bar in Clarion county, in the year 1873. He only practiced there a short time, however, before he was admitted to the Armstrong county bar, and from that time until 1888 he engaged in practice in his native county. He was admitted to the Supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1887. In 1888 he went out to Omaha, Nebr., where he was ad- mitted to the bar and entered upon practice, and he was also admitted to practice in Utah. He continued to follow his profession at Oma- ha for a period of fifteen years, during which he was very successful. Coming back to his home county upon the death of his wife, he ever afterward remained there, making his home on Grant street, in the borough of Leechburg, where he led a retired life until

Samuel Crosby, son of James, was born Oct. 13, 1801, near Tyrone, Pa., and fol- lowed farming in Parks (then Allegheny) township, Armstrong county. He bought four hundred acres of land, most of which he cleared himself. Selling two farms from this tract, he retained ownership of 160 acres and there spent the rest of his life, dying Jan. his death, March 11, 1914. He was prob- I, 1884. He is buried in the Crosby lot in ably best known as Judge Crosby, having served six years as municipal judge in Oma- ha, Nebr. He was a man whose high integ- the Leechburg cemetery. His wife, Jane (Gourley), daughter of George Gourley, was born Dec. 8, 1808, and died June 11, 1867; rity and honorable character commanded the she is buried in the same lot. They had a respect of all who knew him. His life was

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

interesting and eventful, and he was a use- number of lectures in this section, some of ful member of the profession of his choice. them in the Laurel Point Grange hall, and he In December, 1880, Judge Crosby married has made his headquarters with Mr. Crosby Jennie Beggs, of Parker, who was born Dec. 5, 1857, and died April 25, 1903, in Omaha,

when here. There are few more respected citizens than Mr. Crosby in this section. He Nebr. She is buried in the Crosby family lot has done much for the general welfare, and in the Leechburg cemetery. Until their re- has shown by his own success that he is prac- moval West they lived in Leechburg, where tical and efficient in all he undertakes. He has he built a fine residence. Mr. and Mrs. Cros- a good gas well in operation on his farm, by reared one child, Glennie Bowers Crosby, providing gas for all domestic purposes in daughter of Lewis Bowers, who died at his home. The farm is underlaid with coal Leechburg when his daughter was but three which also enhances its value. years old.

On Nov. 24, 1859, Mr. Crosby married Eliza A. Hill, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Ulam) Hill. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby are members of the Presby- terian Church at Leechburg, and he affiliates with Leechburg Lodge, No. 577, F. & A. M.

Fraternally Judge Crosby was a Mason, first holding membership in the Blue Lodge at Parkers Landing and later transferring to Leechburg Lodge, No. 577, F. & A. M., with which he was connected until his death. In politics he was a Republican. During the In politics Mr. Crosby is a Republican, and . Civil war he entered the 78th Pennsylvania he has been somewhat active in his locality, serving as school director.

Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Sirwell, was elected lieutenant of Company I, and served with the Army of the Cumberland.

GRAVES S. CROSBY, brother of Samuel M. and William Crosby, was born Jan. 29, 1843. He studied law, and became one of the fore- most attorneys at the Armstrong county bar. After being admitted to practice he opened an office at Parkers Landing, during the time of the oil excitement there. During his spare time while there he wrote his book, "Platonic Love," published in 1875, which met with considerable success. Later he located at Kit- tanning, where he continued in practice until his death, which occurred at Leechburg, at the comparatively early age of forty-three, May 6, 1886. He is buried in the Crosby family lot in the Leechburg cemetery. During all the buildings, planted all the trees, and the Civil war he served in the 139th Pennsyl-

WILLIAM CROSBY, son of Samuel and Jane (Gourley), was born Aug. 26, 1835, in Alle- gheny (now Parks) township, Armstrong county. He attended the common schools and Leechburg Academy, and during his young manhood taught school for seven winters in his native township. He has since devoted all his time to farming, in 1881 buying a part of the old Jacob Hill farm, in Parks township, from his father-in-law. He has a tract of 104 acres, and he and his wife have worked to- gether to improve this place according to the most approved standards, they having erected made all the numerous changes which have vania Volunteer Regiment. transformed it into a valuable property. Mr. Crosby follows general agriculture in his op- AMBROSE M. MATEER, a merchant of Ford City, was born in 1863, in Pine town- ship, this county, son of Samuel and Eliza (Ambrose) Mateer. The maternal grand- father, John Ambrose, was born in Penn- sylvania, coming of Scotch-Irish ancestry. erations. He is progressive in his work and ideas, and has been very prominent in the work of the Grange in his section. He was the second man in the State of Pennsylvania to hand in his name for the National Grange. He organized the Laural Point Grange and Samuel Mateer was extensively engaged in the cattle business in conjunction with farm- ing. To him and his wife were born chil- dren as follows: James E. B .; John .H .; Dr. R. M .; B. F .; Samuel S .; Anna J., married to W. C. Calahan; Margaret E., to Findley P. Wolf; Elizabeth, to Joseph Banks; Am- brose M .; and Alexander M. was its master for many years. The hall in which its meetings are held is on his proper- ty. Mr. Crosby charging nothing for the site as long as it is used for Grange purposes. With the exception of two years during which he served as master, Mr. W. F. Hill has been secretary of this Grange since its organization, Feb. 8, 1890. Mrs. Crosby, who is well known Ambrose M. Mateer attended the public school of his district and Dayton Academy, following which he taught school for eight in the community as "Aunt Eliza," was one of the charter members and has always taken an active part in the work. Mr. James G. years, becoming one of the well-known edu- McSparran, of Lancaster, Pa., has delivered a cators of his part of Armstrong county. He

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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 II, Part 13

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