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 22
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JOHN M. ARMSTRONG, member of the Armstrong Furniture Company, of Leech- burg, Armstrong county, is one of the most enterprising business men of that borough. He was born Aug. 26, 1868, at Natrona, Allegheny Co., Pa., son of Samuel S. Arm- strong, and is a great-grandson of Robert Armstrong, the latter a native of the North of Ireland who came to this country and set- tled in Westmoreland county, Pa., about the
erated in this country and sanctioned in some measure by both. He was very well known death he removed to Leechburg, Arm- His wife died in 1877 in her seventy-fifth year. Both are buried in the Brookland cemetery in Allegheny township, Westmore- land county. They had the following children : Eleanora married Hugh McElroy; Adam C. served as a member of the House of Repre- sentatives from Kentucky, was principal of an academy in that State and also served as. superintendent of schools in Bracken county, Ky. (he was accidentally killed in that State) ; Robert was a farmer in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he died; David, an artist by profession, died in Westmoreland county in 1909; Elizabeth (deceased) married Hiram Steele; John A. is a resident of Leechburg, Pa .; Sarah A. (deceased) was the wife of James G. Bole ; Samuel S. is mentioned below ; Mary J. married Milton Free, who is de- ceased; Margaret married William J. Sproull, of Parnassus, Pa., who is deceased.
Samuel S. Armstrong, son of John, was eighteen twenties. He purchased land in born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and there Allegheny township, followed farming, and passed the greater part of his life. In his early manhood he was engaged in the drug. business, but later took up farming, upon the old Armstrong homestead, where he remained for many years. He is now living in retire-
was also engaged upon the construction of the Pennsylvania canal in his section. He died upon his farm and is buried in Brookland cemetery in Allegheny township. His wife, Eleanora (McKee), who was also from the ment at New Kensington, Pa. He married North of Ireland, is buried in the same ceme-
Martha J. Blackwood, who was born in Har-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
rison county, Ohio, and she lived to the age Armstrong have had children as follows : of sixty-six years, dying Oct. 23, 1906; she Martha B. (deceased), Laroka Eleanor, Eliza- beth Viola and John Bruce. Mr. Armstrong is an active member of the United Presby- terian Church, and has a young men's class in the Sunday school. He is a Republican in politics, but not active in party affairs. is buried in the Brookland cemetery in West- moreland county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Arm- strong had a family of seven children : Robert A. (deceased), John M., U. S. A. (living at New Kensington), Anna V. (married to J. J. Glenn, and residing at Prospect, Butler Co., Pa.), Elizabeth E. (deceased), Ira B. (de- ceased) and Hugh M. (living at Grand Junc- tion, Colo.).
John M. Armstrong attended what was known as the old Irishtown school in Alle- gheny township, Westmoreland county, and was at home with his father until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then tray- eled for two years as a salesman, after which he returned to the home farm and engaged in the dairy business. His next venture was at Leechburg, Pa., where he opened a milk depot and confectionery store, later adding groceries to the stock. He continued to carry on this business until 1900, when he entered into a partnership with his cousin, R. M. Arm- strong, and embarked in the furniture busi- ness at Leechburg, their establishment being on Market street. Mr. Armstrong then took a course in embalming at a Pittsburgh college, graduating in April, 1900, thus preparing him- self for the undertaking branch of the busi- agent. ness of the firm. It was first known as J. M. & R. M. Armstrong, and three years after it was founded A. M. Armstrong, brother of R. M., was admitted, since when the style has
PROF. FRANK W. GOODWIN, one of the best known educators of Armstrong county, was born March 14, 1869, in Venango county, Pa., son of Ira and Mary ( Alcorn) Goodwin.
John Goodwin, founder of the family in America, was born in Ayr, Scotland, and came to the United States about 1810, locating at Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the stock business, buying and selling all kinds of stock for many years.
Daniel Goodwin, son of John, was born at Columbus, Ohio, and like his father was a stock dealer. Subsequently he transferred his headquarters from Columbus to Coopers- town, Pa. He then embarked in the iron and mercantile business, and became a land agent, buying large tracts of land. The old home- stead in Plum township, Venango Co., Pa., now owned by the sons of Ira, was a portion of the land he purchased when he was land
Ira Goodwin, son of Daniel, was born on the Goodwin farm in Plum township, Ve- nango Co., Pa., in 1841, and followed farming from the time he attained maturity. He and been the Armstrong Furniture Company. The his wife became the parents of three children : store is stocked with high-grade goods, and Frank W., and Daniel and Andrew, who are. twins. Daniel Goodwin is a lawyer and dis- ing established themselves thoroughly in the trict attorney at Oil City, Pa., while Andrew
they enjoy a large trade in both branches, hav- confidence of all classes of the community. is a physician at the same place. The parents early united with the Methodist Church. They have all the latest appliances for up- to-date undertaking, and Mr. John M. Arm- Frank W. Goodwin attended public school in Venango county, later entering the Edin- boro State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1889. He was also grad- uated from Grove City College, in 1895, and took postgraduate courses at Harvard and Oxford, England, and has kept up his studies unceasingly. Professor Goodwin taught pub- lic school in several districts and then for strong, who looks after that part of the work, is thoroughly reliable and trustworthy. He is a member of' both the State and National Funeral Directors' Associations, has been very. active in those bodies, and in 1910, at Altoona, Pa., was elected second vice president of the State organization; at Harrisburg, Pa., in June, 1913, he was elected State president. His business ability is unquestioned, and his eight years was a member of the faculty of standing is unimpeachable. The firm has another store at Vandergrift, in Westmore- land.
the State Normal School located at Edin- boro, Pa. Locating at Kittanning, he be- came superintendent of the Kittanning public schools in 1907. Being very progressive in his ideas, and a man of broad views, he has materially raised the standard of his schools,
Mr. Armstrong married Minnie Blair, of Mckeesport, Pa.,' daughter of Joseph Blair, at one time a contractor and builder of Mc- Keesport, where he is now living retired; and brought them to a high state of excellence. his wife's name was Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Not only is he well equipped for his profes-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
sional duties by careful training and wide scientific experiments, in which he took great experience, but he loves his work and takes a pride in its quality.
In August, 1904, Professor Goodwin was married to Flora B. Thompson, daughter of of whom survive, Robert P. O'Brien being the
John Thompson, of Meadville, Pa. Goodwin belongs to Blue Lodge No. 416, F. & A. M., Orient Chapter, No. 247, R. A. M., Rose Croix Commandery, No. 38, and Pittsburgh Consistory. Not only is he one of the best educators Armstrong county has ever possessed, but he is also an attorney, having studied law and been admitted to the bar, although never engaged in active practice. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is superintendent of the Sunday school.
ROBERT P. O'BRIEN, chemical expert, of Freeport, Pa., was born Dec. 26, 1860, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, son of Patrick and Jane (Benton) O'Brien.
Patrick O'Brien was born in Dublin, Ire- thorough knowledge in all matters pertaining land, as was also his wife. In 1848, before his to such questions that the government has marriage, he came to America, and after he acted upon his judgment at times. Dr. Wiley, married settled at Kalamazoo, Mich., where late head of the national pure food commis- he built and operated a distillery in sion, often consulted with Mr. O'Brien upon important matters which arose in his depart- ment, knowing that the opinion he secured would be authoritative. For years Mr. O'Brien has been called upon to give expert testimony in vital cases where reliable judgment was 1849. Continuing it for three years, he sold out, and going to Sandusky, Ohio, built another. He associated himself with C. S. Watson and J. B. McKee, under the firm name of the Wyandotte Distilling Company, from which concern he withdrew in 1858, afterward needed. He is constantly experimenting along conducting a distillery for A. Guckenheimer, new lines.
who had plants at Delphos, Ohio, Cleveland and elsewhere. In 1872 he came to Freeport, Pa., where he was made superintendent of the children were born to him and his wife Alice: Guckenheimer plant, and thus continued until
On Sept. 17, 1885, Mr. O'Brien was mar- ried (first) in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and five Carl A., born Aug. 13, 1886; Helen J., March 1885, when he retired. Going back to Ohio, 2, 1888; Gertrude Elizabeth, Oct. 26, 1890; Robert A., born Dec. 13, 1892, and Kathleen, Oct. 17, 1899. Mrs. O'Brien died Aug. 19,
he bought a large farm which he conducted upon scientific principles, to further the de-
velopment of agricultural work in that State, 1908. On Oct. 26, 1910, Mr. O'Brien was experimenting with the object of increasing married (second) to a widow, daughter of Capt. John H. Nogle, who served as captain
its farm products from year to year. He proved conclusively that it was possible to during the Civil war.
control the yield of certain crops definitely, and in all of his chemical experiments with soils and fertilizers, had the cooperation of the professors of the agricultural department of the State university. Extensive plans were made to experiment fully along many lines, but before they could be put into work- ing execution Mr. O'Brien's health failed, and he died in 1902. Prior to coming to this coun-
pleasure. Although he was cut off in the midst of his usefulness he accomplished much. Nine children were born to him and his wife, seven Prof. fourth child in order of birth. In religious faith Mr. O'Brien was a Catholic.
Robert P. O'Brien attended grammar and high school, and later Notre Dame Univer- sity, at South Bend, Ind., from 1877 to 1880. He also took a special course in the law de- partment of that university after finishing his scientific studies. Having been prepared espe- cially for work as a chemical expert, he was called to Freeport to become connected with the Guckenheimer distillery, the largest of its kind in America. Mr. O'Brien was made su- perintendent and chemist for this concern in 1885, since which time he has rendered in- valuable service to the company, and developed into one of the leading chemical experts of the country. So widespread is his reputation for
HARRY R. GAULT, one of the progres- sive, public-spirited men of Armstrong county, and a prosperous citizen of Kittanning, was born in 1864 at Allegheny City, Pa. He is a son of James and Emma Gault. Educated in the public schools of Kittanning and Media Academy, at Media, Pa., Mr. Gault entered his father's department store as a clerk. After try he had had an exhaustive experience in a short time he was placed in charge of the some of the leading distilleries in Dublin, Ire- grocery department, a responsible position for land, and was already an expert in his line. one of so little experience, for the Gault de- His knowledge of this work fitted him for partment store was the first of its kind in Kit-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
tanning, and the pioneer in the adoption of the cash system.
In 1910 the firm was incorporated as J. A. Gault & Co., general merchandise and depart- ment store, and Harry R. Gault was made gen- eral manager. This is the largest store of its kind in Kittanning, and under the energetic management of Mr. Gault its affairs are now in a very gratifying condition. He is acknowl- edged as one of the progressive young busi- ness men of Armstrong county, and in 1906 his prominence in the business world was Board of Trade of Kittanning. In 1911 he was one of the organizers and an active mem- ber of the business men's exchange of the borough.
recognized by his being made president of the of land in Ringgold township, Jefferson Co.,
In 1906 Mr. Gault became one of the pro- moters of the town of Templeton, he having bought the land and laid out the place. Sell- ing the lots at a reasonable price, he brought to it substantial homemakers, who are interested in its development. This town is now in a thriving condition. In this same locality there is a large bed of clay well adapted for brick manufacturing, and Mr. Gault has developed a thriving brick industry here. He also opened up a good bed of limestone, under the name of the Templeton Limestone Company, which furnishes the limestone in large quantities for fluxing furnaces. This is the first industry of its kind in Armstrong county, and its suc- cess and development are largely due to Mr. Gault's foresight and energy. Mr. Gault is also president (elected 1913) of the Arm- strong Trust Company, a director of the Farmers' National Bank, and interested in many enterprises which tend toward the moral and material uplift of Kittanning and Arm- strong county.
Fraternally an enthusiastic Mason, he is a member of Blue Lodge No. 244, Orient Chap- ter, No. 247, Tancred Commandery of Pitts- burgh, and the Consistory of the Valley of Condersport, having attained the thirty-second degree. For some years he has been a mem- ber of the Washington Township Grange of Armstrong county. He is treasurer of the building fund of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a consistent member, and also serves as trustee.
In 1891 Mr. Gault was married to Retta Titzell, daughter of Andrew Titzell, of Kit- tanning. Three children have been born to them: James, Margaret and Harry.
sterling traits so characteristic of their race. Pennsylvania is the State selected for their place of residence, and they have been asso- ciated with much of the growth and develop- ment of their several communities. It is such men as these who are the great backbone of a nation's prosperity.
John Snyder was a native of Germany, who, coming to Pennsylvania from his own country in 1832, settled with his family at Greens- burg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he spent two years. In the fall of 1834 he bought a tract Pa., on which property he farmed until his death, which occurred in 1852. His children were: Catherine, who married John Fries; Walter, who died in Jefferson county; Con- rad; John Y., who died in Jefferson county ; and Casper, who died in the same county, on a portion of the old homestead.
Conrad Snyder, son of John Snyder, was born in Germany Jan. 15, 1815, and came to America with his parents in 1832. He spent some time in Jefferson county, but after his marriage settled in Boggs township, Arm- strong county. In 1842 he bought a tract of land from General Orr, and lived upon it until March 13, 1856, when he purchased 220 acres of valuable land from John McCawley, a por- tion of which is included in the present site of Snyderville. Mr. Snyder cleared off a por- tion of this farm, and became a successful man, although his operations were not con- fined to agricultural lines, for he and his son, John G., opened the first store in Snyderville, conducting it from 1877 to 1882 under the firm name of C. Snyder & Son. Snyderville was named for this sturdy old German-Ameri- can, and he had the honor of being its first postmaster, the office being known as Muff. Mr. Snyder sold his business in 1882, to S. M. Lewis.
Conrad Snyder married (first) Elizabeth Bargerstock, daughter of John Bargerstock, and she died in 1852, mother of the follow- ing children: Catherine, Sarah A., John G. and Casper. Mr. Snyder then married (sec- ond) Catherine Fishel, daughter of Samuel Fishel, and they had two children: A daugh- ter who died in infancy; and William F., a merchant of Snyderville, mentioned below.
Politically Conrad Snyder was a Democrat. Active in the work of the Lutheran Church, he was one of its most consistent members.
SNYDER. The Snyder family is of Ger- His death occurred June 17, 1900, and he left man origin, and its members possess those a large estate to be divided among his chil-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
dren, as well as an untarnished name and a his mercantile interests and the duties of post- record of stainless honor as a more lasting heritage.
JOHN G. SNYDER, a farmer of Wayne town- ship, son of Conrad Snyder, was born in 1848 in Boggs township, on the farm bought from General Orr. He was reared upon this prop- erty, and from 1877 to 1882 was in business with his father, under the style of C. Snyder & Son. After the store was sold Mr. Snyder began farming on 129 acres of land, a por- tion of the old homestead. Outside of his agricultural interests, he is engaged in wag- onmaking at Snyderville. He is fortunate enough to have three gas wells upon his farm, which is underlaid with a valuable vein of soft coal. This farm is recognized as one of the best in the entire township, and Mr. Snyder takes a pride in keeping it up in every respect, for he recognizes the need of constant super- vision.
John G. Snyder. was married to Mary A. Rupp, a daughter of Adam and Rosanna (Hartzel) Rupp, and they are the parents of the following named children: Edwin C., who is living in Virginia; Annie M., who died when three years old; Alice A., who mar- ried Marion Skinner; George H., who lives in Armstrong county; Miles L., who is the blacksmith at Snyderville; Clara C., who died in January, 1907; John S., who is at home, as are Mary O. and Cora C., while Ethel M. and Hazel L. are at school.
Mr. Snyder is a Democrat, and for nine years served very acceptably as township auditor, and in I9II was elected for a six- year term as school director of his township. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, of which he has been trustee for the last fifteen years, and he is one of the most reliable and highly respected men of his community, where his name carries much weight.
WILLIAM F. SNYDER, son of Conrad Sny- der, and half-brother of John G. Snyder, a merchant of Snyderville, was born Nov. 15, 1858, at Snyderville. He is the only living child of his father's second marriage. Mr. Snyder attended the local schools, and re- mained at home, engaged in farming with his father, until he was twenty-three years old. At this time he began learning blacksmith- ing at Snyderville, and followed that trade for ten years, but in 1890 embarked in his present enterprise, having bought out S. M. were born seven children, and we have record of John M .; Sarah, who married James Stur- geon and lived in Elderton; James W., who settled on the homestead farm in Plum Creek
master (as long as the office existed), having been appointed to that office on Jan. 29, 1892, when it was still known as Muff. An inter- esting story is told regarding the naming of the office. One cold day a lady came into the store with a muff, at a time when a discus- sion was being held as to an appropriate name for the proposed post office. Old Squire John Steele, seeing the lady and the muff, suggested Muff as a name, and it was sent to Washing- ton as the people's choice. The Department accepted the name, and so the post office was known until it was discontinued, in March, 1908, the people in this section now being served by the rural free delivery carrier from Echo.
William F. Snyder married Mary Rupp, daughter of Francis and Sarah (Bittinger) Rupp, and the following children have been born of this marriage: Harvey C., of Pitts- burgh; William F., of Steubenville, Ohio; and Guy K., who is assisting his father in the store.
For years a member of the Lutheran Church, Mr. Snyder is active in its good work. He has served as tax collector of his town- ship, being elected on the Democratic ticket, and he has also been township clerk and super- visor. At present he is secretary of the local telephone line in this district, and is recog- nized as one of the leading business men of the township.
JOHN M. PETTIGREW, M. D., late of Rural Valley, was one of the foremost citi- zens and medical practitioners of that part of Armstrong county for many years. Born in Indiana county, Pa., Feb. 28, 1835, he was a son of Matthew and Jane (Windrem) Petti- grew, and grandson of John Pettigrew, a farmer of Ireland.
Matthew Pettigrew was born in 1801. When a young man he settled in Plum Creek town- ship, Armstrong county, where he followed farming until his death. He died in 1887, in his eighty-sixth year. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious connection a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. He married Jane Windrem, daughter of James Windrem, of Plum Creek township, the latter a native of Ireland; Mr. Windrem was a Democrat and Presbyterian. To Mr. and Mrs. Pettigrew
Lewis, who had succeeded to the business founded by his father and brother, so that the store is again operated by a Snyder. Since then Mr. Snyder has devoted his attention to township; Martha, who married Josiah
1
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Shoemaker, a farmer of Kiskiminetas town- ship and Samuel H., who graduated from Jefferson Medical College and became a prac- ticing physician at DuBois, Pennsylvania.
John M. Pettigrew grew to manhood on his father's farm, meantime obtaining his early education in the common schools of the locality and Glade Run Academy. He read medicine with Dr. T. H. Allison, of Elderton, and then entered the National Medical Col- lege, Washington, D. C., from which he was graduated in 1860. Returning to Pennsyl- vania he practiced at Elderton, Armstrong county, for some time, thence moving to Rural Valley, where he passed the remainder of his days. He had an extensive practice, cover- ing the eastern part of Armstrong county and reaching out into Indiana county. Dr. Pettigrew, outside of his professional work, was particularly interested in the raising of blooded stock, horses, cattle and Merino sheep, making a specialty of Jersey cattle and Dolphin and Hambletonian horses. He ac- quired large land holdings, owning some seven hundred acres in Cowanshannock and adjoin- ing townships, and had an interest in a lum- ber company. Dr. Pettigrew died at his home in Rural Valley Dec. 21, 1897.
Dr. Pettigrew was a Mason, belonging to Kittanning Lodge, No. 244, F. & A. M., at Kittanning, and he was also an Odd Fellow, holding membership in Rural Valley Lodge, No. 766. In political sentiment he was a Dem- ocrat, but he took no part in party affairs, declining a nomination for representative. However, he served as school director of the borough.
On Feb. 20, 1863, Dr. Pettigrew married Cordelia R. McCurdy, daughter of John Mc- Curdy, of Wayne township, and nine children were born to them, three sons and six daugh- ters : Delia J., who married B. F. Ambrose, a teacher and telegraph operator of Iowa ; Matthew M., deceased; Charlotte M., who graduated from the Edinboro normal school and was a teacher at Rural Valley before her marriage to Dr. Samuel E. Ambrose, of Rural Valley ; John M., deceased ; Minnie M. ; Mary, deceased; Blanche M .; Martha M., and Ber- nard Clare. Mrs. Pettigrew still resides at the old home in Rural Valley.
HARRY REYNOLDS, proprietor of the Reynolds Hotel at Kittanning, was born Oct. 6, 1854, the son of Absalom Reynolds, and grandson of David Reynolds. A somewhat lengthy account of David Reynolds and his
father, George Reynolds, appears elsewhere in this work.
David Reynolds was one of the early set- tlers of Kittanning, and a pioneer hotel man, being the first in the place to provide public accommodation for strangers; he applied for his license at the first court held in Kittan- ning. His house, known as the "Kittanning Inn," was visited by many men of importance in the State. Judge George Ross stayed there when court was in session. Mr. Reynolds not only became wealthy, owning large tracts of land outside the city, but was also prominent in public life. There are few men whose names are held in higher. esteem than his, and he earned the right to be numbered among the leading men of his time and locality. Ener- getic and public-spirited, he served with dig- nified capability in many of the local offices, and gave distinction to the Whig party, of which he was an ardent supporter. He was one of the first county commissioners, and for some years was postmaster of Kittan- ning, during its earlier history. His first wife was Mary Woodward, second daughter of a distinguished pioneer, Absalom Woodward, and the second, Jane Ross, daughter of Judge George Ross.
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