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 25

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 25

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During three years of active, hard service, General Jackson won the confidence and re- spect of his superiors and the esteem and ad- miration of all within his command, and when mustered out he returned to his home and the quiet pursuits of a business life. While in the war he received two slight wounds. The appreciative regard of the officers and men of the IIth Regiment for their colonel was in- dicated by their presenting him a superb gold-encased and jeweled sword, together with sash and spurs, the presentation speech on behalf of the regiment being made by Captain Timblin. To keep warmer and more vivid the memories of his soldier life, its comrade- ships and past dangers, the General allied himself with Post No. 89, G. A. R., Encamp-

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ment No. 1, U. V. L., and the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Loyal Legion.

For some time after the close of the war General Jackson was engaged in the oil busi- ness in Venango county, but in 1869 he re- turned to his native county of Armstrong and was in the same year elected to the State Leg- islature, and reelected the following year. In this position, as in all others he filled, both military and civil, he so won the confidence of those he served that four years later he was elected to represent the forty-first Sena- torial district, composed of the counties of Armstrong and Butler, in the State Senate. At the close of his term of office he was again honored by the offer of a renomination, which he felt compelled to decline. In 1871 he was instrumental in organizing the Apollo Sav- ings Bank, in which he filled the responsible position of cashier until 1882, in April of which year President Arthur appointed him , collector of Internal Revenue for the twenty- third district, composed of the counties of Beaver, Allegheny (northern part), Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Clearfield, Blair and Huntingdon. He assumed the duties of this office July 1, 1882, and served until July 1, 1885, when he was removed by President Cleveland, on account of his poli- tics. In September of this year he was elected president of the Apollo Savings Bank, which later became the Apollo Trust Company, and he served in this position up to the time of his death. In 1893 he was elected State treasurer by a plurality of over 135,000. He was considered as a candidate for governor, and twice received the indorsement of his county for Congress.

time of its organization was president of the board of trustees of the State Institution for Feeble Minded, at Polk, Pa. He always de- voted his time, money and energy to indus- tries and promotions beneficial to his native town of Apollo and the Kiskiminetas valley, and was active in local affairs, securing the passage of the act authorizing the building of a free bridge at Apollo and taking an in- terest in every important measure for the public improvement. While the weight of years was beginning to burden him he never faltered, but was active almost to the very end. It was indeed, as if he had been taken while yet in the harness, for though practically retired at the time of his death he was presi- dent of the Apollo Trust Company and was assisting in the reorganization of the Pitts- burgh & Allegheny Traction Company. His interest in his friends, his faithfulness to every trust, doubtless prompted him to tarry unduly long at the altar of responsibilities. On March 7, 1906, his family noticed and remarked upon, the condition of his health. He insisted that it was but a passing ailment, but to his loved ones the absence of that bril- liant luster of his kindly eyes, that joy of his usual disposition, seemed to portend a more serious result. For two weeks his condition varied with some indication of slight im- provement, at which time he was markedly affected by his insidious ailment, and he was compelled to remain abed, from which he never arose. But throughout his entire sick- ness of nine weeks, while unable to talk, his spirit never waned, and his sincere interest in his friends and loved ones continued up to the very last. On the evening of Wednesday, May 8, 1906, just as the sun was sinking into the golden western sky, and the peaceful twi- light was marking the close of a beautiful summer day, as if wearied by the weight of years, and responding to the beckonings of nature, like a tired child he sank to rest, and beloved by his friends, honored and respected by all, the enemy of none, his noble spirit took its flight from an honorable, busy and useful life into the realms of a cherished memory, a worthy example and a glorious eternity. The Master called and he was ready.

Until the organization of the United States Steel Corporation General Jackson was large- ly interested in the sheet steel business in the Kiskiminetas valley. In 1886 he became in- terested in the benefits to be derived by his town and county from the erection of sheet iron mills at Apollo, and after he and others had agitated the subject the firm of P. H. Laufman & Co., Limited, was formed with a capital stock of $150,000. They kept in con- stant operation three large mills. General Jackson became a stockholder in this com- pany and was elected treasurer. Some time It is given to but few men in life's struggle to attain and occupy the place held by Gen- eral Jackson. He was a gentleman of the old school, and his dignified appearance was supported by dignity of action and manner. While he occupied a prominent place in life he was always generous and considerate of before his death P. H. Laufman & Co., Limited, and the Saltsburg Rolling Mill Com- pany, in which he was interested, had been sold to the United States Steel Corporation. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyter- ian Church, and for many years an elder. He devoted much time to charity, and from the the most lowly, and the needy found in him

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a ready sympathizer. His platform in life, in business, in politics, was fair play to every- body, and win or lose he always stood upon it. Those who knew him best, his friends and neighbors, who were the constant observ- ers of the varying changes in his busy life, all testify to the high esteem in which he was held. He was loved and honored by all, and without exception he always proved worthy

of the confidence so often placed in him by 24, 1849, in Allegheny county, Pa., and is his fellow men. His prominence in the af- a son of Andrew and Catherine ( Schroeder) fairs of the State is already history, and in Ivory.

every capacity in which he was called to serve he exemplified the highest type of American citizenship. It is, however, as a soldier that he endeared himself to the members of the old IIth Reserves. It was during those ter- rible days of civil strife that the character of the man showed forth in its true light. It was during those awful three years, as com- mander of a brave and faithful regiment, that he encouraged confidences which became the basis of a friendship lasting with increasing fervor until death, and an example which will continue while memory runs. It is well known what constant care and consideration he exer- cised for the comfort and safety of the regi- ment, and by his quiet manner and his inher- ent sympathy he so endeared himself to the "boys" that they would gladly follow where- ever he led, even to the "jaws of death." His was surely the fullness of an ideal life. As a soldier he was obedient and brave; as an officer, gallant and fearless, as a statesman, conscientious and wise.

General Jackson was twice married. His first wife was Martha J. Byerly, of West- moreland county, whom he married in 1860 and who died in 1864, leaving two children : Mary Gertrude (Mrs. Townsend) and Liz- zie Virginia (Mrs. Hammitt). On Dec. 29, 1869, General Jackson was united in marriage with Mary E. Wilson, daughter of Col. John M. Wilson, of Clarion county. By his sec- ond marriage he had five children : Frank Wil- son, John Howard, Bessie, Mamie (deceased) and Emily Louise. The mother of this family still lives in Apollo.

material from which this article was compiled was taken from the biography contained in the memorial resolutions adopted at a meet- ing of his old regiment, the IIth Pennsylvania Reserves .- ED.

ALFRED L. IVORY, attorney at law, is one of the prominent men of his profession in Armstrong county. He was born June

The name Ivory is of very ancient historical record and can be found in the archives of France and England, among the prominent educational, industrial, professional and po- litical men of those countries from the tenth century down.

The Ivory family is of Norman blood, and as early as A. D. 1079 one of its members was governor of the Duchy of Rouen in Nor- mandy and a close friend and ally of King William the Conqueror.

The Schroeder family is of Holland lineage and nationality and is of equal prominence in the ancient and more recent history of Hol- land and Germany.

Andrew Ivory was born in Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa., May 31, 1825; his wife was a native of Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa. He was a farmer until his enlistment, in 1861, in Company G, IIth Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, which he joined as a private. In the seven days' battle before Richmond, together with his regiment, he was captured, and im- prisoned in Libby prison and on Belle Isle. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of second and later to first lieutenant. He be- came acting captain in command from the battle of South Mountain to and including the battle of Fredericksburg, where he was seriously wounded by a Rebel minie ball, which badly shattered the bones of his right knee, maiming him for life. By reason of this wound he was honorably discharged, and returned home to resume his farming, con- tinuing his life on the farm until he retired several years before his death, which occurred May 9, 1908; his wife passed away in Janu- ary, 1901.

During his busy life General Jackson wit- nessed the little river village of his boyhood, whose industries and interests were those of a Mr. and Mrs. Ivory had the following fam- ily : Alfred L .; Mary A., wife of J. F. Keener, of Kittanning; Andrew E., of Pitts- burgh; Francis J., also of Pittsburgh; Robert B., attorney, of Pittsburgh; and Ella J., wife of Alfred Gray, of Columbus, Ohio. Both Presbyterian Church, of which the father was center of a moderately prosperous agricultural district, grow to a town of over two thou- sand people, the home of varied industries, the most important of which he was largely instrumental in establishing, and he was in- cessantly persevering in developing them to parents of this family were members of the a highly prosperous condition .- Much of the

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a ruling elder for several years. He was also a member of the G. A. R. post.

Alfred L. Ivory attended the public schools of Allegheny and Armstrong counties, the Presbyterian Academy at Leechburg, Pa., and the Slate Lick Classical Institute, from which he graduated in 1870. He taught school sev- eral terms and was engaged in business in the mercantile line as clerk and traveling salesman for a number of years. During this time he pursued the study of law under a private tutor, but did not register as a law student until 1881, in Clarion county, Pa. He finished his course in the study of law in the office of Wilson and Jenks, afterward Reed and Wilson, and was admitted to the bar in Clarion county in the year 1888. Following his admission Mr. Ivory practiced his pro- fession in Clarion county for five years, and then removed to New York City, where he was engaged in special work of his profes- sion for some years. Returning to Pennsyl- vania he spent four years at Pittsburgh with his brother, R. B. Ivory, and in 1900 located at Ford City, Pa., and continued practicing law there until 1909, when he located per- manently at Kittanning. In 1908 he was a Republican party candidate for judge of the courts of Armstrong county and received the endorsement and nomination of the Prohibi- tion party. After his admission to the bar in Clarion county, Mr. Ivory served two terms as secretary of the Republican County com- mittee and was elected three times as its chair- man. He was also a member of the Republi- can State Central committee. For many years he has been an active member of the Presby- terian Church, has been repeatedly elected to the office of ruling elder, and has also served as trustee, treasurer, Sunday school superintendent and teacher in that church.

Mr. Ivory is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and a Knight Templar, holding mem- bership in Pittsburgh Commandery, No. I, of which he is a veteran member.

On Oct. 12, 1871, Mr. Ivory married Har- riett E. Morrison, daughter of William Morri- son, of Slate Lick, Armstrong Co., Pa. Five children have been born to them: Clara May, wife of Andrew J. Robinson, of Leechburg, Pa .; Edwin Dixon, of Pittsburgh, Pa .; Edith Blanche, who died at the age of five years ; Bessie Luella, wife of Prof. E. H. Smith, of Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa .; and Alfred La Verne, of Leechburg, Pennsylvania.

strong county, was born May 19, 1861, in Blairsville, Pa., son of S. M. and Mary (Skeene) Cornell.

The Cornell family originated in Holland, but the name of its founder in America is not known, nor the date of his arrival in this country.

S. M. Cornell, father of Thomas G. Cor- nell, was born in Virginia, and when fourteen years old went to Philadelphia, Pa. Later on in life he became connected with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company as a master carpen- ter, and still later with the Northern Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company as trainmaster. Leaving the latter company he located at Johnstown, Pa., to enter the employ of the Cambria Steel Company. Following this association he entered upon a general con- tracting business at Blairsville, Pa., where he remained in active work from 1869 to 1895. In the latter year he retired, and so lived until his death, Jan. 2, 19II. He was a Republican, but never cared to hold office. He and his wife had six children, all of whom survive, Thomas G. Cornell being third in the order of birth. Mrs. Cornell survives, being now seventy-four years old. She is a lady of true Christian character, and a consistent member of the Methodist Church, in which she is very active.

The Skeene family had its origin in Eng- land, from which country two brothers came to the Colonies in the sixteenth century. Their names are not known. James Skeene, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Cornell, was a farmer, and lived and died in Pennsylvania, where his daughter Mary (Mrs. Cornell) was born.

Thomas G. Cornell attended the common schools until he was thirteen years old, when he became a messenger boy in the superin- tendent's office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Blairsville, which position he held for two years. For the following three years he clerked in a drug store. Once more he entered the services of the railroad company. this time as rodman, and when he had been with them three years in this capacity he was promoted to be timekeeper in the superintend- ent's office at Blairsville. Until 1886 he con- tinued in this position, leaving it to become chief clerk for the Norfolk & Western Rail- road Company at Norfolk, Va., in the M. W. department. Returning to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, he was made chief clerk

THOMAS G. CORNELL, president of the of the M. W. department of that company's Farmers' National Bank, of Freeport, Arm- western Pennsylvania division, and so con-

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tinued until he resigned, April 1, 1891, to en- gage in an undertaking of his own.

In 1891 Mr. Cornell became associated with the coal and stone interests at Freeport, Pa., operating coal mines extensively, and in 1900 he formed the firm of The Cornell Coal Com- pany, one of the largest independent coal pro- ducing companies in western Pennsylvania. He is one of the organizers of the Farmers' National Bank of Freeport, which has a capi- John M. Hunter, son of Robert, was born June 12, 1807, in Indiana county, Pa., where he passed all his life, dying at Blairsville, March 28, 1868. He followed the trade of shoemaking for the most part, though during 1854 and 1855 he was engaged as a foreman on the Pennsylvania canal, of which his son- in-law, W. F. Boyer, was then superintend- tal stock of $50,000, all of which is paid up; and a total of resources of $401,997.99, ac- cording to the statement issued Sept. 1, 19II. The bank is recognized as one of the sound financial institutions of western Pennsylvania. The officials are: T. G. Cornell, president ; W. A. Jack, vice president ; W. Fred Turner, second vice president ; F. K. Weaver, cashier, ent. On May 30, 1830, he married Annie and W. E. Phillips, assistant cashier. Under · Reese Banks, who was born in Pennsylvania, the conservative policy of Mr. Cornell the in- Oct. 10, 1810, and died Aug. 16, 1875, at terests of the depositors are safeguarded, while . Leechburg, where she was living with her the stockholders are given a fair return for son. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Hunter had their investment. Mr. Cornell's connection children as follows: Joshua Banks, born Nov. with large institutions has given him a wide experience, which he is putting to practical and efficient use in connection with his bank- ing business.

On Nov. 12, 1885, Mr. Cornell was mar- ried, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Margaret Maher. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have had three children.

A strong Republican, Mr. Cornell has been called upon to represent his party's principles upon different occasions as an official of Free- port. Socially he belongs to the Manufactur- ers' Club, of Philadelphia, and the Duquesne Club, of Pittsburgh. A man of high principles, possessed of sound judgment, Mr. Cornell has forged steadily ahead, and is now numbered among the leading financiers of his part of the State.

ROBERT P. HUNTER, M. D., the oldest physician now engaged in practice at Leech- burg, Armstrong county, has in the forty and more years of his residence in that community so thoroughly identified himself with the gen- eral welfare that he is recognized as one of the most public-spirited and prominent men there. He is at present representing his dis- trict in the State Legislature, has long been active in public life, has taken part in religious work and in all other movements for the moral uplift of his fellow men, and has been an in- fluential factor for good whose impress can- not fail to be permanent.

Dr. Hunter was born in Blacklick township, Indiana Co., Pa., Jan. 23, 1837, and his grand- father, Robert Hunter, was one of the pioneer

settlers in that county. Robert Hunter was born in 1782 in Westmoreland county, Pa., and died in 1861 at Jacksonville, Indiana county, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, Mary (Lawrence), a native of New Jer- sey, was born in 1781 and died in 1868, at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of fourteen children, most of whom reached maturity.

5, 1832, who served in the Civil war; Mary A., born Oct. 23, 1835, now deceased, who was married in 1855 to W. F. Boyer; Robert P .; William I., born Sept. 29, 1839, who is deceased ; Ella M., born Aug. 16, 1842, who married Dr. W. H. Kern, of Mckeesport, Pa .; Morgan R., born April 4, 1844, who served as a soldier in the Civil war; Dr. John A., born Aug. 20, 1846, who was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature on the Re- publican ticket (lower house) in 1874 and died shortly afterward (he was a soldier in the Civil war, and J. A. Hunter Post, No. 123, G. A. R., of Leechburg, was named in his honor, Dr. Hunter having been a very well-known and highly respected man) ; Dr. Milton C., born Aug. 7, 1850; J. Irwin, born June 19, 1852.

Robert P. Hunter attended the schools of the locality in which he was reared, and in his young manhood taught school for five years during the winter terms. For two years he was employed on the Pennsylvania canal under his father. In 1862 he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. M. R. Banks, of Livermore, Pa., and in 1864 began to attend lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He began practice be- fore finishing his course, on May 9, 1865, opening an office at Leechburg, where he prac- ticed four years before he was able to com- plete his studies. He had devoted all his sur- plus to the furtherance of his preparation for practice and finished the full course at Jefferson Medical College, graduating with

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

high standing March 13, 1869. He has been ship in Leechburg Lodge, No. 577, of which located at Leechburg ever since, and has been he is a past master; he is also a member of Orient Chapter, R. A. M., at Kittanning. highly successful in his professional work, winning and retaining the confidence of a On May 18, 1875, Dr. Hunter was mar- ried to Rebecca Hill, who was born in Arm- strong county, June 30, 1853, daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Kuhns) Hill. They have had the following children: John A., born June 18, 1876, died May 27, 1892; Lida A., born Jan. 10, 1878, died Nov. 2, 1897; Rob- ert K., born Oct. 19, 1879, graduated from the Leechburg high school, took a business course at Clarion, Pa., and is now in the government employ at Freeport, Pa .; Marion D., graduated from the Leechburg high school and later studied at the Lake Erie Seminary, a school for girls. large patronage. He has taken advantage of his wide acquaintanceship throughout this ter- ritory to exercise his influence for good when- ever possible, and though busy with his prac- tice has found time for other things he con- siders just as necessary to a useful life among his fellow `men. He has always shown his willingness to support any good movement started in the locality, and thus his interests have been very diversified. He was among the first-in 1878 to bring shorthorn cattle to Armstrong county, giving the farmers the benefit of improved stock. He has long been an ardent Prohibitionist, and on June 29, 1882, was made president of the Armstrong HERBERT G. GATES, secretary and treasurer of the Armstrong Trust Company of Kittanning, was born in that borough in 1881, son of the late William and Mary (Bassett) Gates, and grandson of William Gates. The grandfather was for many years owner and manager of the Kittanning Iron Works. County Prohibitory Amendment Association, a temperance organization which met in Kit- tanning upon that date. In 1873, he was one of the organizers of the Leechburg Bank, and served as one of its directors until 1880. For two terms he served as chief burgess of Leechburg, and in 19II he was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature ; he is taking an active part in the work of that body, serving upon the committees on Congressional Apportionment, Counties and Townships, Railroads, Ways and Means, Educational, Retrenchment and Reform. For twenty years he was a member of the Leech- burg school board, during most of that period being president, and it was during his in- cumbency that a fine high school was erected. Dr. Hunter was one of the organizers of the Apollo pension board, became its first presi- dent, and has continued to hold that position to the present time. He is serving as a trustee of the Soldiers and Sailors' Home at Erie, Pennsylvania.

William Gates, son of William, and father of Herbert G. Gates, was born March 2, 1842, in Pittsburgh, and when six years old was brought to Kittanning by his parents. He attended public school here and Elder's Ridge Academy, and when sixteen years old went to New York City to study pharmacy. Returning to Kittanning within several years, he went into a confectionery business with his brother, James Gates. Later these two branched out into the grocery business, their partnership continuing until the elder brother enlisted for service in the Civil war. Wil- liam Gates then bought a store on South Jef- ferson street, and conducted it for some years, until he sold it in order to devote all his attention to his extensive granary. Dur- ing the last few months of his life he was confined to the house with a lingering ill- ness. In August, 1864, Mr. Gates married Virginia Bassett, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Bassett, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gates H. Sutherland, of Chambersburg; Sara B., Mrs. Watt ; Edna, and Herbert G. Mr. Gates was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, serving the old Second Presbyterian Church as elder, and working in the Sunday

On Dec. 29, 1875, the Doctor received a commission from Governor Hartranft as sur- geon in chief on Gen. Harry White's staff, 9th Division, National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, and served in that capacity during the Pittsburgh railroad and labor riots.

Dr. Hunter is a leading member of the had the following family: William; Mrs. J. Presbyterian Church at Leechburg, of which he has been an elder many years. He served a long period as superintendent of the Sunday school. In 1887, he was a delegate from the Kittanning Presbytery to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church which met in school as superintendent.

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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 25

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