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 3

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 3

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Mr. Steel married Sally Herron, a daugh- ter of James and Jennie ( Morrison) Herron, and two children have come to them, both born on the same farm as their father, Vera Mildred and Jean Elizabeth.

Mr. Steel belongs to the Kaylor Grange and the Sons of Veterans at Chicora, being eligi- ble because of his father's military service.

Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Lutheran Church holds his membership. From the time he cast his first vote he has been a Republican, but he has never been willing to hold office except that of school director of Sugar Creek town- ship. A conscientious man, he has always en- deavored to do his duty as he has seen it and has high standing and an honorable record.

Both brothers are men of influence not only in Sugar Creek township, but throughout their section of Armstrong county, and au- thorities on agricultural matters. Although some of their properties are still in timber- land, no oil has been found, nor is there any trace of it, but the soil is fertile enough to make the land very valuable.

MICHAEL J. LINNON, proprietor of the "Linnon Hotel," at Kittanning, has various interests besides his hotel in and out of Kit- tanning, and is regarded as one of the most progressive business men of that borough. He was born in Boggs township, Armstrong Co., Pa., Dec. 23, 1860.

William Linnon, father of Michael J. Lin- non, was a native of Ireland, in which coun- try the name was spelled Lennon. He came to America when a young man, the ocean trip taking thirty days. By trade he was a mason and stonecutter, and he first followed it in this country in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company. Later coming to Armstrong county, Pa., he married, and for a time followed his trade at Mahoning. Thence he removed to Monticello, now known as Cowanshannock, where he worked at his trade in the summer and mined coal during the winter. From that place he moved to Kittanning, where he made a permanent home for his family and passed the remainder of his long life, his death occurring in September, IQII, when he was eighty-two years old. He was engaged at his trade on many build- ings in the borough, having helped to lay the foundations of the "Reynolds House," the Gault block and the jail. In politics he was a Democrat, in religion a devout Catholic.

Mr. Linnon married Margaret Murphy, who was born in Bellefonte, Pa., daughter of Michael Murphy, and died in 1876, aged thir- ty-two years, and seven children were born to them: Michael J .; Margaret, who died un- married when twenty-two years old; John, who died young; William, who resides at St. Petersburg, Clarion Co., Pa .; Mary, who died when twenty-one years old; Anna, now de- ceased, who married Blair Coggins, of Kit- tanning; and Patrick, who died young.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Michael J. Linnon grew up at Kittanning, and began to learn the trade of mason from his father. But he had a taste for travel and adventure, and at the age of sixteen went West, to New Mexico, where he first became engaged in hotel work. After four months there he went to Topeka, Kans., where he took up plumbing, following it there for two and a half years. His next move was to Leavenworth, Kans., where he served an- other year at the plumber's trade, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. He was at Hickory, Pa., for a time, engaged in bridge work, and from there went to Connellsville, Fayette county. He worked on the Balti- more & Ohio railroad at that place, but being taken sick returned home to Kittanning, where he has ever since remained. His first busi- ness venture here was in the cigar trade. In partnership with his father and cousin, Pat- rick J. Linnon he had a cigar business on the corner where the Farmer's National Bank is now located, occupying part of the Linnon block. An old two-story building then stood on the site. From this modest beginning he developed a business which expanded until he controls the substantial block in which he now has the hotel which bears his name, a hand- some, well equipped and modern house, which is conducted on a profitable basis. His nat- ural qualifications for the business have been developed by experience, and his success is the result of an earnest desire to please his patrons and cater to their comfort. Mr. Lin- non has become associated with various other local interests, the fair association, the gas and coal industry and farming being some of the lines into which his energy has carried him. He and H. G. Luker own and conduct what is known as the "Pony Farm" in North Buffalo township, where they raise handsome ponies for both pleasure and profit. Mr. Lin- non is also one of the principal owners of Hague Park, a summer resort on beautiful Vandercook lake, three miles from the busi- ness center of Jackson, Mich. He has shown excellent judgment in his investments and in their management, and he has proved himself worthy of the confidence his business asso- ciates have manifested in his ability and trust- worthiness. He is an Elk in fraternal con- nection, a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Catholic Church.

On Oct. 12, 1887, Mr. Linnon was married to Margaret P. Coggins, who was born in East Franklin township, this county, Sept. 20, 1863, daughter of Joseph and Mahalia (Green) Cog- gins, both members of pioneer families of

Armstrong county, of English ancestry. The following children have been born to this union : Maud married Grover Hudson, of Kit- tanning, and they have had two children, only one, Michael J., surviving, the other having died in infancy; Henrietta married Jack Stover, of Kittanning; Harry, being freight and ticket clerk there for the Pittsburgh & Shawmut Railroad Company, who married Helen Rankin, resides in Kittanning; Grace married Mellville C. Aubrey, chief clerk of the purchasing department of the Pittsburgh & Shawmut Railroad Company, at Kittanning ; Irene, Ralph and Alexandria are at home.

CURTIS C. FARREN, cashier of the Rural Valley National Bank, was born in Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county, April 25, 1886, son of Andrew A. and Emma (Schrecengost) Farren, both natives of Arm- strong county.

James Farren, his grandfather, was a pio- neer farmer of Indiana county.

Andrew A. Farren, son of James Farren and father of Curtis C. Farren, was reared at Cowanshannock township, where he followed farming until 1892. In that year he came to Rural Valley and has made his home there ever since. From 1892 to 1900 he was a butcher and live stock dealer, but later secur- ing the contract for carrying the mail, between Rural Valley and Yatesboro, has devoted him- self to this line of business, delivering freight and express matter and carrying passengers as well as the mails between these two points. His family consists of two children : Curtis C. and Rosa Elizabeth.

The maternal great-grandfather of Curtis C. Farren, Emanuel Z. Schrecengost, was born Aug. 2, 1829. He was a blacksmith by trade, and locating in Rural Valley in 1856 followed his calling until his death, on May 9, 1898, when he was sixty-nine years old. His wife was Sarah Hartman.

Daniel Schrecengost, father of Emanuel Z. Schrecengost, was a native of what is now Valley township. He cleared and improved a farm in that township, and for many years was also a hotel keeper. In later life he moved to Rural Valley, where he died. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Crum, and she was a daughter of Conrad Crum, born in Germany, who became a pioneer of what is now Valley township, and the founder of the family in America.

Curtis C. Farren was educated in the pub- lic schools of Rural Valley and at North Washington Institute, in Butler county, Pa.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

When only sixteen years old he entered the lows. He believes in making the most of his employ of the Rural Valley National Bank as land, and if care and intelligent industry can accomplish that end the good results he ob- tains are readily accounted for. He is a creditable citizen, and commands the respect clerk, and owing to his ability and grasp of banking matters, was successively promoted until in 1909 he was made assistant cashier, and in 1910 was made cashier, which position - of all who know him. he is still filling very acceptably.

On Sept. 14, 1909, Mr. Farren was married to Nora Marshall, daughter of Oscar S. and Hannah (McIntire) Marshall. Mr. Farren is a member of the Methodist Church of Rur- al Valley and has been its organist for four- teen years. He is very active in musical cir- cles and has been identified with the Rural Valley brass band since 1900, of which organ- ization is is now leader and director. He has been a member of the Sterling male quartette since 1906. His fraternal affiliations are with Rural Valley Lodge, No. 766, I. O. O. F. A Republican, he served as secretary of the Rural Valley borough council, and has been treasurer of the borough since 1909, being in every respect a substantial, reliable man, whose standing in financial and social circles is unquestioned.

ALFRED M. ASHE has a fine farm of 105 acres in Rayburn township, Armstrong coun- ty, and is one of the most progressive agri- culturists of that locality, where he is known for the excellence of his crops and the splen- did condition in which he keeps his property.

Mr. Ashe was born March 14, 1862, in Somerset county, Pa., son of Henry and Lydia Ashe, and was five years old when his parents moved to Indiana county, Pa., where they remained for two years. Thence they removed to Elderton, Armstrong Co., Pa., where he grew to manhood. Their next place of residence was Dayton, Armstrong county, where they made their home for fourteen years. After his marriage, which took place at Salamanca, N. Y., Mr. Ashe located at For- estville, Jefferson Co., Pa., where he was en- gaged as a cook for four years. During the next four years he trained horses, at St. Mary's, at the end of that time purchasing a farm in Indiana county known as the old Jim Lewis place, a tract of 165 acres. He lived there until he sold the property, on April 16, 1903, moving to Elderton, where he made him home for eighteen months. He then pur- chased and moved to his present home in Ray- burn township, Armstrong county, which un- der his care has become a very valuable farm. He carries on stock raising as well as general farming, and his success has justified the pro- gressive methods which he advocates and fol-

On Jan. 2, 1886, Mr. Ashe married Anna Gillam, who was born March 28, 1866, at Whitesburg, Pa., daughter of Enoch and Jane Gillam, and six children have been born to this union: Earl E., born April 22, 1887; Amanda J., born Jan. 9, 1890; Alfred M., born Jan. 25, 1893, who died Oct. 15, 1893; Arthur and Mabel, twins, born Nov. 19, 1896; and a child, born March 2, 1901, that died in infancy unnamed.

JACOB M. BUSH died June 14, 1904, on the farm in South Buffalo township where he settled with his family in 1861, and where his widow and daughter still make their home. He was born in that township July 27, 1828, son of Andrew and Magdalena (Smeltzer) Bush, of Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa. Andrew Bush and his brother Jacob came to Armstrong county together and settled in South Buffalo township, where they secured land and cleared it, making a permanent home here. Andrew Bush died on his home place and his wife remarried, her second husband being James Long, with whom she went to Millard, Mo., where she died. Her children by Andrew Bush were: Daniel, Lydia A., Jacob M., Levi, John A. and George. There were two children by the second marriage : James M., of Millard, Mo., and Eliza E., de- ceased.

Jacob M. Bush was educated in the public schools of the home locality, which offered but limited advantages. He lived at home un- til the time of his marriage and for five years after that event continued to live at the old place. Then he was on the Mahaffey farm, adjoining his own, until in 1861 he settled on the place in South Buffalo township where he passed the remainder of his life, buying fifty- four acres of good land which grew steadily in value under his careful cultivation. He carried on general farming and by well-di- rected industry prospered, becoming one of the substantial men of his township. He was highly respected for his upright character, and took little part in affairs other than his own business interests except religious mat- ters, in which he was an active worker. He belonged to the Presbyterian Church and served as elder for thirty-five years. In his political views he was a Republican.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

On Oct. 27, 1853, Mr. Bush married Mar- garet M. Fry, who was born in South Buffalo township, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Jack) Fry, he of Little York, Pa., she of Gil- pin township, this county, born in'1803. Mr. Fry came to this county a single man, mar- ried and settled in South Buffalo township. Mrs. Fry died in 1857 at Clinton, Mr. Fry at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. Bush, in 1864. He was a farmer by occupation, and also a stonemason. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Fry had eleven children: Henry Clay is deceased ; Martha B. is the widow of William Jack, of Franklin, Pa .; Margaret M. is the widow of Jacob M. Bush; Cynthia is the wiidow of Abram Riggle, of Georgetown, Pa .; Daniel G., a retired farmer, lives at Ford City, Pa .; Elizabeth is the widow of David Riggle, of Leechburg, Pa .; James is deceased; one son died in infancy ; Lydia Ann married William McDowell, of Franklin, Pa .; Harriet, twin of Lydia, is deceased; David is a ferryman in Clinton, Pa. (he was in the Civil war).

To Mr. and Mrs. Bush were born the fol- lowing children: (I) Anna Alice was born April 30, 1856. (2) Eveline, born Nov. 14, 1857, married T. B. Stepp, and died April 14, 1884. (3) Adeline, twin of Eveline, died May 19, 1911. She married G. B. Jack, and had three sons, Harry G., Elmer D. and James Harvey. (4) Elmer E., born April 25, 1861, is a farmer in South Buffalo township. In 1882 he married Hannah Jane Stepp and they have four children, Charles Edgar, George Oliver, Mildred Ruth and Margaret Hazel. (5) Ulysses Grant, born April 8, 1864, is a years. .farmer in Westmoreland county, Pa. He married Adeline Ferguson and they have six children, Winona Olive, William Jacob, Edna Blanche, Thomas Albert, Viola Grace and Lewis Grant. (6) Clarence D., born June 18, 1869, had a stone quarry at Rimerton, Pa., and died Oct. 14, 1908. He married Edith C. Hudson, who now lives on a farm in South Buffalo township, and they had a family of seven children, Ida May, Lyda Luella, John Irwin, Clarence Merle, Herbert Ralph, Mar- garet Maude and Wilma Edith. (7) Clyde T., born June 14, 1871, in South Buffalo township, is engaged in farming. He married Bertha Shaffer, and they have eight children, James Warren, Nellie Bell, Walter Lee, Ma- bel Althea, Robert J., Martha Alice, Florence Irene and Edward Day. (8) Martha E., born Feb. 1, 1874, died May 15, 1895.

MILTON E. SHAW, now living retired at Kittanning, was a farmer during his active years, and long had his home at Worthington, Armstrong county. He was born June 27, 1842, at Shippensville, Clarion Co., Pa., son of Rev. Adam C. Shaw.

Rev. Adam C. Shaw was a native of Mifflin county, Pa. He attended school at Gettys- burg, and took a course at Meadville College, after his graduation becoming a minister of the M. E. Church. Some time later he with- drew from the Methodist ministry to engage with the Lutheran denomination, with which he was connected until his death. He trav- eled from Erie, Pa., throughout this and other Eastern States as a colporteur, selling mis- sionary literature, and continued in this work until his demise, which occurred in November, 1845, in Mifflin county, Pa., when he was but thirty-three years old. He was a man of strong convictions and high ideals, an ardent abolitionist, and a sincere religious worker. He had married, in Mifflin county, Mary E. Ehrenfeld, a native of that county, whose father, Dr. A. C. Ehrenfeld, was a surgeon of considerable renown in his day, practicing throughout Pennsylvania. Educated at Heil- bron, Germany, Dr. Ehrenfeld subsequently served under Napoleon, and after the war came to America. He had a son who was a professor in the State normal school at Cali- fornia, Pa., which he helped to establish, and was also a professor in Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio; he retired in 1913 and re- sided with his son at York, Pa., until his de- mise, Jan. 31, 1914. He was aged eighty-two

After his marriage Rev. Mr. Shaw lived for a time at Shippensville, Pa. He and his wife had two sons, Milton E. and Charles, the latter now deceased. After his death his ividow lived with her two sons in Mifflin coun- ty until 1851, when she came to Worthington, Armstrong county, Pa. In 1854 she married James Ralston, and moved to Freeport. After his death in 1881 she moved to Worthington, where she is buried. She died in her seventy- seventh year.

Milton E. Shaw was but three years old when his father died. He attended school after coming to Armstrong county at Worth- ington Academy and Freeport. For some time he was a clerk in the John W. Redpath store at Freeport, and then went to Pittsburgh. When the Civil war broke out he joined the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Army of the Cum- berland, an independent regiment, which some

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

few years ago was taken by Brigadier General dren. Joseph Orr died in 1877, at the ad- Palmer to Colorado Springs as his guests at vanced age of eighty-four years. the "Antlers" Hotel. Mr. Shaw served three James Orr, son of Joseph, was born in 1820, years during the Civil war, after which he and reared in Armstrong county, living there was engaged in the Pennsylvania oil fields for until his removal to Westmoreland county, where he settled opposite Saltsburg, Pa. There he made a permanent home. He en- nine years. He and his brother Charles con- tracted, drilling oil wells. Upon his marriage he moved to Worthington, Armstrong Co., gaged in merchandising, milling and farming, Pa., where he engaged in farming until 1879, and made a success of his business ventures. His death occurred in 1909. Mr. Orr was always a Democrat, was somewhat active in the work of the party in this locality, and served several years as justice of the peace. He was a man who always deserved and com- manded the respect of all who knew him. In religion he was connected with the Pres- byterian Church. His wife, Catherine (Claw- son), daughter of Peter Clawson, of West- moreland, died Dec. 27, 1882, in her fifty-seventh year. To them were born seven children: William C., Robert M., Joseph D., Matilda, Hallie, Harry D. and Lucian C. selling his place there and going to Kansas. When he returned East he made the trip by wagon. He again became interested in farm- ing at Worthington, where he remained until his retirement, in 1889, since when he has lived in that part of Kittanning known as Wickboro, his residence being at No. 1029 Orr avenue. In former years Mr. Shaw took considerable interest in public affairs, and has acted as assistant clerk to the county commis- sioner. Politically he is now associated with the Washington party, and his religious con- nection is with the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Shaw married Amy Keister, a native of Clarion county, Pa., whose parents were both deceased at that time. They have had three children: Ellis, who is unmarried; Pearl, at home; and Charles M., a foreman at the Pittsburgh Typewriter Works, who mar- ried Clara Morrison, and lives at Wickboro.

JOSEPH D. ORR, M. D., of Leechburg, has been a successful general practitioner ever since he began the practice of medicine in · Armstrong county, but his reputation and use- fulness have not been confined to his profes- sional work. Few men of the county in any walk of life have been more energetic or ef- ficient in promoting the general progress and welfare. He has been identified with most of the modern enterprises of this section and has given valuable service as a friend of pub- lic education.

Dr. Orr was born Oct. 16, 1857, in Kiski- minetas township, Armstrong county, son of James and Catherine (Clawson) Orr. Joseph Orr, his grandfather, came to this country from Ireland in the early part of the nine- teenth century, and settling in Kiskiminetas township became engaged in business as a mer- chant. Though he had little to start with he accumulated a large and valuable estate in the course of his well directed life. He was a strict member of the Presbyterian Church, and was an intimate friend of Dr. Alexander Donaldson, of Elder's Ridge. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served several terms as justice of the peace. His wife's maiden The Doctor has been no less prominent in name was Manners, and they had four chil- his connection with business enterprises which

Joseph D. Orr, son of James, began his edu- cation in the public schools, later attending the 'academies at Elder's Ridge and Saltsburg. After completing his college course he entered upon the study of medicine, in 1882 becoming a student at Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, where he took the three years' course then customary, and graduated in 1885, taking first honors in surgery. He immediate- ly settled at the borough of Leechburg, in Armstrong county, where he has ever since been engaged in practice, with the exception of a respite in the year 1904, when he took a trip abroad, visiting the British Isles and other parts of Europe. He is the Pennsylvania Rail- road surgeon at Leechburg.

During his residence at Leechburg the Doc- tor has become one of the most active citizens in the borough as a leader of modern thought on such public questions as affect the personal welfare of the individuals of any community, and one of those who have had the courage to apply his ideas in his own locality. He has been a member of the school board for the last twenty-one years, and for nine years has served as president of that body, which office he still fills. As a member of the board and in his private capacity he has given considerable attention to the question of public education ever since he came to Leechburg. Throughout the period of his residence here he has given a gold medal each year to the high school pupil showing the highest average in the class upon graduation ; it is known as the J. D. Orr medal.

GD. Dr. mo

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

promote the general good. He was an active mills for three years, changing from there to member of the Danville Foundry & Machine Freeport, Armstrong county, where he was Company ; was the founder of the Hyde Park Iron & Steel Company and served as presi- dent (it has been sold to the United States Steel Company); was one of the pro- moters of the Pittsburgh & Allegheny Valley Street Railway Company, of which he was sec- retary (this road runs between Leechburg and Apollo) ; was the owner of the Leechburg Electric Light Company, which he operated for a period of ten years.

Politics have always held Dr. Orr's interest, and he has been one of the energetic workers in the Democratic party in his section from young manhood. He has frequently repre- sented the borough at county conventions, and was a delegate to the State convention which nominated Pattison for governor of Pennsyl- vania, and was also a delegate in 1896 to the National convention at which W. J. Bryan re- ceived his first nomination for the presidency. The Doctor is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

On Sept. 29, 1885, Dr. Orr was married to Belle M. McFarland, daughter of the late Dr. John McFarland, of Saltsburg, Pa., and she died June 4, 1893, leaving one daughter, Paul- ine, who is a member of the class of 1912, Leechburg high school. In 1897 the Doctor married (second) Lola Wilkins, daughter of J. W. Wilkins, of Erie, Pa. They have one daughter, Isabella.

W. U. FLINN, formerly one of the pro- prietors of the Apollo Woolen Mills, now re- tired, was born Oct. 28, 1846, in England, son of John H. and Mary Jane (Unsworth) Flinn.

John H. Flinn was born in Ireland, but reared in England, where he married a native of that country. He came to America alone, his family following him a year later. There were two children at that time, W. U. being an infant, and they were accompanied by the youngest sister of Mrs. Flinn, Sarah Ann Unsworth, who married William O'Meara, of Washington, D. C. Later other children were born, the family numbering nine in all, of whom three survive: Margaret, Mary and W. U. The father remained a short time in Maryland, but soon moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., and later worked in a cotton mill in Allegheny, Pa. He then took a place in the Bradley woolen mills as a weaver and dresser, remain- ing there several years. Following this he removed to Venango county, Pa., and was foreman in the Richard Kennerdell woolen

in the Fullerton woolen mills. From there he went to Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland county, as superintendent of Chambers & Sons' woolen mill, thence to Kringville, Pa., for one year, and subsequently to Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa., where he was superintendent in the woolen mill of Brown & Son. Then he went to Warren, Ohio, where he and Robert Mc- Clelland bought and operated woolen mills. Selling out to his partner Mr. Flinn returned to Greenville, Pa., later going to Andover, Ohio, to take charge of the West Andover woolen mills. His next location was at Utica, Venango Co., Pa., where he owned the Utica woolen mills until burned out. Then he was at Cannelton, Beaver Co., Pa., where he had the Elder woolen mills, and was residing at that place at the time of his death (1874), which, however, occurred at Pleasant Unity, while he was on a business trip. Fraternally he was a Mason. His wife, who survived until 1896, was a member of the Episcopal Church.

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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 3

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