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 36
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During his early manhood Mr. Wolf was captain of a company of militia, which had stated days for drilling and parade. These days the entire county turned out en masse. It was a sort of holiday, in which all took great interest. After the parade or drill sports of many kinds were indulged in, but woe to any member of the company who became obstreperous while on duty; he was usually consisted of Prof. H. T. Duff, principal; Rev. kept under guard for the remainder of the Dr. D. H. Sloan; Prof. Will Hill; Rev. Mr. day, and sometimes felt the weight of the Schaeffer; Rev. George Dyess, and others. broadsword about his lower extremities.
More than fifty young teachers took advan- tage of the training department. It is a mat- ter of record that no better work was done by any school in this part of the State, nor better results obtained than was accomplished by the Leechburg Classical and Normal School.
Mr. Wolf was a great reader, and up to within a few weeks of his death few men were better posted upon the general topics than was he. A few months before his death occurred the sinking of the "Maine," the news of which caused him much anxiety, and he at once de- clared it to be an act of treachery on the part Mr. Wolfe has been engaged in public school work as teacher and in official capaci- ties since 1876. When he received his per- manent certificate, in 1888, he was one of thirteen successful members of a class of twenty-five. He has done much efficient work for the cause of public education out- side of the schoolroom, his executive ability of the Spaniards. Then followed the war with Spain, and as long as he could do so he read of its progress. He lived to be the oldest citizen in Bethel township as well as the oldest member of Bethel Church. He died July 4, 1898, aged eighty-six years, and was buried in the family plot in Bethel cemetery, selected by himself at the time of the founding of the and well-directed energy in any line which
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
interests him having long ago received recog- nition in the profession. In 1891 he was elected by the teachers at the County Insti- tute as one of a committee of five to exam- ine applicants for permanent teachers' cer- tificates. He continued to serve on that com- mittee by election annually for five years, when at the expiration of his term he became a member of the first committee in Arm- strong county for the examination of appli- cants for permanent certificates under the new law, to serve for three years, receiving his appointment from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Nathan C. Schaeffer. On May 2, 1899, he was elected county superintendent of schools, in which office he served two successive terms, having been re- elected May 5th, 1902 (his term expired on the first Monday of June, 1905). During his superintendency he was six times appointed a member of the State board of examiners for normal schools. He has been active and zealous in every line of educational and school work, and his work has been done with an intimate understanding of the needs of the community that makes it particularly valuable.
During his incumbency he attended many educational meetings in different parts of the State, among which were the following : The Pennsylvania State Teachers' Associa- tion, which met at Williamsport, Pa .; the Convention of Superintendents and Princi- pals of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, which met in Pittsburgh, and in which he took an active part; the Butler County Teachers' Institute, and at a later date the Butler County School Directors' Convention, Professor Wolfe delivering addresses on both occasions. At the special request of Deputy State Superintendent Hon. John Q. Steward, Mr. Wolfe attended the Convention of School Directors in York, Pa., and addressed the same. He also attended teachers' institutes in Clarion, Brookville, Franklin, Washington, Pa., and Allegheny county, and many other educational meetings in various parts of western Pennsylvania. Superintendent Wolfe made it a rule, before engaging talent for his institutes, always to know his men personally, if possible, and it is a matter of record, which is very gratifying to him, that his talent was always the best that could be obtained at the time, and that not once in his six years of superintendency did his talent fail to ap- pear on time.
Outside of his school hours Professor Wolfe is interested in farming. Like his father he is a great reader, and he has one of the best libraries in his part of the county.
Mr. Wolfe is associated with the Republi- can party and is serving at present as com- mitteeman of his township; he served in that capacity for six years previous to taking the county superintendency. He represented his district as a delegate from Bethel Township Republican League to the convention at Scranton, Pa., when Hon. John B. Robinson and Hon. John Dalsell were candidates for the presidency of the Pennsylvania State League.
In 1890 he was engaged in Census work in this locality, receiving the appointment from Hon. George W. Hood, of Indiana. In re- ligious connection he is a Lutheran, adhering to the church of his father, who was one of the four original founders of the Bethel Lutheran Church of Bethel township. He is also connected with the following fraternal organizations: F. & A. M., Leechburg, Pa .; White Rock Lodge, I. O. O. F., Center Val- ley, Pa., and Kittanning Encampment, I. O. O. F .; the Jr. O. U. A. M., Center Valley ; and the Masonic Consistory at Coudersport, Pa. (thirty-second degree).
JOHN R. BARNHART, of Worthington, Armstrong county, has been engaged in the blacksmith business in West Franklin town- ship for the last twenty years, having had a shop at Craigsville for ten years before he came to Worthington, in 1902. He is serving his second term as justice of the peace of that borough, and is one of its most respected citizens.
Mr. Barnhart was born in Washington township, this county, Feb. 25, 1869, son of William G. and Margaret Ann (Whitehead) Barnhart, the father a native of Allegheny county, Pa., who settled in Washington town- ship in 1855. He followed boating until after the breaking out of the Civil war, in which he enlisted, Sept. 17, 1862, becoming a mem- ber of Company M, 14th Pennsylvania Cav- alry, for a term of three years or during the. war. He was honorably discharged at Alex- andria, Va., by reason of expiration of his: term, May 13, 1865. After his return home. he engaged in farming in Washington town- ship until 1884, when he removed to Butler- county, Pa. He lived there for five years, in 1889 settling in Sugar Creek township, Arm- strong county, and a year later in Westmore- land county, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying Dec. 15, 1905, in his eighty- first year. He married Margaret Ann White -- head, a native of Armstrong county, whose- father, Daniel Whitehead, was an early settler-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in Armstrong county, and for many years was engaged in the hotel business above Kittan- ning. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart, nine reaching maturity : James ; Daniel; William H .; George; Charles ; Clarinda, wife of Lewis McDonald; John R .; Harvey, and Warren Wesley.
John R. Barnhart was reared in Armstrong county and moved with his parents to Butler county. He received a common school educa- tion, and began his apprenticeship to the On Feb. 13, 1902, Mr. Barnhart married Margaret F. Welton, daughter of Samuel D. and Priscilla (Dible) Welton, of West Frank- lin township, and of the children born to this union two survive: Samuel R. and Lola Belle. Mrs. Barnhart died June 30, 1912. blacksmith's trade with his brother Charles, in 1889, finishing with S. P. Yockey, of Sugar Creek township, this county. In 1892 he em- barked in business for himself, at Craigsville, in West Franklin township, where he remained for ten years, in 1902 coming to Worthing- ton, where he has since been established. He DANIEL MICHAEL SHAKLEY, of Perry township, Armstrong county, where he has a thriving custom, and is a substantial citizen, one who holds the confidence of his has been engaged in farming for almost half a century and has been a useful and respected citizen, was born July 24, 1841, in Fairview township, Butler Co., Pa., son of Henry and Margaret (Smith) Shakley.
fellow men by his integrity of purpose and honorable methods in all his transactions. In 1903 he was elected justice of the peace, to which office he was reelected in 1908, and again in 1913. In politics he is a Republican. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and is well known in the fraternal organizations, belonging to Craigsville Lodge, No. 836, I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, the I. O. of A., the P. O. S. of A. and the Ridge- ley Protective Association.
In 1892 Mr. Barnhart married Anna B. their son, was born in Virginia, and coming to Welton, daughter of Samuel D. and Priscilla (Dible) Welton, of West Franklin township, and of the children born to this union three are living : Edith, Margaret and Anabel. The mother died in 1904, and in 1906 Mr. Barn- hart married (second) Sidney Campbell, daughter of Amos and Anna M. Campbell, of Sugar Creek township.
WARREN WESLEY BARNHART, youngest son of William G. and Margaret Ann ( White- head) Barnhart, is also in the blacksmith busi- ness at Worthington. He was born at Sher- rett, in Washington township, this county, Aug. 7, 1878, and grew up in Washington and But- ler counties, receiving a public school educa- tion. He learned the blacksmith's trade as an apprenticeship in the shop of his older brother, John R. Barnhart, beginning in 1894. Dur- ing the Spanish-American war he enlisted at Kittanning, Sept. 26, 1899, becoming a mem- ber of Company G, 45th United States Volun- teers and saw service in the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged at San Fran- cisco, Cal., May 30, 1901, and since his return home has worked continuously at his trade. He has followed the business in various parts
of Pennsylvania, and for a time was in part- nership with his brother John at Worthing- ton, where he located permanently in 1908. He is an industrious and intelligent tradesman, and has built up a good business, his reliable work and satisfactory services winning and holding trade. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Americans and P. O. S. of A. In politics he has been connected with the Republican party.
Mr. Shakley's great-grandparents were the first of the family in this country. Coming from Ireland, they first settled near Fredericks- burg, Va., thence coming to Perry township, Armstrong Co., Pa., in pioneer days, and set- tling on a farm of 160 acres which is still owned by their descendants. Henry Shakley,
Pennsylvania, with his parents spent his life on the home farm, which he helped to clear and improve. He died there. He married Eliza- beth Altman, and their children were: Polly, who married Jacob Byers; Susan, who mar- ried David Barnhart at Chicora, Butler county in 1840; Elizabeth, who married John Doub- inseck of Parker township, Butler county, in 1841; Michael; Henry; John; George, and David.
Henry Shakley, son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Altman) Shakley, was born Aug. 11, 1812, on the old homestead farm in Perry township, Armstrong county. After attaining his major- ity he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Fairview township, Butler Co., Pa., cleared and improved the place and continued to re- side there until 1874, in which year he sold out and returned to Armstrong county. Purchas- ing a farm of thirty acres in Sugar Creek township, this county, he passed the remainder of his life on that place, dying in 1886, in his seventy-fifth year. He married Margaret Smith, a native of Clarion county, Pa., and they reared a family of ten children, namely : Lizzie, who married James B. Steele; John;
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David M .; Mary, who married Webster Barn- Atwood. During the Civil war he served on hart ; Rebecca Jane, who married Asa Knight ; Hannah, who married David Cohler, of Cla- rion county ; Susan, who married William Mc- Cormick; Nancy, who married A. S. Spence ; Sarah, who married Gyllam Morgan; and Daniel Michael.
the Union side in Company B, 139th Pennsyl- vania Volunteer, under General Sheridan, en- listing Feb. 24, 1864, and receiving his dis- charge June 27, 1865. He took part in the bat- tles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Richmond, and in the fighting just Daniel Michael Shakley was reared to man- hood on his father's farm in Fairview town- ship, Butler county, and received such educa- tional advantages as the local common schools afforded. He served as a Union soldier dur- ing the Civil war, enlisting Aug. 6, 1862, for nine months, in Company G, 134th Pa. V. I., took part in the battles of Antietam, Freder- icksburg and Chancellorsville, and was honor- ably discharged at Harrisburg in June, 1863, having served ten months; he received no pay for his extra service. In the spring of 1864 he located in Perry township and engaged in farming, in 1874 purchasing the farm of preceding Lee's surrender, at which he was present. Mr. Campbell married Emma Dull, daughter of David and Harriet ( Adams) Dull, both of whom were of Pennsylvania stock ; the Dulls are of Holland extraction. Nine chil- dren were born to this marriage, five sons and four daughters, namely: Ida is married to Robert Peterman, a farmer of Five Points, In- diana Co., Pa., and they have three children, two sons and one daughter; Jay, who is en- gaged as a builder, married Bertie Peterson, of Glassport, Allegheny county, where they live; Harry, a salesman, living at Erie, Pa., married Rosie Hart, and they have one son and eighty-five acres there upon which he has since one daughter; Doratha married Everett made his home. He subsequently purchased George, of Greenoak, Armstrong county, and they have one child, a son ; J. W. is mentioned below; Minnie married Walter Hall, of Van- dergrift, Pa., and they have two children, one son and one daughter; Arlie, a farmer, of Plum Creek township, married Grace Pen- rod, and they have one son; Glenn is unmar- ried; Alice is the wife of Harry Seger, a farmer at Atwood.
one hundred acres adjoining, and has a valu- able property, which he has increased and im- proved by intelligent cultivation and wise man- agement. Mr. Shakley has taken a good citi- zen's interest in the public welfare, and has served his township as supervisor, school director and overseer of the poor. He is a Republican in political connection.
On April 25, 1865, Mr. Shakley was mar- ried to Biddy J. White, daughter of David and Jane (Foster) White, of Perry town- ship, and granddaughter of William and Ros- anna White, natives of Ireland who came to the United States in 1791 and settled in Perry township among the pioneers. Seven children have been born to this marriage: William H., David W., Abner C., Eleanor F., Albert F., Margaret (wife of John Shoup) and Milton P. Presbyterian Church at Bruin, Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. Shakley are members of the and insurance dealer of Kittanning, was born
J. W. CAMPBELL, M. D., of Elderton, Armstrong county, associated in professional practice with Dr. C. E. Keeler, is one of the progressive young physicians of his locality and has already gained a creditable position among his fellow citizens. He was born Jan. I, 1884, at Atwood, Armstrong county, son of Andrew and Emma (Dull) Campbell, and on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather and father were both natives of Armstrong county.
J. W. Campbell received his preparatory edu- cation at the Elderton Academy, from which he was graduated in 1904. He took his medi- cal course at Baltimore Medical College, which later became a part of the University of Mary- land, graduating in 1909, since when he has been in practice at Elderton. Dr. Campbell attends the Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE HENRY BURNS, real estate July 12, 1873, in Clarion county, Pa., son of James B. and Sarah E. (Riley) Burns.
James B. Burns, who was a farmer, died in 1884, when only thirty-two years old. His widow survived until May 22, 19II. They were the parents of seven children: Blanche, who resides with her brother George H .; Belle, wife of James P. Collins, of Wheeling, W. Va .; George H .; and four who died young. The parents were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.
George H. Burns was educated in the pub- lic schools of his neighborhood, and at the Clarion State Normal School, completing his studies in 1900. For a few years Mr. Burns
Andrew Campbell was a farmer in early life, but later became engaged as a builder. He re- tired from active work in 1912, and is living at acted as clerk in a general merchandise store
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in his home county, and then became a travel- having begun in the days when horsepower ing salesman for a year. In 1899 he settled at was used and changing to steampower when that became practicable. He owns the ninety acres in Bethel township where he resides, all of which is under cultivation, his principal crops being grain; he also raises some stock. Kittanning, where he embarked in a general realty and insurance business, and has devel- oped into one of Armstrong county's most prosperous business men. He represents the most reliable life and fire insurance com- On Jan. 5, 1908, Thompson C. Wolfe mar- ried Elizabeth Magdalene Darbaker, who was born on the farm where she now resides. There are no children by this union. Mrs. Wolfe is a daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Kinnard) Darbaker, and granddaughter of Isaac and Mary Ann (Helfrich) Kinnard, of Armstrong county, who were pioneers of Bur- rell township and members of St. Michael's Lutheran Church. Jacob Wolfe enlisted in Armstrong county for service in the Civil war, was a private in an infantry regiment, and died in Virginia while in the army. panies, for a number of years being general agent for the United States Fidelity and Guarantee Company, for which concern he has written up a large amount of business. Mr. Burns was the pioneer in handling busi- ness for this company in Armstrong county, his own reliability and standing giving weight to the transactions. He buys and sells real estate, and has charge of the renting of some of the most desirable property in Kittanning. His standing in his line of business has been substantially recognized by his associates in his choice as president of the Pennsylvania Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are members of Bethel State Association of Local Fire Agents, and Lutheran Church. Some twelve years ago he for seven years he has been sent as delegate was made a member of the Knights of the to the national conventions of local fire Maccabees at Natrona, Pa. In politics he is agents. While a resident of Wickboro Mr. a Republican. Burns served one term as councilman of the borough.
In July, 1896, Mr Burns was married to Elva Grace Goodwin, daughter of Henry M., and Mary Jane Goodwin, formerly of War- ren County, Pa., but for some years residing at Tylersburg, Clarion County, Pa. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns : Ethel Bernice, George H., Jr., and Almeda Grace. Mr. Burns and his family be- long to the Presbyterian Church.
THOMPSON C. WOLFE, of Bethel town- ship, Armstrong county, is a thrifty farmer and respected citizen of that section. He was born Sept. 24, 1860, in what is now Bethel township, son of Samuel B. and Maria (Ware- ham) Wolfe. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Wolfe, was of German extraction ; his maternal grandparents, Peter and Susanna Wareham, were of Scotch and German origin respectively.
Samuel Wolfe was born in Armstrong county, July 26, 1825, and died March 5, 1907 ; his wife, born Feb. 22, 1830, died in Novem- ber, 1901. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters, of which family five sons survive, the daughters and son Silas being de- ceased.
Thompson C. Wolfe attended common
WILLIAM A. SCHRECENGOST, a . prominent farmer citizen of Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county, was born there Sept. 3, 1843, son of William T. and Mary Ellen (Baum) Schrecengost, both also natives of Armstrong county. The family is of Ger- man origin, the first of his ancestors to come to America, Jacob (known as Yock) Schre- cengost, having been a native of Germany. According to family accounts he was a mighty hunter, and being caught trespassing on the hunting grounds of a great lord was warned against repeating the offense. But he was caught a second time, and to make mat- ters worse shot one of the lord's dogs. He was sent for at once, but managed to escape and came to America, settling in eastern Pennsylvania. Report says he hired his son George out to a ship captain for nine years to pay the passage of the family to this country. being obliged to abandon all his possessions when he fled, and there is a tradition in the family that there is a large fortune in the old country never claimed by the Schrecengost heirs.
Conrad (or Coonrod) Schrecengost, Sr., son of Jacob, also a native of Germany, was the great-grandfather of William A. Schrec- engost. He came early to America, with his county, Pa., removing west to what is now
school in his township, and worked on his father, and lived for some time in Berks father's farm until of age. For years he has been engaged in threshing, traveling over the Armstrong county in the latter part of the country at first with his father and others, eighteenth century. He purchased land in
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Kittanning (what is now Valley) township, on the old homestead place while engaged in and not only followed agricultural pursuits, shocking wheat. Reuben married Eva Cog- ley, and his surviving children are Jacob, Ida and William. but also mechanical work, being a gunsmith by trade. He could use a gun as well as make one and was a noted hunter in his day. His William A. Schrecengost has owned the old homestetd of 200 acres in Cowanshannock township since 1892. Farming has always been his occupation, and he is one of the most substantial residents of his section, where his reliability and worth are recognized by the whole community. death occurred at his homestead. He was a Federalist in politics and in religious belief a Lutheran, being a member of the church. His wife, formerly a Miss Zortman, was like him- self a native of Germany. Of their ten chil- dren, seven sons and three daughters, the sons being John, Daniel, Peter, Conrad, Jr. (who married Susanna Oury), Martin, Ben- jamin and Christopher. There is no account of the daughters.
John Schrecengost, son of Conrad, Sr., was known as "Gentleman John" because he al- ways wore good clothing. He was born in Kittanning township Sept. 27, 1792, and fol- lowed farming all his life, clearing and im- proving the farm now occupied by his grand- son William A., in Cowanshannock township. He was also a blacksmith and gunsmith, and has the record of making the first plow manu- factured in Armstrong county. He died on the farm mentioned Feb. 27, 1859. His wife, Sarah (Turney), daughter of Peter Turney, a pioneer settler of the county, died March 14, 1870, aged eighty-one years, two months, fourteen days. Their children were: Cathe- rine, who married John T. Patterson; Wil- liam T .; Michael T .; Sarah, who married John Bittinger ; John, Jr., and Lavina, who married John Hetrick.
William T. Schrecengost was born May 14, 1818, on the homestead, where he was reared, helping to clear the land. He lived and died there, passing away Oct. 1I, 1908, at the home of his son William, in his ninety-first year. All his life he followed farming, and he was at one time a large landowner in Cowanshannock township. He was married three times, his first wife being Mary Ellen Baum, who was born April 9, 1825, in West- moreland county, and died Jan. 20, 1863. Children as follows were born to them: Sarah (wife of Philip Howk), Reuben, Han- nah, Delia, William A. and James J., twins, Frederick, Albert, Levina, Mary and Daniel. His second marriage was to the widow of his brother Michael, and by this union there were two children, Ulysses and Anna. For his third wife he married Mrs. Adeline (Sisson) Brown, who was born May 13, 1830, and died June 3, 1906. They had three children, Della, Sheridan and Kate. Two of Mr. Schrecen- gost's sons, Reuben and Frederick, met sud- den death together, being killed by lightning
In 1878 Mr. Schrecengost married Mary Brown, daughter of William and Adeline (Sisson) Brown, of Cowanshannock town- ship, and they have three children, Albert J., William B. and Nancy Ellen. Albert J. married Ida Donahue, and they have two children, Harold and Alice.
JOHN DINGER, a retired farmer, of Oak Ridge, Armstrong county, was born in Red Bank township, this county, May 10, 1844. He is a representative type of those farmers whose steadfastness and energy have done much to make agriculture profitable and worthy.
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