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 40
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(III) John Schrecengost, son of Conrad, and grandfather of Mrs. Lewis F. Kroh, was always known as "Gentleman John." was a man of energy and business enterprise, a blacksmith by trade and also a distiller, and he manufactured the first iron plows ever made in Armstrong county. He acquired a large amount of land in the vicinity of Rural Val- ley, where his death occurred; he is buried in Pleasant Union cemetery, in Cowanshan- nock township. The wife of John Schrecen- gost was Sarah Turney, and they had the fol- lowing children: William T., who married Mary Baum, (second) Mary A. Hawk and (third) Adeline Brown, was a farmer in Cow- anshannock township; Michael T. is men- tioned below; John A. married Sarah Kline; Catherine married J. T. Patterson ; Sarah mar- ried John Bittinger ; Lavina married John Het- rick.
(IV) Michael T. Schrecengost, son of John, and father of Mrs. Kroh, was born on the old family homestead. He owned at farm at Rural Valley to which he gave attention, and also worked as a carpenter. He died Dec. 24, 1861 at the age of forty-one years, a victim of smallpox. He married Mary A. Hawk (daughter of Jacob Hawk) who died in 1869, and they had the following children : Harvey J., Catherine, Margaret S., and five others who died during the months of July and August, 1860, during an epidemic of diph- theria.
SOLOMON LONG, farmer, and a surviv- ing soldier of the Civil war, resides in Red Bank township, Armstrong county, where he has about 164 acres of land. He was born in Franklin township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., Feb. 17, 1837, son of Jacob and Sarah (Huff- man) Long.
Jacob Long was born probably in Northum-
strong county in 1867, at the age of seventy- one years. He was a weaver by trade. When he came to Westmoreland county he bought three acres of land, which he put under cul- tivation, but continued to work at his trade. In 1848 he left Westmoreland county and came to Armstrong county, settling in Red Bank township, where he purchased a tract of eighty-five acres, which, at the present time, is occupied by G. W. Hankey. He erected a weaving shop on his land and a part of his crop was flax, which his sons assisted him to prepare for weaving. He married Sarah Huff- man, a daughter of John and Mary (Good) Huffman, and they had the following chil- dren : Emily, who married Peter Branthoover (both now deceased) ; Sarah, who died when He twenty-one years old; Elinor, who died at the age of seventeen years; Hannah, who mar- ried John Wallet (both now deceased) ; Eliz- abeth, who died in Red Bank township, at the age of fifty years; Esther, who married Adam Carnahan, of Leechburg (both deceased) ; Solomon; Jacob, who married Catherine Ann Doverspike, who is now deceased; John, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, during the Civil war; George, who is deceased; Abi- gail, who is the wife of G. W. Hankey and lives on the old Long homestead in Red Bank township; Mary, who is the wife of G. D. Smith, residing at New Bethlehem; Rachel, deceased, who was the wife of Wesley Neal, residing in Wayne township; and Jemima, who died when eight years old. The wife of Jacob Long died when about seventy-eight
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
years old, and was buried in the Eddyville a daughter of the late Jacob and Sarah cemetery. Jacob Long was nominally a Dem- ocrat in his political allegiance, but he was a man of good judgment and entertained inde- pendent views on public questions. He was a member of the German Reformed Church at Eddyville, and at times served in church offices.
Solomon Long, son of Jacob, accompanied his father to Armstrong county when the lat- ter was about fifty years of age. Previously he had attended school in Westmoreland coun- ty, and had further opportunities in Red Bank township, later, in 1860, teaching one term of school. He remained at home and gave his father assistance until he was twenty-one years of age, and then bought a farm of fifty acres. Before he had placed his land in the best of condition, as was his purpose, the Civil war was precipitated, and on Aug. 14, 1861, Mr. Long enlisted from Armstrong county and was mustered in at Kittanning as a member of
(II) Ralph Kells, son of Augustus Kells, emigrated with his wife, Margaret (Humes) Kells, from Ireland to the United States, and settled in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he Company B, 78th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- followed the weaver's trade. They had the fantry. . His regiment was assigned to Gen- following children: Augusta, Andrew, Rob- ert, Mary, Jane, Rachel, Margaret, Ellen and Ralph, all of whom are deceased. The grand- parents of Mrs. Long were buried in West- moreland county. eral Negley's Brigade, in the Army of the Cumberland. Company B was well officered. James Hochenberry, the captain, had served as a private in a three-months company and after his return at the end of that enlistment formed what became Company B, and was made its captain, but later resigned, Lieutenant Mc- Canna succeeding him; Samuel Lee then be- came first lieutenant. This company was en- listed for three years or during the war and took part in many serious engagements, and was particularly prominent at the battle of Chickamauga. It accompanied General Sher- man's command through Georgia and it was at Atlanta that Mr. Long received notice of his honorable discharge. He went to Nashville, Tenn., by steamer, and from there, on the "Caroline," reached the mouth of the Cumber- land, thence proceeding up the Ohio to Pitts. burgh. He was discharged at Kittanning Nov. 4, 1864.
After this long patriotic service Mr. Long returned to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture once more, subsequently adding to his prop- erty until now he has about 164 acres, which he devotes to general farming. In his political views Mr. Long is a Democrat, and at times has accepted local offices, serving frequently as a school director and also as poor director and as supervisor. He is a member of the Luth- eran Church, as was his mother.
Mr. Long was first married to Mary Sny- der, who died in 1891, when aged thirty-eight years, and was buried at Eddyville. She was
(Hoak) Snyder, who are buried at Zion Church, in Porter township, Jefferson Co., Pa. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Long: Virginia Dare, who is the wife of Ed- ward Pankey, of Butler, Pa .; Sarah Irene, who lives at home; George A. Jinks, who died at the age of six years; and Etta Jane, now deceased, who was the wife of William Cod- ner, of Toronto, Canada. .
The second marriage of Mr. Long was to Levina Clemenza Kells, who is a daughter of Ralph and Margaret (Batty) Kells. They have no children.
(I) Augustus Kells, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Long, was born and married in Ire- land, where both he and his wife Margaret died and are buried.
(III) Ralph Kells, son of Ralph, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., March 12, 1810, and died in Wayne township, Armstrong Co., Pa., July 31, 1884. In his native county he attended subscription school in all probability, and worked for farmers in the neighborhood until he became of age, there being no record of his learning his father's trade. His first purchase of land was a tract of eighty acres, in Westmoreland county, from which he sold the underlying deposits of coal, and he after- ward bought two farms in Wayne township, Armstrong county, one containing 160 acres and the other 170 acres. In Westmoreland county he married Margaret Batty, who was born in Westmoreland county, Feb. 3, 1812, daughter of William and Jane ( Batty) Batty, and died Sept. 19, 1883. They had the fol- lowing children: Nancy Jane, born Aug. 25, 1833, married George B. Sloan, and died Sept. 5, 1863 ; Margaret C. was born Nov. 11, 1835; John H., born June 5, 1837, married Lucinda C. Marshall, and died May 7, 1862; Sarah A., born Jan. 31, 1839, died June 31, 1859; Wil- liam H., born April 24, 1843, died Dec. 21, 1860; Robert H. B., born March 11, 1845, married Angeline Kirkpatrick, and died Jan. 23, 1910 ; Andrew G., born Nov. 23, 1847, mar- ried Christina Doverspike, a Virginian, and died April 23, 1911 ; Hugh C., born Sept. 21,
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1849, late of Mahoning township, married the Royal Arch Masons at Kittanning. He Christina Doverspike, and died April 3, 1913; is unmarried, and lives at Freeport with his mother. Levina Clemenza, born April 15, 1853, married Solomon Long; Mary C., born Jan. 9, 1856, is Kells was a member and class leader of the Methodist Church at Dayton, in Wayne town- ship. He was a Republican politically, and served as school director, supervisor, and in other offices.
Henry W. Hild attended public school at the wife of Henry Rugh, of Eddyville. Mr. Freeport, and learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, working with him as long as he lived. His father took him into partner- ship two years before his death, and since that event Henry W. Hild has continued the business at the same old stand. He has a good trade, and .has retained his patrons by first- class service and honorable dealing.
Mr. Hild was married Oct. 6, 1897, to Lyda Renshaw, of McVill, Armstrong Co., Pa., and they have had three children: Mar-
HENRY W. HILD is conducting the blacksmith' business at Freeport, Armstrong county, established many years ago by his father, and is one of the respected citizens of that borough, where he has lived all his life. garet, Florence and Henry R. Fraternally Mr. Hild is a Mason (belonging to Freeport lodge) and a member of the Royal Arcanum. Mrs. Hild is an active worker in the M. E. Church.
He was born there Feb. 15, 1870, son of John Hild, and grandson of Henry and Elizabeth Hild, of Germany, who settled at Freeport upon coming to America. Henry Hild was a mason, and worked at his trade here, he and his wife spending the rest of their lives at ROBERT CLIFTON KERR, one of the substantial young farmers of Bethel town- Freeport. They were members of the German Lutheran Church: They had a family of three ship, Armstrong county, owns and operates. a fine farm and is also engaged. as engineer
children: John; Elizabeth, who died unmar- ried; and Louisa, unmarried, who lives at at Station No. 3 of the Philadelphia Gas Com- Freeport.
pany. He is a native of Wayne township, this county, born Feb. 1I, 1881, son of Robert W. and Ida Hannah (Hoffman) Kerr. His (Walker) Kerr, were of Scotch and German descent, respectively. Robert W. Kerr's un- cles, Nevin and Willie, twins, brothers of his father, lived to the ages of ninety-six and' ninety-seven years, respectively.
John Hild, son of Henry, was born Feb. 14, 1845, in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and died Sept. 5, 1908, at Freeport, Pa. He was paternal grandparents, James and Margaret: a boy of eight years when he came to America with his parents, and the rest of his life was spent at Freeport, where he received a com- mon school education. He learned the black- smith's trade of Mr. Pfaff, and always fol- lowed that calling, working hard and winning Robert W. Kerr was born in Bethel town- ship, this county, Dec. 30, 18-, and he has: long been a prosperous farmer of Burrell township, still conducting the farm of 147 acres there which he has long owned. He married Ida Hannah Hoffman, daughter of the esteem of all who knew him. He was a worthy member of the German Lutheran Church at Freeport, and belonged to the I. O. O. F. lodge there. He married Hannah Lie- kert, of Butler county, Pa., and their family consisted of three sons: Henry W .; and Reuben and Leah (Kemery) Hoffman, of Charles E. and William A., twins, born Aug. Eddyville, Armstrong county, and they had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom survive: Robert C.,. Reuben A., Grace E., William Gregg, John B., Ruth, Earl, Martha and Mildred. Mrs. Kerr's mother still survives, at the age (1913) 31, 1879, at Laneville, South Buffalo township, the former of whom is assistant cashier in the Freeport Bank at Freeport, Pa., the latter cashier in the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank at Brackenridge, Pa. Charles E. Hild was married Oct. 16, 1912, to Bess B. Mar- of ninety-five years.
quis, of Freeport, Pa. He is an officer in the Robert C. Kerr grew to manhood in Bur- rell township, and received his education in the public schools. He has followed farming since he commenced life for himself, owning a valuable place in Bethel township, near his father's. His postoffice is Kelly Station. He has prospered in his work, and is a very in- dustrious man, respected by all who know German Lutheran Church at Freeport, a mem- ber of Armstrong Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Orient Royal Arch Chapter, Kittanning, Pa. William A. Hild was assistant treasurer of the Safe Deposit Bank of Kittanning, Pa., for twelve years. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church at Freeport, a member of the Kittanning Lodge of Masons, and also of him for his upright character and other ster-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ling qualities. For the last three years he has Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; Bristoe Station, been employed as engineer at the plant of the Philadelphia Gas Company, Station No. 3, Banks Farm, Bethel township.
On Sept. 5, 1905, Mr. Kerr was married to Mahala Bowser, of Armstrong county, daughter of Alonzo and Mary Ellen (Yerdy) Bowser, and they have four children, two sons and two daughters : Beulah Alberta, born Feb. 20, 1907; Theodore Clifford, born Jan. 5, 1909; William Charles, born May 4, I9II; and Ethel Elizabeth, born Oct. 24, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Kerr are mem- bers of the Crooked Creek Presbyterian Church in Bethel township.
JOSEPH ALLSHOUSE, who resides at South Bend, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born in South Bend Oct. 5, 1838, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fink) Allshouse and grand- son of Henry Allshouse.
Henry Allshouse came to South Bend from Lehigh county, Pa., one hundred years ago, settling in what was then a wilderness. At that time there was no tillable land for many miles, and it required time and hard work to clear and cultivate the place on which he spent the remainder of his life.
Henry Allshouse, son of Henry, and father of Joseph Allshouse, was born in Armstrong county. He engaged in farming to some ex- tent, but his main occupation was work at the carpenter's trade and he constructed numer- ous houses and other buildings in his neigh- borhood. He lived to be an old man, his death occurring in 1906, he having survived his wife since 1864. She, too, was a native of Arm-
Oct. 14, 1863; Mine Run, December, 1863. On Dec. 17, 1863, his first enlistment having expired, he reenlisted as a veteran, was pro- moted to bugler, and participated on the fir- ing line in almost every battle that took place: until his final discharge, including the en- gagements in the Wilderness, at White House Landing, Malvern Hill, Petersburg, Appo- mattox Court House, and the surrender of Lee. For three years after his return to Pennsylvania he worked out as a farmer. He now owns an eighty-acre farm in South Bend. township, where he carries on general farm- ing. He is one of the well known and highly respected residents of his section.
Mr. Allshouse was married, in Indiana. county, Pa., to Anna Kier, who died in 1908. She was a daughter of James Kier, of South Bend township, and was the beloved mother of the following children: Rhetta, May A.,. Clara, James M., Mary Ida, Florence B., Frank M., Susan Pearl, Lulu and Eugenia. She was a member of the Reformed Church,. to which Mr. Allshouse also belongs. Polit- ically he is a Socialist.
MILES A. RIGGLE, of Burrell township, Armstrong county, was born on the old Rig- gle homestead in that township Oct. 14, 1862,. son of Daniel Riggle. His grandparents, John and Sarah (Shetler) Riggle, were of German extraction.
Daniel Riggle, father of Miles A. Riggle, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and came to Armstrong county when a lad. He died in 1885. His wife, Mary Robb, who was strong county. They were members of the born in 1818, daughter of John and Mary Reformed Church. Thirteen children were born to them, seven of whom survive, Joseph being the fifth in order of birth.
(Shotts) Robb, died in 1904, aged eighty- six years. They had a family of twelve chil- dren, five sons and seven daughters: Hettie; Elizabeth ; Saloma, who married Hiram Myers, of Bethel township, and had five chil- dren; Absalom B .; John, of Texas, who mar- ried and had four children; Sarah, who mar- ried Wilson Hotham, of Kansas (now deceased), and has three children living ; Maria, widow of John McCullough, of Pitts- burgh; Augusta, who married I. Spong, of Bethel township, and has five children ; James, living in Nevada ; Miles A .; Anna, de- ceased ; and D. Thomas, born Oct. 18, 1855, died March 27, 1913, who married Margaret A. Altman, of Burrell township, and has.
Joseph Allshouse remained with his father until he was twenty-one years old, in the meanwhile attending school during the winter sessions until his eighteenth year. Mr. Alls- house is a veteran of the Civil war, having served three years and eight months in that struggle, during which time he was almost constantly in danger. He was a member first of Company M, 2d Pa. Vol. Cav., joining the regiment at Kittanning and accompany- ing it to Warrensburg, Va. Among the im- portant engagements in which he participated were: Sperryville, July 5, 1862; Madison, July 10, 1862 ; Cold Harbor, July 25, 1862; three children. Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862; Chantilly, Sept. I, On Jan. 30, 1890, Mr. Miles A. Riggle mar- ried Emma Spencer, daughter of Jacob Spen- 1862; Thoroughfare Gap, October, 1862; Aldie, Nov. 2, 1862 ; Occoquan, Dec. 26, 1862; cer, who was born Dec. 5, 1831, in Kittanning:
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
township, Armstrong county, and died Oct. 2, 1906. On Oct. 2, 1851, he married Delia Klingensmith, of Armstrong county, and they had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters: Polly and James (deceased in infancy), Joseph, Ellen, Stephen, Rosa, Emma, and another that died in infancy. Mrs. Riggle's grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Waltenbaugh) Spencer, both na-
garet (Shoop) Klingensmith. Mr. and Mrs. Riggle have had a family of nine children : Rosa P., born April 2, 1892; Mary M., Sept. 16, 1893; Mira A., Sept. 11, 1895; Roy B., Oct. 15, 1897 ; John T., Jan. 1, 1899; Ira G., Sept. 25, 1902; Clara E., March 10, 1905; Arthur, Aug. 28, 1908; and Virginia R., July 5, 19II.
Mr. Riggle and his family are Lutherans in religious connection, attending at Brick Church. He has been engaged in farming all his life except for two years when he was a street car conductor in Pittsburgh. His prin- cipal crops are grain and fruit, and he also raises some stock.
ROBERT FORB MILLER, a farmer and lumberman of Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county, was born in that town- ship, on the farm where he now resides, April 15, 1871, son of John and Susan (De Lancy) Miller.
David Miller, his grandfather, was a pio- neer of Plum Creek township, this county, but in his later life moved to Strongstown, Pa., where he died. He had the following children: John, William and Sarah.
The maternal grandfather of Robert Forb Miller, Stephen De Lancy, was also a pioneer of Cowanshannock township, where he de- veloped the homestead upon which he died.
Robert F. Miller was brought up on the farm he now owns and has always lived upon it. His educational training was received in the local schools. When he attained his ma- jority he commenced farming on his own ac- / count, and since 1900 has also been engaged in the lumber business with gratifying re- sults.
On August 18, 1892, Mr. Miller was united tives of Armstrong county, and Eli and Mar- in marriage with Lizzie J. Rairigh, daughter of Solomon and Carrie (Wagner) Rairigh, of Cowanshannock township. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children: Malvin O., Robert H., Luella, Leona, Donald, and Vernon Ray. Mr. and Mrs. Miller belong to the Baptist Church, to which he gives a generous sup- port. Politically he is a Republican, and he is in every respect an admirable citizen.
JAMES G. KELLY, who has owned and occupied his present place in Bethel township, Armstrong county, since 1886, was born Oct. 14, 1841, on his father's farm in North Buf- falo township, son of William Kelly, who came from Westmoreland county, Pa. The paternal grandparents were from Ireland.
James Kelly, the great-grandfather, was a native of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish ances- try. In 1750 he came to Lancaster county, Pa., later removing to Cumberland county and in 1771-72 to Indiana county, where he was one of the very first settlers. He took up four hundred acres of land at what is now Tunnelton, his property lying on both sides of the Conemaugh river, and lived on the Indiana side. He had four sons: John; James, who married and had a family; Sam- uel, a soldier in the Revolution, who married Elizabeth Hemphill; and Alexander.
Alexander Kelly, the fourth son of James Kelly, settled in Armstrong county. He mar- ried a Miss Morrison, and was the father of
John Miller, son of David Miller, and father of Robert F. Miller, was a farmer, the following children : James, who never mar- and cleared and improved the farm now oc- ried; William; Joseph, who married Sarah cupied by his son Robert F. During the Green; and Hamilton, who married Lydia Civil war he served bravely in the 103d Penn- Wolf. sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and had the mis-
William Kelly married (first) Margaret fortune to be captured by the enemy and Green, daughter of John and Polly (Gould) taken to Andersonville prison, where for Green, and she died in 1845, the mother of six children, of whom but two survive, James G. and Rebecca, wife of Joseph James, residing at Hersey, Mich. For his second wife Mr. Kelly married Miss Nancy Hancock, but there are no descendants of that union. He died in January, 1883, at Kelly Station, this county, aged eighty-three years. twelve months he suffered the privations and exposures of that frightful place. Finally he was exchanged, and he received an honor- able discharge after four years of service. His children who grew to maturity were: Mary Ellen, who married Robert McClena- than; William A .; Harvey E .; Robert F .; Katie M., who married Joseph Blose; and Nettie, who married Peter Garmon.
On Sept. 28, 1862, James G. Kelly enlisted at Kittanning, this county, in Company M,
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
14th Pennsylvania Cavalry (159th Regiment), which company was composed entirely of Armstrong county men, under Capt. Charles W. E. Welty, who went in as orderly and was mustered out as captain. Mr. Kelly was mustered in at Pittsburgh. He took part in the engagement at Winchester, and in all the battles in the Shenandoah Valley campaign, Averill's great raid, and thirty important bat- tles and skirmishes. Of the original command, but thirty-one men survived to the close of the war.
Upon his return to his native State after his discharge from the army Mr. Kelly was en- gaged as a boatman for a short time, but he has since devoted his time to farming, in which he has met with prosperity. He now lives on the farm in Bethel township, which he has owned and operated since 1886.
On Nov. 13, 1867, Mr. Kelly married Amanda A. Walker, daughter of James and Jane (Bigham) Walker, of Allegheny county, and they have had a family of eight children, two sons and six daughters, namely : Marg- aret J. is deceased; Albert, who lives at New Kensington, Pa., is married and has one child, Helen; Ada, who is the wife of R. M. Hegg- ley and lives at Braeburn, Westmoreland Co., Pa., has four children, two sons and two daughters; Edwin lives at Kensington, Pa .; Bertha married A. H. Atkinson, of Callery Junction, Butler Co., Pa., and has two daugh- ters; Carrie, the wife of I. F. Mansfield, is residing in Bethel township; Minnie, who mar- ried Charles Myers, of Armstrong county, died Feb. 2, 1910; Lula died when nineteen years old.
ROBERT E. GOSSER, of Leechburg, Armstrong county, where he is engaged as sheet roller at the American Sheet & Tin Plate is now Gilpin township, Armstrong county. Company's plant, is a son of Daniel Gosser, He lived and farmed there for twenty-three the leading grocer of that borough, and was years, meantime also becoming interested in born July 29, 1873, in Gilpin township, near Leechburg.
Adam Gosser, his great-grandfather, moved from Northampton county, Pa., where he was born, to Westmoreland county, and later to Erie, Pa. There he remained for a short time, the Lutheran Church.
town turnpike. He lived to old age, dying at Adamsburg. Adam Gosser was twice married, and had the following children: Jacob, a soldier of the war of 1812, who died in Mis- souri; William; Daniel, who located at Balti- more; Henry, who died in Pittsburgh; Isaac, who went to Nebraska ; Adam ; Frederick, who died after reaching maturity ; Ann Mary; Su- sanna, and Catherine.
William Gosser, son of Adam, was born Nov. II, 1803, in Northampton county, Pa., and was a boy when his father settled at Adamsburg. He learned blacksmithing, which he first followed at Adamsburg, in 1840 remov- ing thence to Leechburg, Armstrong county, Pa., where he continued in the same line of work. He retired from active labor about eight years before his death, which occurred in 1888, when he was in his eighty-fifth year. He was a Lutheran and a Democrat, and served as burgess and councilman in Leech- burg.
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