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 43
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S. H. Kamerer was reared and educated. in Butler county, Pa., whither his parents moved from Brady's Bend, Armstrong Co., Pa., his birthplace, when he was two years old. When his father died he began farming for himself, owning 125 acres of land in Fairview township, Butler county, and he is also extensively interested in oil production, leasing 350 acres of land, sixty-five acres of which are in Brady's Bend township, Arm- strong county. On the latter property there are three producing wells. His oil business is conducted under the firm name of S. H. Kamerer & Son. The Armstrong county property has not yet been properly developed, but Mr. Kamerer is making arrangements to bring it up to average. The family residence is in Fairview township, Butler county, on the Kittanning road.
In 1882 Mr. Kamerer married Nina Hen- ton, of Erie county, Pa., a daughter of Charles Henton, one of the early settlers of that local- ity. Mrs. Kamerer's grandfather was a steamboat captain on Lake Erie. Mr. and Mrs. Kamerer have had the following chil- dren : Ethel L., Obed G., Edna B., and three who died in infancy. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment, Knights of Pythias and K. O. T. M. Not only is he a consistent member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, but he serves as elder. Politically a Republican, he has served as a school director for thirteen years in Fair- view township, but aside from this has not entered public life.
O. U. DAVIDSON, proprietor of the mar- ble and granite works at Cowansville, Arm- strong Co., Pa., was born at Cowansville, May 24, 1867, son of William and Mary (Craw- ford) Davidson.
Although self-educated, he was a well-in- formed man, and able to follow out a question to its logical end. For some years he served as justice of the peace, and he enjoyed uni- versal respect and confidence. He was one of the pioneers in the marble and granite business in Armstrong county.
O. U. Davidson attended public school at Cowansville, and then at the age of eighteen years went into his father's business, which he successfully continues. It is his pride to turn out nothing but the highest quality of work that can be done, and his business shows the result of this care.
On July 2, 1901, Mr. Davidson was married to Ina Fay Ralston, and five children have been born of this marriage: William Ray- mond, Allen R., Edgar O., Marion F. and Robert G. Mr. Davidson is a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for fifteen years.
SAMUEL C. BOLE, a veteran of the Civil war, residing at Leechburg, Pa., was born in Gilpin township, Armstrong county, June 16, 1838, son of David and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Bole.
David Bole was one of the early settlers in Allegheny (now Gilpin) township, Armstrong county, where he engaged in farming and worked as a stonemason. His death occurred at Johnstown, Pa., at the age of sixty-four years, and he was interred in the Leechburg cemetery. He married Elizabeth Shaffer, daughter of John Shaffer, and they had ten children, as follows: John, Mary, Fannie, George, James, Harvey, Henry, Isaac, Samuel C. and Margaret.
Samuel C. Bole was reared on the old homestead and attended the township schools. When the Civil war was precipitated he was assisting his father in his farm activities. He had been reared to value the benefits which
William Davidson was born in Ohio in a united government assured, and when rebel-
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lion threatened he was one of the first to decide burg, where he began working in the Ameri- to enlist to aid in its suppression. He entered can Sheet & Tin Plate Company. In 1893 he became a heater, and still holds that responsi- ble position. Company E, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Capt. J. A. Herren, and served for three years and ten months, his command being at- tached to the Army of the Potomac. Although he escaped many of the hazards of war he suf- fered imprisonment, being captured by the Confederate soldiers at Little Washington, Pa., and was confined in two of the terrible military prisons of the South, Libby and Belle Isle, for eight long months. After he returned home from the army he located at Johnstown, Pa., where he embarked in the mercantile business, continuing thus until the fall of 1884, when he came to Leechburg and has occupied the same residence on Main street ever since. Mr. Bole at present extensively interested in the natural gas business, oper- ating on his own account, and at the same time is looking after his real estate interests. He is a well-known and highly respected citizen.
Mr. Bole was married in 1866 to Annie Wilson, daughter of John Wilson, of Johns- town. She died in 1883, survived by three children, Charles D., Bert and George. Mr. Bole was subsequently married (second) to Phebe Parks, daughter of Bratton Parks, and they have three children: Lucie Parks, who resides with her parents; J. Bratton, who is filling a clerical position in the Weirton (W. Va.) steel mill; and Samuel C., who is at home.
Mr. Bole is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican, but has been indifferent to public office. He is one of the oldest residents of Leechburg, and has seen many changes take place in the pleas- ant town in which he has maintained his home.
EDWARD W. SHOOP, a heater at the plant of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, of Leechburg, was born in Alle- gheny (now Gilpin) township, Armstrong county, Dec. 17, 1855, son of David and Catherine Lynch Shoop.
David Shoop was a carpenter by trade, and followed his calling in Allegheny township. Both he and his wife died in 1856, and are buried at the Forks Church in Gilpin township. They had two children, Frank and Edward W.
Edward W. Shoop was reared in Burrell township, there attending public school until eighteen years old. He then spent three years in Colorado and Indian Territory, returning to Pennsylvania in 1883. Until 1886 he was in Pittsburgh, in that year coming to Leech-
On Oct. 4, 1899, Mr. Shoop married Kate Ulam Truby, daughter of the late Capt. Henry Truby and his wife Elvina (Hill) Truby. In 1906 Mr. Shoop built his beautiful residence, which is the family home. He is a member of the Leechburg lodge of Elks, and the Odd Fellows, and he and his wife have long been members of the First Lutheran Church of Leechburg. Politically he is a Republican, and he served for six years as a member of the borough council of Leechburg, giving his constituents faithful and honorable service.
GOOD. The brothers D. Marshall, John B. and Calvin S. Good, of Wayne township, Armstrong county, are sons of Peter Good and grandsons of Abraham Good. Their great-grandfather Good was a native of Mary- land, and his son Abraham was born near Hagerstown, that State, June 3, 1799. About 1832 he located in Indiana county, Pa., where he purchased the farm upon which he spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred Sept. 9, 1855. On June 17, 1818, he married Margaret Burkett, who was born in June, 1802, and died Jan. 31, 1864. They had chil- dren born as follows: Christiana, Nov. 26, 1820; Peter, Nov. 24, 1822; Abraham, Oct. 13, 1824; Isaac, Oct. 31, 1826; Eliza, Aug. 16, 1829 (died Oct. 2, 1844) ; Nancy, June 17, 1832; John, Sept. 17, 1835 (died Oct. 3, 1844) ; Margaret, Nov. 22, 1837; Samuel, Dec. 6, 1841 (died Sept. 28, 1844) ; David, Sept. 2, 1844; Sarah, Aug. 28, 1847.
Peter Good, son of Abraham and Margaret Good, was born Nov. 24, 1822, in what is now Blair county, Pa., and when quite a young man settled at Smicksburg, Indiana county. Thence he removed to Armstrong county in 1871, buying the old Kells farm, which is now owned by his sons John B. and D. Mar- shall Good. There he resided until his death, Jan. 8, 1896. He is buried at Smicksburg. He was a very successful farmer and stock raiser, taking particular interest and pride in good stock, and often took premiums at the county fairs. He was a public-spirited man, interested in the general welfare, and served as school director in both Indiana and Armstrong counties. Mr. Good married Margaret Catherine Marshall, daughter of John and Elizabeth Marshall, born Feb. I, 1827, died Jan. 7, 1901 ; she is also buried at Smicksburg, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Good were
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the parents of four children: D. Marshall, other valuable real estate in the borough. born July 6, 1863; John B., born Sept. 17, 1865, who lives at Dayton, Armstrong county ; Calvin S., born Aug. 16, 1867; and Archie A., born April 20, 1870, who died Feb. 8, 1871.
D. MARSHALL GOOD, son of Peter Good, is a well-known farmer and business man of Wayne township. He was born July 6, 1863, at Smicksburg, Indiana county, began his edu- cation in the public schools, and was later a pupil at the Glade Run Academy, in Wayne township. He remained at home with his
his brother John B. Good became the owners of the homestead property in Wayne town- ship, which consists of 175 acres of valuable land. Mr. D. Marshall Good resides upon this tract. The brothers are model up-to-date farmers, using the most approved methods and machinery in their agricultural operations. D. Marshall Good is also engaged in the butch- ering business, selling his beef wholesale at Dayton, Sagamore and Yatesboro. He and his brother John have 215 acres of woodland and carry on the lumbering business in addi- tion to farming. He is a stockholder in the Dayton Fair Association and the Dayton Nor- mal Institute, and in his various connections with the life of the community has shown himself to be a progressive and enterprising citizen, one of the leading residents of his district. He is a member of the Glade Run Presbyterian Church and identified with the Republican party in politics.
On Jan. 3, 1901, Mr. Good married Mary Burns, daughter of W. T. Burns, of Cowan- shannock township, Armstrong county, and they have a family of three children: David D., Avalon C. and Loureigh Burns.
CALVIN S. GOOD, son of Peter Good, was born Aug. 16, 1867, near Smicksburg, Indiana county. He received his education in the common schools and at Glade Run Academy, which latter institution he attended for three terms, and with the exception of a year spent in the West passed his early life on the home place with his father. Upon his return to Pennsylvania he married and commenced farming for himself on one of his father's farms in Wayne township, remaining there until his removal to Dayton, Oct. 22, 190I. He has since been engaged in the livery busi- ness in the borough, and also continues to man- age the cultivation of his farm, which consists of II0 acres. He has twelve horses for hire, and enjoys a steady patronage. Upon his removal to Dayton he bought the old Dr. Crouch property, and he is also the owner of
Like the members of his family generally, he is an energetic citizen, has served as council- man of the borough, and is a stockholder in the Dayton Fair Association and the Dayton Normal Institute, supporting all worthy local movements. He is a Republican in politics, and in religious connection a member of the Glade Run Presbyterian Church.
On Aug. 23, 1893, Mr. Good was married to Minnie B. Gallagher, daughter of James and Susan (McCoach) Gallagher, and they parents, following farming, and in time he and have two children: Miriam C., born Aug. 26, 1894, who was graduated from the Day- ton Normal Institute, where she took the music course; and James P., born April 7, 1902.
The children of James and Susan (Mc- Coach) Gallagher were as follows: James S., who died in 1906 (he was elected sheriff of Armstrong county, 1897, and was a very popular official) ; Minnie B., Mrs. Calvin S. Good; William E., of Kittanning, who served as deputy sheriff under his brother; Frank E., and Arthur L.
HAMILTON H. SAY, a farmer of Perry township, Armstrong county, was born Oct. 5, 1840, in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., son of John and Sarah (Fletcher) Say, both natives of Butler county, of English and Irish descent, respectively.
The paternal great-grandfather of Hamil- ton H. Say, who was born in England, became one of the first settlers at Slippery Rock But- ler Co., Pa. His sister, Esther R. Say, became the wife of the Mr. Harris who founded Har- risburg. The Says devoted themselves prin- cipally during the early days to agricultural pursuits, and were largely instrumental in for- warding the development of their several com- munities. They helped very materially to lay the foundation for the prosperity of western Pennsylvania to-day.
John Say, the grandfather, was born at Slip- pery Rock, where he was reared. After reach- ing his majority he married Sarah Martin. Locating on a farm of 300 acres in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., the clearing and de- velopment of this large property was his life work, and he died there. He had a family of three sons' and one daughter: James, John, William and Fanny (who married Samuel Jack).
John Say, son of John Say, and father of Hamilton H. Say, was born Jan. 26, 1810, in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., where he spent his entire life, operating 100 acres of
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the family homestead, left to him by his fath- his family belong to the First Presbyterian er. His death occurred in 1896, and his wife died Oct. 5, 1853. Of their family, six grew to maturity, namely : Hamilton H. ; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of John Cannon; Sarah and Annie, who both died unmarried; John T., de- ceased ; and Perry, who resides near West Sunbury.
Benjamin Fletcher, father of Mrs. John Say, was born in Connecticut, and became a pioneer of Parker township, Butler Co., Pa. There he became prominent in several ways, building a grist and saw-mill which he oper- ated until his death. His daughter Sarah mar- ried John Say, and they became the parents of Hamilton H. Say.
Hamilton H. Say spent a pleasant boyhood on the family homestead, where he alternated attending district school with working for his father. Thus engaged he learned farming at first hand, and has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. His life has been spent in Perry township since 1874, when he bought the fine farm of seventy-seven acres he now occupies and operates.
During the Civil war Mr. Say proved his patriotism by enlisting, Oct. 7, 1861, in Com- pany C, IIth Pennsylvania Reserves, with which he served until June, 1864, when he was transferred to Company A, 190th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Veterans, known as the famous Bucktails or Kane Rifles. Mr. Say was honorably discharged from the service Oct. 6, 1864, in front of Petersburg, Va. He participated in the battles of Mechan- icsville and Gaines' Mills, and had the mis- fortune of being captured with his regiment at the latter engagement, June 27, 1862. They were confined in Libby prison and' borough in its day, and is now a dealer in the one on Belle Isle in all for forty days, hides and tallow at the head of the firm of when they were exchanged after a very un- C. Mardorf & Sons, of Cheswick, Pa. ; Charles is at Freeport. happy experience. After rejoining his regi- ment Mr. Say was stricken down with ty- phoid fever, but recovered in time to partici- pate in the battle of Gettysburg, the Wilder- ness campaign, and the engagements at Spott- sylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg, and others. He is a member of Craig Post, No. 75, G. A. R., of which he is now commander, and belongs to the Loy- al Legion in Butler county, Pa.
On Dec. 15, 1864, Mr. Say was married to Margaret J. Hutcheson, daughter of David and Mary (Porter) Hutcheson, of Perry township. Seven children have been born of this marriage : Warren D .; Sarah, wife of Dr. A. J. Edmonds ; Annie, John P .; Charles E .; Edwin G .; and Mabel, deceased. Mr. Say and member of the borough council for fifteen
Church of Parker City, which Mr. Say has served as elder since 1865. He has held nearly all of the township offices, always elected on the Republican ticket, as he is a firm adherent to the principles of that party. He has served five years as justice of the peace. In every relation of life Mr. Say has shown himself to be a man of high principles, whose deter- mination has been to live according to the religious faith he professes.
CHARLES MARDORF, at present asses- sor and tax collector for the borough of Free- port, Armstrong county, was born Dec. 27, 1848, in Melsungen, Hessen-Cassel, Germany. He has been a resident of Freeport for forty- five years.
John Mardorf, his father, was born in 1806 in the same place, and married Catherine Wickman, who was born there in 1807. He was a tanner by trade. He came to America in 1852, the voyage taking six weeks, and the family located in Butler county, Pa., at Butler, where the father followed his trade and died in 1859. The mother died there in 1886. They were members of the German Reformed Church. Their family consisted of seven chil- dren : William, a tanner, died in Butler, Pa .; Catherine, deceased, married William Bauers, of Butler; August, deceased, was a cabinet- maker by trade; Elizabeth, widow of Charles Sanders, lives in South Pittsburgh; Teresa, Mrs. Bolander, lives on the South Side, Pitts- burgh; Christian, born Jan. 23. 1847, moved. to Freeport, Armstrong Co., Pa., where he es- tablished himself in the tanning business, hav- ing one of the most important industries of the
Charles Mardorf had only limited educa- tional privileges and is for the most part self educated. At the age of sixteen years he started to learn the harnessmaker's trade, at which he worked two years. Later he took up the tanner's trade, following that line of work for twenty years. Forty-five years ago, in 1868, he moved to Freeport, Armstrong coun- ty. Mr. Mardorf is an intelligent and well in- formed man, and he is a much respected cit- izen of the borough where most of his life has been passed. For many years he has been active in politics and public affairs, as a zeal- ous member of the Republican party. In 1889 he served as judge of elections. He was a
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years, and in 1907 he was elected assessor and appointed tax collector, which offices he has filled continuously since. His long reten- tion in every public trust to which he has been called is sufficient evidence of the sat- isfactory service he has given to his fellow citizens.
In 1873 Mr. Mardorf married Elizabeth McGinley, of Freeport, daughter of John and Catherine (Gallagher) McGinley, who were from Ireland and came to Freeport at an early day. Mr. McGinley ran a hotel and also en- gaged in teaming. Mrs. Mardorf died June 18, 19II. She was the mother of five chil- dren: John, living at home, who is employed as clerk in the Cornell Coal Company's office ; Charles, who died at the age of eight years ; Catherine, at home, a stenographer; Edward, who was killed in 1905 on the Pennsylvania railroad at Johnstown, Pa .; and Mary, who is in a convent at Baden, Pa. Mrs. Mardorf and the children are members of the Catholic Church.
WILLIAM D. MORGAN, a farmer of Sugar Creek township, was born in County Down, Ireland, Nov. 4, 1845, son of Hugh Morgan, and grandson of Edward Morgan. The latter, who was of Welsh-Irish descent, died in Ireland.
Hugh Morgan, son of Edward Morgan, was born in County Down, Ireland, where he was reared and sent to school. He married in that county Christina MacMurrey, of Scotch- Irish parentage, daughter of Alexander Mac- Murrey, now deceased, formerly of Ireland. Twelve children were born of this marriage, all in Ireland, viz .: James A., Edward, Robert, Benjamin, Samuel, Hugh, William, George, two who died in infancy, Nancy and Sarah. Hugh Morgan was a linen weaver by trade, but not finding sufficient work to care for his large family he left Liverpool, England, on Oct. 7, 1854, for the United States, and landed at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 7th, having made the trip on a sailing vessel. After landing he worked at Maple furnace in Butler coun- ty, Pa., for a period of two years, when he began farming in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., there remaining until about 1871, when he came to Sugar Creek township, Armstrong Co., Pa. He settled on a partially improved property, and although he was then sixty years old, assisted in the work of further cultivat- ing it. His death occurred on this farm March 13, 1888, when he was aged ninety-four years, and he is buried at Parker, Pa. He died firm in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of .
which he was a member. His wife died at the age of eighty-one years, and they are buried side by side. From the time he cast his first vote Mr. Morgan was a Republican.
William D. Morgan attended school for one term in his native land before the family emi- gration, but had also been taught at home, for on his first day at school it was found that he could read in the third reader. After com- ing to the new home his services were required on the farm, and later he worked in the oil fields until his marriage, when he settled on the homestead, which has continued to be his home. He has erected the present farm build- ings. About thirty-five acres of the II0-acre farm is in woodland, and on the remainder he carries on general farming, and raises pure bred Percheron horses.
Mr. Morgan married Mary Guiney, who was born in County Down, Ireland, daughter of the late Robert Guiney. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have had the following children : Sadie J., who is at home; George A., who married Annie Herbert; Robert James ; Hugh C., who is deceased; Agnes Christina, who married T. A. McGarvey; Mary Eliza, at home ; Samuel Blaine, who married Elva King and lives in Sugar Creek township; Joseph, at home; and Frank, also at home.
Fraternally Mr. Morgan is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Alpine Lodge, No. 479, in which he has passed the chairs, and he is a member of the grand lodge. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church. A lifelong Republican, he has been auditor for one term, assessor for nine years and school director for one term, and has proved himself an effi- cient and capable official.
CHARLES E. MEALS, one of the active workers in the Republican party of Armstrong County, and a responsible citizen of Kittan- ning, was born in North Buffalo township, this county, April 16, 1872, son of William M. and Lucretia (Jack) Meals, and grandson of Jacob Meals.
Jacob Meals was born in Butler county, Pa., and became a farmer. He married Cath- erine Varnum, and they had five children: William M .; Mary, wife of a Mr. McCool; John; Lydia, wife of John Hoover, and Enoch H. The parents were members of the Ger- man Lutheran Church.
William M. Meals was also a farmer, and lived in Armstrong county. He had eleven children: Madison; Melissa, wife of William A. Long; Jacob T .; Samuel J .; William J .; Albert N .; Catherine E., wife of William Min-
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turn; George; Henry D. W .; Annie L., wife Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, learned the of William A. Davidson ; and Charles E. The trade of wheelwright, and married Anna Cath- parents of this family also belonged to the erine Darbaker, also of Hessen-Darmstadt. German Lutheran Church. The father passed Coming to America in 1853, in a sailing vessel, away in 1900, the mother Sept. 7, 1913.
Charles E. Meals attended public school un- til about sixteen years old. He then entered school at State Line, but leaving in a short time returned home, and took charge of the homestead which he improved to a consider- able extent, operating it during the summer, and in the winter he worked in a rolling mill, in the oil fields, at teaming, etc. Mr. Meals continued to divide his time in this way un- til 1898, when he began teaching school, hav- ing prepared himself for this profession in his spare moments. For six years he taught in Armstrong county, and then accepted a posi- tion as traveling salesman with a Pittsburgh house, continuing in its employ for a year. In 1908 he moved to East Franklin township, on a place which continued to be his home until June, 1911, when he changed to a valuable farm he had purchased in the same township, about two and a half miles from the city.
From the time he cast his first vote Mr. Meals has been prominent in Republican poli- tics, and in 1904 was elected justice of the peace, serving for five years. In 1905 he was elected county commissioner, and reelected to that office in 1908. On Aug. 22, 19II, he was elected chairman of the Republican coun- ty central committee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. H. McFarland, and reelected for two-year term in 1912. Mr. Meals is manager of and a stockholder in the Kittan- ning Telephone Company, and is recognized as a reliable business man.
On Nov. 2, 1904, Mr. Meals was married to Cora V. Miller, daughter of William H. Mil- ler, of East Franklin township. Mr. and Mrs. Meals have two children, Charles G. and Ida V. Mr. Meals is a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 244, Kittanning; Orient Chapter, No. 247, R. A. M .; Pittsburgh Commandery, K. T .; and the Coudersport Consistory ; and is also a member of the Odd Fellows at Craigs- ville, Pa., the Order of United American Me- chanics, and the Elks at Kittanning.
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