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 51
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David Barr, son of James, Jr., was born Sept. 20, 1825, in West Franklin township, and learned the trade of millwright, which he fol- lowed off and on until 1890. He was also in- terested in farming, and in 1864 purchased the farm of 128 acres now owned and occupied by his son William I. Barr. There he resided until his death, which occurred Oct. 21, 1893. His wife, Eleanor M. Clark, was a daughter of Robert and Sally (Wykoff) Clark, pioneers of Crawford county, and they had three chil- dren, two of whom grew to maturity, Robert C. and William I., the former now a resident of Texas.
William I. Barr was born May 25, 1864, in the house where he now makes his home. He was educated in the common schools of the locality and learned the trade of stationary engineer. However, he has been principally engaged in farming, and he has proved himself one of the progressive agriculturists of his sec- tion, having conducted his farm successfully along modern lines.
On July 20, 1893, Mr. Barr married Annetta L. Armstrong, daughter of John and Jane (Hindman) Armstrong, of East Franklin township, and to them have been born six chil- dren : Nellie J., John D., Joanna M., James I., Frank H: and Gladys M. Mr. and Mrs. Barr are members of the Presbyterian Church of Worthington. Politically he is a Republican.
CAPT. ANDREW IVORY, SR., was born at Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa., May 31, 1825. His parents were Francis Joseph Ivory and Mary (Parsons) Ivory. He was named for his grandfather, who was a silk weaver in the city of Dublin. His father came to this country in 1812 and followed his trade as a jeweler and watchmaker in and about Pittsburgh until his death, in 1854. His moth- er, who was of English and French descent, was born near Chambersburg, Pa., and lived until 1862. Their family comprised four daughters and one son, the subject of this sketch. Most of Andrew's life, until he
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reached his majority, was spent in Pittsburgh. "On to Richmond" movement those brave He worked for men in business and in shops, boys realized all that war means. At the seven and all of his earnings were needed to assist in supporting the family. In 1846 he con- cluded to choose the life of a farmer, and made his purpose known to Caleb Lee, who was the owner of 1,100 acres of land known as the "White Oak Levels," lying near Hul- ton and Oakmont, in Allegheny county. He was employed, and later became a tenant of Mr. Lee on one of his best farms. He cleared forty acres of heavily timbered land and fenced and cultivated it. In July, 1848, he married Catherine (Schroeder) Rigby, and thus formed a union which continued for more than fifty-six years. Mrs. Ivory's father, John Henry Schroeder, came from the city of Amsterdam, Holland, to this country, and was a son of the well-known historical fam- ily of that name. Her mother was born in York county, Pa. In the spring of 1857 he purchased a farm near White Rock station, in Armstrong county, and removed to that place, known as the "Forks" section of this county. He was a very strong, active, en- ergetic man, at his work early and late, and soon made his labor count in the appearance of the farm and its products and made many friends. One incident of his thrift may be noted: During the year of the blighting frost, which killed the wheat throughout this county, his crop was so advanced as to not be injured, and he garnered over 225 bushels in his harvest that year. Instead of specu- lating on his neighbors' misfortune, nearly all of his wheat crop was loaned out to them for seed, and returned the next year bushel for bushel.
days' fight his regiment was captured, and he with others suffered the horrors of Libby and Belle Isle. He often referred to this time as "While I was boarding with Jeff Davis." His family did not know whether he was living or dead. At this period, in July, 1862, his mother died, while he was a prisoner. He was finally exchanged, and again in active service at the battles of Antie- tam and South Mountain, where he was slightly injured and almost lost his life. Here he was elected from the ranks to be second lieutenant of the company, and owing to the disability of the captain and first lieutenant he acted as-and was always so called there- after-captain, until the battle of Fredericks- burg, where he was severely wounded in the right leg while at the head of Company G, charging the enemy; he was so disabled that in June of the following year he was honor- ably discharged after being promoted to and receiving a commission as first lieutenant of his company. His commissions were issued to him by Pennsylvania's great war governor, Andrew G. Curtin, who knew him personally.
At the time he was wounded Captain Ivory realized that the charge on the enemy's works would not succeed. He had led forty-six men of Company G into the battle and only seven remained, the others either killed or wounded. At the time he enlisted, George Jack, son of Andrew Jack, who was a near neighbor, went with him and entered the same company, and they were messmates. By reason of being at the time in the hospital George had not been captured in the seven days' battle. Both were wounded at the same time, while crossing a railroad at Fredericks- burg, and had fallen in the ditch below the level of the tracks and lay side by side. The Cap- tain spoke to George, who was moaning great-
In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and a strong supporter of the candidacy and administration of President Lincoln. He was a pronounced and radical Unionist. When the war of the Rebellion broke out his family consisted of wife and six children, the young- . ly with pain, and asked him where he was wounded : George, pointing to his left leg, said his knee was shattered; the Captain then told him that they must get back out of that place, as there were no supports coming up and they were bound to be captured, and that he had all of "Jeff Davis'" boarding that he wanted; George said he could not go and on being urged that it was the only hope of safety said he was not able to do so. Soon after- ward he was captured, his leg amputated and he was taken to Richmond, where he died nine days later.
est an infant and the eldest less than thir- teen years. His loyalty and duty to country and his affection and duty to family caused him great anxiety, and he was sorely tried, for it seemed almost cruel to leave his help- less little family. The country's call and patriotism prevailed, and committing all to God's care, one September morning in 1861, he left the loved ones and hastened to join the Army of the Potomac, enlisting in Capt. S. M. Jackson's company, "G," IIth P. R. V. C., then at Camp Pierpont, on the Poto- mac. The history of that regiment is his his- Maj. John Hill, of the same regiment, was tory for many months subsequent. In the also wounded at the same time in the arm, 48
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and was nearby, and seeing the Captain who again married, his present wife being crawling back went to him and said, "Captain, Georgia E. Steele, who was born and raised near Monterey; Francis Joseph Ivory, who married Dora E. Hodges; Robert B. Ivory, Esq., who was married to Mary E. Galbreath, of Winfield township, Butler county, and who died in October, 1913 (the three brothers last named are residents of Pittsburgh, Pa.) ; and Ella Jane, intermarried with Alfred C. Gray, of Columbus, Ohio. if you must go back I'll help you all I can," and took hold of his arm, saying, "I have one good arm left." They went a few paces only when a minie ball passed through his head, and with a moan of "Oh my!" he sank to the ground dead. But the Captain was deter- mined not to be captured again, and though suffering intense pain and weak through loss of blood, he persisted until he had crawled back nearly a mile, and by this brave action and foresight no doubt saved his life. He was taken to Washington (D. C.) hospital, where he had the good fortune to be attended by a surgeon of superior ability, who was able to save his limb from amputation. Here he had the pleasure of frequently seeing and shaking the hand of the famous and loved President Abraham Lincoln.
Mrs. Ivory, who had been previously mar- ried, brought her little daughter, Amelia Savilla Rigby, with her into the home, and she too became one of Captain Ivory's family. Before the war she was married to J. Wade Mclaughlin, of Unity Station, Allegheny Co., Pa., where she still resides. These chil- dren above named have been and are recog- nized and respected as among the best citi- zens and useful members of society in the respective places where they reside. They are a long-lived, industrious and honorable race of people, lovers of home, worshipers of God, and loyal and true to the duties of life and their native land.
There was great joy over the home com- ing. In 1864 he sold the farm and in 1865 purchased another near Slate Lick, in this county, where he lived until 1884. He then retired from the farm and lived in Kittan- ning. In 1889 he moved to Clarion, Pa., and in 1893 moved to Oakmont, where he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, July 27, 1898, and she lived until Jan. 1, 1903. When Mrs. Ivory's death broke up their happy home, he soon after returned to Kittanning, where he lived with his daughter, Mrs. J. F. Keener, until his death, May 9, 1908. He was buried beside his wife in the cemetery at Oakmont, in sight of the farm where they began their long happy married life together. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a ruling elder for several years. He was a member of the G. A. R.
GEORGE W. FLEMING, a resident of Madison township, Armstrong county, where he is engaged in farming and operates a coal bank, owns part of the family homestead upon which his father settled upon his removal into this region. Mr. Fleming was born Aug. 26, 1865, in Oil Creek township, Venango Co., Pa., whence his parents came to Madison township, Armstrong county, when he was three years old. His grandfather, Samuel Fleming, lived in that county, where he was an early settler, cleared land and engaged in farming. His family of six children was reared in that county, and he is buried there.
It may be truthfully recorded of Capt. An- Hamilton Fleming, father of George W. Fleming, received a good education for his day in Venango county, and after his marriage lived there as a farmer for some years, in Oil Creek township. He had a tract of about one hundred acres. Removing from there to Arm- strong county, he became the owner of a 160- acre farm in Madison township, most of which was cleared he and his sons continuing the work of preparing the land for cultivation. drew Ivory that he was loyal to family, to friends, to country and to God, and was ever ready and willing to serve these to the best of his knowledge and ability. His honesty and integrity of character were as genuine as it is possible to find in humanity, and their children and those who knew them revere and honor their memory and rejoice in the unceasing influence of their lives. The fol- lowing named children survive these par- He not only improved his own property, but also took an active interest in the development of the neighborhood and local government, serving once as school director. He died on his farm at the age of eighty-one years, and is buried in the Tidal cemetery. He was a life- long member of the Baptist Church and a Democrat in politics. In Venango county he ents : Alfred L. Ivory, Esq., of Kittanning, Pa., who married Harriett E. Morrison, daughter of William B. Morrison, of Slate Lick, Armstrong Co., Pa .; Mary Ann, inter- married with Jacob Frantz Keener, of Kit- tanning, Pa., who was born and raised near Slate Lick, Pa .; Andrew E. Ivory, who mar- ried Mary E. Larkins, since deceased, and married Rosanna Holmes, a native of Oil
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Creek township, daughter of Samuel Holmes, woods. Mr. Zimmerman built a log cabin and of that county, and she preceded him to the entered upon the customary life of the pio- grave, dying at the age of seventy-one years. neer, living and dying in this place. She, too, is buried in the Tidal cemetery. They John Zimmerman, son of Abraham, was born in Boggs township, and lived and died there. He became a farmer, cultivating a tract of 100 acres. He was quite prominent in his day, serving as justice of the peace and in various other local offices, associated with the Republican party in politics and was a member of the U. P. Church. He married Sarah Bowser, who is also deceased, and they had the following children: Rosanna, David A., Jerry, Jane, Peter, Malissa, John and Samuel. had the following children : Emma, who is mar- ried to Samuel Early, of Reynoldsville, Pa .; L. H., a resident of Venango county, Pa .; Alice, wife of John Dillon, of Oswego, N. Y .; Charles, who married Agnes Wyley and makes his home at Kittanning; George W .; Grace, wife of O. H. Morgan, of Mckeesport, Pa .; Blanch Bell, born in Madison township, Arm- strong county, now the wife of S. J. White, of Goheenville, this county; Edith, born in Madison township, now deceased; and Pearl, born in Madison township, wife of Nick Mc- Gorty, of Chickasaw, Armstrong Co., Pa.
David A. Zimmerman grew to manhood in Boggs township. When he left home to begin George W. Fleming was reared on the home farm in Madison township, and received a good common school education, attending at life on his own account he engaged in teaming, being employed for five years by Thomas Barnes, of Parker, this county, at the end of Rimer. After he began to support himself he that time settling in Boggs township, where he returned to Venango county, where he was has since continued to reside. He came to his present place over twenty-six years ago, and has been successfully engaged in general farm- ing. He is a most esteemed resident of his vicinity, and a creditable member of a family which has long been noted for thrift and high character. In politics he united with the Re- publican party. employed at dressing tools and drilling oil wells, remaining three years. He came back because of the illness of his father, and has since resided on the home place, which was divided among the three sons after the father's death, the portion of George W. Fleming com- prising forty-two acres, the part on which the dwellings and other buildings were located. On Oct. 5, 1880, Mr. Zimmerman married Margaret Bartley, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Bartley, and they have had seven children : Alice Malissa married Bartin Aikens and died leaving no children; Anna, twin of Alice, married Ide Fox and has four children, Gertrude, Howard, Wilmer and Margaret ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Heilman, has two children, Harold and Edna ; Della died when eight years old; Ida is unmarried; Arthur and Mark are at home. This property is a mile northwest of Rimerton. It contains about two acres of timber-land. Mr. Fleming carries on general farming and also operates a coal bank, and by industry and systematic attention to detail he is making his work profitable. He is a substantial and re- spected citizen, and has won high standing among his neighbors by upright living and fair dealing. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men at Tidal, holds membership in the M. E. Church, and is a Democrat on political questions. He has never held any public office.
On March, 1, 1888, Mr. Fleming married Eva Seybert, who was born at Seyberts Landing, Armstrong county, daughter of the late Reuben Seybert, of Brady's Bend town- on that farm June 30, 1847, son of James Som- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have had two children, both of whom are deceased.
JOSEPH SOMERVILLE, a retired farmer living on a tract of forty-five acres situated two miles southeast of Kaylor, Pa., in Brady's Bend township, Armstrong county, was born erville and a grandson of James Somerville.
James Somerville, the grandfather, was born in County Down, Ireland, not far from Bel- fast, and was nineteen years of age when he came to the United States and settled near Worthington, Pa., where he claimed 400 acres. In the meanwhile he became lonely and went to Westmoreland county to marry Sarah Scott. While he was absent from his land another prospector came along and quietly settled on 200 acres of the tract, and thus James Somer-
DAVID A. ZIMMERMAN belongs to the third generation of his family in Boggs town- ship, Armstrong county, where he was born Aug. 9, 1849, on the old homestead. His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Zim- merman, came hither from east of the moun- tains, and acquired a large tract upon which they settled, though it was then all in the ville found but 200 unoccupied acres awaiting
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him when he returned. This he improved Creek township, who was twice married, his and lived on until he was fifty years old. He wives being sisters, named Parker; Jackson; died when aged about ninety years, and was and Rebecca, deceased. buried in the Presbyterian Church cemetery in Franklin township, of which church he was a member.
James Somerville, son of James, was born in Franklin township, Armstrong Co., Pa., Oct. 4, 1804. He learned the making of hats, but later on decided to become a millwright and worked as such for a number of years, and then settled down as a farmer on the present home farm in Brady's Bend township, which, before it was divided, contained 200 acres. His death occurred when he was aged fifty- seven years, seven months, twenty-five days, and he was buried in the cemetery of the Re- formed Church in Sugar Creek township. In 1839 he was married to Tina Milliron, daugh- ter of Jacob Milliron, who owned 400 acres of land, a store and a distillery. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Somer- ville: Sarah, who is unmarried; William, de- ceased ; James, deceased; Mary, a widow; Joseph, and John.
JACKSON THOMAS, of Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, was born Feb. 29, 1844, son of Garrett and Sophia (Harkel- road) Thomas, the former of whom was of English extraction and the latter of German origin. His grandfather was John Thomas, and his grandmother's maiden name was Mackin. Christopher Harkelroad, the mater- nal grandfather, died Oct. II, 1848, aged fifty- nine years, two months; his wife, Mary, born in June, 1792, died Nov. 10, 1879, aged eighty-six years, five months.
To Garrett and Sophia (Harkelroad) Thomas were born six children, namely : John, who died in infancy ; Mary Jane, who married Finny Templeton, a farmer of Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county ; Margaret, who died in infancy ; William, a farmer of Plum®
Jackson Thomas passed his early life on the old homestead in Plum Creek township and received his education at Squiversburg. He is now engaged in farming in Plum Creek township, where he has passed all his life.
On Jan. 4, 1871, Mr. Thomas married Re- becca Jewart, daughter of William and Mar- jorie (Patterson) Jewart, of Armstrong county, who had five children. Twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, one son and one daughter dying in infancy ; William, a farmer of Plum Creek township, married Carrie Nel- son, and has two daughters, Mary Edna and Marjorie; Anna married Harvey Calhoun, a merchant of Gastown, Armstrong county, and has two daughters, Virginia R. and Mar- guerite S .; Harvey married Gertrude Venatti and has two sons, Harry Jackson and Wilbert Dale ; Albert, a farmer at Cochran Mills, Arm- strong county, married Ida Woodside, and they have two sons, Charles Edgar and George Joseph Somerville received his schooling in Brady's Bend township and then learned the carpenter's trade and worked in the oil fields in Butler, Clarion and Venango counties. Since then he has continued to live on his was twenty-one years of age, the land being divided after the death of the father, May 29, 1862. Oil has never been developed on this place. With the exception of fifteen acres in timber and pasture it is all under cultivation. In politics Mr. Somerville is a Democrat. He is a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church. Jackson; Margaret married Morris Timblin, a farmer in Plum Creek township, and they have three daughters, R. Fries, Thyra Luella and Vera Laru; Maud is the wife of Silas Miller, a farmer of Plum Creek township, and present farm, which he has owned since he has three children, Kenneth, Rebecca and an infant son; Marjorie married Lee Miller, also of Plum Creek township, and has three chil- dren, Mary Helen, Jacob Edgar and Lucila May ;' Mellon, a farmer of Plum Creek town- ship, married Blanche Miller and has three children, Mildred Gale, Lawrence Miller and Vernon Clare; Emma lives at home; James Jackson, born in March, 1895, on the old fam- ily homestead in Plum Creek township, lives there with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and their family attend the Reformed Church.
Mrs. Thomas's parents were of Irish and German descent, respectively. Her mother was a native of Cowanshannock township.
FREDERICK W. MEYERS, farmer and merchant, residing at Idaho, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born Oct. 19, 1862, at Sodom, Alle- gheny Co., Pa., son of Frederick and Ernestina (Hartman) Meyers.
Frederick Meyers and his wife were born in Germany, and they came to America on a slow-going old sailing vessel which consumed six weeks in making a voyage that the rapid steamers of the present day accomplish in one. Locating near Pittsburgh, Pa., Mr. Meyers engaged in farming and gardening until his
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1871. His wife S. J. Keener; Charles; Martha, who mar- survived him but little over a year, dying in ried Charles Hinkley ; and Jacob B. By a for- October, 1872. Four children were thus made mer marriage Mr. Myers had two sons, James orphans; Frederick W. was the' youngest of and Samuel.
the family.
After his sixteenth year Frederick W. Meyers never attended school. After work- ing six or seven years as clerk in a grocery store at Pittsburgh he went into the grocery business, with which he was connected for thirteen years. A period of business depres- sion then came upon the country and he lost all, but started again after paying his bills. In 1896 he embarked in a grocery business at a good business. Pittsburgh which he continued for five years. In 1901 he purchased a farm of 130 acres in the village of Idaho, and has made his home on that property. In 1911 he opened up a mer- cantile business in the village, which enterprise is proving successful.
On Oct. 19, 1886, at Pittsburgh, Mr. Meyers was married to Margaret E. Finch, daughter of the late M. L. Finch, who prior to his death in 1870 was a distiller at Pitts- burgh. During the Civil war Mr. Finch served three years in the Union army as a member of Company B, 28th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The mother of Mrs. Meyers died in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers have had four children, the two survivors being: Ray A., born Dec. 25, 1892; and L. C., born June 28, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has always been an interested and liberal-minded citizen, and independent as regards his political support.
JOSHUA MYERS, proprietor of the meat market at Putneyville, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born at Old Pike Furance, Clarion county, Nov. 21, 1862.
John Myers, his grandfather, died in Clarion county. He married a Miss Richey, and among their children was a son, Jacob R.
Joshua Myers received his education in the common schools in Armstrong county, where he was brought up. At the age of fourteen he worked at the mines, and followed that voca- tion off and on for twenty years. He then worked at the carpenter's trade for ten years, and in 1910 embarked in the butcher business at Putneyville, in which he still continues. He is honest, conscientious and obliging, and does
On Jan. 29, 1889, Mr. Myers married Ellen, daughter of Samuel and Salome (Reitz) Nolf, of Westmoreland county, and they are the par- ents of seven children, as follows: Edgar H .; Hazel; Mabel; Arthur ; Iva; Wilda, and Mil- dred. Mr. Myers is a follower of the Repub- lican party. He owns a good home, and is a very desirable citizen of his community.
RAPHAEL STEARNS SMULLIN, fire insurance agent, of Putneyville, was born in Mahoning township, Armstrong county, March 1, 1847, son of Absalom and Mary Ellen (Putney ) Smullin.
William Smullin, the first settler in America of this branch of the family, was a native of the North of Ireland, and Became a pioneer of what is now Mahoning township, where he owned a farm of 400 acres. Here he worked and improved his land until it became a fine homestead, and it is now owned by Craig Snyder. His wife was Catherine McNutt, and their children were : Absalom, Margaret (married James T. Putney), Jane, Catherine, Monroe, Charlotte, William and Fletcher.
Absalom Smullin, son of William, was reared on the old homestead and soon after attaining his majority purchased forty acres of land from his father, and forty-five acres from W. R. Hamilton, which he cleared and farmed until he reached the age of about forty. Then he embarked in the mercantile business at Putneyville, as a member of the firm of G. S. Putney & Co., with which he was con- nected for nearly a quarter of a century, when he retired from active business life.
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