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 53
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On Jan. 2, 1883, Mr. Blair married Florence May Phillips, daughter of Jacob and Lovina
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
(McMillan) Phillips, of Porter township, tics, in which, however, he has taken no active Clarion Co., Pa. They have four living chil- part. His religious connection is with the dren : Mabel M., wife of W. S. Lininger; Lutheran Church. Frank H .; John Carlton ; and Fannie E., wife of Omar G. Beham.
JONATHAN BOYD, of No. 630 North McKean street, Kittanning, has been a resi- dent of that borough practically all his life. He was born Feb. 21, 1842, one mile from Yatesboro, Armstrong Co., Pa., son of Joshua P. and Sarah (Forrester) Boyd, who moved to Kittanning when he was six years old.
On Dec. 25, 1866, Mr. Boyd was married to Mary Catherine Hunter, who was born Oct. 23, 1847, at Apollo, Armstrong Co., Pa., daughter of George A. and Elizabeth (Jones) Hunter. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have had no chil- dren of their own but they reared his niece, Margaret Jane Boyd, and after her death raised her son, Walter Boyd McMaster, who is now married to Ruth Bradfield, of Virginia, and has two children, Rebecca and Boyd Brad- field.
Joshua P. Boyd, the father, was born in Armstrong county, son of Isaac Boyd, whose GEORGE ARMSTRONG HUNTER, father of Mrs. Jonathan Boyd, was born in Armstrong county, Pa., son of Canada and Margaret (Fiscus) Hunter, the former of Scotch-Irish, the latter of German, parentage. Canada Hunter was a veteran of the war of 1812. George A. Hunter was engaged as a boatman on the canal until that mode of transportation and travel was superseded by the railroad, after which he settled down to farming in Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county ; he lived retired or many years before his death, which occurred Feb. 8, 1912, when he was aged ninety-three years. He was a Democrat in politics. He married Elizabeth Jones, who came with her parents, Owen and Catherine wife's maiden name was Pierce. Both parents went away at the time of the war of 1812, never to return, and their son was left to grow up among friends of the family. He was brought up by "Jake" Baer. Joshua P. Boyd was a brickmaker by occupation, following the old-fashioned method of drying the bricks in the sun. He died in 1886, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. In politics he was a Demo- crat, but not an active member of the party, and he never aspired to public office. He mar- ried Sarah Forrester, who was born in Phila- delphia, daughter of George Forrester, a native of Germany who taught school in his native land and also after coming to America. To Joshua P. and Sarah Boyd were born the Jones, from North Wales, where she was born, following children: George (who is de- and settled at Apollo, Armstrong Co., Pa., ceased), Racilla, Philip, Frank, Jonathan, Polly, Jeremiah, Catherine, Manuel, Joshua, Sarah and Emeline, of whom seven are living.
where they were among the early residents. George A. and Elizabeth (Jones) Hunter had the following children: Ann Elizabeth; Mary Catherine (who is the wife of Jonathan Boyd) ; Robert James; John O .; Margaret leaving four children, Alice, Maud, Anna B.,
Jonathan Boyd lived in Kittanning from the age of six years, obtaining his education there Jane (who married William Tittle and died in the common schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company M, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and James); George C .; Ellen M .; and under Captain Daily, and served nearly three William.
years, being mustered out in the fall of 1865, as corporal. He saw active service in the bat- tles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Martinsburg, Rocky Gap, Smithville, Lynch- burg, and many skirmishes. Returning to Kit- tanning after receiving his honorable discharge, in 1865, he was married the next year. He worked for some time in the nail mill, making nails by hand, and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with
THOMAS J. ROWLEY, a merchant, doing business at North Vandergrift, Arm- strong Co., Pa., is a member of one of the old and prominent families of his section. He was born Nov. 26, 1875, along Cherry run, in Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, son of John Rowley and a grandson of Jacob Rowley.
Jacob Rowley was one of the pioneers in which he remained for the next eighteen years, what is now Plum Creek township, securing 600 acres of valuable land in early days, a part of which remains in the family. In old town- ship records his name appears and he evidently was one of the leading men of his time in this part of the county. He died at the age of sev-
after which he became janitor of the school at Kittanning, holding that position for fifteen years. He has since lived retired. He has a comfortable residence on North Mckean street, and is enjoying a well-deserved respite from work. Mr. Boyd is a Democrat in poli- enty-five years, while his wife, Polly Rowley,
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
lived to be ninety years old. They were buried burned. The grandparents of Mr. Hileman in the Rowley burial tract on their own land. were of German descent. They had five children: John, Jacob, Ellen, Nancy and Martha.
John Rowley, son of Jacob and father of Thomas J. Rowley, was born on his father's farm in Plum Creek township and became owner of 100 acres of the homestead. He devoted his life entirely to agricultural pur- suits. He was twice married, first to a mem- ber of the Rupert family of Armstrong county, and (second) to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel George. She died in 1889. The chil- dren of the first union were: Aaron B., Mary and Josephine. Nine children were born to the second marriage, as follows: Sadie, who died when aged twenty-seven years; Samuel C., who owns the old family homestead in Plum Creek township; Susan, who died when aged twenty-one years; Thomas J .; Jemima, who married Joseph Dickey ; Lottie, who mar- ried Harry Christy; Minnie, who married Harvey Rearick; and Alice and Edmund.
Thomas J. Rowley attended the public schools and remained at home assisting his father until he was twenty-five years of age, when he was employed by the Gosser Furni- ture Company at Apollo, Pa. In January, 1904, he removed from that place to North Vandergrift, where he conducts a general store and also handles flour, feed and grain, doing a large business and enjoying patronage from all the surrounding country. He has always voted the Democratic ticket and in 1907 was elected a justice of the peace for Parks town- ship, in which office he served until 1911, when he resigned, finding it necessary to give all his attention to his rapidly growing busi- ness.
Mr. Rowley married Annetta, daughter of Jacob Manges, of Indiana county, and they have four children: Velma, Leila, Paul and Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Rowley are members of the Lutheran Church.
JACOB T. HILEMAN, a resident of Manor township, Armstrong county, was born Jan. 21, 1858, in that township, son of Jacob Hileman, who made his home in Armstrong county and died in 1860. He is one of a family of nine children, seven sons and one daughter besides himself, namely: Joseph, who is a veteran of the Civil war; Michael ; Lee; William ; Hannah, deceased; Alexander ; John, deceased; and Aaron. The mother, Catharine Isamon, died in March, 1904, as the result of an accident, having been seriously
Jacob T. Hileman was reared and educated in Manor township, and has passed all his life in Armstrong county. He is a farmer by occu- pation, and has lived at his present home in Manor township for the last twenty-two years. He is one of the highly respected citizens of that section, a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held the office of deacon for the last twelve years, and a member of the Woodmen of the World.
On Oct. 13, 1881, Mr. Hileman married Emma Garman, daughter of William Garman, of Cambria county, Pa., and they have had a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, all of whom survive, namely : Tomer, now of Montana, who graduated from the Effingham, Ill., School of Photography ; William Ross, of Alberta, Canada, a farmer ; Mina, now the wife of Roy Graham, a chief engineer, of Clarksburg, W. Va. (they have one child, Hileman, now-1912-eighteen months old) ; Clarence, a builder, of Ford City, Armstrong Co., Pa., who married Germa Lefever and has one son, now two years old; Blair, aged eighteen, Donald, aged sixteen, and Dee, aged twelve, all of whom are still with their parents.
SAMUEL W. KELLER, now serving as justice of the peace at Ford City, Armstrong county, was born in this county Aug. 4, 1838, and belongs to a family of German extraction.
John F. Keller, his grandfather, was a native of Germany, and when he brought his family to America first settled in Center county, Pa., later locating at Luthersburg, Clearfield county, where he had a shop. He was a cabinetmaker by trade. He subse- quently moved to Clarion county, Pa., making his home at Wild Cat Furnace, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1845. His wife died at Rimersburg, Clarion Co., Pa. They had four children: Frederick lived and died in Wisconsin; William was a carpenter, and later engaged in the oil busi- ness at Rimersburg; John F. is mentioned below; Sarah married John Snyder, of Rimersburg, Pa., where both died.
John F. Keller received a good education in German, but he was self-taught in English. He came to this country with his father and the rest of the family when a boy, learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it all his life. During his earlier life he spent some time at Luthersburg, was later in Venango county, and then moved to Cherry Run, Clarion Co.,
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pa., and from that point to Wild Cat Furnace, ing to Stewartson Furnace, Armstrong Co., where he found employment at the furnace. Pa., worked there and in the mines for the He first came to Armstrong county in 1862, next fourteen years. He also ran an engine and in 1863 returned to this county, to and worked in the ore yard until the Laughlin Stewartson Furnace, in Pine township, where Company went out of business, and for fifteen he worked until his death, Sept. 2, 1877. He years he was employed at the carbon works ; he ran an engine for five years of that period. and was night watchman for ten years. In 1900 he settled at Ford City, entering the employ of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Com- pany, for whom he acted as night watchman two years. Because of ill health had to give up work in the factory. In 1909 he was elected justice of the peace. He is a much respected citizen of the borough, and his intelligent and faithful discharge of his duties has won him the good will of all who have had dealings with him. was a man of quiet, industrious habits, and though a stanch Republican in political senti- ment never took any part in party affairs or aspired to public office. In early life he was a Lutheran in religious connection, later becom- ing a Methodist. He married Elizabeth Heisey, of Clearfield county, Pa., whose par- ents came to this country from Germany ; they had six children, John, Jacob, Martin, Eliza- beth (Mrs. Keller), Sarah and Jane. Mrs. Keller died at Wild Cat Furnace in 1845. She was the mother of six children: Rosamond (deceased) was the wife of D. H. Brigham, of New Bethlehem, Pa .; Martha married Michael Snare, and both are deceased; Mary married Joseph Wengler, and both are deceased; John H. died at Stewartson Fur- nace, Armstrong county; Samuel W. is men- tioned below; Elizabeth married James Hollo- peter, of Clearfield county, Pennsylvania.
During his boyhood Samuel W. Keller had little opportunity for schooling. When only six years old he was "put out" to a Mr. Brown, in Clearfield county, with whom he remained until he reached the age of twelve. He was abusive and the boy left him and went to Clarion county, going to the home of his sister, Mrs. Snare, at Heilan Furnace, where he lived for two years. He then went to Caldwell Furnace, Armstrong county, later returning to Clarion county, where he went to live with Capt. Thomas Kerr, with whom he remained for about twelve years. He then went to Union Furnace, Union Co., Pa., and worked in the furnace there for two years, at the end of that time coming back to Arm- strong county, and working at the Caldwell Furnace until 1861.
On Aug. 29, 1861, Mr. Keller enlisted at Caldwell Furnace in Company C, 78th Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to Louisville, Ky. Later he went to Nashville, Tenn., and his first engagement was at Neely Bend, after which he saw active service in the battles at Lavergne, Stone River, Tallahassee, Decherd's Station, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga, from which place they went to Chattanooga, holding that town for three months. Receiving reinforcements, they captured Lookout Mountain and Mis- sionary Ridge. Mr. Keller was discharged because of disability Feb. 12, 1864, and return-
On March 27, 1867, Mr. Keller married Sarah Conway, of Stewartson Furnace, Arm- strong Co., Pa., daughter of John and Eva (Butz) Conway. She died May 22, 1905, the mother of nine children, namely: Elizabeth, who married William D. Gibson, of Kittan- ning (deceased) ; Phrone, who married John Cartwright, of Sharon, Pa .; Frederick, assist- ant foreman in the plaster department of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Works at Ford City, who married Elda Shotts; Samuel B., an electrician ; Robert, a potmaker in the Plate Glass Works at Ford City, who married Ferris Beatty, of Ford City: Calvin R., finisher of glass in the works at Ford City, who married Marie Faulx, of Ford City ; Amanda, at home ; Agnes, a saleslady ; and Sarah, a reporter for the Ford City department of the Kittanning Daily Leader. All the children reside in Ford City but Mrs. Gibson, who lives in Kittanning, and Mrs. Cartwright, who lives in Girard, Ohio. Mrs. Keller was a member of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Keller is a Repub- lican.
JOHN NICHOLAS REBOLT, proprietor of the "Thompson Hotel" at Templeton, Arm- strong county, has not been at that location long, but he has been a lifelong resident of the county. and has been a respected member of the various communities in which he has lived. He was born in this county in September, 1865, son of George S. Rebolt.
George S. Rebolt was born in Hessen-Darm- stadt, Germany, where he married Christina Tucks, who like himself was born and reared there. He farmed at his native place until 1856, when he came to America, settling at Brady's Bend, in Armstrong county, Pa. He dug coal and also followed farming, and in
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1869 obtained a farm in Madison township, township, in what was then Westmoreland where he engaged in stockraising as well as county. agricultural pursuits. He died Nov. 5, 1870, Matthias Miller was born in Pennsylvania, as was his wife. They had eight children, all of whom survive, and of this family M. Miller is the fifth child. The father was a farmer. The Lutheran Church held his membership. On the maternal side M. Miller traces his ancestry back to those of German birth. when only thirty-nine years old, his wife, who survived him almost forty years, dying in 1909, at the age of seventy-five. They were members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. and Mrs. Rebolt received their education entirely in Germany, learning English after they settled here, in their intercourse with English-speaking people. They had a family of eight children, namely: Eliza, who is the wife of David Mowrie, of Parker, Pa. ; Katie, deceased; Annie, deceased; Mary ; George, a farmer on the old home place; John Nicholas ; Martha, deceased, and Henry deceased.
John Nicholas Rebolt received the little schooling he was allowed in the common schools of the home neighborhood. He lived with his mother until he reached the age of twenty-four years. When a boy of eleven he commenced to work at the coal mines, and was thus engaged for twenty-three years. From 1904 until 1910 he conducted the "Rebolt Hotel" at Rimerton, Armstrong county, after that experience farming for a short time before he settled at Templeton, where he bought the "Thompson Hotel." He is doing an excellent business, which bids fair ticket. to increase under his management. He has many friends in this section, and his sociable disposition and adaptability have proved valu- Elder's Ridge, Susan Anderson.
able factors in the line in which he is now engaged. He has given all his time to his own affairs, never aspiring to public honors or posi- tion.
On April 11, 1889, Mr. Rebolt married Lulu Bowser, of Washington township, daughter of Mathias Bowser, and they have had six chil- dren: Charles A. was educated in Madison township and Kittanning, attending the academy at that borough, and died aged twenty years, four months, thirty days ; Minnie Frank M. is at home ; John died when thirteen old; Genevieve is at home. Mrs. Rebolt is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rebolt is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and in politics is a Republican.
M. MILLER, a farmer of Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, was born near his present home in that township Aug. 10, 1853, son of Matthias and Susan (Shett) Miller.
Grandfather Miller came from Ireland at an early day, locating in what is now Kiskiminetas
M. Miller attended the common schools until he was twenty years old. After farm- ing for some years on rented land, in 1901 Mr. Miller bought 130 acres of land, on which he located. This has since continued to be his home. It is a part of the old Anderson homestead, the property of his father-in-law, Henry Anderson, who died in 1899, after having been a successful farmer for many years. The Anderson family is numbered among the pioneer ones of Armstrong county. After the death of Mr. Anderson, who had lived upon his homestead until his death, the estate was settled and placed on the market. Mr. Miller is numbered among the leading farmers of his locality. For several years he has been supervisor of his township and a member of the school board, having been elected to both offices on the Democratic Since casting his first vote he has been faithful to the interests of this party.
On March 8, 1880, Mr. Miller married, at
JOHN M. SCHRECENGOST, of Rural Valley, Armstrong county, who is employed as fieldman by the American Natural Gas Company, was born at that place July 20, 1871, son of Zephaniah C. and Sarah A. (Houser) Schrecengost. The parents are also natives of Armstrong county, where this family has been represented for several gen- erations. The name is variously spelled. The family is of German origin, the first of E. died when seven months, ten days old; his ancestors to come to America, Jacob (known as Yock) Schrecengost, having months old ; George died when sixteen months been a native of Germany ; he settled in east- ern Pennsylvania.
Conrad (or Coonrod) Schrecengost, Sr., son of Jacob, also born in Germany, was the great-grandfather of John M. He came to America with his father, and lived for some time in Bucks or Berks county, Pa., remov- ing west to what is now Armstrong county in the latter part of the eighteenth century. He purchased land in Kittanning (what is now Valley) township, and not only followed agri- cultural pursuits, but mechanical work also, being a gunsmith by trade. He could use a
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
gun as well as make one and was a famous hunter in his day. His death occurred at his homestead. He was a Federalist in politics and in religious belief a Lutheran, beng a member of the church. His wife, formerly a Miss Zortman, was like himself a native of Germany. Of their nine children, six sons and three daughters, we have record of three sons : Coonrod, Jr., who married Susanna Oury ; John, and Daniel.
Daniel Schrecengost, son of Coonrod, was born in 1807 in what is now Valley township, where he passed most of his life. He cleared and improved a farm there, and for many years also kept tavern at the old "Stone House" on the Kittanning pike. In his later life he removed to Rural Valley, remaining there until his death, which occurred in 1883. He was a thrifty, industrious and prosperous man, followed his trade of gunsmith as well as farming and tavern-keeping, and acquired the ownership of three hundred acres in his native township. He was a stanch Republi- can and active in the work of his party in this locality, at one time being its candidate for sheriff of Armstrong county. For several years he held the office of constable. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Mr. Schrecengost married Mary Crum, who was born in 1799 and died in 1885. Her father was a German farmer of Plum Creek township, this county, and they had a family of eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters: Emanuel Z., who was four times mar- ried, his wives being Sarah Hartman, Annie McCurdy, Mary Richards and Malinda Fos- ter, respectively ; Zephaniah C., of Plumville, who married Sarah Houser, (second) Nancy Hartman, and (third) Sarah E. Lewis; Solo- mon S., who served during the Civil war (in 1864-65) in the Army of the Potomac (he never married) ; Daniel W., of Indiana, Pa., who married Mary Ohlinger (he enlisted in Company M, 139th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the Civil war ; he was wounded at the battle of the Wilder- ness) ; 'Aaron C., who married Katherine Hill; Margaret, who married Samuel Stoops ; Mary, deceased; and Isabella.
Zephaniah C. Schrecengost, father of John M., was born Oct. 23, 1830, and died March 24, 1909, at Plumville, Indiana county, in his seventy-ninth year. He huckstered from Plumville to Dubois, Pa., and for many years was engaged in the hotel business at Rural Valley and Plumville. His first marriage was to Sarah A. Houser, a daughter of Daniel
Houser, a pioneer of Valley township, and she died Jan. 5, 1873, the mother of five chil- dren who attained maturity: Anna B. mar- ried to Allison Roscoe, of Dubois, Pa .; Elmer E., married to Mary Hoover ; Ira Grant, mar- ried to Nellie Stuchell; Maggie C .; and John M. Another son, Burt C., was born to his second wife, Nancy (Hartman).
John M. Schrecengost received his educa- tion at the common schools, Glade Run Acad- emy, and the Rural Valley Select School. He began work as a farmer, but in 1902 entered the employ of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Com- pany, with whom he remained a few years, in 1906 changing to the American Natural Gas Company. He is engaged as fieldman, and is a thoroughly reliable worker. He is a re- spected resident of his community, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
On Nov. 28, 1912, Mr. Schrencengost mar- ried Alice Fulton, daughter of William H. and Elizabeth (Henderson) Fulton, of Armstrong county, the former of whom died July 15, 1907; Mrs. Schrecengost was but sixteen months old when her mother died.
JOHN T. FENNELL, who is engaged in mining in Bethel township, Armstrong county, has lived in the county all his life, having been born Sept. 23, 1873, in Manor township, son of George Fennell. He has had his home in Bethel township from an early age.
Mr. Fennell's great-grandfather came to Indiana county, Pa., from Germany with his wife and family. His son George was a resi- dent of Indiana and Westmoreland county.
George Fennell, son of George, married Mary J. Keeler, who was born at Blanket Hill, Armstrong county, and died in 1896, aged 67. Mr. Fennell resides at Pattonville, with his daughter Melissa. They had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, namely: William is deceased; Anthony is a resident of Montgomeryville, Armstrong county ; George A., merchant and farmer, lives in Bethel township: Melissa married John Bryan, a merchant, of Manor township (who is a near relation of William J. Bryan, the "great commoner"), and they have a fam- ily of five children, four sons and one daugh- ter : May married John Bennett, of Pittsburgh! and has five children, four sons and one daughter, Aubrey, Elsie. Arlie, Clifford and Rex; Nancy, who married Daniel Klingen- smith, died in 1890, leaving two children,
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Nettie and Clarence; Bertha married William and he was a Republican in politics, but not Bryan (brother of John, her sister Melissa's active in such matters. husband), and they had two children, May and Ruth, the latter dying when two years old; John T. is mentioned below; Arthur Gordon, who lives in Bethel township, married Clara Klingensmith, and has three children, Grace, Ralph and Ruby.
John T. Fennell was educated in the com- mon schools. He has been engaged in min- ing and as a carpenter, blacksmith and brick- layer at the coal mines, being at present in the employ of the Raridan & East Brady Coal Company.
On May 5, 1898, John T. Fennell was mar- ried to Flora Booher, of Armstrong county, daughter of Joseph and Emma (Wilson) Booher, and six children have been born to this union: Mervyn, born April 15, 1899; Clarence, born Aug. 20, 1901; Orin, born Oct. 2, 1904; Wyley, born June II, 1907; Hilary, born March 7, 1910; and Lloyd S., born July 6, 1912.
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