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 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
Mr. and Mrs. Fennell are Baptists in re- ligious connection, members of the Home- wood Church. Mr. Fennell was a member of White Rock Lodge, No. 979, I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Republican.
H. M. NICHOLS, of Kellersburg, Arm- strong county, has been engaged in the black- smith business at that place for the last fif- teen years, and is now serving as justice of the peace. He is one of the well-known citi- zens of the locality. Mr. Nichols was born in Perry township, Clarion Co., Pa., Sept. 15, 1867, and is a grandson of Asa Nichols, who came to this section from New York State, settling in Strattonville, Pennsylvania.
H. M. Nichols received his education in the common schools of Perry township, Clarion county. He learned his father's trade, that of carpenter, at which he was employed until 1898, when he commenced to do blacksmith work at Kellersburg. He acquired his knowl- edge of the trade under L. J. Wolf who was well known as a justice of the peace here also. Mr. Nichols succeeded Mr. Wolf in the black- smith business, buying his present property in October, 1898, and he has not only held the old patrons but continued to develop the trade steadily. He does blacksmithing and general repair work. He has one and a half acres of land, on which he built his comfortable resi- dence in 1904. For one year Mr. Nichols was assistant mail carrier on the Mahoning R. F. D. route No. I. In November, 191I, he was elected justice of the peace for Madison town- ship, the duties of which office he discharges with characteristic ability and due regard for his obligations to his fellow citizens.
In September, 1888, Mr. Nichols married Cora E. Moorhead, daughter of J. W. Moor- head, an old settler of Armstrong county, and they have two living children, Velma E. and Mary Bell. Four children died in infancy. Mr. Nichols holds membership in Lodge No. 1139, I. O. O. F., of Widnoon, Pa. Since 1898 he has been a member of the M. E. Church at Kellersburg, which he has served faithfully as an official. In political connec- tion he has always been a Republican.
THOMAS J. SHANER, sheriff of Arm- strong county, and a man whose influence has been felt in this locality for some years, al- though he is still in the very prime of vigorous manhood, was born Feb. 12, 1877, in West- moreland county, Pa., a son of David F. and Martha J. (Owens) Shaner.
Isaac N. Nichols, father of H. M. Nichols, was born in New York State, and was two years old when the family moved to Clarion county. He was a resident of Perry town- The founder of the Shaner family in the United States was a native of Germany who settled in Westmoreland county at an early date, and became one of the prosperous farm- ers of that region. ship for some sixty years, dying there in No- vember, 1911, at the age of seventy-nine. By trade he was a carpenter, but he also did other kinds of work. He was married in Perry township to Charity Neff, a native of Henry Shaner, father of David F. Shaner, and grandson of the first Shaner in America, was born and reared in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he spent his useful life. He, too, was a successful farmer and good business man. His family numbered eighteen children, most of whom grew to maturity, and thirteen the venerable residents of Westmoreland county. that township, daughter of Thomas Neff, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom H. M. is seventh in the order of birth. He and his brother, A. L. Nichols, are the only members of the family residing in Arm- strong county. The mother still makes her home in Perry township, Clarion county. of them still survive, being numbered among She is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to which her husband also belonged,
Flas IShauer
769
HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
David F. Shaner moved to Apollo, Arm- strong county, about 1883, and has continued to make his home there ever since. For many years he was employed in the iron mills there, but is now retired from active life. He and his wife had seven children, as follows: Harry E .; Lazarus H .; William A .; Thomas J .; Frank B .; Bessie, deceased ; and Jennie K.
Thomas J. Shaner was educated at the pub- lic schools of Apollo and in a commercial col- lege, where he took a comprehensive business course. Following this he became a clerk in a hardware and grocery store, where he re- mained until Jan. I, 1904, when he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff under Erwin E. Coch- rane. His three years of faithful service proved his worth, and three years later he was appointed to the same office by Sheriff Frick. For three years more he discharged the duties of this important office, and was the logical candidate of his party for sheriff in 1909, receiving a majority of 2,916, the largest ever given a nominee for this office.
On June 12, 1907, Mr. Shaner was married to Jennie E. Shaffer, daughter of Chambers A. Shaffer, of Kittanning. Two children, Mary Lucille and Kenneth Owen, have been born of this marriage. Mr. Shaner is a con- sistent member of the Baptist Church. Since he entered upon the duties of his office, Jan. I, 1910, a decided improvement has been made in such county matters as come under his jurisdiction, and the people of Armstrong county feel that in him they have a first-class, conscientious and business-like sheriff.
JAMES H. MOORE has spent all his life on the farm in Boggs township, Armstrong county, which he now occupies, having been born there July 27, 1873, son of Matthew and Mary (Hay) Moore. His grandfather, Charles Moore, had the following children : Eliza, Mrs. Sparks; Gracie, Mrs. Moses Park; Ann Jane, Mrs. Stien; Rebecca ; Sarah, Mrs. Mickelwain; William; Charles ; John, and Matthew.
consisted of 127 acres, which he cleared and improved, and there he passed his remaining days, dying in 1897, at the age of about sev- enty-three years. His wife died May 8, 1883, at the age of forty-two years. Their children were: James H .; Charles S., who is deceased; John S., deceased; George M., deceased ; Mary J.
James H. Moore grew to manhood at his native place and attended the common schools of the vicinity during his boyhood. He graduated from the commercial school at Grove City, Mercer Co., Pa., and when a young man taught school in Boggs township for two years. Upon his marriage he com- menced housekeeping at the old homestead, and there he has continued to reside, engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Moore is a citizen who takes considerable interest in the general welfare, and he has been active in his locality in school affairs particularly, holding several township offices.
Mr. Moore married Clara B. Spence, who was born Oct. 6, 1869, daughter of Samuel and Eliza Spence, and they have become the parents of five children, born as follows : Howard Mason, Dec. 2, 1898; Elizabeth M., May 3, 1900; Alice Gertrude, May 2, 1902 ; Robert L., Feb. 6, 1906; Charles W. H., Nov. 9, 191I.
ANDREW T. MILLIKEN, postmaster at Adrian, as well as senior member of the firm of Milliken Brothers, general merchants of that place, was born Aug. 16, 1886, in Arm- strong county, Pa., son of John Milliken.
John Milliken was a man of importance in his community. When he died, Jan. 16, 1911, he was the owner of 300 acres of choice farm land, and his success was honorably earned.
ยท Andrew T. Milliken attended public school until nineteen years old, when he entered the mercantile business at Adrian. On March 30, I9II, he and his brother formed the firm of Milliken Brothers, having bought the store owned by H. M. Claypool. These brothers conduct a large business, their trade extending over a wide territory. They carry all kinds of general merchandise, and buy and sell every variety of country produce. In 1911 Mr. Mil- liken was appointed postmaster of Adrian.
Matthew Moore was born in Ireland, on an island away from the mainland, and came to America in 1852, He spent some time in Philadelphia, where he married. Previous to that event he had located and purchased a farm in Boggs township, Arm- On June 9, 1909, Mr. Milliken was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Fennell. Mr. Milliken belongs to the Independent Ameri- cans. He is a man of liberal views and public spirit, and both as a business man and public strong Co., Pa., where he settled with his wife in the late fifties. His first buildings there were a log cabin and barn which in after years were replaced with more modern structures, a frame residence taking the official has proved himself worthy of all the place of the original dwelling. The tract trust reposed in him.
49
770
HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
SAMUEL C. ROWLEY, the owner of a ninety-five acre farm in Plum Creek town- in the American Sheet and Tin Plate Com- pany's plant at Leechburg, Pa., was born in Butler county, Pa., Oct. 16, 1866, son of Shiloh and Mary E. (Weaver) Hill.
ship, Armstrong county, was born on that place Oct. 4, 1872, son of John and Elizabeth (George) Rowley.
John Rowley was born April 6, 1831, on the farm where he died Oct. 24, 1905-the homestead place in Plum Creek township now occupied by his son Samuel. He was twice married, and had a family of twelve children, three by his first wife, Anna Mary Rupert, namely : Aaron B., who is in Oklahoma, engaged in the real estate business ; Mary, wife of Simon Shawl, a farmer of Plum Creek township; and Josephine, wife of John E. Burkett, of South Bend township, Armstrong county. For his second wife Mr. Rowley mar- ried Elizabeth George, who was born in Burrell township, this county, daughter of Samuel George, and died at the Rowley homestead July 1, 1887. She was the mother of nine children, viz .: Sadie, born May 12, 1870, who died when thirty years old; Samuel C., born Oct. 4, 1872; Susan Irene, born in 1874, who died at the age of twenty-one years ; Thomas, a merchant at North Vandergrift, Pa., who married Nettie Mangus, of Indiana, Pa., and has four children, one son and three daughters ; Rosa J., who married Joseph Dickey, a mill man of Vandergrift, Pa .; Lottie E., who mar- ried Harry Christy, of Girty, Armstrong county, a farmer, and has five children; Minnie, who married H. N. Rearick, a farmer of Plum Creek township, and has three chil- dren ; Alice, born in 1886, who lives at home on the old farm; and Eddie, a machinist, now at Gary, Ind., formerly in the government employ.
Samuel C. Rowley grew up on the home farm and obtained his education in the local country schools. He has always followed farming, and now owns and cultivates the homestead, which is a fertile tract of ninety- five acres, in excellent condition. He is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of his section.
On May 2, 1905, Mr. Rowley was married to Minnie Hankey, of Kittanning township, Armstrong county, daughter of Benjamin H. Hankey, whose family consisted of seven chil- dren. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rowley : Alice Ramona, born March 7, 1906; Beulah Ruth, born in June, 1908; and Samuel Milford, born in March, 1910. The family attend the Lutheran Church. In his political views Mr. Rowley is a Democrat.
JAMES R. HILL, sheet roller, employed
James R. Hill obtained his education in the public schools and the Leechburg Academy, and afterward was employed in mill work under his father for four years. His next position was with a coal company in West- moreland county, where he engaged in weigh- ing coal for five years, and from there he went to Apollo, Pa., where he was employed in the sheet mill for one year, coming to Leechburg in October, 1893. He accepted a position in the Kirkpatrick & Co. mill, which was absorbed by the American Sheet and Tin Plate Com- pany, and has been employed there ever since, in 1901 becoming a roller, one of the most responsible and lucrative positions in a mill of this kind.
On Oct. 13, 1891, Mr. Hill was married to Lizzie L. Millen, daughter of William and Susan (Frantz) Millen, and they had eight children born to them, all surviving except the fourth born, Mary M., who died when fifteen months old. Those living are: Earl C., who is a graduate of the Leechburg high school, and at present a student in the Iron City Business College, at Pittsburgh ; Roy N .; William A .; Florence L .; James Clyde; Jessie E. and Grace F., all attending school who are old enough to be admitted. Mr. Hill and his family are members of Grace Lutheran Church and for several years he has served on the church council. Politically a Republican, his good citizenship has been recognized by his fel- low citizens and they have kept him a member of the town council for three years.
HIRAM HILL SIPES (or Sipe), assessor of South Buffalo township, Armstrong county, was born in that township Dec. 29, 1848, son of George Sipes, and resides on the old home- stead which was purchased by his grandfather, Charles Sipes (or Sipe), from James Mathias and William Sloan, the original patentees, in 18II.
Charles Sipes, the grandfather, was one of the very first settlers in this region, having come here from Westmoreland county with his wife and infant son in 1797 and located on the ground now occupied by the old Lutheran graveyard, the site of the "old mud church," on the Freeport and Kittanning pike, midway between Freeport and Slate Lick. He cleared the land. Charles Sipes was a very well-
771
HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
known and useful man among the early set- tlers, having been both a gunsmith and black- smith. Settlers came for many miles to his shop, the site of which may still be seen on the old homestead, to have rifles made and re- paired. Some of the rifles made by him are still in the possession of old families in this region, one being now owned by Alex Livin- good. He died Dec. 15, 1831, and is buried in the old Presbyterian cemetery at Slate Lick. His father John was a veteran of the war of 1812.
George Sipes, son of Charles, and father of Hiram Hill Sipes, was born Feb. 13, 1805, in South Buffalo township, and married Dec. 20, 1831, Barbara Painter, who was born in the same township May 25, 1806. Besides Hiram H. they had five children: Charles, John and Ann Eliza being now deceased; the surviving brother, Robert M., now living in Pittsburgh, is remembered as a famous stonemason and bricklayer and was admitted to the bar in both Butler and Allegheny counties. The surviv- ing sister, Melissa, is unmarried and resides with her brother Hiram. Hiram H. Sipes also had a half-brother, Thompson McCamish, now deceased, who was a veteran of the Civil war, and a half-sister, Mrs. Harriet Ferry, also deceased. These were children by Mrs. Sipes' former marriage.
Hiram H. Sipes was married Nov. 19, 1879, to Mary Golden, daughter of the late William A. Golden, of Freeport, Pa., and of the chil- dren born to this union the following survive : Chester Hale, formerly a teacher in the schools of South Buffalo township and at present a member of the Butler bar, and principal of the Renfrew high school; Charles Krauth, also a former teacher of this township, at present employed in the United States Internal Revenue service; Hiram Hill, Jr., formerly a teacher and at present a teacher in the Lutheran Church schools in India, the first layman ever sent out by the mission board of the Lutheran Church; and Barbara, Alameda, Florence, David Golden and John Luther, at home. Two children died, William George in infancy and Alice in 1903.
Mr. Sipes still follows farming on the old homestead place, raising berries and other fine fruits in addition to general crops. He is also a breeder of good stock, horses and cattle being his specialties.
member of St. Matthew's congregation at Mc- Vill ; he served many years on the official board of the church.
D. O. KAMERER, a farmer of Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, Pa., was born in Fairview township, Butler county, Pa., April I, 1875, son of William Kamerer. Daniel Kamerer, his grandfather, was a pioneer of Butler county.
William Kamerer was born in Butler county, where he was reared and educated. During the Civil war he served first for a period of three months as a substitute, and at the expira- tion of that time reenlisted. Although he was never wounded except in the wrist, he doubt- less suffered from exposure and hardships, as he died when only forty-nine years old. After it was organized he joined Chicora Post, G. A. R. In 1866 he married Anna Kinkaid, like himself, a native of Fairview township, and they had twelve children, two daughters who died in childhood, and ten sons, two of whom are deceased. Both William Kamerer and his wife belonged to the Reformed Church. Politically he was a Republican, and he held numerous township offices.
D. O. Kamerer attended school in both Fair- view and Sugar Creek townships. When eighteen years old he began working on the home farm in Butler county, and was so suc- cessful that he took charge of it and continued to operate it until his marriage, when he was twenty-four years old. At that time he moved to Oakland township, but after five years re- turned to Fairview township, and for a year was engaged in teaming. He then went to Clarion county, Pa., and for a year conducted a mercantile establishment, but sold to go to Brady's Bend township, Armstrong county, where for three years he conducted a dairy, delivering milk to East Brady. At the expira- tion of the three years he came to his present 100-acre farm, which is known as the Old Boltz property. Since taking possession of this farm he has erected new buildings and has put the property in excellent shape. He carries on general farming, and is considered one of the advanced agriculturists of his township.
Mr. Kamerer married Lulu Anderson, a daughter of L. M. and Elizabeth (Brown) Anderson, the former a veteran of the Civil war, now residing at Philipston, Clarion county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Kamerer have had the following children: Oran, Helen, Russell, Florence and Alvin. Mr. Kamerer belongs to the Grange at Kaylor and to East Brady
In politics Mr. Sipes is a stanch Democrat, and though the township is Republican has been elected to important local offices. At present he holds the office of assessor. In religion he is of the Lutheran faith, and is a Lodge, No. 640, F. & A. M. He and his
772
HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
wife belong to the English Lutheran Church Butler county, Pa., Jan. 9, 1842, son of Michael of Sugar Creek township. Since casting his and Catherine (Heckert) Stepp.
first vote Mr. Kamerer has been a Republican. For the last two years he has served as a school director.
SLOAN A. ZIMMERMAN, general fore- man and lineman for the Kittanning Telephone Company at Rural Valley, was born in Boggs township, Armstrong county, July 12, 1879, son of Daniel J. and Minerva (Hoover) Zim- merman.
Abraham Zimmerman was a pioneer of Boggs township, where he secured wild land which he developed into a valuable property, and there he died. He married Catherine Schrecengost, and they had children as fol- lows: William Hamilton; Daniel J .; Sally, who married Simeon Gibson; and Jackson.
Daniel J. Zimmerman, son of Abraham Zim- merman, was born in Boggs township, where he grew to manhood, becoming a farmer. In 1908 he moved to Kittanning borough and embarked in the insurance business, thus con- tinuing until his death there, in August, 19II, at the age of fifty-six years. His children were as follows: Annie, who married John Best; Sloan A .; Albert, who is deceased ; Orve; Phebe; Rose, who married Homer Rupp; Mary; and Harry.
The maternal grandfather of Sloan A. Zim- merman, Anthony Hoover, was also a very early settler in Boggs township, and later on in life migrated to Manor township, which is still his home.
Sloan A. Zimmerman, son of Daniel J. Zimmerman, was brought up in Boggs town- ship, and attended public schools there. Re- maining with his father until he reached the age of twenty-one years, he then spent a couple of years digging oil and gas wells, and in 1906 associated himself with the Kittanning Telephone Company, being now general fore- man and lineman of that concern, with head- quarters at Rural Valley.
In January, 1905, Mr. Zimmerman married Anna Sowers, a daughter of Andrew and Eliza (Hill) Sowers, of Valley township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are Earl and Marie. Mr. Zimmerman is an Odd Fellow. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, but he has never aspired to public office.
Michael Stepp and his wife were both born in Pennsylvania and before coming to Arm- strong county, in 1859, lived in Butler county. He was a farmer, and owned the tract of sixty- seven acres in North Buffalo township on which he died in 1874, in his seventy-eighth year. He married Catherine Heckert and they had thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, as follows: John, who died in his twenty-first year; Peter, who died aged sixty- seven years; Michael, who lives in Butler county ; Benjamin, who is deceased; Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Abraham Boyd ; George, who lives at Kittanning; Margaret, who is deceased; Lovina, who married Evans Chritchlow, of Indiana; Malinda, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Hoak; William H. H., who was first lieutenant of Company B, 78th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war, now deceased; Levi; and two children who died in infancy.
Levi Stepp was seventeen years of age when he moved with his parents from Butler to Armstrong county, and here he enlisted for service in the Civil war, on Sept. II, 1861, entering Company K, 78th Pennyslvania Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He served out his first term of enlistment, and in Decem- ber, 1863, reenlisted as a veteran. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. II, 1865, and was mustered out with the rank of second sergeant. He saw hard service and took part in the battles of Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca, Burnt Hickory, New Hope Church, Altoona Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Pulaski, Flor- ence, Green River, Neeley's Bend, Hoover's Gap, Lavergne, Tullahoma, Dry Gap and Chat- tanooga, as well as many minor engagements. He escaped without injury of any kind. After he returned to Armstrong county he learned the blacksmith's trade at Slate Lick, in South Buffalo township, and followed the same for twenty-eight years at Slate Lick and Worthington, locating in the latter place in the spring of 1885. For ten years he con- tinued in the blacksmith business here, in 1895 entering the employ of Peter Graff & Co. Since the fall of 1891 he has conducted the "Stepp House," which is the leading hotel at Worthington.
On July 15, 1869, Mr. Stepp was married to Mary C. Ferry, a daughter of John and Harriet (McCamish) Ferry, and a grand-
LEVI STEPP, proprietor of the "Stepp House," at Worthington, Armstrong county, daughter of John and Catherine (McGinley) and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Ferry. Mr. and Mrs. Stepp have had the fol-
773
HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
lowing children : Harry J., Maud (deceased), Ralph H., Dora (deceased), Arthur, Dell, Hallie A. (deceased), Annabelle, Jessie L. (deceased), and Grace R. Mr. 'Stepp and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Worthington. In politics he is a Republican and has served on the school board and as councilman, and in 1910 was elected burgess of the borough.
FERRY. John Ferry, the, paternal grand-
father of Mrs. Stepp, was born in Ireland, is the wife of Philip Bortz and has three chil- and was one of the pioneer settlers in Butler county, Pa., where he cleared land, developed a farm and died. His wife was Catherine Mc- theological seminary at Mount Pleasant, West- Ginley, also of Irish extraction.
John Ferry, son of John, and father of Mrs. Stepp, was born in Butler county. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, enter- ing Company C, 139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and died while in the army, in 1863, a victim of typhoid fever, when but thirty- two years of age. He married Harriet Mc- Camish, who was born in Armstrong county, and lived to the age of eighty-one years, her death occurring March 6, 1906. She was a daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Painter) McCamish, the former of whom was born in Scotland and came very early to Armstrong county.
GEORGE F. HARTMAN, of Bethel town- ship, Armstrong county, is one of the success- ful farmers of his neighborhood, and by his industrious and honorable life has won good
DAVID S. ROBERTS, a miller of South Bethlehem, Pa., is of Welsh and German descent. He was born March 3, 1845, son of standing among his fellow citizens there. He John and Mary Ann (Weckerly) Roberts. was born Feb. 15, 1856, in Manor township, John Roberts was a resident of Red Bank township, and his death occurred in early life, in 1845. His wife was Mary Ann Weckerly, and their only child was David S. The widow married (second) John Bower- sox, of Clarion county. this county, son of David A. and Susanna (Roley) Hartman, of that township, who had a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: George F., Albert, Levy, and Lucinda (who was drowned when a girl). For his second wife David A. Hartman mar- ried Mrs. Susanna Armour, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. By occupation he was a miller and farmer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.