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 57
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On Sept. 25, 1886, Mr. Turk was married to Marie Riddle, a daughter of John and Phebe (Cartwright) Riddle, of Bruin, Pa., and they have one son, Walter, who is a clerk latter married Catherine Church, of this place. -
in the post office at Parker's Landing. The erine Gaiser, daughter of John L. and Mar-
MILO ELLSWORTH SMITH owns and operates a fine farm in West Franklin town- ship, Armstrong county, and has been one of the active and useful citizens of that locality, serving the community in various official capacities.
John B. Smith, Mr. Smith's paternal grand- father, was one of the early pioneers of North Buffalo township, this county, where he cleared and improved a farm. He lived to a good old age, dying in South Buffalo town- ship July 18, 1871, in his eighty-first year. To him and his wife, Mary (Bell), was born a family of nine children: John; George H .; Joseph B .; James G .; Margaret B., who mar- ried John Graham; Abraham W .; Samuel H .; over thirty years. He was a native of Leech- Robert M., and Richard N.
Richard N. Smith, son of John B., was born Jan. 12, 1837, in North Buffalo town- ship, where he was reared to manhood. Most of his life, however, was spent in West Frank- lin township, this county, where he engaged in farming and also operated a sawmill for many years. He died in Nebraska in 1902, at the age of sixty-four. He married Mary M. Minteer, daughter of William and Bar- bara (Millen) Minteer, and granddaughter of William and Mary (Nicholson) Minteer, na- tives of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish extraction, who settled in what is now West Franklin township in 1813, taking up 150 acres of land which they cleared and improved. They died there. To Richard N. Smith and his wife were born two children, Clara E. and Milo Ellsworth, the former now the wife of John R. Swan, of Delta county, Colo. The mother died Aug. 27, 19II, in her seventy-fifth year.
it needs to make it profitable, he has not neg- lected the duties of citizenship, and has served as supervisor, overseer of the poor, school director and school treasurer of his town- ship, giving satisfaction in the discharge of all his duties. He is a Republican on polit- ical questions.
On June 26, 1880, Mr. Smith married Cath-
garet (Severline) Gaiser, natives of Germany, and granddaughter of Ludwig and Dorothy (Dieterly) Gaiser, who came from Wurtem- berg, Germany, to the United States in 1847, the following year (1848) settling in Worth- ington and later purchasing a farm in West Franklin township, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three chil- dren: Charles H., Mamie E. (wife of Ralph Hindman) and William L. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the United Presbyte- rian Church at Worthington, and Mr. Smith has been active in the work of the congrega- tion, having served as elder since 1907.
GEORGE MERCHAN FOX (deceased) had the oldest undertaking business in Kit- tanning and was engaged in that line for burg, Armstrong county, born Oct. 2, 1836, son of George and Alice (Hilderbrand) Fox. His grandfather, John Fox, came from Ger- many and made his home in Pennsylvania, where he died in 1820. He was a blacksmith by trade.
George Fox was born in 1800 in Armstrong county, Pa., and was a boatman on the Penn- sylvania canal, from Pittsburgh to Philadel- phia, and when the oil excitement came on he engaged in boating oil down the Allegheny river. After some years he left the oil region and then spent a portion of his time in fishing in the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas rivers. He died in 1869 at Clinton. In politics he was first a Whig, later a Democrat, in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife, Alice (Hilderbrand), was born in 1808 in the arsenal at Pittsburgh, where the family had taken refuge in time of danger. Her fa- ther, Comey Hilderbrand, a native of England, first located in Pittsburgh after his arrival in this country, being in the garrison for a while, and later settling at Freeport, Armstrong county, where he died in 1845. He spent much of his time on the Allegheny river and
Milo Ellsworth Smith was born May 26, 1860, on the old William Minteer homestead in West Franklin township, in which town- ship he has always resided. He received a common school education, and since he en- tered upon life's activities has been occupied in farming. He has owned and occupied his became very friendly with the Indians, learn- present farm of 180 acres since 1900. Though ing to speak several of their languages and
MRS. KATHERINE A. Fox
GEORGE M. Fox
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
serving as interpreter for several of the tribes, born at Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Pa., which and was quite popular with them.
Mrs. Fox died June 14, 1888, in Warren county, Pa. She and her husband had thir- teen children, namely : George W., William, May Iona, George M., John, Annie, Harriet, Angeline, Maggie, Susan, David, Alice and one that died young.
George Merchan Fox was reared on the to the town, and did much for the advance- farm, and in his early boyhood attended the ment of the general welfare. Ebenezer Lloyd local common schools. He learned the trade and a partner ran the stage line from Ebens- of plasterer, serving a two years' apprentice- burg to Indiana, Indiana Co., Pa., through Kittanning to Butler, Butler county. He eventually settled in Kittanning, where he his death was continued by his son-in-law George M. Fox. Mr. Lloyd was one of the most esteemed citizens of this section in his day. He was a Republican in his political ship. Going South, to Memphis, Tenn., he remained there, engaged in the ice business, until the Civil war broke out, when he re- founded the undertaking business which after turned to Pennsylvania and commenced boat- ing oil on the Allegheny river, being thus en- gaged until 1866. In the year 1868 he settled in Kittanning, of which borough he was a resident to the end of his life. In 1870 he views. He and his wife Sarah had a family of embarked in the business of undertaking and three children : Katherine A., Mrs. George M. Fox; Absalom R., who resides in Kittanning ; and Josephine, who married Harry Green and after his death became the wife of George T. embalming, having his business establishment and home in the three-story brick building on Arch street where he was located until his re- moval to Nos. 158-160 North Mckean street, Patterson, their home being now at Alliance, the place where his widow still resides. There Ohio. he continued the business until his death, which occurred Jan. 1, 1904. Mr. Fox was successful, acquiring the ownership of sev- eral houses in the borough besides other prop- erty, and he was one of the respected citizens of Kittanning throughout his long residence there. He was a Republican in politics, and served as member of the town council; fra- ternally held membership in Ariel Lodge, No. 688, I. O. O. F., and Lodge No. 493, E. A. U .; and belonged to the Methodist Church.
When the news of the Johnstown flood (1889) came to Kittanning Mr. Fox and his nephew, Lloyd Green, went to the scene of the great disaster, and together gave five weeks of their time, without remuneration, to help pre- pare the bodies for burial. Later Lloyd Green went to the Austin (Pa.) flood, where he gave three weeks' services preparing the dead free of charge.
On May 5, 1863, Mr. Fox married Kather- ine Ann Lloyd, who was born March 2, 1838, at Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Pa., daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Stimeman) Lloyd, and member of a highly respected family of that section. They had no children of their own, but reared the three children of Mrs. Fox's sister Josephine (wife of Harry Green), namely: Ira Lloyd Green, who lives at Kit- tanning ; Frank Green, now of Morgantown, Va .; and Leroy F., who is in the automobile business at Pittsburgh.
place was so named in honor of the Lloyds who founded the town, after the name Eben- ezer borne by so many members of the fam- ily. The Lloyds came originally from Wales. They were very liberal in their support of movements for the improvement of the place, gave the church, cemetery and other benefits
ALONZO K. GOOD, one of the most progressive citizens of his section of Arm- strong county, has been a farmer in Wayne township for many years, but he has been interested in many other enterprises which have made him well acquainted throughout this region. He was born Aug. 28, 1855, in Indiana county, Pa., son of Abraham Good and grandson of Abraham Good. His great- grandfather was a native of Maryland, and his grandfather was born near Hagerstown, that State, June 3, 1799. About 1832 he came to this part of Pennsylvania, locating in In- diana county, where he purchased a farm upon which he spent the rest of his life. His death occurred Sept. 9, 1855. On June 17, 1818, he married Margaret Burket, who was . born in June, 1802, and died Jan. 31, 1864. They had children born as follows: Chris- tiana, 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.
Abraham Good, son of Abraham and Mar- garet Good, was born Oct. 13, 1824, near Frankstown, Blair Co., Pa., and came with
Ebenezer Lloyd, father of Mrs. Fox, was his parents to Indiana county in 1832, grow-
50
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing up on his father's farm. Several years James A., March 8, 1883; Thomas G., Aug. after his marriage he settled upon a farm 17, 1885; Frank J., Feb. 14, 1887; Edward north of Dayton, and there followed farming C., Sept. 30, 1888. successfully the remainder of his days. He became the owner of two large farms near ULYSSES S. GRANT GOOD, son of Abraham Good, was born Oct. 8, 1864. He attended the Glade Run Academy for several terms, and in the spring of 1887 went out to Ne- braska, where he taught school several years. Later he engaged in farming near Gothen- burg, that State, in 1895 selling his property there and purchasing another tract farther west, at Basin, Wyoming. Dayton in Wayne township (one besides his home place), comprising 250 acres, and was a substantial and influential citizen in his day. He was active in the local government, serv- ing his township as school director, constable and overseer of the poor, and filled every office with ability and fidelity. He was an earnest member of the Glade Run Presbyte- rian Church, which he served as trustee and elder, and in political connection was a Re- publican. He died Feb. 19, 1907, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-two years, four months. six days.
On April 26, 1854, Mr. Good married Hannah C. Irwin, who was born March 14, 1821, daughter of Benjamin Irwin, and died June 4, 1890. His second marriage, on June 4, 1894, was to Caroline Marshall, daughter of Samuel Marshall; she died Aug. 20, 1904. Mr. Good's children were all born to the first marriage, namely: Alonzo K .; Adolphus C .; Rosa Ida, born Sept. 5, 1859, who died May 3, 1863; Elmer E., born Oct. 17, 1861; and Ulysses S. Grant.
Alonzo K. Good, who now resides upon the homestead, was born near the mouth of the Little Mahoning creek in Indiana county, and came with his parents to Armstrong county in the spring of 1863, the family set- tling near Dayton, in Wayne township. In 188I he moved to Heathville, where he en- gaged in the mercantile business until 1885. Returning to his father's homestead near Dayton, the place he now owns and oc- cupies, he has since been giving his time principally to looking after his agricul- tural operations, and he and his sons have valuable coal lands which they have de- veloped. The coal is disposed of to the local trade. Mr. Good has been active in various local enterprises having for their object the general good. He was one of the organizers and for many years manager of the Dayton Fair Association. He is a director of the Pine Creek Fire Insurance Company of Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county, and in all the relations of life he has gained and held the respect of all his associates. He is a member of the Glade Run Presbyterian Church.
On June 12, 1879, Mr. Good married Belle F. Jewell, who was born June 22, 1856, and they have had four sons. born as follows:
"THE REV. ADOLPHUS CLEMENS GOOD, PH. D .- By Rev. John Gillispie, D. D. The Board of Foreign Missions was greatly shocked on Dec. 2Ist, by receiving a cable dispatch from Batanga, West Africa, announcing the death of this noble missionary, which occurred on Dec. 13th [1894]. The shock was all the greater because in his very last letter to the Board, Dr. Good had written from Efulen as follows: 'Neither Mr. Kerr nor I have ever had an hour's sickness here, indeed the only departures I ever had from perfect health have been due to bad food eaten on journeys. I have never detected the slightest signs of malaria.' The brief dispatch gave no hint as to the place or the cause of his death.
"Dr. Good was a child of the covenant, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Good, and was born near Dayton, Armstrong county, Pa., Dec. 19th, 1856. When but a lad he made a public confession of his faith. in Glade Run Presbyterian Church. He received his pre- paratory training in Glade Run Academy from 1873 to 1876, was graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1879, and from the Western Theological Seminary in 1882. His degree of Ph. D. was given by Washington and Jefferson College in 1890. In June 1882, he was ordained by the Presby- tery of Kittanning as an Evangelist, prepara- tory to sailing for Africa, having been previously appointed a missionary by the Board of Foreign Missions. He chose the Dark Continent as his field of labor mainly because it was a hard field and because few at that time. were found willing to enter it. He sailed for Africa September 18th, 1882, and on his arrival was as- signed to Baraka Station, near the mouth of the Gaboon River. Being a man of fine linguistic ability he soon mastered the Mpongwe language and ten months after landing preached his first sermon in the na- tive tongue. He was married June 2Ist, 1883, to Miss Lydia B. Walker, a missionary in
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
connection with the Mission, who with a son ten years of age survives him.
"In January, 1884, Dr. Good was trans- ferred to. the work on the Ogowe River, be- gun some eight years before, where his rare gifts of evangelizing and organizing found ample scope. With a noble spirit of self- sacrifice, which took no note of the severe physical and mental strain involved, he threw himself into every part of the work with characteristic energy. Itinerating along the river was his chief delight, carrying the Gos- pel to those sitting in darkness. In this work he was greatly blessed. For several years there was an almost continuous outpouring of the Spirit and hundreds of converts from heathenism were baptized. Largely through his instrumentality the one church existing in 1884 multiplied to four before his final re- movel from that field in 1893. During his last year or two on the Ogowe, when bur- dened with the care of the widely scattered churches, he also revised the entire New Tes- tament in Mpongwe, and the Hymn Book then in use, adding quite a number of hymns to the latter. During this period and also later, Dr. Good made some valuable contribu- tions to Natural History by sending many choice specimens to Chancellor Holland of the Western University of Pennsylvania. On this point the Chancellor writes: 'With the help of friends and natives he made during his stay on the African coast at various times collections of the birds, animals, 'and especi- ally of the insects of the region, which have given him an honored place among the mis- sionary explorers of the century. We are in- debted to him for our first knowledge of fully five hundred.' "
Rev. Mr. Good was married June 21, 1883, prietor of the Kittanning Supply Company on board the United States ship of war "Im- meborg," off Libraville, Gaboon, by Rev. W. C. Gault, to Lydia B. Walker, who still re- sides in Africa. Their son, Rev. Albert Ir- win Good, graduated from the University of Wooster in 1906 and from the Western The- ological Seminary in 1909. In August of the latter year he sailed for Africa to engage in the same work to which his father's life was devoted.
EDWARD GRANT PROCIOUS has been in business at Kittanning since 1903, having lumber and mercantile interests there. He was previously a general merchant at Oak Ridge, Armstrong county. Mr. Procious was born June 22, 1868, in Mahoning township,
son of William and Catherine (Gearhart) Procious.
William Procious was of German descent, and was born in Northumberland county, Pa. He settled in what is now Mahoning (then Red Bank) township, Armstrong county, in 1840, purchasing 105 acres of land in the northeastern part of the township, which was then nothing but a wilderness. He cleared and improved his tract, and died there March 14, 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. By his first marriage, to Anna Shick, Mr. Pro- cious had four children who grew to matur- ity : Adam, now deceased; Catherine, de- ceased, wife of Wesley Doverspike; Betty, who married Abraham Bodendorn; and Henry. To his second marriage, with Cath- erine Gearhart, were born nine children: John C .; Susan, who married William Lanker ; William; Jennie, who married Monroe N. Shoemaker; Carrie, who married Marion J. Morrison ; Edward Grant ; Ella, who married A. Calvin Shaffer; Mattie, who married Ezra L. Doverspike; and Reuben S., who is on the homestead.
Edward Grant Procious was reared to man- hood on the old homestead, and began his education in the local public schools. Later he attended the Berlin University in Center county, Pa., and Bucknell College, at Lewis- burg, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1889. The same year he graduated from the Michaels business college, at Delaware, Ohio, and in 1890 he began his business career as proprietor of a general merchandise store at Oak Ridge, Armstrong county. He carried that on very successfully up to 1903, when he moved to Kittanning, selling out to Frank Williams & Co., who still conduct it. As pro- he has the largest stock of house furnishing goods carried by any house in Armstrong county, and he is also extensively engaged in the automobile and lumber business. By wise management and judicious buying he has kept the line in his store complete and up-to-date, and his earnest desire to please customers has deservedly brought him a large patronage. Honorable dealing and satisfactory service have brought him continued success, and he has the respect and good will of all with whom he comes in contact in any of the relations of life. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and widely known in the fraternal organizations. Politically he is a Republican.
On Jan. 10, 1890, Mr. Procious was mar-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ried to Dora B. Hankey, daughter of George second term, but his enemies prevented his W. and Abigail (Long) Hankey, of Red reelection. Bank township, this county, and they have a In 1907 Mr. Megraw was married to Mar- family of five children: Avanell Ruth, Ma- tha Banks, daughter of John Banks, of Arm- rion, John Ellsworth, Mildred and Edward Grant, Jr.
ROBERT H. MEGRAW, for several years successfully engaged as an architect at Kit- tanning, was born in Allegheny City, Pa., May 1, 1858, son of Richard B. and Jane (Hughey) Megraw.
Richard B. Megraw was one of the lead- Kime. ing contractors and builders of Allegheny City and Pittsburgh, and well and favorably known throughout western Pennsylvania as a highly respected citizen and public-spirited man. His death occurred in 1871.
Anthony Kime was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, and came to the United States in early manhood, settling in Rural Valley, Armstrong Co., Pa., where he embarked in business as a wagonmaker. He had learned his trade abroad. His practical and thorough knowl- edge of his work gained him a steady custom, and he continued in this line until his death, which occurred when he was about fifty years old, resulting from a fall. His wife, who died Jan. 7, 1910, at the age of ninety- three years, was a daughter of Peter Brown, a pioneer of Cowanshannock township. There were six children in the family of Anthony
Robert H. Megraw was educated in the public schools of Allegheny City and Belle View, Pa. In young manhood he learned the trade of stonecutting, and for about two years worked at that trade, after which he was an apprentice to that of a carpenter for four years. He was then engaged at carpentry and building for about fifteen years, and in the meantime developed his natural talent for architecture by study, until sufficiently fa- Kime and wife: Julia (deceased), Charles A., William, Louis W., David W., and Phebe (who married B. S. Cook).
miliar with the profession to adopt it. When he first branched out as an architect he be- came superintendent of the original car shop building at Swissvale, now the Union switch and signal works. From 1892 he has given all his attention to architecture, and for a time was located at Jeannette, Pa., but later
Louis W. Kime was reared in Rural Val- ley and attended the local public schools, sup- plementing his course in them with one term at Grove City College, in Mercer county, Pa. He began life on his own account as a teacher moved to New Kensington, Westmoreland in the common schools when he was seven- Co., Pa., after two years there returning to teen years old, and later became clerk in a Allegheny City for a year. In 1905 he general store owned by Andrew Gallagher at opened his place of business in Kittanning, Rural Valley, thus serving in the summer, settling in the county in 1906, and for a time while in the winter he continued teaching until 1892, when he bought a half interest in the business, which has since been conducted under the firm style of Gallagher & Kime. he was associated in a business way with the Philadelphia Gas Company. Among the plans he has furnished are those for the Stein ho- tel, the Colwell & Arnold office building, and This is one of the leading general stores of several modern residences of Kittanning. He the county, and is patronized by people from a wide territory. is thoroughly abreast of the times in his work, and is a recognized expert in his profession.
Mr. Kime is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Rural Valley. His practical ex- perience as an instructor came into good play for the benefit of the community when he served for one term as school director of Rural Valley, being elected on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Kime is not married.
A prominent Republican, Mr. Megraw was in 1905 elected to represent his district in the State Assembly, his victory at the polls being a surprise to many, as he was opposed by the powerful local organization, but his personal popularity and high moral standing brought him ahead of his ticket. His legislative rec- CHARLES COLWELL has not been ac- tive in business life for some years, but he still retains various interests. He makes his ord proves that the confidence the people had in him was not misplaced, and stands to his credit. Mr. Megraw was' nominated for a home in Valley township, Armstrong county,
strong county. Mr. Megraw is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, which he serves as an elder.
LOUIS W. KIME, junior member of the general merchandise firm of Gallagher & Kime, of Rural Valley, was born there March 14, 1862, son of Anthony and Sarah (Brown)
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
where he has served as justice of the peace becca McAfoos, daughter of S. McAfoos, and school director and is a highly respected and they have had two children: Harry, of Pittsburgh, who is with the Gulf Refinery Company; and Hazel, who lives at home. Mrs. Colwell was born in June, 1857, in Val- ley township, Armstrong county. citizen. Born Dec. II, 1857, in Kittanning township, this county, he is a son of Alex- ander and Nancy J. (Watterson) Colwell, and grandson of Alexander Colwell, of Ire- land, who came to Armstrong county, Pa., when a young man. He became a merchant at Kittanning, with which place he was ever afterward identified.
Alexander Colwell, son of Alexander and father of Charles, was born in the borough of Kittanning, and for a time followed store keeping there. He was afterward a farmer in Valley township, residing at the "stone house" on the pike and farming three hun- dred acres of land. He was an enterprising, active and well-known man, held various township offices, including those of auditor, justice of the peace and school director, and was prominent in the community in various connections. In politics he was a Republican.
Mr. Ivory attended public school at Clarion, Pa., and later studied at the Clarion Normal School. He then moved with his parents to New York, where he was employed as a clerk for a time. Being a close observer and per- sistent reader he has endeavored to become well informed, and he has added to his early He died in Valley township in 1893, at the education by attendance at night school since
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