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 6
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Samuel Howard McCain was born April 27, 1875, at Freeport, and obtained his early education there in the public schools. Later he went to Chambersburg Academy, in Franklin county, Pa., where he graduated in 1897, continuing his studies at Yale College, when he took the law course. He was grad- uated in 1900 and admitted to the bar at New Haven in the same year, beginning practice shortly thereafter at Grantsville, W. Va. He remained there a year, as attorney for an oil company, and then returning to Kittanning gained admission to the Armstrong county bar, in 1903. Forming a partnership with ex- Judge Calvin Rayburn, the association con- tinued for two years, and since its dissolu- tion Mr. McCain has practiced alone. He is recognized as one of the most capable of the younger lawyers, and has been associated with a number of important cases. Politic- ally he is a Republican, but he is not active in party affairs and has never sought office. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masons, be- longing to Blue Lodge, No. 244, of Kittan- ning, and Orient Chapter, No. 247, R. A. M., also of Kittanning. In religious faith a Pres- byterian, he and his wife hold membership in the church of that denomination.
On Jan. 18, 1908, Mr. McCain was united in marriage with Mary E. Adele Gilpin, daughter of John and Olive (McConnell) Gil- pin, the former a distinguished lawyer of Kit- tanning who passed away in 1883. Two chil- dren, Samuel Howard and John Gilpin, have been born to this marriage.
JOHN C. HUNTER, M. D., a physician and surgeon of Apollo, Armstrong county, was born April 13, 1865, in Cook township, West- moreland county, Pa., son of James and Martha (Bailey) Hunter.
James Hunter was born in Pennsylvania, while his wife is a native of New York State. They are now living in Westmoreland county, Pa., aged seventy-six and seventy-four years, respectively. He is a carpenter and builder.
therefrom in 1893, and after six months spent as an interne in the Baltimore City hos- pital he came to Apollo, where he entered upon general practice. During the succeeding years he has built up a large and lucrative practice, and is recognized as one of the able members of his profession in this locality.
On May 24, 1888, Dr. Hunter was married in Youngstown, Pa., to Loretta Cribbs. Dr. and Mrs. Hunter became the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Martha, born Oct. II, 1891; Lauren, born Feb. 28, 1895, and Mildred, born July 4, 1899.
Dr. Hunter belongs to the Armstrong County Medical Society. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Armstrong Lodge, No. 437; is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 541; of the Knights of Pythias, Uni- formed Rank, and is brigade surgeon of the latter. He is also a past exalted ruler of the Elks, belonging to Apollo Lodge, No. 386, and is a life member of this order, his association with it dating from March 20, 1903.
JOEL E. KINNARD, EsQ., is one of the best known citizens of Burrell township, Arm- strong county, where he has long been identi- fied with educational interests, business and public affairs, prominent in politics and the local government, and in every relation of life a man highly respected for his ability and gen- uine worth. Mr. Kinnard was born Oct. 14, 1854, on the same site in Burrell township where he now has his home, son of Isaac and Mary A. (Helferich) Kinnard.
Isaac Kinnard was born in 1812, died in 1884, in Westmoreland county, Pa., and was of Scotch descent. He married Mary, A. Hel- ferich, who was born in 1816 in Armstrong county, of German stock, being a daughter of Anthony and Mary Helferich, and to them were born fourteen children, of whom Joel E. was the youngest ; he is now the sole survivor. Lavinia married Jacob George; Harriet mar- ried Jacob Darbaker; Susanna married Elijah Lookabaugh, and she dying he married her sis- ter Emily; Anthony H. married Margaret Schaeffer. These and Joel E. lived to maturity and had families. The others died young.
Dr. Hunter attended common school until he was thirteen years old, when he spent a year in a normal school. Following this, for several years, he clerked in various general Joel E. Kinnard was reared and educated in Burrell township, where he has passed all his life. At an early age he began teaching, in which profession he has been engaged since Oct. 27, 1873, and in that capacity he has be- stores, and then learned the carpenter's trade under his father, with whom he worked until he took up the study of medicine. When he was eighteen years old he began reading medicine under the instruction of Dr. L. C. come widely and favorably known, more than Thomas, thus continuing for five years. En- one generation having come under his influ- tering the College of Physicians and Sur- ence and care. His high qualities as a man geons in Baltimore, Md., he was graduated have made his services doubly valuable, for
John Le Hunter MD
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
he has not only been an intelligent educator but one whose position has enabled him to who married Emma Hankey. direct many young people toward better things, and he has never failed to use his opportunities of this kind, which he regards as equally im- portant as the mental instruction he imparts.
Mr. Kinnard has taken an active part in local affairs. He served five years, from 1903 to 1908, as justice of the peace, has been health officer, local registrar of vital statistics, secre- tary of the board of supervisors, and in every trust has discharged his duties faithfully. He has been a prominent worker in the Republican party, has served eight years as member of the election board of his township, and has been member of the county executive commit- tee from Burrell township. In 1900 he was engaged on the government geological survey. He has to some extent also interested himself in business, being a director of the South Bend Mutual Insurance Company and a member of the company of the Kinnard Woolen Factory at Cochran Mills. The tract of fifty-eight acres where he resides is his property, and he raises vegetables and hay.
On May II, 1876, Mr. Kinnard was married to Amanda Rupert, of Burrell township, who was born Oct. 12, 1856, and they have had four children, two sons and two daughters: (I) Charles Ewing, born Jan. 1, 1878, married Leone Hileman, and has three children, Clark Dallas, Freda Lavada and Katherine Marie Hileman. (2) Ada May died when three years, three months old. (3) Harry Ray- mond was born June 21, 1884. (4) Hazel Al- berta was born April 10, 1898. The family are members of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, at Brick Church. Mr. Kinnard is a member of the Woodmen and the Jr. O, U. A. M.
Few citizens of Burrell township have been associated with so many phases of its everyday life and progress as has Mr. Kinnard, and he ranks deservedly among its most honored resi- dents, his public spirit and intelligent devotion to the promotion of various good movements having been productive of results which have benefited the community appreciably.
wife of Thomas J. Schaeffer; and Ephraim,
ANTHONY WAYNE SMITH, owner of the Pleasant Valley stock farm, known as the home of Hyland Barron, in Gilpin town- ship, Armstrong county, was born in South Bend township, this county, July 8, 1853, son of John Smith.
Henry Smith, his grandfather, was a na- tive of Armstrong county, and in early life resided in Burrell township, where he was a farmer, later moving to South Bend town- ship and making his home there until his death, which occurred when he was eighty- two years old. His children were: John, Frederick, George, Isaac, Anthony, Philip, Catherine, Sarah and Mrs. Simon Heilman.
John Smith, son of Henry Smith, was born Feb. 23, 1820, in Burrell township, where he was educated and taught the cooper's trade. For many years he furnished barrels of his own manufacture to people all over Arm- strong county. He also followed farming in South Bend township, although his principal interest was in his coopering business. His death occurred in Avonmore in Westmore- land county, Pa., when he, like his father, had attained the age of eighty-two years. On Oct. 23, 1847, he married Elizabeth George, who was born July 28, 1826, near Chambers- burg, in Franklin county, Pa., and died Dec. II, 1913, in her eighty-eighth year. Their union was blessed with twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, viz .: A. W., of Leechburg, Pa .; C. A., of Pittsburgh ; W. C., of Tarentum, Pa .; M. J., of Natrona, Pa .; Mrs. Anna Mary Silvus, of South Bend; Mrs. Jennie R. Hilty of Salina; Mrs. Emma N. Hill of Leechburg; Mrs. Isabel R. Parke of Natrona ; Mrs. Ella L. Wilson, of Avonmore ; and Ophelia, Amelia and Cecelia, triplets, the first named dying in 1903, the other two when nine months old.
Anthony Wayne Smith attended the local schools of his native township, and worked upon his father's farm until nineteen years of age. He then drove an oil team for his father in Clarion county for about two years. Following this he was in a butchering busi- ness for about six years, at Petersburg, Clar- ion Co., Pa. For the next few years he was employed in various ways, until he began farming for himself in Westmoreland county. After four years there he went to Wilkins- burg, where he engaged in the butchering business for four years more. Returning to
Ephraim Rupert, father of Mrs. Joel E. Kinnard, married Mrs. Susanna (King) Schall, widow of Michael Schall, by whom she had two children: Mary, wife of Amos Alt- man, and John, who died unmarried. By Mr. Rupert she had children as follows: Henri- etta, wife of John Grimes; Lucetta, wife of John Wagle; Louisa, wife of Samuel Sin- clair; Amanda, wife of Joel E. Kinnard ; Eliz- abeth, wife of William Clendenning; Rebecca, Westmoreland county, he farmed for six
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
years. In 1893 he bought the old Hiram Hill Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county, homestead, owned by his father-in-law, lo- cated on the Kittanning road, in Gilpin town- ship, Armstrong county, comprising 135 acres of valuable land. He has sold a portion of it, now owning 128 acres. On this property he specializes in raising fine fruit, including apples and pears, his orchards being among the best in this part of the State. There are two natural gas wells on the farm, owned by the Gilpin Gas Company. Mr. Smith has some of the finest stock of horses in this sec- tion, and is very well known in his line of business.
In 1878 Mr. Smith married Frances S. Hill, daughter of Hiram Hill, and their union has been blessed with four children, as fol- lows: Elmer C., a druggist, of Leechburg, Pa .; Hermon H., at home ; John H., of Leech-
On Sept. II, 1853, Mr. Peters married Susan E. Smith, which union was blessed by the following children: Arabella R., Eudora J., Susan V., Samuel F. and Isaac Wilbert, the two last named surviving. The mother of burg, who was married in 1905 to Glennie this family died May 14, 1873, and on Dec. Riggle, and they have had four children, Frances F., Edwin, Carroll and Robert; and Frank E., who is a student at Gettysburg, Pa., preparing for the Lutheran ministry. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and served Gilpin town- ship as school director. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.
HILL. Hiram Hill, now deceased, father of Mrs. Smith, was born Dec. 17, 1812, and died Jan. 15, 1891, aged seventy-eight years,
twenty-nine days. His wife, Margaret Shaf- Howard O. Peters, was a native of Westmore-
fer, born May 5, 1809, died May 20, 1887, land county, Pa., born in 1809. On May 16, 1839, he married Mary Mitchell, who was born in 1817, daughter of George and Sydney Mitchell, of Westmoreland county. In 1840 they moved to Elderton, Armstrong county, where they resided for six years, during which time he was employed as cabinetmaker. In the year 1846 they moved to the farm aged seventy-eight years, fifteen days. They were buried at the Forks Church in Gilpin township. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had children as follows: Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Gosser, of Leechburg, Pa., is deceased; Harriet died in infancy; Eliza died unmarried; Jefferson is a resident of Freeport, Pa .; Frances S. is the wife of A. W. Smith; Daniel M. is a of his father-in-law, George Mitchell, two farmer in Gilpin township.
HOWARD O. PETERS, editor and proprietor of the Advance, of Rural Valley, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born in Cowanshan- nock township, this county, April 12, 1886, son of James S. and Mary A. (Cooper) Peters.
Samuel F. Peters, his paternal grandfather, was born in 1800, and married Susan V. Johnston, who was born in 1790. Both were Martha C. All survive but Sidney J., Nancy of Austin township, Delaware Co., Pa. She J., Martha C. and the one that died in in-
died in 1871, he in 1877. They had the fol- lowing family: Samuel J., Charles V., Wil- liam P., Maria and James S. All of these are now deceased.
and settled on the Peters farm, two miles south of Rural Valley, buying four hundred acres of land. There he passed the remainder of his life, excepting five years which he spent in Delaware county, dying June 20, 1890. Politically he was a strong Republican, and gave his hearty support to the candidates of his party. He was long a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Church, to which he not only gave liberally, but held various offices, seldom being free from duties of this kind, which he conscientiously performed. He is buried in the Rural Valley cemetery.
25, 1873, Mr. Peters married (second) Mary A. Cooper, third daughter of James Cooper, who was born at Elderton, Armstrong Co., Pa., May 22, 1843. But this union there were children as follows: James M., Mary I., Charles B., Etta M. (who died young), Frank E., Robert J. (deceased) and Howard O. Mrs. Peters now lives with her son H. O. in Rural Valley.
James Cooper, paternal grandfather of
miles south of Rural Valley, and there spent the remainder of their lives, his death oc- curring April 10, 1887, hers on March 15, 1899; their son, J. R. Cooper, now owns and lives upon this property. They had a fam- ily of ten children, four sons and six daugh- ters, namely: George M., Robert E., James R., Samuel Q., Sidney J., a child that died at birth, Mary A., Matilda H., Nancy J., and
fancy.
Howard O. Peters began his education in the local school and grew up in healthy rural surroundings. In July, 1900, he left the farm, moving with his mother and brother F. E. to Rural Valley, making their home on School
James S. Peters was born April 22, 1834, in Austin township, Delaware county. In April, 1854, he came from Philadelphia to street. One year later he took up the painter's
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
trade with his brother, J. M., following same these years, the plant had been located in the during the summer and in the winter months old city hall, but in the spring of 1908 the lease for the ground on which the hall stood
attending the public school at Rural Valley. He was engaged at painting until Nov. I, expired, and Mr. Marshall moved the printing 1907, when he purchased a half interest in a plant to the J. A. Dixon building, on the south side of Main street. In November of the same year, Mr. Marshall traded the plant and busi- ness to E. E. Keeler and H. O. Peters, and they took charge under the firm name of grocery store with Prof. E. E. Keeler, the business being conducted under the firm name of Keeler & Peters for one year and two weeks. Then they traded their store to O. S. Marshall, for the plant and business of the Keeler & Peters.
Rural Valley Advance, a four-page, seven- column weekly newspaper, published each Wednesday. It is distinctly a "home prod- uct," all the work being done at the local of- fice. The deal with Mr. Marshall was closed Nov. 12, 1908, from which time until March 8, 1910, the Advance office was run under the ownership of Keeler & Peters. Then the lat- ter bought his partner's interest and has since been sole proprietor. He conducts his es- tablishment with the help of three lady type- setters. The circulation of the paper has been increasing steadily, and the general business has also shown a gratifying growth. In the summer of 1911 Mr. Peters purchased from W. H. Crouch a half lot adjoining his restau- rant on the west, and thereon erected a two- story and basement building, 26 by 50 feet in dimensions, moving his printing office into the first floor. He and his family reside in the second story. The basement is used for the storing of automobiles, for which Mr. Peters has the agency, and he does a good business in that line as well as in the auto livery business during the summer months.
The policy of the paper is firmly maintained, and its patrons secure clean, bright, snappy news, with forceful editorials. Its position is fully established, and merchants recognize its power as an advertising medium. Much of the present prosperity of the paper is due to the good business management of Mr. Peters, who is not only a strong writer, but a practical man in every respect. He is a young man of strong convictions, believing in the freedom of the press and recognizing the responsibility resting upon those who enter the field of newspaper work to use their influence for the encourage- ment and support of all that is the best for the general welfare. His paper has always been considered a fearless organ, advocating high moral standards and the utmost integrity in civic life.
On April 27, 1910, Mr. Peters married L. Alice Jewart, daughter of Z. Erastus and Sarah F. (Moore) Jewart, of Cowanshannock township, who were married June 30, 1880, and had three children, Ross M., a daughter that died at birth and L. Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have had one daughter, Dora Mildred, born Nov. 25, 1912. Mr. Peters is a member of the Methodist Church and an interested worker, serving as usher and as librarian of the Sunday school. In February, 1914, he joined Rural Valley Lodge, No. 766, I. O. O. F. In his political views he is a Republican, but he has not taken any direct part in politics except through the medium of his paper, and has never sought office. During the summer of 1909 Mr. Peters enjoyed a pleasant trip to California and along the coast of Washington, taking his mother with him.
The Rural Valley Advance was started by T. G. Hosick Jan. I, 1901, with a business, news and editorial office in Rural Valley, the me- chanical work being done in the Record office at Kittanning. This state of affairs contin- ued until Aug. 1, 1901, when O. S. Marshall bought the Record and he and Mr. Hosick con- solidated the two papers, moving the printing plant of the latter to Rural Valley. The pub- lication of the Record was then discontinued, the interests of all being represented by the Advance, which was issued by the firm of Marshall & Hosick. The paper was published Z. Erastus Jewart, father of Mrs. Peters, was the eldest son of Alexander and Mary Ann (Roof) Jewart, both of whom were natives of Indiana county, Pa. They had a family of ten children : Z. Erastus, Arcturas Preston, Jane, Margaret, Callie, Elmer, Harvey Clark, Alex- ander, John Festus and Sylvester Melanthon. Alexander Jewart followed agricultural pur- suits for a number of years, and owned some in the old town hall, located at the rear end of R. M. Trollinger's lot. In March, 1902, O. S. Marshall purchased the interest of his partner, and continued to operate the business alone for about a month, when he sold a third interest to E. E. Keeler, the new firm becoming Marshall & Keeler. They published the Advance and conducted a successful job printing business until October, 1907, when Mr. Marshall pur- chased the interest of Mr. Keeler. During all of the finest orchards in this region. He
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
served as justice of peace for a number of during the several years of his association with years.
John Moore, maternal grandfather of Mrs.
H. O. Peters, came from Germany to the estimate, to within a few pounds sterling, the United States when ten years old, and was the cost of building any ship. He was equally con-
only member of his family who lived to reach this country, the rest dying en route. He set- tled in Fayette county, Pa. He married Lydia Varnes, and in the fall of 1852 they moved to Barnards, Armstrong Co., Pa., the first winter living in the schoolhouse. They were the par- ents of seven children: Martin, Samuel R., Isaac, John, Ross S., Mary and Sarah F. (Sallie). All were born in Fayette county except Sarah F., the youngest, who was born after the family removed to Barnards. John Moore lived in Delaware and was employed at the Du Pont Powder Works for some time.
COLIN CAMPBELL was associated with the most important manufacturing interests of Leechburg for a number of years before his death, as a member of the firm of Kirkpatrick & Co., Limited, with which he was connected throughout the period of his residence in Leechburg. A man of strong mentality, trained and developed under advantageous circum- stances, he was not only one of the most useful citizens of his generation as a manufacturer, but distinguished also for social and Christian qualities, which made him one of the most noted men of the place.
Born Aug. 26, 1832, at Dunfermline, Scot- land, he was a son of Daniel and Janet (Mc- Kenzie) Campbell, both of whom were of ancient and honorable ancestry. His broth- ers and their sons were all professional men. He was related to several of the ancient and celebrated clans, including the Mckenzies, McDonalds. and Stewarts, whose name was originally written Steward. They were descend- ed from King Robert the Bruce of Scotland, through his daughter Margery, who married Walter, the high steward of Scotland, and took the name and arms from that office. Descend- ed from the Clan of Argyll, of which the late Duke of Argyll was the head, the Camp- bells were entitled to that coat of arms, which the members of the family in England and Scotland still use. Mr. Campbell, however, after coming to America, used only the crest, being thoroughly Democratic in his views and tastes. Mr. Campbell was brought up under his uncle, Thomas Mckenzie, of Scotland, who was a member of a large iron works and ship- building company on the Clyde, a gentleman of education and high business qualifications. So thorough was the training which he received
this concern, that when Mr. Campbell was twenty-one years old it was said that he could
versant with every branch related to ship- building, and in time became engaged in busi- ness on his own account in the manufacture of steel wire. He was still a young man when he came to America, first settling at Boston, and the Civil war breaking out soon afterward he entered the Union army. Subsequently he went into the navy, in which he served until the close of the war. Returning to Boston, he continued there a short time, about thirty-five years ago going west to Pittsburgh, where he became associated with the firm of Jones & Laughlin, in a responsible position. Later he became cashier of the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, at Sharpsburg, Pa., where he was asso- ciated with George Chalfant, of Spang, Chal- fant & Co., president of that bank. In 1882 he came to Leechburg, where he took the posi- tion of general superintendent for J. C. Kirk- patrick and J. C. Wallace, the business of Kirkpatrick & Co. being put on a new and thor- oughly systematic basis under his management. Soon afterward the firm was reorganized, and he became a member of Kirkpatrick & Co., Limited. This was about thirty years ago, 1884. Mr. Campbell's ideas and management proved very successful, and the mills were put into splendid working order, for which much credit is due him. His early experience and training in the steel business enabled him to see the needs of the plant, and his unusual business attainments helped him to carry out his plans with a degree of success that would have been impossible in one less grounded in all the essential details. Inheriting qualities of a high order from a long line of ancestors, his intellect and strength invited responsibilities, his environment and early teachings, together with a thorough education, made him a man whose worth was recognized wherever he went, and he was relied upon by all who came in contact with him. Maintaining the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all the relations of life, he was looked up to by all his associates and employees. He retired from active busi- ness a short time before the sale of the mill to the combine, retaining his interest, however, until the change.
Coming of strong Presbyterian stock, Mr. Campbell was brought up in the faith of that church, and his Christian training was such as to emphasize the strong characteristics of the high minded race from which he sprang. Firm
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in his convictions, straightforward in manner and without any affectation, he despised pre- tense and any display, and lived always an un- ostentatious life.
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