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 60
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It is a matter of pride with the members of this family to live up to the high moral stand- ard set by their parents, and they are highly esteemed wherever known.
HARRY E. J. PUTNEY, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Kittanning, was born at Putneyville, Arm- strong Co., Pa., Nov. 27, 1862, a son of Sam- uel B. and Harriet A. (Williamson) Putney.
David Putney, his paternal 'grandfather, was the founder of Putneyville. He was born in Connecticut, Oct. 18, 1794. On Sept. 29, 1818, he married Lavina Stevenson, born Jan. 7, 1796, and their children were: James T., George, David T., Mary E., William N., Samuel B., Nelson O. and Ezra J. Mr. and Mrs. Putney subsequently moved to Free- port, Pa., and in 1833 Mr. Putney bought from the Holland Land Company, at $1.50 per acre, a tract of one thousand acres sur- rounding and including the site of the pres- ent village of Putneyville. The bottom lands and the hillsides were covered with laurel and hazel brush. A little shanty was put up on the creek bank, where later a gristmill was erected, and this served as the home of the Putneys for about four months, until it was replaced with a cabin. This cabin was stocked with goods, to be sold to the sur- rounding farmers. Later a story and a half frame dwelling was built, which was the first of its kind in the neighborhood. In the meanwhile Mr. Putney successfully con- ducted his mercantile operations. In 1840 he contracted to furnish a large amount of tim- ber to complete dam No. I on the Mononga- hela river at Pittsburgh. By this time a little settlement had sprung up about his location, and a few houses had been erected.
Samuel B. Putney, son of David, was for the greater part of his life extensively en- gaged in a lumber and boat building business. His death occurred in 1865. He and his wife were the parents of the following children :
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David W., Boyd H. and Harry E. J. Mr. and Mrs. Putney were both active members of the Methodist Church, which Mr. Putney served as trustee. He was also active in Sun- day school work, and exerted a powerful in- fluence for good among his associates.
Harry E. J. Putney attended public school at Putneyville, the Reidsburg Clarion Acad- emy, and the Clarion Normal School. After leaving school he became an apprentice to the painter's trade, which he followed for a time. Mr. Putney then spent six years in the employ of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, and later was engaged in a gas, oil and coal business. When he located at Kittanning he engaged in the general in- surance and real estate business, in which he has since continued. In 1908, Mr. Putney, with H. A. Colwell and Mr. Pollock, cashier of the National Kittanning Bank, organized the Chicago Air Brake Company. This air brake acts upon a different principle from those manufactured by the Westinghouse people, and it is believed by those who are competent to pass judgment that it is des- tined to revolutionize the air brake system. A bright future appears to be before the pro- moters of this invention. Mr. Putney is ac- tive in fraternal circles, belonging to the Masonic order, in which he has taken the thirty-second degree, and also to the Elks.
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On July 19, 1899, Mr. Putney was married to Marie Jones, daughter of David and Emma Jones, of Pittsburgh. Four children have been born to them: Harriet E., Jean D. J., of deacon. Madge M. and Francis C.
had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters: William, born Oct. 9, 1821, married Henrietta Ayres (he was a soldier in Colonel Sirwell's regiment, the 78th Pennsyl- vania Infantry, during the Civil war) ; Cath- erine, born March 10, 1823, married Daniel Keefer; Silas, born June 7, 1825, married Mary Beatty, daughter of James Beatty ; John, born in July, 1828, is mentioned be- low; Maria, born Feb. 22, 1830, married Samuel Wolf; Margaret, born March 19, 1833, married Miles Beatty, son of James Beatty.
John Wareham was but four years old when brought to Bethel (then Allegheny) township, and the country was still wild and heavily timbered, deer and other game being still plentiful. He attended the log school- houses usually found in pioneer days, fitted with slab benches, the pupils facing the wall, which held the shelves-running all around the room-used as desks. Amid such sur- roundings he grew to manhood, early becom- ing familiar with agricultural pursuits, which he followed throughout his active years. He was one of the hard-working and intelligent farmers of his township, keeping up the old home place in the most creditable manner. He took an active part in the public affairs of the township, serving capably and effici- ently in the offices of supervisor and school director, and he has been for many years one of the leading members of the Bethel Lu- theran Church, in which he has held the office
In January, 1856, Mr. Wareham was united in marriage with Julia A. Walters, of Armstrong county, who was born March 14, 1834, daughter of John and Martha (Mey- ers) Walters, and they have had a family of
JOHN WAREHAM, a venerable resident of Bethel township, has lived at his present home there for eighty years, and the place, which is now under the management of his eleven children, five sons and six daughters, eldest son, David Wareham, is one of the of whom all but one survive at this writing: finest in that section of Armstrong county. David is mentioned below; Maria married Mr. Wareham was born July 1, 1828, in Samuel Kinnard, of Vandergrift, Pa., and Armstrong county, near Apollo (then in Al- legheny township), son of Peter and Susanna (Heigs) Wareham. His grandparents were of German descent, and came to this region from eastern Pennsylvania.
they have one daughter and one son, Bertha and Irvin; Albert is a resident of Braddock, Pa .; Simon, who also lives at Braddock, has been married twice, first to Emma Wagle, by whom he had one son, J. Earl, and second to Mrs. Philomena Fletcher (they have no . children) ; Martha married Miles Zellefrow,
Peter Wareham was born Oct. 18, 1796, and his wife, Susanna (Heigs), was born the same year, in Somerset county, Pa., and was of New Kensington, Pa., and died at the age reared by her Grandmother Meyers, of Ve- of thirty-two years, leaving two children, nango county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Margery and Albert; Susanna is married to Wareham moved to the farm in Bethel town- Sloan Banks, of Bethel township, and has ship, Armstrong Co., Pa., where their son three children, Paul, Irene and Ruby; Mary John now lives, and both died in 1882, he on is the wife of James King, of Vandergrift, March 15th and she on August 24th. They and their children are Vera, Eugene and
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Eveline; Edward married Maud Keppel, of Apollo, Armstrong county, and has three children, Cecil, Julia and Bessie; Harry mar- ried Maud Dettor, of Apollo, and they have two children, Dale and Edgar; Margaret is the wife of Calvin Cravenor, of Parks town- ship, Armstrong county, and they have six children, Mabel, Ernest, Claud, Brice, Viola and Hazel; Olive is married to Joseph Mans- field, of Bethel township, and has two chil- dren, Marie and Rosa.
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Mr. and Mrs. Wareham have lived to see many changes in their section and have aided in its progress, and they are held in very high estimation among their neighbors. Like her husband, Mrs. Wareham is a member of Bethel Lutheran Church.
DAVID WAREHAM, eldest son of John and Julia A. (Walters) Wareham, was born March 9, 1857, in Bethel township, where he has passed all his life. He obtained his edu- cation in the local public schools, and began at an early age to assist his father with the work on the home farm, of which he now has the entire management. The property has been undergoing steady improvement, Mr. Wareham keeping pace with the most approved methods of the day in his work, and it is a valuable and attractive farm, its appearance and fertility amply repaying the labor and expense necessary to bring it to its present condition. Besides farming he has followed carpentering and mining. For sev- eral years he has been a school director, hav- ing served five consecutive years in that office prior to his election in 1913. Mr. Wareham is a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, of which he has been a deacon for many years. Fraternally he is a member of the O. U. A. M. and the Grange, P. O. H.
JAMES B. KIFER has been engaged in business at Leechburg continuously for a period of thirty-five years, and has served twenty-seven years as a justice of the peace, "Squire" Kifer being one of the best known men in this part of Armstrong county. He was born at Leechburg, Nov. 9, 1856, son of Joseph Kifer and grandson of Michael Ki- fer. His great-grandfather was a resident of Westmoreland county, Pa., where he died.
Michael Kifer was a native of Westmore- land county, and lived there about two miles from Greensburg. He followed farming, and died upon his farm. It is remarkable that the nine children born to him and his wife died in the same order in which they were born.
Joseph Kifer, son of Michael, was born March 3, 1809, near Greensburg, Westmore- land Co., Pa., and when a young man learned the trade of hatter. When improved ma- chinery began to change the work, however, he gave it up and turned his attention to gar- dening. In his later years he came to Leech- burg, Armstrong county, where he lived in retirement until his death, which occurred Aug. 20, 1882. He was a very large and strong man. In 1837 he married Anna C. Spang, who was born June 25, 1818, daugh- ter of Jacob Spang (born Feb. 2, 1769, and died Oct. 12, 1847). Jacob Spang was of Berks county, a member of the family whose members are heirs to the large Spang estate in Europe, which the Spangs have long en- deavored to .get possession of. To Mr. and Mrs. Kifer were born nine children, five of whom died in infancy, the others being : Lucinda, Rosanna, Esther and James B.
James B. Kifer received his education at Leechburg. When fourteen years old he left high school and for the next seven and a half years was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Leechburg, selling tick- ets. On Oct. 22, 1878, he opened the station- ery store which he has ever since carried on. It was the first establishment of the kind in the place and was a success from the start, as its continued existence of thirty-five years would evidence. Mr. Kifer is probably best known, however, in his capacity of justice of the peace, to which office he was first ap- pointed, Jan. 25, 1887, by Gov. James A. Beaver, to succeed A. J. Elliott, who was then elected to represent this district in the State Legislature. He has served continuously since, by election and reëlection, having been chosen by the people on five different occa- sions. During his long period of service many cases have come up before him for trial and he has disposed of his work in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned. He is one of those justices who believe in amicable settlements whenever possible, and he always tries to have a case dismissed or settled out of court if his persuasion can arrange it so. In fact it is recognized that his efforts in this direction have saved many dollars to the county and to individual litigants who have followed his advice. It is worthy of note, and redounds to his credit, that in no case carried from his court to a higher one in all the years of his service has his decision been reversed. This is a record which is very creditable to both his legal and judicial ability.
Squire Kifer is well known in fraternal
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
circles, belonging to Leechburg Lodge, No. 9, 1812, in Westmoreland county, Pa., and 577, F. & A. M. (he was made a Mason in became a large landowner and merchant. 1889) ; to Kittanning Chapter, No. 248, R. His death occurred in Gilpin township, Arm- A. M .; Tancred Commandery; Pittsburgh
strong county, Nov. 8, 1881. His wife, who Consistory, and Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. bore the maiden name of Rachel Shirley, was M. S., of Pittsburgh. He also holds mem- bership in the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and for eleven years served as superintendent of the Sunday school.
On Jan. 19, 1881, Mr. Kifer married Eliza- beth A. Kirkpatrick, daughter of James and Sarah Kirkpatrick. They have two children, Mildred E. Bolar and Albert Eugene.
McKALLIP. The McKallip family, well known in Armstrong county, Pa., can be traced back in this country to a period ante- dating the Revolutionary war by several years at least. Its representatives have been men of honor and responsibility, whose efforts have been directed in a public-spirited way toward securing a betterment of conditions along civic reforms.
a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Pizer) Shirley. They had the following children : John, who was killed in the mines when fif- teen years old; Jane, who married Alexan- der G. (Dias) Dyess, a soldier of the Civil war; Catherine, who married and resides in Gilpin township; Henry P., who married Sarah E. Wolford and died in Leechburg; Robert W .; Elizabeth, who married Mark Marvin and lives in Gilpin township; Coul- ter, who married Josephine Klingensmith and lives in Gilpin township.
(IV) Robert W. McKallip was born March 4, 1844, in Armstrong county. In early life he was a miner. When his country had need of his services he enlisted in Com- pany H, 6th Heavy Artillery, for nine months during the Civil war. After receiving his honorable discharge he went to the oil coun- try, where he was employed for a few years. On his return he resumed mining in his na- tive county. After some time devoted to this work he went to Harrisburg, where he was sergeant of the Capitol park police. After giving faithful and efficient service in this capacity he purchased a hotel, and operated it until his death, Nov. 13, 1907. His remains are interred in Evergreen cemetery, Leech-
(I) Henry McKallip, of whom but little is known except that he was of Scotch-Irish descent, in 1774 brought his wife to America. (II) Archibald McKallip, son of Henry McKallip, was the progenitor of the family in western Pennsylvania. He was born on shipboard while his parents were crossing the ocean, in 1774. He married Catharine Kipp, of Holland-Dutch descent, who was born on the present site of Gettysburg, in burg. He was a member of Capt. J. A. Hun- ter Post, No. 123, G. A. R., of Leechburg. In politics he was a Republican. Mr. Mc- Kallip married Amanda Eliza Kistler, daugh- ter of Daniel Kistler, and she survives him, living at Bagdad, Pa. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. McKallip were: Harry W., of Leechburg ; Frank K., of Bagdad; Scott, who died at the age of six years; Lottie I., who married Winchester H. Cline; Elizabeth R., at home; Mary E., who married M. I. Big- ley; Charles F .; William W., of Bagdad ; Laura, who died at the age of two years, and
Adams county, Pa., in 1779, and died in 1844, two years after her husband passed away. They are buried in Elder's Ridge cemetery, in Indiana county, near the Armstrong county line. Both were consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church. During his earlier life Archibald McKallip taught school in Westmoreland county, and in Arm- strong county at what is now Apollo. ,He and his wife had the following children: Henry K. died in Leechburg; Hannah mar- ried John Goldinger; Nancy married Daniel Yetter; Polly married Jesse Couch; George a son that died in infancy.
W. is mentioned below; John died in West-
(V) HARRY W. McKALLIP, superintendent moreland county ; Nathaniel died in the of the West Leechburg Steel Company's coal West; Mattie married George Hawk; Abra- mines, was born at Bagdad, Pa., July 3, 1864, ham died at Freeport, Pa .; James died at son of Robert W. McKallip. He attended Parkers Landing. Archibald McKallip had two brothers: John, who married and had a family ; and Alexander, who never married, who became the owner of about three hun- dred acres of land where the battle of Gettys- burg was fought.
the local school of his native place, and when only thirteen years old began to work in the mines at Bagdad. When he attained his ma- jority he came to Leechburg and followed mining until 1897, thus gaining a practical understanding of the work, so that when he
(III) George W. McKallip was born Feb. was made superintendent of the coal mines
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
owned by the West Leechburg Steel Com- pany he was able to discharge the duties per- taining to his position efficiently and capably.
On Dec. 25, 1884, Mr. McKallip was mar- ried to Elizabeth Reidenhauer, daughter of John Reidenhauer, of Westmoreland county. They have children as follows: Henry P., Mabel A., Robert P., Walton B. and George W. Mr. McKallip is a Republican. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Royal Arcanum. Through his personal characteristics, and business efficiency, Mr. Kallip has become well known throughout his county, where his worth is recognized.
(V) CHARLES F. McKALLIP was born at Bagdad, July 27, 1877, son of Robert W. Mc- Kallip, and is now a farmer of Gilpin town- ship, and weighmaster - for the Gilpin Coal Company. Mr. McKallip attended school in Gilpin township, and commenced working in the mines at Bagdad at an early age. Until 1897 he was employed at digging coal, and was then made weighmaster, which position he still holds.
Mr. McKallip married Wilda M. Hawk, daughter of Joseph and Jane B. (Ashbaugh) Hawk. One son, William E., was born of this marriage, and died when three months old. Mr. McKallip is a Republican in poli- tics. The Hebron Lutheran Church holds his membership, and while attending service at Leechburg he is treasurer of the Bagdad Sunday school, and has served it as superin- tendent for some time.
JOHN SHANER, a farmer of Parks township, Armstrong county, one of the old- est and most highly respected residents of his section, was born Sept. 18, 1832, in West- moreland county, Pa., eldest son of Henry Shaner.
Peter Shaner, great-grandfather of John Shaner, was the founder of the family in this country. He came to America from Ger- many before the Revolutionary war, and set- tled in western Pennsylvania, along the Schuylkill river. After living there for some time he removed to Maryland, where he died. His family consisted of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, namely: Adam ; Peter ; Henry; Christopher ; David; Daniel ; John; Andrew; another son whose name is not remembered; Christian (daughter) and Catherine, whose husbands were both named Keefer; and another daughter who became Mrs. Ichus. All the sons except John and Andrew removed to western Pennsylvania about the year 1800, Adam and Henry set-
tling in Butler county ; some of their descend- ants are living in Pittsburgh. Christopher had the following children: William, Fred- erick, Joseph, Sampson, Katy (Mrs. Shafer) and Polly (married Henry Klingensmith) ; of these, Joseph and Sampson never married.
George Shaner, brother of Peter Shaner, the emigrant, fought under Washington in the American Revolution. He settled . in Westmoreland county, Pa., and some of his descendants are now living near Turtle Creek, in Allegheny county, this State.
Daniel Shaner, son of Peter the emigrant, settled near Buena Vista, in Allegheny county, about 1807. The place was then known as Brown's Ferry. His children were John (the historian of the Shaner family), William, Daniel, George, Hetty and Peggy. Shaner's station, on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, was named after Daniel Shaner, of this family.
Peter Shaner, Jr., grandfather of John Shaner, was a farmer by occupation, and lived and died in Westmoreland county. He was killed at Adamsburg. His children were: Jacob; Eli; Henry; Margaret, who died unmarried; Mrs. Henry Brewer; and one daughter who died young.
Henry Shaner, son of Peter, was born in 1809 in Allegheny township, Westmoreland county, and owned two farms in that town- ship. Besides following farming he worked in the winter time at making barrels, as well as flaxbrakes for his neighbors. He was an active man in the community, served as tax collector, was a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics was identified with the Republican party. He died Nov. 6, 1881, and is buried in Pleasant View cemetery in Westmoreland county. His wife, Catherine (Cline), daughter of Peter Cline, died in March, 1887. They had a large family, viz .: John is mentioned below; Daniel lives in Gil- pin township, Armstrong county ; Henry lives in Gilpin township; William, who now lives in Allegheny township, Westmoreland county, served during the Civil war in Com- pany C, 139th Pennsylvania Regiment, and was wounded at Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864; Catherine is the widow of John Keppel and resides in Parks township, where she has a farm; Peter enlisted June 8, 1861, in the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, and was killed at the battle of Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862; Eli is living on the old home- stead in Westmoreland county; Andrew, twin of Eli, died when five years old; David lives at Apollo, Pa. (he is the father of Sher-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
John Shaner, son of Henry, attended pub- lic school in his native county, and continued to live at home, assisting his father, until he was twenty-two years old. After that he was in the employ of Mrs. Owens for two years, doing farm work, and for one year employed elsewhere. He then married and started farming on his own account, on the old homestead. After living there for two and a half years he removed to Armstrong county, where he took care of his brother Daniel's coal land, looking after the latter's interests during his service and absence on account of the Civil war. He then removed to the David Kepple farm in what is now Parks township, remaining there for about one and a half years, after which he bought the James Hunter farm of 107 acres in Parks township. Kiskiminetas river, and has become a valu- able piece of property under his intelligent cultivation and excellent management. Mr. Shaner has had the good fortune never to lose a day's work because of illness during his residence there, and although he is in his eightieth year is still actively interested in the farm work. He has served his fellow citizens in the office of township supervisor, and for six years he was an elder of the First Lutheran Church of Leechburg, in which he holds membership. He is identified with the Republican party in politics.
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Mr. Shaner was married to Hannah E. Seese, daughter of William Seese, who came to this country from Germany. They have become the parents of nine children: Annie married Thomas M. Klingensmith; Ida mar- ried G. B. Gourley ; Henry W. D. died when eleven months, eleven days old; George mar- ried Florence Kunkel; Finley married Jennie Goodsill; Elsie, deceased, was the wife of Henry Wangaman; Lizzie M., unmarried, lives at home; John S., who married Lillie Shaner, lives at home and is engaged in farm- ing the home place; Mattie is married to Charles Carnahan.
WILSON BOWSER is well known in his section of Armstrong county, having been a successful farmer and popular official of East
iff Thomas Shaner, of Armstrong county) ; Thomas, a contractor, resides at Warren, Pa .; Caroline is the widow of Isaac Heckman and resides in Gilpin township; Rebecca, widow Franklin township, where he has passed all of William Frederick, resides in Westmore- his life. He was born there Jan. I, 1840, son of William Bowser and grandson of Valen- tine Bowser. land county ; Solomon is living at New Kingston, Pa .; Zacharias is living at the old homestead in Westmoreland county; Eliza- beth married Joseph McGeary, of Butler, Pennsylvania.
Valentine Bowser was from Lancaster county, Pa., and was the first of this branch of the Bowser family to come to Armstrong county. He settled in East Franklin town- ship, obtaining wild land which he cleared. He was a stonemason by trade. He and his wife died in East Franklin township. Their children were: William, Peter, Valentine, Jacob, Abraham, Mathias, Mrs. Toy, Peggy (Mrs. Jonas Bowser) and Mrs. Noah Bow- ser.
William Bowser, son of Valentine, was born in East Franklin township, Armstrong county, and grew up there, receiving his edu- cation in the common schools. He was mar- ried to Mary Ann Bowser, of Armstrong county, whose children were: Noah, Sam- uel, George, Mary Ann, Catherine, Eliza, Sally and Margaret. After marriage Wil- liam Bowser and his wife settled on a farm in East Franklin township. In his early life It lies three miles above Leechburg, along the he was a shoemaker, later becoming a farmer, and he was well known and respected among his fellow citizens. He never aspired to of- fice, but was a stanch Democrat in politics. In religion he united with the Lutheran Church. He and his wife died in East Franklin township. They had six sons and four daughters; Wilson; Robert, who is de- ceased; Frank, living in Illinois; William Curtis, farmer in East Franklin township; Calvin, a farmer in East Franklin township; Albert, a farmer in Cowanshannock town- ship; Elizabeth, who married William Wiley (both are deceased) ; Jane, married to John Wooford, of Indiana county, Pa .; Mary, de- ceased, who was the wife of M. S. Kerr; and Emma, who married M. H. McGeary; of South Buffalo township, this county.
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