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 71
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Solomon T. Shumaker, son of Joseph, is a prominent man in his locality. He fol- lows farming in Mahoning township, where-
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he owns and occupies a part of the old home- After the war was over Mr. Fiscus returned stead farm where his grandfather settled in to Armstrong county and two months after- 1814. He married Alice Mock, and they are ward became an employee in the old sheet the parents of Olive, Mrs. Ells P. Barrett.
JOHN M. FISCUS, a well-known resident of Apollo, now retired from active business, was born Dec. II, 1841, in Valley township, Armstrong Co., Pa., son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Martin) Fiscus, also natives of Pennsylvania.
Christopher Fiscus, his grandfather, was born in France, and from that country came to America during the latter part of the joying well-earned rest. His life has been eighteenth century. For a number of years he was engaged in farming in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties, Pa., and became a
On July 26, 1863, Mr. Fiscus was married man of large estate, owning at one time 600 to Anna M. Stivison, a daughter of William acres of excellent land in Armstrong County. He had several sons and daughters.
Abraham Fiscus, son of Christopher, was born in 1791 in what is now Burrell town- ship, Armstrong Co., Pa., and died at the age of sixty-nine years. He took an active part in the affairs of his time, serving as a soldier in the war of 1812, and later was a party his support, but has been no office seeker leader in the public affairs of the communi- himself. ties in which he lived. He served as one of the first officers of Valley township, when it was organized in 1835. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, in politics a Republican. He farmer in Wayne township, was born in May. was twice married, his first wife, a Miss 1828, in Ireland.
Ourie, leaving seven children, and his second
Alexander Campbell, his father, was born wife, Elizabeth Martin, died in 1853, the in County Down, Ireland, in 1797, and died mother of eight children. She was a daugh- ter of John Martin, a resident of Allegheny township, Armstrong county. The children of the second marriage were: Sarah J., Sid- ney, Elizabeth, John M., William, Harry, Hugh and Amanda.
John M. Fiscus attended school until he was fourteen years of age and remained at home until his father died, after which the family moved to Allegheny township, Arm- strong county, and on Sept. 3, 1861, he en- listed for service in the Civil war, entering Company K, 78th Pa. Vol. Inf. He served faithfully until March, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability, but by no means gave up his ambition to serve his country. As soon as his health was re- stored he reenlisted, on Sept. 3, 1864, enter- ing Company H, 5th Pa. Vols., of which com- pany he became sergeant, and served in this capacity until June 30, 1865. His command was known as Battery H, Heavy Artillery, and was stationed in front of Washington, D. C., at Manassas, and on the Rapidan river.
iron mill at Apollo, afterward being advanced to the position of a heater and continuing as such until 1874, when he went to Pittsburgh. There he became a sheet roller in the rolling mill of Moorhead, McClean & Co. In June, 1887, he returned to Apollo and entered the Apollo rolling mill as a sheet roller, and con- tinued to perform the difficult duties of that responsible position until a few years ago, when he retired from hard work and is en- one of industry and he has always commanded the respect of his fellow citizens.
Stivison, and six children have been born to them, as follows: Lizzie C., wife of M. E. Haddick; William S .; Lolla M .; Hugh W .; Logan T., and Mr. Fiscus and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically a Republican, he has always given the candidates of that
ALEXANDER B. CAMPBELL, late of Dayton, Armstrong county, for many years a July 10, 1872. Two of his brothers, Mark and William Campbell, came to America with him, the former settling near Echo, in Wayne township, Armstrong county, where he reared a family, while William settled in Manor township, and there reared his family. Alex- ander came to America in 1836, and settled in what is now Wayne township, Armstrong county, buying 260 acres of wooded land, sit- uated three miles west of Dayton. He cleared his land and followed farming until his death. He was one of the early members of St. Michael's Episcopal Church and was buried in the cemetery adjoining it. He married Mar- garet Culbertson, born in 1793, who died Nov. 5, 1882, aged eighty-nine years, four months. They had the following children: Isabella and Martha, both of whom died unmarried: Mich- ael, who died on the old homestead; William, who resides at Dayton ; Alexander B .; Samuel, who died on the old farm ; Margaret, who died unmarried ; John, who died at Dayton in 1883; and Ellen, who died unmarried.
Alexander B. Campbell accompanied his
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parents to America. Farming became his occupation, and he bought 150 acres of land in Wayne township, on which he resided for some time. Then, with his brother Michael, he bought another farm, of about 150 acres, which they operated until 1884, when Alex- ander B. Campbell retired from active life and moved to Dayton, and there his death oc- curred in May, 1909. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was buried in the Glade Run cemetery. He was a Republican in politics and was a well known and highly respected man, but would never accept any office except that of school director. He married Nancy J. Borland, who died Aug. 4, 1894, when aged sixty years. Her father was William Borland, of Armstrong county. They had the following children : John, George and an infant daughter, all deceased ; and Florence, W. Newton, Alfred L., James and Nellie. Florence, Nellie and Alfred all reside at Dayton, where they erected a fine residence in 1911. James is a telegraph oper- ator and resides at Dayton ; he married a Miss Ross. Alfred L., who was born June 20, 1871, has been engaged upon the home farm.
W. Newton Campbell was born Aug. 4, 1868, on the homestead farm in Wayne town- ship, and was reared there, attending the public schools. In 1908, he came to Dayton and erected a comfortable residence here. He married Catherine E. Beck, a daughter of John W. Beck, of Wayne township, and they have three children: Mabel M., Mansel M. and John A. The family belongs to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which he is stew- ard. Politically he is a Republican.
J. A. JAMES, physician and surgeon, P. O. Yatesboro, Armstrong County, Pennsyl- vania.
HARMON SHULTZ, a farmer, residing on his tract of five acres situated on the Kit- tanning road one mile south of the Brady's Bend road, in Brady's Bend township, owns also two other pieces of farm property, nine acres in Sugar Creek township, and forty- three acres which he recently purchased. He is a miner as well as farmer. He was born near Slate Lick, Armstrong Co., Pa., Jan. 2, 1863, son of August and Caroline (Houser) Shultz.
and five children were born to them: Annie, who is the wife of Miles Daugherty, of New- mansville, Clarion Co., Pa .; Frederick, who is a farmer in Forest county, Pa .; Caroline, widow of Charles Garner ; Harmon; and Ed- ward, who is chief of the police force at But- ler, Pa. When August Shultz first came to Pennsylvania, he settled at Saxonburg, in But- ler county, but soon after went to Freeport, Pa., and subsequently worked in the woolen mills of Butler and Kittanning. In 1869 he began to mine coal in Brady's Bend, after which for fifteen years he was engaged in weaving carpets. He died in 1899 at the age of seventy-eight years, and was buried in the cemetery at Brady's Bend, by the side of his wife, who had died in 1883, aged fifty-three years. They were members of the German Lutheran Church. He voted with the Re- publican party, but was not much of a poli- tician.
Harmon Shultz attended school in Brady's Bend township until sixteen years of age, when he went to Forest county, working in the woods there for seven years and then re- turning to Brady's Bend township. In the fall of 1913, he bought a farm of forty-three acres near the old homestead.
On May 10, 1885, Mr. Shultz was married to Minnie Shong, daughter of Anthony and Margaret (Deisel) Shong, early settlers in this township, and they became the parents of six children: Annie, who died in 1903, aged fifteen years; Harmon, Jr., who is a miner ; Tillie, who attended the Slippery Rock State Normal School, is a music teacher and also teaches school, having been engaged three consecutive terms in Brady's Bend township ; Wesber, who is a coal miner ; and Elmer and Earl, both of whom are going to school. The family belongs to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Shultz has been a lifelong Republican, but has never accepted any public office except that of school director, having been on the school board since 1904, with the exception of one year. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Chicora, and to the Odd Fellows at Brady's Bend, withdrawing from there to join East Brady Lodge (he has been an official in his lodge).
EDWARD MOORE, general manager and foreman of the Moore Mining Tool Com- pany, of Oakland (post office New Bethlehem), Armstrong county, has been associated with that concern since it was established, and has followed the same business all his life. Sit-
August Shultz was born in Saxony, Ger- many, where he was reared, and there learned the business of weaving broadcloth. Three years before coming to America he married Caroline Houser, also a native of Germany, uated in a mining region, where the demand
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for such tools is constant, the Moore Com- est to A. D. Smith, of Pittsburgh, who has pany has a reputaton second to none for the since been associated with Edward Moore as quality and perfection of its products.
Mr. Moore was born in Mahoning town- ship, Armstrong county, July 21, 1867, and has passed most of his life there. He belongs to an old Pennsylvania family, his great- grandfather, John Moore, having been a pio- neer of Donegal township, Butler county, where he cleared and improved the farm upon which he resided until his death. His wife's maiden name was Nelson.
Jesse Moore, son of John, was born in Butler county, and married Rachel Bachman, a native of Luzerne county, Pa. In 1859, they settled in Mahoning township, Armstrong county, where they spent the rest of their lives.
David Moore, son of Jesse and Rachel (Bachman), was born April 21, 1837, in Done- gal township, Butler Co., Pa., and came with his parents to Mahoning township in 1859. On Aug. 28, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company H, 78th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into the army at Harrisburg, Pa., two weeks later, and joined the regiment at Nashville, Tenn. He served almost three years, taking part in the battles of Stone River, Dug Gap, McLemores Cove, Lookout Mountain, and other actions, and was honorably discharged June 22, 1865. Mr. Moore has been married three times, his first wife being Mary Jane Henry, of Mahoning township, Armstrong county, his second, Matilda Bitters, daughter of Joseph Bitters, of Blacklick Furnace, and his third, Cynthia Adams. To the second union were born five children: Edward, Eliza- beth, wife of James Anthony ; Gertrude, wife of J. A. Behem ; James G., and John H.
the Moore Mining Tool Company. The plant is equipped with the most approved modern machinery for the manufacture of mining tools for all purposes, and the output has a reputation for high quality which has brought the firm national popularity.
On Nov. 24, 1887, Mr. Moore married Clara Sample, daughter of Henderson and Cathe- rine (Jones) Sample of Oakland, and they have had nine children: Elmo, who is de- ceased ; Catherine; Michael; Samuel; Foster ; Chester ; C. A .; Pauline, and Carman.
Mr. Moore is a Seventh Day Adventist in religious connection. Socially he belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and in political associa- tion he is a Republican.
HARVEY S. SCHLEMMER, wholesale dealer in malt liquors, at Rural Valley, Arm- strong county, was born in Jefferson county, Pa., March 30, 1877, son of Frederick and Mary (Martin) Schlemmer and a grandson of John Schlemmer. The latter was a na- tive of Germany, and emigrated with his fam- ily to America. His death occurred in Ohio.
Frederick Schlemmer, son of John Schlem- mer, was born in Germany, and was ten years old when he accompanied his father to Amer- ica, the family first settling at Buffalo, N. Y. From there they moved by team to Jefferson county, Pa., where Frederick Schlemmer passed the remainder of his life, following farming as his main occupation. His death occurred in 1901, when he was aged sixty- eight years. He married Mary Martin, who survives, and they had the following children : Frederick (died young), Margaret, Elizabeth, Susan, William, Adam (deceased), Charles, Philip, Maude (deceased), Harvey S., Pearl, Jane and Clair.
Edward Moore grew up in Mahoning town- ship and was educated there in the common schools. When eighteen he began his appren- Harvey S. Schlemmer attended public school in Jefferson county and assisted his. father on the home farm, afterward being employed for three years on the construction of public works. In 1904, he embarked in the wholesale liquor business at Rural Valley and has devoted his attention to this line ever since, being the only wholesale dealer in the place. He is a stockholder in the Rural Val- ley National Bank. ticeship to the business he has since followed, the making of mining tools, serving two years. After another year's work he was appointed foreman of a tool shop at Reynoldsville, Pa., for Bell, Yates & Co., with whom he remained three years. In 1894, he embarked in busi- ness for himself at Oakland, continuing there until 1907, when his shop was burned. Af- ter this disaster he went out to Los Angeles, Cal., where he was in the employ of an auto- Mr. Schlemmer married Elizabeth Barnett, daughter of William Barnett, of Jefferson county, Pa., and they have had five children, namely: Forest F., Olene C. (deceased), Helen V., Von R. and Dale B. Mr. Schlem- mobile house for a few years, in 1910 return- ing to Oakland and rebuilding his shop. In partnership with his brother John he did busi- ness under the name of Moore Brothers for one year, his brother then selling his inter- mer and his family attend the Presbyterian
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Church. He is an active and public-spirited and he served Rural Valley as postmaster for citizen and is serving as a member of the several years. His religious affiliations were school board, having been elected to the same on the Republican ticket. He belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the faith of which he died Jan. 30, 1894, in his seventy-third year. He had been a prosper- ous merchant, successful farmer and emi- GEORGE A. GOURLEY, deceased, for nently good man, and is remembered with re- spect.
many years a farmer and merchant of Rural Valley, was born near Saltsburg, Indiana Co., Pa., Feb. 4, 1821, son of John and Martha (Scott) Gourley.
Samuel Gourley, his grandfather, was born Pa., at a very early date, there buying land which he improved until it became a valuable property, and there he died. He married Catherine Dickey, and they had several chil- dren, among them being John.
in Ireland, and came to Westmoreland county, made their homes in upper Armstrong county
John Gourley was born near Hannastown, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and there grew to manhood. He was engaged as a teacher in his native county, was a fine penman, and also an accountant and skillful surveyor, so that his services were in demand in many ways. In 1843, he moved to Armstrong county, settling in Cowanshannock township, and there he died in 1846. In 1816, he mar- ried Martha Scott, and they had fourteen children, seven of whom grew to maturity : Lavina Belinda, who married Andrew Mar- shall, of Dayton; Juliet; George A .; John; Samuel; Alexander, and Benjamin. Benja- min was a soldier during the Civil war, serv- ing in Company D, 62d Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and had been in the army four months when he died of quinsy in a hospital near Washington, D. C. Alexander was also a soldier in the same great struggle.
On Sept. 22, 1860, Mr. Gourley married Anna Earhart, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Ruppert) Earhart, of Saltsburg, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Gourley became the parents of the following children : Mary A., who married Dr. Thomas F. Stockdill; Olive B., who mar- ried Harper Ambrose; Laura B. who mar- ried George S. Hosick; and George A., Jr .. who is deceased.
MINICH. The Minich family has long been associated with this section of Pennsyl- vania, and many of its representatives have and the adjoining portion of Jefferson county for years.
Peter Minich, the grandfather of Jacob Minich, of Ringgold township, Jefferson county, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., toward the close of the eighteenth cen- tury, and moved to Ringgold township, Jeffer- son Co., Pa., in 1830. By trade he was a blacksmith, and also followed farming, and upon moving to Jefferson county located on the property now known as the John Minich farm. Peter Minich married Catherine Shade, and to their marriage came the following children: Henry is mentioned at length be- low ; Polly married a Mr. Haines and (second) Henry Shelly; Jacob was married twice, his second wife being Catherine Hollenback ; Lucetta married John Hess; Elizabeth mar- ried John Ceist, of Ringgold township; Simon married Mary Brocious. The father of those children died in 1858, when he was about sixty years old, and he and his wife are laid to rest in the grounds of the Reformed Church at North Freedom.
Henry Minich, son of Peter Minich, was
George A. Gourley was brought up on the born in Northumberland county, Pa., in 1814, homestead and had the advantage of his and came to Ringgold township, Jefferson father's instruction during his school days. Co., Pa., with his father when sixteen years In 1852 he went to Kittanning, where he old. After living there for two years he found employment as a clerk until 1856, when he came to Rural Valley and established him- self as a general merchant, continuing thus very successfully until 1879. Thereafter he devoted himself to farming and the handling of his real estate interests.
returned to his old home and married Cathe- rine Harter, of Northumberland county, by whom he had the following children: Samuel, Polly, Lucetta, Elizabeth, Catherine, Jesta, Sarah and Henry. The mother of these died and later Mr. Minich married (second) Ma- tilda Young, a daughter of William Young. They had these children : Levina, Jacob, John, Miranda, Rachel, Ida, Louisa, Robert, Grant, Elmer, Vernie, Cora, and one child who was stillborn. Henry Minich settled on the tract of land now owned by his son, Grant Minich, and carried on general farming on his prop- erty, which consisted of 210 acres. He was a successful man. When he died his farm was
Politically, Mr. Gourley was a Republican, divided into five portions, but later was bought
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up and divided into three parts by his sons John, Grant and Elmer. In addition to farm- ing Henry Minich also engaged in blacksmith- ing, being active until within a short time of his death, when he was obliged to retire on account of advancing years. Politically he was a Republican during his latter years, and he served very capably as supervisor, school director and in other township offices. For many years he was a member of the United
is buried in the graveyard of the Evangelical association in Jefferson county, together with his second wife, his first wife having been laid to rest in the Reformed Church grave- yard at North Freedom. The death of this excellent man occurred in January, 1890, when he was seventy-six years old, and his demise was mourned by the many who, knew and appreciated him. For many years he was a leading man of his locality, and his principles were of the sturdy, upright kind that make for honorable manhood and true Christianity.
JACOB MINICH, son of Henry Minich, was born April 6, 1854, in Ringgold township, Jefferson Co., Pa. His boyhood was passed in his native township, where he attended the district schools, and he assisted his father with the farm duties, also working for his father in the lumber woods. In 1878 he moved to Knox township, Jefferson Co., Pa., there clearing a tract of 175 acres of timber. In 1899 he came to Armstrong county, although he continued his lumbering interests in Jeffer- son and Clarion counties, remaining here until 19II, when he returned to Jefferson county, and is now living on and conducting a seven- acre tract at North Freedom, although prac- tically retired. In addition to his other opera- tions, Mr. Minich conducted a sawmill in Knox township, Jefferson county, for sixteen years, and was successful in this line as he had been in others. Few men understand lum- bering so thoroughly as he, for when he be- gan working in the woods he built himself a frame house there and lived in the midst of his operations. In addition to his home prop- erty Mr. Minich owns 140 acres of land in Armstrong county, three other tracts of 211, 100 and 140 acres, respectively, and 175 acres in Knox township.
Jacob Minich married Rebecca Holben, a daughter of Jacob and Amelia (Doverspike) Holben, of Langville, Jefferson county, and they have had the following children: James M. is mentioned below ; Robert married Eliza- beth Mitchell, of Clarion county, Pa .; Sarah married T. T. Roebuck, of Jefferson county ;
Charles married Pearl Boozer, of Clarion county ; Emma married R. W. Shick, of Clar- ion county ; Thomas Jacob and Nellie Ma- tilda both died in childhood.
Politically Jacob Minich is a Republican, and he held the office of school director and supervisor in Armstrong county. Formerly he was a member of the American Mechanics. and the Grangers of Jefferson county. For years he has been a member of the United Evangelical Church of North Freedom. He Evangelical Church of North Freedom, which he has served as trustee, steward and Sun- day school treasurer. During his long and useful life Jacob Minich has lived up to his sense of right and given to each man what he felt was a fair deal. Few men stand as high among those with whom they are asso- ciated as does Mr. Minich, and his prosperity has been honorably gained through steadfast endeavor.
HOLBEN. Jacob Holben, father-in-law of Jacob Minich, was born in Armstrong county, where he died March 30, 1911, aged seventy- eight years, ten months, twenty-five days. His wife, Amelia (Doverspike) Holben, died Jan. 14, 1908, aged seventy-two years, one month, seventeen days. Their children were: Jennie, who died young; Annie, who married Jacob Miller, of Oak Ridge; Rebecca (Mrs. Minich), who was born in Armstrong county, Pa., April 14, 1857, and was educated in the schools of her home township : Catherine, who married John Shaffer, of New Bethlehem ; Ellen, who married Adam Wills; Sarah, who married John Wills, a brother of Adam Wills ; Emma, who married G. W. Reddinger, of Armstrong county; Caroline, who married David Reddinger, of Clarion county; Tina, who married James Schlegel, of New Bethle- hem; Grant, who married Jennie Yundt, of Ringgold township; Margaret, Mrs. Frick, of Ohio; and Jacob and Harvey William, both of whom died young.
Mr. Holben was a farmer, and carried on extensive operations in Red Bank township. When his country had need of his services, although he was married at the time, he en- listed and served for three years, participat- ing in many important battles. Returning home he resumed farming thus continuing un- til within eight years of his death, when he moved to South Bethlehem, Armstrong county, where he rounded out his useful life. A Re- publican, he held all the township offices, and also acted as an administrator and executor in the settlement of many estates. In religious matters he was a member of the New Salem
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United Evangelical Church, but attended the Methodist Church before he died.
JAMES M. MINICH, a son of Jacob Minich, is a farmer of Red Bank township, Armstrong county. He was born in Ringgold township, Jefferson county, near the John Minich home, Jan. 8, 1876. After attending public school in both Jefferson and Armstrong counties, he worked for his father until he was twenty- four years old, when he began farming for himself, and now carries on general farming very successfully.
James M. Minich married Mrs. Ida E. (Snyder) Mitchell, who was born March 21, 1878, and educated in the schools of Jeffer- son county. She is a daughter of John H. and Lydia (Powell) Snyder, of Jefferson county, and widow of J. Mitchell. The latter was born Nov. 23, 1872, died Sept. 22, 1899, leaving one child, Fern, born May 2, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were married April II, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Minich have had three children, Texas, born Jan. 10, 1901 ; Leon, born Jan. 4, 190 -; and Juanita.
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