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 81
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Jonas Wise, father of Mrs. George J. Smith, was born May 11, 1821, in Dauphin county, and died April 29, 1894. His father, John Wise, was a blacksmith of Dauphin county, where he and his wife, whose maiden name was Bordner, are buried. They had children as follows: Adam, George, Daniel, Jacob,
Jonas Wise received his education in the
George J. Smith, the father of the above schools of Dauphin county. In 1864 he moved
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
to Red Bank township, Armstrong county, and settled near Little Mudlick, buying a tract of sixty acres, where he carried on gen- ral farming. He was twice married, first to Sarah Fite, who was born Dec. 28, 1823, in Dauphin county, and died in November, 1864,
in Little Mudlick, Armstrong county. Her father was John Fite and her mother's maiden name was Will. Five children were born to this marriage: Samuel, deceased, who mar- ried Mary Kunselman, lives at Langville, Jef- ferson county ; Jerry is unmarried; Isaac F., who married Annie Mohoney, lived for a time at Elmira, N. Y., has returned to New Beth- lehem, Clarion county, in October, 1913; Emma Jane married John Schaffer, of Red Bank township; Savilla C. is Mrs. Smith. Jonas Wise married for his second wife Eliza- beth Lankard, daughter of John and Mar- garet (Anderlive) Lankard, and to them were born three children: John, who married Caro- line Barr; Jacob, twin of John, who has been three times married, his first wife being An- nie Hinterliter, his second Mrs. London, his third Martha ; and Lettie Fiana, wife of James Wilson Nolf, of Fairmount City, Clarion county. John and Jacob Wise are both min- isters of the gospel. Jonas Wise and his two wives are buried at New Salem, in Red Bank township. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but afterward became a Republi- can. He was a member of the Evangelical Church at Little Mudlick.
ARCHIE F. RAIRIGH, carpenter and contractor of Cowanshannock township, was born in that township, on a portion of the farm where he now resides, March 16, 1852, a son of William and Elizabeth (Knisley) Rairigh.
William Rairigh was born in 1796, in Shen- andoah Valley, Virginia, and became a pion- eer of what is now Cowanshannock town- ship, Armstrong county, Pa., Here he lines. cleared and improved a homestead, a por- tion of which is owned by his son Archie F., and died upon it in 1878, in his eighty-third year. He married twice, his first wife being Barbara Brilhart, who bore him three chil- dren: Lavina, who married George Mealey ; Moses, and Jesse. By his second marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth (Knisley) Zimmerman, born in Bedford county, Pa., he had four children : Catharine, who married George Clark; Wil- liam K .; Solomon A. and Archie F. By her first marriage Mrs. Elizabeth Rairigh had three children : Elias; Esther, who married Robert Martin ; and John.
Archie F. Rairigh was reared on his father's homestead and sent to the public schools of the neighborhood. When only eighteen years old, in 1869, he began his business career as a painter, and followed that trade for fifteen years, in 1885 commencing to work as a car- penter. His business grew to such an extent that since 1892 he has been devoting himself to contracting and building, and with the excep- tion of three years, when he was at Pittsburgh and Vandergrift, he has spent his life on the old homestead. Among other important con- tracts he has carried out have been the follow- ing: The erection of the Presbyterian church at Rural Valley in 1892 ; the Cumberland Pres- byterian church at Yatesboro; the Appleby Manor church, near Ford City, in 1891, and the reconstruction of the same edifice in 1908; the building of the Baptist church of East Franklin township in 1893 ; the carpenter work on the Sagamore public school building in 1906 and the Scotdale public school building in Cowanshannock township in 1911 ; the design- ing of the public school building in Rural Val- ley in 1911; the designing and erection of the Rural Valley National Bank building in 1911, one of the best bank buildings in the county ; as well as other work of less importance.
In 1875 Mr. Rairigh married Catherine Nichols, daughter of Charles and Lidy (For- sythe) Nichols, of Pine township, this county. They have had children as follows: Winona, who married Charles Mckinley ; Lenora, who married Ralph McKenny; Lawrence; Lu- cretia, who is deceased; Esmerelda, who mar- ried Woodford Rankin; Delcy B., who mar- ried Harry Gilmore, and Ruby M., who mar- ried George Keys. Mr. Rairigh is serving his second term as overseer of the poor of Cowan- shannock township. In politics he is a Repub- lican. In every relation of life he has proved himself a man of the highest integrity and his success has been attained along legitimate
WILLIAM M. KNEPSHIELD has been a lifelong resident of Burrell township, where he owns a fine farm of 200 acres. His family is of German origin, his great-grandfather, Barnhard Knepshield having been a native of Germany. He belonged to a fine family, and was educated for the Catholic priesthood, but the church did not appeal to him and he left it, becoming a Lutheran. While still young he came to America, and he served the Colonial cause as a surgeon during the Revolution, after which he went to Porto Rico, practicing surgery there for a few years. From there
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he returned to the United States, living in township, a farmer, and has two children, one. South Carolina for some time, and later in son and one daughter; Cora Edna was born July 3, 1890; Emma Adelaide, Oct. 14, 1893 ; Thelma, Jan. 12, 1896; Anna Mabel, Oct. 8, 1899 (died aged eleven years) ; William Har- old, April 7, 1903. York county, Pa., where he died at an ad- vanced age, universally respected. He never went back to Germany to claim his share of the estate to which he was entitled. His great- grandson, William M. Knepshield, still has Mr. Knepshield and his family are members of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Brick Church, and he has served faithfully as deacon, secretary and treasurer. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Lodge No. 1076, of Elderton. the case in which he carried his instruments. His papers were destroyed in a fire at Leech- burg which burned the residence of his daugh- ter Susanna, wife of John Knepshield. Dr. Knepshield spoke seven languages.
John Knepshield, son of Barnhard, had a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, Samuel, George, Catherine, John, Lany, Susanna, Jacob and Michael.
Samuel Knepshield, son of John and father of William M. Knepshield, was born March 29, 1818, in York county, Pa. After living two years in Ohio he came to Westmoreland county, Pa., where he remained a few years, thence moving to Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong Co., Pa. He made his home there for twelve years, during which time he mar- ried, at the end of that period moving to Kit- tanning township, where he lived for seven years. Moving back to Kiskiminetas town- ship, he resided there for eighteen months, and then settled in Burrell township, on the farm now occupied by his son William. He died July 6, 1884. In 1840 he married Mary Ann Remaley, of Kiskiminetas township, who was born in June, 1823, one of the nine children (four sons and five daughters) born to An- thony and Lydia (Naley) Remaley of that township. Mrs. Knepshield died in 1904, aged eighty-one years.
William M. Knepshield was born on the old farm in Burrell township June 26, 1862. He has been a very successful farmer, and his valuable property, which comprises 200 acres, is in excellent condition under his efficient management. Grain, hay and stock are his principal products. His interest in public af- fairs has led him to take some part in the local government, and he has served as con- stable and for several terms as school director.
WILLIAM LESLIE, of the firm of Leslie & Gibson, dealers in men's furnishings, cloth- ing and shoes, and mayor of the city of Parker, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born at Parker Dec. 4, 1879, son of Dr. Henry and Catherine (Griffin) Leslie.
The Leslie family is Scotch and many of the name came to America prior to the Revo- lutionary war. There is proof that many Les- lies served in the patriot army, one of whom became a high ranking officer.
Dr. Henry Leslie was born at Mauch Chunk, Pa., and there married Catherine Griffin, who was born in the city of Boston. In 1868 they came to Parker City, where Dr. Leslie suc- cessfully practiced medicine until 1883. when he died at the age of fifty years. His widow and three children still survive, the latter be- ing: Thomas G., who is a lawyer in practice at Bristol, Pa., and also at Philadelphia; and Josephine and William, both of whom reside at Parker City.
William Leslie was reared in his native place and attended the public schools. His business life began as a clerk in the clothing and men's furnishings line at Parker, in 1898, and he continued therein until 1905, when he became a member of the firm of Leslie & Co., which style continued until July 24, 1911, when the firm became Leslie & Gibson. This firm carries a fine line of goods, and the house is one of the progressive, up-to-date business concerns of the place, enjoying a large trade. The firm stands high both in its own line and with the public.
On June 5, 1884, Mr. Knepshield married Emma Pierce, of Plum Creek township, daughter of James and Sarah (Harrold) Pierce, both of whom are deceased. Seven children, one son and six daughters, have been born to this marriage: Essie Jane, born Dec. 17, 1885, married Charles Davis, of Burrell township, who is now employed by the West- inghouse Company at East Pittsburgh, and has one child; Mary Wilmina, born Sept. 22, Church. Politically he is a Democrat, and in 1887, married Charles Peters, of Burrell
William Leslie married Jennie E. Palmer, daughter of George and Mary (Daly) Palmer, of Parker City, and one son of that marriage survives, William George. Mr. Leslie subse- quently married (second) Bertha Watt, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Timlin) Watt, of Edenburg, Clarion Co., Pa. Mr. Leslie is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic December, 1911, entered upon his duties as.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
mayor of Parker City, to which office he was elected in the preceding month, for a term of four years. Mayor Leslie is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and be- longs also to the order of Eagles, both at Parker City.
JAMES D. CLARK, fruit grower and farmer in Gilpin township, Armstrong county, was born in Kiskiminetas township, this coun- ty, April 20, 1868, a son of Jacob W. Clark and a grandson of Henry Clark.
Henry Clark was for many years a farmer in Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, and died there when aged seventy years. He married Magdalina Knepshield, and they had the following children: Susanna, George W., Jacob W., John K., Martha, Mary, Nancy, Margaret, Ida and Henry.
Jacob W. Clark, son of Henry, was born Aug. 21, 1847, on the old farm of his parents, where he grew to manhood. He has engaged in farming all his life, and resides on his val- uable estate of ninety acres, which is situated in Parks township. He is a well known and respected man, and is at present serving as supervisor of his township. He married Catherine A. Shutt, daughter of Michael Shutt, of Spring Church, Armstrong county, and they have five sons : James D., Harry M., Grover C., Allen C. and William J.
James D. Clark was reared on the home farm and attended the country schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Parsons, Kan., remaining there one year and returning to the homestead after this glimpse of western life. When twenty-one years old he began farming for himself and remained twelve years in Burrell township, moving from there to his native township, in which he lived for seven years. In 1906 he bought the Capt. Henry Truby farm in Gilpin township, con- taining 104 acres, and has developed into one of the foremost fruit growers in western Penn- sylvania. He has orchards of choice varieties covering twenty-three and a half acres of his valuable farm, and to this industry he gives constant personal attention. His success along this line has made him well known, and he is looked upon as an authority in everything con- cerning the raising of fruit. During the har- vest seasons he gives employment to quite an army of men and boys and during the blos- soming season his fruit farm, just one mile east of Leechburg, is a scene of beauty that attracts many admiring visitors.
Mr. Clark married Anna Remaly, a daugh- ter of W. R. Remaly, and they have six chil-
dren : Charles J., Howard E., Ada E., Robert H., James E. and Lawrence D. Mr. Clark and family are members of the Hebron Lutheran Church' at Leechburg. He casts his vote with the Democratic party, but takes no part other than a good citizen's interest in political mat- ters.
DAVID WOLFF, grocer of Oak Ridge, is one of the leading citizens of that village. He was born in Washington township, Armstrong county, March 27, 1857, son of Solomon and Catherine (Christman) Wolff, both also na- tives of Washington township.
David Wolff, his grandfather, was one of the early settlers in Washington township, where he owned two hundred acres of land along the Allegheny river, opposite Mahoning. He cleared a large part of it, and died there at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife was Polly Henry, and their children were: John; Jacob; Absalom; Daniel; Sarah, who married Benjamin Leasure; Betsey, who mar- ried Frederick Christman; Polly; Andrew, and Solomon.
Solomon Wolff, father of David, was a farmer, and died on the old Wolff homestead, Jan. II, 1864. His wife, who was Catherine Christman, died a few years previous. She was the daughter of John and Ann (Christ- man) Christman, pioneers of Washington township. Solomon and Catherine Wolff had four children, viz .: Sarah (deceased), David, John Wesley, and Catherine (deceased).
David Wolff was born and reared in Wash- ington township, where he attended the com- mon schools, and began life as a farmer. Later he engaged in coal mining. He resided in Washington township until June, 1882, when he moved to Oak Ridge in Red Bank township, where he has since resided, and he engaged in mining for thirty years after com- ing here. He also conducted a barber shop, and July 1, 1912, embarked in the grocery business at Oak Ridge, in which he is meeting with gratifying success.
On Dec. 25, 1877, Mr. Wolff married Jennie, daughter of Michael and Mary J. (Wolf) Fink, of Washington township, and grand- daughter of Michael and Margaret (Early) Wolf, who were pioneer settlers of Pine town- ship. Her maternal great-grandfather, An- drew Early, was a pioneer of Pine township, where he took up a large tract of land and where he died. A part of this tract is still owned by his descendants.
Mr. and Mrs. David Wolff were the parents of four children: Pearl, wife of Rolston
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Doverspike; Mary Willa; Jay Edwin, and painter at Rankin, Pa. Returning to Brady's Violet Ethel. Mrs. Wolff has conducted a Bend, he was there for ten years engaged in millinery store at Oak Ridge since 1894, and has an excellent trade. The family are mem- bers of the M. E. Church at Oak Ridge, and Mr. Wolff is a member of New Bethlehem Lodge, No. 725, I. O. O. F., of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and of the United Mine Workers. He is one of the school directors of Red Bank township, and served two terms as assistant assessor. In politics he is a stanch Republican. lumbering, owning a complete outfit and giv- ing employment to seven men. He still owns sixty acres of timberland in Fairview town- ship, Butler Co., Pa., as well as a 150-acre farm in Brady's Bend township, which is con- veniently located three-quarters of a mile northwest of Kaylor on the new road between Kaylor and Karns City. Mr. Hillwig put up his present excellent buildings and developed his farm considerably. It was a property that had not been operated for thirty years and was known as the Jameson farm. Some idea of the extent of Mr. Hillwig's operations can be gained from the fact that he employs ten men and carries on general farming.
In 1901 Mr. Hillwig was married to Olive Flick, who was born in Toby township, Clarion Co., Pa., daughter of Benjamin and Nancy Flick, residents of the above named township. Mr. and Mrs. Hillwig have had four children : Harold, who was born at Swissvale, Pa .; and Iva, Edna and Adel, who were all born in Brady's Bend township.
Fraternally Mr. Hillwig belongs to the Odd Fellows at Kaylor, the Knights of Pythias at Brady's Bend, and the Encampment at Chi- cora, but has held no offices therein. He also belongs to the Grange, of which he is now secretary, and has been the local chairman for two terms. The Baptist Church holds his membership and he is now serving it as treas- urer. Politically he is a Republican, and has been auditor of his township. A man of pro- gressive ideas, he has forged ahead, and is now considered one of the leading farmers of his locality.
THOMAS M. KLINGENSMITH, a farm- er of Gilpin township, Armstrong county, was born in that township Jan. 28. 1854, a son of Henry W. and Esther ( Myers) Klin- gensmith. His paternal great-grandfather, who came to western Pennsylvania from Ger- many, was the founder of the family in this country.
Adam Klingensmith. son of the founder. was born in 1804. and died in 1871. He set- tled in what is now Parks township. Arm- strong county, Pa., where he owned a farm of sixty acres, operating it in conjunction with hewing timber for barns. His remains are interred at the Forks Church, in Gilpin town- ship. His wife Jennie (Shoop) was born in 1809. and died in 1876. Their children were : David, who went West; Henry W .;
Philip F. Hillwig grew up in his native township, attending school there, and then for four or five years worked as a carpenter and Abraham, of Armstrong county; Adam, who
Mr. Wolff and Mr. A. H. McArmich were the founders of the M. E. Church at Oak Ridge. As treasurer of the congregation, all the material used in its construction was charged to Mr. Wolff, and the responsibility was a hard one. It is now entirely paid for and one of the finest churches in the county. Mr. Wolff is one of those energetic men who accomplish all they undertake to do, and do it well. He is public-spirited and has made him- self valuable as a citizen and office holder in his township and county.
PHILIP F. HILLWIG, a farmer of Brady's Bend township, Armstrong county, was born in that township Nov. 25, 1874, son of John C. Hillwig.
The father was born in Germany, whence he came to Brady's Bend township in young manhood. Here he married a girl by the name of Merchant and had three children, William, Lewis and John, all of whom are still living, William at Greensburg, Pa .; Lewis at East St. Louis, Ill .; John at Mt. Pleasant, Pa. His wife having died Mr. Hillwig again married, his second wife being Mrs. Harriet (Parker) Long, of Brady's Bend, the widow of George W. Long, who was killed in the Civil war. She had two children by Mr. Long who are living, Lyman L., of Braddock, Pa., and Mrs. Hattie Stewart, of Karns City, Pa. Mr. Hill- wig had four children by his second wife, all of whom are living: George N., at Los An- geles, Cal .; Samuel P., at Kaylor, Pa .; Philip F .; and Aaron Roy, at Karns City, Pa. The father died April 22, 1908, at the age of seventy-six years. The mother survives and makes her home with her son-in-law, Archie Stewart, who lives on the old homestead. During nearly all his active life Mr. Hillwig was a miner. Fraternally he was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
went West, and Peter, of Armstrong county. 1907. It is a beautiful farm, located along
Henry W. Klingensmith was born in Al- legheny (now Parks) township, this county, in 1829, and developed from a carpenter into a contractor and lumber dealer. During his useful life he became a well-known man, one whose honesty was proverbial. His death occurred at Leechburg, Pa., May 30, 1910, when he was eighty-one years of age, and his remains lie in the Forks cemetery. His first wife, Esther Myers, born Feb. 20, 1832, died July 9, 1868, the mother of the following named children: Susanna, deceased; Thomas M .; Leanda, who married William S. Miller ; Aaron, deceased; Philip, of, Westmoreland county ; Jeremiah, of Gilpin township; Win- chester, of Gilpin township; Margaret, who married Philip Brothers ; and Laban, who was killed by a train. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Klingensmith married (second) Sina Craig, born Nov. 28, 1834, who died Nov. 8, 1903. By this marriage he be- came the father of four children: Augustus J., of Leechburg; Clarissa, of Leechburg; a daughter that died in infancy ; and Henry, of Leechburg. Mr. Klingensmith's third mar- riage was to the widow of Finley Shuster, and she survives, making her home at Leechburg. There were no children by the third union. Mr. Klingensmith belonged to that high class of men whose sense of honor was so strong that their verbal promise was accepted as an- other man's written bond would be. During the years he lived in Parks township he made his influence felt, always directing it toward securing the betterment of existing conditions, and a general moral uplift. His loss was deeply felt in the community in which he had spent his life.
Thomas M. Klingensmith attended Mt. Joy school No. 7, in Gilpin township, until he was sixteen years old, when he left to devote all of his attention to helping his father in his various undertakings, thus securing a thor- ough training and laying the foundation for a life of useful endeavor. When he was twenty-six years old he married, and leaving the parental roof began teaming for Kirk- patrick & Co., at Leechburg, who conducted the rolling mill there. For ten years he con- tinued in this line, the last eighteen months being labor boss. Having secured valuable experience and connections he embarked in business for himself, and for a quarter of a century operated a flourishing teaming busi- ness. Preferring to spend the remainder of his life on a farm, he bought his present prop- erty in Gilpin township, moving upon it in
the Kiskiminetas river, following the line of Parks township. The property consists of fifty-seven acres of valuable land, and is un- derlaid with fine soft coal, which Mr. Klingensmith has sold. He raises peaches and apples, having a magnificent orchard, and sells in the Leechburg markets, which he attends personally, and where he is one of the best known dealers.
On Jan. 19, 1878, Mr. Klingensmith was married to Annie M. Shaner, daughter of John Shaner, of Parks township. They have the following children : Homer W., of Leech- burg, employed at the steel mill; John T., of Gilpin township, also employed at the steel mill, at Hyde Park, and Levern S., who is at school.
Mr. Klingensmith is a Republican, but has never entered public life. The Lutheran Church holds his membersrip, and he is active in the Sunday school. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows, being past grand of his lodge and prominent in the encampment. In everything he has undertaken Mr. Klingen- smith has proved himself a man of resource, quick to take advantage of opportunities as presented, and he is justly numbered among the leading men of Gilpin township.
JAMES E. CLAYPOOLE, manager and superintendent of the Buffalo Woolen Mills, at Worthington, Pa., was born in 1850, in West Franklin township, Armstrong Co., Pa., a son of James and Mary J. Claypoole, grand- son of George Claypoole and great-grandson of James Claypoole.
James Claypoole was born near Phila- delphia, Pa., and at a very early day endeav- ored to establish a home in Manor township, Armstrong county, but was driven away by the Indians. Some years afterward he re- turned to Manor township and was one of the early settlers, seeing much hardship but successfully defending himself and family from further Indian attacks.
George Claypoole, son of James, was born in Armstrong county and his life was spent in agricultural work. He married a mem- ber of the Campbell family, and they had the following children: James, George, Abra- ham, Joseph, Margaret, Rebecca, Mary Ann, and Lucretia. George Claypoole died in the year 1858, at the age of ninety-two years.
James Claypoole, son of George and father of James E. Claypoole, was born and reared in Armstrong county and followed the peace- ful life of a farmer. He was a man of sound
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
judgment and at times was elected to town- purchased and cleared a large tract of land ship offices. His first marriage was to Jane in Franklin township, making a permanent Sloan, who died without issue, and his sec- home on that place, where he died. He was ond union was with Mary J. Black. Five chil- dren were born to them, namely: James E., George H., Maggie A., John S. and Mary E. The father of the above family died in 1883, and the mother in 1896. They were faithful members of the Presbyterian Church.
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