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 82
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James E. Claypoole attended the local schools, the Slate Lick high school and the Worthington Select School, after which he accepted a clerical position in the store of W. F. Rumberger, of Craigsville, and re- mained there for one year. From 1873 until 1886 he was a clerk in the store of Graff & Firth, of Buffalo Mills, and then was pro- moted to manager, at which time he became a stockholder as well as superintendent of the Buffalo Woolen Mills, as stated above. These mills were established in 1865. The product up to 1888 was largely flannels and stocking yarns; since then the main product has been wool bed blankets, which are in great demand today, having won their way through the excellence of their manufacture. The busi- ness is in a prosperous condition.
In 1877 Mr. Claypoole was married to Sarah E. Morrison, daughter of John C. Mor- rison, of Worthington, Pa., and they have six children, as follows: Mary Belle, who is the wife of Dr. Maxwell; Margaret F., who is the wife of James Rayburn; John N .; James A., who married a Miss Boarts; Greta, and Samuel. For forty-five years Mr. Claypoole has been an active member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been a trustee for more than forty years and a teacher in the Sunday school for over twenty years. He has been a member as well as the leader of the choir ever since he united with the church, in I868.
ISAAC E. SHUMAKER, of Madison township, Armstrong county, is one of the best known men in the northern part of Arm- strong county, and a prominent representative of a substantial old family which has been settled in that section for a century. He is a great-grandson of John Shumaker, a native of Germany, who came to America some time before the Revolution with six brothers, Solo- mon, Adam, George, Simon, Samuel and Daniel. George was the founder of another well-known branch of the family in western Pennsylvania. They settled first in Loudoun county, Va., whence John Shumaker came to Westmoreland county, Pa., about 1770. He deceased; Adam, deceased; Solomon T .;
a soldier in the war of the Revolution, in the American army, and also served during the Indian troubles in western Pennsylvania. His death was caused by injuries he had received during his army service. His wife was Mary Ann Baker, and they had two sons and three daughters, the sons being Philip and John.
Philip Shumaker, eldest son of John and Mary Ann (Baker) Shumaker, was born Jan. 25, 1784, in Westmoreland county, Pa., and died April 10, 1860. In 1814 he settled in what is now Mahoning township, Arm- strong county (his brother John coming later), taking up 400 acres of land near Oakland, 200 acres of which he sold in 1824 to a favo- rite cousin, Phillip Shumaker ; he cleared and improved the 200 acres he retained, making a fine homstead, upon which he spent the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring there. He married Elizabeth Rose, who was born Nov. 18, 1790, and survived him, dying June 12, 1863. George Rose, her father, was born near Murrysville, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and was a farmer and hotel-keeper. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shu- maker, as follows: Mary, born April 14, 1812, married Adam Smith, and died in 1887; John was born Oct. 22, 1813; Sarah, born Jan. 5, 1815, died young; Joseph, born April 9, 1819, was a minister of the German Baptist Church; Isaac was born July 27. 1821 ; Philip, was born March 2, 1825; Susanna, born July 20, 1827; married Robert Ferguson; Eliza- beth, born May 17, 1831, married M. N. Het- rick ; Samuel, was born March 12, 1834. The father was a Whig in politics until 1856, when he became a Republican. He was a member of the German Baptist Church.
Joseph Shumaker, son of Philip, was born April 9, 1819. By purchase he acquired 100 acres of his father's original homestead and passed all his days on that place, dying there in December. 1860, at the comparatively early age of forty-one years. For twenty years he was a minister of the German Baptist Church, and he was one of the most respected citi- zens of the township in his day. He married Catherine Baughman, and they had a family of twelve children, six of whom grew to ma- turity : Hannah, who was twice married, first to Peter Kimmel and later to Dr. Richard T. Pollard; Isaac E; David; Maria, who mar- ried Jacob Kimmel ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Levi,
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Daniel L .; John, deceased, and two who died in infancy.
Isaac E. Shumaker, son of Joseph and Catherine (Baughman) Shumaker, was born April 18, 1843, in what is now Mahoning township, where he was reared and educated. Since 1864 he has been a resident of Madison township. He cleared the larger part of the farm he owns and occupies, and made all im- provements which so materially add to its worth, erecting buildings, and cultivating the place in the up-to-date manner which char- acterizes all he undertakes. He also cleared the land where the town of Deanville now stands. For years he was one of the lead- ing business men of that place, having a gen- eral merchandise store there for thirty-five years, and acting as postmaster at that place for the long period of twenty-nine and a half years. Meantime, for two and a half years, he owned and conducted a store near Eden- burg, Clarion county, during the oil excite- ment. From the fall of 1865 to the fall of 1869 he was heavily interested in the huck- ster business, shipping to Pittsburgh, and kept several teams busy hauling his produce to the station. This was during the building of the low-grade division of the Allegheny Valley railroad and later at St. Charles (then Leath- erwood). For sixteen years, from his own property of 100 acres and leased land adjoin- ing, Mr. Shumaker was engaged in shipping fire clay to Rochester and Sharon, Pa., and Massillon and Newburg, Ohio, and during that time he also shipped iron ore to Kittan- ning, Pa. In 1900 he organized the Clarion Fire Brick Company, of which he is presi- dent, and the works, at St. Charles, Pa., con- sume sixty tons of fire clay per day, in the manufacture of a superior grade of fire brick, used exclusively for steel furnaces. Mr. Shu- maker has been at the head of this concern since its organization. It was his idea to drill gas wells to furnish gas for the operation of the plane, and the company now owns and operates eleven for that purpose, at a monthly expense of one thousand dollars. He is a man of vigorious mind, with the energy and ambi- tion to carry out his projects successfully, and the substantial position he occupies in the busi- ness world has been gained by his own ef- forts. His tireless industry and executive ability have enabled him to accomplish much.
wife of William Walter; Burton; May, wife of Dr. William Rolston; L. Smith, a minister of the Baptist Church; Chalmer; Esther, wife of Ernest Kramer ; Laura, deceased, who mar- ried Harry Diehl; Ernest, superintendent of the Clarion Fire Brick Works; Lillian, wife of George L. Goodhart; Albert L., and one that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker are members of the Free Baptist Church at Deanville, which he serves officially as deacon He is a Republican in political sentiment.
SAMUEL SHEARER, a general black- smith and justice of the peace of Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, was born in East Franklin township, Armstrong Co., Pa., Oct. 26, 1850, a son of John Shearer.
John Shearer was born in South Buffalo township, this county, and grew up there, re- ceiving a limited educational training and learning farming in all its details. He married Elizabeth Cornman, born in North Buffalo township, this county, daughter of George Cornman, who came from some point east of the mountains to Armstrong county. After their marriage, John Shearer and wife settled on the farm of one hundred acres owned by his mother, who was a widow, the father hav- ing died when John Shearer was a small boy. Later, however, John Shearer bought a farm of one hundred acres in East Franklin town- ship, Armstrong county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. At the time of his purchase this land was all woodland, but he developed it into a valuable farm, and was successful as an agriculturist. John Shearer and wife had children as fol- lows: George, Isaiah, Annie, Andrew, Mary, John, Absalom, Sarah Jane, Samuel, Peter G., and Catherine (who died in infancy). Polit- ically John Shearer was a Democrat, but he did not take an active part in public affairs.
Samuel Shearer, son of John Shearer, at- tended school in East Franklin township until he was seventeen years old, and then began learning blacksmithing. After com- pleting his apprenticeship he located at Foster Mills, where he has since continued to reside. For twenty-four years he was post- master at this point, continuing as such until the office was abandoned, mail now being de- livered by the Star route.
In 1873 Mr. Shearer married Kate E. Kauf- mann, a daughter of Henry Kaufmann, and the following children have been born to them : Maggie E. is deceased; John P., who married
On April 21, 1864, Mr. Shumaker married Lucinda Shumaker, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Ringer) Shumaker, of Burrell township, this county, and they have had Cora Jenkins, resides in Sugar Creek town- eleven children who reached maturity: Nettie, ship, where he is engaged in farming and
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
teaming ; Harry resides at Ellwood City, Pa .; Nannie B. is the wife of Harry W. Rose, of Craigsville, Pa .; Jesse Lee, who married Ef- fie Porterfield, resides in Sugar Creek town- ship with his father; one son died in infancy.
In addition to working at his trade Mr. Shearer is also a farmer, owning four and a quarter acres of land and for a number of years renting 200 acres, all at Foster Mills. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fel- lows lodge at Cowansville, the Encampment, I. O. O. F. at Kittanning, and the Knights of Malta at the same borough. Since casting his first vote, he has been a Republican, and he has served on the school board for twelve years, now being secretary of that body. Elected a justice of the peace for Sugar Creek township, he gave such satisfaction that he was reelected and is now serving his second term, which expires in 1914. The M. E. Church holds his membership and profits by his liberality, and there as elsewhere he is highly esteemed as an upright man.
JOHN H. LASHER, of Kittanning, paint- er and decorator, has been successfully engaged in that business in the borough for several years. He is a native of Washington township, this county, where the family has been established for several generations.
Benjamin Lasher, great-grandfather of John H. Lasher, came from east of the moun- tains and settled in what is now Washington township, Armstrong county, among the pio- neers in that region. He owned about four hundred acres of land and there passed the remainder of his life. He was married before his removal to the county.
Abram Lasher, second child of Benjamin, was born east of the mountains, and passed. practically all his life in Washington town- ship. He received a common school educa- tion and followed farming all his life, becom- ing the owner of over two hundred acres in Washington township, where he settled after his marriage, and where he and his family made many improvements. He built a shop on the farm for blacksmithing and wagon repair work, in which he engaged until obliged to retire because of old age. He married Mar- garet Gould, a native of Madison township, this county, and to them were born a family of eight children, namely : Benjamin, Daniel, Abe, George, Nick, Johnston, William and Wyland, the last named being now the only survivor. The father died aged seventy-seven years, six months, fourteen days, the mother aged seventy-five years. both passing away on
the farm, and they are interred in the Lime- stone cemetery on that property. Mr. Lasher was a member of the Church of God. In poli- tics he was a Republican, and actively inter- ested in the success of the party, though he never held any offices. Upon his death his son William inherited that part of the old homestead upon which the residence and buildings were located.
Wyland Lasher, son of Abram, was born March 4, 1850, in Washington township, Arm- strong county, where he passed all of his act- ive years. He received his education in the public schools there. He assisted his father greatly in the improvement of the old home- stead, and he received fifty-nine acres of the northern part of that property, situated one mile north of Montgomeryville, in Washing- ton township, upon which he erected buildings and engaged in general farming on his own account. Agricultural work was always his principal occupation, and he lived on the home property for almost sixty-three years, in Oc- tober, 1912, retiring and moving to Wickboro, Kittanning, where he and his wife now have a comfortable home at No. 1033 Orr avenue. Since that time he has visited the homestead weekly. He has always devoted all of his time to his own affairs, never taking any active part in public life or holding office. Politically he is an independent Republican, and his re- ligious connection is with the Church of God.
Mr. Lasher married Catherine Frick, daugh- ter of Abraham and Delilah (Bowser) Frick, and granddaughter of Michael Frick, the Fricks being of German descent. Michael Frick came to Armstrong county from West- moreland county about 1840, and bought a large tract of land, which he farmed, at the same time following his trade of blacksmithing. In 1854 he moved to Butler county, Pa., where he died in 1863. He was a prominent member of the M. E. Church, often allowing the use of his home for services, and as class leader led the meetings himself many times. Abra- ham Frick, Mrs. Lasher's father, was born in Butler county, Pa., and received his school- ing there and in Armstrong county, becoming a well-known blacksmith of East. Franklin township, this county, though he died at the early age of thirty-two years. He is buried at the Montgomeryville Baptist Church. His wife Delilah (Bowser), a native of Armstrong county, daughter of Abraham and Polly Bow- ser, died at the age of forty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Frick had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Wyland Lasher became the parents of nine
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
children, all born in Washington township, namely : A. J., who lives in that township, mar- ried Minnie Croyl, and their children are Alma, Raymond, Gladys, Bertha, Alfred, Em- met and -; James, who lives at Oak- mont, married Martha Robinson; Cora is the wife of Ernst Holsour, and they reside on North avenue in Wickboro; Minerva is the gaged at ore digging and farming, moving
wife of Ed. Shaffer; William married Anna Pugh, and they live at Kittanning; John H. resides at Wickboro; Maud is the wife of Am- brose Bowser; Lemuel is unmarried; Loran married Mary England, and they reside at Kittanning.
John H. Lasher, son of Wyland, was born June 29, 1886, near Adrian, in Washington township, where he was reared, obtaining his education in the common schools. He then went to Pittsburgh, where he learned the trade of painter, remaining in that city for four years. Then, in August, 1907, he came to Kittanning, where he has since been en- gaged as a contractor, his business headquar- ters being in the Heilman building. He em- ploys from three to seven men, as the work requires, and has done some of the best work in the borough, including the decorating in the Steim hotel, all the street car work, the work in the new M. E. Church, and other im- portant local contracts. He also had the paint- ing and decorating of the Haskell building in East Brady, Pa. Mr. Lasher is a member of the union, and has the only union shop in Kittanning.
On Nov. 2, 1911, Mr. Lasher married Mar- garet Truitt, and they live at No. 618 Wood- ward avenue, Wickboro, where Mr. Lasher has erected a fine brick residence. They have
REV. GAETANO FEDERICI, late pas- one child, Humes, who was born in 1912. Mr. tor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, at and Mrs. Lasher attend the Reformed Church. Yatesboro, Armstrong county, was born at He is a Republican in political questions, but Castelgrande, Italy, May 12, 1876, a son of not active in public affairs, and fraternally he Dr. Vincini and Angeline (Masi) Federici. belongs to the B. P. O. Elks and the Blue Dr. Federici was a prominent physician of Lodge, F. & A. M., at Kittanning.
Osceola T. Truitt, father of Mrs. Lasher, was born March 5, 1866, in Madison township, this county, son of Seth C. Truitt, and grand- son of George W. Truitt. The latter's father was the pioneer family of this region, settling in Madison township, where George W. Truitt was born, one of a family of four children, namely: William, George W., David and James. George W. Truitt followed farming in Madison township until his death. He was a Baptist in religion, and a Republican in poli- tics. He married Nancy Courson, and they became the parents of three children : Seth C., Alcinus G., and N. M.
Seth C. Truitt was an active business man, following iron mining and lumbering for some time, and later became a merchant at Truitts- burg, Clarion Co., Pa., where he also was postmaster for years. He is still engaged in the business there. While a resident of Madi- son township, Armstrong county, he was en- thence to his present location. He married Mary Spangler, and they have had a family of seven children: Osceola T., Emery, Ed- ward, Hoyt, Bruce, Elizabeth C., and Electa. The mother was a native of Center, Arm- strong county, a daughter of Michael Spangler.
Osceola T. Truitt was but two years old when the family moved from Madison town- ship, and he recived his schooling in Clarion county. In his young manhood he taught school there for six terms, after which he be- came weighmaster for the coal mine at Fair- mount, that county, for some time. He was next engaged as a street car conductor, after which he became employed at the Elk Brewery, where he is now assistant brewmaster. He is a member of the Order of Moose, at Kittan- ning, and on political questions is a Republi- can, but he takes no part in party affairs. Mr. Truitt married Cora M. Humes, daughter of William and Margaret (Pemberton) Humes, the former of England and the latter of Scot- land. They have had four children : Margaret, wife of John H. Lasher; Clyde Edw., who married Sarah Davis, and resides at Kittan- ning; Scott A., at home, and Jeannette D., at home. The family resides at No. 206 Queen street, Kittanning.
Castelgrande for many years.
Entering the Muro Lucano Seminary, Father Federici was educated there and was graduated therefrom, being ordained to the priesthood in 1900. Immediately thereafter he came to the United States, and was made assistant pastor of St. Casimir and Diana's Church at Punxsutawney, Pa., where he con- tinued until the fall of 1904. In that year he was assigned to the parish of St. Mary's, at Yatesboro, and began to build up the church. In the years that he was in charge his parish increased from fifty families to two hundred, the growth being steady and healthy. Through his efforts the magnificent new church edi-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
fice, which has a seating capacity of 350 peo- ple, was erected at a cost of $9,000, and in 1908 he built the parish house at a cost of $2,000. The church now has a membership of 1,500 souls.
Father Federici died in August, 1913. He was devotedly beloved in his congregation. A scholarly man, his knowledge of human nature and sympathies made him a wise guide for his charges, and won him the confidence and respect of all with whom he was brought into contact.
JAMES A. PATTERSON has passed all his life on the farm in Cowanshannock town- ship, which he now owns and cultivates, hav- ing been born there Oct. 6, 1850, son of James and Nancy (McFeeters) Patterson. Both the parents were natives of County Donegal, Ireland.
John Patterson, grandfather of James A. Patterson, came to the United States with his family about 1835, stopping in Philadelphia for about two years before he settled in Cow- anshannock township, Armstrong county, where he and his son James bought the farm now owned and occupied by James A. Pat- terson. Soon thereafter James Patterson purchased his father's interest in the prop- erty, and the latter bought sixty-seven acres adjoining. Both men cleared and improved their land, and John Patterson died on his property. He was the father of the following family by his first wife: James, John, Alex- ander and Robert. Marrying again after her death, he had six children: Daniel, Mary, Margaret, William, Thomas and Joseph.
James Patterson, son of John Patterson and father of James A. Patterson, devoted himself to the clearing of his land after tak- ing possession of it, and died there at the age of eighty-seven years. His children were: Susan, who married Archibald O'Hara ; An- drew ; John, and James A.
James A. Patterson, son of James Patter- son, was reared on the old homestead, where he has always lived. In 1875 he married Me- lissa Schrecengost, daughter of Emanuel and Mary (Hartman) Schrecengost, of Cowans- 'hannock township, and of the children born of this marriage five are living: Bertha, who married Albert Stewart; John; Nannie, who married Howard Boyer ; Claire, and Jane.
GEORGE W. JAMIESON, present super- visor of Rayburn township, Armstrong coun- ty, has lived at his home there since 1865, having come to this locality when a boy with his father, Cassillis Jamieson. His grand- father, Q. Jamieson, came to this coun- try from Scotland, bringing his family, and they settled at Tionesta, Forest Co., Pa., where grandfather Jamieson followed farm- ing the rest of his days. He was a quiet man, and though he sympathized with the Demo- cratic party took no part in politics or public affairs and never aspired to office. He be- longed to the Presbyterian Church. His chil- dren were Cassillis, Gilbert, William, John and Sophia.
Cassillis Jamieson was born in Scotland Feb. 2, 1811. He lived at Tionesta, Forest county, until his removal to Armstrong coun- ty in the spring of 1865, when he settled on the tract of 126 acres still occupied by his son George. The place was mostly in the woods at that time, and a small house and log barn were about the only improvements it could boast. Mr. Jamieson lived to see the whole tract cleared and under cultivation, and many improvements were made thereon in his time. He died Sept. 14, 1885. Like his father he was a Democrat in politics and a Presby- terian in religion. He never held any public position. On Sept. 10, 1840, he married Mary Shaw, who was born May 17, 1821, and died Sept. 23, 1902. Their children were born as follows: Catherine, Sept. 27, 1841 ; Quinton, March 16, 1843; John J., Aug. 22, 1846 (died July 19, 1848) ; Sophia, Dec. 31, 1844 (died July 25, 1848) ; Janet, May 9, 1848; Wilbur, May 23, 1850; James, Oct. 17, 1852; Robert, April 12, 1855; George W., Sept. 18, 1858.
George W. Jamieson, born Sept. 18, 1858, at Tionesta, Forest Co., Pa., passed his early life at his native place and came to Rayburn township, Armstrong Co., Pa., with his father in the spring of 1865. Here he has continued to make his home to the present time, en- gaged in farming. He has been an enter- prising worker, and his well-directed labors have brought him prosperity. His land has been devoted to general farming, and the farm under his management has become a valuable piece of property. Mr. Jamieson takes an interest in the public welfare and does his share in looking after the affairs of the com- munity, at present filling the office of super- visor. He is associated with the Democratic
Mr. Patterson is a member of the Presby- terian Church of Rural Valley. He is a Democrat politically, and has been a member party in politics, and like the family in gen- of the board of supervisors for several terms, eral has attended the Presbyterian Church. being a capable and efficient official.
In 1884 Mr. Jamieson married Harriet M.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Reed, who was born Nov. 1, 1859, and they died young; Joseph, born April 9, 1819, was have a family of six children, namely: Mary a minister of the German Baptist Church; M., born June 15, 1885, is the wife of H. Stover, of Rayburn township, a railroad man, and has four children, George, Hattie, Clar- Isaac was born July 27, 1821 ; Philip was born March 2, 1825; Susanna, born July 20, 1827, married Robert Ferguson; Elizabeth, born ence and Norman; James W., born Feb. 22, May 17, 1831, married M. N. Hetrick; Sam- 1887, a resident of Rayburn township, mar- uel was born March 12, 1834. The father was a Whig in politics until 1856, when he joined the Republican party. He was a mem- ber of the German Baptist Church. ried Elsie Lloyd, and has one child, George W .; Jennie C. was born Sept. 30, 1891 ; Leon- ard E., Feb. 19, 1894; Wayne E., June 17, 1896 ; and Clara A., Jan. 23, 1900.
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