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 92

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618


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 92


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a son Anthony, whose daughter married Peter president and manager of the Garrett's Run Heilman. The Heilmans worshipped at the Gas Company, was interested in several other old Heller Church, near Harrisburg.


oil and gas companies, and was to the time of his death a stockholder in the Franklin Oil & Gas Company, of Bedford, Ohio.


James M. Heilman was given a common school education, and at the age of sixteen became an apprentice at the carpenter's trade, Mr. Heilman was quite prominent in fra- with Jacob Martin. After serving three ternal circles in Kittanning as a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the B. P. O. Elks. He was a past noble grand of the local Odd Fel- years he went to work as a journeyman, be- ing employed by different concerns in various sections of the country, which experience lows Lodge, and a past chief patriarch of the made him acquainted with the methods used encampment. When the Elks' Home was by his several employers and equipped him erected in Kittanning he served as superin-


fied for over twenty years. He served as vice


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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


tendent and manager of construction, a posi- cal Association, the Physicians' Protective tion for which he was thoroughly fitted, and the handsome building is not only a credit to the order, but an example of fine architecture of which the borough is proud.


On Feb. 27, 1873, Mr. Heilman was mar- ried at Mosgrove, the residence of his wife's parents, to Esther Eliza Quigley, daughter In 1898 Dr. Heilman married Lupah Obrien, of Hagerstown, Md. They had no children. of Sharon Mateer and Mary (Mateer) Quigley, of Armstrong county, who were dis- tantly related. The latter was a daughter of ARTHUR M. HEILMAN, M. D., graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, and then graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1902. He is now engaged in practice at Butler, Pa., and has met with most gratifying success, hav- ing every prospect for a bright future. He married Alice Patterson, of Butler, Pa., Sharon and Jane (Reed) Mateer, pioneers of East Franklin township, Armstrong county. Sharon M. Quigley was born in East Franklin township, son of John and Esther (Cook) Quigley, who came from eastern Pennsylvania and settled in that township. They had eight sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Heilman had two children, daughter of John N. and Emily (Stein) Pat- Sharon Peter and Arthur M., both of whom terson, the former a retired merchant of But- became practicing physicians, following the ler. Dr. and Mrs. Heilman have two chil- profession in which the family has been dren, John P. and James M. numerously represented.


Mr. Heilman held membership in the Pres- byterian Church, and was a man of fine Chris- tian character, high principled, a represen- tative member of a family noted for moral courage, fearless in defense of the right, strong family ties and pride of race. Without pretense in any of the relations of life, he was frank and strong in his likes and dis- likes, and people always knew where James M. Heilman stood. He had the greatest re- spect for real Christianity, and endeavored in his own life to live up to its tenets. He was a member of the John Orr Bible Class. He died very suddenly, May 11, 1913.


SHARON PETER HEILMAN, M. D., was born March 27, 1874, at Kittanning, and there re- ceived his preliminary education in the pub- lic schools, graduating from high school. He then entered Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1896, after which he took a medical course in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia, receiving his degree of M. D. in 1900. Before this course and during the time he was pursuing it he read medicine under Dr. Thomas H. Allison, one of Armstrong coun- ty's most distinguished physicians. The year of his graduation from medical college he be- gan practice in the borough of Kittanning, where he met with unusual success in his pro- fession. He had an extensive practice, the needs of his patrons demanding all his time Medical Societies.


Society and the Judson Deland Society of Philadelphia. Fraternally he was a member of the Elks, Eagles, I. O. O. F., Owls and Red Men. His death occurred May 10, 1914, at Phoenix, Ariz., where he had gone on ac- count of his health.


JOHN ELLSWORTH STUTE, M. D., physician and surgeon, Parkers Landing, Pa., was born in Warren county, N. J., July 19, 1861, a son of George and Mary E. (Hender- shott) Stute.


George Stute and wife were both born in New Jersey. George Stute enlisted for serv- ice in the Civil war, May 27, 1861, in Com- pany B, 2d New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and took part in all the en- gagements of his regiment up to the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. There, May 14, 1864, he was taken prisoner by the Con- federates and sent to Andersonville, Ga., where he died in the following November, and was interred in the National cemetery at that place, the number of his grave-11,882 -marking the spot. He left a family of two sons and two daughters : Aaron, Rebecca J., Belle and John E.


John Ellsworth Stute was reared at Tren- ton, N. J., and received his educational train- ing in the Soldiers' Orphans' School and the public schools, and also enjoyed instruction under private tutors. In 1893 he entered the medical department of the University of Pittsburgh, where he was graduated in 1897, and at once began the practice of his profes- sion at Parkers Landing, where he has been most successful. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State and the Clarion County


Dr. Stute was married April 27, 1882, to


and energies, and attained good standing in the profession, belonging to the Armstrong Miss Rose Euchler, daughter of Peter and County Medical Society, the American Medi- Barbara Euchler, of Manor township, Arm-


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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


strong Co., Pa. Mrs. Stute died in 1905, leav- Dayton Normal Institute. After leaving ing two daughters, Elsie B. and Lucille. Dr. school he was in the employ of the Harbison- Stute was married (second) Nov. 9, 1909, to Ada L. Zinn, daughter of Charles C. and Mary E. (Schell) Zinn, of Butler, Pa., and they have one daughter, Alice Virginia. Dr. and Mrs. Stute are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He also belongs to Parker Lodge, No. 521, F. & A. M. Politic- ally he is independent in his views.


JOHN K. GEARHART, of Templeton, Armstrong county, member of the mercantile firm of O. W. Gearhart & Son, though one of the younger business men of that place has become thoroughly established in the confi- dence of his fellow citizens there and is build- ing up a fine trade. He was born June 19, 1887, at Putneyville, this county, where his father, O. W. Gearhart, formerly lived.


O. W. Gearhart was born Jan. 7, 1863, at Canada, Pa., he being a son of John F. Gear- hart and the youngest son of a family of five sons and seven daughters. John F. Gearhart owned and tilled a farm one mile east of Put- neyville. This place is still known as the Gearhart farm. He died March 24, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife, Susanna, died the same year. They were stanch members and workers in the M. E. Church at Putneyville. John F. Gearhart was a son of Isaac Elias Gearhart, who with three brothers settled in Jefferson county, having ventured to this section from eastern Penn- sylvania.


O. W. Gearhart has been interested in farm- ing all his life, and settled on the farm one and a half miles east of Templeton, in Boggs township, Armstrong county, where he now makes his home, on Sept. 1, 1910. He is as- sociated with his son John K. in the mer- cantile firm of O. W. Gearhart & Son, and "Gearhart's" is one of the reliable business houses at Templeton. Mr. Gearhart has never taken any active part in politics or aspired to office. On Sept. 10, 1885, he married Alvira V. Patten, of Brattonville, Armstrong county, and they have had four children: John K. is mentioned below; Harry A., born Nov. 27, 1889, educated himself at the D. & I. State Normal School and Grove City College, and for three years has taught grammar school; Auda M., born"July 23, 1893, is at home ; Everett E., born April 1, 1899, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart are members of the M. E. Church of Templeton.


John K. Gearhart attended the Kittanning Academy, and also studied for a time at the


Walker Refractories Company, at Templeton, for two years, and for another period of two years traveled for the International Corre- spondence School, of Scranton, Pa., in the Chenango valley. In the latter part of August, 1910, he located at Templeton, where he bought a store building of W. J. Reedy and put in a stock of boots and shoes and men's furnishings, also doing a merchant tail- oring business. Here he has since been en- gaged, his father being interested with him as O. W. Gearhart & Son. The stock is ample and well selected, and the store is well kept, being a desirable trading place. Mr. Gear- hart is gaining a substantial footing in com- mercial circles and among local business men, and has the good will of all who know him in and around Templeton.


On June 7, 1910, Mr. Gearhart married Carrie D. Fair, of Washington township, Armstrong county, daughter of P. F. Fair, and they have one son, Earl.


HARRY CLIFFORD GOLDEN, attor- ney at law, whose progress in his profession and public favor has been really remarkable, is one of the leading lawyers of Kittanning. He was born in that borough Jan. 9, 1882, son of Edward Sullivan and Sarah (Gates) Golden, and grandson of John Golden. Of his father, Edward S. Golden, for years a notably successful attorney at the Armstrong county bar, extensive mention will be found elsewhere in this work, accompanying his portrait.


Harry C. Golden attended public and high school in Kittanning, and later the academy in the borough for a two-year course. He then entered Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and, after four years, was graduated from that institution as valedictorian of his class, in 1903. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. During his college career he won the Holland Prize Scholarship, paying about $600 per annum, for two consecutive years. He studied law in the office of his brother, H. L. Golden, Kittanning, Pa., and was ad- mitted to the bar of Armstrong county in 1905; to practice in the Superior court of Pennsylvania, May, 1909; in the Supreme court of Pennsylvania, Oct. 4, 1909; in the United States District court, Pittsburgh, Pa., March 29, 1911; and in the Circuit court of Appeals of the United States, for the Third circuit, Philadelphia, Pa., November, 1911. Since 1905 he has been practicing his profes-


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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


sion in Kittanning with gratifying success. Being a practical and experienced workman Like his father, he belongs to the Episcopal he enjoys patronage not only in this city but in adjacent places and over a large surround- ing territory. Constant employment is afforded to from six to eight assistants. Mr. Dunlap believes in keeping abreast with the times in everything pertaining to his business. He enjoys the distinction of being the oldest merchant in continuous business in his city. Politically a Republican, he has frequently served in public capacities, twice having been mayor, several terms a member of the city council, and at present is president of the school board, of which he has also been sec- retary. Church, and is, at the present time, treasurer of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Kittanning, Pa., and a teacher in the Sunday school. In politics he is a Democrat. Among the most important cases in which Mr. Golden has been concerned as counsel are: Liquid Carbonic Company vs. Truby, reported in Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports, Vol. 40, Page 634; National Cash Register Company vs. Shurber, reported in Pennsylvania Superior Court Re- ports, Vol. 41, Page 187; Weisfield vs. Beale, reported in Pennsylvania State Reports, Vol. 231, Page 39; Hare vs. O'Brien, reported in Pennsylvania State Reports, Vol. 233, Page 330, 82 Atlantic Reporter, 475, Lawyers' Reports Annotated, Vol. 39 (New Series), Page 430; Welsh vs. Kerr Coal Company, re- ported in Pennsylvania State Reports, Vol. 233, Page 341 ; Arctic Ice Machine Company vs. Armstrong County Trust Company, Cir- cuit Court of Appeals Reports, Vol. 112, Page 458, 192 Federal Reporter, Page 114. In all of the above cases, except Weisfield vs. Beale and Welsh vs. Kerr Coal Company, Harry C. Golden and his brother, H. L. Golden, were associated as counsel.


EDWIN F. DUNLAP, hardware mer- chant, and plumbing, tinning and roofing con- tractor, at Parkers Landing, Pa., was born at Lowellville, Mahoning Co., Ohio, Aug. 22, 1852, son of Jesse L. and Mary (Johnston) Dunlap.


Jesse L. Dunlap and his wife were born in Lawrence county, Pa. He is a mining en- gineer and has followed his profession in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana and Washing- ton, and at present, in his eighty-third year, is living retired and in comfort at Elma, Washington.


On Oct. 29, 1890, Mr. Dunlap was mar- ried to Miss Blanche Cummins, a daughter of William and Susanna ( Christie) Cummins and a granddaughter of Judge Joseph Cum- mins, of Butler county ; the latter's wife was Ellen Moore, of Washington county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have had two daughters, Florence and Gertrude, both of whom are de- ceased, the former dying at the age of thir- teen years, the latter when nineteen years old. Mr. Dunlap is a member of Parker Lodge, Royal Arcanum, and Park Lodge, K. O. T. M. He and his wife attend the First Methodist Church, of which Mrs. Dunlap has been a member since childhood.


AUSTIN CLARK, for a number of years an able lawyer of Kittanning and one of the most creditable members of the Armstrong county bar, belongs to a family which has had many prominent representatives in this section of Pennsylvania. His father, Joseph Clark, was at one time sheriff of Armstrong county and for many years prominent in politics here. He was a first cousin of Judge Silas M. Clark, a justice of the Supreme court of Pennsylvania. The family is of Scotch-Irish origin.


Edwin F. Dunlap was reared in Lawrence and Mercer counties, Pa., and was educated Capt. James Clark, who established this family in western Pennsylvania, was an of- ficer in the Revolutionary war, taking part in a number of battles. He came into this region from the Cumberland valley, where the fam- ily occupied an honorable position in the early days of the Commonwealth. Settling in Westmoreland county, Pa., about the time (1782) of the burning of Hannastown (that county ) - noted as the first place west of the Allegheny mountains where justice was ad- ministered according to the forms of law, he in the public schools. He learned the plumb- ing and tinning trades at Sharon, Pa., and in 1870 went to Illinois and worked as a journey- man in Chicago, Peoria and Morris until 1877. In that year he came to Parkers Landing, Pa., and after continuing three more years at journeyman work embarked in the tinning business for himself, on a small scale at first, but soon found opportunity to expand and in 1885 added a hardware, plumbing and roof- ing department. He now owns one of the most complete establishments in this line in was one of those who sought refuge in the the northern part of Armstrong county and fort near by and prepared to defend it against possibly in this section of Pennsylvania. the expected attack. The Indians under the


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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


famous Seneca chief had invaded the settle- Pliny, were in the Mexican war, and the latter ment, burned the town and massacred a large part of the population, but after plundering the town and reducing it to ashes they with- drew. Soon after this event Captain Clark removed to South Bend, Armstrong Co., Pa., where he resided many years, and died leav- ing a numerous and respected progeny.


William Clark, son of Capt. James Clark, was born in 1778 and died in 1823. He lived near South Bend, in Armstrong county, where Clark's blockhouse or station (so named in honor of his father) stood in the days when it was necessary for the settlers to protect themselves against the Indians. His wife, Sarah (Woodward), born in 1786, died in 1821. One of their sons was James, the father of Judge Silas M. Clark.


Joseph Clark, another son of William and Sarah (Woodward) Clark, was born March 3, 1813, at South Bend, Armstrong county, and died at Kittanning Oct. 26, 1885. For a short time he lived at Shelocta, Indiana Co., Pa., where he built a hotel. In 1842 he re- moved to Kittanning, Armstrong county, where he was in the hotel business, conduct- ing the "Pritner Hotel" and the "Nulton House," and in 1850 he went to Freeport, to take the position of supervisor of the Penn- sylvania canal. A lifelong Democrat and always active in political affairs, he 'was hon- ored by his party a number of times, and in 1852 was elected sheriff of Armstrong county, serving a term of three years in that office. His services were characterized by the dis- tinguished ability typical of members of this family, and in 1857 he was appointed by Gov- As an attorney Mr. Clark was one of the most successful of his day in Kittanning, es- tablishing an extensive patronage among the most substantial people of the borough, and his reputation was well deserved. His stud- ious attention to every case intrusted to his care, his ability in presenting the cause of his client at court, his fluency and logic in argu- ment, and evident sincerity in everything he undertook, won him not only the confidence of his patrons, but the respectful attention of his fellow practitioners and the judges of the various courts where his work called him. ernor Packer as revenue inspector of the port of Philadelphia. In that position also he gave universal satisfaction, discharging his duties ably and faithfully. In 1865 he returned to Kittanning, where the remainder of his days was passed. He was a valued worker in his party, served as delegate to several State con- ventions, and kept his name above suspicion in all the relations of life. Fraternally he was a Mason, and his religious connection was with the M. E. Church. Joseph Clark married Pauline Kelley, who was born in March, 1819, daughter of Hon. Meek and Politically Mr. Clark has been a Democrat like his father, and a leader in local party circles for a number of years, his judgment, decision and energy qualifying him for re- sponsible duties. He took an active part in the work of the party, and in 1888 was a delegate to the National convention at St. Jane (Moorhead) Kelley, the latter a daugh- ter of Absalom Moorhead. Hon. Meek Kelley was a surveyor of high reputation, and it was he who ran the boundary lines and laid out the counties of Potter and Mckean (Pa.) into townships. He served as State senator, and later as associate judge of Indi- Louis, when Cleveland was nominated for ana county. Two of his sons, James and president.


served as captain of a California company under Sheridan in the Civil war. To Joseph and Pauline (Kelley) Clark were born four sons and two daughters: Meek; Emma, who died in infancy ; Sarah, who died when seven- teen years old; Joseph, who was the youngest enlisted soldier in the Civil war, being but twelve years and three months old when he was sworn into the service; Ney; and Austin.


Austin Clark was born July 20, 1854, in the then sheriff's residence at Kittanning, Arm- strong Co., Pa., his father being sheriff at the time. He began his education in the public schools of his native borough, later attended Blairsville Academy and the State Normal School at Indiana, Pa., and taught school for several terms, serving as assistant principal of the Blairsville Academy. He left the teacher's profession to engage in the study of law. After passing the preliminary examina- tion he registered in 1878 as a law student with his cousin, Silas M. Clark, of Indiana, who in 1882 became a justice of the Supreme court of the State. In 1879 Mr. Clark came to Kittanning, where he completed his legal course with James B. Neale, being admitted to the bar of Armstrong county Sept. 20, 1880. He at once entered upon practice, and with the exception of the period he was in the service of his country during the Spanish- American war continued to be actively en- gaged in professional work until January, 1912, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis, causing him to give up his practice and go to live with his brother, Joseph.


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At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Mr. Clark mustered Company G, 16th


manhood on the old Parker homestead, ob- taining his education in the local schools. In Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. George C. early life he operated a tannery and later was Rickards), and was commissioned captain by actively engaged in the larger part of the lead- Governor Hastings. He was mustered into ing enterprises of Parker City. He was one the service in July, 1898, serving until the end of the projectors and principal' stockholders of the war, and was mustered out Dec. 28, . of the Parker & Karns City and the Karns 1898. Mr. Clark's honorable discharge of City & Butler railroads, which, built in 1873, that date reads, "Service honorable and faith- were important factors in the development of ful." Returning to Kittanning he resumed legal practice.


Mr. Clark was entitled to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, though he neglected to join that order. In fact, every war since the founding of the country found some member of the Clark family serving in one capacity or another. Fraternally he was a past exalted ruler of Kittanning Lodge, B. P. O. Elks.


EPHRAIM H. PARKER, deceased, for- merly of Parker City, Pa., was a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent fam- ilies of this section of Pennsylvania. He was born March 2, 1838, and was the eldest son of Fullerton and Amelia (Harris) Parker, grandson of Judge John Parker, and great- grandson of Col. William Parker.


Col. William Parker came from Washing- ton county, Pa., in 1798, and settled on Bear creek, near Bear Creek furnace, now in Arm- strong county, erecting there the first grist- mill and promoting many of the enterprises which served to open up the country.


John Parker, son of Col. William Parker, and grandfather of the late Ephraim H. Parker, in 1794 surveyed the greater part of the northern section of Armstrong county and the southern part of Butler county. In 1797 he settled in Parker township, Butler county, where he purchased 600 acres of land and in 1815 laid out the village of Lawrenceburg, the same now being included in the Second ward of Parker City. He was an active, energetic and successful business man and was exten- On April 28, 1857, Mr. Parker was mar- ried to Margaret Phipps, a daughter of David and Margaret (Stewart) Phipps, of Venango county, Pa., the former of whom was a pioneer in the iron and also the woolen man- ufacturing industries of that county. His mills were located at what is now known as Kennerdell. He served one term as associate judge of Venango county and died before he which he had been elected. Six children were sively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was one of the first associate judges of Butler county and filled that office for thirty- five years. He married Jane Woods, and they had the following children, James, John, Ju- liet, William, Fullerton, Washington, George, Thomas and Wilson. Juliet married John Gilchrist. Judge Parker died in 1842, at the age of seventy-six years, and is buried in the had assumed the duties of a second term, to Parker cemetery.


Fullerton Parker, son of Judge John born to Mr. and Mrs. Parker, namely: Ada, Parker, was born in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., Dec. 15, 1806, and was reared to


the Butler oil fields. He was also one of the founders and leading stockholders of the Parker bridge, which was erected in 1872, and through his enterprise was founded, in 1871, the Exchange Bank of Parker City, of which he was president for years. In fact, there were but few enterprises connected with the growth of this section in which his help was not sought and his advice followed.


In 1832 Fullerton Parker was married to Amelia Harris, daughter of Ephraim Harris, of Harrisville, Butler Co., Pa. To them the following children were born: Jane M., who married Andrew J. Haldeman; Julia, who married James M. Agnew; Ephraim H .; Mary A., who married Parker M. Hollister ; William J .; Amelia, who married Samuel M. McGough; Lizzie, who married Watson C. Mobley; and Ella P., who married William H. Spain. Mrs. Parker died in 1883, aged seventy-seven years.


Ephraim Harris Parker was reared in Arm- strong and Butler counties. During the Civil war he served as a member of the 18th Pa. Vol. Cav., and after three years of service was honorably discharged. His first business association was with his father in the tan- ning industry at Parker City, and later he became extensively engaged in the oil business as an operator and producer and continued along this line until his death, which occurred April II, 1870. In politics he was a Repub- lican, but took little part in such matters. For many years he was a member of the Presby- terian Church.




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