USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 19
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BIOGRAPHIES OF
They have four children living : C. Eugene, born August 14, 1866; Minnie Grace, Nellie Bell and Elva Elliott.
Dr. Orndorf is a democrat, has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church for over twenty years, has filled all the various local offices of that church, and expects to reside in Greensburg the remainder of his days.
HOMAS PARKS. Of the important business interests of Greensburg none are more important than those of milling and brick manufacture, and a leading exponent of these lines of business is Thomas Parks, now resident of Greensburg. He was born just below Allegheny city, Allegheny county, Pa., February 19, 1841, and is a son of James and Mary A. (Woods) Parks. James Parks was a native of county Derry, north of Ireland, came to the United States when a young man and followed farming and brick-making for a liveli- hood. IIe died in 1861 at the age of sixty-five years. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, a whig and later a republican in politics and married Mary A. Woods, by whom he had eight children. She was a daughter of Andrew Woods, who kept a public house in Ireland, and at fourteen years of age came over to this country with her brother.
Thomas Parks attended the public schools of Allegheny city for several years and then learned the brick-making business. In 1867 he located in Greensburg, but in 1873 removed to Paradise, where he now resides and operates a large brick-yard. He is a partner with his brother, W. B. Parks, in the flouring-mill busi- ness. They own and operate the Greensburg Roller Mills, which is fitted up with the latest improved roller process and other modern mill- ing machinery. The mill has a capacity of fifty barrels per day, does a large custom trade and supplies a wide section of surrounding country.
Thomas Parks was married April 21, 1864, to Annie E. Ash, who is a daughter of Jonathan Ash, of Donegal township. Of their marriage have been born ten children, of whom eight are living : William and Jonathan Winfield, who are assisting their father in the brick-making business ; Mary A., Martha E., Lucian C., Samuel II., Keturah, and Charles M.
Thomas Parks is a democrat in political sen- timent and has always been a regular attendant of the services of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has had a long practical experi- ence in the brick-making business and with his ample facilities for producing first-class brick, he is always ready to fill the various orders of his many patrons.
OIIN M. PEIFLY, a native of one of the world's strongest empires and a citizen of the world's greatest republic, is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Lutz) Peifly, and was born in the well-known kingdom of Wurtem- burg, southwestern Germany, April 26, 1830. Frederick Peifly was born at the town of Boes- enginen, Germany, September 3, 1790 ; he emi- grated to Lycoming county, Pa., in 1833, re- moved in 1844 to Westmoreland county, where he settled in Washington township and was en- gaged in weaving until his death, which took place July 14, 1876. He was an active mem- ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and married Elizabeth Lutz of his native town in Germany. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three are living : Christina, married to Christopher Bealer, of Lycoming county ; Abraham N., a farmer in Dakota, and John M.
John M. Peifly attended the common schools of Lycoming and Westmoreland counties. Leav- ing school, he learned the trade of weaver with his father, and removed to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he was engaged in weaving for sixteen years. In 1867 he left his western
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home, returned to the " Keystone State," and was engaged four years in a woolen mill of Johnstown, Pa. In 1871 he removed to Ludwick, where he has continued to reside up to the present time.
On March 15, 1860, he married Florinda C. Fry, daughter of Solomon Fry, of Hempfield township. To their union have been born eight children, of whom seven are living : Elizabeth, a dress maker ; L. Franklin, a teamster ; Ellen, a dress maker ; Silas M., a founder, with Kelley & Jones; Lida Jane, Carrie A., and Juna May. J. M. Peifly is a democrat ; he has served as burgess and school director of his borough and been judge of election. He is a member of Centennial Lodge, No. 100 Ancient Order of United Workmen; Energetic Lodge, No. 76, Knights of Honor; Greensburg Council, No. 44, Royal Arcanum ; Greensburg Lodge, No. 484, Knights of Pythias ; Protection Council, No. 11, Chosen Friends ; Pleasant Council, No. 53, IIome Circle ; Central Grange, No. 835, Patrons of Husbandry, and a member of Westmoreland Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F. In these secret societies he carries $10,000 of in- surance on his life. Mr. Peifly is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran church of Greens- burg and is a prominent citizen of Ludwick.
ORRIS L. PAINTER, a prominent and successful business man of Westmoreland county and a resident of Greensburg, is a son of Col. Israel Painter, and was born in the city of Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pa., Feb- ruary 21, 1849. His great-grandfather, Jacob Painter, Sr., was a native of Mechlenburg, Ger- many, who married and emigrated to Berks county, Pa. IIere six children were born to him, four sons and two daughters : Hon. Jacob, Michael, John and Tobias ; one daughter mar- ried George Myerers and the other became the wife of Christopher Harrold. IIon. Jacob Painter (grandfather) married a Miss Rapiere, of Indiana county, Pa., and settled on a farm
eight miles south of Greensburg, in Hempfield township. He built a stone grist-mill, farmed extensively and was a very active business man. He served as justice of the peace, member of the Legislature and as associate judge of Westmore- land county from 1806 until his death. He was the whig candidate for Congress against William Findley and was only defeated by seventeen votes. Ile was twice married. By his first marriage he had seven children : Betsey, wife of Gen. Joseph Markle and mother of Gen. C. P. Markle; Rebecca, Catharine, Tobias, George, Elias, and one whose name is not given. After his first wife's death he married Catherine Lobingier, daughter of Hon. Christopher and Elizabeth (Mueller) Lobingier. The second wife bore him ten children : Polly, John, Jacob, Christopher, George, Joseph, Benjamin, Susan, Col. Israel and Sophia. Mrs. Catherine Paint- er's father, Hon. Christopher Lobingier, mar- ried Elizabeth Mueller in 17GG, removed to Mit. Pleasant township in 1772, was a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional convention of 1776, and of the House of Representatives from 1791 to 1793, and died Independence day, 1798. His eldest son, Hon. John Lobingier, was a promi- nent man of his day, was justice of the peace, member of the Pennsylvania Legislature and was elected associate judge of Westmoreland county in 1821 as the successor of his brother- in-law, Hon. Jacob Painter. Col. Israel Painter, youngest son of Hon. Jacob Painter, was born in Hempfield township November 11, 1810, and was educated at Jefferson college, Cannonsburg, Pa. Leaving school, he taught two terms of dis- trict school and purchased his brother Christo- pher's store at Mt. Pleasant, which he operated one year; he then built the Mammoth salt works and engaged extensively in the salt in- dustry in this county and western Virginia. He next became a live stock dealer, purchased horses, cattle, hogs and sheep in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, and during the late war supplied the Union armies with a
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large number of horses, cattle and mules. His acquaintance with President Lincoln, whose con- fidence he enjoyed, was of no little service to him in his transactions with the government. He was one of the most remarkable and success- ful business men who ever lived in Westmore- land county ; he successfully conducted more different business enterprises than any other citizen of his day in western Pennsylvania. In connection with salt production and live-stock purchases he dealt during his life-time in real estate, operated in oil and oil lands, engaged in the milling business, managed several large farms, gave attention to coal and coal lands, operated coke works, invested in the cotton trade, and was interested in large contracts for the construction of sections on several important railways. Ile was a stockholder in several pikes, banks, and a navigation company. IIe purchased over one hundred farms in Westmore- land county, besides buying and selling valuable tracts of land in Fayette and Indiana counties. At his death he owned thirty-two farms. In 1853, at a cost of $25,000, he built the Weaver grist mill, of Painter's station. At that time it was the largest flouring mill in western Penn- sylvania. He also owned flour mills at Union- town, Manor and Latrobe. He was the first to introduce western Pennsylvania coal as gas-coal into the eastern market. His numerous busi- ness enterprises did not engage all his time, and in 1848 he served as a member of the Pennsyl- vania Legislature. From 1849 to 1852 he was canal commissioner, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Charleston, S. C., he supported the candidacy of Stephen A. Douglas. His death occurred July 4, 1880. " It has fallen to few men to fill a larger space in their locality than did Col. Israel Painter. Ilis energy and will seemed inexhaustible. IIe was constantly on the alert. With him to think was to act. Difficulties and obstacles which have overwhelmed most men only inspired in him renewed exertions. In his disposition he
was whole-souled and genial, consequently few men commanded a wider or warmer circle of friends."
Morris L. Painter attended the common schools of Lancaster county, and at thirteen years of age entered a printing office in Lancas- ter, where he remained for four years. He worked on the Pittsburg Dispatch and an old paper called the Republic. At about eighteen he assumed charge of the Painter salt works on Sewickley creek. In 1869 he went to Venango county and was engaged there and in Clarion for nine years in different avocations with varying fortunes. In 1878 he came to West- moreland county and assisted his father in his large and varied business interests until Col. Painter's death. As one of his father's adminis- trators he spent two years in settling up the large estate. In 1886 he became interested in coke manufacture at Tarr's station, and with A. W. Mellon, of Pittsburg, erected two hundred ovens, which they sold to a syndicate in 1887. For the last two years Mr. Painter has been principally engaged in buying and selling coal lands and in building houses.
In April, 1880, he was married to Lydia Bell, daughter of Samuel Bell, of South Hunt- ingdon township. To their union have been born four children : Samuel, Harry, who died in 1884; Walter and Clara.
Morris L. Painter is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Royal Arcanum. He is a democrat, but seeks no political position and never served but once in an official capacity- that was his election as member of the town council of West Newton. He attends the ser- vices of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member.
LLIOTT C. PIERCE was born February 22, 1861, at Troutville, Clearfield county, Pa., and is a son of James and Sarah Ann (Harrold) Pierce. Ilis father was born in
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Clarion county, Pa., September 28, 1824, and a son of William and Mary (Pierce) Pierce, who both died at a ripe old age. James Pierce was a school teacher, and later a salesman for a pub- lishing house. Ile was a member of the Lu- theran church and died at Rhimersburg, Clarion county, August 31, 1864. He married a daugh- ter of Philip and Elizabeth (Harrold) Harrold. Phillip Harrold's boyhood home was in Sew- ickley township, Westmoreland county, Pa .; he was an old style school master, and removed to Punxsutawney, Pa., where he died in the year 1887, at the age of seventy-nine years. Elizabeth Harrold was born and reared in Co- lumbia county, Ohio, and died in 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were born six children, of whom five children are living: John II. is an attorney of Indiana, Pa .; Mary J., a teacher in Armstrong county, residing at home with her mother, near Elderton; Elliott C., Emma C. is the wife of William Knepshield, of near Cochran's mills, Armstrong county ; and James L. is a traveling salesman.
Elliott C. Pierce was educated in the common schools. Ile made his own way in the world from the time he was ten years of age. He worked for farmers near home until he was thirteen years of age; then, having a desire to better his condition, he left home and went to Ohio and from thence to Indiana, where he soon found an opportunity to learn upholstering. In three years after learning his trade he re- turned to Elderton, Armstrong county, l'a., and after a brief stay there went to Clearfield, Pa. He made his home at the latter place for about five years, after which he traveled from place to place doing special work for several years. While at Clearfield he was united in marriage with Bertie L. Smith, who was born in 1862, and is a daughter of John J. and Martha (Reed) Smith. Mr. Smith is a retired farmer and lum- berman of Clearfield. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have one child, a son named Thomas V. Pierce, who was born April 18, 1881.
E. C. Pierce is a self-made man, his father having died when he was about three years old; and he, in order to obtain an education, was obliged to study in the evenings while he worked in day time. Five years ago, May, 1885, he came to this county, located at Greensburg and engaged at his trade. He has been quite successful, especially during the past two years. In 1883 he began awning and tent making at Phillipsburg, Pa., and now makes that his ex- elusive business, employing a number of men to enable him to fill his numerous orders. Mr. Pierce is identified with the Methodist Episco- pal church and is a teacher in the Sunday school. He is a republican in politics, active in his party, though by no means a bigoted partisan. IIe is full of energy, a good business man and an excellent citizen.
LIFFORD C. PORTER, M. D., of Greensburg, is one of the most successful and popular young physicians of the county. Ile was born December 1, 1860, in West Salem township, Mercer county, Pa., and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Nelson) Porter. His grandfather, Luke Porter, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, settled in Mercer county about seventy years ago, shortly after the second war with Great Britain; he was by oc- cupation a miller and general speculator, and in political belief adhered to the Jacksonian prin- ciples of the Democratic party. His father was Samuel Porter, a native of Wales, who emigrated to the United States, locating in the eastern part of the State. George W. Porter was born in 1834 in Mercer county, on the farm he now occupies. On this old homestead he has spent almost three-score years, devoting his time to the pursuits of agriculture in which, owing to a careful study of the scientific principles applying thereto, and to industry and wise management, he has been very successful. He was married to Elizabeth Nelson, a native of Mercer county
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and a daughter of James Nelson, who served in the war of 1812, and they had seven sons, of whom six are living : Dr. Clifford C., James L. (in Kansas), Vincent, Victor Welch, Bion Wood, and Curtis Lec.
Dr. Clifford C. Porter received his education in the High school of Greenville, Pa., and at Thiel college, located at the same place. After completing his literary education he engaged for six years in the drug business with John V. Stevenson, of Greensburg. Having decided to become a disciple of Esculapius, he in 1884 en- tered the office of Dr. J. L. Crawford as a stu- dent of medicine, and after four years of assidu- ous study entered Jefferson Medical college, at Philadelphia, from which popular institution he graduated in the spring of 1888. Immediately thereafter he opened an office at Greensburg for the practice of his profession. Dr. Porter being attentive to his patients, courteous and obliging to all, and remarkably successful in his treat- ment of diseases, has already succeeded in building up a large and remunerative practice. Possessing a noble ambition, an excellent char- acter, a high degee of skill and energy, and a manly spirit and pluck that rises superior to every obstacle in his way, and being full of life and vigor, Dr. Porter is rapidly rising in the social and professional world, and bids fair to become a distinguished member of the medical profession. "There is a tide in the aflairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to for- tunc," and in his affairs Dr. Porter seems to have taken the tide at the proper time and to be on the highway to fame and fortune. In polities he adheres to the principles of Jefferson and Jackson, is aggressive and diligent in the service of his party.
YDNEY J. POTTS, one of the young, determined and hard-working members of the Westmoreland county bar, was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, l'a., June
10, 1865, and is the oldest son of George L. and Rebecca J. (Stewart) Potts. His great- grandfather, John Potts, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, settled in Westmoreland county about the year 1796 and was a farmer by occupation. His wife was Christina Portzer. Gabriel Potts (grandfather) was a native of Penn township, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. IIe married Catherine Rimmel, by whom he had seven children. One of his sons was George L. Potts (father), who was born in Penn township. G. L. Potts is a blacksmith, an industrious man and a republican from prin- ciple. Ile married Rebecca J. Stewart, daughter of William II. Stewart, of Braddock, Pa. To their union were born five sons : Sydney J., D. Reamer, G. Reuben, William J. and James.
Sydney J. Potts was educated at the Greens- burg public schools and at the Greensburg semi- nary. During 1885 he was registered as a law student in the office of Hugh W. Walkinshaw, and on February 2, 1889, was admitted to the Westmoreland county bar. Mr. Potts while studying law realized the importance of being acquainted with the practical workings of all legal proceedings in the courts, and accordingly devoted some of his time to clerking in the reg- ister and recorder's office and in the clerk's office. IIe is now engaged as deputy prothon- otary, to familiarize himself with the legal pro- ceedings that pass through that office. The practical knowledge that he will thus acquire will be very valuable to him and beneficial to his clients when he enters upon the active prac- tice of his profession. He is a republican and is one of the young and promising lawyers of Greensburg.
EORGE W. PROBST. Of those few of our fellow citizens who have been promi- nent business men of both the " sunny South " and the "busy North " is George W. Probst, a leading harness and saddle manufact-
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urer of Westmoreland county. He is a son of John and Rebecca (Smith) Probst, and was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., Au- gust 5, 1833. John Probst was of German descent, born near Mount Joy, Lancaster county, Pa., about 1831, and removed to Pittsburg, where he remained a few months. About 1832 he came to Greensburg and engaged in hotel keeping. In 1834 he went to Adamsburg and kept a hotel until 1836, when he returned to Greensburg, where he died in 1861. He was a member of the Lutheran church and a war democrat. On June 18, 1812, he united in marriage with Rebecca Smith, daughter of John and Cordelia Smith. They had eleven chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the ninth. John Probst's father, Andrew Probst, was of German descent and was born and reared in Lancaster county, Pa. Ilis wife was of Scotch-Irish descent.
George W. Probst attended the schools of Greensburg until seventeen years of age, when he became a stage driver and drove for three years on the pike from Greensburg to Pittsburg. At twenty years of age he repaired to Pittsburg to learn the trade of harness and saddlery. He became an apprentice with R. W. Mackay on Wood street, but completed his trade with John Neely on the same street. Ilis first employ- ment for himself was at the United States arsenal building, where he worked for a few months at the time of the Crimean war in Europe. From Pittsburg he went to New Castle, Pa., remained a short time and re- moved to Youngstown, Ohio. After a year's residence in the " Buckeye State," although en- joying a good patronage, he resolved upon estab- lishing himself in business at his native town, and accordingly returned to Greensburg about 1855. He obtained the position of manager and foreman of C. H. Stark's harness and saddlery shop. This position he filled efficiently and satisfactorily until 1862. In that year he en- gaged in business for himself and has continued
to operate a harness and saddlery establishment in Greensburg ever since, except two years that he was foreman in a harness manufactory in Macon, Georgia. His present saddlery and harness manufacturing establishment in Greens- burg is at No. 9 East Pittsburg street. Mr. Probst gives personal attention to every depart- ment of his business. Ile employs from five to six hands and turns out first-class work, some of which goes to many points outside of West- moreland county. He has harness and sad- dlery hardware, trunks, satchels, a large stock of harness, saddles, collars, bridles, whips and all horse equipments that are commonly found in any leading city. Ilis specialties are the making and laying of carpets and trunk and satchel repairing. No work is allowed to leave without critical examination, while repairing of every description receives prompt and careful attention. Thus, by good and fair dealing he has made his establishment the favorite source of supply for an extensive section of country around the county seat.
On December 24, 1856, Mr. Probst married Sarah J. Little, daughter of James Little, of Pittsburg. To their union have been born eleven children : Willie J., born February 21, 1857, died March 8, 1861; George, born Feb- ruary 21, 1860, died March 23, 1863; Anna E., born November 22, 1862, died January 20, 1869; Charles L., born March 12, 1864, work- ing with his father; Emma G., born July 13, 1866; Robert E., born September 9, 1869, working with his father ; May H., born Novem- ber 23, 1871, died July 17, 1872; Harry L., born December 25, 1872, at school; Allie K., born December 27, 1874, died September 3, 1878; Arthur, born February 4, 1877, and George M., born May 31, 1879.
G. W. Probst was raised a democrat, cast his first vote for Gov. Pollock in 1854 and two years later became a republican. Mr. Probst has always been prominent in secret society cir- cles. He joined Greensburg Lodge, No. 50,
i boyng
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I. O. O. F., on February 8, 1856, and afterwards became a charter member of Westmoreland Lodge, No. 840. He is a member of Greens- burg Lodge, No. 484, K. of P., Pleasant Coun- cil, No. 53, Greensburg Council, No. 44, Royal Arcanum, No. 53, Home Circle, Protection Coun- cil, No. 11, Chosen Friends and Red Cross Castle, No. 146, A. O. K. of M. C. He has served as D. D. G. M. in the I. O. O. F., D. D. G C. in the K. of P. and D. G. R. in the R. A., besides representing all of his lodges in the State grand bodies to which they belong. Mr. Probst is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and a man of fine business qualifications, of persistent energy and one who stands deservedly high as a citizen of the county.
R. A. RANKIN, chief clerk in the protho- notary's office of Westmoreland county and an intelligent young man of good education and business ability, was born in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, Pa., May 8, 1857, and is a son of John and Eliza J. (Kelley) Rankin. ITis paternal grandparents, Robert and Margaret (Culbert) Rankin, were natives of the " Emerald Isle." They emigra- ted to the United States and reared a family of nine children, all of whom were born in Ireland except William, the youngest child. John Ran- kin (father) was born October 22, 1821, in county Derry, Ireland, and at sixteen years of age came to the United States with his parents. Ile settled in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, Pa., where he engaged in farming. In 1866 he removed to Westmoreland county and purchased his present farm in Rostraver town- ship. Ile is a member of the West Newton Presbyterian church, organized in 1851, was formerly a ruling elder of Rehoboth and Round Ilill Presbyterian churches, and is always inter- ested in whatever promotes the welfare of his church and the true interests of Christianity. Ile is a republican, has held almost every town-
ship office, and is at present township auditor, which office he has held for the last nine years.
Mr. Rankin married Eliza Jane Kelley, daughter of Samuel Kelley, of Elizabeth town- ship, Allegheny county, Pa., by whom he had nine children, of whom three sons and five daughters are living. Mrs. Rankin was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and passed away in March, 1879.
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