USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 33
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prosperous condition under the practical and successful management of Mr. Skemp. He is thoroughly experienced in every detail of iron manufacture and is amply qualified for conduct- ing that business with increasing success.
July|23, 1880, Mr. Skemp married Kate Sum- ner, daughter of John Sumner, formerly of Hox- ton near Nottingham, and now of Wolverhampton, England. They have four children : Robert, Arthur, Leo and Harold.
Robert Skemp is a member of Marion Lodge, No. 562, F. and A. M., Scottdale Conclave, No. 172, Improved Order of Heptasophs and First Baptist church at Scottdale. Mr. Skemp is a man who has gathered a large fund of informa- tion from observation and reading, and is one who is well acquainted with the current events of the world's history and progress as well as with everything that pertains to the special in- dustry in which he is so actively engaged. IIe displays ability in the management of the ac- countant's department of the office and in the superintendence of the works, and by his strict honesty and close attention to business he is discharging the duties of his position with credit to himself and acceptably to the company and the public.
ATHAN SMITHI was born August 25, 1828, in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of Henry E. and Margaret (Barr) Smith. His grandfather, Nathan Smith, was born near Dub- lin, Ireland, and immigrated to America when a young man, locating in Westmoreland county, l'a., of which he was one of the early settlers. Ile lived to a ripe old age and died on the farm upon which he first settled. Henry E. Smith was a native of South Huntingdon township, this county, where he followed the occupation of farming and stock-raising. He was originally an " old-line whig," later a republican and was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr.
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Smith was a very robust and active man, indus- trions and energetic and had a multitude of friends. He died in 1888 at the age of eighty- five years.
Nathan Smith was brought up amid the rural scenes of his native township, remained on the farin until nineteen years old and then learned the carpenter's trade at which he worked for twenty-five years. In 1850 he removed to Stark county, Ohio, whence, after four year's work at his trade he went on west to Noble county, Indi- ana, where he continued to reside until 1861. Ilaving returned to Westmoreland county the previous year, he, in September, 1862, enlisted in Co. B, 16th Pa. cavalry and served until Ap- pomatox decided the contest and the Union was saved. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, was at Gettysburg and in all the principal battles fought by the Army of the Potomac. He went out as a pri- vate but served almost the entire time as ser- geant, and was honorably discharged at Lynch- burg, Va., in June, 1865. Returning home he followed farming until 1874, when he went to Scottdale and worked at his trade several years as contractor and builder, and in 1878 accepted a position as clerk in the hardware house of Loucks & Snyder, of Scottdale. In 1883 he formed a partnership with A. L. Stoner of the same town, the firm name being Smith and Stoner. This firm engaged in the general hard- ware business until 1888, when D. L. Null pur- chased the interest of Mr. Stoner, since which time the firm of Smith & Null has been successfully conducting the same line of business. It handles farin implements of all kinds and everything to be found in a first-class hardware store.
Nathan Smith was three times elected assessor ! of Scottdale, though he served but two terins, and is now a member of the school board. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1854, was Nancy Simmons, of Stark county, Ohio, who died in 1881 leaving no children. He re-mar- ried in 1883, his second wife being Isaphenia
Cunningham of Scottdale, and to them one child was born but died at the tender age of two months.
Mr. Smith is a member of the G. A. R. and takes a lively interest in the affairs of this order.
ARRY J. SPRINGER, a photographer and crayon artist of Scottdale, was born July 16, 1864, at Bell Vernon, West- moreland county, Pa., and is a son of Joseph F. and Hannah J. (Davidson) Springer. In 1760 Michael and Mary Ann Springer, who were natives of Sweden, came to Pennsylvania. The former was born at Stockholm in 1727 and the latter was a child of rich Swedish parents. She was stolen at three years of age and left under a tree where she was found by her husband's father, but could not recollect the surname of her parents. Michael and Mary Ann Springer came from Philadelphia to Rostraver town- ship, this county, in 1783, where Michael Springer took up three hundred and fifty-five and one-half acres of land under the title of "Springersburg," and died in 1797. They had five children : John, Mathias, who went west; Michael, also went west ; Mary, married John Worley and emigrated west, and Daniel who inherited the homestead. Daniel Springer (greatgrandfather) was born September 15, 1762, at Philadelphia, and in 1790 married Rachel Higgins who was born in Virginia in 1760. They had eight children : Michael, Ma- thias, Joseph, John, who married Sallie Billiter and was accidently killed in 1833; James HI., who inherited the home-farm, married Sallie Smith and died at Webster, Pa., in 1876; Nancy, who died when nineteen years of age ; Daniel and Martha. Joseph Springer (grand- father) was born in Fayette county, Pa., and was a farmer. He died at Brownsville, Pa., June 20, 1871. Hle married Margaret Driver who passed away October 28, 1864. To their union
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Af Springer
Photo by Springer.
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were born twelve children : Daniel, who married Rachel Jordan and died October 21, 1870; James and Newton, who both died in childhood ; Martha, wife of Barnett Corwin and dead ; John, who married Sarah A. Bailey ; Joseph F., Rachel, married Tunis Carroll and died in 1879; Lydia, widow of Asa Hastings ; Nancy, married Edward Cook and is dead ; James M., who mar- ried Sarah Reeves ; William R., who married Margaret Reed, and Margaret, wife of Frederick Crowneller, of Ohio. Joseph F. Springer (father) was born in 1830 near Belle Vernon and has always followed farming. In 1872 he removed to the northern part of the county where he remained until 1879 when he removed to his present location near Irwin. He married in 1854 Hannah. daughter of James Davidson, by whom he had thirteen children: Newton, James, Anna, Emma, William, Harry, Lewis, Charles, Howard, Hallie, Mattie, Ehner and Della. Mr. and Mrs. Springer are members of the M. E. church.
Henry J. Springer was reared in the rural districts of Irwin and North Huntingdon town- ship, attended the common schools and in 1882 learned photography with Adams & Lee, of Ir- win, Pa., with whom he remained about seven months, when he removed to West Newton and thence to Mt. Pleasant, in each of which places he remained about one year. In 1884 he lo- cated at Scottdale and had erected his present gallery. He does a successful business. his work is artistic and gives excellent satisfaction to his numerous patrons. He is a republican and a member of Fountain Lodge, No. 443, K. of P., Scottdale Conclave, No. 72, 1. O. II., Scott- dale Council, 102, Jr. O. U. A. M. and also of the Order of Solon. Mr. Springer is a well-to- do man. Hle owns valuable property on Market street, Scottdale, is an agreeable companion and an honest, upright citizen.
He was married in 1888 to Kate, daughter of Joseph Wadsworth, of California, Washington county, Pa.
D AVID FOX STONER, a retired farmer of Scottdale, and a representative of an old and prominent family of southern Westmoreland county, was born at the old Stoner homestead, East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., on August 15, 1823. Ile is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Fox) Stoner, the former a native of Blair county, Pa., and while yet a small boy removed with his father, Christian Stoner, to East Huntingdon township. Ile worked on the home-farm till his father's death ; he afterwards received his share of the estate and was engaged in farming all his life in East Huntingdon township. He was a member of the Mennonite church, a whig in politics until that party's disbandment ; from that time on he has acted with the republicans. His death occurred in 1858. lle was a man of great en- ergy and endurance and was generally success- ful in his business ventures. His wife Sarah (Fox) Stoner, a daughter of John Fox, of Mt. Pleasant township, who died in April, 1824, was a member of the Mennonite church. Both the Stoners and Foxs are of German extraction.
David F. Stoner has always been a farmer and has made his life a success. In 1848 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Martin Loucks, of East Huntingdon ; she died in 1877 and he was remarried in 1879 to Mary, daugh- ter of Simon Weimer, of Ligonier township, a native of Westmoreland county and of German descent. She is a consistant member of the M. E. church at Scottdale. To their marriage have been born three children : Maggie Pearl, Dora Elizabeth and David Scott. Mr. Stoner was engaged in farming near Scottdale, on the farm now owned by Jacob Loucks, till 1854 when he removed to Bullskin township, Fayette county, purchased a farm and continued to re- side there for eighteen years. In 1872 he re- turned to East Huntingdon township and built the first house at Scottdale in 1872. He is a republican in politics and has held the office of auditor in Bullskin township, Fayette county,
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was the first assessor in Scottdale borough and has been treasurer for six years. Mr. Stoner is a member of the Scottdale M. E. church and has been steward of this church for six years.
® HARLES W. STAUFFER, a young and energetic citizen of Scottdale and one of its leading butchers, is a son of II. W. and Catharine (Booher) Stauffer and was born in Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pa., 1865. Ile is a grandson of John T. Stauffer, who is now a resident of Mt. Pleasant, this county. John T. Stauffer was born in 1814. He was a farmer in early life but soon devoted his time and attention to the coal anel coke business. Ile owned and operated the " Star Coal Mines " and coke works, near Bridgeport, Pa., for several years, but eventually sold these mines and works to their present proprietor, A. C. Cochran. After this sale Mr. Stauffer engaged in stock- raising and stock-dealing or a number of years and then retired from active business. reared a family o eleven children, all of whom are living. His eldest son, HI. W. Stauffer, was born in 1838, and when a young man he en- gaged for several years in butchering at Penns- ville, Pa. In 1864 he enlisted in Co E, sixth reg. Pa. Vols., participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged and served until the close of the late war. After being mustered out of the United States service he returned to his Fayette county home, and about 1871 ro- moved to Upper Tyrone township, that county, where he purchased his present farm. He is a republican and a member of the M. E. church. He married Catharine Booher, daughter of Peter Booher, of East Huntingdon township, in 1859. They have had twelve children, of whom eleven are living : Alice, wife of Albert Herbert of Scottdale; Martin, Charles W., Susan, who married James Murphy ; Lizzie, Albert, Lucy, Laura, Rebecca, Ennna and John T.
his father's farm and attended the common schools of his neighborhood. Not caring to engage in farming he came in 1876 to Scottdale and entered into the butchering business, which he has followed with the best of success ever since. Ile is a practical and experienced butcher. His shop is conveniently located on Pittsburg street and is well fitted up to accommodate the large trade which he enjoys. Ile is an active worker in the Republican party and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
LBERT W. STRICKLER, M. D., a well-known physician of Westmoreland county and a surgeon at Scottdale for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, is a son of John N. and Sarah (Littell) Strickler, and was born near West Newton, South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., Septem- ber 15, 1847. Ilis grandfather, Henry Strick- ler, was born in Fayette county, Pa., in the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1856. His father, John N. Strick- ler, was born in 1814 in Tyrone township, where he resided for many years and was en- gaged in farming and stock-dealing. In 1856 he purchased a farm in South Huntingdon township, this county, but after two years resi- dence upon it he moved back to his Fayette county home, where he died aged forty-four years. lle was a whig, later a republican, and served ' several terms as justice of the peace. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was an ardent believer in its faith and doctrines. He reared a large family. His widow resides with her daughter, Mrs. Porter, who lives within one mile of Scottdale.
Dr. Strickler passed his boyhood days on the farm, received his education in the common schools of Tyrone township, and at an early age made choice of medicine as his life-pursuit.
Charles W. Stauffer passed his boyhood on | At seventeen years of age he commenced the
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study of medicine with Dr. D. W. Riggs, of Pennsville, Fayette county, Pa. He carefully and closely pursued the prescribed course of reading, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1871. In September, 1871, he began practice at Broad Ford, Pa., where he remained for six years. In 1878 he sought for a wider field of practice than that afforded him at Broad Ford. He selected and removed to Scottdale as a favorable point for a permanent location, and since 1877 has been engaged there in the successful practice of his profession. While at Broad Ford he was surgeon for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and since 1885 has been the surgeon at Scottdale of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Dr. Strickler is an earnest and trusted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a class leader, trustee and steward. He believes in the principles of the Republican party, has served his borough as school director and mem- ber of the town council and has the record of a faithful public servant. He is well versed in his profession, skilled in its practice and enjoys a liberal support in his section of the county. Gentlemanly, courteous and kind, he is deserv- ingly popular in a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. He was the third physician to locate at Scottdale, and is now the second oldest resident member of the medical fraternity at that place.
In 1873 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Townsend, daughter of Daniel Townsend, of Perryopolis, Fayette county, Pa. They have five children living, four sons and one daughter : Judson T, James P., Albert J., Frank II. and Mabel L.
As a citizen Dr. Strickler is well liked, for he is always considerate of the feelings of all with whom he comes in contact. He is well- known in his honored profession. lle is a member of the Westmoreland County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American Medical association.
R OBERT J. TENNANT, a boot and shoe merchant of Scottdale, was born October 2, 1855, in Wheeling, W. Va., and is a son of Thomas and Susan (Legge) Tennant. Thomas Tennant was a native of Scotland and came to the United States with his parents in 1838, when he was but seven years of age. They located at Frostburg, Md., where Thomas grew to manhood and lived until 1861, when he enlisted in a Maryland regiment and served the Federal government throughout the war. In 1865 he came north to Connellsville and en- gaged in the foundry business which he con- tinued successfully until 1880, when he removed to Scottdale, Pa. In the latter place he followed the same business during the remainder of his life. He, in addition to this, started and carried on a boot and shoe store which is now in the hands of his son, Robert J. Tennant. He served as school director in the borough of Scottdale and was a member of the M. E. church and of the A. Y. M. Mr. Tennant was a stirring, energetic man of good business qualifications and had a host of friends. Ile died November 26, 1888, at the age of fifty-seven years. ITis widow survives him and is now a resident of Connells- ville.
Robert J. Tennant left his native State when six years old, going to Maryland where he re- mained while his father was in the army. In 1865 he came north with his parents to Con- nellsville, Pa., where, after leaving the public schools, he engaged in the boot and shoe business for himself, meeting with excellent success. In 1880 he went to Scottdale and entered his father's store, but after a year went to Pittsburg and accepted a position with W. G. Price & Co., with whom he remained till 1884, having charge of the entire outside business of the company. lle then went to Cincinnati and engaged in the shoe business until 1888, when he returned to Scottdale and took charge of his father's boot and shoe store, which he has continued ever since with marked success. He is one of the en-
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terprising young men of his town, carries a large and well assorted stock of goods and has a good and rapidly increasing trade.
Mr. Tennant is a member of the M. E. church and is an upright, conscientious gentleman.
He was married in 1882 to Jennie, a daugh- ter of Jacob Cropp, of Connellsville, who died in the same year.
J OHN WALTERS, of the firm of Wiley & Walters, carpenters and contractors of Scottdale, Pa., was born in Germany in 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hetzel) Walters. Joseph Walters was born in 1801 in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he was a shoemaker by trade ; immigrated to America about 1843 and settled in Rostraver township, ' Westmoreland county, Pa., where he remained ten years ; then removed to South Huntingdon township, same county, near West Newton, where he remained until his death in 1877. ITis wife was Elizabeth Hetzel, who bore him nine children, of whom seven are living, the eldest being John Walters of Scottdale, Pa. Of those living, Catharine married W. S. Hood, of Con- nellsville, Pa .; Mary E., married E. D. Bear, of Derry, Pa .; Lena is the wife of David Orr, of West Newton, Pa .; Barbara was united in mar- riage with Andrew McCormick, now living in Colfax county, Nebraska ; Martin Walter, a res- ident of Mill Grove, this county, and Ilannah is the wife of Samuel Brewer of West Newton, Pa. Mrs. Elizabeth (Hetzel) Walters is still living at the age of seventy-six years, and resides near West Newton, Pa.
John Walters received a common school edu- cation in Westmoreland county and worked on a farm by the day. In August, 1862, he en- listed in Co, I, fifteenth Pa., cavalry (Col. Palmer), and served until the close of the war. In 1863 he was promoted from private to orderly on Gen. Sherman's staff. When the war closed he returned to this county, where he has ever i
since been engaged in carpentry. In 1873 he went to Scottdale, worked as journeyman and contractor for a while and in 1886 went into partnership with Robert Wiley, under the firm name of Wiley & Walters, which still continues.
John Walters was married in 1875 to Mariah O., a daughter of Jackson Byerly of Mt. Pleas- ant, Pa., and to their union have been born two daughters : Viola May, born August 1, 1878, and Ida Marie, born March 10, 1889.
Mr. Walters is a republican who takes quite an active part in political affairs, and with his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Scottdale Lodge, No. 885, I. O. O. F., and of I. O. Heptasophs. He owns valuable property in Scottdale and is one of the leading business men in his line of the southern part of the county.
S AMUEL L. WALTHOUR, a druggist of Scottdale, was born February 22, 1867, in Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of Henry II. and Elizabeth (Bott) Walthour. Henry H. Walthour was born in 1843 in Hempfield township, near Greensburg. He was of German parentage and lived at home, attending school in winter and working on the farm during the summer until nineteen years of age, when he entered the office of the Tribune and Herald at Greensburg and learned the printer's trade, remaining there about four years. In 1863 he enlisted in a regiment of l'a., Vols., as first lieutenant and served until the close of the war. The mercantile business at Greensburg next engaged his attention for about two years, after which he became foreman on the Pittsburg Leader, which position he re- tained till 1870, when he removed to Washing- ton, D. C., and worked in the government print- ing department for five years. After serving several years as foreman on the Altoona Call he removed to Wooster, Ohio, where he now re- sides and has charge of the Wayne county
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Democrat. He was married in 1866 to Eliza- beth, a daughter of John C. Bott of Greens- burg, who was born in Pittsburg in 1845, and who was the mother of three children, two of whom are living : Samuel L., and E. H., who is now in Baltimore, Md. Mr. Walthour is a democrat, takes an active part in political work and is a member of the Lutheran church. His wife died May 9, 1889.
Samuel L. Walthour received a good common school education and remained with his parents until fifteen years of age, when he went into the drug store of II. F. Bott at Greensburg, where he remained four years. He then engaged with W. L. Kelly, of Scottdale, Pa., in the same busi- ness. About a year afterwards H. F. Bott pur- chased Mr. Kelly's drug store and Mr. Wal- thour remained in the store with the new pro- prietor until October, 1888, when he started in the drug business for himself and is meeting with excellent success. He is a democrat, a member of the Lutheran church and an active young man who has bright prospects for the future.
DWARD P. WEDDEL, M. D., a finely educated, a remarkably energetic and a very successful young physican of Scott- dale, is a son of James and Sarah Aun (Parker) Weddel and was born at Buena Vista, Alle- gheny county, Pa., June 5, 1856.
His grandfather, George Weddel, was born in Allegheny county, where he always resided and where he died. His son, James Weddel (father), was born at Elizabeth, in that county, and settled in Sewickley township. He learned the trade of blacksmith which he followed for a short time, and then (1862) engaged in his present business of farming. He is a republican, has served for twenty years as school director and held all the other various township offices. He is now sixty-eight years of age but is remarka- bly active for a man of his years. He married Sarah Ann Parker. She died in 1874. Her
father, John Parker, was a native of Westmore- land county and was a stone-cutterby occupation.
At six years of age Edward P. Weddel re- moved from Buena Vista to Westmoreland county and was reared to man's estate on a farm. He attended the common school at Mars Hill, spent three years in Waynesburg college, Greene county, Pa., and took two courses in the Indiana State Normal school, Indiana, Pa. Equipping himself with a fine literary education and with laudable ambition to succeed in the world, he began life alone. He sought no fine position but accepted the first work that offered to his hand and engaged in teaching in the common schools. He taught in the schools of Westmoreland county for three years and in those of Fayette county for two years, and also served as principal of the Scottdale schools for two years. These few years of teaching, while they afforded him employment also gave him time to calmly survey the different fields of labor open to ambitious seekers upon the stage of life and to carefully select a future vocation consonant to his inclination and congenial to his wishes, and he made choice of the profes- sion of medicine. In 1879 he commenced the prosecution of his medical studies under the preceptorship of Dr. John D. Milligan, of Madi- son, Pa., attended lectures in the medical de- partment of the Western Reserve university of Cleveland, Ohio, and was graduated February 27, 1884. In a short time after his graduation Dr. Weddel opened an office at Painterville, this county, where he secured and enjoyed a good practice until 1886 when he removed to Scott- dale and has been engaged there ever since in the active and successful practice of his pro- fession.
On April 3, 1884, he was united in marriage with a Miss Randall.
Dr. Weddel is a member of Fountain Lodge, No. 443, Knights of Pythias, which was char- tered prior to 1882. He is president of Scott- dale school board. He is a member of the
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State Medical society and vice-president of the Westmoreland county Medical society which was organized November 15, 1859, at Greensburg. Ilis medical library is one of the finest and most carefully selected to be found in the county. It not only contains the standard authors of medical science but is constantly increased by additions of the latest words on medicine and surgery, while his literary library is large and well filled with the choicest works of prose and poetry selected from the authors of Greece and Rome and the literature of England, America and the civil- ized nations of the world. Dr. Weddel devotes his entire time to his profession and has a large and remunerative practice that is rapidly increasing. He is a thorough scholar, a suc- cessful physician and is genial and courteous in his daily intercourse with his fellow-men.
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