Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 34

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 34

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ENRY TODD WILEY, a well-known citizen and successful merchant of Scott- dale, was born in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, Pa., March 29, 1838, and is a son of Sampson and Sarah (Todd) Wiley. His grandfather, Sampson Wiley, Sr., was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, where he owned a farm of forty-five acres, whose title made it his while " grass grew and water ran." Hle immigrated to the United States in 1790 and settled in Westmoreland county, where he died in 1825 at fifty-six years of age. He married Jane McGrew, a member of the old and well- respected MeGrew family of this county. His father, Sampson Wiley, was born in Westmore- land county in 1805 and died January 3, 1888. Hle was a farmer until 1840, when he engaged in merchandising and continued successfully in that business till 1870. In the last named year he retired from active life. He held to the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, was elected sev- cral times to important local offices in a strong republican township, but always declined to ac- cept them. He married Jane Todd, daughter

of Henry Todd, a native of Ireland, and a farmer of Westmoreland county as early as 1812. They had ten children. One of their sons is Squire James W. Wiley, of Everson, Pa., and a successful coke operator of Fayette county, Pa. Another son was Sampson M., who enlisted in Co. A, one hundred and fifty- fifth Pa. Vols., was in the battle of Gettysburg and died soon afterwards with typhoid fever. Mrs. Jane (Todd) Wiley was born in 1809 and is a resident of Everson, Pa.

H. T. Wiley worked on a farm until he was twenty-one years of age, during which time he attended the common schools and one term at Curry Normal Institute, Pittsburg, Pa. Ile taught for fourteen years in Allegheny county and one year at Curry Institute and then (1870) became a clerk in the mercantile house of A. J. Shank & Co., at Saltsburg, Pa. Five years later he assumed charge of W. II. Brown's Son's company store at Boston on the Monon- gahela river, near MeKeesport, Pa. Under the firm name of H. T. Wiley & Co. he conducted this store successfully for ten years. In 1885 he removed to Scottdale and established one of its leading business houses under the firm name of II. T. Wiley & Co. His establishment is at No. 607 on Pittsburg street, and contains a varied and valuable stock of general merchan- dise. He keeps on hand all kinds of imported and domestic dry goods, ladies' and gentlemen's furnishings, notions, groceries, provisions from farm, garden, dairy and orchard, drugs, glass- ware, etc.

II. T. Wiley was married on July 14, 1868, to Sarah Jane Haney, of Port Perry, Allegheny county, Pa. She died in 1872 and in 1874 he was united in marriage with Anna Belle Nickel, daughter of the late Dr. John R. Nickel, of Con- nellsville, Pa. He had born to him one child by his first marriage, Jane, who died in 1887, and has five children by his second marriage : Laura T., George A., Harry B., Bessie B., and Lizzie II. 11. T. Wiley is a prohibitionist and a mem-

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ber of the Junior and Senior Orders of United American Mechanics. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held all the offices. By straightforward and honorable dealing he has won his way into the front rank of substantial merchants .-

AMUEL J. ZEARLEY, senior member of the firm of Zearley & Pool, was born March 25, 1847, in Monongalia county, Va. (now W. Va.), and is a son of John and Amelia (Darnall) Zearley. John Zearley, a wool carder, who at one time ran a carding-mill near Smithfield, Fayette county, Pa., was a native of that county, and died in 1868 in West Virginia, to which state he removed several years previous to his death. Ilis widow, a na- tive of West Virginia, is now living at Scott- dale and is in the seventy-eighth year of her age.

Samuel J. Zearley remained in his native county until sixteen years of age, when he was sworn into the service of the government. After two years' service he was discharged at Win- chester, Va., September 6, 1864, after which he went to Niles, Ohio, and engaged in the nail factory as a cutter. One year later he returned to this State and learned the carpenter's trade in Fayette county with his half-brother, Isaac Zearley, and worked at it for two years, then went back to Morgantown, W. Va., where he worked as a contractor and carpenter until 1873. The next year he was in a planing mill at Scottdale, and then again engaged in carpen-

try, at which he continued four years, and then became the senior member of the firm of Zearley & Smith, which established a planing mill. After about two years Nathan Smith sold his interest in the firm to L. G. Reppard, and the new firm was known as Zearley & Co. One year later James HI. Pool purchased Mr. Rep- pard's interest, since which time the name of the firm has been Zearley & Pool. These gentle- men are prepared to make estimates of all kinds of buildings, whether in town or country. In connection with this they operate a large planing mill and factory, where they manufacture doors, sash, blinds, frames, floors, siding, etc. The mill and factory are brick buildings and are equipped with the finest and most improved modern machinery, which is operated by a large force of skilled mechanics. This flourishing es- tablishment was first started in 1879, and is on a firm and substantial basis. The members of the firm are highly respected, courteous gentle- men, liberal, fair and enterprising, and enjoy the confidence of the best citizens of that sec- tion. Samuel J. Zearley is a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Marion Lodge, No. 562; Urania Chapter, No. 196, and Kedron Commandery, No. 18, Knight Templars, Greensburg, Pa. ; he is also a mein- ber of Scottdale Council, No. 807, R. A., and of Scottdale Conclave, No. 176, Independent Order of Heptasophs.

S. J. Zearley was married in 1876 to Ellen, a daughter of Daniel Snyder, of Reagantown, near Scottdale, and they have three children : Bertram F., Daniel S. and Gertrude.

West Newton

ENRY CROUSHORE, one of the most substantial citizens of West Newton, was born near Adamsburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., February 10, 1827, and is the son of George and Margaret (Baughman) Croushore. The Croushores originally came to this county from Germany, and settled in Westmoreland county at a very early period in its history. John Cronshore ( Kraushaar), great-grandfather, came from Northampton county, Pa., and with his wife settled and took out a patent for 300 acres of land, in about 1780, near Grapeville, now known as the old Smaile farm, where he and his wife lived until their death. To them were born five children, three girls and two boys. In 1798 the following indenture was made between father and his two children, George and Henry : " Know all men by these presents, that I, John Kraushaar, of Westmore- land county, Hempfield township, and free State of Pennsylvania, have made over, constituted, confirmed and by these presents do make over, constitute and alien all my land and tenements or portion of ground unto two sons, George and Henry Kraushaar, to have, hold unto themselves, their heirs or assigns to their own proper use and behalf and no other but their heirs or their assigns. The said tract of land being situate on Brush creek, adjoining Thomas Waitting, George Boyer, Abe. Yakey and Peter Oldman. contain- ing 300 acres, more or less, which land both brothers shall equally divide in the manner following : George Kraushaar is to have the

upper part of said tract of land and Henry is to have the lower part thereof, with all the build- ings; reserving that the cattle, horses, sheep and hogs shall be equally divided, and that the said George Kraushaar is not to have possession of his share of the stock until he has as good buildings as Henry. The hay and second erops of the old meadow they are to share alike, and of what new meadow they make each has also to himself likewise. George is to have the whole field by the new barn to his own use until the place is divided and for the further title, and Henry is to help George raise as good buildings as are on his premises. Further, the said George Kraushaar and Henry Kraushaar are to let said John Kraushaar have yearly fifteen bushels of wheat, 10 bushels of rye, five bushels of corn and five pounds of buckwheat, and hay for two cows during his life time ; and further is to know that all this summer crop they are to share alike, but after that they are to earn in what each one raises himself or puts out, and likewise they are to plow a half acre of flax ground for said John Croushore (Kraushaar). Further, the girls are to have 50 pounds of law- ful money or the value thereof to produce equally divided amongst them and hereinafter men- tioned, namely : Susan, 516 13s. 5d., Eliza- beth, $15, 13s. 2d. and Mary, .016, 13s. 5d. Likewise, the said George and Henry Croushore (Kraushaar) pay the debts what is to be paid to this date and keep five head of sheep for the old man on the place. Now for the further and

Heroushore

Elizabeth S. Beronshore,

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true performance and all and singular and agreements herein mentioned, both parties have interchangeably set their hands and affixed their seuls the twenty-eighth of April, 1788.

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us.

[SEAL.] JOHN CROUSHORE, his [SEAL.] GEORE x CROUSHORE, mark

[SEAL.]

his HENRY x CROUSIIORE, mark GEORE SHIBLE, JOHN WM. MURNWORTII, JACOB BENDER. Acknowledged by MICHAEL HUFFNAGLE.

George Croushore (grandfather) was born near Grapeville on the farm now known as the old Smaile farm, August 12, 1765, where he was raised, and married Margaret Meyers and died on the farm February 13, 1814, being forty-eight years of age ; his wife remaining on the farm until her death February 25, 1838, aged seventy two-years. He was a stanch democrat, a leading member of the German Re- formed church at Brush Creek, having served as elder and deacon. To them were born twelve children, ten girls and two boys, all of whom are dead except Lucy (Croushore) Shearer, now liv- ing at Harrison City, Westmoreland county, l'a., with her daughter Sarah MeMichael, being over eighty years of age. On this farm George Croushore (father) was born April 26, 1800, where he grew to manhood and was engaged in the pursuits of husbandry. At his father's death he took charge of the farm and afterwards bought it, paying a dowry for twenty-four years to his mother. In November, 1848, while on the road with a team of four horses returning from Pittsburg with a load of lumber, when near his home, going down a steep hill on the farm, and while in the act of placing the "rough lock," his clothes caught on the roots of a large tree near the foot of the hill, the reins of the ; grandfather) came from Hamburg, Germany, at

saddle horse breaking, he was thrown between the roots of the tree and the wagon wheel and instantly killed. Like his father, George was a stanch democrat and a member of the Reformed church at Brush Creek, where he was a leading member and frequently acting as elder and deacon. Ile married Margaret Baughman and to them were born six sons and four daughters : Adam, living on part of homestead, which was owned by Adam Baughman (maternal grand- father) at the time of his death; Henry (sub- ject) ; Martha married Moses Knappenberger and lives at Grapeville station, Pa. ; Michael lives and owns a farm in Fayette county, near Fayette City ; Caroline died June, 1859; Sam- uel, who was with his father at the time of the death of the latter, died April 1, 1865; Sarah married Stanton Black and lives on part of the late homestead ; James J. lives on and owns a farm in Rostraver township, near West Newton, Pa. : Elizabeth married John Stough and lives near Grapeville, Pa. ; George W. lives at Grapeville station, Pa., and operates the tannery at that place. Adam Baughman (maternal granfather) was the third child of Henry Baughman (mater- nal great-grandfather) and married Madalene Rugh. After his marriage he, with his wife, settled in Armstrong county on a farm where four children were born them, all of whom are dead. , Adam Baughman, after his brother Henry's death, sold his Armstrong county farm and returned with his family to Westmoreland county and became the owner of the old home- stead, on which he died July 23. 1840, aged sixty-five years. On the old homestead farm the following children were born : Elizabeth, Margaret (mother of subject), who died April 1, 1869, aged sixty-four years; Peter, Anna, Henry, Christian and Lydia, all of whom are now dead, except Christian, who now resides in the west. At the time of Adam Baughman's death he owned seven large farms in Westmoreland county. Henry Baughman (maternal great-

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the age of four years with his father, who, together with the Byerlys, the Davises and Kunkles settled near Lancaster City. Here he married Catharine Kunkle and to them were born eight children, four boys and four girls. They finally moved and settled in North Ilunt- ingdon township (eastern part), within seven and one-half miles of Greensburg, where he pur- chased 600 acres at 20s. per acre. It will be remembered that one of the above early settlers named Davis, shot and killed an Indian war- rior. The Indians to revenge themselves after- ward killed Davis on his farm, which is now owned by Sarah (Croushore) Black, sister of subject.

Henry Croushore, after leaving the common schools learned the trade of tanner at Adams- burg. In 1848 he went to Fairmount, Va., and worked journey work there for four years, when he returned to his native county and rented a small tannery near New Stanton. After running this about three years he went west to Dubuque, Iowa, and began dealing in real estate at which he continued for some three years. In the spring of 1860 he bought the half interest in the tannery at West Newton, which at that time was owned by George Plumer. and they in partnership operated it until 1867, when they bought the interests of Mr. Plummer and operated it until 1876. Mr. Croushore has been successful in business and has acquired a handsome competency. He owns a fine farm in Rostraver township, more than 1, 100 acres of coal land along the Youghiogheny river and other valu- able property, having conducted his own affairs so well ; he enjoys the confidence of his neighbors and is frequently called upon by them to take charge of business matters and to settle estates as executor, administrator, assignee, etc. Ile has settled some large estates and always with satisfaction to the parties concerned. An in- stance of the kind was the Israel Painter estate which he, in connection with Morris L. Painter, managed and which involved considerably more

than a fourth of a million dollars. At the time of Israel Painter's death his estate was supposed to be insolvent and many of the creditors did not expect more than fifty per cent. of their claims ; with skillful management the full amount of the indebtedness was paid and a cash surplus of $12,000 remained. ' In addition to this sur- plus the executors retained the Willow Tree farm, the old homestead, containing 430 acres and worth at least $50,000. Mr. Croushore is a pronounced democrat, has frequently served as burgess of his borough and belongs, with his wife, to the German Reformed church at Brush Creek. He is a man of strict integrity, careful, industrious, shrewd and an agreeable companion and stands high in the esteem of his fellow-men.

Henry Croushore was married March 22, 1860, to Elizabeth Jane Gongaware (German spelling Gangwehr), daughter of Jonas and Cristina Gongaware. Mrs. Croushore was born in North Iluntingdon township, this county, February 7, 1840, the eighth in a family of ten children, all married and settled in this county ; three have since died. To their union have been born three children, two of whom are living : Henry Jonas and George L. The former is yet at home; the latter was married March 27, 1884, to Lucy L., a daughter of Balthas Getchey (see sketch elsewhere in this volume). George L. Croushore resides at West Newton, where he is engaged in the real estate, insurance and steamship agency business and has successfully conducted these lines since 1885. Ile has three children : Howard Wayne, Clare Curtis (deceased) and Allen Wilfred. Like his father he is a Jacksonian democrat and a member of the German Reformed church at Brush Creek, near Adamsburg ; his wife belongs to the Lutheran church at West Newton. Hle is also a member of the West Newton Lodge, No. 440, I. O. of O. F., to the Encampment Branch of same order at West Newton, and to West Newton Council, No. 521, Royal Arcanum,

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FREDERICK H. BERWIRTH, a mer- chant tailor of West Newton, is a son of John D. and Henrietta (Moses) Berwirth, and was born November 4, 1852, in Carlshaven, Germany. His father, John Berwirth, was born and died in the empire of Germany and was a tobacconist by occupation. Believing in the teachings of Martin Luther, the great reformer, he was an earnest member of the Lutheran church.

Ile married Henrietta Moses, and they had fifteen children, eight of whom are living and seven of whom are in America. Of those in the United States, Christian lives in New York City and is a cigar manufacturer; Caroline is the wife of Mr. Biedabach, a retired saddler of New York City ; Sophia is the widow of Henry Dulker, and resides in that city ; Henrietta is the widow of John Buddenhagen, and she, too, is a resident of the great metropolis; Wilhel- mina and Gotleib is engaged in the shoe busi- ness in New York.

Frederick HI. Berwirth, on October 19, 1873, was united in marriage with Mary, a daughter of Charles Hellman, of Triest, Germany, . the ceremony being performed in Philadelphia, Pa. They have three children: Charles, Henrietta and Carrie.

Mr. Berwirth after receiving some education in the schools of his native country, learned the tailor's trade and came to the United States when about fifteen years of age and located in New York City, where he followed tailoring thirteen months. He then went to Philadelphia and remained there in the same business about seventeen years, when he came to West Newton (1887). For the past three years he has been working at his trade in his new home and has succeeded in building up a good business. IIc is identified with the Lutheran church and in politics adheres to the principles of the Republi- can party. Hle is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of West Newton and is a good citizen, worthy of the respect and confidence of all.

of West Newton, Pa. (It will be remembered that on July 21. 1875, Margaret C. Croushore, the daughter of the subject of the sketch, was instantly killed by a boiler explosion in the tannery when but nine years old). Jonas Gong- aware, father of Mrs. C., was born on the farm owned by Fulton Thompson, in South Hunting- don township, January 1, 1795, was one of a family of eleven children born to Philip and Margaretta (Miller) Gongaware (Gangwehr), and was married in 1825 to Cristianna Naley. Philip Gongaware (Gangwehr), grandfather of Mrs. Croushore, was also born on the farm now owned by Fulton Thompson in 1760, and died in 1829 aged sixty-nine years. Ilis wife, Mar- garetta, was a daughter of John Peter and Catharine Miller, who died in 1823 aged fifty- seven years. Michael Gongaware (great-grand- father of Mrs. Croushore) was born in 1730, in Northampton county, Pa .; in early life came to Westmoreland county and settled on the farm near Harrolds church, now owned by his grand- * son, Joseph Gongaware, who, with his wife, Lydia, are living at the advanced ages of eighty- five and eighty-one years respectively. Mr. Michael Gongaware died on this farm October 26, 1826, aged ninety-six years ; thus it will be seen that the Gongawares and the Croushores were very early families in America. It is believed that as far back as the seventh gener- ation the Croushores and Gongawares were of American birth. Michael Gongaware, great- grandfather of Mrs. Croushore, was a clock- maker by trade, and brought with him to this county an old clock of his own make which is still a splendid time-piece and is now in the possession of his grandson, Joseph Gongaware. In fact, the Croushore and Gongaware families are of the oldest, most substantial and highly esteemed of the county, descended from German stock its members are sturdy, persevering, reliable and honest, a class of people to whom much of our national prosperity and standing as a nation is due.

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HARLES C. BROWN, one of the in- dustrious and energetic citizens of West Newton, is a son of Christopher C. and Magdalena (Tuback) Brown, and was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, May 18,

1843 Ilis ancestors for several generations back were natives of Baden, where his father was born in 1787 and died eighty-two years later. Ile was a weaver by occupation and a strict member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Ile married Magdalena Tuback. They had six children, four sons and two daughters : Chris- topher (dead) ; John, Jacob, Charles C., Su- sannah and Elizabeth (dead).

Charles C. Brown attended the public schools of Germany and then learned the trade of weaver. He served in the German army two years, the time required by law of every citizen in the empire. Ile was a soldier in the Austro- Prussian war and participated in several fierce and stubbornly contested battles of that short but decisive struggle between Prussia and Aus- tria for political power.

In 1868 he came to New York City but soon went to Connecticut and Massachusetts. where he worked some time in the woolen factories of those States. From New England he went to Philadelphia, then removed to Pittsburg and from the latter place came in 1870 to West Newton. He readily found employment in Clarkson's woolen factory in Sewickley township where he worked until 1872. In that year Mr. Brown established his present prosperous carpet and stocking weaving business at West Newton and now enjoys a liberal patronage.

On January 21, 1872, he was married to Eva Gabler, of West Newton. To this union have been born eight children : Thomas, Mary, Christina, John (dead), Annie, Ada (dead), Eva and Charles.

Charles C. Brown in politics is a republican. Ile and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church at West Newton.

needed industry in his section of the county. Ile is a skilled and experienced workman in his particular line of business and well deserves the patronage which he has secured.

OBERT BROWN, an aged man who has retired from the cares, anxieties and toils of active life, was born July 26, 1815, in Fayette county, Pa., and is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Farquhar) Brown. His grandfather, Samuel Brown, was of Quaker origin, a native of New Jersey, migrated to Fayette county, Pa., at a very early day and settled near Fayette City where he tilled the soil, lived and died. Benjamin Brown (father), one of his sons, was born near Mt. Holly, N. J., and when young removed with his parents to Fayette county, Pa., where he lived and died. He was a cooper by trade but his chief occupa- tion was farming. Ile was originally a whig but later a republican. He was born March 22, 1792, and died January 21, 1877. Ile was the father of eight children, of whom five are living. Robert Farquhar (maternal grand-father) was a farmer by occupation and lived and died in Fayette county, Pa.

Robert Brown married Barbara A., daughter of Jacob Longanecker, of Westmoreland county, Pa., and they have five living children : Sam- uel, married to Annie Lewis, of Fayette county, Pa., and who now is a physician in La Salle, Ills. ; Charles E., a carpenter, who married Re- becca Douglass and lives at West Newton, Pa. ; William F., who lives on his father's farm in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and whose wife was Catharine Brown, of Fayette county, Pa., and Ida. B., wife of D. P. Doug- lass, an agricultural implement dealer, of West Newton, Pa., and La Una M., wife of Augustus Swartz (deceased).

Robert Brown received a common school edu- cation in Fayette county, Pa., and began life a Ile has built up a very useful and much : poor boy. Hle was first a traveling salesman

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for a clock manufactory and accumulated some money with which he purchased a farm in Ros- traver township, Westmoreland county, Pa. In the succeeding years he bought and sold several farms and in 1881 he purchased a residence in West Newton which he has occupied since 1882. Ile has always been a republican and is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, of which he is a dea- con. Mr. Brown, who is about seventy-five years of age, is still living in retirement enjoy- ing the fruits of a busy and well-employed life. In that critical time when the destinies of the Union hung trembling in the balance his eldest son, Samuel, hastened to the service of his country and enlisted in 1861 in the 16th reg. Pa. cavalry, and remained in the field to the close of the war. He was an orderly sergeant and participated in about fifteen engagements, one of which was the memorable and bloody bat- tle of Gettysburg.

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 34

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke] Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422