USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
428
BIOGRAPHIES OF
of his life. Ile was an extensive farmer, an old-time democrat, an earnest Lutheran and served as justice of the peace for many years.
He married Lydia Sterret, who bore him four sons and four daughters. During the latter part of his life he removed to Bullskin town- ship, Fayette county, Pa., where he died at an advanced age. Adam Boyer (father) was born in 1816 and died at Paintersville, this county, in 1885. He was a farmer, a democrat and a Lutheran and married Elizabeth Raymond, daughter of Henry Raymond, a prosperous farmer of Somerset county, who has attained the ripe old age of ninety-six years. Adam Boyer reared a family of six children, of whom four are living.
William H. Boyer was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools of his native State. Leaving school he engaged in farming and stock-raising in Mt. Pleasant township and has continued in that business until the present time He is a good farmer and a careful business man. Ilis farm is well adapted to grain-raising and grazing purposes.
Ile was married on March 18, 1879, to Susan E. Hartzell, daughter of George Hartzell, of Mt. Pleasant. They are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters : Eva, Oliver, Homer and Bertha.
Politically Mr. Boyer is a democrat and always votes for the nominee of that party. Ile and his wife are members of the Reformed church.
ILLIAM D. BRADEN, one of the en- terprising and intelligent young farmers of the county is a son of David and Eliza (Offner) Braden, and was born March 1, 1858, in Derry township, Westmoreland county, Pa. His grandfather, James Braden, was a native of the Emerald Isle, and immigrated to America, locating in Derry township, West- moreland county, Pa., about the close of the eighteenth century, where David Braden (father)
was born March 17, 1821. David Braden was the son of a farmer and worked by the day and by the month until after he attained his major- ity. At the age of about twenty-six he and his brother George purchased a farm on which they worked together for six years, and then bought another near the village of Bradensville, Pa. When the farms had both been paid for they dissolved partnership, each taking a farm. Da- vid Braden besides farming then began buying stock and shipping it to the eastern markets, which continued throughout his life. Ilis busi- ness prospered and he acquired considerable property. Ile purchased two more farms in Derry township, on one of which he built two houses ; ten lots in West Latrobe and two houses in Bradenville. When he began life for himself he had practically nothing, but he made good use of his time and his industry was well rewarded. Mr. Braden was a member of the United Brethren church and a strictly moral, conscientious man. He was cheerful, charitable and generous and no man however poor ever went from his door unfed or unclothed. David Braden married January 7, 1847, Eliza, daughter of John Offner, of Lancaster county, Pa., and they had six children, three of whom are living: Harrison, a merchant of Bradenville, who is married to Martha, daughter of George Trau- ger, of near Pleasant Unity, Pa. ; Anna II., wife of J. K. Ellwood, of Adamsburg, Pa., and William D. George Lincoln Braden died Jan- uary 15, 1890, leaving a wife and two children. David Braden departed this life November 16, 1879, and his wife Eliza (Offner) Braden, who was born April 18, 1823, survives him.
William D. Braden was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native township, a normal school in Topeka, Kansas, and in Mount Union college near Alliance, Ohio. For three years he successfully " wielded the birch " in the school room, then began farming which he still follows. He owns and occupies the old home- stead farm, besides which he owns another farm,
429
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
two houses in Derry borough, three in Braden- ville and property in West Latrobe. He is genial, kind-hearted, hospitable and liberal, a respected citizen, an indulgent parent and an honest man-the " noblest work of God." Like his father he is a stanch republican and an active worker for his party.
Ile married January 11, 1883, Ilulda L., daughter of William Burd, and to their union have been born four children: Delia E., Day- ton Earl, Mary S. and Ann Eliza.
Mrs. W. D. Braden's grandfather was Maj. Simeon Burd, who was a native of Westmore- land county, Pa., and her father was William Burd, who was born March 18, 1826, in Unity township, not far from Latrobe, Pa. He was a blacksmith and a farmer, and married Mary, a daughter of John Mitchell, and to them were born seven children, four of whom are living: Hulda L., Simeon E., Harmon E. and George M. William Burd died May 29, 1886, and his wife remains on the old homestead.
HOMAS II. BRINKER, M. D. Thorough and extensive preparation is one of the essentials in any profession, and such a preparation was made by Dr. Thomas A. Brink- er before entering upon the practice of medicine which he successfully pursued at Pleasant Unity until he retired from active professional life. He is a son of Henry and Susanna (Thompson) Brinker and was born on the homestead farm in Unity township, Westmoreland county, Pa., May 14, 1818. His great-grandfather, Jacob Brinker, emigrated from Switzerland to this country where he located in Northampton county, l'a., and engaged in the flouring-mill business. He furnished the Revolutionary army with flour for which he was never paid. In 1792 he re- moved to near the site of Manor station, where he took up a body of land, besides six hundred acres of land in another portion of the township. Ile had five children : Henry and George who
received the six hundred acre tract between them ; Jacob, who inherited the Manor land ; Abraham, who received a tract of his father's Kentucky land; and Susan. Henry Brinker (grandfather) came with his father from Switz- erland, married Margaret Wise in Huntingdon county and died in Unity township January 6, 1849, aged eighty-eight years. His wife died in December of the same year, aged ninety-two years. They were early settlers of this county, members of the Reformed church and repaired to a neighboring fort several times on account of Indians. One of their sons was Henry Brinker (father) who was born April 9, 1788, and died September 1, 1851, from the effects of a cancer. He was a republican, a member of the Reformed church and owned a farm of three hundred acres of land in Unity township. He was a man of delicate health. Ile married Susanna Thomp- son who died October 19, 1879, aged ninety- eight years. They had five children : Dr. Thomas II., Harriet, Statira (dead); Hattie J. and Susan M.
Dr. Brinker was reared on his father's farm, was a school-mate of Gov. Geary and went to school to Richard Geary, the Governor's father. He read medicine with Dr. Christopher Wolf in 1842, attended one course of lectures at Jeffer- son Medical college in 1843, then resumed the further study of medicine with Dr. Albert Marsh of this county, and April 13, 1844, ac- companied the latter physician to Pittsburg. In the fall of 1845 he returned to Jefferson Medical college from which institution he was graduated March 21, 1846. Immediately after graduation he located at Pleasant Unity where he was en- gaged in the active and successful practice of his profession until April 1, 1852, when he retired from active practice. He then went on the home-farm where he remained until August, 1885, when he returned to Pleasant Unity and has resided ever since at that place. He owns one hundred and fifty acres of the home-farm besides valuable property at Pleasant Unity.
430
BIOGRAPHIES OF
On October 22, 1846. Dr. Brinker married Margaret Bear, daughter of Adam and Catherine Bear, of Mt. Pleasant township. Dr. and Mrs. Brinker have three children : Mary, Ada and Ira.
Dr. Thomas H. Brinker is a republican and has served as school director. He is a member and has repeatedly served as a deacon and elder of St. Luke's Reformed church. He is pleas- ant in manner, kind in disposition and remark- ably intelligent and entertaining in conversa- tion.
ILLIAM F. BRINKER was born Sep- tember 20, 1845, in Mt. Pleasant town- ship, Westmoreland county, Pa., near where he now lives, and is a son of Simon and Margaret (Fisher) Brinker. Jacob Brinker (great-great-grandfather) and his wife emi- grated from Germany and settled in Northamp- ton county, Pa. They moved westward and located in Penn township, Westmoreland county, when most of it was a wilderness and the coun- try was chiefly inhabited by Indians. Henry Brinker (great-grandfather) was a native of Northampton county, Pa., but came to this county, locating in Unity township. George Brinker (grandfather) was also a native of North- ampton county, born January 5, 1781,and died February 6, 1859. He was married to Mary Weible, of Northampton county, by whom he had fourteen children. He was an old wagoner and wagoned across the mountains to eastern cities before the turnpikes were built spanning the State.
Abraham Brinker was also an old wagoner oa the turnpikee after they were built. The record of the family is as follows: Jacob B., born March 23, 1807, died July 21, 1876; Elizabeth, born July 6, 1808, died March 9, 1877 ; Ilenry, born October 8, 1809, died in 1887 ; George, born May 10, 1811, died May 6, 1871; John B., born October 31, 1812, died April 4, 1824; Abraham B. and William B. (twins), born September 18, 1816; Margaret, born April 23, 1818; Simon, born January 7, 1820, died Oc-
tober 15, 1885; Isaac, born May 2, 1822, died May 3, 1883; Jesse, born April 22, 1824; Lavina, born March 4, 1826, died April 2, 1829; Mary, born August 23, 1828, died De- cember 17, 1870; and Louis, born July, 1831. Simon Brinker (father) was born in Mt. Pleas- ant township, this county, January 7, 1820, and died in the same place October 15, 1885. His wife was born February 4, 1821, married No- vember 1, 1844, and died August 15, 1877. Mr. Brinker was a republican, a farmer and a member of the Reformed church, in which he served as deacon and elder. IIe was the father of six children, all of whom died young except William F. Brinker. (For maternal ancestry, see sketch of Samuel Fisher).
William F. Brinker was married October 26, 1871, to Angeline M. Sadler, a daughter of Michael and Anna Mary (Hoffman) Sadler, of Salem township, who was born August 5, 1850, and who has borne him four children: Margaret R., born October 23, 1872; Anna M., born December 31, 1873; Simon K., born February 1, 1876 ; and Mary J., born June 21, 1879.
W. F. Brinker was educated in the common schools and at the Salem (Delmont) academy, and has ever since devoted his attention to agriculture, in which he has been very success- ful, now owning a great deal of valuable real estate upon which he has put many costly im- provements. He is a republican in political principle but never aspired to office, and with his wife belongs to the Reformed church in which he has held the office of deacon and elder. Much of his time is pleasantly and usefully spent in his library, one of the essentials of a home, and the whole family is pervaded with the spirit of improvement and progress.
'ENRY F. BROOKS, principal of the Bridgeport Independent schools, was born January 1, 1862, in Salt Lick township, Fayette county, Pa., and is a son of Milton K.
431
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and Eliza (Felgar) Brooks. Joseph Brooks, his great-grandfather, was of German parentage, a native of Pennsylvania and died in Fayette county at an advanced age. Henry Brooks (grandfather) was a native of Fayette county. Born in Springfield township in 1808, he was one of the carliest inhabitants of that section. Ilis whole life was devoted to farming and he was the first justice of the peace in his native township. Ile died in 1848. Mrs. Mary (Kern) Brooks (maternal grandmother) was a native of the same county and township and was born in 1809. She was the mother of a large family of children and died in 1846. Milton K. Brooks (father) was born in 1841 in Fayette county, was reared on his father's farm, engaged a year in mercantile pursuits and then purchased a tract of land in Fayette county and began farm- ing, which he continued until his death in 1871. Ile was a democrat and took quite an interest in local politics and was married in 1860 to Eliza, a daughter of Henry and Catharine Felgar of Fayette county and they had three children, all living : Henry F., William A., of Moyer, Fayette county and Samuel C., now living on the homestead farm. Mrs. Eliza Brooks (mother) as well as her husband was a member of the German Baptist church. She was taken from earth by the Angel of Death on April 22, 1878.
Henry F. Brooks was reared by his mother's parents until sixteen years of age. He received his education at the home schools and sunner normals and studied at home. In 1879 he began teaching in his native township, continued there three years, taught one term at West Overton and then went to Bridgeport, near Mt. Pleasant, where he has remained ever since with the exception of one year, during which he attended and graduated from the commercial department of the University of Kentucky at Lexington. Mr. Brooks is an intelligent, indus- trious, energetic young man of noble ambition and high aspirations. He is a democrat, a member of the German Baptist church and
Moss Rose Lodge, No. 350, I. O. O. F. and J. W. Howell Council, No. 210, Jr. O. U. A. M.
II. F. Brooks was married in 1884 to Rose C., a daughter of John M. Cochran, of East Hunt- ingdon township, this county. She was born in 1862, is of Irish descent and is the mother of two children : Trissa, born in 1886, and Grace, born 1888.
R. JAMES LOGAN BROWN, of Pleasant Unity, a courteous, intelligent and pleasant gentleman and a successful physician in his part of the county, was born at Madison, Westmoreland county, Pa., November 26, 1844, and is a son of James L. and Sibby Wilson (Logan) Brown. Ilis paternal grand- father, Robert Brown, was a native of Ireland. In 1801 he came to Westmoreland county where he located at Greensburg and engaged in the general mercantile business which he pursued for many years.
He married, reared a family and died at an advanced age. Ilis son, James L. (father), was born at Greensburg in 1824. He was engaged for some time in the mercantile business at his native town. He then removed to Madison and afterwards to Darlington, Beaver county, this State. After several years residence at the latter place he retired from active business and came to West Newton, this county, where he has resided for the last two years. He is a democrat and a member of the United Presby- terian church. He married Sibby Wilson Logan, who was a native of this county and died in 1851.
James Logan Brown was reared at Madison until he was fifteen years of age, when he ac- cepted a position as clerk in the drug and dry goods house of John George at Irwin. Three years later he went to Philadelphia and became a salesman in a wholesale notion house of that city. Ile remained one year, then (1866) re- turned to Westmoreland county, where he com-
1
432
BIOGRAPHIES OF
menced reading medicine with Dr. D. W. MeConaughty of Latrobe. After completing the prescribed course of medical reading he at- tended lectures at Jefferson Medical college and located at Bolivar, where he remained but a short time. Ile then went to Tyrone Mills, Pa., and after a brief residence removed in 1871 to Pleasart Unity, where he has continued ever since in the active and successful practice of his profession.
Dr. Brown is a member of the Westmoreland County Medical society and conducts a drug store in connection with his practice. Hle is a member of the A. O. U. W., K. of P., A. Y. M. and Reformed church. In politics he is a democrat.
Dr. Brown has been married twice. Ilis first wife was Josephine Hough. She died in 1871 and left one child, a daughter, who is named Annie. In September, 1876, Dr. Brown united in marriage with Mary E. Frasher of Pleasant Unity. By his second marriage he has had three children : Benjamin L., who died at four years of age ; Eddie ; and Nellie, who died and was buried on her second birthday.
$ IMEON K. BURD. One who served with honor and distinction in the Union armies from the opening to the downfall of the " Great Rebellion" is Simeon K. Burd, a courteous gentleman and one of the most promi- hent and influential republicans of Derry town- ship. He is a son of Major Simeon and Mary (Karns) Burd, and was born in Derry township, Westmoreland county, Pa., November 7, 1843. The Burds are of German descent and came into Pennsylvania in the early days of its colonial history. One of them was the James Burd of "song and story," who served under Commo- dore Perry on Lake Erie. He was home on a furlough and overstaying his leave of absence was tried as deserter, sentenced and shot. A reprieve was granted but did not arrive until a
few hours after his execution had taken place. William Burd (grandfather) was a farmer and life-long resident of this county. Ilis son, Major Simeon Burd (father), was born in 1804 and died 27th December, 1861. He was a blacksmith by trade but carried on farming in connection with his trade. Ile was an old-line whig, held various township and county offices and served as major of a militia regiment for many years. Ile was no aspirant for political or mili- tary honors but always exerted himself to be useful in whatever position he was placed by the suffrages of his fellow citizens. In 1825 he married Mary Karns who was a daughter of William Karns of Derry township, and died 20th October, 1852, aged fifty years. They had fourteen children : William, John and Mary who are dead; Margaret, wife of Daniel Beck ; Lieut. Harmon, who died of disease contracted in the army ; John A. (deceased); Phebe, widow of Elisha IIarbor of Indiana State; Elizabeth (deceased) ; George, who served one year in the late war and resides in Derry township ; Albert, who served in the Army of the Potomac from first to the close of the war and was killed at Petersburg; Simeon K .; Sophia (deceased) ; and two who died in infancy.
Simeon K. Burd was reared in Derry town- ship where he attended the common schools and afterwards pursued his studies in a select school at Latrobe. On 22d of April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, fourteenth reg. Pa. Vols., re-enlisted 7th of August, 1862, in the same company, one hundred and thirty-fifth reg., and on 25th of August, 1864, enlisted in the fifth heavy artil- lery and served until the end of the war (1865), when he was honorably discharged as a non- commissioned officer at Vian, Virginia. He took part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and the Wilderness, besides numerous skirmishes and several slight engage- ments with Mosby's guerillas. After the war he learned the trade of carpenter and engaged in contracting and building which he has con-
433
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
tinued in ever since, excepting several years when he was operating in the oil field above Pittsburg, Pa. In 1883 he purchased his pres- ent farm which he has improved and upon which he has erected one of the finest dwellings in the township.
On the 8th of September, 1864, Mr. Burd was married to Virginia Carbis, daughter of Capt. Samuel Carbis of Pittsburg, who was born in England in 1812, commanded a steamboat on the Mississippi river for over forty years and died in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Burd have been born six children : George A., born April 23, 1867 ; Eugene M., born March 30, 1870; Mary S., born November 23, 1873; Florence, born August 25, 1875; Genevieve, born Christ- mas, 1880; and John E., born May 15, 1883. The two eldest sons are carpenters and good mechanics.
Simeon K. Burd is a stanch republican and believes in an aggressive policy upon the part of his party in all of its struggles for political power.
EORGE BURKLEY, an able and efficient member of the fire, police and detective force of Pittsburg for over twenty years and now a resident of Derry township, is a son of Jacob and Agatha Burkley and was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., November 20, 1829. Ilis paternal grandparents, Jacob and Mary Burkley, were natives of and life-long residents of Baden, Germany. They had two sons : Bernard and Jacob. His maternal grandpar- ents, George and Catharine Akers, came from France, settled in Allegheny county, Pa., and their descendants are widely scattered. George Akers was a drover and was drowned above Freeport in the Allegheny river. His father, Jacob Burkley, was born in Baden, Germany, came to the United States when quite a mere boy and located in Pittsburg, where he engaged in the grocery business and dealt in watches and clocks. He was a strong democrat, took a great
interest in the affairs of his party and served for several years as a councilman in the Third Ward of the " Smoky City." In 1844 he purchased and removed to a farm in Derry township, near Blairsville, Indiana county, Pa. On this farm was a flouring-mill and in addition to operating it he built and ran a distillery. He died July 24, 1851, aged forty-seven years. His wife was Agatha Akers by whom he had fifteen children, of whom five are living: Catherine, John and Gust are in Pittsburg and Allegheny City and George and Joseph are residents of Derry township. Mrs. Agatha Burkley died June 28, 1888, aged 84 years.
George Burkley was reared till fifteen years of age in Pittsburg and attended the public schools of that city. From 1844 to 1863 he passed on his father's farm in Derry township. In the latter year he returned to Pittsburg where he was in the employ of the P. R. R. company for several years ; next served as night foreman of a fire company and then went on the police force besides serving as a private detec- tive. In April, 1889, he resigned and removed to the homestead farm in Derry township which he had purchased in 1887. This farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of land, is well watered and is partly underlaid with first-class coking coal. Mr. Burkley is making many substantial improvements on his land and build- ings. He has always been a democrat in politi- cal opinion, is a genial and hospitable man and a good citizen.
On September 22, 1851, he united in mar- riage with Isabel Bonner, who is a daughter of Mannes Bonner, of Bairdstown, Pa., and was born November 10, 1829. To Mr. and Mrs. Burkley have been born seven children : John A., born August 2, 1852, died November 1, 1869; Joseph A., born May 22, 1854, married to Ida MeSteen, has two children-Isabella and Mary F., and lives in Pittsburg ; Mary L., born September 16, 1856, married to Charles Byers, has four children-George F., John A., Eliza-
434
BIOGRAPHIES OF
beth and Joseph B., and is a resident of Pitts- burg ; Elizabeth J., born May 10, 1858, and died August 22, 1865 ; Catherine F., born June 17, 1863, married to James Welsh and has two children-Mert and Francis G. ; Francis G., born June 16, 1868, and Maggie R., born August 30, 1872.
D ANIEL L. CARPENTER, a representa- tive citizen of Mt. Pleasant township, was born February 10, 1833, in Manchester, Allegheny county, Pa., and is a son of John W. and Deborah (Baxter) Carpenter. His grand- father was Benjamin Carpenter, a native of Germany, who immigrated to America, settling in Lancaster county, Pa., where he followed the occupation of farming during the remainder of his life. Robert Baxter, maternal grandfather, was born near Dublin, Ireland, where he was married before coming to this country. His daughter, Deborah Baxter (mother), was but one year old when he left Ireland and came to West- moreland county and settled near Murrysville about the year 1800. John W. Baxter (father) was born in Lancaster county, Pa., about 1800 and died in 1871 in Mt. Pleasant township. By trade he was a millwright and wagon maker, was a democrat and a member of the Presby- terian church. He was the father of seven children, six of whom are yet living. Robert, one of the sons, enlisted in the army in the late war and served one year as a private soldier.
Daniel L. Carpenter was married December, 1870, to Ada Mitchell, a daughter of Nathan Mitchell, of Sewickley township, by whom he has two children : William R. and Jennie.
Mr. Carpenter received a common school edu- cation, learned the trade of coach builder and began business for himself at Livermore, this county, where he continued four years and then went to West Newton, remaining there from 1871 to 1889. In the latter year he sold out and located in Mt. Peasant township, where he
is now engaged in the general mercantile busi- ness and has an excellant trade. Mr. Carpenter is a democrat but never aspired to any office, and with his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church. He is an industrious and enterprising gentleman, and a citizen whose duties to his family and his country are never neglected.
a MOS O. CAVEN. The prosperity and number of banks in any county are a safe and unerring index to its volume of business. Westmoreland should feel proud of her many reliable and prosperous banking insti- tutions and among her safest banks is the "Private Derry Deposit bank," which was founded by Amos O. Caven, who is a man of unbounded energy and determination. He is a son of John and Sarah (Brough) Caven and was born in that part of the Ligonier Valley, in Ligonier township, Westmoreland county, Pa., February 4, 1836. William Caven (grand- father) the founder of the Caven family in this county, was an early settler in the Ligonier Valley (and whose father came to the United States from Caven county, Ireland). Ile was a man of prominence and influence in his day and owned a considerable body of land. He reared a family of six children. His descend- ants are to be found in different parts of the county and some have gone to other counties in the State and to other States in the Union. One of his sons was John Caven (father), who was born in 1803 and died in 1879. Hle was a substantial and prosperous farmer of Ligonier township. Ile was a man who was highly esteemed in his own community and had served for many years as a ruling elder in the Presby- terian church at Pleasant Grove. He married Sarah Brough, a daughter of Jacob Brough, who was an honest and well-to-do farmer of the Ligonier Valley. To John and Sarah Caven were born three sons and one daughter : Cyrus, Amos O. and G. H. Caven and Mary. Mrs.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.