USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 73
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William D. Aultman was born at Mt. Pleas- ant, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 2, 1850, and attended the public and high schools of his native borough. In 1868 he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he was engaged for three years in the stock business with B. W. Shep- perd. In 1871 he returned to Westmoreland county, worked at the carpenters' trade until 1875, when he went to Millville, Sewickley town- ship, and was there successfully engaged in the mercantile business until 1878. In that year he returned to Stonersville and was extensively engaged in carpentering and contracting up to 1886. In 1886 he commenced merchandising at Stoners, in which he continued alone till February, 1889, when he took H. S. Landis in as full partner. They are both wide-awake and stirring business men and are building up a pay- ing business.
William D. Aultman was married in 1876 to Anna B., a daughter of William II. Marsh of Sewickley township, whose family is of pure Irish extraction. To their union have been born four children : Elmer W., Frank II., Jennie M. and Clarance L. Mr. Aultman is a republican and both he and his wife are members of the church of God.
IIRISTOPHER D. AULTMAN, a suc- cessful farmer and intelligent citizen of Sewickley township and a soldier under Grant in front of Richmond, is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Dobler) Aultman and was born in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland
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county, Pa. His paternal grandparents, Mi- chael and Sarah Aultman, were natives of Ger- many and came to East Huntingdon township where Michael Aultman purchased a farm upon which he resided until his death in 1833. His children were: George, Nicholas, Samuel, Ja- cob, William, Susan, Nancy and Mary. Jacob Aultman, father, was reared on his father's farm and engaged in farming for a livelihood. In 1840 he married Naney Howard, who died in 1843. In 1844 he married for his second wife Rebecca Dobler, by whom he had nine chil- dren : Christopher D., Samuel, William, Dan- iel, Clark, Susan, Mary, Sarah and Rebecca.
Christopher D. Aultman was reared on his father's farm and attended the common schools until he was eighteen years of age. He then took a three years course at Mt. Pleasant col- lege and engaged in teaching in the common schools. In 1864 he enlisted in the three months service under Capt. Dick. At the ex- piration of his term of service he entered Co. K, two hundred and eleventh reg. Pa. Vols., par- ticipated in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, Weldon Railroad and Petersburg and was present at Appomattox Court House. At the close of the war he returned home and re- moved to Mt. Pleasant township, where he pur- chased an interest in a saw mill which he held for two years. From 1868 to 1874 he worked at painting during the summer seasons and taught school during the winter months. In the last named year he purchased his present farm in Sewickley township, upon which he has resided ever since.
In 1874 he united in marriage with Rebecca Greenawalt. They are the parents of three children : Anne Pearl, Arthur R. and Emma L.
Christopher D. Aultman is a republican in pol- ities, has served several years as school director and always takes an interest in the success of his party. He is a member of the Grange, Junior Order of United American Mechanics and Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Aultman has given his attention during the past few years chiefly to the improvement of his farm and agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with good success.
P. OBERT AUSBURN, of Webster, was born April 20, 1828, in Warren, Arm- strong county, Pa., and is a son of Fin- ley and Sarah (Bradley) Ausburn. His grand- father, Robert Ausburn, was a native of Cham- bersburg, Pa., where he remained the greater part of his life, but in later years went to Iowa, where he died. He served in the war of 1812; by occupation he was a farmer and shoemaker, and his religious creed was that of John Wesley. James Bradley, maternal grandfather was a resident of Warren, Armstrong county, a boat builder and carpenter ; he removed to Elizabeth, Allegheny county, where he remained until his death. Finley Ausburn (father) was born in Chambersburg, Pa., March 20, 1810, and died at Elizabeth, this State, in 1872. Ile was by occupation a boat builder and during the war of 1812 accompanied his father to Fort Duquesne.
Hle was a democrat until the election of Polk, when he became a whig and later a republican. Ile was identified with the Methodist church, in which he served for forty years as an officer. Ile married Sarah Bradley and they had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Nearly all the sons followed in the footsteps of their father and became mechanics.
Robert Ausburn, on the fourth of March, 1852, was united in marriage with Sarah Wells, a daughter of Thomas Wells of Washing- ton county, Pa. During the "gold fever " of 1849, Mr. Wells went overland to California where he remained three years, then returned and engaged in the coal business, shipping the " dusky diamonds" to Cincinnati and other points. Mr. and Mrs. Ausburn are the parents of nine children : Alice Ausburn married Wm. Blair, a carpenter and bridge builder, who re-
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sides at Elizabeth, Allegheny county ; Cornelius W. is engaged in steamboating at Pittsburg ; Calvin G., in 1886 with two others went to Nicaragua, Central America, leased a tract of land containing twenty square miles for fifty years, engaged in taking out gum and mahogany wood and later started a supply store for plan- tations and the steamers that touched there. Their business so prospered that the natives becoming jealous burned the store. The proprie- tors appealed to the U. S. Consul for redress and the matter was settled by the Nicaraguan government paying $25,000 damages. Mr. Ausburn and his partners then went into the banana business in which they are are now suc- cessfully engaged. Harry V. Ausburn was married to Colorado Henow, and is a railroad contractor at Denver, Colo .; Wm. T. married Agnes Woodward and resides at Elizabeth, Alle- gheny county ; Jennie C. is the wife of Ehmer C. Steckel, a butcher of Rostraver township ; Nellie B., Charles J., and Mary E. are yet at home.
Robert Ausburn received his education in the schools of Elizabeth, Pa., and was for twenty- five years a steamboat builder and contractor, employing at times as many as sixty men. In 1878 he purchased a farm in Rostraver town- ship and since then has been engaged in farm- ing. He is a democrat and served several years as conneilman of the borough of Elizabeth. He is a progressive, upright man and has a family of which he may be justly proud.
1 AVID BAIR, a comfortably situated and successful farmer and a solid and substan- tial business man of South Huntingdon township, is a son of Christian and Christina (Wertz) Bair, and was born in South Hunting- don township, Westmoreland, county, Pa., August 19, 1839. Of the settlers who came into Westmoreland county just before the War of 1812 was Philip Bair (grandfather), who was
a native of Hardy county, Va. (now West Vir- ginia). He was a farmer by occupation and settled with his family in South Huntingdon township in 1809. His father, Christian Bair, was ten years of age when he was brought to the township. He was a prosperous farmer, a good citizen, a devout member of the Mennonite church at Stonersville and a whig and repub- lican in politics. He died April 27, 1888, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Stonersville. He married Christina Wertz and unto them were born five sons and three daugh- ters, of whom four of the sons are dead. Mrs. Bair was a daughter of John Wertz, who came to near Mount Pleasant where he was engaged in farming for many years.
David Bair attended the common schools and received a good education. At twenty-one years of age he engaged in farming and stock-raising and has continued in that line of business ever since.
On October 23, 1862, he married Lucetta Highberger, who is a daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Weaver) Ilighberger, and was born December 20, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Bair are the parents of six children : Dr. George E., born September 7, 1863, married Bertha Stan- ton, graduated from Cleveland Medical college, in 1886, practiced at Painterville until September 1, 1889, and is now taking a special course at Jef- ferson Medical college ; Mary L., born March 19, 1866, and wife of John P. Markle; John W., born April 27, 1869; Clarence E., born August 18, 1871 ; Maggie B., born March 12, 1874, and Charles II., born April 30, 1876.
In agricultural affairs Mr. Bair takes a deep interest. He has been successful in farming and stock-raising. He owns his own home farm of one hundred and forty-one acres and has a half interest in one hundred and forty-five acres of land in Sewickley township, besides a one- fourth interest in the old Bair homestead farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He is a re- publican and an elder of the Sewickley Presby-
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terian church, of which his wife is a member. Ile is an active, honorable business man and a stock-holder of the Sewickley Mutual and Eliza- beth fire insurance companies.
OTFRED BESENBERG, one of the sub- stantial citizens of Rostraver township, was born September 19, 1839, in Ger- many, and is a son of Carl and Elleonora (Born) Besenberg. His grandparents on both sides were natives of Germany and never left the "fatherland," where Carl Besenberg (father) was born. The latter married Elleonora Born and they had four children, two sons and two daughters. Of the sons Gotfred Besenberg came to America in June, 1864, landing at the city of New York where he remained about a year and then went to Georgia. In 1866 he came north and located at West Newton, this county, where he has ever since remained work- ing in the paper mill at that place. He lives on the Rostraver side of the river, where he owns five houses and several lots, which he has ac- cumulated by his own hard work and persever- ing efforts. In politics he is a republican, and with his wife is connected with the Lutheran church. He is an honest, upright, industrious man and a citizen of more than ordinary worth.
On June 19, 1866, Gotfred Besenberg was married to Catharina Luley, a German lady, born near Bremen. They have had eleven chil- dren, of whom six are now living : Anna, wife of William Kemley, of Rostraver township, who is a fireman ; Sophia, married to Edward Lawrence, a merchant of Braddock, Allegheny county ; Ida, Henry, William and Charles.
n ICHOLAS J. BIGLEY, JR., a promis- ing young doctor of Suterville, was born in the city of Pittsburg October 22, 1862, and is a son of N. J. Bigley, who was born at Alsace, Germany, in 1821. He was
one of the most extensive coal merchants of western Pennsylvania prior to the panic of 1873; he was styled the " Coal King," and was at one time regarded as being worth a million dollars. He was married to Susannah Vander- grift in 1846 of Pittsburg, Pa. She was a daughter of Capt. Joseph B. Vandergrift, who was born at Germantown, Pa., was a prominent coal merchant of Cairo and afterwards a grain dealer ; he removed to Vernon, Jennings county, Indiana, in 1852, where he died.
Dr. N. J. Bigley is the tenth of eleven chil- dren born to his parents, five boys and six girls. Ilis paternal grandfather, Henry Bigley, was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1790. Ilis ma- ternal grandfather, Capt. Joseph B. Vander- grift, was born at Germantown, Pa., in 1799.
Dr. N. J. Bigley was educated at Saint Vin- cent Catholic college near Latrobe, from which he was graduated in the regular college course in 1874. Hle read medicine with Dr. T. M. Sill, at Greenock, Pa , entered the Western Re- serve university at Cleveland, Ohio, and re- ceived his degree M. D. in the Medical depart- ment of the same college. IIe began the practice in 1885 at Alpsville, Pa., and after- wards located at Suterville in 1887, where he has a large and paying practice. He is a demo- crat, a member of the Catholic church, is a thorough scholar and a young man of strong convictions.
ON. GEORGE P. BLACKBURN. One who from moderate circumstances has risen by his own unaided efforts to an important public position, and who has achieved by a life of usefulness honorable distinction in his native county, is George Plumer Blackburn, a modest but worthy descendant of honored an- cestors, who represented southwestern Pennsyl- vania in the State Senate and Congress. Ile is a son of James W. and Margaret (Plumer) Blackburn and was born in Sewickley town-
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ship, Westmoreland county, Pa., May 4, 1849. His paternal great-grandfather, Anthony Black- burn, was born in the north of Ireland and is of Scotch-Irish descent. He immigrated to Pennsylvania, where he first located in York county, but in 1773 crossed the Alleghenies and became one of the pioneer settlers of South Huntingdon township. One of his sons, Will- iam Blackburn (grandfather), was born in York county, July 1, 1772. He married Jane Woods in 1801 and settled in Sewickley township. He was a farmer, a whig in politics and an active member of the M. E. church. Ilis son, James W. Blackburn (father), is a native of Sewickley township and during the active period of his life was engaged in farming and lumbering. IIe now resides at West Newton and is a member of the M. E. church and a strong supporter of the Republican party. He was married to Marga- ret L. Plumer and to their union were born eight children : William D., who enlisted in the fourth Pa. Cavalry and was wounded at St. Mary's church, Va. ; served as editor of the Falls City (Neb.) Journal ; traveled in Europe as a correspondent of the press and was a fluent and graphic writer ; is married and has his home at Mechanicsburg, Pa., and holds a position in the treasury department in Washington City ; Lizzie M., wife of Capt. T. W. Bedford, a civil engineer, but at present a successful business man of Baltimore ; Matthew W., an employee of the Edgar Thompson steel-works at Brad- dock, Pa. ; Jennie F., John D., of New York city, who is assistant cashier of the B. & O. R. R. Co .; Hon. George P., and two who died in infancy.
George P. Blackburn's maternal great-grand- father, George Plumer, was of French-Huguenot extraction and was a son of Jonathan and Anna (Farrell) Plumer. Ile was the first English child born west of the Alleghenies and his birth- place was the site of Pittsburg. He married Margaret Lowery, a daughter of Col. Alex. Lowery, who served on Gen. Washington's staff.
Geo. Plumer served in both branches of the Pennsylvania Legislature and represented his district in Congress from 1821 to 1827. His second son, Alexander Plummer (grandfather), was born in South Huntingdon township in 1786, and settled in West Newton, where he died December 15, 1875. He was a merchant and manufacturer and a zealous whig and ardent republican, who filled many positions of honor and trust. In religion he was an active and earnest presbyterian and served as a ruling el- der in that church for years. His brother, Hon. John C. Plumer, served with distinction in the State Senate of Pennsylvania.
George P'. Blackburn was reared to industrial pursuits. He attended the public schools of West Newton and then went to Mount Union college, Ohio, where he fitted himself for a teacher. At twenty-one years of age he entered the profession of teaching, which he z alously and successfully followed for ten years. He next engaged (1880) in farming and stock-rais- ing and has met with his usual success in this line of business. He has always been an active and influential republican and has served his party frequently as county committeeman and in county conventions. In the spring of 1888 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for Legislature, receiving a greater number of votes than either of his eleven competitors. In the fall he together with his three associates on the Republican ticket was elected. Ile served in the session of 1889 with credit and honor and was the author of several bills and resolutions.
George P. Blackburn was married on May 10, 1880, to Annie M., daughter of Robert Todd, of Rostraver township, and to them have been born one child, whose name is Henri- etta T.
When a young man Mr. Blackburn made use- fulness and a comfortable competence the aim and purpose of his life and by patient industry and strict adherence to integrity overcame all obstacles in his pathway to success.
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BYRAM BLACKBURN. South Huntingdon township, in addition to the many elements of wealth that slum- ber in its soil, possesses some very fine farming land. One of its successful farmers is A. Byram Blackburn, a leading citizen of the community in which he resides. He was born in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pa., in May, 1820, and is a son of Capt. Anthony and Hester (MeGrew) Blackburn. The Blackburns settled in eastern Pennsylvania at an early day. John Blackburn (grandfather) was a native of Adams county, migrated to North Huntingdon town- ship, this county, where he farmed for several years and then removed to Canada, in which English province he spent his last days. Capt. Anthony Blackburn was born in Sewickley township, October 14, 1780, and lived to be four-score-and-six years of age. Hle raised a company of men in the letter part of the war of 1812 and was commissioned captain, but before he received orders to take his company to the front, peace was declared and the company was mus- tered out of the service. Capt. Blackburn was a democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a farmer by occupation. His wife was Hester MeGrew, a daughter of William MeGrew, who was a farmer and a presbyterian, and died in Sewickley township. Capt. and Mrs. Black- burn were the parents of five sons and five daughters.
A. Byram Blackburn was reared in Rostraver and Sewickleys townships where he attended the rural schools of his day. When of age he selected as a life pursuit farming, to which he had been reared and trained and in which he has ever since been engaged. Ile is a demo- crat of the Jeffersonian type but is no politician or aspirant for office. He is a trustee of the Methodist church of which his wife is a member and regular attendant.
In 1852 Mr. Blackburn united in marriage with Elizabeth McGrew. They have had ten chil- dren : Anthony, a druggist of Wooster, Ohio,
and married to Hannah Geizelman of that State ; Susan R. ; Oliver (dead); Mary (deceased) ; Archie ; James A .; Rev. Win. S., a minister of the United Brethren church in Missouri ; Bessie, wife of Albert Fullerton who is a farmer of Sewickleytownship; Henry D. F. and John C.
To farming and other agricultural pursuits Mr. Blackburn devotes his entire attention. He owns a very fair-sized farm of one hundred acres of productive land in Sewickley township, and conducts his farming and business transactions upon safe and conservative methods.
AMES M. BOYD, an active and successful farmer of South Huntingdon township was born in the house in which he now lives in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 29, 1847, and is a son of Robert and Nancy (McCayeal) Boyd. His paternal grandfather, Robert Boyd, was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. When he came to Westmoreland county he settled in Sewickley township where he remained until 1814 when he removed to South Huntingdon and pur- chased a tract of three hundred and sixty acres of land. IIe was a member of the United Presby- terian church, a whig in politics and died in 1850. His maternal grandfather, James Mc- Cayeal, accompanied his father, Andrew Mc- Cayeal, from Ireland to the United States. James McCayeal settled in Pittsburg but re- remained there only a short time when he re- moved to Madison, this county, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for many years. Robert Boyd, father, was born in Se- wickley township, November 20, 1809. He has always been engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing. He is a republican but was an old line whig when that political party was in existence. Ile married Nancy MeCaycal. Their children are: Margaret J., wife of John Pore, who is a farmer; Elizabeth, who married Geo. W. Markle (see his sketch); James M., and
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Mary, wife of John Waulkenshaw, of Millwood station, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the United Presbyterian church.
James M. Boyd was reared on a farm and re- ceived his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. Leaving school he engaged in his present business of farming and stock- raising.
On May 22, 1879, Mr. Boyd married Sarah Pinkerton, a daughter of John Pinkerton, and sister to James Pinkerton. To their union have been born five children, of whom three are liv- ing : Robert C., born May 28, 1882; Mary P., born November 12, 1883, and Maggie A. who was born February 20, 1886.
James M. Boyd is a republican in politics. He owns a part of the old Boyd homestead farm and has been successful in farming and stock- raising. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.
MON BRONSON, an old inhabitant and highly respected citizen of Belle Vernon, was born August 20, 1834, and is a son of Abner and Eliza (McLain) Bronson. His grandfather, Amon Bronson, was born in the State of New York where he lived and died. Ilis maternal grandfather, Samuel MeLain, was a resident of Belle Vernon, Fayette county, Pa., and a stanch democrat. Abner Bronson (father), a native of the State of New York, migrated to Pittsburg, Pa., and afterwards removed to Belle Vernon, Fayette county, Pa., where he died. Ilis wife was Eliza Melain, who bore him four sons and two daughters.
Amon Bronson, one of the sons, married Mary, a daughter of John Mackey of Washing- ton county, Pa.
Amon Bronson, after receiving a common- school education, learned the blacksmith trade with Samuel Smock, at which he worked twelve years. In 1862 he embarked in the general merchandise business, at Belle Vernon with W.
P. Mackey as a partner. Their start in business was humble, the capital being but 8600, but their integrity, care and enterprise guaranteed prosperity and at the end of nine years, when they closed out their stock, it brought $9,000. Mr. Bronson then went into the same line of business by himself, continued for eighteen years and in the spring of 1889 sold his stock for $17,000 ; his store building was sold to John S. Henry, and is now occupied by R. C. Schmertz & Co. In 1881 Mr. Bronson helped to organ- ize the Belle Vernon Saw and Planing Mill Company and in 1887 he purchased the Belle Vernon foundry, which he is still successfully operating. In addition to his manufacturing plant he owns a large store building and quite a number of dwelling houses in Belle Vernon, Pa. Considering the fact that he began married and business life with but ten dollars, we must accord to Mr. Bronson great credit for his thrift and enterprise. His success shows what energy, perseverance and good judgment can do. Though his time was fully occupied, yet he was never too busy to attend to religious duties. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is steward, choir leader, trustee and was Sabbath-school superintendent for a number of years. Ile was formerly a republican but ever since the Prohibition party came into existence he has belonged to it, stand- ing firm for the principles in which he believes. Ile also belongs to the Sons of Temperance and to Ethan Allen Council, No. 365, Senior O. U. A. M., of Belle Vernon. Amon Bronson and his wife are among the leading and best people of the county, yet they are modest and unas- suming. They have hankered after neither social nor political aggrandizement but, as the poet Gray has written :
"Along the cool, sequestered vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their way,"
believing that in deeds of charity, missions of love and acts of benevolence the left hand should not know what the right docth.
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B ENJAMIN BUDD, a descendant of one of the oldest families of the county, and a farmer of Rostraver township, Westmore- land county, Pa., was born there August 3, 1825, on the land he now owns on the Youghio- gheny river; he is a son of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Stewart) Budd. His grandfather, Joseph Budd, was a native of Ireland and immigrated to America during the French and Indian war, settling at what is known as Budd's Ferry, in Rostraver township. On the voyage across the Atlantic ocean the ship containing him and all his worldly effects was captured by the French. Finally they reached the " New World," how_ ever, and he together with a brother who accom- panied him took "tomahawk possession " of a large tract of land and afterwards by purchase extended their possession until they could travel from Budd's Ferry on the " Yough," to Webs- ter on the Monongahela, without trespassing on the property of another, they owned in all several thousand acres. Archibald Stewart (maternal grandfather) was a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in Rostraver township ; he went to Kentucky when a young man, mar- ried there and afterwards returned to his native township, where he remained until his death. Joseph Budd, father of Benjamin, was born in Rostraver township about 1789 and died in 1882. in the house now occupied by his son Benjamin. He was by occupation a farmer and formerly a democrat in politics, but upon the formation of the Republican party he joined that organization and like his father was a member of the Baptist church. He married Elizabeth Stewart and they had ten children. five sons and five daughters.
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