USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 77
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Simon Highberger gives close attention to all his business affairs and by hard work and good management has secured for himself a comforta- ble home.
W. HIXENBAUGHI, a carpenter of Smith- ton, is a son of James and Mary (Elliott) Ilixenbaugh. James Hixenbaugh, a black- smith by trade, of German descent and was born in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pa. ITis grandfather, John Hixen- baugh, was a native of Germany and a glass- blower by trade. Mary Elliott was a daughter of William Elliott of Perryopolis, Fayette county, Pa. J. W. Hixenbaugh was married to Mariah, daughter of William Lee, of Smithton, July 13, 1873. To them have been born five children : James W., born April 2, 1875; Ilar- vrison O., born April 25, 1877 ; Effie L., born July 15, 1879; Mary E., born January 19, 1883; and Daisy G., born June 19, 1888.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Ile is a republican in politics and is at present a member of the republican county committee. For the past ten years he has been a resident of Smithton. Mr. ITixenbangh is a man of ability and genius ; he has invented and is the palen- tee of the " Friction Belt Pulley." His patent No. 400,213 was granted him on March 26, 1889. The invention, a valuable one, is a great improvement over the ones heretofore in use. It consists in a pulley having pockets in its rim extending radially towards the centre of the wheel ; each of the pockets being provided with means of adjusting and holding blocks of elastic or fibrous material extending to or slightly beyond the face or rim of the pulley. The ob- jeet of his invention is to prevent the slipping of the belt when running over the pulley and also to prevent the belt running off the pulley when in operation, as well as to some extent provide means to tighten the belt. His inven- tion is a valuable one and will be brought into general use.
EORGE HOHENSHELL, of German descent, an old and well-known citizen and a life-long resident of South Hunting- don township, is a son of John and Susanna (Hartman) Hohenshell, and was born in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., September 25, 1820. His paternal grand- father was born and reared in one of the eastern counties of the State, from which he came to what is now South ,Huntingdon township. He was a farmer by occupation and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. His maternal grandfather, John Hartman, came from Germany and settled in South Huntingdon township, where he married and reared a family. He was a farmer and miller and like the majority of Pro- testants from the " Fatherland" at that day, held membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church. IIis father, John Hohenshell, was born Septem- ber 14, 1795, and died November 30, 1859. Hle was a shoemaker by trade, but followed
farming. Ile owned a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, was a democrat, served in the War of 1812 and was a devout member of the Lutheran church. He married Susanna Hart- man and reared a family of thirteen children, of whom six sons are yet living.
George Hohenshell was reared on his father's farm, attended the subscription schools of his neighborhood, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for many years. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. F, one hundred and sixty-eighth reg. Pa. Vols. and served in North Carolina for nine months and ten days. Of late years Mr. Hohenshell has been engaged in farming and has his farm of one hundred and fifty acres in a fine state of cultivation. Ile is a republican and a supporter of the United Brethern church.
He united in marriage on February 5, 1846, with Mary Smutz, a daughter of David Smutz. To their union have been born twelve children : Professor Eli, who served as principal of the Charleston and Birmingham schools of Illinois and now president of Campbell University at Ilolton, Kansas; David, married to Cornelia Frick and is a teacher and carpenter; Martha J., wife of William Fleming, of Mill Grove ; Marion, deceased; Josiah, deceased ; John, who married Barbara Rowe and is a farmer; Mary Isabella ; Anna M., wife of Frank Sherbondy, of Mendon ; Professor George, a well-known educator, who married Clara D. Moffat and is principal of the Harrisonburg Normal school, which is one of the most flourishing educational institutions of Northern Virginia; Irvin, married Etta Walters and is a teacher; Elmer, who is teaching with his brother in Virginia; and Domer, who is teach- ing in the common schools of South Huntingdon township.
D AVID W. HOUGHI, a prosperous far- mer and an unassuming and excellent citizen of South Huntingdon township, was born near the farm on which he now re-
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sides in South Huntingdon township, West- moreland county, Pa., November 6, 1829, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Varner) Hough. His paternal grandfather, Paul Hough, was a native of Bucks connty, Pa. He was a miller by trade and migrated westward when a young man to Westmoreland county, where he settled on a small stream in South Hunting- don township, which is now known as Paul Hough's run. He owned a large tract of land and was a democrat. His maternal grandfather, Michael Varner, was of German descent. He was born in Philadelphia county, Pa .. and came to Westmoreland county, where he first located near the site of Macbeth post-office, but subsequently removed to near Smithton. Hle owned a wood farm and was a democrat in political faith and a lutheran in religious belief. David Hough (father) was born on Paul Hough's run and was reared to to farming. Ile was a democrat and held vari- ous township offices. He was a good farmer, a member of the Lutheran church and died at the village of Centreville in 1881. He married Elizabeth Varner, by whom he had fourteen children.
David W. Hough received his education in the schools of his neighborhood. When of age, do for himself, he engaged in his present busi- ness of farming to which he had been carefully trained.
D.W. Hough has been twice married. His first wife was Polly Reynolds. They were the par- ents of ten children : Dennis, born October 13, 1854, married Ada Parker and is engaged in farming ; Cordelia, born March 22, 1856, and wife of Cyrus Snyder, of Jeannette ; Ilenry, born February 25, 1858, and died August 23, 1877 ; William S. L., born July 3, 1860, mar- ried Leah Suter, a daughter of Squire Suter, and is a farmer; Amanda, born July 3, 1860, and wife of Henry Taylor, who is a foreman in the Scottdale rolling-mill ; Jacob, born Febru- ary 7, 1863, married Mollie Aspey and resides
at Jacob's Creek, where he is engaged in the contracting business ; Samuel S., born October 4, 1864, taught school for several years, was principal of East Brady (Pa.) schools for two years and is now studying for the ministry at Dayton, Ohio; Luretta, born April 5, 1867, and married to Orton Hough, who is a farmer of South Huntingdon township, and Harriet, who was born April 13, 1869, and died January 21, 1870. After Mrs. Hough's death in 1874, Mr. Hough united in marriage on September 29, 1880, with Mrs. Rebecca Walter, widow of Jacob Walter and daughter of Joseph Hepler. By this second marriage he has one child, Charles, who was born April 24, 1885.
In farming Mr. Hough has met with very en- couraging success. He owns a farm of fifty- eight acres of choice land which is well im- proved and carefully cultivated. He also owns a half interest in a good grain and stock farm of ninety-six acres. In politics he is a democrat of the old school.
OSEPH D. HIOUGHI is a grandson of Joseph Ilough who was a native of Ger- many and an early settler on Jacob's creek, Westmoreland county. He was married to Polly Walts who was born in Westmoreland county. Joseph Hongh was one of the sturdy farmers of his day and on his farm of some four hundred acres were located a grist-mill, distillery and carding machine. He afterwards sold his farm in South Huntingdon township and re- moved to Sewickley.
Joseph D. Ilough was born October 15, 1827, and is the second born of five children to Daniel Ilough and Ruth Stem, the former born in South Huntingdon and the latter a daughter of Jacob Stem, of South Huntingdon. His father, Daniel Hough, owned a farm of two hundred and thirty acres at Port Royal and owned and operated a grist-mill and distillery. Of twelve children born to Daniel Hough nine are living :
William Household
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Seth, Joseph D., Noah, Samuel, Elijah, Maria, John, Charles O. and Agnes. Getty, Polly and Amanda are deceased.
Joseph D. Hough was married on July 24, 1848, to Julian Smith, of Smithton, by Rev. Mackin, of Greensburg. Of nine children born to their union eight are living : Lenora, born September 30, 1849, is now the wife of Thomas T. Francis ; John II., born December 12, 1851, was married in 1876 to Mary Lee; George M., born February 23, 1854, died October 15, 1856 ; David B., born April 2, 1856, was twice mar- ried, first to Ella Hough, now deceased ; his second wife was Lizzie Hamilton ; Samuel L., born July 13, 1858, married to Lizzie Ander- son ; Mary J., born April 2, 1861, was married to Dr. Nicolay, of Smithton, now deceased ; Daniel E., born May 6, 1863; Evalina, born August 17, 1865, is the wife of Jacob Ander- son, and Franklin E, born December 26, 1868.
Mr. Hough's present business is farming. Ile assisted in laying out the town of Smithton, has lived there since 1849 and for six years was proprietor of the Hough House. He is a demo- crat and an influential citizen of South Hunt- ingdon.
P AUL HOUGHI, a well-known citizen and a prosperous farmer of South Hunting- don township, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Varner) Hough and was born in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., February 7, 1824. His grand- father, Paul Hough, resided on a small stream of water in South Huntingdon township which was named after him. He owned about ten hundred acres of land and operated a distillery in addition to farming. He was a democrat and married a Miss Weigle, who was of German descent. His father, William Ilough, was born in the township. Ile owned a farm of two hun- dred and thirty-six acres, and like the majority of the farmers of his time he built and conducted a distillery. He was a liberal contributor to the
Lutheran church of which he was a member and regular attendant. He married Elizabeth Var- ner, a daughter of Michael Varner, who was a farmer, a distiller, a democrat and a member of the Lutheran church. To their union were born fourteen children, of whom eleven are yet living. For additional history of the Hough family see sketch of David W. Hough.
Paul Hough enjoyed none of the educational advantages of the present day. He attended the old subscription school for a brief period, but by reading and self-study he has acquired a fair and good business education. Ile has made farming the principal business of his life.
He was married to Lavina Frick, who is a daughter of John Frick and a cousin to Henry Clay Frick. To their union have been born eight sons and three daughters : William, who is a farmer and married Cordelia Anderson ; Franklin, who married Lucetta Hunter and is engaged extensively in farming in Iowa ; Pear- son, a brick moulder of Denver, Colorado ; Polly Etta, wife of Hiram Mill, who is a farmer of East Huntingdon township ; Samuel ; Paul, Jr., who is in Iowa and married Lizzie Kilday ; Lizzie, George and Lewis, triplets ; Charles and Lavina.
Politically Mr. Hough is a democrat and has served his township as supervisor and school director. He is a member of the Lutheran church and always contributes to every enter- prise which is intended to promote the best in- terests of his township.
ILLIAM HOUSEHOLD, one of the bright and intelligent men of the county, was born February 25, 1833, in Ros- traver township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of George and Ruth (Walker) House- hold. His great-grandfather Walker, a native of Wales, immigrated to the United States and settled in Virginia previous to the war of the Revolution, where he followed the occupation of
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farming. Ebenezer Walker (maternal grand- father) was born in Virginia, but coming north he settled in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pa., where he cleared the land which is now the farm owned and occupied by William Household. He was a very large and well-built man, eminently fitted to cope with the dangers and difficulties of the forest in those early days. Ilis wife was Mary Bruce, a descendant of the royal Bruces of Scotland, whose memorable zeal, patriotism and sufferings in their struggle for freedom from the tyrannical oppression of the English monarchs historians will never cease to commemorate, and whose praises will be sung by poets of every succeeding generation. Will- iam Household (grandfather) was born in Nor- folkshire, England, where he carried on farming until his death, which occurred in the same shire. George Household (father) was born in Norfolk, England, June 9, 1789, and died No- vember 5, 1867. Hle immigrated to America in 1819 and settled in Rostraver township. He was a whig in politics and by occupation a farmer and local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Ruth Walker June 19, 1823, and they had five children, one son and four daughters.
William Household attended the public schools, but for most of his education is in- debted to his home or private study, to which he devoted much time and assiduous labor. When he left the parental roof to fight the battle of life for himself he, recognizing the truth and force of the words of Spenser, " Husbandry supplieth all things necessary for food," decided to engage in farming, which he did. He also turned his education to account by teaching school two terms, one before and the other after the adoption of the county superintendency sys- tem. Mr. Household has gained a great deal of valuable information by traveling both in America and Europe. He has been "across the continent" to the Pacific and in Europe through England, Scotland, France, Belgium, |
Holland, Prussia, Switzerland, Austria, Bohe- mia, Saxony, Bavaria and other countries. He is an active worker in the Republican party and a member of the M. E. church at Concord, Ros- traver township ; has been Sabbath school super- intendent, steward, trustee, conference steward and delegate to the lay conferences held at New Brighton, Pittsburg, and Beaver, Pa., and Can- ton, Ohio. He is master of Rostraver Grange, No. 919, Patrons of Husbandry, which is located at Rostraver post-office, about four miles south of West Newton. This grange was or- ganized February 19, 1890, with twenty-eight charter members and is in a flourishing condi- tion. Hle is a very congenial, well-informed man, of excellent business qualifications and is highly regarded by all who know him.
William Household married October 21, 1859, Lizzie, a daughter of Ebenezer and Lavina Smith, of Indiana county, Pa., and to them have been born four children, three of whom are living: Harry, Ebbie B., who devotes his time to farming and stock-raising, and Vina G. Harry graduated from Allegheny college, Mead- ville, Pa., in June, 1889, and has entered the theological department of Boston university. Vina G. is at present attending Allegheny col- lege and will graduate with the class of 1891.
ILLIAM B. HOWELL. An active democrat, a leading farmer and a promi- hent member of the grange organization and a man remarkably well-versed in the pioneer history of western Pennsylvania is Will- iam B. Howell, of Sewickley township. He is a son of Andrew and Margaret B. (Reynolds) Howell and was born on the farm on which he now lives, in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, Pa., November 16, 1843. On the pa- ternal side he traces his ancestry four genera- tions back to Llewellyn Howell, who immigrated from Wales to Cecil county, Md. His son, Col. Philip Howell (grandfather) migrated about 1767
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to Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, Pa. He was a presbyterian, a colonel in the militia, had several adventures with Indians and took part in the Whiskey Insurrection. An old In- dian chief gave him a powder-horn which has the date 1767 cut upon it and is now owned by the subject of this sketch. Col. Howell married Margaret Cooper, sister of Col. Cooper, and died about 1832. One of their sons was Andrew Ilowell who was born in 1796. In 1842 he re- moved to Westmoreland county where he died July 24, 1865. Ile followed farming and mer- chandising and was a democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Margaret B. Reynolds and they were the parents of two children : John (deceased), and William B. Mrs. Howell was a daughter of Capt. William Rey- nolds, who was born at Mt. Pleasant and raised and commanded a company of troops during the war of 1812 which he equipped largely at his own expense. His father, Joshua Reynolds, was an English naval officer under George III, of England. He cruised in nearly every sea of the known world but finally resigned his counmission and came to America. After a short stay in Philadelphia he removed, about 1775, to West- moreland county where he located in Mt. Pleas- ant township and followed farming.
William B. Howell was reared on the farm where he has always lived and attended the com- mon schools. His occupation in life has been farming and raising thorough-bred stock. especi- ally sheep and hogy. He has been director of the Sewickley Industrial Association ever since it was organized in 1877 and is a member of the Grange. Though not a political aspirant, yet he has been chosen repeatedly to fill various town- ship offices and has been serving for several years as school director. Mr. Howell enlisted in the State militia in 1863 but was never called into service and at the Irwin celebration of Washing- ton's first inauguration Mr. Howell was made commander of battery B, of Pittsburg, and was selected to represent Gen. Washington. He is | member of the United Presbyterian church.
an elder in the Madison Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member.
He united in marriage in January, 1873, with Sarah A. Andrews and their union has been blessed with five children : Mary E., born January 4, 1874; Alexander, born October 12, 1875; Margaret C., born April 2. 1879; James Hunter, born December 7, 1881 ; and Sophia R., born June 12, 1884.
RCHIBALD B. HUNTER, president of the Sewickley Fire Insurance company and one of the substantial business men of South Huntingdon township, is a son of David and Margaret (Boyd) Hunter and was born in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., December 17, 1848. William lIunter, Sr., (great-grandfather) a native of Ireland and a shoemaker by trade who came to South Huntingdon township prior to the Revo- lution. One of his sons, William Hunter (grand- father) was two years old when he left Ireland in 1767. Ile inherited the large tract of land which his father patented. William Hunter was a federalist and belonged to that school of politi- cians founded by Alexander Hamilton. He was commissioned justice of the peace by Governor Snyder and held that office until 1822, when he died in the fifty-seventh year of his age. David Ilunter (father) was born November 23, 1806, in South Huntingdon township, learning the trade of tanner at Mt. Pleasant, where he worked at tanning for a short time and then engaged in the mercantile business. He soon quit merchan- dising and returned to his native township where he embarked in his present business of farming. Ile was a whig until the formation of the Re- publican party when he joined it and has sup- ported its principles and candidates ever since. In 1848 he married Margaret Boyd who died in 1874. She was the daughter of Archibald Boyd, who was a Seotelunan, a democrat and a
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Mr. and Mrs. Hunter had seven children of whom four are living. David Hunter is a mem- ber of Sewickley Presbyterian church and has been a ruling eller for over fourteen years.
Archibald 1 inter was reared on his father's farm and attended the common schools of his native township. Attaining his majority he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising and has pur- sued that business ever since.
He was married on September 15, 1874, to Sarah Florence Bell. daughter of William Bell. To their union have been born seven children : David, Cora, William, Bennett B., Emma, Archibald B., Jr. and Mary Frances.
A. B. Ilunter owns and resides upon a valu- able farm of two hundred and forty-nine acres of land in South Huntingdon township. He and his wife are members of the Sewickley Pres- byterian church. He is a member of Mendon Lodge, No. 276, Jr. O. U. A. M. and Mendon Grange, No. 855, P. of II. He is a republican and an active worker in that party when his services are needed. Mr. Hunter has been presi- dent for four years of the Sewickley Fire Insur- ance company which was chartered in 1881 and whose field of operations embrace Westmoreland county, Elizabeth township, Allegheny county ; and Perry, Lower Tyrone and Bullskin town- ships, Fayette, county, Pa.
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POHIN WINTER HYDE, of Webster, was born at Westchester, New York, August 27, 1832, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Winter) Ilyde. His ancestors on both sides were English, and on the maternal side were natives of Yorkshire. Both grandfathers lived and died in England, where Joseph Hyde (father) was born and whence he immigrated to America in 1831, having married Eliza Winter before his departure. He first located at Pitts- burg where he worked at carpet-dyeing. Later he was engaged in the counties of Beaver, Mer- cer and Lawrence, in the latter of which he
died. Ile was an " old-line whig," later a re- publican, served ten years as justice of the peace in Lawrence county and with his wife be- longed to the Baptist church. He was tho father of nine children, three of whom are now living : John Winter, Joseph and Esther. Joseph Hyde is a butcher at Sharon, Pa., and Esther is the wife of George W. Reed, of the same place.
John Winter Hyde was educated in the com- mon and academic schools, and after a short en- gagement in the wagon business, embarked in the mercantile line at Wurtemberg, Lawrence county, in 1855. Later he removed to Sharon, Mercer county, and in 1882 went to Allegheny county as manager of the company store at Cam- den, where he remained until 1887, when he became superintendent of the company store of Thomas & Fawcett & Sons, coal operators at Webster. Mr. Hyde is an intelligent, compe- tent and thoroughly reliable business man ; is a republican in politics, and with his wife is con- nected with the Baptist church at Salem, in which he is a deacon. He belongs to the Anci- ent Order of United Workmen and to the Equit- able Aid Society.
John W. Hyde on the 29th of September, 1853, was united in marriage with Sarah E., a daughter of Joseph A. and Delilah (Houk) Mar- shall, and the fruits of their union were twelve children : Eliza D. was born November 23, 1854, and died September 15, 1855; William Winter, born March 5, 1856, is married to Minerva McGilvey and resides at West Middle- sex, Mercer county, where he is engaged in the drug business ; James Marshall, born May 25, 1855. is a druggist of Glenwood, Allegheny county, and is married to Dora White ; David Edwin, born August 26, 1860, died February 7, 1863; Joseph was born September 2, 1862, and died October 10, same year ; Ida Caroline, born February 23, 1864, is the wife of Pierce II. Shearer, of Webster, road master on the Mckeesport and Belle Vernon railroad; Alfred
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C., born November 10, 1866, is a druggist of Mercer county ; Clarissa E., born June 29, 1869, was married to James W. Carson, of Pittsburgh, where they now reside. John was born November 15, 1872; Sadie, born in August, 1877, was drowned December, 1882, iu the Shenango river, at West Middlesex, Mercer county ; Frank, born April 3, 1881, and an unnamed infant who died in 1878.
LARENCE M. JONES, a glass-blower, was born December 23, 1854, in Clyde, New York, and is a son of William II. and Mary (Belden) Jones. William Jones, his grandfather, was a native of England, immigrated to the United States and settled in Clyde, N. Y., where he died. IIg was by occupation a pot- maker for glass works. John Belden (maternal grandfather) was born in Rockland county, New York, and married Mary A. Gurner, who was born in the Catskill mountains. Ile was a soldier in the war of 1812. William H. Jones (father) was born at Clyde, New York, and emi- grated to Pittsburg. In 1858 he removed to Belle Vernon, Westmoreland county, Pa., where he still lives. Ile is a glass blover by occu- pation and an active worker in the interests of the Republican party. He married Mary A. Belden of Rose Valley, New York, July 13, 1852, and they had five children.
Clarence M. Jones, one of the children, united in wedlock with Sarah E. Mosburg, July 31, 1876, and their union has been blest with seven children : Ada J., Clarence, Lily E., Lulu B., Clyde F., Edgar H. and Mary E.
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