USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 83
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
Davis Shepler was twice married, the first wife being Elizabeth Shepler, a cousin, to whom were born four children : Lewis, whose sketch may be found in this work ; Sarah E., wife of Nathaniel Houseman, a farmer of Fayette county, Pa. ; Margaret (deceased) and Samuel, who married Sarah Davis, of Ohio, and lives in Rostraver township. The first wife of Davis
637
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Shepler having died he on the 2d of October, 1849, married Catharine, a daughter of Joseph West, of Allegheny county, Pa. Mr. West was a farmer and at one time owned a portion of the land on which Homestead, Allegheny county, Pa., now stands. Davis and Catharine (West) Shepler were the parents of twelve chil- dren : Alonzo (dead) ; Lauretta, the deceased wife of Robert Lynch, a merchant of Browns- ville, Fayette county, Pa .; Josephine, wife of Wilbur MeFall, now residing in Braddock, Alle- gheny county, Pa .; Philip, who is married to Mary Honey and lives on the farm of his de- ceased father ; Elmer (dead) ; Della, married to Clarence E. Boyd, now living at Columbia, Washington county, Pa ; William, Nannie, Charles and Edward, all deceased. Mrs. Cath- arine Shepler (reliet of Davis) resides in. Ros- traver township, near Belle Vernon, in the ad- joining county of Fayette.
Davis Shepler was one of those men who did with his might whatever he undertook. He was an enthusiastic worker in the cause of democracy and an earnest member of the Methodist church, in which he was a class leader nearly all his life. Ile was also for many years the energetic and faithful superintendent of the Sabbath school. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, Philips Lodge, Monongahela City, Washington county, Pa., by which order he was buried. For seven years he served as lieutenant in the State militia of Pennsylvania and in all his life was a true man, the noblest work of God.
LBERT S. SHERRICK, M. D , a prom- inent and leading physician of Stoner's, is a son of Jacob O. and Mary E. (Stuck) Sherrick and was born at Bethany, East Hunt- 'ingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., June 2, 1862. Jacob O. Sherrick was born about 1827 in this county and followed farming until the latter part of his life, when he engaged
as a distiller with S. Dillinger & Co., of Beth- any. After serving several years with the above firm he purchased a grist mill and a distillery near Tarr's station and operated them success- fully until his death in 1865. Ile was a repub- lican in early life but later became a democrat and supported the democratic ticket until his death. He married Mary E. Stuck, whose father was of German stock and died at Stoner's in 1872. Mr. Sherrick had four sons and four daughters. Both he and his wife were consist- ent members of the church of God. Mrs. Sherrick resides at Stoner's.
Dr. A. S. Sherrick was educated in the com- mon schools. From 1879 to 1883 he was en- gaged in teaching in the common schools of Rostraver township. In 1883 he commenced the study of medicine under the instructions of Drs. McCormick and Kifer, of Irwin, Pa. In the spring of 1884 he attended lectures at West- ern Reserve Medical college, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was graduated from there in the spring class of 1885. In 1885 he located at Stoner's and since then has been engaged successfully in the practice of his profession.
In October, 1882, he married Isabella Mc- Cormick, daughter of Dr. James M. McCormick, of Irwin, Pa. They have three children liv- ing.
Ile is a republican and has served as school director for several terms. Dr. Sherrick is a member of the church of God, while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church at Irwin. Ile is a well-read physician, has an ex- tensive practice and is well informed on the current medical literature of the day.
OUIS L. SMITH, of South Huntingdon township, was born September 2, 1844, in Lower Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pa., and is a son of Nehemiah and Ellen (Snyder) Smith. Clement V. Smith, his
638
BIOGRAPHIIES OF
brother, was born in the same place December 10, 1846. Their grandfather, Clement Smith, was a native of Delaware, whence he came westward and settled at Pittsburg; he after- wards removed to Connellsville and thence to MeKeesport, in all of which places he carried on shoe-making quite extensively, employing a number of men. Ile was a democrat and identified with the Methodist church. Ludwick Snyder, maternal grandfather, was a native of Fayette county where he lived and died. By occupation he was a farmer, in politics a demo- crat and in religious faith adhered to the doc- trines of the Dunkard church. Nehemiah Smith (father) was born in Pittsburg, Pa., but was reared at Connellsville where he remained until abont forty years of age, when he removed to Tyrone township and purchased a farm. On this he lived until 1873 when he sold out and removed to South Huntingdon township, this county, where he died March 20, 1889. He married Ellen Snyder and they had six children, of whom four are now living.
Clement V. Smith was married to Elizabeth Blair, a daughter of Parkhill Blair of Perry township, Fayette county, and to them have been born five children : Lily, Susan, Jesse, Rhoda and William (dead). Louis L. Smith was married to Mary A. Johnson, a daughter of Samuel Johnson, and they have four children : Ella, Mattie, John and Samuel Lirvy.
Louis L. and Clement V. Smith received a common-school education and have ever since devoted their time to farming and stock-raising. They give much attention to raising all kinds of fine stock but make a specialty of Black Shire horses of the Pluto family ; they have some horses of that breed that cannot be excelled. In cattle their specialty is the Short Horn and in hogs the Cheshire. They own a large farm ' of well-improved land and buy, sell and breed the finest kind of stock. They are excellent business men and in politics they believe in the principles of democracy.
EORGE W. SMITHI, a prominent busi- hess man of Webster, this county, was born January 25, 1839, in Wheeling, W. Va., and is a son of William and Margaret (Johnson) Smith. William Smith was a native of Scarborough, England, immigrated to Amer- ica at the beginning of the nineteenth century and located at Brownsville, Fayette county, where he carried on the business of street-con- tracting for a time but soon left for Wheeling, W. Va., in which place he continued the same work. Ile was originally a whig but was con- verted to the democratie faith. He died in 1863, a consistent member of the Church of England. Ilis wife was Margaret Johnson of Scarborough, England, who bore him sixteen children. Seven of them are living, two of whom are George W. and Robert, the latter residing in Wheeling where he is engaged in the paint business.
George W. Smith was married September 14, 1871, to Olena, daughter of Daniel Richards, one of the founders of the town of Webster. They have but one child, Herbert B.
George W. Smith was educated in the public and academic schools of Wheeling, W. Va., after which he went to Brownsville, Fayette county, P'a., and learned the trade of machinist. Later he became a boat engineer and was in Louisiana on a trip when that State seceded from the Union. He then returned to Browns- ville and assisted in the organization of Co. C, eighty-fifth reg. Pa. Vols. in 1861. He served as sergeant and was engaged in the battles of Williamsburg, Chickahominy, Fair Oaks and the Seven Days fight. He was wounded through the knee and ankle at Harrison's Landing July 5, 1862, and was honorably discharged in 1863. Ile then returned and assisted in building gun- boats for the government. Not long afterward he became a clerk on a boat on which he re- mained for some fourteen years. In 1877 he embarked in the mercantile business at Web- ster, in which he is still engaged. He is an enthusiastic democrat, a worker in his party
639
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and a member of the county committee. Neither business nor politics, however, is allowed to consume his time to the detriment of his chosen religious denomination, the M. E. church, in which he is a trustee and steward. Mr. Smith is a member of the A. O. U. W., commander of Thomas A. Armstrong Post, No. 572, G. A. R., at Webster, and belongs to the Masons, F. and A. M., the thirty-second degree of the Masons and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite or Consistory.
S AMUEL SMITHI, an old and well-respec- ted resident and one of the active, success- ful and progressive farmers of Sewickley township, was born in East Huntingdon town- ship, Westmoreland county, Pa., July 18, 1814, and is a son of George and Magdalena (Grubb) Smith. His paternal grandfather, John Smith, was a native of Franklin county, Pa. He en- listed in the Continental army, took part in several battles of the Revolutionary war but was reported missing after a severe engagement and never was heard of afterwards. Ilis maternal grandfather, Christian Grubb, was born in Lan- caster and immigrated to Franklin county, Pa., where he was engaged in farming and hauling country produce to Baltimore, Md., until he was killed by his team becoming frightened and run- ning over him. He was a lutheran, married and reared a family of five children, one son and four daughters. One of the latter, Magdalena, married George Smith and was the mother of the subject of this sketch. The son, Adam Grubb, was a soldier under Scott in Mexico, was reported missing after a battle and in all prob- ability was killed, as no account was ever had of him afterwards. Ilis father, George Smith, was born in Franklin county, Pa., in 1776 ; he moved to East Huntingdon township in 1806 where he followed farming until his death in 1853. He was a republican politically, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and married Mag-
dalena Grubb, by whom he had eight children : Margaret, wife of Moses Shupe (both dead) ; Kate, widow of Jacob Louck ; Samuel, Mary, wife of Benjamin Clair, of Illinois ; John, died in 1841; George, who lives at Humboldt, Allin county, Kansas ; Jacob and Elizabeth, wife of J. Beard.
Samuel Smith obtained his education in the subscription schools of his boyhood days. Ile learned the trade of carpenter which he followed for ten years and then (1844) purchased the farm on which he has resided ever since. Ilis farm contains one hundred and seventy-four acres of good and well-improved land. It is in the southwestern part of the township and is a very desirable property. Mr. Smith was form- erly a whig and now is a republican. He served Sewickley township for sixteen years as school director and three years as road commissioner. Ile with his entire family are members of Mars Ilill Baptist church.
On September 19, 1839, he united in mar- riage with Mary Ann Appler, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Love) Appler, of Union county, Md. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born seven children : Cyrus, a carpenter of Irwin, married to Hester Biggs and who enlisted Feb- ruary 22, 1862, in Company K, 112th reg., Pa. Vols. and served three years as a soldier and drill master ; Kate; Margaret, wife of Nathan Fullerton, a farmer of Sewickley township ; Addie, married to John Ogg, who is a blacksmith by trade ; Martha (dead) ; Joseph (deceased) ; and Mary.
Cyrus Smith married Hester Biggs October 17, 1866, had four boys : Bert, the oldest dead ; Raymond Smith, Edward Smith and Samuel Smith.
Margaret married Nathan Fullerton February 11, 1869, had four children : Minnie A. Fuller- ton, Edward M. Fullerton, Samuel Fullerton ; the young girl died when a few days old.
Ada S. Smith married John Ogg November 11, 1875, had five children : Jessie S. Ogg,
.640
BIOGRAPHIES OF
Lizzie Kate Ogg, Eva Lena Ogg, Alvin St. Clair Ogg, and Samuel Ashford Ogg.
INLEY C. SMOCK, of near Belle Ver- non, was born August 3, 1854, in Ros- traver township, Westmoreland county, Pa., on the farm he now owns and is a son of Philip and Emeline (Fleming) Smock. IIis grandfather, Abraham Smock, was of German descent, a farmer by occupation and lived for a time in Rostraver township, but removed to Kansas, where he died. Politically he was for- merly a whig and later a republican. James Fleming, maternal grandfather, lived and died in Rostraver township, where he was a husband- man and one of the early settlers. Philip Smock, son of Abraham and Isabella Smock (father), was born January 1, 1819, near Webs- ter, in Rostraver township, where he followed farming and stock-raising until his death March 20, 1879. He was of German descent, a very shrewd, industrious and successful man of busi- ness and a large property holder, owning over three hundred acres of valuable land. In politics he was a stanch republican, always taking an active part in the interest of his party and he belonged to the First Presbyterian church of Belle Vernon, Pa., while his wife was a meth- odist. He was married November 6, 1845, to Emeline Fleming, who bore him thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. Eleven of these children are living, eight sons and three daughters. Although. uneducated Mr. Smock was ambitious in all educational en- terprises.
Finley C. Smock was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native township and has ever since devoted his time to farming. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Republi- can party in whose interests he is an active worker. Mr. Smock is a wide-awake farmer, keeps up to the times and is a reliable, sturdy and substantial citizen.
He was united in marriage January 5, 1882, with Kate Irons, a daughter of Jacob Irons, a farmer of Gibsonton, this county, and they have one child, Bessie, born April 15, 1884.
VERELL F. SPRINGER, one of Belle Vernon's enterprising citizens, is a son of James and Sarah (Smith) Springer, and was born April 1, 1843. in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pa. His great-great- grandfather was a native of Stockholm, Sweden, and came to America previous to the war of the Revolution, settling in Wilmington, Delaware, whence he finally moved to Lancaster county, Pa., where he died. In order to pay his pas- sage across the Atlantic he sold himself to the navigation company, which he was obliged to serve for five years. He afterward (in 1783) leased one hundred acres of land on which the city of Wilmington, Del., now stands, began farming and eventually became wealthy. He had a son Daniel born in Wilmington, Septem- ber 15, 1762, who also died in Lancaster county, Daniel Springer's second son, Michael, was born April 25, 1796, in Lancaster county, and removed to Rostraver township, this county, where he lived till his death. He was one of the earliest settlers in Westmoreland and when he came one hundred and sixty acres of the best land could be purchased for a sack of salt or flour. His occupation was that of farmer and he died on the property now known as the Belle Vernon Cemetery farm ; his son, James Springer, was born in Rostraver township and died on the old homestead in April, 1876. He was a farmer by occupation, a democrat in politics and a member of the Disciple church. He was the father of eight children, five of whom are living. Among those living are Anselm, a contractor and builder of Belle Vernon ; Theodore, a resident of Chicago, who is the inventor of the Cosmose gas apparatus from which he realized a hand- some fortune; and Everell F. whose mater-
641
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
nal grandfather, David Smith, was of Irish de- seent, a farmer by occupation, and lived and died in Rostraver township. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and served throughout the contest, being engaged in nearly all the principal battles. At the battle of Cowpens he was both shot and bayonetted and lay three days on the battlefield before receiving assist- ance.
Everell F. Springer married Ella, daughter of Ilenry Hoffinan, of Boonesboro, Iowa, and has two children dead and five living : Gertrude, Blanche, Florence A., Everella and Everell.
Everell F. Springer attended the common schools and graduated from the California State Normal, after attending for a time Washington and Jefferson academy. In 1865 he went to Boonesboro, Iowa, where he engaged in the leather and finding business. Later he went into the patent-right business for his brother and traveled over many of the western States during the two years he remained with him. IIe then returned to Westmoreland county where he farmned a while and ran what is known as the Springer House, in Belle Vernon. At present Mr. Springer, who is a very active man, engages in farming, gardening, the hotel busi- ness and in 1883 embarked in the drug business in Belle Vernon. He is a democrat and takes an active part in political matters. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a charter member, of the Belle Vernon Council and has passed through all the chairs.
OHIN STERRETT. There is none better or more favorably known in his section of the county than the subject of this sketch. His father, Moses Sterrett, was a native of Chester county, Pa., and was born in 1763. Reared near Reading he received such education as could be gotten from private tutors of that day. In 1786 he started with his father, John Sterrett, to Kentucky, intending to join one of
Boone's colonies, coming as far west as the pres- ent site of Mt. Pleasant, where they became snow-bound and could go no farther.
After a time they were so taken with the sur- rounding country that they took a pre-emption claim and concluded to make a permanent settle- ment. They purchased what is now known as the old Sterrett homestead, and on this farm is where he lived till his death in 1839. Moses Sterrett was married in 1798 to Margaret Wood- row, a daughter of Col. John Woodrow, of East Huntingdon, who was a leader in an alarm of Indians in the neighborhood, on account of which they called him " Colonel." To them was born seven children. She was a member of the Pres- byterian church and died on January 1, 1831. John Sterrett (grandfather) was born in Ireland in 1710, was an early immigrant to America and was forced to leave his native land on account of cruelty he received from his "bound boss." He succeeded in getting on a vessel bound for this country and hid away among the cargo until he was well out to sea. On reaching this country he was sold to a tanner of Philadelphia for his " passage money," and with whom he remained until he had learned the trade of tanning. Hle went to Chester county where he began business on his own account. He continued there at tanning till 1786 when he came to East Huntingdon township where he died. Mary (Webb), daughter of John and Mary (Boone) Webb, the latter a niece of Daniel Boone, was his wife, a native of Berks county, Pa., and the maternal grandmother of John Sterrett. She died in this county in 1815.
John Sterrett was born in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., on Novem- ber 23, 1805, and still resides on the same farm where he was born. He received a good practi- cal education in the old subscription schools suf- ficient to enable him to teach. He taught school from 1833 to 1838. In 1838 he became a clerk in the first store started in the neighborhood by Samuel Fullerton. In 1845 he took charge of
642
BIOGRAPHIES OF
the old homestead farm and since he has success- fully carried on farming. He is a liberal repub- lican in politics, is unbiased by prejudice and prefers to vote for the best man. He was never married, is a venerable, well-preserved old bach- elor and one of the " landmarks" of East Hunt- ingdon, whose honesty and integrity have been his chief guiding stars through a long and ex- emplary life.
OHIN F. STAUFFER, an intelligent and prosperous farmer of East Huntingdon township, was born in what is now Upper Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pa., May 11, 1819. He is the only child of Samuel and Anna (Fretts) Stauffer, the former a native of Northampton and the latter of Westmoreland county, this State. Samuel Stauffer removed to Fayette county when a young man and engaged in farming. Hle married Anna, daughter of Chris- tian Fretts, and was drowned in the Youghiog- heny river when the subject of this sketch was only four weeks old. Mrs. Stauffer died in East Huntingdon township on February 1, 1878. John Stauffer (grandfather) was born in 1757 in the eastern part of this State, came west of " the mountains," settled permanently in 1800 in Ty- rone township, Fayette county, and died in 1840. His widow, Barbara Stauffer, died in 1861 at the age of ninety-six years.
After his father was drowned John F. Stauffer was brought by his mother to East Huntingdon township and reared by her people. Hle atten- ded the old subscription schools and then engaged in farming. He came in possession of his maternal grandfather Fretts' farm through his mother, who inherited it at her father's death. HIe has ever since resided on and now owns this old Fretts farm which is adjoining the borough of Scottdale. It is a very valuable tract con- taining one hundred and fifty acres of good farming and mineral land.
He was united in marriage, February 19,
1850, with Catherine Monosmith, who bore him ten children : Anna, born March 3, 1851, died in 1868; Samuel, born May 2, 1853, died in 1859; Elizabeth, born December 15, 1854, wife of Rev. M. G. Potter, of Washington county, l'a. ; John M., born March 20, 1857; Daniel M., born March 17, 1859, married Barbara Saylor, of Fayette county, Pa., and is engaged in farming; Catharine, born July 5, 1861, wife of J. N. Stoner; Eli M., born May 3, 1864, married Flora Sherrick ; Ada, born December 17, 1866, wife of T. W. Porter; Martin N., born April 7, 1869, died in 1871; and Sallie, born April 4, 1872. Mrs. Stauffer was an earnest member of the Reformed church and passed away July 25, 1888.
J. F. Stauffer is a republican in his political views. He has been for over half a century one of the substantial farmers and respected citizens of East Huntingdon township. He is an un- assuming and useful member of the Mennonite church.
S AMUEL STONE, a practical and exper- ienced mining superintendent of both an- thracite and bituminous coal mines, assist- ant superintendent of Sewickley mines and a courteous gentleman, is a son of Samuel Sr., and Annie (Sparrow) Stone and was born in England in 1826. Samuel Stone, Sr., was born and reared in England where he died in 1849. Ile was an industrious and peaceable man. Ilis wife, Anne (Sparrow) Stone, was a native of the same country and died in 1831.
Samuel Stone was reared in England where he received his education and was engaged in coal mining until 1846. In that year he came to Pennsylvania where he located at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, and was engaged for twenty- five years in the anthracite coal mines of that county. In 1871 he was employed by the Penn Gas Company on account of his practical knowl- edge of deep coal mining to sink the Irwin shaft. A few years later the same company
643
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
again employed him two sink two additional shafts. He sank l'eun shaft No. 1 and No. 2. After completing these shafts he located at Se- wiekley in Sewickley township and became mine boss for the Penn Gas Coal Company. This po- sition he held for fourteen years, when he was promoted to assistant superintendent and has continued as such until the present time.
In 1851 he united in marriage with Elizabeth Jones. To their union were born eleven child- ren, of whom four died in infancy and Anna who passed away at twenty-two years of age. Their five living children are : John, Benjamin, Samuel, George, William and Harry.
Samuel Stone is a republican in politics and is a protestant in his religious views. Mr. Stone has devoted his life to mining and has success- fully improved his many chances for the study of his chosen business. Several years work in the deep collieries of England made him thor- oughly acquainted with the scientific methods of working mines in the " old world ;" while twenty- five years spent in the anthracite veins of eastern Pennsylvania, and half as many years more of mine management in the bituminous coal fields of this county has given him an intimate knowledge of American mines and the various successful methods of their operation and man- agement. He is an esteemed citizen, stands high as an efficient mine superintendent and bears the reputation of an honorable man.
ILLIAM P. TIMMS was born July 25, 1830, in Rostraver township, West- moreland county, Pa., and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Parmer) Timms. Ilis maternal grandfather, William Parmer, was a resident of Fayette county, Pa., and subse- quently removed from Brownsville to Rostra- ver township, this county. Samuel Timms (father) was born in Rostraver township and lived and died there. Samuel Tions was a democrat and a poor though honest and up-
right laborer. He married Elizabeth Parmer and they had four children : Sarah Ann, Mary A., Mahala (deceased), and William P.
Sarah Ann Timis was married to John Beau- mont, who served in the . Civil war and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness.
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.