USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 86
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AMES BUCHANAN was born in Salem township, Westmoreland county, Pa., Au- gust 22, 1817, and is a son of David and Margaret (MeBride) Buchanan. David Bu- chanan, his grandfather, was a native of Ireland but immigrated to the United Statesand settled in Salem township, this county. His wife was Jane MeClintock, who bore him five children : John, Thomas, David, Catharine and Jane. John mar- ried Prudence McConnell, Catharine became the wife of John Guthrie, of Armstrong county, and Jane was wedded to William McKee, of the same county. David Buchanan (father) was born in Salem township in 1791. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church at Congruity, and lived near there until eighty years of age, when he removed to Peoria county, Ill., where he died in 1880. He married Margaret, a daughter of James and Martha MeBride, who also died in Illinois July 29, 1872, at the age of eighty years. She bore him nine children : James, born August 2, 1817 ; Jane, born No- vember 31, 1818; David Wilson, born March 4, 1821; Martha, born August 22, 1823; Alexander, born July 25, 1825; Maria, born December 29, 1827; Prudence, born January 1, 1830; Margaret, born April 18, 1832; and Elizabeth, born March 8, 1835. Jane married Samuel Ralston, of Salem township. David Wilson was married to Margaret Henry and now lives in Kansas ; Martha was married to John Irwin, August 20, 1845, and now lives in Colo- rado; Prudence became the wife of John Sloan April 8, 1851; Maria married Benjamin Mar- shall December 27, 1852 and removed with him, to Farmington, Ill. ; Margaret wedded Samuel Rainey, of Salem township, April 18, 1854; Alexander first married Martha Irwin, Decem- ber 4, 1854, now deceased, then Margaret Mew- herter, his present wife ; Elizabeth was married to Nelson Cunningham, of Knox county, Ill., March 10, 1857.
James Buchanan attended the subscription schools of his native township and at the age of
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twenty-one bought a farm on Porter run, Salem township, on which he resided continuously for forty-seven years. In 1885 he removed to New Salem borough, where he now resides. Ho served twice as school director in his native dis- triet and is now an elder in the Presbyterian church at Congruity.
James Buchanan was married January 7, 1841, to Mary Ann, a daughter of Samuel Henry, of Salem township, who died May 16, 1878, and in 1888, May 1, he took unto him- self a second wife in the person of Lyda A., a daughter of Robert Shields, of Salem. His first wife's children were : Margaret Jane, born April 11, 1842; Mary Elizabeth, born June 3, 1844; Martha Louisa, born August 27, 1846, died February 18, 1848; Emma Prudence, born January 8, 1849; Sarah Maria, born October 20, 1851; Harriet Marshall, born April 10, 1854; David McBride, born March 7, 1857 ; Anna Martha, born March 27, 1862. Margaret Jane married Robert F. Stewart, of near Con- gruity, June 9, 1880; Mary E. wedded Robert B. Kirkpatrick, of Armstrong county, Decem- ber 7, 1869; Emma P. was married to William B. Shields, of Franklin county, April 6, 1876 ; Sadie M. married Robert Christie, of Peoria county, Ill., June 17, 1885; Harriet M. resides at home ; David McBride married Mary E. McConnell, of Salem township, December 5, 1878; and Anna M. became the wife of W. J. Zimmerman, of Delmont, December 27, 1882.
EORGE W. CROUSHORE, one of the leading and most enterprising citizens of Grapeville Station, was born near Adams- burg, Westmoreland county, Pa., March 14, 1844, and is a son of George and Margaret (Baughinan) Croushore (for ancestral history see sketch of Henry Croushore).
George W. Croushore attended the Brush creek public school and lived with his mother on the farm until about fifteen years of age,
when he learned the trade of stonemason, which he followed for three years and then went home and made a large number of bricks for his mother, she at that time owning a brickyard. In 1861 he purchased the interest of Daniel Beck in the steam tammery at Grapeville, and thus became the partner of his brother, Michael Croushore. Hle then learned the tanning busi- ness practically and scientifically and in about three years purchased his brother's interest, since which time he has conducted the business himself, except a short period while a Mr. Knappenberger held a fourth interest. For nine years Mr. Croushore has been ticket agent at Grapeville on the P. R. R., but at present his son is attending to that business. About two years ago his tannery was burned down, but it was at once rebuilt and made more com- plete in all its appointments than ever. In his tanning Mr. Croushore gives special attention to the preparation of belting material. Having been a life-long working democrat he was in 1885 appointed postmaster under President Cleveland's administration and held the position four years. He has never aspired to any elec- tive office, as his time and attention have been engrossed with business and private affairs. The denomination of his choice is the Reformed church, in which he is an elder and has also served as a deacon. Mr. Croushore is an in- dustrious and energetic man and deserves the prosperity he has enjoyed. He has the finest residence in his neighborhood, and besides real estate owns two gas wells in the Grapeville dis- triet and is drilling another.
George W. Croushore was united in marriage September 1, 1864, with Sadie, a daughter of Ilenry Allshouse, of Greensburg, and they have had eight children, of whom seven are living : Maggie, at home ; Harry, engaged in the drug business at Jeannette; William Brant, manager of ticket and express office at Grapeville ; John Callery, going to school at Greensburg ; Charles C., Herbert L. and Franklin II.
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EORGE F. DIBLE; of near Murrysville, a leading farmer and stock-raiser, was born December 21, 1828, in Franklin township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Susanna (Allshouse) Dible. Ilis great-grandfather was a resident and in all probability a native of eastern Pennsylvania, whence he immigrated to this country, settling in Franklin township, where he was one of the very earliest settlers. The Dibles are of Ger- man extraction and originally the name was Diblebiss. Jacob Dible (grandfather) was a native of this county. One of his children was called Jacob Dible (father), who was born near Harrison City in 1780 and died in 1872. By occupation he was a farmer, in politics a demo- crat, served many years as justice of the peace and was a strong supporter of the Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder for half a cen- tury. His first wife was Susanna Allshouse, who was born in 1782 and died in 1835, leaving the following children : Henry, who died in 1803; John, born 1805 and died 1866; Isaac, born in 1806, died 1885; Margaret, born 1805, died 1846; Jacob, born 1811, died 1886 ; Cath- arine, born 1813; Mary, born 1817, died 1846; Nathaniel, born 1821. died 1846; Eli, born 1823; Susanna, born 1824, and George F., 1828. Ilis second wife was Elizabeth Kistler (nee Bughman). Henry Allshouse (maternal grandfather) was a native of eastern Pennsyl- vania and came at an early day to this county, settling near where Harrison City now stands and remaining there until his death.
George F. Dible aud Martha Tilbrooke, daughter of William Tilbrooke, were united in marriage February 21, 1850, and have had the following children : Elizabeth Jane, born De- cember 10, 1850, died 1859; Margaret A., born December 6, 1852, died November 26, 1875; Susan J., born Angust 8, 1855; William Jacob, born June 23, 1857, who is married to Jennie Robb and is a merchant at Braddock, Pa. ; Martha E., born July 10, 1859, the wife
of Elmer Campbell, now a tinner at Kittanning ; Ruth A., born June 26, 1861, died 1867; John F., born May 19, 1863, died October 23, 1887; Andrew, born June 13, 1866, died November 20, 1888; Sarah J., born August 10, 1868, the wife of Alfred MePherson, now of Washington county, and Joseph, born July 12, 1870, who died on the day of his birth.
George F. Dible received his education in the common schools and has always followed the business of farming and stock-raising, now own- ing a valuable farm in Franklin township. Po- litically he is a prohibitionist and is a stanch supporter of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder for some fifteen years.
OHN KELLEY ELLWOOD was born in Salem township, Westmoreland county, Pa., June 22, 1858, and is a son of Levi M. and Mary (Mears) Ellwood. Prior to the Revolu- tionary war his great-grandfather, Robert Ell- wood, and a brother sailed from the shores of Erin and came to America, where the former settled in New Jersey and the latter went farther west into the then unsettled wilds, since which time he and his descendants, if any, have been entirely lost to the other branch of the family. Robert Ellwood served seven years with Wash- ington in the war of the Revolution. IIe used to relate that after the battle of the Brandywine that stream was so full of dead Hessians that one could walk across the stream on them with- out wetting his feet. More Hessians than Brit- ish were killed because the English put their hired troops in front. After the war Robert Ellwood immigrated to western Pennsylvania and settled on a tract of land near Murrysville, which is now owned by John W. Ellwood of Franklin township. He married a Miss Stoops of South Mountain, where " Antietam " was fought, who died about 1842, aged one hundred and seven years. One of their sons was George
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Ellwood (grandfather), who was born near Mur- rysville, this county, about 1790. He was twice married, first to a Gillespie, by whom he had two sous : William and Robert ; his second wife was Nancy Jones, a sister of Judge Jones (deceased), of Salem township, whose father was a native of Wales, but came to America and after serv- ing through the Revolutionary war settled in this county. To this union were born eleven chil- dren : James, George, John, Thomas, Eleanor, David, Levi M., Matthew M., Mary Jane, Samuel and Josiah W. Of these thirteen children but three reside in this county : Matthew M. in Derry township; Samuel, in Bell township, and Levi M. (father) in Salem township. The latter was born in Loyalhanna township (in a portion that is now Bell), December 25, 1829. Ile married and has three children : John K., Mary E. and Naney S.
John K. Ellwood was reared on the farm, at- tended public and select schools and graduated from Heidelberg college, Tiffin, Ohio, in 1883, delivering the valedictory oration. Most of his time since then has been spent in educational work as principal of the St. Petersburg, Mauch Chunk and other schools. He is registered as a law student and will soon complete his stud- ies. In 1588 he was one of the democratic nominees for Assembly, but at the general elec- tion went down with the remainder of the ticket. Hle is married to Anna N., daughter of David Braden (see sketch of W. D. Braden), and they have two children : Edna P. and Orville A.
S TEPHIEN HENRY EMMENS, D. C. L., a descendant of an old, honorable and titled English family and the inventor of the wonderful explosive, Emmensite, which is destined to revolutionize the modern warfare of the world, was born in Lewisham, in the county of Kent, England, December 21, 1843, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Fitzgerald)
Emmens. The founder of the Emmens family in England was Sir Charles Einmens, who came over to England with William of Orange and was an officer of high rank in the army of the invad- ing Prince. Sir Charles' coat of arms bore the motto : Sans peur et sans souci-without care, without fear.
Thomas Emmens, grandfather, was a lineal descendant of Sir Charles Emmens and was keeper of the records of the treasury of Lon- don. He was often engaged in the confidential service of the British government and never failed in any mission upon which he was sent. William Emmens, father, was born in London. At an early age he entered upon an active busi- ness career which terminated with his death in 1888. He served as president of the National Bank of Ireland for many years and at the time of his death was president of the Church of England Insurance institution and a director of the great Cambrian Railway company. He was an old Westminster presbyterian school man and belonged to the conservative party in poli- ties. Ile married Elizabeth Fitzgerald a cousin of the present prime minister of England and a lineal descedant of "Fair Rosamond."
Stephen Henry Emmens was educated in Kings College, London, from which institution he was graduated in 1868 with the degree of D. C. L. After graduation he became a Fellow of the Actuaries and was a manager of insurance for his father for a time. He had been educated for the profession of civil engineering and pur- posed serving as such in the East Indies but was prevented in several ways from carrying out that intention. In 1862 he formed a partner- ship with Samuel Isaac in blockade-running business. Mr. Emmens had charge of the scientific and engineering part of the business. After blockade-running ceased he was engaged for several years in civil engineering and was engaged upon the Mersey tunnel and several other gigantic engineering enter- prises. Ile served for a time as an editorial
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writer on the staff of the London Standard. Ile also was a poetical writer on the Fun and went to Paris, where he edited a paper and was correspondent for a London journal. He wrote the novel entitled " The Philosopher," which was published as a serial in the " Dublin Magazine." Ile stood for Parliament at the request of the Conservative committee but was defeated by the Liberals. IIe was the first Conservative in Eng- land to declare for " Home Rule" and his ad- dress issued upon that subject has since been verified. In 1878 he was engaged in several large mining and commercial enterprises. He had control of four-fifths of the arsenic trade of the world and manufactured one- half of all of that article which was then used. In 1875 he injured his spine from which he has never fully recovered. Ilis injury com- pelled him to relinquish many of his most important enterprises at the very moment of ultimate success. In February, 1886, he came to the United States to secure a patent on a wonderful explosive which he had invented and which is now known as Emmensite. While waiting for his patent he did some engineering work and inspected a tin mine in Dakota for an English firm. In 1888 a company was formed for the manufacture of Emmensite and the pres- ent extensive works were erected near Painters- ville, this county, where Dr. Emmens has lately conducted a series of experiments, showing Ennensite to be the most powerful as well as smokeless and noiseless explosive in the world.
Dr. Emmens united in marriage with Lydia Prevost, a cousin of Admiral Prevost, who is in command of Gibraltar. Dr. and Mrs. Emmens have two children : Newton and Violet, who has finished her education at Oxford and received her degree. Mrs. Emmens, under the professional name of Adeline Paget, is one of England's most noted concert and oratorio singers. She never sings upon the stage and is now in London.
AMES ROSS EWING, M. D., is one of those who, though eminent and deserving, yet are modest and unassuming ; he desires no fulsome praise and wishes nothing written concerning him except what is conceived in the same spirit that prompted the memorable order of the lion-hearted Cromwell, "Paint me as I am!" He was born August 12, 1844, in Young township, Indiana county, Pa., and is a son of Alexander and Catherine Eaton (McAfee) Ewing. His grandfather, Ewing, removed to southwestern Pennsylvania and settled in what is now Indiana county when it was yet an almost unbroken wilderness. About the close of the Revolutionary war he married a Miss Moore, supposed to have been of Irish descent. This lady prior to her marriage, owing to the hostility of the Indians, was frequently obliged to flee for refuge to the block house at Hannastown, and on one occasion was captured by the savages, but fortunately was soon rescued. The children of this marriage were: James, William, John, Robert, Alexander, Rebecca, married to Joseph Harbison, and Sarah, married to John McCurdy. Alexander Ewing was born in 1808 in Indiana county, on the farm now owned by William Ken- nedy, one of the commissioners of that county. Ile was one of the founders of the old Ebenezer Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder, and was a conscientious Christian gentleman, noted for his great piety and godliness. At length, " Grown ripe in years and old in piety," he was gathered to his fathers, there to reap the reward of the righteous.
Following in the footsteps of his worthy father he was a member of the Ebenezer Pres- byterian church and engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. Ile was married in 1832 to Cath- erine Eaton McAfee, who was born in 1811 near Pittsburg, Pa., whence she was taken at the age of 14 years with her parents to Sewick- ley township, Westmoreland county, Pa., where she was married. Alexander Ewing took his wife to the old homestead in Indiana county,
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where they continued to reside. The children of this union were eleven, of whom eight are dead : Joseph, Will and Alexander Stewart died in childhood; David and Mary in youth within a few hours of each other; Boyd E. in the army in 1861, of typhoid fever. He was a member of Co. E., eleventh reg., Pa. Res. (Col. Thos. F. Gallager's regiment). Rebecca Margaret died in 1870, aged twenty-two, and Sarah Jane in 1872, aged thirty-two. Of those living John Maxwell Ewing is the eldest and lives on a farm in his native county ; he also was a soldier and served three years in the above mentioned company and regiment. The next is Rev. Thomas R. Ewing, a graduate of Wash- ington and Jefferson college and the Western Theological seminary, who is now located at Blairsville, Pa., where he is the owner and prin- cipal of the Blairsville Female seminary. Dur- ing the war he served on the Christian commis- sion. The youngest is Dr. James Ross Ewing. Alexander Ewing died in 1881 at the old homestead in Indiana county, and his widow who survives him is living.
John McAfee, maternal grandfather, came to his death by accidentally drowning about 1830 in a creek that flowed through his farm. His widow survived him, living to the advanced age of eighty-nine years. They had six children, who married as follows: John married Mary Bovard; James Ross McAfee first married a Miss Reed and after her death wedded Eliza Craig ; Matilda became the wife of John Moore ; Catherine Eaton married Alexander Ewing, and Nancy wedded James Gallagher, of Indiana county.
Dr. James Ross Ewing was reared in the sol- itude of the country, " Where heavenly-pensive Contemplation dwells," and where the warbling birds, the rippling brooks and the gentle rust- ling of the leaves call man's attention to the beauties of nature and the goodness of " nature's God." Amid these rural seenes he lived during the first eighteen years of his life. He attended
the common schools, in which he obtained suffi- cient education to enable him to begin teaching in the winter of 1861-2. The next two years were spent in Pittsburg, and in August, 1864, he enlisted in Co. G, two hundred and sixth reg., Pa. Vols. (Col. Brady), and served during the remainder of the war. After the war he taught three more winter terms, in the meantime attending the Jacksonville and Louisville acad- emies in Indiana county and reading medicine with Dr. William Jack. In 1870 he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and practiced his profession in Indiana county until March, 1875, when he removed to Oakland X Roads, Westmoreland county, re- maining there ten years. During the winter of 1884-5 Dr. Ewing took a post-graduate course of six weeks in the Jefferson Medical college at Philadelphia, and in 1885 located at New Salem (Delmont), succeeding Dr. J. A. Fulton. During winter of 1888-9 he took a second post-graduate course of more than four months in the same institution. He then resumed his practice at Delmont, which is as extensive as that of any physician in the county. Dr. J. R. Ewing is a member of the Presbyterian church and of Geo. A. Cribbs Post, No. 540, G. A. R., and of Car- mel Lodge, No. 542, I. O. O. F., of Delmont.
Dr. James Ross Ewing was married Decem- ber 6, 1871, to Sarah Melissa, a daughter of Robert and Margaret J. (Billiek) Orr, who was born December 13, 1846, and who has borne him one child, a son, John Herbert Ewing, the date of whose birth is March 5, 1873.
EVI FOX, one of the most thrifty and sub- stantial farmers of Hempfield township, and an active business man and intelligent citizen, is a son of John and Anna Fox and was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland coun- ty, l'a., May 13, 1831. The Fox family of Hempfield township is of German origin and is a branch of the Fox family of Adams county, Pa.
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Jacob Fox (grandfather) was a native of Gettys- burg and immigrated when a young man from Adams to Westmoreland county. He settled in Hempfield township, near New Stanton, where he died at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a drover, purchased cattle and sheep in Westmore- land and adjoining counties, which he sold in the eastern markets and surroundings. His son John (father of Levi) was born at Gettysburg, but was reared in Hempfield township. He learned the trade of hatter which he followed for many years. He owned two good farms, voted the democratic ticket, was an earnest member of the Reformed church and died November 4, 1874, aged seventy- five years. When in the twenty-seventh year of his age he married Anna Cribbs, daughter of Chris- tian Cribbs, of Hempfield township, by whom he had four children : Isaac (dead), Levi, Mollie (deceased) and John who lives near Seanor's church. Mrs. Anna Fox died December 20, 1872, aged sixty-five years.
Levi Fox was reared on a farm, received his education in the common schools, began life for himself as a farmer and has followed farming ever since in Hempfield township. By industry, economy and good management, he has been successful in farming and stock-raising and has acquired considerable means. He owns three well improved farms, raises fine cattle and horses and harvests large crops of grain and hay. Ile is a democrat in his political views and a luth- eran in religion, being a member of Brush Creek church of that religious denomination.
Hle united in marriage on November 20, 1855, with Sarah Strohm, who is a daugher of Christian Strohm and was born in East Hunt- ingdon township, March 20, 1834. To Mr. and Mrs. Fox have been born eight children : Lydia A., Marion S., John Franklin, Levi C., has taught one term of school; Sarah A., Clara A., wife of Josiah Conrad, of Holmes county, Ohio; Logan O. and James Irvin, who died in infancy. John Franklin Fox, the second of these sons, received a good education, taught
school, and is now attending lectures at the Eclectic Medical college, from which institu- tion he will graduate soon.
ILLIAM G. FRY was born in Salem township, Westmoreland county, Pa., May 8, 1834, and is a son of Isaac and Polly (Sadler) Fry. His grandfather, George Fry, came to this county from eastern Penn- sylvania about the year 1800 and married a lady by the name of Pifer. Jacob Sadler (maternal grandfather) came to Salem township, this county, from North Carolina about 1812; while out hunting wild turkeys about 1830 he was accidently shot and killed. Isaac Fry (father) was born in Salem township in 1811; he was a farmer by occupation and has lived in his native township all his life. He married Polly Sadler, who was born in this county in 1812 and whose parents were Jacob and Julia Ann Sadler; they had ten children : William G., Zephaniah (died in 1882), Samuel J., Lebbeus B., Elizabeth (wife of Levi Potts), Zachariah, Alexander and three who died in infancy.
William G. Fry, the oldest living child of the family, attended the schools of his native town- ship till twenty years of age and then went three years to Delmont academy. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, ninth Pa. Reserves, went to the front and participated in the battles of Dranesville, Second Bull Run, South Moun- tain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chantilly and Gettysburg, besides various minor engagements. He was a sergeant of his company and was slightly wounded by a shell at South Mountain.
While on detached duty at Philadelphia he organized the one hundred and eighty-sixth reg. Pa. Vols., which he drilled and prepared for the service. He was mustered out at Pittsburg in May, 1864, and then returned to Salem town- ship, where he was married to Hannah K. McConnell, a daughter of Daniel and Hannah
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McConnell of the same place. They have had five children : Nettie J., died January 26, 1888, aged twenty-one years ; Viola M., Anna W., Earl W. and Isaac McConnell.
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