Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 87

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania > Part 87

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William G. Fry is a prosperous farmer and a member of the Presbyterian church at Con- gruity ; Carmel Lodge, No. 542, I. O. O. F., at Delmont, in which he has passed all the chairs ; Union Veteran Legion, of Greensburg ; and of John B. Keenan Post, No. 500, G. A. R., of New Salem.

P J. GONGAWARE. A thrifty, energetic and moral, conscientious and substantial people were the German ele- ment of the pioneer and early population of Westmoreland county. A descendant of one of. these carly settled German families is P. J. Gongaware, of Hempfield township. Ile is a son of Jonas and Christina (Naly) Gongaware and was born one mile west of Adamsburg, Westmoreland county, Pa., January 9, 1826. Philip Gongaware (paternal grandfather) left Germany during the latter part of the last century and sought for a home on this side of the dark Atlantic. He purchased a large tract of land near the site of Adamsburg and reared a family of four sons and six daughters. He was a democrat, a lutheran and a prosperous farmer. One of these four sons was Jonas Gongaware (father), who was born in 1795. Ile was a blacksmith by trade. Ilis chief source of in- come for many years was from his work for the old pike teamsters. He purchased two farms, acquired considerable other property and died in 1880 at eighty-five years of age. He was a sturdy, honest and resolute man, served for many years as an officer of the Evangelical Lutheran church and was a democrat of the old school. Ilis wife was Christina Naly, who bore him ten children, of whom nine lived to be men and women. She was a daughter of Fred- erick Naly and lived to be over eighty years of age.

P. J. Gongaware was reared on a farm. HIe made good use of the limited educational advantages afforded by the old subscription schools of that day and secured a practical education sufficient to fit him for any ordinary business. He engaged in life for himself as a farmer and stock-buyer. He continued farming near Adamsburg until 1867, when he purchased the farm upon which he now resides at Weaver's Old Stand. It is known as the old Weaver farm, contains one hundred and eighty-seven acres of good farming and grazing land and is partly underlaid with coal. To this tract he added by purchase several other pieces of land of which he has recently sold some.

On March 25, 1855, Mr. Gongaware married IIettie Eiseman, a daughter of George A. Eise- man, of Hempfield township. Six children have been born to them : Alice, wife of Millard Ilillis; Celia F., Ida C., who attended the Greensburg seminary ; George, who attended Greensburg academy and now at Thiel college, where he is preparing for the Lutheran ministry ; Annie L. (deceased), and Mamie, who is attend- ing school.

P. J. Gongaware is an active member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, of near Mt. Pleasant and has filled all the local offices of that church. He is a democrat of the Jack- sonian type and one of the most wealthy and prosperous farmers in Hempfield township.

FAMES G. HUMES is a son of John and Elizabeth (Park) Humes and was born November 24, 1827, in Franklin township, Westmoreland county, Pa., where he still re- sides. His grandfather, John Humes, was a na- tive of Ireland, who immigrated to America, settling, it is thought, in Franklin township, this county, where he remained until his death. Ilis wife was a Miss Gibson, who bore him three sons and four daughters. William Park (mater- nal grandfather) was also born in Ireland, immi-

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grated to Franklin township, this county, where he died. John Humes (father) was born in that township, May 21, 1797, and died there May 27, 1869. During the latter part of his life he was a Presbyterian and became an elder in that church February 24, 1839. Ile was first married to Elizabeth Park, by whom he had three children : William P. (dead), John F. and James G. John F. Humes has been twice married ; first to Rachel Shields, a daughter of Robert Shields of Salem, and . second, to Jennie Woodrow of Allegheny coun- ty. He now lives at Tarentum where he was formerly cashier of the Tarentum bank. John Humes was married the second time to Sarah Waters and they have had three children : Thomas M., a former school teacher but now a farmer of Salem township ; Mary J., wife of George R. Remaley of Franklin township ; and Jeremiah (dead.)

James G. Humes and Anna C. Remaley, daughter of George Remaley, were united in marriage December 21, 1865, and they have had children as follows : John F., born Jan- uary 13, 1867, now in the gas and oil business in Allegheny county ; Clara J., born April 6, 1869, a teacher in the schools of Franklin town- ship ; Robert B., born October 13, 1870; G. Denver, born October 24, 1875; Susie, T. Duff, born October 29, 1878, died April 20, 1886, and James G., born June 20, 1884, died April 8, 1886.

James G. Humes acquired a fair education in the common schools and in 1850 went to Ohio where he worked a few years and then returned to his father's farm, where he stayed until his marriage in 1865. He has ever since devoted his attention to the pursuits of agriculture. Formerly Mr. Humes was a republican but is now a prohibitionist, and has served a number of years as school director ; he has never, how- ever, aspired to any political office. He has been an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian church sinco about 1845, and on

the 11th of April, 1809, became an elder in the church. The Humes family is an old and high- ly respected one, and among the upright, con- scientious people of the township, none stand higher than James G. Humes.

LOIS HACKLEY, of Salem township, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, June 21, 1834, immigrated to America in 1854, and came directly to Westmoreland county, locating in Salem township where he has ever since resided. His father, Joseph Hack- ley, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, where he married Mary Whiteman who was also a na- tive of that kingdom; the former died there in 1834 and the latter in 1839. They had four children : Terracy, wife of John Graff of Saux City, Wisconsin ; Joseph, a soldier in the late war, died in Wisconsin in 1865; Mary, married to Michael IIoltzwarth of Pittsburg, Pa. ; and Alois.

Alois Hackley had been in the United States but a few years when the Rebellion broke out, but he joined company I, one hundred and sixty- eighth reg., Pa. Vols., and served the Federal government faithfully until July, 1863, when he was mustered out and returned to his adopted home. Ile is quiet in disposition, honest, indus- trious, thrifty and reliable. He owns one of the best though not largest farms in Salem township, and under his wise and careful management it is very productive and well-paying. Mr. Hackley is one of the substantial citizens of his township, a faithful husband, a kind father and a man whose integrity is unquestioned, whose character is unsullied.

On the 22d of November, 1858, Alois Hack- ley and Anna J. Dible, of Murrysville, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony and the fruits of their marriage are ten children.

Alois Hackley is straightforward in all of his business dealings with his fellow-men and always endeavors to do what is right.

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J ACOB C. HALL, of Murrysville, a retired farmer and prominent citizen of Franklin township, is a son of William and Susanna (Glunt) Hall, and was born November 23, 1828, in Penn township (now Franklin), Westmore- land county, Pa. His grandfather was Charles Hall, a native of Ireland, who lived and died in that country. John Glunt, maternal grand- father, was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, who emigrated to this county, settling in the " Manor." William Hall (father) was born in Ireland about 1795 and came to America about 1816, remaining for a time at Philadelphia and then coming to Franklin township, this county. Ile owned a good farm and was by occupation a husbandman. He first married Susanna Glunt, by whom he had four sons and four daughters, six of whom are yet living. His second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Glunt, nee Kemerer.

Jacob C. Hall's wife was Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of George and Unity (Carlin) Richey, of Allegheny city, Pa., who was the sixth of a family of fourteen children ; of these Charles Richey served in the late civil war as a soldier, enlisting in 1862, and was killed at the battle of Antietam. Hamilton Richey also served one year in the same war as a cavalryman, and was wounded in the foot. Joseph Richey served in the war also, but when at New Orleans on his way home took a fever and died, conse- quently the family has no clear record of his military services. Mr. Hall has four children : Nannie R., wife of George Kunkleman, a far- mer, of Franklin township ; Margaret E., mar- ried to Joseph L. Hoey, a merchant of Murrys- ville; Nettie M., wife of Ehmer E. Smith, of Murrysville; Wm. II., now ticket agent at Dubois, Pa.

Jacob C. Hall after leaving the common schools began the business of farming, which he followed continuously until the fall of 1889, when he retired from his farm and now resides at Murrysville. He, like all his ancestors, is a democrat and has been an active worker in his

party. He has served as road supervisor and now holds that position in his township. Both Mr. and Mrs. ITall are members of the Re- formed Presbyterian church, in which he is a zealous worker, and has been an elder as well as Sunday school superintendent. Mr. Hall is an ardent supporter of his church and in every respect an excellent citizen.

ILLIAM J. HALL, one of Franklin township's leading farmers and best citi- zens, is a son of Wm. and Susan (Glunt) Hall, and was born January 1, 1826, in what is now Penn township, Westmoreland county, Pa. His grandfather was Chas. Hall, a native of Ireland, who never left his native land; but grandfather Glunt lived and died in Penn town- ship, this county. Wm. Hall (father) was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States, settling in Penn township, this county, where he carried on farming until his death. In poli- tics he was a democrat and in religion a presby- terian. Ilis first wife was Susan Glunt, by whom he had eight children : Wm. J., Jacob, Levi, James, Christina, Eliza, Katy Ann and Susan. His wife having died, he married a Mrs. Glunt (nee Kemerer.)

Wm. J. Hall married Margaret, a daughter of James Christy, of Franklin township, and they had three children : William, who is mar- ried and living in Michigan; Susan, now the wife of Henry Masters, a farmer of Franklin township; Margaret J., wife of Wm. Portzer a farmer of Allegheny township. Mrs. Hall died and Mr. Hall afterwards married Rachael Ell- woud (nee Christy), by whom he had one child : Robert, who is a sawyer and with his wife re- sides in Franklin township. His second wife having died Mr. Hall was again married, this time to Ann M. Hall, by whom he has five children : John, Guy, Annie, Orbin and Charles.

Wm. J. Hall's education was received in the common schools and all his life has been devoted

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to the pursuits of agriculture and to sawing. He is a democrat and a member of the M. E. church, of which he is a steward. Mr. Hall belongs to a good family and is a gentleman of honor, integrity and excellent character in every respect.

P HIILIP HILL, an influential citizen of Franklin township, is a son of John and Catharine (Beamer) Hill, and was born February 20, 1830, in Franklin township, West- moreland county, Pa. His grandfather, John HIill, was of German extraction, but lived and died in Franklin township, of which he was one of the earliest settlers, being obliged to fight with the Indians to protect his life and prop- erty. He was a distiller and also a farmer. He had four children : Daniel, John, Susan and Polly. John Beamer, maternal grandfather, was of German descent, but a native of eastern Pennsylvania, whence he emigrated to Franklin township, this county, where he died. Ile, too, was a farmer and distiller, and was also by trade a tailor. He married Eva Buttenberg and they had seven children : Henry, John, Philip, Michael, Catharine, Sarah and Peggy, all of whom are dead except Peggy, who lives at Apollo, Pa. John Hill (father) was born in 1802 in Franklin township, this county, and lived there all his life, carrying on farming and blacksmithing. He died in 1886. His first wife was Catharine Beamer, by whom he had nine children : John, Henry, Philip, Sarah, Susan, Catharine, Rebecca, Christina and Eva (dead).

of Ilugh Ross, of Allegheny county, Pa., by whom he had ten children : Lizzie, Catharine, John, George, Anna M., Joseph, Gertrude, Belle, Artie S. and May. Of these Gertrude, Belle, May, John and Joseph are living; the latter is a resident of Nebraska.

Philip Hill received his education in subserip- tion schools and has always followed farming, now owning a valuable farm in Franklin town- ship. He is a stanch and influential democrat, has served as assessor and tax collector of his township, and with his wife belongs to the M. E. church at Sardis, in which he holds the posi- tions of trustee, steward and treasurer. He is an active, energetic man of excellent character, and a citizen of honor, worth and stability. He entered Co. A, one hundred and sixty-eighth reg., Pa. Vols., but served only about six weeks when he was allowed to return home.

TOSIAH HARVEY, one of the residents of the county, was born February 12, 1809, in Franklin township, Westmoreland county, Pa., and is a son of John and Margaret (Dunn) Harvey. His grandfather, Josiah Harvey, was a native of England but immigrated to America at an carly day and served as aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Washington during the entire Revolutionary war ; afterwards during the In- dian troubles he was a captain of scouts in Westmoreland county; he died in 1818, aged about seventy-six years. John Harvey (father) was born east of the Allegheny mountains and on April 23, 1805, married Margaret Dunn, who bore him three children : Ann, born June 27, 1806; Josiah and J. T. Harvey.

Philip Hill's wife was Rachael Morrison (nce Mathes), a daughter of James and Mary (Gif- ford) Mathes, who was born at Murrysville, Josiah Harvey was born at a time when edu- cational advantages were decidedly limited; his entire time at school did not exceed eighteen months and that was spent in the ordinary sub- scription schools of his day. In 1824 when but fifteen years of age he engaged in the full- September 11, 1837. His father was a native of this county and the father of eight children : Joseph, Mary A., William, James, John, Mar- garet, Jackson and Rachael. Of these children three are yet living. Mr. Hill was previously married, however, to Nancy Ross, a daughter | ing and carding business at Murrysville, this

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county, with his uncle Josiah R. Harvey, who lived to the advanced age of 103 years. With his uncle he remained five years and then began business for himself at the same place, continu- ing there for twenty-one years. In 1851 he opened a general merchandise store at that point but after six years sold out and embarked in the insurance business. He removed in 1860 to Salem borough where he has ever since con- tinued in the same business except for a period of five years, during the first of which he was mercantile appraiser and the last four was gen- eral field manager in connection with Simon Hugus for the Salem Oil company, which was operating on Oil creek. In 1876 Mr. Harvey was elected justice of the peace in Salem bor- ough, which office he has held continuously since that date ; in 1880 he was again appointed mercantile appraiser. For nearly forty years he has been connected with the I. O. O. F .. in which order he is a Past Grand; is identified with the Presbyterian church, in which he has been a trustee for about thirty years. In poli- tics he has always been a stanch democrat, hay- ing cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. In Franklin township he served as assessor and tax-collector and was a member of the school board for twelve years; in Salem borough he has served as tax-collector and has been one of the school board for nine years. During the administration of President Pierce he was ap- pointed postmaster at Murrysville and hold the office until tout, when he resigned and tele- graphed to Rufus King, postmaster-general, re- commending Johnston McElroy, who received the commission, being the first appointee under Lincoln's administration.

Josiah Harvey in 1830 was married to Cath- erine Duer of Murrysville and they have three children living : James Stewart Harvey, a farmer of West Virginia : David Todd Harvey, a member of the Westmoreland county bar ; and Margaret Duer Harvey, who is now the wife of II. M. Hosack of Blairsville, Indiana county, Pa.

ICHAEL RUGH HAYMAKER, a de- seendant of a prominent pioneer family of the county and a son of John and Aun (Newlon) Haymaker, was born December 9, 1840, on the old homestead in Franklin township, Westmoreland county, Pa. His great- grandfather was Christopher Haymaker, a na- tive of Germany, who immigrated to this coun- try, where he died in 1788, and lies buried at the mouth of Plum creek, where the village of Verona now stands. Jacob Haymaker (grand- father) was one of the early residents of Franklin township and a noted justice of the peace in "ye olden time," who was the father of three sons : John, George and Michael, who all be- came wealthy farmers and leading men of the township. One of these sons, John Haymaker (father), had five sons who served in the civil war and . all came home safe. They were all volunteers and their names were William N., George, John, Michael R. and Frank Laird. At the battle of Fair Oaks William was shot through the leg and at Malvern Hill John was shot through an arm, but neither wound proved very serious and both entirely recovered.

Michael R. Haymaker spent his early life on the home farm, received his education in the common schools and was for years a miller at the old mill on the homestead, which was built in 1809. Latterly he has been engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, in which he has achieved success. Mr. Haymaker enlisted August 1st, 1861, in Co. A. sixty-third reg. Pa. Vols., and served in Phil. Kearney's Division, partici- pating in numerous battles, among which were the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Spottsylvania. His chief service, however, was that of issuing clerk in the brigade commissary. Mr. R. Hay- maker's great-uncle, Frederick Haymaker, was the private secretary of Aaron Burr during the alleged conspiracy troubles, but he remained loyal to the country, and afterwards removed to Ohio, where he reared a family of twenty-one children. M. B. Haymaker is now a member

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of the G. A. R. and belongs to the Presbyterian church. His great-grandfather and wife and two children were captured by Indians : one of the children, a little boy, died in captivity. Mr. Haymaker's great-grandfather and grand- mother were sold as prisoners of war and con- fined in prison in Canada for four years. His grandmother remained with the Indians during that time. After peace was declared she was recovered by her parents, she being at that time nine years of age. He belongs to a family of thirteen children ; one brother and three sisters sleep in the cemetery at Murrysville ; William N. resides in the village of Turtle Creek ; George is a prosperous and wealthy farmer of Warrens- burg, Mo. ; John and Frank Laird are residents of West Virginia ; Mary, intermarried with Rev. A. McElwain, D. D. ; Nancy, married L. M. Service, M. D. (lately deceased), both residents of Philadelphia ; Keziah, married William Cham- bers, and at present is a resident of this county near Apollo ; Elizabeth, married J. W. Harvey, and resides in Foxburg, Clarion county, Pa.

ILLIAM HIILLIS, an old citizen, an in- telligent farmer and active republican of Hempfield township, was born one mile north of Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 8, 1819, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Wynn) Hillis. His grandfather, William Hillis, was a linen weaver, who came in 1799 from Ireland to Westmoreland county where he settled in the neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant. He left two sons named Robert and John. Robert, the elder son, was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in the north of Ireland at a place from which he could look over on the " braes " of Scotland. At fif- teen years of age he embarked on board of a ship for America, and after a stormy voyage of three months landed at New York City. Ile accompanied his father to this county, where he (Robert) died in June, 1819, at thirty-five years

of age. Robert Hillis was one of the most powerful men physically that ever lived in the county. He was a weaver by trade, a democrat in polities and married Elizabeth Wynn who bore him one child (William). She was a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Peggy (Reed) Wynn, who came to Westmoreland from Chester county, Pa. Jonathan Wynn was an iron-master, a whig and a member of the Baptist church.

William Hillis received his education in the schools of his neighborhood and Washington college, which he attended for one year. Leaving college he taught ten winter terms of school while he employed the intervening summers in farming. At the end of that time he relin- quished teaching and gave his attention entirely to farming and stock-raising which he still con- tinues to pursue.

Ile united in marriage on February 22, 1844, with Catherine Simpson, a daughter of James Simpson, who was a soldier of the War of 1812. Of their marriage have been born ten children, of whom seven are living : Albert, who is a far- mer ; Millard F., Lyman, who was clerk for four and steward for two years of the county home ; Warren, who will graduate in April, 1890, from Meadville Business college ; Edgar C., also a farmer ; Emma, wife of C. C. Harrold of Hemp- field township, who is engaged in farming; and Jessie Benton.

William Hillis was a whig, and when that party went down he affiliated with the republican organization. He was a strong union man during the war, has never sought any office and is always actively engaged in politics. He is strictly temperate, thoroughly industrious and has been a useful member of the Big Sewickley Regular Baptist church for fifty years.

HIOMAS HISSEM is one of the respected citizens and substantial farmers of Salem township. He is the fourth son and eighth child of Abner and Mary (Welker) His-

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sem and was born in Hempfield township, West- moreland county, Pa., June 15, 1824. Abner Hissem was a consistent member of the Presby- terian church. He married Mary Welker who died August 22, 1858. Their union was blessed with eleven children : Elizabeth (deceased), who was born in 1805, and married Samuel Fox ; Jane, born February 8, 1807, married Joshua Evans; William, born April 22, 1809; Samuel (dead), who was born July 4, 1811; Ruth, (de- ceased), born March 8, 1814, and was the wife of Jonas Ruff: Mary. born November 28, 1816, married George Speelman and is dead ; Abner, Jr., born February 1, 1820; Anne, who was born May 15, 1822, and is the wife of David Kintigh, now of Ohio : Thomas ; Jesse (deceased), born January 24, 1827 ; Emily, who was born Aug- ust 24, 1829, and died at five years of age.

Thomas Ilissem was reared to agricultural pursuits and received his education in the sub- scription schools of the neighborhood. At nine- teen years of age he left school and learned the blacksmith trade. After serving the usual ap- prenticeship of three years at that trade he opened a shop for himself which he conducted for four years. In 1850 Mr. ITissem removed to Salem township where he has been engaged in blacksmithing and farming.

Ile was married March 12, 1846, to Susan Klingensmith, daughter of David and Maria Klingensmith, of Penn township. Mr. and Mrs .. Ilissem have had nine children : Jesse, who died at five years of age; David K., Brohelia, wife of Amos J. Shutt; Ann Maria, who married J. F. Walton ; Melissa J., wife of W. II. Johnson ; Lyman ; William E. ; Schuyler C., and Ira C.

Thomas Hissem owns a well cultivated and valuable farm in Salem township. He is a mem- ber of New Salem Presbyterian church and Good Intent Grange, No. 862, Patrons of Husbandry of Salem township. Mr. Hissem is a quiet, peaceable citizen, an excellent neighbor and hon- est man and an exemplary church member. In politics he is a republican.

D AVID K. HISSEM, a man of strong in- tellectual force and a leading citizen of Salem township, Westmoreland county, Pa., was born there June 27, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Susan ( Klingensmith) Hissem. (For ancestry see sketch of Thomas Ilissem). David K. Hissem left the common schools at the age of sixteen years and learned the blacksmith trade with his father. On March 4, 1875, he went to Grapeville, this county, where he worked some time as a journeyman and then returned home where he worked until September 16, 1876, when he purchased a farm near Beaver Run school house in what is now the famous Grape- ville Gas Belt. On this farm the Philadelphia Gas company is now operating and has one well an excellent producer. Since buying and re- moving upon his farm, which contains all modern improvements, Mr. Hissem has steadily worked at his trade in which he does a large and paying business. IIe is a member of Good Intent Grange, No. 862, P. of II., in which he has held the important office of Lecturer and is now the Worthy Master. Recognizing the fact that the farmers as a class have been imposed upon and deprived of those " equal rights " to which they are entitled under the great organic law of our republic, he takes an active interest in this or- ganization and is a vigorous champion of the in- terests of the tiller of the soil, whose cause is just and whose righteous demands have been ne- cessitated by the oppression of corporate and monopolistic power. Mr. Hissem possesses native ability of a high order, is a forcible speaker, a logical reasonerand man of sound common sense. D. K. Hissem was married October 8, 1876, to Lizzie M. Johnston, a daughter of William and Melinda C. Johnston, of Salem township, who was born November 12, 1854.

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Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Part 87

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke] Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Gresham, John M. cn; Wiley, Samuel T. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia [Dunlap & Clarke]
Number of Pages: 1422