Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 100

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 100

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Thomas Dipner was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Pierce, who comes of an old and respected family of the county. The following children were born to them: Emma, Jennie, John, William, Thomas, Amelda, Frank, Charles, Laura (de- ceased), and Kate.

William and Charles Dipner have al- ways resided in Clearfield Township, re- ceiving a good common school education. They are owners of the home farm, the former having 120 acres and the latter sixty acres; the farm is made up of four different tracts. They are engaged in general farming and rank among the sub- stantial men of the township. They have a large and commodious two-story home, and the farm is otherwise equipped with good substantial buildings.

Miss Amelda Dipner, who also resides at the old home, is a lady of culture and refinement. She is a graduate of Slippery Rock State Normal School, and for the past three years has been a teacher in the schools. Religiously, the members of the family are consistent members of the Lutheran church, excepting Charles, who united with the Methodist Episcopal church. Frank is a Methodist preacher at Mckeesport, Pennsylvania.

RUDOLPH J. KLEEMANN, who car- ries on a large plumbing business at But- ler, of which city he has been a resident for more than five years, was born August 31, 1877, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Kleemann was given a good public school education and then learned the plumbing trade and worked at it for some years in his native city. He then came to Butler where, about 1904, he established himself in quarters of his own, and his business rating is with the leading men of

his trade in this section. He has invested in property here, purchasing a fine home at No. 261 Sullivan Avenue, and has assumed all the responsibilities of a good citizen. In 1897, Mr. Kleemann was mar- ried to Miss Bertha Kraft, and they have two children, Marion and Rudolph. Mr. Kleemann united with the German Luth- eran Church in his native city and has identified himself with the same organiza- tion at Butler. He belongs to the order of the Moose, the Modern Maccabees and also to the Master Plumbers' Association.

SAMUEL N. LAUGHNER, a promi- nent citizen of Allegheny Township, now serving as. township auditor, has been en- gaged in the oil producing business for more than a quarter of a century. He was born January 21, 1848, in Salem Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Berry) Laughner, natives of Westmore- land County.

Michael Laughner was about four years of age when he was taken by his parents from Westmoreland County to Clarion County, and he lived in the latter county until a few years previous to his death, which took place January 21, 1892, at the home of his son Samuel N. in Allegheny Township. Besides the latter, two of Michael Laughner's children survive, namely : Annie D., the wife of John Grun- den, of Emlenton, Pennsylvania; and James L., a resident of Salem Township, Clarion County.

Samuel N. Laughner was reared in the village of Salem, where he began his edu- cation in the public schools, later attending Emlenton Academy, and subsequently graduating from Duff's Commercial Col- lege at Pittsburg. For several years thereafter he was engaged in the capacity of clerk and bookkeeper in hardware firms at St. Petersburg and Beaver City, Penn- sylvania, but after leaving the latter place engaged in the oil industry, although for

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

a short time he was also engaged in school- teaching in Clarion County. During the twenty-five or more years that Mr. Laugh- ner has been identified with the oil busi -- ness in Butler County, he has become well and favorably known in business and finan- cial circles, and he is also known as a citizen who has the good of the community at heart, having served as auditor of his township for many years and also being a stanch advocate of the cause of educa- tion.

Mr. Laughner was married to Maggie M. Black, daughter of the late Henry Black, formerly a well-known resident of Parker Township. In his political views Mr. Laughner is a Republican. Fraternally, he is connected with Lodge No. 521, F. & A. M. of Parker City, Venango Chapter of Franklin, and the Commandery, also at Franklin; with Parker City Lodge No. 761, I. O. O. F., and the Encampment at Foxburg. He is a trustee of the Allegheny Presbyterian Church, and is secretary of the Allegheny Church Cemetery Associa- tion.

ROBERT L. DEHAVEN, a successful operator in the oil and gas fields of Butler County, Pennsylvania, is one of the young- est men in this section so engaged. He has been in this business for five years and re- sides in a comfortable home in Clearfield Township, where he can be near to his interests. He has twenty-five wells in operation, three of them being gas wells of settled production, the product being marketed to the Standard Plate Glass Works. He expects to begin drilling more wells in the near future, and the business outlook is exceptionally bright.

Mr. DeHaven was born in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in 1874, and is a son of William L. and Mary Jane (Hughes) DeHaven. His father is a well- known brick contractor of that place. The parental grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a soldier of the War of 1812,

walking to Erie to join his company under Colonel Prescott. His great-grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and was one of the moneyed men of his time, making loans to the Continental Congress.

Robert L. DeHaven was reared in Kit- tanning and there was graduated from the high school. He engaged in the printing business about four years, after which he followed the trade of a brick layer in the employ of his father. He joined the union at New Castle, and later received a trans- fer to the union organization at Butler, where he had located. He withdrew from the union at the time he embarked in the oil business.

July 4, 1899, Mr. DeHaven was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ellen Flick, a daughter of Abraham and Catherine (McCrea) Flick, and granddaughter of Joseph and Mary Jane (Henry) Flick, who came to the county from Allegheny County at an early period. Her maternal grandparents were Hugh and Mary (Sheri- dan) McCrea, who came from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. DeHaven is a lady of accomplishment and moves in the best social circles of Butler. This union resulted in the birth of one son, William, on June 30, 1900. Religiously, they are members and active workers in the English Catholic church.

FREDERICK A. FRISHKORN, who is prosperously engaged in the hardware, tin, and furnace business in Zelienople, was born in this village, July 26, 1862, son of Peter and Catherine (Beckert) Frish- korn. The father, Peter Frishkorn, was a native of Germany and come to Zelienople when a mere boy. He learned the trade of wagon maker and worked at it in con- nection with farming all his life. His wife Catherine, who also was a native of Ger- many, came to this country with her par- ents when a young girl, they settling in Zelienople. Her father, Christian Beckert,

FREDERICK A. FRISHKORN

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died here, after having been engaged for many years in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Peter Frishkorn is still living, at the age of seventy-eight years. She has been the mother of nine children-all sons-five of whom are now living. They are as fol- lows: Christian, residing in Ellwood City; John and Philip, deceased; George, a gar- dener, residing in Zelienople; William, who resides on the old homestead near this place, also a gardener; Frederick A., the subject of this sketch; Augustus, who re- sides in Allegheny, being employed in the Beckert seed store where he has worked since a mere youth; and Ferdinand and Theodore, who died when young.

Frederick A. Frishkorn was reared in Zelienople, and in Prospect learned the tinners' trade, which he followed subse- quently in Chicago, Ill., and in Erie, Mc- Keesport, Verona, and Fairview, Penna. In 1884 he came to Zelienople and entered into business in the old Harris House, a log building. He then moved across the street, having purchased property in that location. In 1907 he purchased the lot where he is now located and erected the building in which he conducts his ex- tensive business. This building has dimen- sions of 22x90 feet, is two stories high, of brick construction and fronts on Main Street. When he started in for himself Mr. Frishkorn had but $17 capital and was obliged to borrow $200. The result of his venture has proved highly success- ful, amply justifying his self-confidence and marking him as one of the far-sighted and sagacious business men of this place. His persistent industry and up-to-date methods bid fair to be rewarded with a still further increase of prosperity, par- ticularly as since moving into his present store he has not been cramped for room.

Mr. Frishkorn married Lucinda Wuster, a daughter of John Wuster of Lancaster Township, their marriage taking place about 1886. It has resulted in eight chil- dren, of whom there are seven now living,

the eldest, Edgar, being deceased. The living are Arthur, Clyde, Floyd, Marguer- ite, Alberta, Viola, Clayton. The family are members of St. Peter's Reformed Church, while Mr. Frishkorn is a Democrat in politics.

A. M. PATTERSON, M. D., who is now practically retired from professional work, ' has been a resident of Slippery Rock, Butler County, Pennsylvania, since 1855. He is a progressive and public-spirited man and has been actively identified with the best interests of the borough, being especially active in matters pertaining to education.

Dr. Patterson was born in Sommerset County, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1833, and is a son of David and Eliza (Mitchell) Patterson, his father being an agricultural- ist in that county. David Patterson in 1850 moved with his family to West Sun- bury, Butler County, and there followed farming for some years. At the time of his death he was conducting a hotel at West Sunbury.

A. M. Patterson attended the country schools in his native county, and the acad- emy at West Sunbury. It was his idea and ambition to follow the profession of teaching, which he did for some years. He taught for ten years in the academy at West Sunbury and the public schools, and for seven years in a select school at Slippery Rock. Having determined to prepare him- self for the medical profession, he entered Wooster University, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was there graduated in 1873 with the degree of M. D. He subsequently pursued a post-graduate course at the Long Island Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York. He be- gan practice in Slippery Rock in 1873, and continued in active practice until 1900, attaining high rank in the profession. Since that date he has been in practical retirement, although he still cares for a few of his old patients. He was the heavi- est subscriber to the fund to bring the

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State Normal School to Slippery Rock, and has served as trustee since its estab- lishment here.

In 1860 Dr. Patterson was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Patterson, a daughter of James A. Patterson of Slip- pery Rock Township, and there were three children born to them: Amy B., widow of Dr. James L. Hunt; Lewis, who died at the age of twenty-two months; and Gay- lord H. Patterson, who has attained dis- tinction in educational circles and at the present time fills the chair in economics in Kimball College, at Salem, Oregon. Re- ligiously, the Doctor and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. He is a man of wide acquaintance and most highly esteemed.

NATHANIEL WALKER, once one of Butler County's prominent citizens, who was identified with manufacturing inter- ests and with public affairs, was born on the old Walker homestead farm in Cran- berry Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and was a son of Lewis Walker, who was one of the earliest settlers in Cran- berry Township.

Lewis Walker was born at Newbury- port, Massachusetts, where the family had been established in colonial times. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Lewis Walker accompanied a family by the name of Plumer, when they penetrated to the wilds of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. When he attained manhood he started out for himself as a pioneer and secured a tract of 800 acres which now lies in Cranberry Township, Butler County. He lived until aged and died at Butler in 1845. He mar- ried a Miss Parks and they had the fol- lowing children: John, Parks, David, Samuel, Simpson, Nathaniel, Mary and Keziah.

Nathaniel Walker continued to reside on the old homestead in Cranberry Township until 1846 and then moved to Sharon, in

Mercer County, but not finding business conditions favorable there, in 1847 he came back to Butler and purchased the brick business which his brother David was then conducting, and for many years afterward he continued in the brick manu- facturing business. He proved capable in every relation of life. For many years he served as a justice of the peace and in 1862 he was elected treasurer of Butler County. He was twice married, first to Grizella Crowe, who was a daughter of John and Jane (Pollock) Crowe, and second to Sarah M. Slater. The two children born to the first marriage were Samuel and John, and the four to the second were: Leonidas, an attorney at Denver, Colo- rado; Caroline, who married W. D. John- son; Clarence, an attorney at Butler, and Leverett H., an officer in the Fourth Regi ment, United States Artillery. Prior to the organization of the Republican party, Nathaniel Walker was a Whig and for years he gave support to the anti-slavery movement. He was a Presbyterian in his religious convictions.

Clarence Walker, second son of Nathan- iel and Sarah M. Walker, was born March 24, 1848, at Butler, where he received his primary education. Subsequently he com- pleted a collegiate course at Witherspoon Institute and then read law with Judge McJunkin, at Butler. In 1871 he was ad- mitted to the bar and for the past forty years has been in the active practice of his profession in his native city. During these years he has at various times had business interests and has found time also to demonstrate his usefulness as a good citizen.

In 1877, Clarence Walker was married to Miss Elizabeth M. McJunkin, who is a daughter of Hon. E. McJunkin, one of But- ler's most prominent citizens for many years. They have had the following chil- dren: Wayne McJunkin, Victor B., Helen, Lucille, Clarence L. and Elizabeth. Polit- ically, Mr. Walker is a Republican and

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fraternally a member of the United Work- men and of the Royal Arcanum.

JAMES M. ELLIOTT, a prominent and public spirited citizen of Parker Township, residing on his farm of 103 acres, was long identified with the oil industry but now gives his attention entirely to agri- cultural pursuits. He was born September 17, 1844, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Mary J. (Miller) Elliott, the former of whom was born in Ireland, and the latter in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

Until he was sixteen years of age, James M. Elliott remained in his native county and obtained his district school education there. He then accompanied his parents to Armstrong County and for some years thereafter assisted his father on the home place in Plum Creek Township. He has a twin brother, John S. Elliott. In 1868, during the oil excitement following the dis- covery of this commodity in Parker Town- ship, Butler County, Mr. Elliott came to this section, and as he is a self-made man, he undoubtedly had many years of hard work before he developed into an oil pro- ducer. In 1891 he retired from the oil business and for a short time lived on his farm in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, after which he took possession of his present valuable farm in Butler County.

Mr. Elliott married Miss Mary McNa- nay, who was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and they have three chil- dren, namely: Bertha E., who is a suc- cessful teacher in the schools of Pittsburg; Ross L., who resides at Philadelphia; and James P., who lives at Warren, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Parker's Landing, in which he is one of the board of stewards. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN L. DIPNER, justice of the peace in Clearfield Township and the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres which is situated

on the east side of the Fenelton Road, is a thoroughly representative citizen of his section. He was born May 22, 1864, in But- ler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Pierce) Dipner.

The first of the Dipner family to come to this section of Pennsylvania was the grand- father, who was born in Germany and reached America about 1806. He cleared a large amount of land which is now occu- pied by his descendants.

Thomas Dipner, who came from Mifflin County to Butler County, was born in 1825. His death occurred in November, 1906. He was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served with courage under Generals Rosecrans and Grant. He en- listed at Pittsburg, in the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and participated in the fol- lowing great battles: The Wilderness, An- tietam, second battle of Bull Run, Gettys- burg and Shiloh. He was honorably dis- charged at Petersburg, Virginia, at the close of the war.

John L. Dipner attended the Butler County schools and also did a large amount of private study, in consequence of which he is a very well informed man, not only on general subjects but also on law, having mastered this science at home. He ac- cepted the office of justice of the peace at the earnest solicitations of his fellow citi- zens and fills it most acceptably.

On February 10, 1902, Mr. Dipner was married to Margaret Young, who is a daughter of John and Hannah (Daugh- erty) Young. Her father was a soldier in the Civil War and later became a farmer and oil operator. Mr. and Mrs. Dipner are members of the Lutheran Church. His fra- ternal connections are with Lodge No. 836, Odd Fellows, at Craigsville; and Lodge No. 366 of the Independent Order of Amer- icans, at Worthington.

ALPHEUS SWEESY, a successful agri- culturist of Butler County, whose excellent

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property of ninety-five acres is situated in Allegheny Township, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1846, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Gal- laway) Sweesy, both descendants of old and honored Mercer County families.

Alpheus Sweesy was seven years old when he was taken from his native place by his parents to Jones County, Iowa, but after several years there the family re- turned to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and there the youth received his education in the public schools. In early manhood he decided upon agriculture as his life work, and he has been very successful in his chosen line. For about twenty-five years he has been a resident of Butler County, and in the fall of 1895 he took up his home in Allegheny Township, where he now has a fine farm of ninety-five acres, on which he carries on general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Sweesy was married to Martha M. Smith, who was born in Marion Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of the late William G. Smith, of Butler County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sweesy, namely : Warren P., Ira H. and Victor L., all of whom reside in Allegheny Township.

In his political sentiments Mr. Sweesy is a Republican, and he has always taken an interest in the success of that party, serving as inspector of elections, member of the School Board and township road supervisor. He is one of the good, re- liable citizens of Allegheny Township, and has numerous friends throughout the community.

GEORGE M. JACOBS, secretary and treasurer of The Evans Manufacturing Company, Limited, at Butler, is one of the city's enterprising and progressive young business men, who has been able to foresee and grasp opportunities and to honestly turn them to his own and his associates' advantage. He was born in 1871, at Oil

City, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and given a public school education.

Mr. Jacobs began his business career in a clerical capacity with the Standard Oil Company, and continued for about ten years and then came to Butler County and for six subsequent years was with the firm of Westerman Brothers, at Chicora, after which he entered the employ of R. M. Hays, at Pittsburg, with whom he remained for four years. In 1902 he came to Butler and for a time was connected with the United States Oil & Gas Well Supply Company and then became identified with The Evans Manufacturing Company. One year later he was made secretary and treasurer of this concern and to its interests he devotes all his time and business capacity.

In 1901 Mr. Jacobs was married to Miss Clara Fetzer, of Chicora, Pennsylvania, and they have one son, George Milford. In politics, Mr. Jacobs is a stanch Republican, seeing in the success of the principles of this party the continued prosperity of the country. He is a Knight Templar Mason and is a member of the Sterling Club.

HENRY B. MCKINNEY, president and general manager of one of Butler's im- portant business enterprises, the Butler Engine & Foundry Works, is one of the older business men of the city, and has been a resident of the county some thirty years. He was born in 1846, at Pittsfield, Warren County, Pennsylvania, a member of one of the old and substantial families of that section.

Mr. Mckinney was educated at Pitts- field and Waterford, Pennsylvania, and at Kingston, Ross County, Ohio, completing his preparation for a business life by tak- ing a commercial course at Poughkeepsie, New York. He found his best opening in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, starting on Benneyhoof Run, and for the past forty- three years he has been identified with oil interests in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia, for thirty years being

BUTLER ENGINE & FDAY CO

GAS CYLINDERS ON STEAM BEDS

NEW + BALL

STEAM ENGINE

GENERAL REPAIR WORK

BUTLER ENGINE AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, BUTLER

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

a producer in his native State. In 1902 he purchased the Butler Engine & Foun- dry Works and does a very large foundry and machine trade in the way of repairs and supplies, together with manufacturing steam and gas engines, each of seven sizes, strictly for the oil trade. He gives em- ployment to forty workmen and notwith- standing the business depression felt by some houses, his volume of trade has been constantly on the increase.

In 1871 Mr. Mckinney married Mary J. Thompson, of Mercer County, and they have four children: Montgomery M., who is treasurer and buyer for the Butler En- gine & Foundry Company; and Sarah Gertrude, Lydia A. and John J., all at home. During the period of his children's college attendance, Mr. Mckinney main- tained the home at Grove City and then returned to Butler. During his residence there he was made the nominee of the Democratic party for the State Assembly, and notwithstanding his short period of residence, came within twenty-seven votes of being elected. Mr. Mckinney is a mem- ber of the First Methodist Church of Butler. Both of Mr. Mckinney's sons are Free Masons, belonging to the Com- mandery.

PROF. GAYLORD H. PATTERSON, whose professional activity is in a field for- eign to Butler County, is a product of the county and is one in whom its citizens take a just pride. He is a man of the highest educational attainments, holds degrees from some of our country's most famous institutions, and it is doubtful if there has been any other sent forth from Butler County who has availed himself of his edu- cational advantages with such distinction as he. At the present time he fills the chair of economics in Kimball College, at Salem, Oregon.

Gaylord H. Patterson was born and reared in Slippery Rock, and received his first instruction under his father, Dr. A. M.

Patterson, a well known medical practi- tioner of that borough. He attended Grove City Normal one year, then attended Alle- gheny College at Meadville until near grad- uation, when he entered Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. After grad- uation from that institution he entered Yale University, from which he received the degree of Ph. D., and later Harvard University, where the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. The trustees of Yale and Harvard elected him for the higher education; he was awarded the Williams Scholarship, and received a special prize of $500. He pursued a theological course in Boston University, and after graduation entered the ministry of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. His first pastorate was a country charge in New York, then the Sumner M. E. Church in Buffalo, and from there he went to Smithport, Mckean Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. He was next located one year in Southern Minnesota, and from there returned east to Andover, New York, where he continued one year. This was his last church charge, as he accepted a call to fill the chair of economics in Kimball Col- lege in Oregon, where he has acquitted himself with great credit. Professor Pat- terson has been twice married, his first wife being deceased. As a result of his second marital union he has one daughter, Miss Louise.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 100

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526