Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 103

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 103

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Silas H. Evans grew to manhood in Washington Township and was educated in the district schools there and in a school at London, Mercer County. He began to work in his father's mill when he was twelve years old and continued there until he was twenty-one. He did not have a natural leaning toward manufacturing and when he was free he entered the employ of Hon. R. A. Mifflin, who conducted a mer- cantile business at North Washington, first as a clerk and later as bookkeeper. Mr. Evans continued there for six years and then became bookkeeper for Chambers Scott, a merchant at Fairview, with whom he remained for some years. In 1900, Mr. Evans settled on his present farm in Alle- gheny Township.

In October, 1878, Mr. Evans was mar- ried to Miss Abigail C. Gibson (now de- ceased), a daughter of the late George G.

Gibson, a former resident of Allegheny Township. Mr. Evans was married, sec- ond, to Sarah McMahan, daughter of Geo. McMahan of Parker Township, one of five sisters. Mr. Geo. McMahan celebrated his golden wedding on June 24, 1908, and died June 28, 1908, just four days later. Mr. Evans is a member, as was also his wife, of the New Salem Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for a number of years. In politics he is a Republican. He has always taken an interest in those movements which have promised to be of benefit to his section and is in hearty ac- cord with those supporting good govern- ment, temperance, education and morality.

GEORGE N. CHANDLER, owner of 136 acres of farm land, which lies in Slippery Rock Township, about one and one-half miles east of the borough of Slippery Rock, is a representative citizen of this section of Butler County. He was born on a farm in Plain Grove Township, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1854, and is a son of Samuel T. and Mary Ann (Den- niston) Chandler.

Samuel T. Chandler was a native of Ver- mont and he came to Western Pennsyl- vania in early manhood and prior to his marriage was a school teacher. Afterward he engaged in farming, and in the spring of 1860, purchased the farm now belonging to his son, George N. He married Mary Ann Denniston and they had eight chil- dren, six of whom still survive. Samuel T. Chandler died in 1884 and his widow lived until 1903.

George N. Chandler has resided on his present farm since he was six years old and its excellent condition as to cultiva- tion and improvements, is largely owing to his industry and good management. Mr. Chandler is a general farmer, a man of practical ideas and has few equals in this section in knowledge of general tillage and farm management.

Mr. Chandler has five sisters, namely :

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Margaret, who is the widow of J. M. Law- rence; Eliza H., who is the widow of New- ton Stevenson; Mary Ellen; Emma F. and Sarah. The two other children, William and an infant, are deceased. Mr. Chand- ler takes no very active part in politics, but he has always been numbered with the reliable and public-spirited citizens of the township. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Slippery Rock.

WALTER EVANS, one of Butler's rep- resentative citizens, who is engaged in a general insurance business, with offices in the Bickle Block in this city, was born in 1838, in what is now the borough of But- ler, and is a member of one of the old and prominent families of this section. He is a son of A. M. and Ann Eliza (Neyman) Evans.

Both the Evans and Neyman families deserve honorable mention among the pioneer families of Butler County. Capt. Henry Evans, the paternal grandfather, was the founder of his family here, com- ing in 1800. He subsequently served in the War of 1812, acquiring his military title, and later, in the thirties, he was elected and served as sheriff of Butler. County. In many ways he was one of the leading men of his day. He died in 1850, in his seventy-fifth year. His children bore the following names: John, A. M., George W., Hiram J., Permelia, Margaret A., Lydia and Jane. The parents of Mr. Evans are deceased, but his mother lived to the unusual age of ninety-one years, dying in December, 1903.

Walter Evans spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the local schools as he had opportunity. From 1864 until 1872 he was interested in the oil busi- ness in the Western Pennsylvania fields, and in 1885-6 he engaged in manufacturing in Huron County, Ohio. For eight years he was connected with the Standard Plate Glass Company and since retiring from that association he has been engaged in a

general insurance business, handling risks in about a dozen of the oldest and most re- liable companies in America.

In 1865 Mr. Evans was married to Miss Joyce Jones, of East Brady's Bend, Arm- strong County, and they have three chil- dren: George A., Elizabeth and Valeria. George A. Evans was educated in the But- ler schools and at Valparaiso, Indiana, and for thirteen years was connected with the Standard Plate Glass Company, after which he went into the insurance business with his father. Both daughters are grad- uates of the Butler High School and the younger one is a teacher there. The fam- ily has always been one of social promi- nence.

WILLIAM H. CUBBINS, agriculturist and oil producer, is one of Allegheny Township's leading citizens and has re- sided on his present farm in the northwest corner of the township, since 1880. He was born March 22, 1854, in the Isle of Man, and is a son of Thomas and Eleanor (Kelley) Cubbins, both natives of Eng- land.

The father of Mr. Cubbins, who was a sea captain, died when he was five years old and he was reared by his mother, with whom he remained until he was fourteen, at which time he started out to make his own way in the world. Upon the first op- portunity offered he emigrated to America and went to Venango County, Pennsyl- vania, where there was plenty of work to be found in the oil regions. Later he went to Pittsburg and for several years worked for a large oil company in their refining department, during all this time gradually learning details of the business which sub- sequently made him a successful producer on his own account. In 1877 he came to Troutman, Butler County, where he first engaged in oil production, and in 1880, he settled on his present place in Allegheny Township and has continued his oil enter- prises. Mr. Cubbins has been the builder

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WILLIAM G. DOUTHETT

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of his own fortunes and has reached his present status of independence by travel- ing no royal road but rather one marked by constant industry and enterprise, as- sisted by a natural gift of good judgment. While in Venango Mr. Cubbins had charge of the first glass still that restored sul- phuric acid to the same condition that it was in before it had been used for refining oil, so that it could be used over for the same purpose.

Mr. Cubbins married Miss Clara A. Og- den, a daughter of the venerable Joseph M. Ogden, a well known resident of Ve- nango County. They have one daughter, Flossie L., who is a student in the Penn- sylvania State Normal School, at Slippery Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Cubbins are mem- bers of the Scrub Grass Presbyterian Church. He is a man of pronounced tem- perance views and lends his influence to all movements in that direction in his neighborhood. In politics, he is a Repub- lican.

W. J. MORRISON, secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Slippery Rock State Normal School, has been identified with this educational body since 1896 and is a representative citizen of the township of Slippery Rock. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, and is a son of John and Hannah (Wallace) Morrison, both of whom he survives.

In his boyhood, Mr. Morrison accom- panied his parents to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and they settled in Liberty Township. He attended the country schools and assisted his father until 1862, when he entered the Federal Army to serve as a soldier in the Civil War then in progress. From Mercer County he en- listed in Company G, One Hundredth Reg- iment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until he was honorably dis- charged in May, 1865. His regiment was a part of the Virginia branch of the gen- eral force, commanded for a time by Gen-

eral Burnside, and Mr. Morrison partici- pated in all the battles, marches and dan- gers that his regiment encountered during those memorable years.

After the close of his military service, Mr. Morrison returned to Liberty Town- ship, where he remained until 1866, when he married and removed then to Slippery Rock Township, where he took charge of the Christley mill, his uncle, Robert Mc- Knight, having been the first operator. Mr. Morrison ran the mill for two years and then moved to a farm in Plain Grove Township, Lawrence County, where he lived three years before coming to his present farm, in 1871. Here he owns 180 acres of valuable land, favorably located near Keisters, on which he carries on gen- eral farming and dairying.

Mr. Morrison has six children: Bessie, who is the wife of J. S. Keister; Annie T. who is the wife of John Lincoln; Mary L., who is the wife of Cyrus Maybury; William W .; Eugene Floyd, and John B., who lives in Allegheny. In politics, Mr. Morrison is a stanch Republican and on the party ticket was elected justice of the peace, in which office he served most ac- ceptably for three years. He is a mem- ber and liberal supporter of the Presby- terian Church.

WILLIAM G. DOUTHETT, a member of the enterprising firm of Douthett & Graham, proprietors of the largest cloth- ing and gents' furnishing goods establish- ment in the city of Butler, is also identified with other enterprises which serve to make his business standing one of large importance. He was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1862.

Mr. Douthett was reared on his father's farm and when sixteen years of age assumed its management and successfully conducted it until January, 1891. At that time he moved to Butler, where he carried on a livery business until August 1, 1892,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

when he sold his interests in that line. In superintendent of the Sunday-school, in March, 1893, he embarked in the clothing which he has been a teacher since the age of twenty-seven years. At present he en- joys the honor of filling the office of finan- cial agent of the Butler Presbytery, an office that requires the ability of a prac- tical business man but is seldom filled by a layman. He has had the satisfaction of being able to prove that in the past year, under his management, the quota of con- gregations that have met the requirements of the Presbytery, has been double that of previous years. In politics he is a Repub- lican. business, in partnership with Hart W. F. Graham, establishing the present firm and adopting the firm name of Douthett & Graham. The business is favorably lo- cated on the corner of Main and Cunning- ham Streets and the complete, carefully selected and up-to-date stock attracts the patronage of the most fastidious trade in the city. Mr. Douthett has numerous other business interests. He is vice-presi- dent and a large stockholder in the Guar- anty Safe Deposit and Trust Company. For the past five years he has been en- gaged in producing oil, through wise investment and excellent management making a success of the industry. At the present time the daily production of the oil and gas wells in which he is interested is very large.

Although his personal interests require a large proportion of his time, Mr. Douth- ett finds opportunity to prove himself a good citizen and well-rounded man. He is now serving as a member of the school board and has served several terms as president of the Butler Board of Trade and the city is largely indebted to him and his public-spirited activity for the locating here of the factories which have served to add so much to the city's prosperity. Liberal himself, he has the faculty of in- teresting others in movements promising to benefit the community, and the city has no more useful or thoroughly representa- tive citizen.

Mr. Douthett married Sarah C. Bartley, a daughter of Williamson Bartley of Penn Township. They have four children : Jen- nie B., Elizabeth B., William G. Jr., and Kathryn B. The family residence is at No. 415 West Jefferson Street, Butler.

Mr. Douthett has been active in church work for many years. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, president of its board of trustees and assistant

JOSIAH D. McKEE, whose valuable farm of 100 acres is favorably situated in Allegheny Township, is one of the es- teemed and representative men of Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was born on this farm, March 23, 1846, and is the only surviving child of his parents, John and Jane (Crawford) MeKee.

The parents of Mr. McKee both died in Allegheny Township. The father had set- tled on the present home farm when it was yet in an undeveloped condition and spent his entire life here. He was a man of standing in his community, at various times held local positions of trust, gave liberal support to the cause of education and for many years was an elder in the Scrub Grass Presbyterian Church.

Josiah D. McKee attended school at Six Points, in his boyhood, where he had such advantages as were then offered. His life has been devoted to farming and stock raising and to maintaining the status of a broad-minded, public-spirited man and useful citizen. He married Miss Jennie R. Steirly, who was born in London, Eng- land, and is a daughter of James Christian Steirly, who is a resident of Oil City. Mr. and Mrs. McKee have four children : John Clyde, who married Myrna Gordon in November, 1906; Ethel M., George Earl and Ralph Crawford. In his political views he is a Republican and under a for-

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mer law he served for a time as director of the township poor farm.

N. S. SNOW, who is engaged in a gen- eral contracting business at Butler, has been a resident of this city for some twen- ty-two years and is numbered with the substantial and representative citizens. He was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1869.

In his childhood, Mr. Snow was brought to Butler County and he lived on a farm until he was fifteen years old, in the mean- while obtaining a good common school edu- cation. He then began to work as a teamster and for three years was engaged at Chicora, and from there came to Butler, where he learned the carpenter trade. He has been engaged in work in that line ever since and for the past five years has been doing general contract work. He is one of the stockholders in the Butler Building & Loan Association. Among the many fine residences which he has erected in this city is his own, which stands at No. 402 East Penn Street, which he completed in 1907. He owns other real estate in the same part of the town. While not a poli- tician, he takes an intelligent and thought- ful man's interest in public affairs and gives due attention to the issues of the day.

In 1893 Mr. Snow was married to Miss Grace Minster, of St. Joe, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and they have four chil- dren: Arthur, Hazel, Kenneth and Jean- etta. With his family, Mr. Snow belongs to St. Paul's Catholic Church. He is iden- tified with the fraternal order of Wood- men of the World, and has belonged to the Volunteer Fire Department of Butler for the past seventeen years.

ADAM H. RENICK, one of the leading and influential farmers of Slippery Rock Township, and owner of a fine farm of 180 acres, was born in the southern part of this township in 1866, and is a representa- tive of one of the pioneer families of this

county. He is the son of William and Caroline (Snyder) Renick, and a grand- son of David Renick, both natives of Ger- many. William Renick was but nine years old when he came to this country with his father, who settled for a time in Saxon- burg. William was a blacksmith by trade and during the early fifties came to Slip- pery Rock Township and worked at his trade here until 1870, after which he de- voted his time to agricultural pursuits un- til his death, which occurred July 17, 1901. He was united in marriage with Caroline Snyder, who came to this country with her parents when one year old, her birth hav- ing occurred in Germany, February 22, 1830. She is still living and makes her home with our subject. Eight children were born to William and Caroline Renick : Jacob G., a sketch of whom is also found in this work; Daniel; Louisa, deceased wife of Fred Doerr; George W .; Margaret, wife of A. M. Hall; Adam H., our subject; Frederick; and Charles, a resident of Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Adam H. Renick was reared and edu- cated in Slippery Rock Township and has made farming his principal occupation dur- ing the greater part of his life. During his early manhood he was engaged for a time as a clerk for the Pearson Bros. Clothing Company of New Castle. His farm, upon which he now resides, is located about three miles east of the village of Slippery Rock on the Pittsburg-Franklin Pike. He has two gas wells and one oil well in oper- ation and is one of the enterprising and highly respected farmers of the township. Mr. Renick was joined in marriage with Clara Wimer, a daughter of Finley Wimer.

WILLIAM McGINNIS, who resides on his well-improved farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Allegheny Township, is a representative citizen of this section of Butler County. He was born in Ve- nango County, Pennsylvania, March 2,

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1838, and is a son of James J. and Christie A. (Russell) McGinnis.

James J. McGinnis, father of William, was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and in early manhood moved to Clarion County, and acquired a farm of 100 acres, in Richland Township. Later in life he moved to Venango County, where he owned a farm of fifty acres, in Scrub Grass Township. His surviving children are: William; John W., residing in Allegheny Township; and James B. and Johnston, both residing in Scrub Grass Township, Venango County. The mater- nal grandfather of this family was Samuel Russell, an early pioneer in Butler County.

William McGinnis attended the early subscription schools in Scrub Grass Town- ship, not having the opportunity to enjoy the advantages which the children of the present day have almost forced upon them. He was trained to be a farmer and has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits very closely through life. In the fall of 1872 he settled on the farm which he now occupies, one which, under his excellent management, is counted as one of the best in the township.

On March 19, 1863, Mr. McGinnis was married to Miss Martha J. Russell, who was born in Concord Township, Butler County, a daughter of David and Martha (Cubbison) Russell, and they have the fol- lowing children: David Z., residing in Al- legheny Township; Joseph R., living in Iowa; James C., farming in Allegheny Township; Mary, wife of George Morris, of Adams Township; Martha E., widow of Reuben Douglass, of Venango County ; Christie A., wife of Sherman Been, of Al- legheny Township; Idella, wife of Rev. Willis McNeill, of Kansas; and Eliza J., residing at home. Mr. McGinnis is a mem- ber of the Associate Presbyterian Church, at Eau Claire, in which he is an elder. In his political preference he is a Prohibition- ist. Mr. McGinnis enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, among

whom so many years of his life have been usefully spent.

GEORGE E. HOWARD, treasurer and manager of the Butler Brick & Tile Com- pany, of Butler, is an engineer by profes- sion and has been a resident of this city for twenty years. He was born at Cuya- hoga Falls, Summit County, Ohio, Decem- ber 21, 1871.

In his native State, Mr. Howard attended first the local schools, later Buchtel Col- lege, at Akron, and then entered Cornell University, where he was graduated in 1893, with his degree of M. E. He found his first promising business opening at Butler and for eight years was in the em- ploy of the Standard Plate Glass Company of this city, going from there to Saginaw, Michigan. There he built the Saginaw Plate Glass Company's plant, which he managed until 1903, when he returned to Butler and bought out the controlling in- terest in the Butler Brick & Tile Works, of which he has served as general man- ager ever since. He is not idle profession- ally, having many calls as consulting en- gineer.

In 1901 Mr. Howard was married to Miss Jean Campbell, a daughter of T. C. Campbell, and they have two children- Juliette Campbell and George Edwin. Mr. Howard is a member of St. Peter's Epis- copal Church and is the leader of the church choir. His interest in public affairs does not lead him to be active politically, but he is a representative of that edu- cated, thoughtful class, whose residence in any community is for its betterment.

DAVID T. BENNETT, of Allegheny Township, residing on his excellent farm of 100 acres, is a well-known, popular and reliable citizen of this section, where, for many years, he has also been identified with the oil industry. He was born in In- diana County, Pennsylvania, July 18,

W. H. H. RIDDLE

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+20

1861, and is a son of Elijah and Elizabeth J. (Sherman) Bennett.

The father of Mr. Bennett was a native also of Indiana County, while the mother came from an old settled family of Juni- ata County. In 1865 they moved to Wis- consin and four years later to Parker's Landing, Butler County, where Elijah Ben- nett engaged for a time in the oil business. For a short time he resided in Allegheny Township. He has been deceased for some years but his widow, now in her seventieth year, still survives and resides at Hillsdale, Michigan.

David T. Bennett was eight years old when his parents came to Parker's Land- ing and he attended school there for some years, but since he was twelve years old he has been more or less identified with the oil industry and at present makes oil drilling his leading interest. Mr. Bennett married Miss Aurilla S. Bell, who was born in Perry Township, Clarion County, Penn- sylvania, a daughter of the late James Bell. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have five children, namely : David T., Jr., Edna B., Grace, Elmer P. and William L. Mr. Bennett and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

W. H. H. RIDDLE, a well known and successful attorney of Butler, who is also prominently connected with the agricul- tural interests of the county, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 11, 1840, and is a son of Samuel L. and Mary A. (Schroder) Riddle.

Samuel L. Riddle, father of W. H. H., settled in Fairview Township, Butler County, in 1854, and for a quarter of a century was engaged there in agricultural pursuits. He then returned to Allegheny County, where the rest of his life was spent.

W. H. H. Riddle, after beginning his education in the public schools, attended successively the academies at Sunbury and Harrisville. He then pursued the study of

law under the direction of Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in 1864. In the following year he was elected district attorney, in which office he served with credit. He has since continued in the practice of his profession and has built up a profitable clientage. At times he has taken part in public affairs, and in 1884 was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, which nominated Blaine and Logan. Mr. Riddle takes a strong interest in agriculture and has done much in a practical way for its scientific development in this country. He was one of the founders of the Butler Agricultural Association. All the Farmers' Institutes that have been held in Butler County, un- der the supervision of the State Board of Agriculture, and later under the Depart- ment of Agriculture to the present date, have been managed by Mr. Riddle. Mr. Riddle has long been a helpful member of the State Agricultural Society.

On February 18, 1862, Mr. Riddle was married to Angeline Walker, whose father, Robert Walker, was one of the early set- tlers in the northern part of Butler County. Of this marriage there have been three children: Edwin S., an attorney at law and a court stenographer ; and Matilda and Lillian. Mrs. Riddle died March 13, 1905. Mr. Riddle was married (second) July 2, 1908, to Mrs. Jennie (Ayres) Graham, widow of Robert Graham of Etna, Penna. All the members of the family occupy the old family home, a beau- tiful residence at No. 224 East Fulton Street, Butler.

LEWIS C. SANKEY, a native of But- ler County, Pennsylvania, was born on his present farm in Slippery Rock Township, November 4, 1859, and is one of the highly respected agriculturists of the township. He is a son of Thomas and Jemima (Keis- ter) Sankey, also natives of Butler County, the former having died in 1905 on our sub- ject's farm, which he purchased and

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farmed for many years during his active business career. The mother of the sub- ject of this sketch is still living and re- sides with her son. The following children were born to Thomas and Jemima Sankey : Mary, wife of Cass Wigton of Branchton, Pennsylvania; Anna, wife of Frank Hine- man of Troutman, Butler County, Penn- sylvania; William, a farmer of Slippery Rock Township; Lewis C., the subject of this sketch; Margaret, widow of Thomas McElvey; Adeline died at the age of twen- ty-two years.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 103

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