Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 105

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

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W. H. GOEHRING

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Mr. Slater was married (first) to Susan Benson, and they had nine children, name-, ly : Ellen Jane, widow of William Frey; Louis; James; William, deceased; Susan, wife of James McCray ; Mary, wife of John Shopne; and Joseph, Benjamin and Au- gustus. The mother of this family died in 1890. Mr. Slater was married (second) to Mrs. Eva Kealing, a widow. They are members of the Catholic Church in Oak- land Township, Butler County.

W. H. GOEHRING, senior member of the wholesale fruit and produce firm of Goehring & Richards, of Butler, has been a resident of this city for twenty-four years and is thoroughly identified with its business and other interests. He was born in 1864, at Freeport, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Goehring continued to reside in his native place until 1877. His boyhood was one of more or less hardship and from the age of eleven years he enjoyed no school advantages. At that time he was put to work in the old boat yards at Freeport, where coal barges were built. After leav- ing what was a distasteful position, he be- came a newsboy and still later went to work for the Pittsburg & Western Rail- road (which later became the B. & O.), first as newsboy on the train and later as a brakeman on the line between Etna and Wurtemberg, which had not yet been com- pleted as far as Allegheny. Following his career for the next eight years, it is found that he remained for that period in rail- road work, in the meanwhile having been frequently promoted. When he retired from railroading he was occupying the position of extra passenger conductor, and had the honor of running the first standard gauge baggage car on the New Castle Division. Before leaving the railroad he had already become interested in the wholesale fruit and produce business and established himself at Butler, after a short period of residence at Zelienople. He con- ducted that business unaided for twenty-

two years, doing his best and reaping sat- isfactory rewards for his efforts. Increas- ing demands with the extension of his trade led to his admission of A. C. Rich- ards, a faithful employe, to partnership, in 1906, at which time the present firm name was adopted. This firm is the lead- ing one at Butler dealing at wholesale in fruit and produce, handling and shipping and dealing all over the country.

In 1883 Mr. Goehring was married to Miss Katherine Shaffer, who was born at Harmony, Butler County, and died in 1890. Two children survived her, namely : Richard H., who resides at Boston, Massa- chusetts; and Florence, who is the wife of Thomas Deifenderfer, of Butler. Mr. Goehring was married (second) in 1896, to Miss Emma Cronewett, who is a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Cronewett, pastor of St. Mark's German Lutheran Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Goehring are members. Their infant child is deceased. Mr. Goehring belongs to the well known local social organization, the Country Club.

SIMEON NIXON, proprietor of the Nixon Hotel, the leading hostelry not only of Butler but of all this section of the State, was born in 1876, in Penn Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of the late Simeon Nixon.

The father of Mr. Nixon was one of Butler County's prominent citizens, closely identified for years with all the developing enterprises of this section. He was also a veteran of the Civil War, to which serv- ice he gave four years of his life, his first enlistment being in a local company, and later in the Sixth United States Cavalry. After the return of peace he served in county offices, for a long period being coun- try registrar and recorder. He was born in Butler County, in 1833, and made it his home until shortly before his death, in 1902, which took place at Los Angeles, Cal- ifornia, while there in search of health.

Simeon Nixon, named for his honored

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father, was reared in Butler County, at- tended the Butler common and high schools and later was graduated in the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy. He was engaged in a drug business at Pittsburg for two years, after which, in association with his brother, J. Brown Nixon, he took charge of the Cen- tral Hotel, at Butler, conducting it until 1906. In July of that year the Nixon Hotel was opened and Mr. Nixon took charge. This fine hotel is perfect in every appointment, with cuisine and service un- excelled. It is an ideal hotel, catering both to permanent and transient patronage. It offers comfort, luxury and elegant sur roundings, with reasonable rates.

On July 27, 1898, Mr. Nixon was mar- ried to Miss Cora Clarke, of Pittsburg. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nixon are prominent in the city's social life, and he is numbered with the most progressive citizens.

JOSEPH MILTON MCKINNEY, whose truck farm of eleven acres is situated in Connoquenessing Township, has a tract of land which has been found rich in oil, there being three wells here which are be- ing worked under lease. Mr. Mckinney was born in the borough of Connoquenes- sing, Butler County, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1856, and is a son of Peter C. and Louisa (Welsh) Mckinney.

The father of Mr. Mckinney was born in Forward Township and when he reached manhood learned the blacksmith's trade at what was then known as Peters- ville, but now is the borough of Conno- quenessing. He followed his trade in a shop of his own until within a few years of his death, when he opened a shop at Tarentum, but a stroke of paralysis soon compelled him to give up business and his death occurred in 1901. He was a man who was held in esteem by his fellow citi- zens and at different times acceptably served in local offices. In politics he was a Republican and fraternally he was an. Odd Fellow, being connected with the

Harmony lodge. He married first Louisa Welsh, a daughter of John Welsh, who was one of the early merchants of Peters- ville, and they had two children: Joseph Milton and Powell, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Mckinney married, sec- ond, Elizabeth Knox, a daughter of Will- iam Knox, and had four children by this union, namely: Tillie V., Chester, Eras- tus and Lola.

After Joseph M. Mckinney completed his school attendance, he went into his father's shop and learned the blacksmith trade and remained there working with his father until, when the latter moved to Tarentum, he succeeded to the old line of custom. He gave this business his entire attention until May, 1908, when he sold his shop and land surrounding it. Both he and father had a wide acquaintance and the old shop was long a meeting place for people from all over the township, and by the old forge many questions of local mo- ment were discussed in friendly spirit. Since retiring from his shop work, Mr. McKinney has found pleasant employment in looking after the cultivation of his lit- tle farm, and the outdoor exercise demand- ed may add years to his life.

Mr. Mckinney married Miss Margaret Nicklas, a daughter of Philip Nicklas, and they have had two children, Dora Velma (deceased) and Mary Louisa, who resides at home. Mr. Mckinney is a member of the White Oak Springs' United Presbyte- rian Church. He belongs to I. O. O. F., Evans City lodge. In his political views he is a Republican and he has served as a councilman of the borough, as school di- rector and on the election board.

JACOB FREDERICK, one of Summit Township's most esteemed citizens, resides on his well improved farm of 105 acres, which is situated one mile north of the vil- lage of Herman, was born in the old house which is still standing on this farm, Sep-

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tember 6, 1848, and is a son of George and Katrina Frederick.

Both parents of Mr. Frederick were born in Germany and came to America prior to their marriage. They resided for many years on this old homestead farm, where the mother died January 9, 1882, and the father, November 15, 1887. They were good, quiet, Christian people and were respected and esteemed in the neigh- borhood. Of their large family of four- teen children, only four survive, namely : Henry, Jacob, Peter and Mrs. Elizabeth Milheim, all of Butler County except Pe- ter, who is a lumber dealer in Chicora, Penna.

Jacob Frederick has been engaged in agricultural pursuits on his present farm ever since he has been old enough to han- dle farm implements, and this long experi- ence, together with his good judgment and intelligent recognition of all that goes to the making of a good farmer, has contrib- uted to his success. He has steadily made improvements on the property ever since it came into his possession and in 1896 he erected his present fine residence and other substantial buildings, in con- trast to which stands the old farmhouse which, in spite of its inconveniences, was a happy and comfortable home for many years.

In 1885 Mr. Frederick married Bar- bara Elizabeth Gensler, who was born in Germany and lived there until she was twenty-five years of age. She had two brothers and three sisters, all of whom, except the youngest, still reside in Germany. The latter and the parents died in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have two children, George H. and Albert Jacob, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Frederick and family be- long to the German Lutheran Church.

On Sunday, September 6, 1908, Mr. Frederick reached his sixtieth mile-stone in life and a very pleasant celebration awaited him, the nature of which was a

surprise party. A feature of the occasion was the bountiful dinner served in the old house in which he had been born and twenty of his old friends and relatives sat at table with him. It was a surprise to him, but was one he is not likely to forget through the rest of his life, so beautifully, completely and affectionately had it all been planned and carried out.

S. C. KELLY, president of the Butler Wood-Fiber Plaster Company, of Butler, one of the city's growing business enter- prises, is interested in other ventures in different sections and is one of the most progressive of the younger circle of busi- ness men here. He was born in 1881, on a farm, near Mt. Chestnut, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas H. Kelly.

Thomas H. Kelly was also born in But- ler County, in 1853. For a number of years he was identified with the oil indus- try in Pennsylvania, but for the past eleven years he has looked after the min- ing interests of himself and son, in Alaska. Together they also own valuable real es- tate in Missouri.

S. C. Kelly attended the country schools near his home through boyhood and later took a commercial course and was grad- uated from the Butler Business College, in 1896. Immediately afterward he went to work for W. S. Wick, lumber dealer, with whom he continued for three years, after which he spent two years with the Oil Well Supply Company, at Sistersville, West Virginia. After he returned to But- ler he spent several years with the Butler Builders' Supply Company. In 1904, when the Butler Wood-Fiber Plaster Com- pany was organized, he was elected presi- dent and general manager, which position he has held since.

In February, 1904, Mr. Kelly was mar- ried to Grace McIntire, who is a daughter of C. E. McIntire, a manufacturer of But- ler, and they have two sons, Thomas C.

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and Harold E. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are members of the Second Presbyterian Church at Butler.

MRS. MARY W. NICKLAS, a highly respected and much esteemed lady resid- ing at Connoquenessing, where she owns valuable property, including two produc- ing oil wells, is the widow of Conrad Nick- las, formerly the leading general merchant of this village. Mrs. Nicklas was born in Jackson Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, and is a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Ziegler) Wise.

The father of Mrs. Nicklas was a child when his parents came from east of the Allegheny Mountains and settled in Jack- son Township, Butler County, where he spent the remainder of his life, farming being bis business. He died when aged sixty-eight years. Of his five children born to his marriage with Mary Ziegler, four grew to mature years, namely : Nancy, now deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Rise; Jacob and John, twins, and Mary W., who became the wife of Conrad Nicklas. Jacob Wise was married (sec- ond) to Sarah Moyer and ten children were born to that union.

Mrs. Nicklas as Mary W. Wise grew to womanhood in Jackson Township and at- tended the country schools. She was then married to Conrad Nicklas, at that time an enterprising and successful young busi- ness man. He was born in Connoquenes- sing Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and spent his life in this section, his death taking place August 1, 1899, when aged fifty-six years.

The Nicklas family was established in America by Peter Nicklas, grandfather of Conrad, who came from Germany and set- tled first in Summit Township, Butler County. Later he moved to Connoquenes- sing Township. Philip Nicklas, son of Peter and father of Conrad, was also born in Germany and was fourteen years old when his parents came with him to Amer- ica. He married Mary Zeglo, a native of

Muitoll., alla they had thirteen children, Conran being the second son. Other sons Cultivated the home farm of ninety acres, ior the father, but Conrad turned his at- tention to merchandising. He first bought an interest in the business of John Kalten- bach and later became sole owner and un- til his fatal illness continued to success- fully conduct a general mercantile busi- ness at Connoquenessing. He was an ex- cellent business man, one of foresight and judgment and became largely interested in oil production. He left his family amply provided for and during his whole life had been a good citizen, liberally supporting public measures and giving to the church and the cause of education.

To Conrad Nicklas and wife five chil- dren were born, namely: Mary Bertha, who is the wife of John Mecklen, of Con- noquenessing; Ferdinand P., who resides at home; Nancey Gertrude, deceased; Ja- cob, who lives at home, and Conrad W., who carries on the mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Nicklas were members of the English Lutheran Church for many years and he was a member of its board of trus- tees. In his political views he was a Dem- ocrat, but the only offices he was ever will- ing to accept was that of school director.

A. F. ROCKENSTEIN, the affable pro- prietor of the Arlington Hotel, one of But- ler's most popular hostelries, is a native of Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1875.

Joseph Rockenstein, father of A. F., has long been a prominent business man of Butler, of which city he also is a native. The family has always been one of busi- ness standing in this section.

A. F. Rockenstein obtained his educa- tion in the schools of Butler and has chosen his native city as the field of his business activities. He began work in a grocery store, but after a trial of two years, en- tered the Charles Duffy dry goods store and after completing a clerkship of six

JOHN S. HOBAUGH

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years, retired with a pretty fair knowledge of that business. In 1900 he first became interested in the hotel business, being with the Lowry House for some four years thereafter, for one year was with the Lyn- dora Hotel, and in 1905 he leased the Ar- lington Hotel, which he has successfully conducted ever since. He has maintained a high standard of excellence ever since taking charge and his patronage is con- stantly on the increase. He has twenty guest rooms and his uniform rate is $2 per day.

In 1903 Mr. Rockenstein was married to Miss Alice Kelly, who is a daughter of Walter Kelly, a resident of Bruin, Butler County, and they have two children: Fran- cis Wellington and Verena Inez.

JOHN S. HOBAUGH, general stone contractor at Butler, with office at No. 337 North Washington Street, undoubtedly controls the largest amount of the im- portant work in his line, in this city. He was born in 1870, at Indiana, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of G. M. Hobaugh, a retired citizen of Butler.

John S. Hobaugh was seven years of age when his parents moved to Oil City, in Venango County, where the family resided until he was sixteen years old, when re- moval was made to Butler County. He learned his trade with his father, who was formerly a successful contractor, and for the past twelve years Mr. Hobaugh has been himself engaged in contracting. But- ler is noted for the elegance of its private residences and the beauty and stability of its business and public structures, and in naming those which have been erected by Mr. Hobaugh, his prominence in his line of work becomes evident. A partial list includes : The John Bickel Building; the Y. M. C. A. Building; the Levi M. Wise and J. H. Troutman Buildings; the First English Lutheran Church; Grace Luth- eran Church; the Institute Hill School

Building; the County Home; the Second Presbyterian Church; the Kirkpatrick Buildings; the Ledom-Worrall Company Building; the I. O. O. F. Building; the Nixon, the Atlas and the Clinton Hotels; the Butler High School; and the private residences of A. E. Rieber and C. N. Boyd. In the erection of buildings of the above character, not only was used the most superior materials but the very best talent was required for construction, and the descendants of Mr. Hobaugh will still be able to point to the enduring character of those foundations and elaborate stone work long after his activities have ceased. Not only has Butler benefited by his skill, other points having called in his services, notably Grove City, where he built the two beautiful stone churches as well as the Carnegie Library.

In 1892, Mr. Hobaugh was married to Miss Villa M. Hill, of Indiana, Pennsyl- vania, and they have a family of seven children. Mr. Hobaugh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason.

JACOB PISTORIUS, who is president of the School Board and one of the lead- ing citizens of Summit Township, resides on his valuable farm of eighty acres, which is situated on the old State Road, one mile east of Butler. This is the old Pistorius homestead and here he was born, Novem- ber 17, 1849, and is a son of Peter and Catherine (Gower) Pistorius.

Jacob Pistorius grew to manhood on this farm and then went to Pittsburg, where, for almost eighteen years he was employed in a rolling-mill. In March, 1887, he gave up his mill work and re- turned to the old home in Summit Town- ship, where he has ever since successfully carried on general farming and dairying. He has taken an active part in township affairs and has been particularly inter- ested in the public schools. He has served

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seven years as a member of the School Board and is now its presiding officer.

Mr. Pistorius married Mary Holzapfel and they have had ten children, namely : John P., Jacob H., Joseph, Catherine, Clara, Herman, Leo, Paul, Martin, and Theodore, all of whom survive except lit- tle Paul, who died when four days old.

RICHARD BURKE, an old and vener- ated citizen of Butler County, Pennsylva- nia, has spent all his life in Clearfield Township, and is now retired from busi- ness activity. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1830, and is a son of Timothy and Johanna (O'Neil) Burke. He was reared to manhood and educated in his native country. At the age of twenty- one years he came to the United States and settled on the farm which has since been known as the Burke homestead.

Francis, the ninth in order of birth, was born in 1872 and is unmarried. He has a farm of eighty-seven acres, one-half in Clearfield Township and the remainder across the line in West Franklin Township, Armstrong County. He gives his atten- tion mainly to oil and gas operations and is a very successful man.

Richard Burke, the father of this fam- ily, is living in the enjoyment of good health, at an age of almost four score of years. He has followed farming through- out his active career, making no specialty of his work and raising just enough stock for use on the farm. Religiously, he and his family are members of the Catholic Church, to which they contribute liberally.

W. H. McGAFFIC, one of Butler's reli- able citizens and representative business men, who is engaged in an insurance busi- ness, with office at No. 105 West Jefferson Street, was born October 14, 1851, in Bea- ver County, Pennsylvania.

July 10, 1853, Mr. Burke was united in marriage with Katherine O'Neil, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Bridget (McCrea) O'Neil. The McCrea family is an old and In his infancy, the parents of Mr. Mc- Gaffic moved to Crawford County, and in 1865 from there to Slippery Rock, Butler County, and there he grew to manhood and obtained his education. For two years he was engaged there in the manufacture of carriages, but sold his business and went to Karns City, where he was a clerk for three years and for nine years was en- gaged there in a mercantile business of his own. For fourteen years he was also an oil producer, from 1882 to 1896. After disposing of that he returned to Slippery Rock and was in business there for two years before he came to Butler and em- barked in the life and accident insurance business. He represents only old and reli- able companies, such as the State Mutual of Massachusetts and the Maryland Casu- alty, of Baltimore, Maryland, and handles a large amount of risks. prominent one in this part of Butler Coun- ty. Thirteen children were born to bless this union, all born on the home place, namely, Bridget, wife of Edward Burke; John M .; Daniel, deceased; Hugh, de- ceased; Mary, deceased; Thomas, de- ceased; Josie (O'Neil) ; William, who is in the oil business; Hugh Francis, who is a farmer and engaged in the oil business; Daniel, who married Kate Pursell; James; Edward; and Richard, Jr. John M. Burke, eldest son and second child of Richard and Katherine Burke, was first married to Josie Slater, and they had three children-Ed- ward, Kate and William. He was married a second time to Miss Margaret Rogers, by whom he has five children-Mary, John, Thomas, Annie and Daniel. Josie, the sev- enth child born to Richard and Katherine Burke, married D. J. O'Neil, by whom she has the following children: Tressa, Clar- On December 31, 1872, Mr. McGaffic was married to Miss Harriet E. Riddle, a ence, Evaline, Charlotte, Charles, de -. ceased; Edward, and Francis. Hugh daughter of James D. Riddle, who was a

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pioneer and prominent citizen of Slippery Rock. Mr. and Mrs. McGaffic had one daughter, Hallie Frances, who married Howard C. Hazlett of Butler. She died September 22, 1906, leaving two children- Margaret Elizabeth and William Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. McGaffic are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason and is past eminent commander of Mt. Calvary Com- mandery, No. 67, at Greenville.

LOUIS F. STRACKE, a prosperous resident of Adams Township, where he owns eleven and one-half acres of excellent land on which he carries on poultry-rais- ing, has lived on his farm since 1903. He was born in 1861, in Germany and came to America when twenty-eight years old, in 1889.

In his boyhood, Mr. Stracke went to work in a rod-mill and learned that trade, and then entered the German army, in which he served the required two years as a member of the Tenth Company of the Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry. Having thus proved his patriotism and fulfilled the laws of his native land, he will never find himself debarred from visiting the old home, even if he no longer desires to remain there. After reaching America he came to Pennsylvania and soon found work at his trade at Rankin, and later at Braddock. On account of failing health he decided to settle for a time at least, in the country, and bought his present farm of Freeman Davison, and is making it profitable by raising choice poultry for market.

In 1891 Mr. Stracke was married (first) to Caroline Bailey, a native of Germany, who died February 8, 1900, leaving two children-Charles, who was born Septem- ber 11, 1892, and August, who was born August 4, 1894. In 1902 Mr. Stracke was married (second) to Mrs. Amelia Bender, a daughter of Carl Garmer and the widow of Martin Bender. She had six children

born to her first marriage but the only one living is Mary, who married Frank Hill- man, and has one daughter, Amelia. Mr. Stracke has one child by his second mar- riage.

JOHN E. PURUCKER, joint proprietor with C. L. Frederick, of the Chicora Ma- chine Works, is one of the enterprising. and prosperous business men of Chicora, and is also interested in oil and gas pro- duction in Butler County. He was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1878, and is a son of F. W. and Louise (Stoechr) Purucker.

The parents of Mr. Purucker are natives of Germany. When they came to America they settled at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where the father conducted a butchering business until 1880, when he removed to Chicora, where he continues his enterprise. He is one of the town's representative and substantial citizens. He has reared eleven of his family of fourteen children, three dying in infancy. The following survive : Callie, William F., John E., Emma, Clara (Bye), Louise, Loretta, O. R., R. O., Es- ther, and Helen.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 105

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