Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 106

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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John E. Purucker was about two years old when his parents came to Chicora. After he completed his school attendance, he assisted his father both in his meat business and on the latter's farm in Done- gal Township, and when eighteen years of age, learned the machinist trade. He worked for three years with the firm of Stone & Vandemayrk and was only twenty- one years old when he started into busi- ness for himself, under the firm name of Stone & Purucker. In 1902 he purchased Mr. Stone's interest and continued the business for two years alone, when he sold a half interest to C. L. Frederick. This firm does all kinds of repair work and is one of the town's prospering enterprises. Mr. Purucker is quite extensively inter- ested in oil and gas production and on his farm of eighty acres, in Donegal Town-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

ship, he has a producing gas and also a producing oil well. He is likewise inter- ested in a second farm, owns valuable real estate at Butler and is a stockholder in dif- ferent enterprises in Chicora.

Notwithstanding his many business in- terests, Mr. Purucker has not neglected his duties as a citizen and at the present writ- · ing (1908) is usefully serving as a mem- ber of the Town Council. In politics he is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Ma- son and belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Butler. He is a member and liberal supporter of the German Lutheran Church.

MARTIN KABEL, a wide-awake and progressive farmer of Clearfield Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, resides on a fine farm of seventy-nine acres, lo- cated on the east side of the Saxonburg and Coylesville road. He was born on the old home place about four miles south of his present farm, in Clearfield Township, February 12, 1851, and is a son of Martin and Barbara (Krear) Kabel.

Martin Kabel, Sr., was born in France and came to the United States when a young man, his parents never leaving their native land. He located on the old home farm in Clearfield Township, Butler County, and followed farming the rest of his life. His farm of seventy acres is a fine body of land and is owned jointly by his heirs. He and his wife became par- ents of five children, as follows: George, deceased; Joseph; Martin; Barbara; and Elizabeth.

Martin Kabel, Jr., has always been a resident of Clearfield Township, and re- ceived his education in the district schools. He and his brothers were brought up to work hard, assisting on the home place from their boyhood days. Martin has al- ways followed farming and has met with good results. He purchased the property on which he now lives from Frank Bieden- bach, and by persevering effort has con-

verted it into a well-improved place. He follows general farming and raises some stock.

September 14, 1875, Mr. Kabel was joined in marriage with Miss Helen Bern- inger, a daughter of Baselius and Tressa (Neff) Berninger of Center Township, and the following are the issue of this union: George, Joseph L., Barbara, A. J., F. M., Catherine, and Ferna. Religiously, the family are very active members of the Catholic Church.

W. P. ROESSING, of the firm of Roessing & Son, leading undertakers and funeral directors at Butler, is a native of this city, born in 1848, and is a son of George C. Roessing.

George C. Roessing, whose death oc- curred in 1891, was one of Butler's promi- nent citizens for many years. He was born in Germany, in 1827, and came to America and settled at Butler, Pennsyl- vania, in 1847. Prior to 1861 he engaged in a furniture business and in undertaking, but in that year he closed out his former line but continued the latter and also be- came interested at this time in carriage- making. The latter industry he continued until 1886, when he discontinued it and gave his whole attention to the undertak- ing business from which he also retired in 1889. He was active in politics and his solid qualities as a citizen were frequently recognized by his election to local offices. For twenty years he served as a justice of the peace and his decisions were seldom reversed.

W. P. Roessing attended school at But- ler until he was thirteen years old when his father put him to work in the carriage factory, where he learned the trade of carriage-building. In 1872 he became his father's partner, both in the carriage- making and undertaking business. When his father retired from the firm in 1889, he purchased the entire interests of the concern and continued business alone until

FRED T. ROESSING

W. P. ROESSING

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1905, when he admitted his son, Fred T. Roessing, to partnership, at which time the present style was adopted. This un- dertaking firm is one of the oldest business houses in Butler, now including three gen- erations of the same family, and through all these years its relations with the public have been thoroughly honorable.

In 1877 W. P. Roessing was married to Miss Truesdale Byrer, who was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of D. L. Byrer. They have five children, namely : Florence, Fred T., Jean Wallace, Lucille H., and Marguerite P. Fred T. Roessing was educated in the But- ler schools and at Westminster College. He was sixteen years old when the Span- ish-American War was declared, and he enlisted for service in the same, entering Company E, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry. In a short time he fell a victim to the prevailing malarial fever, which necessitated his return home, after his honorable discharge. In 1905 he be- came his father's partner in business, hav- ing thoroughly prepared himself by at- tending schools of emblaming. In 1906, he was married to Miss Laura M. Stein, who belongs to one of the pioneer families of Butler County and is a daughter of L. B. Stein. With his father, he belongs to the Elks and he is also an Odd Fellow. Mr. Roessing and family belong to the First Presbyterian Church at Butler.

CARLTON HENRY BARNARD, oil producer and contractor in tin and slate roofing, is one of Butler's representative business men, having resided here for twenty years. He was born at Windsor, Ashtabula County, Ohio, December 18, 1862, and is a son of Francis Barnard, who was a veteran of the Civil War.

C. H. Barnard grew to manhood in his native place and attended the local schools until boyhood was over, when he worked for three years in a saw and planing mill at Windsor. He then came to Butler,

Pennsylvania, and worked at his present trade for three years with the firm of Dal- zell Brothers, of Youngstown, with whom he learned his trade. He worked the fol- lowing year for J. E. Castor, of Butler. Since then he has been contracting in tin and slate roofing, doing a large business, and for the last three years has also been engaged in oil production, working in the Butler fields, where he has at present writ- ing (1908), nine producing wells. He has other business interests, being a stock- holder in the People's Telephone Com- pany, the Leedom-Worrall Grocery Com- pany and in other concerns.

In 1887 Mr. Barnard was married to Miss Ida Heath, of Williamsfield, Ashta- bula County, Ohio, and they have two sons, Francis G. and Hallet Carlton. Mr. Barn- ard and family attend the Baptist Church. He is an Odd Fellow and belongs to Wind- sor Lodge, No. 329, of Windsor, Ohio.

WILLIAM A. PURVIANCE, general merchant at Connoquenessing, of which borough he is a leading citizen, at present filling the office of burgess and frequently serving on its legislative council, was born on Powder Mill Run, in Forward Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 14, 1854, and is a son of William Alexander and Sophia (Strichenen) Pur- viance.

The parents of Mr. Purviance were na- tives of Butler County. His father was a man of local prominence, but he lived only into middle life. His family of eight chil- dren bore the following names: Eliza- beth, who resides at Allegheny, Pennsyl- vania; J. Thompson and Henry C., both of whom are deceased; Mary, who married James Hollingsworth, of Pittsburg; Sophia and Hallie, both residents of Allegheny; William A., and Benjamin F., who resides at Pittsburg. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William A. Purviance was two and one- half years old when his father died. After

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

a period of school attendance in his native township, he went to Zelienople, where he was a pupil in Prof. Kitzel's private acad- emy and studied piano music under Rev. Winters. His musical talent he inherits from his father, who was a master of the violin. In 1874 Mr. Purviance established himself in a general mercantile business at his present location, and some four years. later admitted his brother to partnership, the firm style being J. T. & W. A. Purvi- ance. This continued until the death of J. T. Purviance, when William T., through purchase, became sole proprietor. This is the oldest established business in the borough.

Mr. Purviance was married to Miss Ella Plaisted, a daughter of James E. Plaisted, of Butler Township, and they have three children: Frank R., Nora Verne and W. Marjorie. The son is in business at Alle- gheny. The elder daughter is a graduate of the Slippery Rock State Normal School and also an accomplished pianist. For several terms she taught school in the borough, after which she married Dr. S. B. Ralston, and they reside at Avalon, Penn- sylvania. The younger daughter resides at home. Mr. Purviance and family be- long to the White Oaks United Presbyte- rian Church.

In politics, Mr. Purviance is a stanch Republican. In addition to the public of- fices mentioned, he has served as treasurer of the borough and has always been one of the most progressive men in the place. He is a director of the Connoquenessing Tele- phone Company, also treasurer and was one of its promoters.

HARRY M. QUINN, superintendent of the Forged Steel Car Company, at Butler, is an experienced man in his line of work, having been employed in other large plants for years, and a skilled machinist since early manhood. He was born January 27, 1864, in the city of Philadelphia and there attended school and learned his business.

For more than twenty years Mr. Quinn

worked as a machinist in his native city, but in 1903 he came to Western Pennsyl- vania and became a master mechanic in the employ of the Pressed Steel Car Company at Allegheny. Two years later, in 1905, he became superintendent of a plant at McKees Rocks, and in February, 1907, ac- cepted his present responsible position with the Forged Steel Car Company at Butler.

In 1887 Mr. Quinn was married to Miss Katherine Fannan, of Philadelphia, and they have three children, Marie, Genevieve and Katherine. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn are members of St. Paul's Catholic Church. He is also a member of the order of Knights of Columbus. Mr. Quinn is a man whose coming to Butler adds to the good citizenship of the place. A skilled, reliable workman, a man of family and a consistent church member-such men are welcome additions to any community and the community is fortunate in securing such a class as permanent residents.

WEBSTER KEASEY, one of the lead- ing citizens of Winfield Township, who is largely identified with the lumber and oil interests of this section, was born in But- ler County, Penna., February 4, 1856, son of Henry and Elizabeth Keasey.

Henry Keasey came to Butler County as an experienced furnace man, being called here to become manager of the furnace at Winfield, which was owned by Mr. Speer. He continued to manage the plant as long as the business was continued at that point. Subsequently he purchased the Duff farm, a valuable piece of agricultural property, containing 200 acres and sit- uated in Winfield Township. Here he died on May 1st, 1890.

Webster Keasey acquired his education in the public schools. On leaving home he secured employment in the oil fields of Butler and Mckean Counties. In 1879 he drifted to Colorado, where for a time he was engaged in railroad contracting, after-

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wards returning to the old homestead in Winfield Township. He next formed a partnership with J. A. Ranson and in 1893 they leased the lime quarries which are at present operated by the A. G. Morris Lime & Stone Co., Limited. In 1894 a company was organized, of which Mr. Keasey was one of the board of directors, and which later sold out its interests to the Acme Company. Mr. Keasey takes some inter- est in public matters, especially in his own community. In May, 1894, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Rough Run.

Mr. Keasey married Nannie Campbell, who is a daughter of John and Annie Campbell, and their family numbers five children. Their home is in a stately man- sion, constructed of pressed brick and equipped with all modern conveniences. It is situated in the midst of a fine grove, on a hill overlooking the town of Cabot.

E. J. RENNO, dealer in granite and marble monuments at Butler, with busi- ness quarters at No. 108 and 110 West Cunningham Street, conducts one of the city's oldest enterprises, it having been established by his late father, in 1870. Mr. Renno was born in 1881, at Butler, Penn- sylvania, and comes of pioneer stock.

The Renno family was founded in But- ler County, in 1836, by John Renno, the grandfather of E. J. Renno. He was born in France. His life was devoted entirely to agriculture. His son, George Renno, was born in Butler County and after es- tablishing the business which has been con- tinued by his son, he followed the same until the close of his life. He is recalled as one of Butler's reliable men and good citizens.

E. J. Renno was reared and educated at Butler and in boyhood began to assist his father in the shop and later, develop- ing talent and inclination for the same business, he learned its details and became an expert workman. After his father's. death, in 1904, with his brother, F. W. Ren-

no, he succeeded to the business, which he purchased entire, in 1906. He is a stock- holder in the Southern Vineyard Company and is numbered with Butler's substantial citizens. In 1902 Mr. Renno was married to Miss Agnes Mackey, of Youngstown, Ohio, and they have two children, Paul and Mildred. Mr. Renno is a member of the English Lutheran Church. His fraternal connections include the Odd Fellows, both the lower order and the Encampment; the Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank, and the Modern Maccabees. In politics he has never been very active, although he has frequently demonstrated his attitude of good citizenship by supporting public measures and contributing to worthy local enterprises.

JOHN G. STRUTT, one of the self- made men of Zelienople, Pennsylvania, who conducts a first-class livery establish- ment, was born October 4, 1869, in Zelie- nople, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Will- iam L. and Margaret (Richard) Strutt.

William L. Strutt, who for twenty-eight years was a livery stable proprietor of Ze- lienople, died at the age of sixty-one years, his wife having died when John G. Strutt was but two years old. They were the par- ents of five children: Joseph, who resides in Ohio; E. C .; Charles; John G., and Anna. The parents were members of the German Lutheran Church.

John G. Strutt attended the public schools of Zelienople, and after leaving school began work at the livery business. All of his life has been spent in Zelienople, with the exception of ten years, when he was engaged in the butcher business in Pittsburg. He is a self-made man in the true sense of the word, having started in life without means, and through energy and economy has worked his way to the front rank among the business men of this community. For three years he worked for thirty dollars per month, and during that time saved $100, with which he en-

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gaged in the livery business, purchasing the interests of Householder & Meeder. For eleven years he has conducted his pres- ent establishment, and he now keeps eight- een head of horses, and does a large busi- ness in Zelienople and the surrounding country. He owns his own livery barn, in addition to other valuable real estate.

Mr. Strutt was married (first) to Miss Annie May Lutz, by whom he had six chil- dren, namely: Roy, Clarence, Edna, An- nie May, Grace and Hester Jane. Mr. Strutt's second marriage was to Mrs. Etta R. Stover (nee Feathers), a widow, whom he married in March, 1907.

Mr. Strutt is fraternally connected with the Elks, of Rochester, Pennsylvania, the Maccabees and the Odd Fellows. In po- litical matters he is a Republican. His religious connection is with the English Lutheran Church.

J. P. SHULL, of the firm of Shull & Badger, brick manufacturers and con- tractors, at Butler, has been a resident of this city for nineteen years and is num- bered with its reliable and progressive business men. He was born in 1868, in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John W. Shull, who located on his farm in Marion Township, Butler County, about 1873.

J. P. Shull attended what was known as the old Ray School in his boyhood, and after a reasonable time there he went to Franklin in Venango County, where, when seventeen years of age, he started to learn the bricklayers' trade which he has found a satisfactory and profitable one. For about eleven years he has been in partner- ship in general brick contracting, with Frank W. Badger, and in 1903 they bought out the brick manufacturing plant of Reed & Company. Both members of the firm are men of recognized reliability and they have a large volume of business. They divide their labors, Mr. Shull look- ing after the manufacture of the brick,

and Mr. Badger after the contracts. A large number of Butler's substantial build- ings have been erected by this firm and among these may be mentioned: The Poor Farm building; the Butler County Gen- eral Hospital; the Y. M. C. A. building; J. G. & W. Campbell's hardware store; the Koch building; and the I. O. O. F. Temple. The motto of this firm has been from the first, thorough reliability.

In 1890 Mr. Shull was married to Miss Teanie A. Gilmore, who is a daughter of John C. Gilmore, of Marion Township, Butler County, and they have two chil- dren, Verna and Iva. Mr. and Mrs. Shull are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Butler. Their pleasant home is at No. 312 West Penn Street.

ASHLEY W. GROSSMAN, who resides on his well-improved farm of 175 acres, which is situated two and one-half miles southwest of Slippery Rock Borough, in Slippery Rock Township, through which runs the Slippery Rock and Brady Town- ship line, is a prosperous general farmer and representative citizen of this section. He was born March 29, 1854, in Brady Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hugh C. and Mary Ann (Moos) Grossman.

Hugh Grossman was also born in Brady Township and was a son of Simon Gross- man, one of the early settlers. He followed farming all his active life. He married Mary Ann Moos, who was born east of the Allegheny Mountains, and they had twelve children born to them, ten of whom are still living. Both parents of this family died on the old homestead in Brady Town- ship.

Ashley W. Grossman attended the coun- try schools and helped on the home farm until his marriage, although he had pre- viously purchased his present farm, which he owns jointly with his wife. It is a val- uable property and the handsome frame residence, which was built in 1899, is one

J. P. SHULL

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of the best arranged and most comfortable homes in this section.

On January 1, 1884, Mr. Grossman was married to Miss Mary Belle Cooper, who is a daughter of Harvey and Lucinda (Les- lie) Cooper. They have had thirteen chil- dren, a large and happy family, named as follows: Hugh Clifton, Louis, Harrison, Grant, Walter, Sadie, Hazel, Garrett, Laura and Lawrence, twins, Isabel and Verne, the eleventh child dying unnamed. The others survive, with the exception of Grant, who died when thirteen years of age, Sadie who was taken when ten years old, and one of the twins, Lawrence, who died at the age of four months. Mr. Gross- man takes a good citizens' interest in pub- lic matters and does his part in providing for good schools and good roads in his township, two main essentials considered by the substantial men in every commu- nity. The township line mentioned above, crosses his farm just south of his build- ings, but he votes in Slippery Rock Town- ship, and therefore pays his taxes there.

JOHN C. WILES, a valued member of the City Council of Chicora and a leading citizen of this place, has been identified with the interests of this section for many years. He is proprietor of the oldest liv- ery barn at Chicora and also engages in the undertaking business. Mr. Wiles was born February 28, 1866, at Petrolia, in Fairview Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania. His parents died when he was nine years old and his one brother, Charles, is also deceased.

Mr. Wiles was ten years old when he went to Armstrong County and lived there on a farm until 1892, when he came to Chi- cora and went into the livery business with a Mr. Titley, who, at that time owned sev- eral famous race horses, Star Pointer be- ing among them. The new firm started their livery business in the barn now known as Vencle & Son, and conducted it together for six years, when Mr. Wiles

bought his partner's interest and carried on the business by himself for the next five years, selling out at that time to Ven- cle & Rumbaugh. For one year he en- gaged in buying and selling horses, ship- ping them all over the country. In 1903 he purchased his present stables, known as the old Dolan barn, one of the first liv- ery barns started here. The former pro- prietor was a W. E. Titley, but not the same Titley with whom Mr. Wiles had pre- viously been in partnership. In taking charge of this barn, Mr. Wiles was pre- pared to make many improvements and he has made of it a first-class establish- ment, one that is a credit to the place. Mr. Wiles is a very popular citizen. For ten years he has held the office of foreman of the Independent Hose Company and he has the reputation of being the best man to handle a fire in a place of the size of Chi- cora, in the State, having proven his ca- pacity on several occasions. In politics he is a Republican, has served five times as judge of elections and, as stated above, is one of the councilmen.

On January 18, 1891, Mr. Wiles was mar- ried to Miss Winnie Foringer, who was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, on her husband's birthday, February 28, 1866, and what is additionally interesting is that their second daughter has the same birthday. Mrs. Wiles is a daughter of Jo- seph and Hannah (Barnhart) Foringer. Her father was a very early settler in Arm- strong County, in which he conducted a mercantile business for thirty-four years and was the first postmaster at Taylor. Mr. and . Mrs. Wiles have two children: June, born June 5, 1894; and Winnifred, born February 28, 1903.

Mr. Wiles is identified with a number of fraternal organizations. He is worship- ful master of the Masonic Lodge at Chi- cora, and belongs to the Chapter at But- ler ; has passed all the chairs in the orders of Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees and has attended the meetings of the

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Grand Lodge of these bodies; and is also an Elk and an Odd Fellow.

G. F. DAUBENSPECK, a highly re- spected resident of Butler, to which city he came in 1908, when he retired from his farm in Parker Township, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Butler Coun- ty. He was born October 30, 1845, in Parker Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of George Daubenspeck.

Mr. Daubenspeck was reared on the old family homestead in Parker Township and attended the district schools. His active years were devoted to agriculture and he still retains his valuable farm of eighty acres, situated in Parker Township.

In 1868 Mr. Daubenspeck was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Perry, who is a daughter of Thomas Perry, and they have four living children: Richard Perry, who is a minister in the Presbyterian Church; Philip Burton, who is superintendent of the Turner Oil Company of California; Elizabeth Jane, who is the wife of S. A. Bell, of West Virginia, and Maria, who resides at home. Mr. Daubenspeck and family are members of the Reformed Church.

WILLIAM A. McQUISTON, a promi- nent agriculturist of Allegheny Township and a member of the township school board, gives attention to the cultivation of his excellent farm of eighty-five acres and is also identified with oil production in both Butler and Venango Counties. He was born March 29, 1863, in Concord Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Alexander C. and Mar- garet (Gibson) McQuiston.

The grandfather, Alexander C. McQuis- ton, was born in Ireland and was the first of the family to settle in Concord Town- ship, where his son, Alexander C., was sub- sequently born. Like his father and a number of his descendants, Alexander C. McQuiston, the second, has always fol-

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 106

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