Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 107

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 107

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

lowed agricultural pursuits and for a num- ber of years has lived in Allegheny Town- ship. He married Margaret Gibson, who also survives. She was born in Allegheny Township and is a daughter of Col. James A. Gibson, an officer in the State militia at one time and, for some years, proprietor of a foundry at Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. In the old annals of Butler County, both of these names frequently appear as belong- ing to the most representative people. In 1905 the venerable Alexander C. McQuis- ton and wife, then being aged respectively, eighty-one and seventy-five years, enjoyed the celebration of their golden wedding. They have the following children: Eliza- beth J., who is the wife of B. L. McKee, of New Paris, Ohio; Amy, who is the wife of G. W. Davis, of Pittsburg; William A .; Eva C., who is the wife of J. A. O'Neil, of Franklin, Pennsylvania; James M., of Clintonville, Pennsylvania; Clara, of Franklin; and Nettie B., who is the wife of Charles Whitman, of Pittsburg.

William A. McQuiston was reared in Concord Township until he was fourteen years old and then accompanied his par- ents to Allegheny Township, where he has resided ever since. Mr. McQuiston is a self-made man, having depended upon his own efforts since he was seventeen years of age. In 1893 he became interested in the oil industry and has made the business profitable. He married Miss Emma Clay, of Scrub Grass Township, Venango Coun- ty, who is a daughter of the late George W. Clay, of that section. Mr. and Mrs. McQuiston have had three children: Myr- tle E., George L. and David B., the eldest being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McQuiston are members of the Scrub Grass Presby- terian Church, in which he has been a trus- tee for many years. He is serving in his second term as a member of the School Board of the township and has been secre- tary of this body. He belongs to the order of Knights of Maccabees, being identified with Emlenton Tent, No. 111. He is a

839

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

man who stands deservedly high in the confidence of his fellow citizens.

T. J. SHUFFLIN, treasurer and gen- eral manager of the Peoples' Telephone Company, at Butler, and engaged in the business of tank manufacturing, has been a resident of this city for twenty years and since early manhood has been identified in some way with the oil industry. He was born in December 7, 1855, in the State of New York, where his boyhood was spent and his education secured.

In 1879 Mr. Shufflin started in his pres- ent manufacturing enterprise, at Brad- ford, Pennsylvania, and has built up an immense business, his tanks being shipped all over the United States and to Nova Scotia. He has had plants at various points, in 1886 coming to Millerstown, But- ler County, from Kane, Mckean County, and in 1888, he located at Butler and estab- lished his oil tank manufacturing plant on McClain Avenue. He has been a large operator in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. He is interested in several of the prospering business enter- prises of Butler and was one of the organ- izers of the Peoples' Telephone Company, becoming a director and treasurer, and for the last two years has also been gen- eral manager. His business standing is high and his personal character is indi- cated by the frequency with which his fel- low citizens call upon him to assume civic offices. Formerly he was president of the Butler Board of Trade, and is serving as president of the City Hospital Association since the second year of its organization.

In February, 1889, Mr. Shufflin was mar- ried to Miss Mary Green, of Wyoming County, New York. They are members of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. He belongs to the order of Knights of Colum- bus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa- tion, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He has been a very active citizen and has served two terms in the city council.

HAROLD E. DEAN, one of the leading business men of Zelienople and proprietor of the well known firm, H. E. Dean & Com- pany, the only exclusive gentlemen's fur- nishing and clothing store in the village. He was born February 26, 1873, in Tauket- ville, New York, and is a son of L. and Amy (Foote) Dean and a grandson of Richard Dean.

L. Dean, father of our subject, was born in Lewis County, New York, and was a carriage maker by trade. He was for many years a resident of Lewis County, where he married Amy Foote, also a na- tive of that county. Of their union were born the following children: Leon F., a resident of Oklahoma, engaged there in the oil business; Cora M., the wife of L. S. Doutt of Leetsdale, Pennsylvania; Elvie F., a milliner, resides at home; Emily, also lives at home, and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Dean are both living, the former at the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife is in her fifty-ninth year.

Harold E. Dean received his education in the common schools and after complet- ing same at Petrolia learned tailoring, at which he worked for a number of years. In July, 1897, he came to Zelienople and entered the merchant tailoring business, continuing with much success at that until 1901, when he established his present busi- ness, under the firm name of the H. E. Dean & Co. The firm enjoys an extensive patronage and carries the best line of its kind in this part of the county.

Mr. Dean started in business entirely upon his own resources and his success has been due to hi's own efforts combined with honest and conservative business methods. In politics, our subject is a Re- publican and is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 648, Harmony of Har- mony; the F. & A. M. No. 429 at Zelien- ople; the Pittsburg Consistory-thirty- second degree Mason.

In 1893 Mr. Dean was married to Jen- nie E. Pike of Passaic, New Jersey, and

840

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

she died April 6, 1907, leaving six children, namely : Eleanor M., Amy M., Harold E., Jr., Miles E., Samuel R. E. and Cora P.

HON. JAMES M. GALBREATH, who was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas in January, 1902, and whose com- mission began the first Monday of Janu- ary, 1903, is of one of the earliest pioneer families of Butler County, Pennsylvania, its history in this country dating back to the coming of his great-grandfather, Robert Galbreath. He was born in Win- field Township, September 27, 1852, is a son of Robert Galbreath, and grandson of William Galbreath.

Judge Galbreath was reared on the farm and obtained a primary education in the public schools of his home district. He subsequently attended State Lick Acad- emy, in Armstrong County, and Wither- spoon Institute at Butler. He was gradu- ated from Princeton College, at Princeton, New Jersey, in 1880, and immediately thereafter began the study of law under the direction of W. D. Brandon of Butler. After his admission to the bar in 1882, he practiced alone in Butler until 1884, then formed a partnership with J. B. Mc- Junkin, a combination of legal talent which continued with uninterrupted suc- cess until his ascendency to the bench.

In 1882, Judge Galbreath was united in marriage with Sallie E. Mitchell, a daugh- ter of John Mitchell of Butler, and they have three children, Edith, Irene and John. In politics, our subject is a Repub- lican, and served six years as school direc- tor, ever evincing a deep interest in the cause of education. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church of Butler, of which he has served as trustee many years.

JOHN CROWE resides on a fine farm of 160 acres, his residence being in For- ward Township, although a part of the

land lies across the line in Penn Township. He was born on the home place January 8, 1875, and is a son of David and Ellen Jane (Anderson) Crowe, and a grandson of John Crowe.

John Crowe, the grandfather, came to this country from Ireland at an early date and located at Pittsburg. He there be- came owner of a forty-acre tract, which is now located in central Pittsburg, and this he traded for three teams of horses. With these teams he later hauled cannon from Fort Pitt to Erie, and while en route passed the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. Their attention was at- tracted to what was a fine barn in those days, and which still stands on the place. Later Mr. Crowe returned and purchased the place, which he mostly cleared, and spent the remainder of his days upon it. He and his wife were parents of the fol- lowing children: Mary Douthett, Samuel, William, John and David.

David Crowe was born on the home place in Forward Township, as were his brothers and sister. He spent all his life there and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was first married to Sarah Dodds, by whom he had three children, namely : Lena, wife of John Renfrew; Elizabeth, wife of James Douthett, and Letitia, wife of Allison Douthett. His second marriage was with Miss Ellen Jane Anderson, and they became parents of the following: James; Luella, wife of George McCaw; Rebecca, deceased wife of S. G. Clay ; Nevin; Samuel R .; Etta, wife of J. J. Mc- Candless; John, and Jennie, wife of Rob- ert Riley.

John Crowe was reared and has always lived on the home farm. He is engaged in general farming, and has displayed un- usual business ability. His farm is well improved, and is all under a high state of cultivation.

In 1895 Mr. Crowe was united in mar- riage with Miss Lillian Logan, a daughter

HON. JAMES M. GALBREATH

843

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

of Erastus and Elizabeth (Renfrew) Lo- gan, and they have two children, Logan and Floyd. Religiously, they are mem- bers of the Reformed Presbyterian church.

PHILIP CROUSE, superintendent of J. G. & W. Campbell's foundry, at Butler, has had almost a life-time experience in foundry work, having commenced to learn the trade in his boyhood. He was born in 1849, at Butler, a son of Philip Crouse, whose name he bears.

The father of Mr. Crouse was born in the city of Pittsburg and became a resi- dent of Butler County about 1840. Dur- ing all his active life he was engaged in the foundry business and at Butler was a member of the firm of Campbell & Crouse. He was somewhat active in poli- tics and was identified with the Democratic party. His death took place at Butler.

Philip Crouse was reared in his native city and attended school through early boyhood. After learning the foundry trade he spent a few years east of the Alle- gheny Mountains, working in several states and then returned to Butler, where, for the past thirty years he has had charge of the Campbells' foundry. During all this period Mr. Crouse has carefully watched the developments in his line of work and has kept the foundry over which he is superintendent up to its highest working standard, introducing machinery as he has proved its efficiency and has con- tinually increased the output without add- ing undue expense. His experience and his fidelity are appreciated by his em- ployers.

In 1867 Mr. Crouse was married (first) to Miss Elizabeth Dougan, who died in 1876, there being one surviving son of that marriage, Philip Harrison Crouse, resid- ing at Butler. In 1878 Mr. Crouse was married (second) to Miss Anna Garber, who died in 1892, leaving three children- Katie, William and Ellen-the latter of whom is the wife of Frank Eastley, of But-

ler. In 1894 Mr. Crouse was married to Miss Clara Stehle, and they have one son, Louis. Mr. Crouse' is a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and he belongs to the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is also a member of the order of Elks.

PATRICK LOGUE, who has been a resident of Butler County, Pennsylvania, for the past thirty-one years, is located in Clearfield Township, where he and his son, Michael, are owners of about 300 acres of valuable land, in two separate farms. He has a fine brick home about one mile south of the Catholic church, and is one of the substantial men of the community.

Mr. Logue was born in Ireland in 1827, and in boyhood came to the United States, locating at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He began life's struggle without means and without help from anyone, and the success he has achieved is due to his own hard work and good business management. He hauled lumber for some years in Pittsburg, and subsequently engaged in the lumber business for himself. He was there mar- ried and reared his children, and it was not until 1877 he moved to Butler County. His original purchase here was a tract of 150 acres, and to this he subsequently added sixty seven acres. His son, Mi- chael, is the owner of a farm of sixty-five acres, also in Clearfield Township.

Mr. Logue was married in Pittsburg to Miss Mary McGrady and they became par- ents of eight children, six of whom are liv- ing, as follows: Jennie, widow of James McCrea ; Dennis, a railroad conductor, who lives in Canada; Michael, who married Sarah Slater; Agnes, who married Harry Hinchberger of Butler and has four chil- dren-Clarence, Agnes, Ralph and Ed- ward; James, who is single and living at the home place, and Margaret, wife of Le- land Rundell, by whom she has a daugh- ter, Mildred. Religiously they are promi- nent members of the Catholic church, to the support of which they contribute lib- erally.

844

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

JOHN G. KOCH, of the firm of C. Koch & Sons, proprietors of the leading fancy and staple grocery house at Butler, was born at Butler, Pennsylvania, in 1861, and is a son of Charles and Cresentia (Steger) Koch.

The late Charles Koch was born in Ger- many, emigrated to America and settled at Butler, Pennsylvania, in 1854, and died in this city in 1872. He was engaged for years in a hardware business and was a prominent factor in the city's life. He married Miss Cresentia Steger, a native of Germany, who died in 1907. They had a family of four sons and one daughter, namely : Frank W. and John G., of the gro- cery firm of C. Koch & Sons; Caroline, Charles T. and Stephen A. Mr. Koch sold out the hardware store and embarked, in 1872, in a grocery business, which he con- ducted but a few months when he died and Mrs. Koch, after his death, continued the business alone until 1887, when her two sons became members of the firm and the present style was adopted. Mrs. Koch continued her interest in the enterprise until her death, after which F. W. and John G. Koch became joint and sole own- ers, retaining the old name that had almost become a trademark. This is one of the oldest grocery businesses at Butler and, in a way, is a memorial of the mother of the present owners, her thrift, prudence and excellent management having placed it on a firm foundation. In 1905 the firm erected the fine three-story brick building at No. 126 North Main Street, Butler, which is one of the substantial structures in the business district. It has a frontage of twenty-four feet and a depth of 128 feet. A heavy trade is carried on, the house car- rying a complete stock of the very best goods in its line.

DAVID M. DICKEY, a well-known gen- eral farmer of Slippery Rock Township, was born September 30, 1847, on his pres- ent farm of seventy acres, and is a son of John and Eliza (Cross) Dickey.

John Dickey was a native of Pennsyl- vania and spent his boyhood days on a farm near Kittanning in Armstrong Coun- ty. He was twice united in marriage, his first wife having been Nancy Templeton of Armstrong County. The second union was formed with Eliza Cross, the mother of our subject.

David M. Dickey grew to man's estate on his present farm, which is part of the old Dickey homestead, and here has always followed general farming. He has made all of the improvements on the place, in- cluding all the barns and other necessary out-buildings. He was joined in marriage with Mary E. Hunter, a daughter of Will- iam Hunter of Eau Claire, Pennsylvania, and of their union have been born the four following children: Elsie, Parker, Iva, and Elizabeth.

MICHAEL QUIRK, who resides on his excellent farm of fifty acres, which is sit- uated near Brinker Station, in Summit Township, on the Bottom road, about three miles southeast of Butler, has resided here since 1888. He was born September 25, 1852, in Ireland, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Quinlan) Quirk.

Michael Quirk was reared on the home farm in Ireland, on which both his parents died. In 1870 he shipped for America and reached Butler County, Pennsylvania, on August 10, 1870, shortly before his eight- eenth birthday. He came with little capi- tal except good health and habits of indus- try and he found these just the possessions he needed when he went to work as a farm hand, first in New Jersey, and later as a railroad hand on the construction of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad. In the building of this line he assisted for several

In 1895 John G. Koch was married to Miss Elizabeth Kohler, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The whole family belongs to St. Peter's Catholic Church. Mr. Koch is identified with the Knights of Columbus. years and after that job was finished, he

1 T

CHARLES DIVENER

MRS. MARY F. DIVENER

847

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

found employment in a rolling-mill at Ben- nett Station, in Allegheny County. Mr. Quirk continued to work in the mill for the next ten years, earning good wages, but later found a better situation as a member of the repair gang on the Pennsylvania Railroad. In the meanwhile he had in- vested his earnings in land, buying his present farm, which he completely cleared and erected all the substantial buildings. Mr. Quirk is a man of very practical ideas and has shown good judgment in purchas- ing land near a city, for each year it will grow in value. He has earned all he pos- sesses and has reason to feel some pride in the fact.

In 1873 Mr. Quirk was married to Cath- erine Grieb, who was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John Grieb. Mr. and Mrs. Quirk have four children, namely: Mary, who is the wife of George Schaffner, Jr .; Alice, who is a nurse in Mercy Hospital, at Pittsburg; Annie, who belongs to the Catholic Order of St. Frances Sisters, in Allegheny Coun- ty; and Thomas, who lives at home. Mr. Quirk and his family are all members of the Roman Catholic Church at Herman.

CHARLES DIVENER, general farmer and representative citizen, who lives on his valuable property in Donegal Town- ship, where he has 101 acres of land and two producing oil wells, was born in a land that has contributed many very worthy citizens to the United States. His birth took place September 21, 1839, in Prussia-Germany.

The father of Mr. Divener, George H. Divener, was born in Prussia-Germany, September 3, 1801, and died June 7, 1868. The mother was born in the same land, June 23, 1809, and died August 9, 1880. They came to America and settled in But- ler County, in 1847, and the father worked for two years at ore mining, at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, and then moved his family to that place, where he followed

mining until 1857. He then bought a farm from Ernest Muter, in Donegal Township, Butler County, where his son now resides and engaged in its cultivation and also worked at his trade of weaver. He fol- lowed weaving all through the winter sea- sons and when he died left a web of cloth on the loom. There was some difficulty experienced in finding a weaver, in this vicinity, who was able to run the web from the looms, the weaving industry not being a general one in this neighborhood. He married Dorothy Mary Kaufhold, on Octo- ber 25, 1830, and they had the following children: George H., John F., Charles, William E. and Caroline E., one of whom survives.

Charles Divener attended the public schools in Armstrong County, as oppor- tunity offered, until he was about sixteen years old, and after that helped his father both in the mines and at the farming and later became interested in the oil industry. In 1880 he bought his present farm from the other heirs, and gives his attention to its cultivation together with oil production.

On February 22, 1870, Mr. Divener was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Freder- ick, who is a daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth Frederick. They came to Amer- ica in 1849, from Germany, settling in Butler County, where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick had the following children : Peter, Elizabeth, John, George, Catherine, Philip, Mary E., Adam, Maggie, Christiana and Henry, the three survivors being Mrs. Divener, her sister Catherine, and George. Mr. Divener is a leading member of the German Lutheran Church and is one of its trustees. The only public office he has ever consented to hold was that of over- seer of the poor, which office he held for four years.

JENNINGS C. McCANDLESS, a lead- ing citizen of Connoquenessing Township, and a very successful oil producer, was born in Center Township, Butler County,

848

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Pennsylvania, April 18, 1848, and is a son of John F. and Nancy (Hayes) McCand- less.

The paternal grandfather, William Mc- Candless, came to the United States from County Down, Ireland, and took up 800 acres of land in what is now Center Town- ship, Butler County. John F. McCandless was born on a farm adjoining that now owned by his son, William H., and moved to the latter farm at the time of his mar- riage, in 1832. John F. McCandless and wife began their married life in a rude log structure that had neither windows nor door hung, but he soon put up a two-story log structure, which had the unusual addi- tion of a front porch and this house was considered a model of comfort and conve- nience by all his neighbors. Here a gener- ous, pioneer hospitality was dispensed, the McCandless family being noted for its hearty good cheer. In 1832 John F. Mc- Candless had married Nancy Hayes, a daughter of William Hayes, who was a na- tive of Scotland. They had the following children. Mrs. Mary J. Findley, residing in Kansas; Mrs. Nancy A. Miller, residing at Euclid, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Emeline Glenn, residing in Allegheny County ; Will- iam Harrison, residing in Center Town- ship; John Milton, who died in 1865; Jen- nings C .; Porter and Minerva, both of whom died in infancy; and Mrs. Sarah Belle Wilson, residing in Allegheny Town- ship, Butler County. The father of the above family died in 1869, aged sixty-seven years, his wife having passed away many years before, aged forty-three years. They were worthy members of the Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church.

Jennings C. McCandless was reared in Center Township and with his brothers and sisters, attended the country schools. His mother died when he was five years old and when his older sisters married and left home, he also, about 1865, started out for himself. He spent three years in Michi- gan and Wisconsin, but when the discov-

ery of oil made the Parker field known all over the country, he returned to Butler County and went to work at Parker's Landing. He helped to develop that field and for fifteen consecutive years was en- gaged in oil production at Bruin. In 1890 he came to Petersville, in Connoquenessing Township. In partnership with his brother-in-law, William Walker, he did a large amount of business, under the firm name of Walker & McCandless, and for a short time this firm had the distinction of owning the biggest well in Pennsylvania, one that flowed thirty-five barrels of oil an hour. This firm has worked in these re- gions ever since and has developed about 100 wells.

Mr. McCandless married Miss Angeline Walker, who is a daughter of Abraham Walker, of Slippery Rock Township, and they have had four children, namely : Blanche, who is the wife of Charles K. Rea, of Connoquenessing Township; Frank, who resides at Chanute, Kansas; Mabel, deceased, who was the wife of E. H. Bailey, Jr .; and Leanna, who is the wife of Stephen Straight, of Braddock, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. McCandless have been members of the Presbyterian Church since youth and while residing at Bruin, Mr. McCandless was an elder. In his political views he is a Republican. Since coming to Connoquenessing he has served frequently in public offices and has been a useful member of the School Board and for some years served as treasurer of the borough.

L. H. CRAIG, a representative business man of Butler, conducting a general hard- ware store at No. 223 Center Avenue, has thoroughly identified himself with the in- terests of this city since coming here in 1900. He was born at Freeport, Penn- sylvania, in 1862, and is a son of the late Theodore J. Craig.

The parents of Mr. Craig moved from Freeport to Chicora, Butler County, when

. 849

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

he was small, the father being a bricklayer, a trade which he followed all through his active life.

L. H. Craig attended the Chicora schools and his first work was done as a clerk in a general store at Carbon Center, where he remained for three years and then en- tered the oil fields. For a quarter of a century Mr. Craig continued to be inter- ested in the oil industry, confining his operations to the Pennsylvania fields. While no longer as active as formerly, he still is financially interested in oil. In Jan- uary, 1907, he entered the mercantile ranks at Butler, purchasing the hardware store of Weiter & Gibson, and has done a large business in this line ever since.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 107

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