Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 123

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 Dombart, the grandfather, was born in Hessen, Germany, and some time subsequent to his marriage to Margaret

Fetch, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, came to the United States with his wife and located in Adams Township, Butler County, and were among the early settlers. They later moved to Forward Township, where their deaths occurred. They were parents of seven children, namely: John; William J .; George; Katherine, now de- ceased, who was the wife of August Gries- bach; Margaret, who is the wife of George Householder; Anna, who is the wife of B. Fox, and Barbara, who is the wife of John Winner.

George Dombart was born in Adams Township and when five years old moved to Forward Township and spent his boy- hood days on the home farm, which he helped to clear, experiencing many of the hardships of pioneer days. Upon his fath- er's death he succeeded into the owner- ship of the home farm, which contained 106 acres of valuable land. There he farmed and resided until 1890, when he moved to Evans City, where he now re- sides in a fine home he erected near the Lutheran Church, but he still operates the farm in Forward Township. He was united in marriage with Mary Hartung, who was born in Adams Township, Butler County, and is a daughter of Nicholas Hartung. To this union were born eight children, as follows: Nicholas Andrew, whose name heads this sketch; Louisa ; Anastus G .; Myrtle; Edward, Harvey, and two who died in infancy.

Dr. N. A. Dombart was about ten years old when his parents located in Evans City, and he there completed the course pre- scribed in the public schools, graduating in 1895. He took a short course at Slip- pery Rock, and in 1897 matriculated at the Western University of Pennsylvania, now known as the University of Pittsburg. He was graduated with the class of 1901, with the degree of M. D., being one of the youngest members of the class. During his four years there he did interne work in the Penn Hospital of Pittsburg, and

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JAMES F. McKEE

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upon leaving was well qualified to at once enter into active practice of his profession. He successfully took the State examination in December, 1901, and on January 1st, following, opened an office for practice, on Pittsburg Street, where he still continues, his residence also being on that street. In addition to a large private practice, he is surgeon for the Pittsburg, Butler, Har- mony & New Castle Electric Railroad, and official medical examiner for the United States Marine Corps in this section. He is a member of the Butler County Medical Society.

January 8, 1903, Doctor Dombart was united in marriage with Alberta Wilson, a daughter of Ex-County Commissioner George W. Wilson. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Maccabees and Modern Woodmen of America, all of Evans City. In relig- ious attachment, he is a member of the Re- formed Church. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and is treasurer of the School Board, of which he was president during the year 1907. He is also a member and trustee of the John A. Irvine Fire Company of Evans City.

C. J. BRANDBERG, a member of the firm of Kesselman & Company, manufac- turers of oil well drilling tools, at Butler, is a representative business man of this city, where he has resided for more than twenty years. He was born May 27, 1847, in Sweden, and was twenty-six years of age when he came to America.

Mr. Brandberg settled first at Dunkirk, New York, and for three years worked as a blacksmith in the Dunkirk Iron Works. From there he came to Pennsylvania and for seven years was in the employ of the Gibbs & Steret Manufacturing Company, at Titusville. From there he went to Pe- trolia and worked there for three years for the firm of Ireland & Hughes, and one year at Pittsburg, for the same firm. In 1887 he came to Butler and entered into part-

nership with William Kesselman as a member of Kesselman & Company. Both members of the firm are practical work- men and their business has been continu- ally enlarged during the past twenty years and in addition to their Butler shops they have a large plant at Parkersburg, Vir- ginia.

In 1878, at Titusville, Mr. Brandberg was married to Miss Lydia Deitrich and they have two children: Guy A., who is a physician at Butler; and Mabel, who re- sides at home. Mr. Brandberg is a mem- ber of the Second Presbyterian Church at Butler.

JAMES FREE McKEE, justice of the peace at Prospect and one of Franklin Township's representative citizens, is also a veteran of the great Civil War, in which he faithfully served his country for nearly three years. He was born near Craw- ford's Mills, Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania, September 8, 1833, and is a son of William and Hannah (Postlethwaite) McKee.

David McKee, the grandfather of James F., was one of the earliest pioneers of Westmoreland County, and was also a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War. As early as 1774 he came to Westmoreland County, from Scotland, and secured a tract of land on which he made a small clearing, also putting up a cabin. Times were too un- settled, however, the Revolutionary War soon developing, and David McKee re- turned to the eastern part of the state, where he had formerly resided for at least a short period, and before he returned to his land in 1795, he had been a soldier in the Patriot army. In that year he came again to Westmoreland County with the forces sent out to quell the whiskey insur- rection, and never returned again to the east, his family joining him in about 1800. In that year he built the first saw-mill at the settlement later known as Crawford's Mills, but died three years later.

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William McKee, father of James F. Mc- Kee, was born in 1792, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and from 1800 was reared in Westmoreland County, where he fol- lowed an agricultural life. He was well known all through Allegheny Township, which he served in local offices. He mar- ried a daughter of John Postlethwaite, who was a Huguenot refugee, and of their eight children, seven grew to maturity, as follows: John, David and Nancy, all now deceased; Mary, who lives in Otterdale County, Minnesota, and is the widow of William Wilson; Margaret, who is de- ceased; James F .; and Sarah Jane, also deceased, who was the wife of Robert S. Dinsmore. The parents of this family were members of what is now known as the Apollo Presbyterian Church, in which the father was an elder.

James F. McKee prepared himself for educational work in the township schools, and in a local academy. In 1852 he began to teach and was thus employed more or less continuously until 1892, when he taught his last term, his pupils being Met- lakahtla Indians, in Alaska, in which coun- try he lived during 1891 and 1892. In the intervals of teaching he engaged in farm- ing, in different sections, and in 1888 he came to Franklin Township, where his farm of thirty acres is situated. In Au- gust, 1862, Mr. McKee enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company C, One Hundred Thirty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, and was discharged in June, 1865, during the larger part of this period being attached to the Signal Corps. He is past commander of John H. Randolph Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Prospect.

Mr. McKee was married (first) to Mary Ann McMahan, who died in 1871, aged thirty-five years. She was a daughter of Roberty McMahan, a resident of Williams County, Ohio. She was survived by one daughter: Susan Elizabeth, who is the wife of Charles B. Wiard, residing at De

Soto, Kansas. Mr. McKee was married (secondly) to Miss Mary Ann Jones, of Prospect. He and his wife are members of the Prospect Presbyterian Church. In national campaigns he votes with the Re- publican party, but in local affairs is an Independent. From 1892 until 1897 he served as justice of the peace and was again elected in 1907. He has also been auditor of Prospect.

WILLIAM J. BURTON, Justice of the Peace and general farmer in Penn Town- ship, was born in Slippery Rock Town- ship, Lawrence County, Penna., October 18, 1843, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Barnes) Burton.

Thomas Burton, father of William J., was born in Beaver County, Penna., June 12, 1799, and died December 24, 1883. His father, also Thomas Burton, was a native of County Down, Ireland, and came to Beaver County as one of the very early settlers. The second Thomas Burton was a farmer through his active life .. In 1812 he moved to what is now Lawrence County and from there, in 1870, to Butler and in 1878, to Penn Township, where his death occurred. He was a prominent Repub- lican and served as auditor and as judge of elections while living in Slippery Rock Township. He married a daughter of Thomas Barnes, a resident of Mercer County, and eight of their family of ten children reached maturity. Nancy, de- ceased, was the wife of Conrad Cline; Mrs. Mary Young, deceased; Thomas A., deceased; Eliza Jane, residing at Beaver Falls; John and Margaret, both deceased; Mrs. Martha Small, residing at St. Charles, Madison County, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Young, residing at New Castle; Su- san, deceased; and William J. The par- ents of the above family were members of the United Presbyterian Church, in which the father served as a trustee.

William J. Burton secured an excellent common school education and later taught

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school in Neshannock Township, going from the school room into the army. He served for ten months in Company I, Sixth Regiment, Penna. Heavy Artillery, and returned safely although often in dan- ger of life and liberty. He resumed farm- ing on the homestead and continued there until the spring of 1869, when he went to Millbrook, Mercer County, where he en- gaged in a mercantile business for a year before removing it to Butler, where he carried it on for five more years. In the spring of 1876 he started into farming in Butler Township, but three years later came to Penn Township and in December, 1887, he bought his present farm of 114 acres. He has all under cultivation with the exception of thirty acres in timber, and produces corn, oats, wheat, hay and pota- toes.

Mr. Burton was married in Penn Town- ship to Miss Ella E. Bartley, who is a daughter of Williamson Bartley, and they have had eight children, namely : John P., deceased; Minnie, who is the wife of W. S. Douthett, residing in Forward Town- ship; Cora, who is the wife of Harry Wi- ble, residing at Sharon; Lina E., deceased; and Ola M., Thomas W., Martha Jane and Elmer C., all at home. Mr. Burton and family belong to the Shiloh United Pres- byterian Church.

In politics, Mr. Burton is stanch in his Republicanism and he has held almost all of the township offices. He has been a justice of the peace for the past eight years and still has two years to serve. He is one of Penn Township's representative citizens. He has been an active member of the Grand Army Post at Butler for a number of years.

T. H. BROWN, a representative citizen of Butler, serving in the City Council as representative from the First Ward, is identified with a number of the business interests of this section. He was born March 11, 1858, at Hazel Green, Grant

County, Wisconsin, where he was reared and educated.

In 1872 Mr. Brown entered the employ of the Brady's Bend Iron Company, at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, and one year later he went to Fairmount, Clarion County, where he was one of the first men to be employed by the Fairmount Coal Company, with which he continued until 1876, when he came to the Butler oil fields. Since September, 1881, he has been in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, United Pipe Line Division of N. T. Co., in which he has capably and faithfully filled a number of positions and now holds the important one of gauger. His duties require a large part of his time to be spent at Butler. At different times he has be- come interested and invested in other en- terprises, an important one being the Sligo Coal and Coke Company of Clarion Coun- ty, of which he is secretary and a director.

In 1884 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Anna E. Stone, who is a daughter of Abra- ham Stone, of Chicora, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: Fannie E., who married H. E. Goodrich, who is with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Pitts- burg; and Zetti I. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Second Presbyterian Church. Mr. Brown is active in church affairs and for four years served as su- perintendent of the Sabbath school at Zeno Glade Run.

As a citizen, Mr. Brown has been use- fully active and as councilman has applied to public affairs the keenness of business perception which has advanced his private interests, and has consistently supported every effort of the official body to advance the general welfare, aside from any desire for political preferment. He is identified with a number of fraternal organizations : is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America; is a Royal Arch Mason and with the other members of his family, belongs to the Eastern Star.

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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

DAVID ROBERT MORROW, who has been identified with various branches of the oil business throughout his active busi- ness career, is foreman of the Midland Di- vision of the South Penn Oil Company, at Evans City, Penna. The plant was for- merly operated by the Forest Oil Com- pany, which, in 1902, was taken over by the South Penn Oil Company. Mr. Mor- row located in Evans City in 1903, and as- sumed the duties of his present position, and has twelve men under his direction in the local yard. The plant covers ten acres in the village, and he has under his management a large number of producing wells. He was the first foreman of this division, and has given evidence of unu- sual ability in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Morrow was born in Indiana County, Penna., August 21, 1851, and is a son of David and Margaret (Lytle) Mor- row. The paternal grandfather was a na- tive of Ireland, and upon coming to the United States located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming.

David Morrow, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Indiana County, and was there reared to maturity. He was the owner of a good farm which he oper- ated until his death, which occurred in 1851, prior to the birth of David R. Mor- row. He married Margaret Lytle, who also was born in Indiana County, and is a daughter of Robert Lytle, who came to this country from Ireland. She still re- sides in her native county at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow became parents of five children, as follows: Jennie; Thomas; Dr. John W., a practicing physician of Marchand, Indiana; Catherine, wife of Jessie Will- iamson; and David Robert.

David R. Morrow was reared on the home farm, and notwithstanding the fact that she was left a widow with five chil- dren to care for, his mother gave him good school advantages, he attending the public

schools and the academy at Dayton, Penna. In 1868, he went to the oil fields of Ve- mango County, Penna., where he was em- ployed as pumper one year. He then went into the pipe line business, helping to lay the first line from Pitthold to Coriopolis, and in 1876 entered the producing depart- ment of the Standard Oil Company at Bradford,.continuing there until 1903, the year which marked his removal to Evans City.

Mr. Morrow was married July 6, 1874, to Miss Clara Cochran, a daughter of Sam- uel Cochran, and they have a son, Harry Edward, who lives at McKee's Rocks, Penna. The latter was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude McFarland, and they have one daughter, Grace. David R. Mor- row is a memebr of Bradford Lodge, No. 411, I. O. O. F., and in political affiliation is a Republican. He was reared in the United Presbyterian faith.

A. E. REIBER, president of the Guar- anty Safe Deposit and Trust Company, of Butler, and also identified with many other of the city's successful business enter- prises, is a leading member of the Butler bar and in 1890, was elected to the office of district attorney on the Democratic ticket. He was born at Butler in 1864, and is a son of the late Martin Reiber.

Martin Reiber was a native of Germany and was one of the early leading business citizens of Butler for many years. He married Mary Yetter and they had a fam- ily of eight children, seven of whom still survive.

A. E. Reiber was born and reared at Butler and was primarily educated in her public schools. Later he graduated from Witherspoon Academy and then entered the University of Princeton, where he graduated B.A., in 1882. Immediately he began the study of law in the office of At- torney T. C. Campbell, and in 1885 was admitted to the bar, and since has ac-

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quired a large clientage. He is a member of the Bar Association and is a practi- tioner in the Supreme Court of the State.

In 1897 Mr. Reiber was married to Miss Florence Smith, who is a daughter of Rev. E. O. Smith, and they have two children: Marten A. and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Reiber and family are members of the First Eng- lish Lutheran Church at Butler, and he is serving on its official board. Socially, he is a member of the Country Club.

WILLIAM C. STOOPS, a prominent dairyman and farmer of Franklin Town- ship, resides on his well-improved farm of 120 acres, on which he successfully car- ries on his agricultural enterprises. He was born in Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1869, and is a son of William and Rebecca Jane (Rose) Stoops.

William Stoops, father of William C., was born October 2, 1821, in Cherry Town- ship, about two miles above Sunbury, and was a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Van- derlin) Stoops, the former of whom, a blacksmith and farmer in Cherry Town- ship, lived to the age of ninety years and the latter to the age of eighty. William Stoops devoted his life mainly to agricul- ture but he had many other interests, in his younger days teaching school, later serving bravely in the War of the Rebel- lion and subsequently filling public of- fices with fidelity and efficiency. On Sep- tember 4, 1861, he enlisted in the Federal Army, entering Company H, One Hundred and Second Regiment, Penna. Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Fair Oaks, on May 31, 1862, he received so severe an injury that after confinement in the Doug- las Hospital at Washington City for three months, he was honorably discharged Au- gust 30, 1862. He returned to Cherry Township and in the following year was elected prothonotary and then moved to Butler, where he lived during his term of office. Later he purchased a farm in But-

ler Township which is now owned by Will- iam Barnhart, on which he resided for twenty years. In 1887 he moved on the farm now owned and operated by his son, William C., and there he died August 22, 1892. In politics he was a Republican and while living in Butler Township served as school director and as justice of the peace.

William Stoops was married (first) to Sarah Cochran and they had seven chil- dren, namely: Ocilla, now deceased, who was the wife of Dr. S. A. Johnson, of But- ler; Philip Dexter, who is a Presbyterian clergyman and principal of a school in Idaho; Clarinda, now deceased, who was the wife of Josiah Allen; Paulina, now de- ceased, who was the second wife of Josiah Allen; Jennie, who married Rev. Newton E. Clemenson, and lives at Logan, Utah; and Serelda R., now deceased, who was the wife of E. W. Layman. On September 28, 1868, William Stoops was married (sec- ond) to Rebecca J. Rose, who was a daugh- ter of John Rose, of Center Township. She was born December 8, 1832. Three children were born to this marriage. Will -- iam C., Mary Lillian, who is the wife of Daniel G. Brunermer, of Connoquenessing Township; and Eva Valeria, who married Edward Watson, and resides at Isle. Will- iam Stoops and wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church in which he served as an elder for twenty years.

William C. Stoops was educated in the public schools and at Prospect Academy, and was graduated at the latter institution in 1892, following which, for five years, he engaged in teaching school, in Frank- lin, Connoquenessing and Middlesex Townships. His last term in the school room was in the winter of 1894-5. In the fall of the latter year he was married and then began cultivating the home farm and has resided here ever since. On eighty acres of his land he raises corn, oats, wheat, hay and potatoes and he keeps twelve cows for dairy purposes, making a high grade of butter for private cus-

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tomers. He is a member of Prospect Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

In the fall of 1895, Mr. Stoops was mar- ried to Luella M. Clark, who is a daugh- ter of Dr. N. W. Clark, of Whitestown, Butler County, and they have five children, namely: Arthur N., Kathleen M., Blair W., Ruth A. and Helen E. Mr. Stoops and family belong to the United Presbyte- rian Church at Mount Chestnut, in which Mr. Stoop is an elder. In his political views he is a stanch Republican and he has taken a good citizen's interest in town- ship affairs. He has served many terms as a school director and has also been township auditor.

On both sides of the family, Mr. Stoops comes of an ancestry noted for its longev- ity. The maternal grandfather, John Rose, came to Center Township, Butler County, as one of its earliest settlers. From Sussex County, New Jersey, he went out as a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife was a daughter of Nathaniel Steven- son and was five years old when her father came to Butler County. She was born January 30, 1793, and died when aged 100 years and five months. Her parents were Nathaniel and Mary (Allen) Stevenson, the latter of whom lived to the age of 100 years and six months. Nathaniel Steven- son settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, after serving for three and one-half years in the Revolutionary War, and in 1798 he moved to Franklin Town- ship, Butler County, buying 400 acres of land, and there he died when aged eighty- six years.

JAMES M. SUTTON, senior member of the firm of J. M. Sutton & Son, proprietors of the flour mill at Harrisville, Butler County, Penna., and dealers in high grade flour and feed of all kinds, has had wide experience in this field of business. He is a native of Butler County, having been born on the old home farm in Concord Township, September 28, 1847, and is a

son of Joseph M. and Jemima (Morrow) Sutton, and a grandson of Platt Sutton.

Platt Sutton, the grandfather, came to Butler County, Penna., from New Jersey shortly after the Revolutionary War end- ed, becoming one of the earliest of the pio- neers of Concord Township. He entered actively into the early life of the commu- nity, and was one of the organizers of the old Concord Church. He and his wife were parents of the following children : Nancy, wife of John Harper; Margaret, wife of Scott Jameson; Polly, wife of John Sutton; Phoebe; Joseph M .; Jeremiah; Platt, and James, all now deceased.

Joseph M. Sutton was born on the old home farm in Concord Township, and there grew to maturity. He became a success- ful farmer and a man of influence in the community, and lived to reach the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years. He was joined in marriage with Jemima Morrow, . who was born in Armstrong County, Penna., and is now living at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. The following were the offspring of their marriage: Platt; Thomas J .; James M .; John F .; Jeremiah P .; Willis, who died at twelve years of age; Mary Ann, who is deceased; Nancy J., who is the wife of A. Litzen- burg, and Eliza B., who is the wife of Ed- ward Farnsworth.

James M. Sutton spent his boyhood days on the home farm and at the age of twenty years started to learn the milling trade with his uncle, James Sutton, with whom he continued for two years. He was next employed one year at the old H. Gibson Mill in Allegheny Township, conducted by William Turner, after which he rented and operated for two years an old mill at Maple Furnace. After spending three years in the oil fields, he was employed successively at the Courtney Mill in Mer- cer County, the Cornelious Mill at Mc- Coytown, the Rogers Mill owned by Rob- ert Gilkey in Mercer County, the old Campbell Mill owned by Thomas Elliott,

SOLOMON R. STOUGHTON

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the Fisher Mill near Eastbrook, in Law- rence County ; the Hope Mill near Mercer County, the New Hamburg Mill owned by John Wheeler and the Old Etna Mill owned by Shepherd & Daugherty near Slippery Rock. In 1895 he came to Harrisville and began work in the mill now owned by him, being in the employ of Samuel B. Bing- ham. He purchased this plant in 1903, increased its capacity from ten to twenty barrels per day and has established a thriv- ing business, having his son, J. Chalmer, as his partner. The leading brand, "Pur- ity Flour," has an established prestige throughout this section of the State, and meets with a ready sale on the market, and they also manufacture a pure buckwheat flour, and handle all kinds of feed.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 123

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