Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 125

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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Daniel S. Barnhart was also born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He later became a merchant at Green Castle, where he and his wife now reside, she also being a native of Franklin County. Twelve children were the issue of their union, of whom Victor Albertus was the eighth.

Victor A. Barnhart spent his early youth on his father's farm near Green Castle, and was nine years of age when his par- ents moved to that village. He assisted his father about the store and attended the public schools, graduating from Green Cas- tle High School in 1896. He later attend- ed Mercersburg Academy, graduating in 1898, and Franklin and Marshall College, from which he was graduated in 1902. He then became an instructor in the schools of Green Castle, serving during the school year of 1902-1903; the following school year he served as teacher in the schools of West Newton, and during the year 1904- 1905 was principal of the school at St. Paul's Orphans' Home at Butler. He was principal of the public schools of Evans City during 1905-1906, and the following school year taught science in Butler High School. His success as an educator was pronounced, but other fields offering great- er financial returns he gave up the profes- sion and in June, 1907, started in the real estate and insurance business at Evans City. He maintains an office on Pittsburg Street, and during his short residence in the village has succeeded beyond his ex- pectations.

December 25, 1907, Mr. Barnhart was united in marriage with Miss Flora M. Markel, a daughter of Daniel and Mary A. Markel, the record of her family appear- ing on another page of this work. Frater- nally, Mr. Barnhart is a member of Mt. Pisgah Lodge, No. 443, F. & A. M., at Green Castle; Lodge No. 817, I. O. O. F. of Evans City, and Lodge No. 292, K. P. of Evans City. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Reformed Church.

T. CHALMERS CAMPBELL, a leading member of the Butler bar, who has been engaged in the practice of law in this city for the past thirty-six years, was born in 1848, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James Campbell. The father of Mr. Campbell was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and came to Butler County about 1840, where he was engaged in a mercantile business for a number of years and was identified with the leading interests of this place.

T. Chalmers Campbell attended the pub- lic schools, Witherspoon Academy and Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., and pursued and completed his law studies un- der Col. John M. Thompson and Samuel and W. S. Purvisance, of Pittsburg. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar in Alle. gheny County and remained there in ac- tive practice until 1872, when he located at Butler. For the first five years he was in partnership with J. D. McJunkin, under the firm name of McJunkin & Campbell, but since the dissolving of that partner- ship, has been alone. He has been identi- fied with a large amount of legal business in the local courts, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and also in the United States Federal Courts. He is attorney for the Western Allegheny Railroad Company, in Butler County, and he belongs to the But- ler County Bar Association.

In 1873 Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Juliet D. Estep, of Allegheny, and they have four children: Louise, who is the wife of Charles A. McElvain, of But- ler; Jean, who is the wife of George E. Howard, of Butler; James O., a graduate of Washington-Jefferson College and a practicing attorney with his father, with whom he prepared for the bar, and Juliet E. Mr. Campbell and family belong to the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM RAPE, one of Forward Township's prominent and substantial citizens, whose valuable farm of sixty-three

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acres is situated about seven miles south- west of Butler, right on the electric rail- way, was born on the old Rape homestead in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsa., March 18, 1839, and is a son of Christian and Sarah (Stout) Rape.

The family to which Mr. Rape belongs originated in Germany and in old times the family name was spelled Reeb. It was Theobald Reeb, the grandfather, who came with his wife Sophia, to America, many years ago, and settled on land in Cran- berry Township. At that time land that now will bring probably $100 an acre sold for $3, and the German family soon had a secured home in which the parents spent the remainder of their lives. With their native thrift and industry they cleared and cultivated the land and when their son Christian grew to man's estate, he suc- ceeded to the property. He had given his father much assistance in clearing and he continued to occupy the homestead until he died, in 1880, aged seventy-two years. During his lifetime he added an adjoining farm to his possessions and the estate he left to his children amounted to 130 acres. He married Sarah Stout, who survived him two years, being aged seventy-four when she died. They had eleven children, name- ly: Sophia, who married John Knauf, de- ceased; Jacob, deceased; Eliza, who mar- ried Charles Weild, both deceased; Sarah, who married William Goehring, deceased; Catherine, who married John Stapf, both deceased; Henry, deceased; William; John; Mary, who married John Stapf; Eli, and Susan, who married Charles Mickley, deceased.

William Rape spent a happy, useful boy- hood under the protection and care of good parents. When opportunity offered he went to the district school but spent many days in hard work, helping to finish the clearing of the land and later in cultivat- ing it. He remained at home until he was first married. In September, 1870, he bought his present farm, from James Bol-

ton, on which he has made many substan- tial improvements. It is valuable land in point of fertility and also on account of its excellent situation, and also on account of oil being found here, there being two wells on the farm.

On March 20, 1860, Mr. Rape was mar- ried (first) to Anna Kaufman, who died in March, 1882. Her parents were Ausman and Mary (Freshcorn) Kaufman. There ·were eleven children born to this union, as follows: Edwin, who married Anna Burr; William, who married Rose Mazer; John; Anna, who married H. A. Burr; Laura; Tiny, who married John Wardock, and five deceased. Mr. Rape was married (second) in August, 1882, to Mary Ann Hoover, who is a daughter of John and Lydia (Rice) Hoover, and they have seven children, namely: Floyd, who married Caroline Schilling, has twin children, Her- shel William and Lona Aleander, these being the first twins ever born in either the Rape or Schilling families and they therefore are babes of more than usual interest; Adaline, who married William Wehr; Olie, who married Edwin Osen- baugh; Margaret, who married Russell Enslen; Susan, who married Fred Weste- beck; and Jesse and Homer, both of whom live at home.

In politics, Mr. Rape is a stanch Repub- lican. He has taken an active interest in township affairs and has served acceptably in a number of offices, having been super- visor for five years, clerk for two years and overseer of the poor for two years.

W. S. WICK, of the lumber firm of W. S. Wick, at Butler, is also interested in a number of other Butler enterprises, and is a substantial and representative citizen. He was born in 1863, in Butler County, and is a son of the late Henry E. Wick.

The Wick family is one of the oldest families of Butler County. Henry E. Wick was born on the old Wick homestead,

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in 1824, and died at Butler in 1901. He became a man of prominence in Butler County and was one of Butler's pioneer merchants.

W. S. Wick enjoyed both educational and social advantages in youth and early manhood and before he settled down to a business career, he spent three years of travel through the far west, during this time visiting Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and other States and Territories. After re- turning to Butler he engaged for three years in a mercantile business and about 1894 embarked in the lumber business. He handles all kinds of lumber, doing both a wholesale and retail business, and deals also in doors, sash and blinds. He owns a half interest in the East End Hardware Store and has stock also in the plaster and cement mill which is situated in the west- ern part of the city. He also owns valu- able real estate, being part owner of the Orphans' Home property.

In 1904 Mr. Wick was married to Miss Jeanette Lusk, of Jefferson County, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. Wick is not an active politician but he always does a good citizen's duty to up- hold the laws and to further movements for the general welfare. In this line he believes the responsibilities of the suc- cessful business man are great.

CURTIS IRWIN CHRISTLEY, resid- ing on his exceedingly valuable farm of 115 acres, which is situated in Slippery Rock Township, one mile south of the vil- lage of that name, was born on this farm, March 31, 1836, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Christley.

The father of Mr. Christley was a farmer and also a cabinetmaker. In the old days he made coffins. And he manu- factured the coffins for the six Wigtons murdered by the Indian Mohawk. He was twice married, first to Mary Hyde Smith and second to her sister. The three chil- dren of the first union were: James Perry,

William George and John Harvey, all de- ceased. There were nine children born to the second marriage, as follows: Thomas Franklin, deceased; Washington Edward, deceased; Mrs. Mary Jane Hockenbury, of West Sunbury, Pennsylvania; Samuel Johnston, who was killed at the second battle of Bull Run, during the War of the Rebellion; Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Moore, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Curtis Irwin; Mrs. Catherine Frances Bruce, deceased; Mrs. Margaret Chinelsie Glenn, deceased; and Mrs. Caroline B. Foster, deceased.

Curtis Irwin Christley has devoted him- self to farming and has enjoyed abundant success. His longest absence from his home farm was during his service of nine months, in the War of the Rebellion, as a member of the One Hundred Thirty- seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In addition to the farm on which he lives, Mr. Christley owns a second farm, one of fifty acres, which is located near West Liberty, Butler County.

Mr. Christley married Margaret E. Brannon, who died in 1902. They had one child, Mrs. Tirzah Frances Magee, now deceased, who left three children: Carbus Claire, Don Lee Magee, and Wendell Odell, all of whom reside with their grand- father. In politics, Mr. Christley is a stanch Republican. He is one of the township's representative men.

: MARTIN MONKS, a prominent citizen of Middlesex Township, Butler County, Penna., where he owns more than 250 acres of valuable farm land, has been an oil producer for many years, and has been very active in the oil fields of Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and West Virginia. He was born on his present farm, February 14, 1856, and is a son of Absalom and Harriet (Chantler) Monks, and a grandson of Ab- salom Monks. Sr.

Absalom Monks, Sr., the grandfather, was born near Brandywine, Chester

ABSALOM MONKS

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County, Penna., November 11, 1774, and as a boy witnessed the historic battle fought at that place during the Revolution. He moved to the western part of the state with Anthony Wayne some time between 1792 and 1795, and in the latter year lo- cated in the city of Pittsburg. In 1801 he moved to Butler County and acquired 212 acres of unimproved land in Middlesex Township, on which he erected a cabin. He cleared a part of this farm, which has since been known as the Monks farm, and continued to reside there until his death. He married Margaret Bell, who died with- out issue ; and on May 3, 1810, he married Catherine Kennedy, a daughter of Martin Kennedy, by whom he had nine children. He was a Whig in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Seceder Church.

Absalom Monks, Jr., father of the sub- ject of this biography, was born on the home farm in Middlesex Township, Oc- tober 5, 1817, and helped to clear the place. He worked a year or two at the trade of a blacksmith, but with that exception fol- lowed farming throughout his active ca- reer. He has been in retirement some years, and although past ninety-one years of age continues in good physical health and in full possession of his mental facul- ties, remembering with little effort the happenings of pioneer days in Butler County. He was prominently identified with the development of this part of the county and its institutions. He is the only living charter member of Saxonia Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand. He and his wife are members of the Middle- sex Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been steward and trustee since the church was built, being one of the organ- izers of the congregation. He was united in marriage March 14, 1850, with Harriet Chantler, a daughter of Thomas Chantler, she being brought from England by her parents when she was an infant, and reared in Middlesex Township. Five chil- dren blessed this union, of whom three

grew to maturity, as follows: Martin ;

William, of Middlesex Township; and Catherine Ann, wife of Robert Harbison.

Martin Monks was reared on the home farm and received a preliminary educa- tion in the district schools, supplemented by a course in Hampton Academy and the Freeport Normal School. Prior to engag- ing in the oil business, he followed cattle droving. He owns over 250 acres of land, now cultivated by his sons, who in addi- tion to general farming, engage in stock feeding on an extensive scale, averaging about twenty head of cattle and about 100 head of sheep. For the past twenty-five years he has been an oil producer, and has interests through the oil regions of Penn- sylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. He has two wells on his own farm which are pro- ducing in paying quantities, and he also has fourteen wells on adjoining farms.

On February 12, 1879, Mr. Monks was joined in marriage with Miss Cordelia Hickey, a daughter of Windle and Sarah Ann (Kennedy) Hickey of Middlesex Township. Her father was born De- cember 28, 1812, in Allegheny County, and died July 16, 1895. Her mother died March 19, 1891, at the age of seventy-four years. William Kennedy, grandfather of Mrs. Monks, was three years old when his parents settled in Middlesex Township, some time in the latter part of the Eigh- teenth Century. Windle and Sarah Ann Hickey were parents of thirteen children, five of whom grew up, namely: Mary, Windle, Cordella, Albert, and Sarah Ann.

Martin and Cordella (Hickey) Monks are parents of the following children : Luella, wife of Charles Snyder of Punxa- tawney, Jefferson County; Warner Scott; Martin Russell, who completed a civil engineering course in Ohio Northern Uni- versity at Ada, Ohio; Sarah May, a graduate of Slippery Rock Normal School, who is a teacher in the public schools at Punxatawney ; Harriet E., who is a gradu- ate of the Slippery Rock Normal School,

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received a teacher's diploma; Albert Roy Hickey, and Emory Harper. Mr. Monks attends and supports liberally the Middle- sex Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is an active member. Her par- ents were among the founders of the church, and her father served as trustee and class leader many years. Mr. Hickey was a plasterer and paperhanger by trade, also a veterinarian, following these occu- pations in conjunction with farming.

Martin Monks is active in support of the Republican party and its principles, but is in no sense a politician. Fraternally, he is a member and past grand of Saxonia Lodge, I. O. O. F.

R. A. POOLE, proprietor of the Poole Brass Foundry, at Butler, owns a business which he has been successfully carrying on in this city for some years. He was born May 30, 1854, in England, and in his native land acquired his education and learned the trade of molder.

In 1884 Mr. Poole came to America and located first at Alliance, Ohio, where he entered the shops of the Morgan Engineer- ing Company, where he remained for four years and then went to Pittsburg. In that city he soon entered the employ of the Westinghouse Manufacturing Company and continued with that concern for eleven years, working in the foundry department. From there he came to Butler and for two years was with the Butler Engine and Foundry Company and for one year with the Evans Manufacturing Company. In 1901 Mr. Poole embarked in business for himself, establishing the Poole Brass Foundry, and in 1906 he erected his pres- ent building. He has associated his two sons, James and Grover Poole, with him in business and they give employment to a large force and have a large volume of trade.

In 1884, prior to coming to America, Mr. Poole was married to Miss Janet Cochran and they have six chldren : James

and Grover, above mentioned; Albert A., who is in the employ of the Butler Car Wheel Company; Elizabeth, who is a stu- dent in the Franklin School; Frank, and Jessie. Mr. Poole and family belong to the Episcopal Church. In his political preferences he is a Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Wood- men, the Mystic Chain and the Sons of St. George.

CHRISTIAN HENRY THIELEMAN, whose fertile farm of 108 acres is situated in Adams Township, carries on a general farming line here and gives some attention to the oil business, having two wells on his land. He was born in Allegheny, Penna., October 13, 1851, and is a son of William and Wilhelmine (Nemyer) Thieleman.

Both parents of Mr. Thieleman were born in Germany, in the same province, and both came to America and to Pitts- burg, before marriage. William Thiele- man crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1845 and he found his first work in America on steamboats running between Pittsburg and New Orleans. He then went into the hotel business in Allegheny City. After his marriage, in 1857, he moved to Butler County and settled in what was then Cran- berry but is now Adams Township. He bought his farm from John Dunn, in 1853, a tract of uncleared land which he lived on during the rest of his life. He was a man of great industry and developed an ex- cellent farm, in which he took justifiable pride. He survived to the age of eighty- four years, his death taking place May 2, 1908. His widow, who was born two days later than her husband, still survives. Of their ten children, four died in infancy, the names of the others being: Christian Henry, Herman, Sophia, wife of M. Mar- shall; Mandana, William Lewis, and Mary.

When his parents moved to Butler County, Christian Henry was not more than six years old and from boyhood had to work hard and had fewer school ad-

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vantages than many others, who, however, have developed into no more capable farm- ers or intelligent men than himself. When he was first put to the plow it was drawn by oxen. Mr. Thieleman has changed all the old ways of farming, has done a large amount of improving to his present prop- erty, and is numbered with the substantial men of this section.

In April, 1886, Mr. Thieleman was mar- ried to Miss Caroline Thieker, of Adams Township, who died in the same year. In October, 1888, he was married (second) to Miss Mary Hespenheide, a daughter of William Hespenheide, who came to Butler County from Hanover, Germany. They have four children, namely : Frances Wilda, Raymond, Earl William, and Verna. Mr. Thieleman and family belong to the Luth- eran Church at Mars and he is a member of the board of trustees. In politics he is a Democrat. He has never been anxious to hold office, but has consented to be a school director and is serving most accept- ably in his ninth term.

C. E. McINTIRE, who occupies a prom- inent position in the business world of Butler, is a member of the McIntire-Wil- letts Manufacturing Company, which man- ufactures and deals in gas and gasoline en- gines, draughting patterns and machine work, together with automobile repairs and supplies. Mr. McIntire has been identified with the interests of Butler for the past eighteen years. He was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, in 1851.

After a limited period of schooling, Mr McIntire went to work in the oil fields in Bradford, Pa., and later in mercantile business in Salamanca, N. Y., and from that time on has been interested in the oil business in the Pennsylvania fields, be- coming a large dealer and producer. On coming to Butler he engaged in the oil business and is the only independent oil dealer in the city. In the face of competi- tion, his perseverance and excellent busi-

ness methods have brought him success in this line. In 1907 he established the Mc- Intire-Willetts Manufacturing Company and he also established an automobile gar- age repair and supply house and took the agency for the Buick automobile.

In 1871 Mr. McIntire was married to Miss Anna McGee, of Clarion County, and they have five children, the three sons, George, Robert Roy and Harry, being associated with their father in business; and both daughters, Edith and Grace, be- ing married. The former is the wife of O. W. Strayer, of Butler, and the latter is the wife of S. C. Kelly, also of Butler. In his political views, Mr. McIntire is a Pro- hibitionist. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Maccabee. He is a member and was one of the organizers of the Second Presby- terian Church of Butler, has been a mem- ber of the Board of Trustees since its organization and was instrumental in building the present fine church.

MRS. PRISCILLA DAVISON, a repre- sentative of one of the oldest families in Butler County, residing on the home farm in Penn Township, in which she is well known and highly esteemed, was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, and is a daughter of Alexander and Mary Harris (Lyon) Douthett.

Few people can trace a clearer ancestry than can Mrs. Davison, the family records having been preserved as far back as her great-grandfather, who was named Joseph Douthett. He was born in County Ar- magh, Ireland, and with his wife Rosanna, emigrated to America at an early day and settled for a time in Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1799 he came to what is now Butler County and settled on a farm in Forward Township, and there both he and wife died and their remains rest in the Douthett family cemetery.

Benjamin Douthett, grandfather of Mrs. Davison, was born in County Armagh,

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Ireland, and accompanied his parents to America, probably in 1772. He married Jane Smith, who died in 1847, whom he survived for three years. They are buried also in the old family cemetery at Browns- dale. Of their nine children, Alexander, father of Mrs. Davison, was the sixth in order of birth.

Alexander Douthett was born in what is now Forward Township, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. In the last year of the Civil War he enlisted for service, but hostilities closed before his regiment had left Pittsburg. In 1872 he purchased the present farm where Mrs. Davison lives, and here both he and wife died. He was a Republican in his political views and he served Penn Township as school director and as supervisor. He married a daughter of James R. Lyon, who was a farmer in what is now Adams Town- ship. There were eight children born to this marriage, namely: Elizabeth, James R., Priscilla, Mary, Henry, who died aged twenty-one years, Ordilla, and two who died in infancy.

Priscilla Douthett grew to womanhood under the care of a good mother and wise father and obtained her education in the country schools. On September 20, 1876, she was united in marriage with Robert Davison. He was born in Adams Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 7, 1843, and died November 10, 1899. He engaged in farming and was a well known and respected citizen. In poli- tics he was a Democrat. Mrs. Davison is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Brownsdale.

THOMAS EDWARD KERR, one of Mars' enterprising and successful grocery merchants, was born in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Penna., October 1, 1871, and is a son of Milton Bruce and Mary (Coover) Kerr, and a grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (Forsythe) Kerr.

The grandfather, Thomas Kerr, was

born in Scotland and came to Pennsyl- vania in early manhood. He was a stone mason by trade and he did a large amount of stone work in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, where he also acquired a farm. He married after settling in But- ler County and became the father of the following children : Milton Bruce; Thomas ; James; Jennie; Rebecca, wife of William H. Curran; Jessie, wife of N. H. Thomp- son; and Catherine, wife of Thomas McCamey.

Milton Bruce Kerr was born in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, in 1850, and spent his boyhood on the home farm. He then learned the tanning business with Perry Coovert, in Slippery Rock Town- ship, and continued to be interested as long as the business was profitable, after which he became a manufacturer of staves, having a stave yard at Butler, and for six- teen years he made staves for the Stand- ard Oil Company. In 1895 he moved to Mars and from then until he retired, was engaged in the oil business. He married Mary Coovert, a daughter of Perry Coo- vert, and they had four children: Marga- ret, who is the wife of S. T. Herr; Thomas Edward; Perry, who is engaged in a drug business at Mars; and Ada, who is the wife of Dr. McGeorge, a practicing physician at Enon Valley.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 125

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