Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 131

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 131

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Enos Barkey spent his boyhood days in Evansburg and attended the district schools. He worked on his mother's farm until 1887, then embarked in the coal busi- ness in Evans City, which he has continued without interruption to the present time. In 1892, the feed branch of his business was added and has proved as profitable a field as the coal business. He is a man of energy and enterprise, a thorough business man, and enjoys high standing in the com- munity.

On March 28, 1883, Mr. Barkey formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Anna E. Barto, a daughter of Daniel Barto, who was one of the early residents of the vil- lage. Four children were the issue of their union : Ethel, who married John Zeigler in 1904 and has a daughter, Vera; Clara B .; Mary Luella; and Ruthene. Politically, Mr. Barkey is a Prohibitionist, but was elected on the Republican ticket to the council of Evans City, in which body he now serves. For ten years past he has been a director of the Evans City Cemetery Association. Religiously, he is a member of the Baptist Church, to which his wife

also belongs. Fraternally he is a member of Evans City Lodge, I. O. O. F.

DR. W. W. McCONNELL, who has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Harrisville since 1888, was born on a farm in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1858 and is a son of Kinsey McConnell, a resident of Lawrence County.

Dr. McConnell obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools of Lawrence County, later attending Grove City College and Edinburg State Normal, after which he taught in Lawrence County for a period of six years. He read medicine for eighteen months with Dr. Sproull of Plain Grove, after which he entered Western Re- serve University of Cleveland, Ohio, grad- uating in March, 1888. In May of that same year he came to Harrisville and took up the work of Dr. O. P. Pisor and after a period of ten years entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he graduated May, 1898. He re- turned to Harrisville and resumed his practice of medicine and rapidly worked his way up in the profession, now enjoying a liberal and lucrative patronage. He also took a summer course at Philadelphia later. Dr. McConnell is a member of the Butler County Medical Society. He is a director in the First National Bank at Harrisville and is a stockholder of the But- ler County National Bank. He is a Demo- crat in politics and is religiously a member of the United Presbyterian Church. In December, 1901, Dr. McConnell was mar -. ried to Mrs. Elizabeth McKee, who had one daughter, Frances, now residing with Dr. McConnell. They have one daughter, Blanche.

G. WILSON MILLER, who is engaged in the grocery business at Butler and iden- tified also with other successful enterprises in city and county, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Will- iam and Emeline (Hauck) Miller.

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The parents of Mr. Miller came to Butler County in his boyhood and settled on a farm and the father continued to engage in farming and stock raising there until he retired and moved to Butler, where he died in 1903. William and Emeline Miller had three children, namely : G. Wilson; Henry, who is a prominent business man at But- ler; and Emma, who is the wife of J. F. Andrews, of Allegheny City.

G. Wilson Miller was practically reared in the city of Butler. After completing the public school course he became a clerk in the store of Charles Duffy, at Butler, after which he embarked in business for himself and built his present three-story brick building, at No. 116 East Jefferson Street. A business house that has safely weathered the financial panics and depressions of thirty-odd years, constantly increasing its stock and trade, merits special mention and further, gives a pretty fair estimate of the methods employed in its manage- ment. Mr. Miller as a business man enjoys the confidence of a large part of the city and has kept customers even after they have removed to other sections. He is one of the oldest grocery houses at Butler and is a landmark in his neighborhood. He has been an active citizen and has invested in property and owns stock in a number of prosperous concerns. Since the date of its organization, he has been president of the Citizens' Building and Loan Associa- tion.

Mr. Miller married Miss Margaret Wal- ter, a daughter of Jacob Walter, one of the old settlers of the city. They have two children : Gertrude, who is the wife of Dr. George H. Jackson, a prominent dentist of Butler; and Lillian, who is the wife of Al- bert Troutman, a leading member of the Butler bar. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are mem- bers of St. Mark's German Lutheran Church.

HON. COL. JOHN M. THOMPSON, known for many years as one of the ablest and most successful members of the Butler

County bar, a Civil War veteran, and a capable and trustworthy servant of the people in public affairs, was born in Brady Township, Butler County, January 4, 1829, the eldest son of William H. and Jane (Mc- Candless) Thompson.

Colonel Thompson's literary education was acquired in the public schools and at Witherspoon Institute, and for a short time after completing his studies, he fol- lowed the occupation of a teacher. In 1852 he began the study of law under the direc- tion of Samuel A. Purviance, and two years later was admitted to the bar. Dis- playing marked ability, he was admitted to partnership in the firm of Purviance and Sullivan, and later, when Mr. Purviance was elected to Congress, he took charge of his entire practice. In 1858 he was elected to the Legislature on the Republican ticket, and he served as speaker pro tem. of the House, in the session of 1859-60.

The Civil War gave a new direction to his activities, and he backed up his sound Union principles by going to the front as Major of the One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Penna. Volunteers. With this regi- ment he took part in the momentous bat- tles of Antietam, South Mountain and Fredericksburg. Being wounded in the fight last mentioned he retired from the service, and returned to Butler, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In 1868 he was a delegate to the National Re- publican Convention at Chicago, which nominated General Grant for the Presi- dency. He was one of the Presidential electors of the State of Pennsylvania, in 1872, and was selected to carry the State returns to Washington. In 1875 he was elected to Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. E. Mc- Junkin, the latter having been elected judge of this district. In 1876, Colonel Thompson was honored by re-election, and served the full term of two years.

Colonel Thompson was actively interest- ed in railroad construction in this section.

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He was one of the promoters of the Shen- ango and Allegheny Railroad, and filled many offices in the company, including that of attorney for the road. He was also for a quarter of a century or more the local attorney for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. His death, which occurred Sep- tember 8, 1903, removed from the com- munity one of its worthiest and most re- liable citizens. He was a member of the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Colonel Thompson was married October 12, 1854, to Anna L. Campbell, a daughter of William Campbell, and they had four children : Oliver D., who is engaged in the practice of law at Pittsburg; William C., who is a prominent attorney at Butler, with offices in the Butler County National . of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bank Block; Anna Elora, who married Charles Mitchell, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, is deceased; and Lauretta Gertrude, who is also deceased.

EVERETT MINNER BAKER, M. D., physician and surgeon, who is engaged in practice at Valencia, was born December 28, 1870, near Mt. Chestnut, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hiram and Margaret A. (Opre) Baker.

entire life in Butler County and died at Brownsdale, in 1904, aged seventy-six years. He married Margaret A. Opre, who was born at Grove City, Pennsylvania, and survived her husband. They had the fol- lowing children: Sarah, who married S. Gulick; Lucinda, who married J. W. Wil- liamson; Margaret, who married J. W. Stevenson; James Andrew; Agnes L .; El- mer H .; Gilbert J .; Olive, who married J. M. Starr; Everett Minner; and Charles W.

A boyhood spent on the farm, the foundation of a liberal education laid in

the public school-such is the record of the earlier years of Dr. Baker. Better educa- tional advantages were given him at Ren- frew, Evans City, later Grove City College, and in the fall of 1893, he entered the Western University of Pennsylvania, where he entered upon the study of medi- cine. He was graduated from that insti- tution in the spring of 1897, in September of that year he settled at Valencia, and during the eleven years of residence here has built up an excellent practice and has become a representative citizen.

In 1900 Dr. Baker was married to Miss Blanche A. Datt, who is a daughter of John Datt, a well known resident of Valen- cia, and they have one child, Everett Meade. Dr. Baker and wife are members

HENRY and WILLIAM SCHWALM, general farmers and oil operators, in Jef- ferson Township, located on the Bull Creek Road, about two miles west of Saxonburg. Henry Schwalm was born June 2, 1875, and William Schwalm was born April 25, 1872. They are sons of Justice and, Margaret (Smith) Schwalm.

Justice Schwalm followed farming and prior to his death owned the farm which is now the property of his wife. He mar- ried Margaret Smith, who survives and re- sides on this farm, and they had six chil- dren born to them, namely : John and Jus-

Hiram Baker was born in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, a son of Jewell Baker, who was one of the early settlers in that section. Jewell Baker had two sons. James and Hiram. The latter passed his . tice, both deceased; Annie, who is the wife of George Fisher and lives at Butler; William; Henry; and Louise, who lives with her sister at Butler.

The Schwalm brothers have always lived in this section since they accompanied their parents from Allegheny County, where they were born. Their chief business is oil operating and they have been exceedingly successful. William Schwalm married Miss Sarah Fisher, who is a daughter of George and Mary (Michaels) Fisher, and they have two children, Ruth and Mabel. The brothers are members of the Presby-

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terian Church. Henry belongs to the Jef- ferson Township Grange. They are well known and highly respected citizens.

(. H. PARKER, oil producer and a rep- resentative citizen of Butler, has been closely identified with the oil business dur- ing all his mature life. He was born in 1865 in Armstrong, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of the late James A. Parker.

The Parker family was established in Butler County by the grandfather, David Parker, who came at an early date. to this section. The late James A. Parker spent his entire life in Butler County and de- voted himself to agricultural pursuits.

C. H. Parker became interested in the oil business almost in his school days, and in the years that have followed he has traveled all over the country and visited every section where oil has been found in paying quantities, and his own operations have been in Butler and Mckean Counties, Pennsylvania, and in the oil fields of West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois. He owns both oil and gas interests at various points and through years of experience has become an authority in oil and gas production. For the past ten years he has been a valued resident of Butler and during three years of this period has served as a mem- ber of the City Council.

In July, 1888, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Olive Harper, who is a daughter of Sutton Harper and a member of one of the oldest families of Butler County. They have the following children: Edith; Ruth and Charles, twins; Floyd, Margaret, Lester, Victor and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members of the United Pres- byterian Church. His fraternal connec- tions include the Elks, Odd Fellows, Maccabees and Woodmen.

ROBERT HOGG, a representative citi- zen and leading agriculturist of Butler County, who is engaged in cultivating 200

acres of fine farming land situated near New Hope, has been a life-long resident of Cherry Township. Mr. Hogg was born on .his present farm in Cherry Township, But- ler County, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1846, and is a son of Robert and Mary Jane (Mc- Fate) Hogg.

The grandfather of Robert Hogg, also named Robert, came to Butler County from the eastern part of the State, bringing with him his son Robert, and here settled on the farm near New Hope, where both father and grandfather died. Robert and Mary Jane (McFate) Hogg were the parents of ten children, of whom eight still survive.

Robert Hogg of Cherry Township has always lived on the farm he now owns, and farming has been his life work. He has been successful in his operations, and his 200-acre property is considered one of the most valuable in Cherry Township.

Mr. Hogg was married (first) to Miss Eliza Bryan, who was born in Washington Township, Butler County, and was a daughter of Robert Steele Bryan. They became the parents of these children : Will- iam H., married Ora Donaldson, and has two children, Dellis and Edith; Samuel Harper, married Ellen Nicely and has three children, Alice, Melvina and Lena; Mary M., married James H. Campbell, and has one son, Robert William; Margaret, married Robert Johnston, and has three children, Harry, Elmira and James. Mr. Hogg's first wife died in 1882, and he was married a second time to Mary E. Christy, who is a daughter of Ebenezer Christy.

JOHN T. CRANMER, senior member of the firm of J. T. Cranmer & Son, millers, a successful business partnership, of But- ler Township, operating one of the best equipped mills in Butler County, was born in what is now Clay Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1832. His parents were Asaph and Ellen (Finley) Cranmer.

Asaph Cranmer, father of John T., was

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born in 1800 and came to Pennsylvania prior to his marriage, after which he pur- chased 400 acres of wild land in Butler County, two miles from West Sunbury. For this land he paid seventy-five cents an acre and today it could not be purchased for $100 an acre. He was a man of unusual ability, a pioneer of courage and sterling character. When forty-five years old he lost his arm through accident, nevertheless he led a busy and useful life for many years thereafter. He served in the capa- city of court crier and for many years was a justice of the peace in Clay Township. From its organization he was identified with the Republican party. His death oc- curred when he was seventy years of age. In his religious views, in early years he was liberal but later in life he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He mar- ried Ellen Finley and they had eleven chil- dren, namely: David, James and Israel, all deceased; John T .; Elizabeth J., de- ceased, was the wife of O. J. Walker; Asa, residing on a part of the old homestead; William; Charles, deceased; and Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Al- bert; also two that died in infancy. The mother of the above family was a faithful member of the United Presbyterian Church. The Cranmer family has been in America many generations, coming to the colonies sixty-four years before the Revo- lutionary War. The Cranmers suffered greatly in the Indian troubles and the eld- est brother of Asaph Cranmer was burned to death when the savages set fire to his dwelling.

John T. Cranmer was reared in Clay Township and gained his school-book knowledge in the early schools, to which he walked a long distance. Later he learned the carpenter's trade and for thirty-five years was a contractor, work- ing through three counties. He built twenty-three of the big barns which still stand on the farms of old residents and often built also their houses and other

structures. In 1890 he turned his atten- tion to milling and purchased his present mill in Butler Township, from John Ral- ston, who had built it. Mr. Cranmer had thoroughly overhauled the mill and has in- stalled the most modern type of mill ma- chinery. His power is supplied by a 60- horse power gas engine and he grinds buck- wheat, wheat and other grains and sells flour and feed, doing a very large business. He disposes of his output locally, finding favor in the home market.

Mr. Cranmer married Miss Martha Mil- ler, who is a daughter of John Miller, of Franklin Township, Butler County, and they have one son, Charles Everett. This son has grown up in the mill business more or less and is his father's partner and is recognized as one of the township's enter- prising young business men. He married Miss Della McCandless, a daughter of Humes McCandless, of Center Township, and they have five children: John T., May, Nellie, Ora and Vera Rosella. John T. Cranmer and wife are leading members of the United Presbyterian Church at Mt. Chestnut, in which he has been an elder for twenty years. In politics the Cranmers are Republicans.

CHARLES YOUNG, a citizen of Zelie- nople, was born January 28, 1852, in Jack- son Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Zehner) Young.

Adam Young, his father, was born in Alsace, Germany, coming to this country in 1840, at the age of twenty-seven, having served seven years in the army. He landed at New Orleans and was there during the yellow fever plague and was employed with a horse and dray in hauling the dead to the trenches. He took the fever, but, through the efforts of a trained nurse, survived. In 1846 he came to Cranberry Township, But- ler County, and married Mrs. Catherine Noss, nee Zehner, widow of George Noss, who then had two children, Catherine and

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Frederick, both deceased. In 1853, after residing near Zelienople for a few years, he bought 110 acres of land in Connoque- nessing Township, to which he later added forty acres. He died in May, 1878, aged sixty-five years; his wife died April 1, 1884, aged sixty-nine years. The follow- ing children were born to Adam Young and wife: Mary, who died in early youth; Adam, who was accidently strangled to death while swinging in the barn, during the absence of his parents; Sophia, who died April 21, 1908; Henry, who resides near Reibold Station, Butler County, mar- ried Louise Beam; Caroline, wife of John Flinner, resides in Jackson Township; Ed- win residing on the old homestead in Con- noquenessing Township, married Caroline Friskhorn; and Charles.

Charles Young engaged in farming for several years, in Connoquenessing Town- ship, where he owned sixty acres of land. This property proved to be an exception- ally rich oil producer. In June, 1890, he sold the farm to his brother Edwin and purchased property in Zelienople, in a large measure being led to do so on account of failing health. He has invested in other farm property, owning two farms near Zelienople, but does not give them his per- sonal attention.

Charles Young married Miss Mary Frishkorn, who was a daughter of Casper and Elizabeth (Flinner) Frishkorn, for- merly well known residents of Butler County. They have three children, Ed- ward Philip is assistant cashier in The People's National Bank, at Zelienople; he married Maidie Hysell of Pomeroy, Ohio, they having two children, Charles Edward and Roy Stuart. The second son, Harry Albert, is a machinist and is employed at the Herman Pneumatic Machine plant at Zelienople. The daughter, Sara Elizabeth, married Otto W. Luek. Mr. Luek is at present employed at the Iron City Sani- tary Manufacturing Company at Zelie- nople.

In his political convictions he is a Demo- crat. He has served on both the Town Council and the School Board since moving to Zelienople. Ile is almost a lifelong member of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Zelienople.

WALTER L. GRAHAM, formerly a leading attorney and prominent citizen of Butler, was born in this borough, October 25, 1831, and died November 1, 1900. His parents were John and Sarah Graham.

Walter L. Graham was educated in the public schools, at Witherspoon Institute and at Jefferson College, and was grad- uated from the latter institution in 1854. He entered upon the study of law with Samuel A. Purviance and completed his course of reading under Attorney Charles C. Sullivan, and in 1855 he was admitted to the bar. For many subsequent years he continued in the active practice of his pro- fession, both at Pittsburg and at Butler. In 1860, on account of his zeal for the prin- ciples embodied in the Republican party, he was selected as one of the delegates to the National Republican Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presi- dency of the United States. During his whole life he was public-spirited and as president of the borough council he advo- cated progress and reform. In 1862 he en- listed in Company G, Fourteenth Pennsyl- vania Militia, and assisted in repelling the invasion of the Confederates under Gen- eral Lee. Under Governor Andrew G. Cur- tin, he subsequently served three years as a notary public. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church and a member of the local board of trustees.

In 1854 Walter L. Graham was married to Catherine Keller, a daughter of Eman- uel Keller of Cumberland County. Mrs. Graham died July 4, 1861, leaving three children : Frank, who is deceased; Annie, who is deceased; and Walter H., who is engaged in an advertising business. Mr. Graham was married (second) in 1867, to

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Margaret A. Zimmerman, who survives and resides at No. 230 North Mckean Street. She is a daughter of John Michael Zimmerman. Two children were born to the second union, namely: John C. and Margaret, the latter of whom resides with her mother.

John Charles Graham, who is a success- ful attorney and prosperous real estate dealer at Butler, has been engaged in business pursuits almost from boyhood. During his school days he was employed as a clerk in a country store and became inter- ested later in a news agency and from 1879 until 1887, he earned some three thousand dollars through his own efforts. In the latter year, notwithstanding his applica- tion to business, he was able to graduate as the salutatorian of his class at school. He dabbled to some degree in a real estate business prior to entering Lafayette Col- lege, where he took a course of study and after his return in 1891 he resumed his interest in the same. He studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar in 1894.

On December 6, 1894, Mr. Graham was married to Miss Lovey Ayres, who died August 16, 1907. She was a daughter of Capt. H. A. Ayres, and a granddaughter of Gen. William Ayres, who was one of the early settlers of Western Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Graham had four children: Elizabeth and Walter, who are deceased, and John and Margaret Lovey, who sur- vive.

In 1888, Mr. Graham joined the State Militia, in which he served for six years. When the Spanish-American War broke out, he assisted in the organization of the Twenty-first Regiment and was elected sec- ond lieutenant of Company G, and later was appointed battalion adjutant. He has always been an athlete and has won many honors in that line. He attends the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was sec- retary to the Board of Trustees for seven years. Mr. Graham is one of the interest-

ed members of the Young Men's Christian Association. For eight years he has been secretary of the Butler Board of Trade and has always taken a keen interest in matters which tend to the advancement of Butler and Butler County.

JOHN A. CRISWELL, a prosperous business man of Mars, where he is engaged in undertaking and furniture dealing, be- longs to one of the old and early settled families of Adams Township. He was born on the Criswell homestead, near Dowie- ville, Adams Township, this county, May 3, 1853, son of James and Elizabeth (Spear) Criswell.

William Criswell, the paternal grand- father of John A., was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1774, and emigrating to this country, in 1791 settled in Philadel- phia, where he engaged in the business of selling goods in the suburban districts. Having been thus occupied in peddling for about seven years, in 1798 he crossed the Allegheny Mountains on foot, and took up a 200-acre tract of land in what is now Adams Township, Butler County. For two years he kept bachelor's hall in a log cabin, which he erected in the midst of the for- est. For some time after becoming a resi- dent of the county he engaged in packing salt, ammunition and other supplies for the use of the settlers, from Pittsburg, Car- lisle, and Philadelphia, thus earning a lit- tle surplus money. In June, 1800, he mar- ried Margaret, a daughter of Robert Cris- well of Cumberland County. Their family in time numbered eleven children, two of whom-John and Isabella-died in early youth. The others who grew to maturity were as follows: Mary, who married Will- iam Hutchman; Martha, who became the wife of James Kidd; Robert, who died in 1856, unmarried; Nancy, who died single in 1868; Margaret, who became the wife of Robert Mckinney; Elizabeth, who married James Plummer; Jane, who married Sam- uel Purvis, of Beaver County; Susannah,

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 131

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