Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 132

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 132

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).

1078

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

who married Samuel Kidd; and James. Mr. and Mrs. William Criswell were mem- bers of the Covenanter church, in which the former was an elder. Their entire married life was spent in this county, and they died upon the farm on which they first settled.

James Criswell was born on his parents' farm in Adams Township, February 7, 1820. He grew to manhood on the home- stead, and was married November 24, 1842, to Elizabeth Spear, a daughter of David Spear, of Adams Township. They had children as follows: William, who died aged nineteen years; David, who is now a resident of Missouri; Robert C., deceased, who was a minister in the United Presby- terian Church; Margaret, who is the widow of the late Prof. John Mitchell, of New Wilmington, Penna .; John A., subject of this sketch; James P., who is a resident of Pittsburg; and Mary E., now deceased, who was the wife of T. L. Donnelson. The life of James Criswell, the father of the above mentioned family, was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he died on the homestead in November, 1896, aged sev- enty-seven years, being survived several years by his wife. Once a Republican in politics, he afterwards became a Prohibi- tionist. Occasionally he served in local office, chiefly from a sense of duty and at the earnest desire of his fellow citizens.

John A. Criswell spent his boyhood on his father's farm and remained there, fol- lowing agricultural pursuits until 1891, when he moved to Mars. Prior to this he had engaged in the undertaking business which he continued, in conjunction with operating a livery stable, until 1903, when he sold out and for two years was interest- ed in a coal and feed business. After also disposing of this interest, he went to Pitts- burg, where he engaged in the grocery business until September 1, 1908, when he took advantage of an opportunity and bought out the undertaking and furniture

business of A. C. Irvine, at Mars, which he still conducts. His equipments as a funeral director are more complete than any other at Mars and he has a diploma from the Pittsburg Embalming School and operates under a license from the Pennsylvania State Board.

In 1878 Mr. Criswell was married to Miss Jane R. Mckibben, who is a daughter of James McKibben, of Morrow County, Ohio, and they have had the following chil- dren: Vera, Russell, Nettie, who died aged nineteen months; David C. and Blanche E. Mr. Criswell and wife belong to the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican and at different times has served in township and borough offices. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Mac- cabees and the Woodmen.

F. AUGUSTUS ALDINGER, one of Chicora's enterprising business men, senior member of the firm of Aldinger & Tadder, operators of the largest repair shop in the place, doing business under the name of the Chicora Engine Tool Com- pany, was born at Chicora, Butler County, Penna., January 4, 1876. His parents are C. F. and Ella (Henshew) Aldinger.

The father of Mr. Aldinger has been a prominent business man and leading citi- zen of Chicora, for many years. He was born in Germany and was four years old when his parents brought him to Butler County, with which section his interests have ever since been connected. He has been identified with the shoe trade and also conducted a gents' furnishing store, and during his many years in business has lost a large amount of money from fire, being burned out five times. He has been a very active citizen, served for years as a justice of the peace, has held almost all of the city offices, at present being city clerk, and for four years was postmaster. He married Ella Henshew, a lady of Millerstown, Penna., and they have four children,

RESIDENCE OF LEWIS A. HEROLD, CENTER TOWNSHIP

1081

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

namely : F. Augustus, C. F., Elizabeth and Pauline. With his wife he belongs to the German Lutheran Church.

F. Augustus Aldinger attended school at Chicora and then learned the machin- ist's trade with W. H. Westerman, who conducted a machine shop at that time on the site of Mr. Aldinger's present plant. After Mr. Aldinger had been with this em- ployer for two years the shop was de- stroyed by fire and while Mr. Westerman was rebuilding, Mr. Aldinger worked at another machine shop for six months and then returned to his former employer for six months longer. From there he went to Pittsburg and for one year worked for the Westinghouse people, this being his only absence from Butler County in his life. After coming back to Chicora he began work with Dierken and Logan, and two years later, after the latter had sold out to Daniel Dierken, Mr. Aldinger, in partner- ship with W. J. Logan, purchased the busi- ness from Mr. Dierken and they conducted it until 1904. In February of that year the partnership was dissolved and for two sub- sequent years the business was continued by the Millerstown Deposit Bank. In the meanwhile, Mr. Aldinger and George Tad- der came to an understanding and entered into the present partnership and took pos- session of the business which they have so successfully conducted ever since. They give constant employment to four work- men and have about all they can handle with their present facilities. Mr. Aldinger being a practical machinist, has careful oversight of all the work turned out, thus ensuring entire reliability in every in- stance.

On June 8, 1904, Mr. Aldinger was mar- ried to Miss Minnie Hurley, and they have two children: Paul A. and Gerald. Mr. Aldinger and wife belong to the English Lutheran Church. He takes a good citi- zen's interest in politics and for eight years has served as a member of the elec- tion board.

LEWIS A. HEROLD, a prosperous farmer and successful business man of Center Township, Butler County, Penna., is the owner of a fine farm of 100 acres, situated on the old Mercer Road, three miles north of Butler. He is a man of varied interests, and, in addition to farm- ing and dairying, operates a thresher in season and is engaged in the construction of silos. He was born near Bonny Brook, Summit Township, Butler County, Octo- ber 11, 1864, and is a son of Gottlieb and Caroline (Robb) Herold, both natives of Germany. They were reared in Germany, but were not married until after their ar- rival in the United States. Gottlieb died on the old home farm in Summit Town- ship.

Lewis A. Herold was reared on the home farm and received but little schooling. He lived with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-one years, then worked out for a couple of years. At the end of that time he was married, and thereafter for about two years farmed the home place. He next was employed three years in the plate glass works at Butler, after which, in 1894, he purchased and moved to his present farm in Center Township. He has made many important improvements on the place, built a third story onto his house, erected a large barn and a fine creamery, and laid a large amount of til- ing. He engaged in wholesaling milk until 1904, since which time he has retailed it with good results. He keeps about twenty- seven cows, on an average, and does a large business. He also contracts for the building of silos, and in the fall of 1908 filled nineteen. He owns a fine threshing outfit, which he operates in partnership with his brothers, Frederick and Frank .. He is one of the substantial citizens of the township, having won his way to a forward position in the community from the ranks of a farm laborer.

Mr. Herold was united in marriage in

1082

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

1887 to Miss Emma Kradle, who was born and reared in Summit Township, Butler County, and is a daughter of Adam Kra- dle. Three children were born to them- Harry, Carrie and Gilbert. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church.

MATTHEW W. SHANNON, JR., vice- president of the Worth Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company and a leading citizen and general farmer of Connoquenessing Town- ship, where he owns 100 acres of produc- tive land, was born February 8, 1861, at Whitestown, Butler County, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Matthew W. and Mary (Ste- venson) Shannon. David Shannon, the paternal grandfather, was a very early set- tler in this section. He married one of the White family-a very populous and prom- inent one in Butler County, that gave the name to Whitestown.

Matthew W. Shannon, father of Mat- thew W., was born in Connoquenessing Township, Butler County, December 5, 1821, and resided in his birthplace until 1890, when he retired to Mt. Chestnut. He followed agricultural pursuits through all his active years. He was a man of stand- ing in this neighborhood and for years ac- ceptably filled township offices, being school director, tax collector, auditor, constable and supervisor. He married Mary Steven- son, who is a daughter of Nathaniel Ste- venson, an early settler in Franklin Town- ship, and they had nine children born to them, six of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Jennie, who is the widow of Abraham Hemphill, of Connoquenessing Township; J. F., who is a justice of the peace at Callery, Pennsylvania; Annie, who is the wife of W. J. Moore, of Brook- line, Pennsylvania; Nettie, deceased, who was the wife of Clarence Double; Matthew W .; and Benjamin F., who resides at Mt. Chestnut. The parents are members of the Mt. Chestnut United Presbyterian Church.

Matthew W. Shannon, Jr., obtained his

public school education in Connoquenes- sing Township and since leaving school has been continuously engaged as a farmer on his present property. He has almost the whole of his estate of 100 acres under cul- tivation, raising corn, oats, wheat, hay, buckwheat and potatoes, the latter crop being especially abundant, Mr. Shannon having grown 1,000 bushels in some years. He is a man of very practical ideas and he has proved their value when he has applied them to his agricultural operations. His surroundings all indicate a large degree of comfort and his residence is exceedingly attractive.

Mr. Shannon married Miss Mary Eliza- beth Ralston, a daughter of John Ralston, of Butler Township, and they have three children: John W., residing in Colorado; Annetta, who is a student in the Slippery Rock State Normal School; and Orville Clara, at home. The whole family have membership in the Mt. Chestnut United Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Shan- non is an elder and clerk of the Session, and has served as a trustee. He has taken an active interest in Sunday-school work and for a long time officiated as superin- tendent.

Mr. Shannon is identified with the Re- publican party but, irrespective of party ties, he has worked for the good of the township in the way of public improve- ments and the securing of excellent school facilities. He has served as school direc- tor and as secretary of the School Board, and he has also been township supervisor and assessor.

GEORGE M. HARTUNG resides on a fine farm of sixty acres in Forward Town- ship, about five miles east of Evans City, on the Freeport road. He was born in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Penna., July 3, 1851, and is a son of Nicholas and Carolina (Moas) Hartung.

Michael Hartung, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and

1083

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

reared in Germany. He came to the United States when his son, Nicholas, was three years of age, and settled on a farm near Zelienople, in Butler County, Penna., where he lived until his death. His first house on that place was a log structure, without a floor, and the land was almost wholly unimproved. He had a large fam- ily of children, of whom the following are now living: John; George; Isaac; Dorothy, widow of Albert Sidel; Eliza, widow of Gottleib Wertz; and Catherine, widow of John Berringer.

Nicholas Hartung was the eldest of the children of his parents and was born in Germany. He was three years of age when his people came to America, and was reared on the home farm near Zelienople. He spent nine years working on different farms before his marriage, and later worked in a sawmill. He rented a farm in Beaver County a few years, and after his return to Butler County purchased a farm of 135 acres in Adams Township. He re- tired from business activity some four years prior to his death, and died at Evans City, November 1, 1905, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. His first wife, in maiden life Miss Carolina Moas, died April 14, 1896, leaving four children: George M .; Lydia, wife of John Twentier; Mary Ann, wife of George Dombart; and John. Mr. Hartung was again married, to Miss Dor- othy Freshcorn, who survives him.

George M. Hartung was a mere child when his parents moved from Beaver County to Adams Township, in Butler County, and here he grew to maturity. He attended the little brick school in the dis- trict a few months each year, but his time was mainly given to hard work on the farm. He remained on the home place un- til his marriage, then rented a farm in Adams Township for ten years, at the end of which time he purchased his present farm of John Kurtz. On this he has erect- ed a fine modern home, and the entire farm is improved in an up-to-date manner. He

is engaged in general farming, and raises some stock. In addition to his home tract he has some thirty-four acres in Adams Township at the present time.

George M. Hartung was united in mar- riage, November 18, 1875, with Miss Mary L. Kline, a daughter of Nicholas Kline, and the following children have been born to them: Charles, who graduated from Allegheny College in 1907, and is now a minister in the M. E. Church, located in Indiana County, Penna .; Isaac P., a grad- uate of Butler Business College, who is foreman for the Philadelphia Gas Co. at West View, Penna .; Clarence, of Butler County; Nicholas, of Pittsburg; Frank; George M., Jr., who assists his father on the home farm; Melinda, who died young; Mary ; and Lillian. Religiously, the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Hartung is a trustee. In politics, he is a Democrat.

COL. DAVID D. LLOYD, president of the Lloyd Company, wholesale confection- ers, at Butler, is one of the city's leading business men and is a veteran of the Civil War. He was born July 23, 1833, in Cam- bria County; Pennsylvania.

When twelve years of age, Colonel Lloyd accompanied his parents to Pittsburg and there he was educated and later worked for several years in the glass factory. He learned the boiler rivet trade at the Cole- man Roller Mill and remained there for ten years, after this being engaged in a general mercantile business for three years, at Port Perry, in Allegheny County, and for one year in a coal business. In 1864 he entered the Federal service, becoming a member of Company H, One Hundred Ninety-ninth Regiment, Penna. Infantry, with the rank of sergeant, and he remained in the service until the close of hostilities. He was attached to the Army of the Po- tomac and participated in the siege of Petersburg and all the subsequent engage-

1084

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

ments which culminated in the surrender of General Lee. AAfter he returned from his period of honorable military service, Mr. Lloyd was engaged in a general mer- cantile business at North Washington, in Westmoreland County, for six years, and then he moved to Apollo, in Armstrong County, where he continued his mercantile activities for nine years longer. He then established himself in the same business at Beaver Falls and remained there for eight years in that line and then went into the wholesale tobacco business. This enter- prise he conducted there for twelve years when he returned to Apollo and engaged there in a confectionery and tobacco busi- ness for two years, being associated at this time with his sons and having a branch store at Butler. In 1904 he consolidated his branches and started anew in the whole- sale confectionery business at Butler, the wisdom of this move having been abun- dantly demonstrated in the wide extension and ample returns. The Lloyd Company Incorporated, has a capital stock of $20,000 and its officers are : David D. Lloyd, presi- dent; R. R. Lloyd, treasurer; and W. E. Lloyd, secretary. The business is carried on at Nos. 127-129 East Cunningham ·Street, Butler, and among the many mod- ern equipments the company owns is an automobile truck, the only one in use in the city.

Colonel Lloyd has long been interested in military affairs and was one of the or- ganizers of the Tenth Regiment Penna. 'State Guards. He raised a company and commanded it as provisional officer for three years and when the Tenth Regiment was finally organized, he was elected its major, serving as such for two years, then was elected lieutenant colonel and served in that rank for five years, when, on ac- count of press of business, he retired.

In 1857, Mr. Lloyd was married to Miss Margaret R. Fritzius, who died in 1877. "To this union were born five sons and one daughter, namely: W. E. Lloyd, secretary

of the Lloyd Company, residing at Zanes- ville, Ohio; George W., residing at Zanes- ville; Wilbur C., a resident of Waukesha, Wisconsin; Arthur N., residing at Zanes- ville; Royce Russell, treasurer and man- ager of the Lloyd Company, at Butler; and Kate M., wife of W. H. Shuster, of Leech- burg, Pennsylvania.

In his political views, Colonel Lloyd is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church and for many years had been an official of the same.

ALEXANDER SCHILLING, who is efficiently serving his second term as jus- tice of the peace of Forward Township, Butler County, Penna., is a general mer- chant at Reibold Station, and enjoys a . large and lucrative trade. He was born in Metzels, Germany, February 26, 1846, and is a son of John G. and Margaret (Lin- zer) Schilling.

John Frederick Schilling, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer and a man of considerable prominence in his native province in Germany. On the day of his marriage he was elected burgess of Metzels and served continuously in that capacity for twenty years. His death oc- curred at the age of forty-eight years. He and his wife were parents of the following children: John Sebastian, a physican, who died in Germany; John G., father of the subject of this sketch; Lawrence, deceased; Mrs. Bowdenstein, deceased; Sophia (Vier- ing), deceased; and Mrs. Rossman.

John G. Schilling was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1800, and was there reared to maturity. He was a drover and farmer and became owner of a fine farm near Meiningen. In 1863, one year after the departure of their son, Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Schilling left for America and set- tled on a farm near Wahlville, on the Con- noquenessing Creek, in Butler County, Penna., where they passed the remainder

1085

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

of their lives. He died in 1874, and his wife in 1902. She was in maiden life Mar- garet Linzer, and was born in May, 1813. She was a daughter of Casper Linzer, who was a prominent surveyor and held numer- ous public offices in Germany. Eleven chil- dren were the issue of this marriage: Sophia, widow of John Keg; Matilda, de- ceased wife of Herman Schilling; Emilie, deceased wife of George Ifft; Lizetta, who died young; Alexander; Emma E., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Ve- ronica, wife of V. Leyh; Ernest W., who died at the age of twenty-two; Anna, wife of Henry Wahl; Christina, who died young; and Robert.

Alexander Schilling attended the schools and worked on the farm in Germany, and when sixteen years of age left his native land for America. He departed on his birthday anniversary and landed at Cas- tle Garden, New York, April 24, 1862, im- mediately thereafter going to Pittsburg, Penna., where he worked at the trade of a shoemaker some five years, and then moved to Butler County, and worked on different farms. After his marriage he lived on the old Marburger farm near Cal- lery several years, and followed his trade. In 1878, he opened his present store at what is now Reibold Station, and has been there continuously since. He carries a general line of goods, in fact almost every- thing for which there is a demand in a country store, and has the patronage of the people of that vicinity. For a period of seventeen years he served as postmaster at this point. In 1903, he was elected jus- tice of the peace, and was made notary public, and in 1906 he was re-elected to that office.

On February 25, 1868, Mr. Schilling was united in marriage with Miss Eva Mar- burger, a daughter of George and Emma Marburger, and they are parents of ten children: George W., who married Marie Emsheimer; Rebecca, deceased; Margaret, deceased; Marie Magdalena, wife of John

Nolsheim; Catherine, deceased; Lawrence, who married Anna Dougherty; Caroline, wife of Floyd Rape; Valentine; Anna; and Francis. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Republican in politics. In 1907, Mr. Schilling returned to Germany and spent two months in visit- ing the scenes of his boyhood, experiencing a most enjoyable trip.

CHARLES L. KENNEDY, a represent- ative citizen and successful agriculturist of Butler Township, resides on his well im- proved farm of seventy-three acres, all of which, under his excellent methods, is made to produce to its fullest extent. He was born in Penn Township, Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1868, and is a son of William and Matilda (Graham) Kennedy.

William Kennedy still carries on his farming operations in Penn Township, in spite of advancing years retaining his strength and vitality. He is a representa- tive citizen in his section and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In poli- tics he is a Republican and he has served in the offie of coroner. He married a daughter of Robert Graham, of Penn Township, and they had ten children born to them, as follows: Annie, who is the wife of A. B. McCandless, of Butler; Will- iam, deceased; Lulu, who married Morris J. Florsheim, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Charles L .; Clyde, who assists on the home farm; Mrs. Clara Robbins ; George, also one of the home farmers; Ada, who married Dominick Mangel, of Penn Township; Eva, who resides with Mrs. Mangel, and Fran- ces M.

Charles L. Kennedy was reared in Penn Township, where he obtained his educa- tion. For a number of years he worked in the oil fields and in the past ten years has drilled many wells. In April, 1906, he bought the old Seaman farm of seventy- three acres and since then has given his undivided attention to farming and dairy-

1086

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

ing. In the fall of 1907 he established a milk route, keeping ten head of cattle for this purpose and producing and disposing of from seventy to ninety quarts of milk a day. Ile raises almost all of his feed and takes much interest in having fine vege- tables, growing also large crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay.

On June 28, 1893, Mr. Kennedy was mar- ried to Annie Mangel, who is a daughter of Claude Mangel, a well known farmer of Penn Township. Their children, eight in number, all reside at home, namely : Vincent, Charles L., J., Frances Cecelia, William Claude, Warren Maurice, Mar- garet Matilda Agnes, John Gilbert and Lucretia May. Mrs. Kennedy is a devoted member of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. In politics, Mr. Kennedy is iden- tified with the Republican party. He be- longs to the fraternal organization, the Woodmen of the World, at Butler.

C. C. SHIRA, one of Butler's repre- sentative business men, conducting a gro- cery business at No. 340 Locust Street, has been a resident of this city for twenty- four years. He was born in Washington Township, Butler County, Penna., June 20, 1860, and is a son of Samuel Shira and a grandson of David Shira.

David Shira came to Western Pennsyl- vania from one of the eastern counties and was a man of some substance and unlim- ited enterprise. In 1802 he secured a whole section of land in Butler County, from the Government, and the sheepskin deed is- sued binding this transaction is the only one of its kind on the county records. His business sagacity was remarkable and his public spirit contributed to the rapid de- velopment of this part of the county. When he took up his residence the only real out- let that this section had was the old post road to Pittsburg. He amassed an estate of $35,000, a very large one for his time and locality. Physically he was a man of

note as were his five sons, their combined weight being 1500 pounds and their added height being thirty-seven feet. These sons were : William M., deceased, once Pro- thonotary of Butler County; Samuel, de- ceased; Alfred, still surviving and living on the old homestead; R. O., residing at North Washington, Penna., who was a lieu- tenant in the Civil War; and Henderson, who lives on a part of the old homestead. There were two daughters: Eliza Jane, who married John T. Kelley, formerly sheriff of Butler County; and Anna, de- ceased.

Samuel Shira, father of C. C., was born in Washington Township, Butler County, in 1834, and his life was spent in his native county. He engaged in farming and stock- raising and became a man of ample for- tune. While no seeker for political office, he took a hearty interest in public matters and was a more or less directing force in his township.

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 132

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