Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 133

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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C. C. Shira grew to manhood on the old homestead, was educated in the township schools and the North Washington Acad- emy, and was twenty-two years old when he went to New Castle, where he learned the carpenter trade. In 1884 he came to Butler and worked as a carpenter for ten years, after which, until 1898, he engaged in a general contracting business. Since March of that year he has been engaged in the grocery line and has a well stocked store and a satisfactory trade. Mr. Shira is largely interested also in Butler real estate, one of his valuable holdings being his own private residence which is located at No. 319 North Elm Street, Butler.

On September 6, 1887, Mr. Shira was married to Miss Clara Dodds, who is a daughter of Rev. Ezra Dodds, of Harris- ville, Butler County. Mr. and Mrs. Shira have one daughter, Pearle E., who is a teacher of music. Mr. Shira and family belong to the United Presbyterian Church at Butler.

H. W. LENSNER

MRS. LUCY P. LENSNER

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H. W. LENSNER, superintendent and general manager of the Concordia Home, situated in Jefferson Township, the only institution of its kind in Butler County, was born January 23, 1865, in Jefferson Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. H. and Catherine (Grimm) Lensner. The father of Mr. Lensner was born in Germany in 1835 and in 1837 was brought to Saxonburg, Butler County, Pennsylvania, by his parents, John and Sophia (Lessinger) Lensner. J. H. Lensner was a carpenter by trade, and he also followed farming.

H. W. Lensner attended the public schools near his father's farm during boy- hood, spent six terms at Witherspoon In- stitute, and completed his education at Addison, Illinois. He then engaged in teaching school in Butler County for seven years, after which he accepted a call to Concordia Home, where he has been in charge for the past fourteen years. On December 29, 1891, Mr. Lensner was mar- ried to Miss Lucy Paul, who is a daughter of J. G. Paul, who was a very prominent farmer residing near Great Belt. Mr. and Mrs. Lensner are members of the Lutheran Church.

JOHN A. GREGG, who owns and re- sides upon an excellently improved farm of eighty-five acres in Jefferson Township, Butler County, Penna., located about five miles southeast of Butler on the Saxon- burg Road, is successfully engaged in oil producing as well as farming. He was born in Buffalo Township, Butler County, May 1, 1853, and is a son of William and Mary Catherine (Kuhn) Gregg.

Robert J. Gregg, paternal grandfather of the subject of this record, was born in Washington County, Penna., where his father was one of the earliest settlers, hav- ing come from the North of Ireland at an early age. William Gregg, who now re- sides at the Lowrie Hotel in Butler and

is past seventy-eight years of age, was for many years engaged in the livery busi- ness, in addition to carrying on farming operations.

John A. Gregg attended the public schools and at the same time assisted in the work on the home farm. He has fol- lowed general farming and has one of the best improved places in the township, the large and commodious buildings being kept nicely painted and the house and barn provided with slate roofs. Mr. Gregg has one producing oil well on his farm, and with his brother, Ralph, has four good average producing wells in the Coyles- ville oil field.

June 1, 1880, Mr. Gregg was united in marriage with Miss Sadie E. Walters, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Flem- ing) Walters of Buffalo Township, But- ler County. Seven children were born to bless their home, namely : Frederick, an en- gineer at Edinau Station Power Plant on the Pittsburg, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, who married Della Refen- baugh, by whom he has a daughter, Helen ; Floyd, who lives on the farm and is in the oil business; Walter, who lives in Butler; Frank, who is a pumper in the oil fields and in the employ of his father; Lucile, a graduate of the public schools who is liv- ing at home; John Ray; and Mildred. The two last named are in attendance at school. Fraternally, Mr. Gregg is a prominent member of the Patrons of Husbandry. In religious attachment, he and his family are Presbyterians.

STEPHEN F. SCHULTZ, a substantial and representative citizen and farmer of Donegal Township, resides on an excellent farm of fifty-four acres and owns. a sec- ond farm, of sixty-six acres, in another part of the township, on which he has a valuable producing oil well. Mr. Schultz belongs to that large class of valued citi- zens-the German-Americans, his birth

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having been in Germany, February 19, 1853. Ilis parents were George F. and Margaret Schultz.

The mother of Mr. Schultz spent her whole life in Germany, but in his later years, the father joined his son Stephen F., in Butler County, and died here in 1902. Ile was the father of seven children: An- na, Frank, Stephen F., Michael, Christina, Michael Francis and Elizabeth, several of whom are deceased.

Stephen F. Schultz remained in his own land until he was about nineteen years of age, attending school there and learning the trade of butcher. In 1872 he came to America, landing at the port of New York, and for the first five months he worked as a butcher in that city. He then came west to Pittsburg and engaged in the same busi- ness there for the same length of time. In 1873 he was attracted to Butler County during the oil excitement, and had the fore- sight to immediately embark in a butcher- ing business on a larger scale than for- merly and for thirty years continued the business, driving his own wagon a large part of the time to the different oil set- tlements. He proved himself a good busi- ness man in this undertaking and soon had sufficient capital to enable him to invest in other ways. In 1880 he purchased the farm on which he lives, from the Union Oil Company, and in 1883, he bought his second farm, from the P. C. & L. Company, and has done all the improving on both properties. Although butchering is no longer his main business, the big packing houses making the industry no longer gen- erally profitable, Mr. Schultz continues this work in a small way. He carries on general farming and raises fancy poultry and is also more or less interested in oil production.

Mr. Schultz has been twice married (first), on November 16, 1873, to Miss Mary Dittmer, who was born in Germany and was a daughter of Benedict Dittmer. She died November 18, 1890, having been

the mother of eleven children, as follows: Christiana, who married Joseph Bauldofe, lives in Oakland Township and they have seven children: Stephen, who lives in Ok- lahoma; Clara M., who lives at Buffalo, New York; Joseph F., who married Mar- tha Hopper, lives in Donegal Township and they have two children; Anna M., who married George Leibler, lives at Buffalo and has one child; Lizzie, who married Albert Nye, lives in Summit Township, Butler County, and they have four chil- dren; Francis S., who lives in Illinois; Emma E., who is a trained nurse in a Buf- falo hospital; Leo C., who resides at Phila- delphia; Helen M., who is a teacher in the public schools, resides at home; and Mary, the youngest, who also lives at home. Mr. Schultz was married (second) on Sep- tember 29, 1896, to Mrs. Mary C. (Trais- ter) Gray, who is a daughter of Charles and Olive (Sweet) Traister, and they have two children: Charles H. and Mildred. Mrs. Schultz has two children to her first husband, Roland M. Gray and Risden H. Gray.

Mr. Schultz is a leading member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Oakland. He has been one of the most active public men in the township and at different times he has served with honesty and efficiency as school director, secretary of the School Board, auditor, constable, member of the Election Board, overseer of the Poor, and at present is the very acceptable township clerk. He has a wide acquaintance and is an exceedingly popular citizen.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Sr., who, for many years was one of the best known and most widely respected business men of Butler County, was born in the borough of Butler, January 18, 1813, and was a son of William and Jane (Gilmore) Campbell.

In his youth Mr. Campbell attended the common schools of Butler, where he was well grounded in the elements. His first industrial experience was gained as clerk

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of the Board of County Commissioners. In 1835 he became associated in business with his father and brother. Ten years later the father retired and the sons sub- sequently conducted the business success- fully until 1852, when they closed it out. For five years previously they had owned a one-half interest in the John McCarnes foundry, and they now purchased the en- tire interest, and established a store for the sale of the manufactured product, to which they added agricultural implements, and in 1877, a stock of general hardware. This was the origin of the highly success- ful firm of J. G. and W. Campbell, that has since been a prominent factor in the business life of Butler, and in which the elder William Campbell was a partner, though practically retired, took a deep in- terest up to the time of his death.

Mr. Campbell's business activities were not, however, confined to one groove. He was one of the projectors of the Butler and Allegheny Plank Road Company, of which he served some time as president, being also an original stockholder. He was quick to foresee the superior advantages of steam railroads, and was one of the strong- est advocates of railroad construction in this section. He was also interested at an early day in the development of the oil in- dustry, being associated with H. J. Kling- ler and others. One of the founders of the Butler Savings Bank, he was elected presi- dent of that institution, which office he held from February, 1877, to February, 1880. and on a subsequent reelection, from Jan- uary, 1886, to November, 1887, when he resigned. He was also for a number of years a director and president of the But- ler Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He gave to all these enterprises the careful attention and unremitting industry that were his dominant characteristics and that made him the successful business man that he was. These qualities, exhibited in what- ever he undertook, were accompanied by the most scrupulous honesty, that gained

him the confidence of all with whom he had business dealings.

Mr. Campbell was twice married. He was married (first) October 27, 1835, to Miss Clarissa Maxwell, who died January 29, 1839. She was a daughter of John Les- lie Maxwell, one of the pioneer settlers of Butler Township. Mr. Campbell was mar- ried (second) on March 31, 1841, to Miss Eliza J. Shaw, who died April 21, 1892. She was a daughter of John Shaw, of Glen- shaw, Allegheny, County. Four children were born to the second marriage, namely : William, who died July 27, 1907; John S .; James G., who is deceased; and Mary, who married Joseph A. Herron, of Mononga- hela, Pennsylvania. The only surviving son, John S., is a prominent business man of Butler, actively interested in the hard- ware business and also, to a large extent, in the oil industry, in which he has been very successful.

In politics, William Campbell was a life- long Democrat, faithful to his party but seeking no office. Through his interest in the cause of education, however, he con- sented to serve on the School Board, which he did for several years, to the manifest advantage of the public schools of the city. A Presbyterian in religion, he became a member of the church of that denomination in 1832. In 1841 he was elected one of the ruling elders, and for many years he was an efficient superintendent of the Sun- day-school. His work in the cause of re- ligion, and for the moral betterment of the community, was constant, and was the re- sult of earnest convictions. He died No- vember 17, 1893, surviving his wife by one year and seven months. Although then eighty years of age, he retained to the last a kindly interest in the welfare of the various business and philanthropic enter- prises with which he had been connected.

DANIEL L. DUNBAR, a prominent resident of Forward Township, Butler County, Penna .. has been justice of the

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peace of that township for a period of about eighteen years, and station agent of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Wat- ters Station, for fifteen years. Ile was born on the old Dunbar homestead in that township, June 18, 1853, is a son of Will- iam and Margaret (McGregor) Dunbar, and a grandson of Solomon and Senethi (Snow) Dunbar, the grandfather being a native of Ireland.

Solomon Dunbar, upon his arrival in this country, located in New York State. After the birth of the third of his children, he moved with his family to Butler County, Penna., making the trip with a yoke of oxen. He settled on a farm of 200 acres in Cranberry Township, but later sold out and moved to Johnson, Ohio, where he conducted a hotel until his death. He and his wife were parents of ten children, as follows: Ambrose; William; Daniel; Pyr- rhus; Tarlton; Lafayette; John; Barney; Mary, wife of Joseph McCartney; and Hannah, wife of Dr. Mulford. All are now deceased with the exception of Barney, who resides in Ohio.

William Dunbar was born in New York State, and was young when the family moved to Butler County, Penna., where he grew to maturity and helped to clear the home farm. He later moved to that part of Cranberry Township which later be- came Forward Township, and there fol- lowed farming the remainder of his days, dying July 19, 1892, at the age of eighty- two years. He was married in Cranberry Township, in 1832, to Margaret McGregor, who was of Scotch descent; she died in 1898, at the age of eighty-six years. The following were offspring of their union: Jolin, who was a member of the Eleventh Penna. Reserves during the Civil War, and was killed at Gaines' Mills; Solomon, a record of whom appears on another page of this work; Mary Jane, deceased wife of Edward Irvin; Alexan- der, who served in the Seventy-eighth Reg- iment, Penna. Volunteer Infantry during

the Civil War; William W .; a member of the Fourth Cavalry of Pennsylvania, dur- ing the Civil War; Alfred, also a member of the Fourth Cavalry; Alpheus, who was in the Fourth Cavalry; Irvin; Anna, de- ceased, who was the wife of Miller Mc- Kinney; and Daniel L.

Daniel L. Dunbar was reared on the home place and received his education in the district school near by, attending a few months during the winters. He continued at home until his marriage. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching and con- tinued for ten years; he taught the old school which he had previously attended, and also in Adams Township for a time. In the winter of 1887, he resigned his school to accept the position of county de- tective, under appointment of former judge, Hon. A. L. Hazen. During his term he was sent to Canada to make an arrest, and bore extradition papers from Presi- dent Cleveland, that being the first case of the kind in Butler County. He served ef- ficiently for three years, and immediately after was elected justice of the peace of Forward Township, in which capacity he has served, except for one term when he was out of office, with marked ability ever since. He also served two terms as school director. He has been agent at Watters for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for fifteen years, and for three years has been in the employ of the South Penn Oil Com- pany. For several years he conducted a general store on his property, and since 1892, his wife has continuously been in charge of the post-office.

Mr. Dunbar was married in July, 1881, to Marry A. Boggs, a daughter of Andrew Boggs, and four children have been born to them: Walter, who is located in West Virginia and is foreman of the South Penn Oil Company, married Chloe Senes of West Virginia, and they have a son, Ralph ; Maude, who lives in Virginia; Gertrude; and Ralph, who married Vera Davidson, is also in the employ of the South Penn

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Oil Company. Politically, Mr. Dunbar is a Republican, and is now serving his sec- ond term as supervisor. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of the Maccabees.

JOHN A. CROSS, a well known oil pro- ducer and a member of the firm of Cross Brothers, has been a resident of Bruin, But- ler County, Penna., since 1902, and has been prominently identified with the af- fairs of that borough. He was formerly, for a period of two years, one of the pro- prietors of the Bruin Machine and Tool Company, in partnership with Mr. N. F. Stanton. He has been engaged in the oil fields for many years, and has been a pro- ducer in Parker Township, Butler County, for seven years.

Mr. Cross was born February 16, 1872, in Eastern Kansas, and is a son of Prof. Daniel McLean Cross, now deceased, who was a well known educator of Western Pennsylvania. Professor Cross was edu- cated in Allegheny College at Meadville, and thereafter entered upon his profes- sion as a teacher. He was the first princi- pal of West Sunbury Academy, and also taught at Harrisville and Clintonville Academies, and other institutions in Penn- sylvania. He was a man of the highest ed- ucational attainments, and lived an hon- orable and useful life. His death occurred in 1898.

John A. Cross was five years of age when brought by his parents to Butler County, Penna., and was reared in the vi- cinity of Harrisville until he was eighteen years old, in the meantime receiving his educational training in the various insti- tutions with which his father was identi- fied. When nineteen years old he went to the "Hundred Foot" oil field in Butler County, where he worked for a time, then went to Sistersville, West Virginia, where he was employed in the oil fields for Jen- nings Brothers, for three years. He next went to Doddridge County, West Virginia,

where he continued in the employ of Jen- nings Brothers for six years, after which, in 1901, he became an oil operator in Park- er Township, Butler County, Penna., tak- ing up his residence in Bruin in 1902. He is in partnership with his brother, Henry A. M. Cross, and the business is carried on under the firm name of Cross Brothers. Mr. Cross entered actively into the busi- ness, social and religious life of Bruin, and is one of the most progressive and public spirited men of the borough. He is serving his third consecutive term as member of the board of directors of Bruin Borough School District, and has served both as sec- retary and treasurer of that body.

In 1903, Mr. Cross became one of the organizers of the Bruin Baseball Club, and served as its manager for five years, dur- ing which time the club established an enviable reputation; they played between forty and fifty games each season, and were returned victors in full two-thirds of their games. In 1906, he brought the Pittsburg National League Club to Bruin for one game, the attendance being the largest of any athletic event ever held in the borough.

October 18, 1899, John A. Cross was joined in marriage with Miss Evalena Campbell, who was born in Butler County, and is a daughter of James E. Campbell of Concord Township. Four sons were the issue of this marriage, namely : W. Merle; Algy R .; Harold, who is deceased; and Cecil L. Mr. Cross is a member of Fair- view United Presbyterian Church and is a member of the Session. He has been a thorough student of Biblical lore, and has frequently contributed written articles on theological subjects. He is a teacher in the Bible class of the Fairview Church. He is a Republican in national politics, but has Prohibition tendencies.

THOMAS J. KELLEY, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Cherry Township, who is engaged in cultivating ninety-five acres of fine farm land situated

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about one and one-half miles north of Bovard, was born on a farm at Coal Town, Butler County, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1841, and is a son of Aaron and Lucy (Ileald) Kelley.

Aaron Kelley was born in Perry County, Penna., and came to Butler County as a boy with his father, Joseph Kelley, who settled first in Worth Township, where he died. Aaron Kelley some years after his father's death, sold the farm in Worth Township, and moved to Ashtabula Coun- ty, Ohio, but subsequently removed to New Castle, where he was living at the time of his death.

Some time after his marriage, Thomas J. Kelley removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, with his father, but about 1880 or 1881 went to Venango County, Penna., where he resided until 1890, in which year he purchased his present farm in Cherry Township, Butler County. He carries on general farming, and his knowledge of agricultural matters, together with his thrift and enterprise, have caused him to succeed in his operations. His ninety-five acres are in an excellent state of cultiva- tion, and the substantial buildings and well-kept premises give the property a pleasing appearance.

In 1865 Mr. Kelley was married in But- ler County, to Matilda Crawford, who was born in Ireland, a daughter of Charles Crawford, and came to America as a baby. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been the par- ents of nine children, namely : Frank, who resides in New York State; James, de- ceased; Charles, who is married and re- sides on a part of the home farm; Joseph, who is married; Clara; John; Minnie, and one child which died in infancy.

HUSTON RUSSELL, joint owner with his wife of a farm of 100 acres of valuable land, situated in Cherry Township, two and one-half miles north of West Sunbury, was born in Cherry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, on a farm about one

mile east of his present one, February 22, 1830. His parents were David and Jane (Patton) Russell, farming people of Cherry Township.

Huston Russell was reared in Cherry Township, went to school there in boyhood and was trained by a very practical father to be a good farmer, and he has made agricultural pursuits his life work. In the summer of 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Captain Barnes' company in the Sixth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Heavy Artillery, in which he was a messmate with his present friend and neighbor, Hugh Sproul, also of Cherry Township. Mr. Russell remained in the service until the close of the war and then returned to Cherry Township, where he has lived ever since. This property for- merly belonged to his father-in-law, the late George McElwain, and adjoins the 100-acre farm owned by John S. Campbell, Esq.

In 1863 Mr. Russell was married to Miss Annis McElvain, who is a daughter of George and Mary Ann (McGill) McEl- vain, the former of whom died in 1854, and the latter in 1870. Mrs. Russell is one of the three survivors of a family of nine children.

To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born ten children, three of whom are deceased, namely: Perry, who died aged seventeen years; Samantha, who was the wife of Sherman McNeice; and Bessie, who died aged sixteen months. The survivors are: Mary Emma, who married Archie Mc- Laughlin; Zella Maud, who is the wife of Floras Burch; Rose, who is the wife of Jesse Fellabaum; John, who resides at Butler; Reuben, who resides on his fine farm near Greenville, Pennsylvania; George, who resides at Salem, Ohio; and Golden, who manages the home farm. The three sons first mentioned are the oldest of the family, the three daughters come next, and the youngest is the son who re- mains at home, unmarried. Mr. and Mrs.

MR. AND MRS. HUSTON RUSSELL

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Russell are leading members of the Pleas- ant Valley Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Russell is an elder. Their home is one of genial good cheer and hospitality, and they have a wide circle of friends. Family gatherings frequently take place and among the most welcome guests in the old home are the eleven grandchildren.

W. L. ALLEN, proprietor of The Re- liance Telephone and Manufacturing Com- pany, of Butler, is identified with other business interests of this section and is numbered with the representative men of this city. He was born at Portageville, in Wyoming County, New York, in 1858, and when eight years of age accompanied the family to Corry, Penna., where he obtained his public school education.

The first work in which Mr. Allen was engaged was done during a school vacation, for the Corry Tub and Pail Factory. Later he worked for a short time in a local ma- chine shop and this gave him a taste for machinery, induced him to learn the trade and to work at the same until 1879, when he became a clerk in the post-office at Brad- ford, and in 1880 he had a mail contract in McKean County. When he came to But- ler, in 1886, he entered the machine shops of T. & W. G. Hays & Company, where he continued until 1890, when he went with the firm of Masseth & Black, with whom he remained until 1896. Mr. Allen then em- barked in business at Evans City, under the style of Elliott Brothers & Allen Ma- chine Shops, but in the spring of 1900 he sold out to his partners and came to But- ler again, where he had already many so- cial and business ties. He resumed busi- ness in this city, establishing the Butler Electro Plating Works, and in 1904, in partnership with J. B. Nixon, purchased the plant of the United States Electric Manufacturing Company, in less than a year becoming sole proprietor. He then combined his two plants under the name of The Reliance Telephone and Manufac-

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 133

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