Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 135

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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ALBERT RUFF, of the firm of A. Ruff & Sons, leading shoe merchants at Butler, conducting the oldest established shoe house in the city, is prominently identified with other successful business enterprises of the section. Mr. Ruff was born March 25, 1846, at Butler, Penna., and is a son of Ignatius Ruff, who was born in Ger- many in 1812 and came to Butler in 1830.

Albert Ruff attended the early Butler schools and before he had identified him- self with any permanent business, he en- tered the Federal Army as a soldier, en- listing in 1863, as a private in the Fifty- eighth Regiment, Penna. Volunteer In- fantry. At the expiration of his first term of three months, Mr. Ruff reenlisted, con- tracting for three years or until the close of the war, and honorably fulfilled his promises as a member of Company A, Sev- enty-sixth Regiment, Penna. Volunteer In- fantry. When he returned to Butler he went into the shoe business as a member of the firm of Bickel Son & Co., which later became Bickel & Ruff. This firm was suc- ceeded by Albert Ruff and in the course of years the change was made to its pres- ent style of A. Ruff & Sons. This shoe business is one of the old landmark con- cerns of the city, remarkable not only for its continuance but also for its honorable methods which have always kept to the old standard. Mr. Ruff owns oil inter-

ests in several sections and is treasurer of the Rough Run Manufacturing Com- pany.

In 1869, Mr. Ruff was married to Miss Mary Bickel, who is a daughter of Philip Bickel, and they have three children, two sons and one daughter; Philip W. and Charles H., both of whom are members of the firm of A. Ruff & Sons; and Millie, re- siding at home. Philip W. Ruff is presi- dent of the Butler School Board and was chairman of the building committee during the erection of the fine High School struc- ture lately completed. He has taken much interest in educational matters and has been a member of the School Board a number of years and for five years served as secretary. He is a Mason, an Odd Fel- low and an Elk. In 1900, he was married to Miss Emma L. Cromm, a daughter of William Cromm, and they have two chil- dren, Mary Cromm and Evelyn Isabel. Philip W. Ruff and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church and they belong to the Country Club.

Charles H. Ruff, the second son, was married in June, 1907, to Miss Elizabeth Reiber, a daughter of Jacob Reiber. They are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is connected with the fraternal order of Maccabees.

Albert Ruff has taken much interest in the Grand Army Post at Butler ever since it was established. During the larger part of his life he has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church and has been a trustee of the Church at Butler for eight years.

JAMES NEWTON MAHARG, a repre- sentative citizen and prominent farmer of Penn Township, residing on his finely im- proved farm of 132 acres, was born on this farm August 9, 1862, and is a son of James and Catherine (Brown) Maharg.

James Maharg was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Penna., and died when aged eighty-four years. He came

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with his father to the farm now owned by James N. Maharg, when three years old and lived on it through the rest of his life, surviving into old age but not reaching the years of his father, who lived to the age of 103 years. He was John E. Maharg, who came from County Down, Ireland, as a very early settler in Butler County, lived first in Forward and later in Penn Town- ship, and was the first postmaster of the village of Maharg. James Maharg re- mained on the Penn Township farm, which, in his day, contained 265 acres, the larger part of which he assisted to clear. He was a Whig in his early political faith but later became a Republican and at various times he served in the offices of the township. He married a daughter of Peter Brown, of Allegheny, Penna., and they had twelve children born to them, nine of whom reached maturity, James Newton being the eighth in order of birth.

James Newton Maharg was reared and educated in his native township and has always devoted his attention to farming. He has 120 acres of his land under cul- tivation and his crops include corn, oats, wheat, hay and potatoes. There is a prob- ability that oil may be developed on his farm and two wells are now being drilled. His handsome brick residence is a land- mark in the township and the whole place attracts favorable comments from those who drive along the Plank road.

Mr. Maharg married Mary R. Brown, who is a daughter of Joseph and Christie Ann (Brown) Brown, and to this marriage have been born eleven children, namely: Mark B., a student in the class of 1910, at Grove City College; Bessie, a teacher, who is a graduate of the Slippery Rock Normal School; and Mary Ada, Vernetta Belle, Grace Lucetta, Esther Elizabeth, Ruth Catherine, John Christie, Martha Ger- trude, Gladys Irene and Clara Imogene. Mr. Maharg with his family belongs to the Middlesex Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. He takes a great interest

in the Sunday-scool and has served as its superintendent.

In politics, Mr. Maharg is an active Re- publican and is now serving as township auditor and has been both treasurer and clerk. He is a public-spirited citizen and a level-headed business man.

EDWARD MORGAN, formerly one of the prominent and useful citizens of Al- legheny Township, in which he spent over a quarter of a century, was born January 26, 1824, in County Down, Ireland, and died January 27, 1901, in Butler County, Penna. His parents were Hugh and Jane (Dunn) Morgan, the latter of whom died in Ireland and the former of whom came to America and died some years later in Arm- strong County, Penna.

Edward Morgan was reared in his na- tive land and there obtained his education. In 1848 he emigrated to America, locating in Butler County, Penna., and prior to 1874, engaged in farming for a time in Parker Township, settling then permanent- ly in Allegheny Township. He devoted all his energies to developing his farm and made it one of the best in the township. It contains 140 acres of finely cultivated land and is now owned by his widow.

On October 23, 1856, Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Florinda Graham, who was born February 28, 1839, at Emlenton, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Hill) Graham. Her father was born in Butler County and her mother in Venango County. When Mrs. Morgan was six years old, her parents came to Butler County and she was reared in Parker Township, where her father died, April 21, 1856. In the following October she was married, as stated above, and a long and happy union succeeded, she finding in her husband a kind, loving and protecting companion. There were eleven children born to them and seven members of the family still survive, namely : Mary J., who is the wife of John A. Sloan, of Allegheny

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Township; Clara C., Robert J. and Ben- jamin H., all are resident of Allegheny Township; Florinda A., who is the widow of Finley Wonderly, late of Allegheny Township; George G., who lives at Fox- burg, Pennsylvania ; and Margaret E., who resides with her mother.

The late Edward Morgan was one of the men whom no community can easily spare. He was a careful father and was deeply beloved in the domestic circle, was a neighbor of whom all others speak well, and was a citizen whose word was as good as his bond, one who set an example of obedience to law and lent his influence to advance educational and religious move- ments. He was a Republican in his polit- ical views but would never consent to hold any office except those of director of the poor and school director. He was a con- sistent member of the Presbyterian Church, as is his widow, and he gave to the needy when none but himself knew the extent of his bounty. Edward Morgan was a man whose memory should be perpetu- ated, for his virtues were many and his faults were few.

ROBERT S. TITLEY. Among the many fine estates situated in Donegal Township, Butler County, few are more valuable or better known than the great farm belonging to Robert S. Titley in part- nership with his father, John W. Titley. It comprises 290 acres of fine land, with two producing oil wells, and many noted race horses have been bred and raised here. Mr. Titley was born July 5, 1873, in Arm- strong County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John W. and Levina (Stepheson) - Titley.

The parents of Mr. Titley came to But- ler County from Armstrong County, in 1883, and John M. Titley engaged in ex- tensive farming, stockraising and oil pro- ducing. When his son, Robert S., became his partner, he embarked in horse-raising and together they have owned such famous

racers as Star Pointer, Cloud Pointer, Hal Breden and Grandeview. Mr. Titley paid $1,500 for Star Pointer, when he was nine months old, purchasing from Mrs. Henry Pointer, of Springhill, Tennessee. The colt then had a fine record which he ad- vanced in the same year, and at two years had a record of 2:343/4. Mr. Titley kept the animal for five years and then sold it to a Mr. Mills, of Boston, Massachusetts. Cloud Pointer was also purchased of Mrs. Pointer, she considering these horses the pick of her stables. Hal Breden, also a noted racer, was bought from Major Campbell Brown of Springhill, Tennessee. John M. Titley and wife reside at Mariet- ta, Ohio, where he is engaged in the oil business. They had the following chil- dren: William; Minnie, who married Jo- seph Hecker, lives at Marietta, Ohio; Rob- ert S .; Jennie, who married Silas Therlow, lives at Marietta ; Laura, who married Rev. Mergler, lives at Cincinnati; Edith, who resides at Marietta; Charles, who married Amy Stowe, lives in California; and Rich- ard, who lives at Marietta.

Robert S. Titley was about thirteen years old when his parents moved to But- ler County and after finishing his educa- tion, he learned the art of telegraphing and worked for one year in different of- fices, after which he joined his father in the operation of the big stock farm of which he is joint proprietor and manager.

In 1899, at Chicora, Penna., Mr. Titley was married to Miss Lena Frederick, who is a daughter of George and Lavina (Shak- ley) Frederick, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Butler County. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick had twelve children, namely: Henry, Ernest, George, Eliza, Reuben, Edward, Retta, Frederick, Lena, Setta, Emma, and Anna, the last named being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Titley have two children: Paul M. and Lena L. He is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran Church at Chicora and is identified with the lodge of Odd Fellows at

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the same place. Mr. Titley is one of the most enterprising young business men of this section and both he and father de- serve credit for the opportunities they have afforded stockmen of the county to im- prove their breeding stables.

SAMUEL G. PURVIS, who was an early and prominent representative of the build- ing trade in Butler, founder of the firm of S. G. Purvis & Company, was born in Cum- berland County, Penna., May 8, 1808, eld- Mr. Purvis married Elizabeth Logan, a daughter of Joseph Logan of Middlesex Township. He died May 28, 1879, his wife passing away nearly thirteen years later, in April, 1892. Their children were as fol- lows: Joseph L., deceased, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume, who became his father's partner in the firm of S. G. Purvis & Company as already noted, and who was a prominent business man of Butler; Isabel; Samuel D., with the sash pany, who married in 1866, Valeria Evans, and has had seven children,-Annie E., Ella, Perry E. (deceased), Frank, Alfred B., Samuel G., and Gracey F .; William I., who is now deceased; Levi O., a member of the firm of Levi O. Purvis & Company and residing at No. 300 E. Pearl Street, But- ler; and Sarah J., now deceased, who was the wife of Harrison Black. est son of William and Isabel Purvis. His youth up to the age of twenty-three years was passed on his parents' farm, and he then went to Pittsburg to learn the carpen- ter's trade. Settling in Butler in 1832, he worked at his trade here as a journeyman for some two years, during which time he was employed on the construction of the Presbyterian Church. In 1834 he engaged in business for himself as a contractor and builder, and so continued until 1867. In ' and door factory of S. G. Purvis & Com- that year Mr. Purvis; taking his son Jo- seph in as partner, founded the firm of S. G. Purvis & Company, and they continued to be engaged in contracting and building exclusively until 1869, when they also em- barked in the planing-mill and lumber busi- ness. In 1878 they gave up contracting and building in order to devote their en- tire attention to their lumber and planing- mill business, which had by that time con- siderably increased in proportions. This they subsequently developed into a most flourishing business, which is continued at the present day, being now one of the lead- ing industrial enterprises of the city.

Though giving his chief attention to his own particular business Mr. Purvis was a man of varied activities. He was one of the founders of the Butler Water Com- pany and served as its first president; was at one time proprietor of the Demo- cratic Herald; was an original stockholder in the Butler and Allegheny Plank Road Company, and was president of the Butler Mutual Insurance Company from the time

of its organization until his death. He was a justice of the peace for sixteen years, and also served acceptably on the School Board. From his youth up, he was a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian Church of Butler, in which for many years he was also an elder and trustee. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. He was a man always interested in the welfare of the community, and ever ready to lend a help- ing hand to any worthy cause.

Levi O. Purvis was born in Butler, May 12, 1846. He was the third son of his par- ents, Samuel G. and Elizabeth Purvis, and was educated in the public schools and at Witherspoon Institute. After learning the carpenter's trade he worked at it as a journeyman until 1876, at which time he became a member of the firm of S. G. Pur- vis & Company, with which he was con- nected for many years. Then, with his son, Harold G., he established the firm of Levi O. Purvis & Company, manufactur- ers of and dealers in sash, doors, blinds and general wood-work, having a fine plant at No. 100 S. Franklin Street. The firm has been quite successful and is num-

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bered among the representative business institutions of the city. Mr. Purvis is a Democrat politically, and has performed useful service on the School Board for twelve years. He belongs to Butler Lodge, F. & A. M., and also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. Purvis married Zoe Dempsey, a daughter of Captain Francis Dempsey, of Erie, Pennsylvania. He has five children : Harold G., Clara, Florence, May and Bes- sie. All the members of the family be- long to the Presbyterian Church.

FREDERICK J. WINTERS, who car- ried on business as a contracting mason, is also the owner of a valuable farm of eighty acres on which he resides, and which is situated in Penn Township. He was born March 27, 1855, in Jackson Township, But- ler County, Penna., his parents being Con- rad and Sophia (Deitrich) Winters.

Conrad Winters was born in Germany and before coming to America learned the trade of stone cutter. After settling in Jackson Township, Butler County, he con- tinued to work at his trade and also cul- tivated a farm. He was twice married, the second time to Dora Smith, in 1871. She died in 1895. Of this union there was one child, Mary, now the wife of George Dun- can of Connoquenessing Township. Mr. and Mrs. Winters were members of the German Lutheran Church at Zelienople and were liberal contributors to its sup- port. Of their four children two reached maturity, namely: Frederick J., and An- na, who married Frank Galbraith. Con- rad Winters died November 29, 1901, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

Frederick J. Winters lost his mother when he was only three and a half years old and during his boyhood he attended school in different townships through But- ler County. He learned the trade of stone- mason with an uncle, and has worked at it, in conjunction with farming, ever since, having done quite a large amount of bridge

construction for the county. In 1886 he bought his present farm in Penn Town- ship, of which he has about fifty acres under cultivation, raising corn, oats, wheat and hay. He also keeps from four to six head of horses, using them in his business.

Mr. Winters married Charlotte Klinger, a daughter of John Klinger, a farmer of Penn Township, and they have had ten children, as follows: Clara Louisa, Frank Edward, John David, Charles Conrad, Pearl Alice, William Albert, Russell Clyde, Bertha Marie (deceased), Victor Eugene, and Laura Catherine. The eldest daugh- ter is the wife of Albert Winroe, of Penn Township, and they have four children- Laura Marie, Helen Clara, Edna Cather- ine, and Bertha Leona. Frank married Margaret Lavery and lives in Penn Town- ship. He has two children-John Edward and Paul Raymond. John married Lydia Hager, who died leaving one child, Fred- erick Lemont, who is also now deceased. John also lives in Penn Township. Charles married Agnes Peters and they have one child-Dorothy Alma; they also are resi- dents of Penn Township. The three sons -Frank, John and Charles-have also learned the stone cutters' and masons' trade and are now engaged in contracting in that line of industry.

JOHN FINDLEY SHANNON, Justice of the Peace, general merchant and promi- nent citizen, has been a resident of Cal- lery since August, 1888. He was born De- cember 22, 1854, in Franklin Township, Butler County, Penna., and is a son of Matthew .W. and Mary (Stephenson) Shannon.

Leonard Shannon, the great-grand- father of John F., was born in Ireland and when he came to America he settled in Butler County, along Muddy Creek, and there many of the family still reside. David Shannon, son of Leonard and grandfather of John F., was born in But- ler County and became a man of property

FREDERICK J. WINTERS

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and influence. He married Betsey White, who belonged to a pioneer family of Butler County, which had founded the village of Whitestown. She died in the year follow- ing her marriage and David Shannon mar- ried (second) Anna White, the sister of his first wife. The children born to them were: John L., now deceased; Matthew W .; David; Samuel, now deceased; Mary, now deceased, who was the wife of Robert Lemon; Fannie, who married M. McCul- lough, both now deceased; and Rachel, who married Alfred Hines, also both deceased.

Matthew W. Shannon was born in 1821, in Connoquenessing Township, Butler County, to. which his father had moved. The latter built a sawmill and a grist mill and operated them there for some years and then moved further south and bought 400 acres which was called the old Shan- non farm. On that property he built a sawmill and from his timber land came the lumber for the first frame Court House built at Butler. David continued to own the mill but it was operated by his sons, John L. and Matthew W. For a number of years it was run continuously, being the only mill in that part of the county at that time, but later it was washed away in a freshet. Matthew W. Shannon continued to live at home for several years after his marriage and then rented what is now known as the Grossman farm, south of Prospect, the same on which his son John Findley was born. This farm he operated for several years and then purchased a small farm north of Whitestown, on which he lived until 1864, when he sold it and moved to the Martin farm, for two years. He then bought a part of the old John J. Eakin farm, in Connoquenessing Town- ship, to which he later added. Subse- quently he retired and with his wife re- sides at Mt. Chestnut.

Matthew Shannon married Mary Ste- phenson, who is a daughter of Nathaniel Stephenson, of Franklin Township, and they had nine children born to them,

namely: David, Stephenson and Alfred, all three now deceased; John F .; Matthew W .; Benjamin F .; Jennie, widow of Abra- ham Hemphill; Anna, wife of W. J. Moore; and Nettie, now deceased, who was the wife of Clarence C. Double.

John Findley Shannon was reared on the home farm and remained there until he was about twenty-nine years of age. His educational advantages were not of the best but he studied hard whenever he had an opportunity and prepared himself for teaching. During the winter of 1875 and the spring of 1876, he taught success- fully at the Divener school and later at the Martin and the Whitestown schools, devoting about eight years to educational work. He then learned brick-laying with W. J. Gilliland at Mars, at which place he later became express agent and also worked in several stores at Mars, for W. H. Walter, for Gilliland & Marshall and for the late T. M. Marshall. On November 14, 1884, he moved to Saxonburg Station, where he worked in the general store of H. F. Eicholtz, and also in the express and railroad office and in the post-office until 1887. He then removed to Buttercup for a short time and then, in 1888, he bought out the general store of Alexander M. Beers, who also conducted the post-office, at Callery. In 1892 he lost his building and stock by fire, after which he built his present commodious quarters. He was appointed postmaster in 1888 and served six years, and in 1903 his wife was ap- pointed to the office, which she still fills, and public business is conducted in the store. In politics he is a Republican and in 1895 he was elected justice of the peace, serving ever since. He is also Clerk of Callery Borough Council and is secretary of the Callery School Board, and has also served as township auditor.

On June 24, 1884, Mr. Shannon was married to Miss Bessie A. Rice, who is a daughter of Henry B. and Catherine Rice, of Cranberry Township, Butler County.

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Mr. and Mrs. Shannon have had five chil- dren, namely: Frank, deceased; Harry W .; Orion F., deceased; Mernia M. and Cleo B. Mr. Shannon is a member of the Odd Fellows and Maccabees.

MISS MARY A. SLATER, one of the most highly esteemed ladies of Donegal Township, belongs to one of the old and honorable families of Butler County, and is a Daughter of the American Revolution, through her great-grandfather, John Slater. Miss Slater was born April 16, 1847, in Oakland Township, Butler County, Penna., and is the only surviving daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Rancle) Slater.

The Revolutionary patriot, John Slater, bore no insignificant part in the great struggle for American independence, his period of actual service extending through four years and ten months. His command- ers were Generals Washington and Lafay- ette. A small mark on his little finger was the only injury that he carried through his subsequent life. He was yet a young man when his military service ended and he came to Butler County among its early pioneers, lived out the balance of a worthy life and his dust now reposes in the old Butler cemetery.

Samuel Slater, father of Miss Mary A. and her brother, John W. Slater, with whom she resides, was one of the valued citizens of Oakland Township, for many years, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, December 20, 1895. He married Margaret Rancle, who was born in 1808, in Westmoreland Town- ship, Butler County, and died in 1904. They had four children, namely: Eliza- beth, Susanna, Mary A. and John W.

John W. Slater has resided on his pres- ent farm of nine acres since 1888, and he also owns the home farm of fifty-two acres, which he inherited from his father's estate. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1844, and has resided continuously on farms in his native

county. When he took possession of this farm it was only a tract of uncleared tim- ber and it formerly belonged to William Rancle. Mr. Slater has done all the clear- ing and improving here, which is very con- siderable, and, together with farming has developed oil on his land. It is a valuable property at present and is situated three miles south of Chicora, on the Butler road.

In 1870 Mr. Slater was married to Miss Sarah Wilson, who was born in Armstrong County, Penna., in 1848, and is a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Staup) Wilson. There were the following children in the Wilson family: Sebastus, Mary, Harriet, William and Catherine, deceased; and Sarah. To Mr. and Mrs. Slater seven chil- dren were born, namely: Samuel, Sebas- tus, Emma E., Stephen A., William J., May and Joseph, the latter two living at home. Samuel resides at Mannington, West Virginia. He married Maria King and they have two children: Ralph J. and Francis. Sebastus lives at St. Mary's, Ohio. He married Alice Henning and they have three children : Paul, Carl and Ellen. Emma E. married Joseph McElwee, of St. Cloud, West Virginia, and they have four children: George, Francis, Eugene and Benjamin. Stephen A. lives in California. He married Earla Kelley and they have six children : Hazel, Dorothea, Eva, Philip, Clara and John .. William J. mar- ried Minerva Iman and they live in West Virginia and have two children: Ethel and Harold.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 135

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