Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 136

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 136

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Miss Slater has many friends in the pleasant social circle of the neighborhood. She is a devoted member of St. Patrick's Church, of Sugar Creek Township, Arm- strong County. She takes a very reason- able pride in her Revolutionary ancestry and in the fact of her family being for so long one of importance in this section.

WILLIAM JOHN WELSH, residing on his valuable farm of 120 acres, a part of the old Welsh homestead, in Jefferson

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Township, is in the fourth generation of the family that has lived on this place. He was born in Jefferson Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1847, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Cun- ningham) Welsh.

The Welsh family is of Irish extraction and both father and grandfather of Mr. Welsh were born in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1815, settling at Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, where John Welsh followed his trade of baker. In 1821 the Welsh family came to Butler County and John Welsh purchased 300 acres of land, which he subsequently cleared. His log cabin was built on what is now the site of the present residence. He possessed more capital than did many of his neighbors. lived better and built the first two-story trame residence ever erected in this sec- tion of Jefferson Township. When he died, full of years, he was buried in the family graveyard on his own land.

Thomas Welsh was eight years old when he accompanied his father from Ireland, and on the death of the latter he became the head of the family. He accumulated an ample fortune and took a prominent part in public affairs in township and county and served in many offices, includ- ing one term as county commissioner. He was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Butler.

William John Welsh has always lived on his present farm, which is situated one mile west of Jefferson Center, on the Jef- ferson and Glade Mill Road. He attended the Saxonburg School, going from there to Jefferson School. He then took up the work of the farm, on account of the death of his father, and has continued here ever since, making agricultural pursuits his life work. He carries on general farming and raises some excellent stock.

On May 10, 1876, Mr. Welsh was mar- ried to Miss Julia A. Patterson, who is a daughter of William R. and Lucinda (Peterson) Patterson. The Patterson

family is one of the most prominent ones of Butler County, one that can trace a long and honorable lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh have had five children, namely : Nancy, who died aged three months; Will- iam P., who is connected with the Stand- ard Steel Car Company, Hammond, In- diana, married November 6, 1906, Mary E. Wilson, of Slippery Rock, and they have one child, Elizabeth Wilson Welsh; Ada Bathia, who is the wife of Wilson A. Ger- ner, assistant storekeeper for the Stand- ard Car Company, of Butler; Thomas Marshall, who is connected with the Stand- ard Car Company, of Butler; and Clar- ence, who has charge of the home farm and is numbered with the successful young agriculturists of this section. Mr. Welsh and family belong to the Summit Presby- terian Church, in which he is an elder. For twenty-seven years he has served on the School Board, a large part of the time as its president, and at various times has held almost all of the township offices, being a man of public spirit and sterling citizen- ship. He is identified with the Odd Fel- lows, being a charter member of the local Encampment, and with the order, of Mac- cabees.

WILLIAM S. CASHDOLLAR, one of Adams Township's representative and substantial citizens, residing on one of his farms, containing eighty-six acres of the old homestead, and owning also 150 acres in the same township, was born in a log house standing on his father's farm in Adams Township, Butler County, Penna., April 12, 1836. His parents were William and Margaret (Richardson) Cashdollar.

The great-grandfather of William S. Cashdollar came to America from Ger- many and the grandfather came to Butler County from some point on the Ohio River. He had five children : John, Jacob, Joseph, William and Rosanna, the latter of whom married Samuel Black, and all are de- ceased. The children were separated more

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or less in youth, being bound out in dif- ferent families. William, father of Will- iam S., was born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, and was four years old when he was taken into the family of Mr. Parks, where he remained until he was twenty-one. He was reared a farmer but after leaving the Parks farm he engaged for a time in digging coal at Squirrel Hill, later went for a time to Pittsburg, but sub- sequently returned to Butler County and married a Miss Fowler. She died six months later. With his mother, Mrs. Cath- erine (Cashdollar) Smith, he then moved to Allegheny and for a short time operated a hotel there, but the business did not please him and he came back to Butler County. He then bought 200 acres of land in what was then Cranberry but is now Adams Township, and on that farm spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1882, aged eighty-two years. He marired (sec- ond) Margaret Richardson, who died in 1898, aged eighty-nine years. They had the following children: Catherine, who is the widow of Robert Hoon; John; William Smith; Joseph; James, deceased; Mar- garet, who is the widow of Jacob Miller; Washington, deceased; Samuel; Mary E., who married Samuel Staples; Rosanna, who married John Purvis; and Sarah M., who married Samuel Ramsey.

William Smith Cashdollar helped his father through the early years of his life and during three or possibly four months in the winter seasons, attended the ses- sions held in the old log school-house. After his marriage he moved to his pres- ent farm, which he had gradually bought, and he had all the clearing and improving to do. He put up all the present substan- tial buildings, and has gradually stocked his farm, and, although he has been a hard worker all his life, he has much to show for his efforts.

On June 23, 1863, Mr. Cashdollar was married to Miss Susan H. McNeil, who is a daughter of William and Fannie (Hamil-

ton) McNeil, formerly of Forward Town- ship. Mrs. McNeil still survives, a vener- able lady of ninety-one years, and is care- fully looked after in the home of her daughter. To Mr. and Mrs. Cashdollar have been born twelve children, three of whom are deceased. The survivors are: William H., who married Cassie Romack; Edward, who married Ella Fife; Anna, who married Harry Berringer; Elizabeth, who married Albert Hunas; Oliver, who maried Josephine Leise; Lester D., who married Florence Forsyth; John, who married Anna Reichle; Susan, who mar- ried William Ralston; and Laura Malinda, who married Lewis Kauffman. There are a number of grandchildren and Mr. and Mrs. Cashdollar take an interest in them all. They are members of the United Presbyterian Church in which he is an elder. In politics, he is an old-time Demo- crat.

B. C. HUSELTON, one of Butler's lead- ing citizens and older business men, who enjoys the distinction of having estab- lished the first store in this city devoted exclusively to dealing in shoes, has been almost a lifelong resident of Butler County. He was born in 1848, in Luzerne County, Penna., and is a son of Theodore Huselton.

The father of Mr. Huselton came to But- ler County in 1858 and settled on a farm near Butler, from which he later removed to the city of Butler, where he was en- gaged in the oil business and in real es- tate, and also in banking at Greece City.

B. C. Huselton was a school boy when the family came to Butler County and the first work he did was in the line of photog- raphy, during the Civil War. Later, he engaged with his father for a short time in the shoe business, under the style of Theodore Huselton & Son, and then pur- chased his father's interest and has been continuously engaged in the shoe line ever since. Many advances have been made in

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business methods from the old days when all his stock had to be brought from Pitts- burg, over the old plank road, and dis- posed of in small quarters, as all the early business houses were at that time. About 1873, Mr. Huselton purchased the ground on North Main Street, where he is now lo- cated, and here he built a two-story build- ing, with dimensions of 90 by 20 feet. This shoe store has been fitted up with all mod- ern conveniences and offers the most at- tractive appearance of any similar places in the city, while his long experience has made Mr. Huselton not only a competent judge of shoes, but also a judge of the demands of his customers.

Mr. Huselton was married (first) to Miss Jennie Reed, a daughter of Captain Reed, a former prominent resident of Al- legheny City. Mrs. Huselton survived only two years. Ten years later, Mr. Huselton was married (second) to Miss Agnes Shaw, a daughter of James Shaw, of Mc- Keesport, and they have two sons and one daughter: Edgar Chandler, James Shaw and Frances, the latter of whom resides at home. The elder son, a graduate of Mercersburg Academy, is associated with

his father in business. The second son is descended through a Johnson branch of a student at Dartmouth College.

CHARLES STEWARD McCLEL- LAND, M. D., is actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Glade Mills, Butler County, Penna., and enjoys high standing in the community. He was born in his present residence, July 23, 1871, and is a son of Robert C. and Annie (Dins- more) McClelland. His grandfather was George McClelland.

George McClelland was born in Alle- gheny County, Penna., and there learned the trade of a millwright. He moved to Mackville. Armstrong County, where he built a mill and operated it during the re- mainder of his life. He was united in mar- riage with Eliza McCaslin, who was born April 8, 1808, and died May 10, 1862. The

McCaslins in America date back to the year 1780, when William Brown and Chris- tiana (Thompson) McCaslin crossed the ocean from Ireland.

Dr. Robert C. McClelland, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Alle- gheny City, Penna., and after completing his course in the public schools, read med- icine under the direction of Doctor Cooper of that city. He later attended the medical department of the Western Reserve Uni- versity of Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1862. He engaged in practice in Armstrong County one year, then located at Glade Mills, But- ler County, where he purchased the prac- tice of Dr. Jacob Steward. He was for some years the only physician between Bakerstown and Butler, and in his prac- tice was called to points quite distant from home, making the trips on horseback. He was an energetic and progressive man, of good education, and was successful beyond the average of his time. His death oc- curred in middle life, in 1876, when aged but forty-one years. Politically, he was a Democrat. He was joined in marriage with Miss Annie E. Dinsmore, who was the family from an old pioneer of that name, who landed at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1620, bringing with him a coach and six horses, the first ever brought to America. Dr. and Mrs. McClelland became the par- ents of the following children : George Wil- son, deceased; Robert D .; Lida May, wife of John Snyder of Beaver; William J., who lives at home; Charles Steward; Grace A., wife of Dr. H. A. Smith of Delta, Colorado; and Harmer C., who graduated from Louisville Medical Col- lege with the class of 1908. Religiously, the parents of this family were of the Bap- tist faith, but as there was no church of that denomination in the neighborhood, they attended and supported the Presby- terian church. Mrs. McClelland died in December, 1903, at the age of sixty years.

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Charles Steward McClelland, after com- pleting his education in the public schools, entered Girard College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1888. During the following four years he was engaged in various kinds of work at dif- ferent times, and in 1892 entered the med- ical department of Western University of Pennsylvania, at Allegheny City. He was graduated from that institution in 1897, with the degree of M. D., and immediately thereafter embarked in practice at Glade Mills, where he has since continued. He lives in the home erected by his father soon after his arrival at that point. The latter also was the owner of a fine farm of sixty acres in Middlesex Township, which is now owned and operated by his heirs, who devote it largely to stock feed- ing. Oil was produced for many years on the property.

Dr. Charles S. McClelland was united in marriage with Bertha McClay, daughter of.Crawford McClay of Brady's Bend, and they have two children: Lida Catherine and Jessie Elizabeth. Religiously, they are members of the Middlesex Presbyte- rian Church. Doctor McClelland is a mem- ber and medical examiner of the Modern Woodmen of America at Glade Mills; and is also a member of the Butler County Medical Society. His father was a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge at Butler.

SAMUEL EVART TURNER, who has been identified with the oil industry ever since boyhood, is one of the most success- ful and experienced producers residing in Connoquenessing Township. He was born July 15, 1871, on Little Bear Creek, at Gib- son's Mill, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Jamison) Turner.

The father of Mr. Turner was born at Harlansburg, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1836, and died in April, 1902. When about eighteen years of age he learned the milling business, in Butler

County, and for some years he was at the Philips mill east of Butler, and later, op- erated the Gibson mill at Harvey's, where his son, Samuel E. was born. When the oil boom started at Parker's Landing, he became interested and acquired a one- thirty-second of an oil well on an island between Foxburg and Parker's Landing, in the Allegheny River. His returns from this investment encouraged him to continue his interest and he remained in the oil busi- ness during the remainder of his life. He had excellent judgment, was careful and calculating in his investments and for this reason was able to accumulate a compe- tency. He worked in the Butler County field until 1880, went then to the Bradford field until 1895 and then returned to But- ler County and located between Peters- ville and Harmony, living there during the rest of his life. He married a daughter of Samuel Jamison, of Greece City, and it was on his farm that the first well there was bored that was profitable. There were three children born to William and Eliza- beth Turner, namely: Mary, deceased, who was the wife of J. B. Jamison, of Bradford; John A., who resides at Butler; and Samuel E. The mother of the above family was a devoted member of the Bap- tist Church.

Samuel E. Turner was educated in the public schools and he obtained his busi- ness training under his father, later be- coming identified with him in his large oil operating. He was the main organizer of the Hill Oil Company, which is operating on the Shearer farm, and he has seven pro- ducing wells on the Butler, Harmony Ridge Row and has three producing wells on his home tract of ten acres. His long and intimate connection with this great industry has made Mr. Turner an authority on its present status and prob- able future extension.

Mr. Turner was married to Miss Eva Bolton, who is a daughter of Edward Bol- ton, formerly of Sharpsville, Mercer Coun-

SAMUEL E. TURNER

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ty, Pennsylvania. Her father died when she was small and she was reared in Clari- on and Mckean Counties. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have had three children: Eliza- beth Bolton, Alice Lucretia, and William Edward, the latter of whom died in in- fancy. Mr. Turner and family attend the Methodist Epsicopal Church and give lib- eral support.

In politics Mr. Turner, like his late father, is a Democrat. He is one of the original stockholders of the Connoquenes- sing Telephone Company. His father en- joyed a large measure of personal esteem on account of his many admirable traits of character, one of these being a genial man- ner and a kind consideration for others. These qualities are emphasized in the son and Mr. Turner is a very popular citizen. Like his father he is unpretentious, but many recognize the value of his friendship and the worth of his promises, whether they be of a business or personal nature.

ANDREW R. THOMPSON, justice of the peace of the borough of West Sun- bury and owner of 150 acres of land, a part of the farm lying within the borders of the borough, comes of a prominent old family of Butler County. He was born on this farm August 23, 1855, and is a son of Thomas C. and Sarah (Mckinney) Thompson.

John Thompson, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and upon com- ing to the United States settled on Char- tier's Creek, near McKee's Rocks, Penn- sylvania. From there he moved in 1796 to Butler County, locating on a farm in what now is the eastern part of Brady Township, where many of his descendants still live. He died in 1846, at the age of ninety-four years. His wife, in maiden life, Martha Humes, died in 1861, at the age of eighty-nine.

Thomas C. Thompson was born in what was then Center Township, now Brady

Township, in Butler County, Penna., and was a young man when about the year 1834 he located upon the farm now owned by his son, Andrew R. He was unmarried at the time and erected the fine brick home on the place before his marriage to Sarah Mckinney in 1841. She was born in Ire- land and was in childhood when brought by her father, John McKinney, to Butler County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Mckinney came to the county from Philadelphia and became a well-to-do citizen of Concord Township, where his descendants still own some 400 acres of land. He lived to the age of 103 years, and his wife to the age of eighty years; the mother of Mrs. McKin- ney reached the remarkable age of one hundred and six years.

There were eleven children born to Thomas C. and Sarah Thompson, all in the old home at West Sunbury. Five are now living, namely: W. J. Thompson of Butler; R. J. Thompson, also of Butler; Thomas H., who makes his home with the subject of this sketch; Sarah Jane, who lives in Chicago; and Andrew R. Several of the children died in infancy, and one, Annie, lived to maturity and was the wife of John L. Dunn. The parents of his fam- ily both died on the home farm, he in 1886 and she in 1896.

Andrew R. Thompson was reared on the farm and received a good education in the public schools. He has always followed farming and engaged in teaming in con- nection. He was twenty-two years old when elected justice of the peace on the Republican ticket, and he has served as such with marked ability to the present time. He also has been one of the school directors of the borough during the past twenty-five years.

Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Margaret Whitmire, a daughter of Henry Whitmire of Center Township, and they are parents of the following children : Henrietta; Thomas C .; Meade; James and Florence, twins; and John M. Religiously,

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the family belongs to the United Presby- terian church. Fraternally, Mr. Thomp- son is a charter member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows.

JAMES H. MORRISON, a well known liveryman and harnessmaker, is one of the leading business men of Harrisville, and a lifelong resident of this village. He was born June 9, 1857, in Harrisville, Butler County, Penna., and is a son of James Hosack and Martha (Hosack) Morrison, · who were cousins.

Samuel Morrison, grandfather of James H., was a native of Ireland and was a stone-cutter by trade. He emigrated to this country early in life, located in Mar- ion Township, Butler County, Penna., where he followed farming and worked at his trade until the time of his death, when fifty-six years of age. He was father of the following children: James H .; Hugh; John; David; Samuel; William; Henry; Rachel, wife of R. Van Dike; and Sarah, wife of J. C. Morrison.

James Morrison, father of James H., spent his boyhood days on the farm in Marion Township and at the age of seven- teen went to Butler, where he learned harnessmaking with Colonel Reed, ex- sheriff of Butler County. After a period of five years he returned to Harrisville, where he opened a harness shop, which he conducted successfully for a number of years. He married his cousin, Martha Hosack, who died in January, 1904, aged seventy-six years. His death occurred in February, 1905, when eighty years of age. James and Martha Morrison became the parents of the following children: Samuel Hazen, of Mercer, Pennsylvania; James Hosack, Jr .; Walter L., a resident of Har- risville; and two who died in infancy.

James H. Morrison grew to manhood in Harrisville. where he attended the common schools and also a private school. Early in life he began learning harnessmaking

in his father's shop, and about 1888 took entire charge of the business. In 1876 he and his brother established the present livery and harness business, James H. purchasing his brother's interest in 1880, and has since conducted same with unin- terrupted success. Since 1874 he has run an omnibus line to the depot, and in con- nection with this does general contracting for moving houses and laying stone walks. He has laid the greater part of the stone walks in Harrisville, this town having more stone walks -than any other town of its size in the county. He erected his pres- ent harness shop in 1904, and his residence was built in 1879. Mr. Morrison is a direc- tor and one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Harrisville.

On October 22, 1878, Mr. Morrison was joined in marriage with Anna E. Elleby, a daughter of Daniel Elleby, and to their union were born six children, three of whom died young. The survivors are: Cora, who is the wife of H. C. Gibson; Fred Hazen; and Ralph, a student of the Butler Business College, who was but twelve years old when he passed the county examinations and received a diploma from the superintendent of the county schools. Mr. Morrison is a Republican and has served four years on the town ciuncil.

WILLIAM HENRY REIHING, for- merly a well known citizen and substantial business man of Butler, at the time of his death, on February 22, 1892, was proprie- tor of the Willard Hotel, a hostelry which he had made equal to any in Western Pennsylvania. He was born at Butler, Pennsylvania, in March, 1860, and was a son of Jacob and Ann (Korn) Reihing. His father was a native of Germany and his mother, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

William H. Reihing completed his edu- cation in the Butler schools and when eighteen years of age went to Pittsburg, his mother's native city, where he re-

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mained until shortly after his marirage, when he returned to Butler and entered the employ of George W. Campbell, who was then proprietor of the old Willard Ho- tel. One year later Mr. Reihing leased the property and, realizing that it undoubtedly would prove a good investment, at the end of two more years he purchased it. It was his aim to make it a first class house and to this end he improved it to the ex- tent of an expenditure of $30,000. His ambition was realized but he lived but a short time to enjoy his success, his death taking place in the following year. He was a man of enterprise and of excellent busi- ness judgment and thus his loss was great to his fellow citizens, while a large circle of friends mourned him for his personal qualities.

In September, 1882, Mr. Reihing was united in marriage with Miss Mattie A. Golden, who was reared and educated at Pittsburg. She is a daughter of Timothy and Sally (Berry) Golden. Her parents were born in County Mayo, Ireland, and after their marriage they came to America and settled at Pittsburg, where Mr. Golden engaged in a grocery business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Golden died in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Reihing had three children born to them: Harry, George and Edna. All have been afforded superior educational advantages, the two sons at Fordham Col- lege, New York, and the daughter at St. Xavier College. Mrs. Reihing owns the Willard Hotel property and since the death of her husband has most capably managed it. The unaccustomed responsi- bilities fell heavily upon her at first, but the test soon showed that she was equal to the emergency and the Willard Hotel continues to enjoy a generous patronage.

In his religious faith, Mr. Reihing was a Catholic and he gave liberally to the church until his death. He was a man of charitable inclinations and gave gener- ously to benevolent enterprises. He was a member of the fraternal order of Elks.

JACOB B. RUMBAUGH, one of Chi- cora's leading citizens, holding the posi- tion of town constable, owning improved property and large oil interests, is also an honored veteran of the Civil War, and at the present writing (1908), is serving in his fourth term as commander of the Rob- ert McDarmett Post, No. 222, Grand Army of the Republic. He was born in Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County, Penna., in 1838, and is a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Rumbaugh.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 136

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