Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 149

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 149

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William Seaton married Rebecca Van- derlin, a daughter of John Vanderlin, who also was a pioneer settler here. This union resulted in the following issue: Catherine; Margaret, who married Theodore Hovis, by whom she has the following children- Marshall, William, Parker and Darley; Caroline, who is the wife of James Jack and the mother of four children- Grant, Edwin, Nancy and Mallie; John, who mar- ried Elizabeth Thompson, a daughter of William Thompson, and has three children -William, Roy and Delphine; William G., whose name heads this sketch; Hattie, wife of Stephen Cooper, by whom she has a son and daughter, Amelia and Delbert; Elias, who married Polly Ann Wasson, and has the following children-Roy, Elmer, Park- er, Clara, Merritt and Amos; Lewis, who married Isabell McCoy, by whom she had four children-Harry, Lewis, Edward and John; and Amos, ex-county treasurer, who married Mary Laughlin, by whom he had the following children-Henrietta, Del- phine, Ada, Percy, Fannie, Homer R., Dar- ley, Elias and Lewis M.

William G. Seaton first attended school in Marion Township, and later the Smith school in Venango Township. His father purchased a tract of fifty acres of land, which he helped to clear of timber, which they burned but which would now com- mand a high market value. He killed deer on the home place and in this way they

raised money, during. the early days, with which to pay the taxes. After his mar- riage in 1862, William G. Seaton settled on a fifty acre tract, which he also cleared and in his time has hewed many rails. He purchased another tract of twenty-six acres, making a total of seventy-six. Af- ter acquiring this property he killed in all fifteen wild deer, and much other wild game. He erected a set of farm buildings, including a house, and all were destroyed by fire, but were immediately rebuilt in more modern style. He has a coal bank on the farm which was in operation at one time, but farming has always been his main occupation.

Mr. Seaton was united in marriage with Ellen Burk, a daughter of John Burk, and the following children were born to bless their home: Marshall, who married Min- nie Johnston, a daughter of William John- ston, and has a son, Evert; Della, de- ceased; Agnes, deceased; Eva Belle, de- ceased; William, who married Cynthia Kerr, a daughter of Alexander Kerr, and has three daughters-Gladys, Mabel and Goldie; Ella, wife of Lee Heasley, by whom she has three children-Paul, Ressie and Lee; Katherine, who married Samuel Davis, and has three children-Claire, Har- ry and Mildred; Anna, who married Lewis Kerr; and Plummer, who married Jessie Pearl Wasson and has four children-Bes- sie, Arthur M., Earl B. and Ellen Addie. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Seaton are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Annandale. He is a Republican in poli- tics.

NAAMAN F. BARTLEY, a leading ag- riculturist of Clay Township and one of its prominent and representative men, re- sides on his fine farm of seventy-five acres, which is situated one mile northeast of the Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church, ad- joining the Second District School, of Clay Township, was born at Birmingham, Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, October 31,

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1848, and is a son of Joseph and Mar- garet (Kirkland) Bartley.

Joseph Bartley was born in the southern part of Butler County, Pennsylvania, where his father, James Bartley, had set- tled when he came to Pennsylvania from Ireland. In Allegheny County, Joseph Bartley was married to Margaret Kirk- land, and there he followed his trade of brickmaker until 1851, when he purchased a farm in Jefferson Township, Butler County. They lived there until about 1862 and then sold and moved to land in Penn Township, where the remainder of their lives were spent.

Naaman F. Bartley was three years old when his parents moved to Jefferson Township and was fourteen when the fam- ily settled in Penn Township. The latter farm has been found rich in oil deposits, but this discovery was not made until it had passed out of Mr. Bartley's posses- sion. He attended the township schools and later the Reidsburg Academy, in Clari- on County. After he returned home from the academy he decided to enter the army and on February 11, 1865, he enlisted, al- though but sixteen years of age, in Com- pany E, Seventy-eighth Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, being stationed during the greater part of this time at Nashville, Tennessee. In Septem- ber, 1865, he was mustered out at Harris- · burg, Pennsylvania, and returned to his home in Butler County.

Mr. Bartley soon began to teach school, which he continued until 1875, teaching three terms in Clay Township, since when he has been engaged in general farming. Mr. Bartley endorses many modern meth- ods and has proved on his own land the value of scientific agriculture. He has in- terested himself and others in matters which are of great moment to the agricul- turist and has been identified with local organizations, particularly the Grange. He "was one of the promoters of the Farmers'

Institutes in Butler County and in May, 1908, was appointed county chairman of this agricultural body. He is also a mem- ber of the State Board of Agriculture of Pennsylvania. He has improved and de- veloped his farm and made it one of the most valuable in the township.

On March 5, 1868, Mr. Bartley was mar- ried to Miss Emma Zillah McCandless, who is a daughter of William H. and Mary Ann McCandless, of Franklin Township. They have had four children: William M., Vil- etta Margaret, Melvin Oscar and Clifford Foster. William M. Bartley is a physi- cian practicing in North Dakota, a grad- uate of the Baltimore Medical College. He owns land in Dakota and also in Cuba. He married Ada L. Miller and they have three children-Charles Miller, Mary Zil- lah and June. Viletta Margaret Bartley died in 1898. She was the wife of Thomas O. Kelly and she left two children-Philip Eugene and Emma Phyrn. Melvin Oscar Bartley is the manager of the home farm. He married Della May Hogg and they have six children-Cleora Fay, Olive Viletta, Florence Kathleen, Mabel Angie, Eugene Kyle and Emma Laverna. Clifford Fos- ter died March 27, 1897. Mr. Bartley and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

JOHN A. SLAGLE, who owns oil prop- erty and engages in truck gardening in Fairview Township, about two miles east of Chicora, Butler County, has been a resi- dent of this township since February, 1889, but was born in Valley Township, Arm- strong County, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1853. His parents were Daniel and Lucinda (Bowser) Slagle.

For over fifty years the parents of Mr. Slagle lived on the old Slagle homestead in Valley Township, Armstrong County, and they both died there, the father when aged eighty-four years and the mother aged eighty-one years. They were quiet, vir- tuous, farming people, respected, esteemed

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and beloved. They had twelve children born to them, the record being as follows: Lemuel H .; Chambers, deceased; Miles; John A .; Mary, who married Matthew Mc- Cullins; Samuel; Harvey, deceased; Jane, who married Thomas Bowser; Emma, de- ceased, who was the wife of Calvin Peters; Catherine, who married Shadrich Starr; David; and Ella, who married David French.

John A. Slagle was educated in Arm- strong County and remained there until he was about twenty-five years of age and then went out on the road for a time, trav- eling in the interest of a sewing machine company. He came to Fairview Township from Mckean County, where he resided for eight years previously, and since then has been engaged in truck gardening and in the oil business.

On September 26, 1878, Mr. Slagle was married by Rev. Armbaugh, to Miss Emma Holder, who is a daughter of Joseph and Susanna (Harmon) Holder, both of whom were born in Armstrong County and spent their lives there, the father dying at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Slagle is the sixth member of her parents' family of ten children, the others being: Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Barney Hiles; Margaret, who married Martin Ward, deceased; John, deceased; William; Chambers; Samuel, deceased; Mattie, who is the widow of Andrew Young; Nanie, de- ceased; and Armstrong.

Mr. and Mrs. Slagle have an adopted daughter, Nellie M., who is a bright little girl of ten years, attending school. Mr. Slagle and wife are members of the Re- formed Church. He is not a very active politician, but may always be found doing his full duty by his community. He is a member of the Knights of Maccabees, at Chicora.

JOHN F. PEOPLES, a well known citi- zen of Venango Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, was born on the old home-

stead, the place on which he now lives in that township. He is a son of John and Margaret (Murrin) Peoples, and a grand- son of Patrick and Sarah (Callahan) Peo- ples, residents of Ireland.

Patrick and Sarah Peoples became par- ents of the following children : John, father of the subject of this sketch, William, James, Alexander, Columbus, Mary and Hannah.

John Peoples was married to Margaret Murrin, a daughter of Joseph Murrin of Venango Township, and their children were as follows: Katharine (Barr); Mary (Shearon) ; Susan; Joseph, deceased; Han- nah L. (Shearon) ; John F .; and Matilda, who died in infancy. Katharine Peoples married William Barr of near Butler, and has the following children: Margaret, Sarah, Matilda, Joseph, Rosanna, William and Vincent. Mary Peoples married John Shearon of Venango Township and their offspring is as follows: Margaret and Grace, twins; Patrick and Mayme. Hannah L. Peoples married James Shearon, by whom she had three daughters and a son, namely : Stella, Sarah, John and Matilda. She formed a second union with Robert Trumbull of Hilliard, and they have a son and a daughter, Edward and Barbara.

Johhn F. Peoples in his boyhood days attended the old Cochran school in Ven- ango Township, after which he took up agricultural pursuits. He was born in the little log house which was built by his par- ents in 1840 and still stands on the farm. He has 152 acres of good land, forty of which is under cultivation. He has twenty acres of young timber, and the remainder is covered with valuable timber. He has an orchard and a good set of farm build- ings, all of which were built by him but the old log house. There are two veins of coal underlying the land, which have never been worked. He is a Democrat in politics, and is road supervisor and road master of Ven- ango Township.

August 27, 1884, John F. Peoples was

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

umited in marriage with Miss Sarah Me- Guinley, a daughter of Charles McGuinley, and the following children were born to them: Charles Joseph, who is engaged at the mines; James A., who also is working at the mines; John, who assists his father on the farm; Katharine Gertrude; Francis Edward, deceased; Margaret E .; Mary L .; Patrick Henry; Emma, deceased; two who died in infancy; and Hugh Leo. Relig- iously, they are members of the St. Also- phus Church at Murrinsville.

DAVID GARVIN BASTIAN is a son of William McKinley and Amy Garvin Bas- tian and was born in the borough of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, on the 27th day of September, 1858. He received his education in the public schools of the county, in the Harmony Academy, Har- mony, Pennsylvania ; at the Military Acad- emy, Haddonfield, New Jersey, and at the Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Penn- sylvania. The history of wars and the heroic and chivalrous achievements of their heroes charmed and thrilled him; and he was ambitious to become a soldier. At nineteen years of age, he received the ap- pointment as cadet to West Point; and the star of his hopes was luminous with prom- ise. After receiving the appointment, he applied himself to the required studies for admission with the greatest industry and perseverance and successfully passed the examination ; but the severe strain to which he subjected himself in his mental prepara- tion impaired his health and barred him temporarily from joining the cadets. After carefully considering the lessons from this incident, he concluded to abandon the life of a student and soldier and enter the com- mercial world. In connection with George B. Bastian, his brother, he engaged in the hardware business in the borough of Zel- ienople, which he conducted with energy and success for more than twenty years; and until his large, commodious and hand- some store building and its wares were con-

sumed by fire in the winter of 1902. Since then he abandoned the mercantile life and turned his attention to real estate and the indulgence of his natural and pronounced talent for the art of the taxidermist. Mr. Bastian is a born artist, and had he the opportunity to develop his natural aptitude for painting or taxidermy, he would have taken high rank in either department. His ability, skill and proficiency in taxidermy were recognized by Dr. Holland, who se- lected him out of a list of forty-seven ap- plicants as one of three taxidermists at the Carnegie Institute at Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania.

Mr. Bastian married Miss Sovina Peters Hoffecker, who is a daughter of W. L. and Elmina Amelia Hoffecker, and was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her father was an expert engineer and at the time of his death was superintendent of the motive power of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company. His widow survived him and is still living in the home city, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Bastian have four children: Elmina, Garvin, Hellen Sovina and William Hoffecker. In religion, the family are Presbyterians. In politics, Mr. Bastian is a Republican with tendencies toward Prohibition. He never consented to be a candidate for any political office, but accepted the appointment as president of the Board of Health for four years. He is an intelligent and progressive citizen and has always been an active and controlling factor in all the commercial and civic enter- prises of his town. He is a fearless and uncompromising champion of human rights and denounces wrong wherever he finds it. He is a man of strong and intense religious nature without cant or acerbity, and a jo- vial, sociable and very companionable neighbor and friend.

William McKinley Bastian was born No- vember 16th, 1813, in Armstrong Town- ship, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and died July 9th, 1887. He was a useful and enterprising business man and an extensive

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manufacturer of agricultural implements. He originated and manufactured the "Bas- tian Four-horse-power Threshing Ma- chine," which was the best of its kind and retained the lead and preference up to the advent of the steam thresher. For a num- ber of years he was engaged in an extensive mercantile business with his brother-in-law, John Hall, in the borough of Butler. This venture was not a success; and at its close in 1859, he moved with his family to Zelien- ople and purchased a hotel property from John Knox, which was called "The Bastian House, " and which he conducted during the Civil War and up to the year 1879, when he sold it and retired from active business. He inherited the jovial and sunshiny na- ture of his father, Peter Bastian, and was universally loved and esteemed. He pos- sessed the most open and unselfish nature, and was never distrusted. He had but few ambitions, and cared but little for the shout of the multitude or the blare of the political trumpet. He will not be remembered for any great or noted achievement; but the little sympathies he showed for the unfor- tunate; the little acts of kindness he did for others; the little encouragements he dropped into sad lives; the dainty little hopes he planted in the waste places of cheerless hearts; the little sunbeams of cheer he drifted into the dark corners of desolate souls; and the number of Hearts- ease and Forget-me-nots he planted along the by-ways of human experience, make up the blessed heritage he left to his family and friends.

He married Miss Amy Garvin, November 11th, 1841, and had eight children: George Byards, Margaret, Amelia, Frances, Amy, Willhelmina, Eliza, David Garvin and Jo- sephine; the latter died when nine months of age. George Byards Bastian married Caroline Endress, a daughter of Adam Endress, a wealthy and retired farmer of Zelienople, who is still living; Margaret Amelia married Oliver C. Genther of Wheeling, West Virginia ; Frances married

Frank Fletcher of Connecticut, but died three weeks after her marriage; Amy died at the age of eighteen; Willnelmina mar- ried J. F. Strieby, a prominent lawyer of Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Eliza mar- ried Alton Hopkins of Denver, Colorado.

Amy Garvin Bastian was born in Cran- berry Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, on May 14th, 1823, and died May 21st, 1896. She was no ordinary woman, but a conspicuous and unique character. No one ever met her without being im- pressed with the magnetic strength of her own individuality. She possessed great force of character, a strong and iron will, sound judgment, and was of queenly and commanding presence. Her perceptions were keen and quick, her discrimination fine and intelligent and her conclusions logical and accurate. She was a positive force in the community where she lived. The influ- ence of her life was always on the right side. Her impulses were all tender, noble and generous; her sympathies were as ge- nial and warm as the sunshine and as broad and deep as life itself. She made her life valuable, and impressed her individuality deep in the minds and memory of her friends and in the nature and character of every member of her family. The sphere of her activities was not wide, but the fruit- age of her life was bountiful. She was a daughter of David and Parmelia Malison Garvin. Parmelia Malison was a daugh- ter of Thomas and Amy Newton Malison; and Amy Newton was a full cousin of Sir Isaac Newton, the philosopher.

George Byards Bastian was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 7th day of January, 1844. He was educated in the public schools and was a graduate of the Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. On August 11th, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 134th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers; and on February 17th, 1863, was promoted to the position of Second Lieutenant. After leaving the army, he returned to Zelienople

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and became an active and energetic busi- ness man and a leader in all the progressive movements in his community. Ile was ap- pointed postmaster at Zelienople in 1872 and continued in office for twelve years. He was deeply interested in the Agricultural Society of the county and served as presi- dent of the Harmony Fair Association for a number of years. He was one of the chief promoters in the rural districts of the Nar- row Gauge Railroad Company and ren- dered valuable and efficient service in hav- ing the road pass through his native town. He moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1881, and opened up the larg- est and most expensively furnished art and toy store in central Pennsylvania. He con- ducted this business with energy and suc- cess until the disastrous and unprecedented thirty-four-foot flood of 1889 swept through the valley and made many rich men poor. On account of the kind and character of his stock of goods, the damage done to them amounted to an absolute loss and practi- cally nothing was saved from the ruin. He died October 28th, 1907, and was buried in East Wildwood on a beautiful slope facing the setting sun, a suitable and fitting rest- · ing place for one whose star of business hope went down behind the clouds into the darkness of a night that knows no dawning.

The Bastians of this country descended from the distinguished German family of SeBastians. Their ancestors came to this county before the Revolutionary War and the name SeBastian was retained by the family up to the present generation. George Michael SeBastian married Ra- chael Wenn. After leaving their home in Germany and before reaching the seaboard, they were compelled to go into service to accumulate more money before proceeding on their journey to this country. They were Lutherans. They stopped at a Catholic set- tlement and attended their church; but not being acquainted with their services and not crossing themselves according to the Catholic custom, they were privately rep-

rimanded by the priest, but agreeing to conform to the Catholic practice, they were allowed to continue to attend their church. After remaining in this settlement for nine months, they again resumed their journey. Their voyage was very rough and stormy ; and at one time they were cast upon an island, but finally they landed at the port of Philadelphia. They settled in what was then Northampton but now is Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. They afterwards moved to Selinsgrove, where they died and were buried. They had five sons and one or two daughters. The sons were: Jacob, who served six months in the Revolutionary War; Daniel, who at the age of sixteen served as a drummer boy in the same war; and George, Peter and Andrew. Peter Se- Bastian remained at Philadelphia, and his son Peter came to Williamsport and built a tavern on the south bank of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, which was known far and wide for its sumptuous board and the good cheer, warm greeting and hosiptality of its host. He married Mary Artley and their children were: Henry, William Mckinley, John S., Henri- etta, Josephine, Mary, Julia, and Margaret.

The Garvin ancestors came from Scot- land. The reign of Charles II of Scotland, which lasted from 1650 to 1668, was one of marked cruelty to the Covenanters. All those who were not killed were forced to flee for their lives or renounce their re- ligion. In 1684, during what was called "The Killing Time, " David Garvin and his wife Elizabeth, and their young sons, John and James, fled from their home near Dum- barton in Scotland to a colony of Covenant- ers, that had been established in the north- ern part of Ireland near Londonderry. After the death of their father in 1735 four of his children, David, James, Elizabeth and Thomas Garvin, emigrated to America. Whittier tells the story in one of his poems, published in 1888, of Mary Garvin, who was stolen from her parents by the Indians and returned to them twenty years later.

W. F. RUMBERGER

RESIDENCE OF W. F. RUMBERGER, BUTLER

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David Garvin, one of the brothers of Mary Garvin, and the great-grandfather of David Garvin Bastian, moved to Virginia and owned a number of slaves. One of the emi- grant Garvins had a daughter by the name of Margaret. Her husband and five of their children were massacred by the Indians. She and one daughter were taken captive and carried into Canada. After some years of captivity, they were ransomed and re- turned to their friends and died and were buried in Pennsylvania.

WILLIAM F. RUMBERGER, one of Butler's leading citizens, who is largely identified with its business interests and public affairs, has been city treasurer of Butler Borough since 1902. He was born July 30, 1855, at Fairview, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William F. Rumberger, who was one of the pioneer woolen manufacturers of Western Penn- sylvania.

When Mr. Rumberger was about one year old, his parents moved to Armstrong County, where he was reared, and he later secured his education in the old Wither- spoon Academy at Butler, Pennsylvania. His first introduction to business was in his father's woolen manufacturing plant at Craigsville, Armstrong County, and in the course of time he became a member of the firm with his father and continued there until 1893, for some years having been particularly engaged in buying wool. Later he became identified with the Guar- antee Safe Deposit and Trust Company, of which he was a director and was in charge of the real estate department. In 1906 he secured his present offices in the Odd Fellows' Temple, at Butler, and does an extensive real estate. and insurance business in addition to managing his large personal real estate holdings. He owns one of the finest homes at Butler, its loca- . - tion being on Oak Street, and he has built and owned a number of other fine resi- dences in different sections of the city.

In 1893 Mr. Rumberger was married to Miss Emma P. Scott, who was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Rumberger are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Butler, of which he has been treasurer for a number of years.

WILLIAM J. SAGER, manager of the Clutton General Store, at West Liberty, Butler County, is one of the representative men of Brady Township and has been in his present responsible position since 1893. He was born on a farm, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1865, and is a son of Benjamin and Ellen (Dennison) Sager.

Mr. Sager attended school in Mercer County until he was fifteen years of age, when his parents moved on a farm in Slip- pery Rock Township, Butler County, where he remained until 1891. In that year he mar- ried Miss Effie Clutton, who is a daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Clutton. Mr. and Mrs. Sager have two children: Margaret and George. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a very active citizen of West Liberty and is a member of the borough council.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 149

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