Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 150

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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Mrs. Sager is a member of a prominent family of Butler County, her father, the late Jonathan Clutton, for many years being a successful merchant and leading man. He died in February, 1903. His widow is also deceased. Miss E. G. Clutton, sister of Jonathan Clutton, is the propri- etor of the Clutton General Store at West Liberty, in which place she also owns a second store building. The Clutton store carries a full line of hardware, dry goods, shoes and groceries and is the largest en- terprise of its kind in this section and is in a most prosperous condition.

Frank Clutton, a brother of Mrs. Sager, is general superintendent of the Slippery Rock State Normal School. He was born at Prospect, Butler County, Pennsylvania,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

November 15, 1857, and until he was thir- teen years of age was reared by an aunt in Worth Township. In 1870 he moved to Slippery Rock and in 1879 was married to Miss Lola F. Riddle. Five children were born to this marriage, namely : Bertha, who died in 1892, aged twelve years; William K., a graduate of the Pharmacy depart- ment of the Western University at Pitts- burg, who is engaged in the drug business with his brother, Paul D., at Myersdale, Somerset County ; Paul D., who is a mem- ber of the firm of Clutton Brothers, drug- gists, at Myersdale, and married Mary F. Magee; Augustus T., who is a senior in the Slippery Rock State Normal School; and Frances E., who is a student in the Slip- pery Rock High School.

Prof. Clutton learned the trade of car- riage painter in his youth and then con- ducted a mercantile business with his aunt, E. G. Clutton, until his marriage. In 1880 he became manager of the branch store of Bard Bros., at Coaltown, and in 1882, while there, not only had all his property de- stroyed by the well remembered cyclone that swept through that section, but was also seriously injured, to such an extent that he was compelled to be out of business for months. After Bard Bros. rebuilt, he returned to them and continued in their employ until May, 1884, at Coaltown, and until October, at Slippery Rock. From there he went to Hazzard, Mercer County, where he had charge of the stores of a coal company, leaving there in June, 1886, to accept a position as bookkeeper at Millers- town, now Chicora. In June, 1887, he moved to Slippery Rock and went into a general store business under the name of Clutton Bros., No. 2, the firm, made up of himself and brother George W., already having a drug store. In 1891 George W. Clutton removed to New Castle, where he continues in the drug business, and at that time Frank Clutton sold the general store and took charge of the drug business at Slippery Rock, for some time also having

an interest in the New Castle store. In 1899 the partnership was dissolved and Frank Clutton continued the drug business at Slippery Rock under his own name and remained in the drug business until 1906, when he sold out to the firm of Mayberry & Pisor. In the meanwhile, his sons were trained in the store and now do a large business on their own account.

Mr. Clutton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Slippery Rock, a member of the board of stewards. He is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias.

JOSEPH T. MURRIN, residing on the old Murrin homestead in Venango Town- ship, was born on this farm May 18, 1855, and belongs to a very prominent and pro- lific family of Butler County. His parents were John and Bridget (Kelly) Murrin, and his grandfathers were Joseph and Frank Kelly.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Mur- rin were Joseph and Katherine (Keating) Murrin, and they had the following chil- dren : Hugh K .; John, who married Bridget Kelly; Margaret, who married John Peo- ple; Susan and Joseph, neither of whom married; Katherine, who married Hugh Forquer; and James, who married, first, Margaret McElroy, and second, Mary Logue.

The children born to John and Bridget Murrin were as follows : Joseph T .; Susan, who married Thomas Easley; Frank, who married Amelia, daughter of Joseph Young; James D., who married Minnie, daughter of Bernard Gardner; Katherine A., who married Thomas Robison ; Charles, who married Katherine, daughter of Peter Burns; and William A., Hugh, Mary and Agnes.

Joseph T. Murrin- attended the Rock school in boyhood and then assisted his uncle, Joseph Murrin, on the latter's farm. After he married he rented a farm in Ven- ango Township and then purchased eight- een acres of the old homestead. on which he

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has carried on agricultural operations ever since. He has no open coal bank, neither has he tested his land for either coal or gas. He takes no very active part in township politics, but votes with the Republican party.

On January 30, 1883, Mr. Murrin was married to Miss Evelyn McGuirk, who is a daughter of James McGuirk. They have seven children, all of whom have been gifted with a talent for music. With the exception of Susan Alice, the fifth child, who is the wife of William G. Pritchard, none have married. Mary Helena, the sec- ond child, after graduating from the Eau Claire school in June, 1905, entered the New York State Hospital and Training School for Nurses and was subsequently graduated at the Columbus State: Hospital, December 30, 1908, with very high marks and is still following her profession in that institution. The other children: James Henry, Bridget Elizabeth, John Thomas, Joseph F. and Helen Evelyn, all reside at home. Mr. Murrin and family are mem- bers of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church at Murrinsville.

. AARON SCHANTZ YOUNG, a promi- nent agriculturist and representative citi- zen of Jackson Township, residing on his farm of 125 acres, which is situated two and one-half miles from Evans City, was born on this place, in the old hewed log resi- dence, September 7, 1869. His parents are S. P. P. and Catherine (Schantz) Young.

The ancestors of Mr. Young, on both sides, came originally from Germany. His mother is a granddaughter of the first Zeig- ler, who came from east of the mountains, passing through Pittsburg, and thinking it of very little importance, came on to Har- mony and purchased the town with nearly all the surrounding farms from the Econ- omites, the present farm being among them. It was subsequently bought by Aaron Schantz, the maternal grandfather

of Aaron S. Young. Mr. Schantz built the log house in 1850, the log barn having been put up prior to that date. The land subse- quently became the property of S. P. P. Young and in 1900 was bought by its pres- ent owner.

The Young family, for several genera- tions, lived at Harmony, Pennsylvania, the grandfather having a tailor shop there for a long period. The father of Aaron S. Young learned the trade with his father and followed it at Harmony until he moved to Iowa, prior to the opening of the Civil War. He served in an Iowa regiment with the rank of captain. He is now in his eightieth year and has been a resident of Pittsburg for the past seventeen years. His wife also survives and is seventy-six years old. Of their eleven children seven sur- vive, namely: Elizabeth, who is the wife of W. N. Harper, of Pittsburg; Naomi, who is the widow of Samuel Knox, resides in Oklahoma; Flora, who lives with her aged parents; Annie, who is the wife of Rev. W. S. Kreiger, of Ohio; Aaron S .; Blanche, who is the wife of John Winfield Sloan, of Philadelphia; and Bertha, who resides at home. Susan, Laura, Sadie and Ensign are deceased.

Aaron S. Young lived at Harmony from the age of seven to fifteen years, at that time going to Pittsburg, where he learned the carpenter's trade and worked at this for fifteen years in that city, after which he came to Jackson Township and bought the old family farm. He takes a great deal of interest in improving the old place, which is a fine tract of land, and has re- cently set out an orchard; this, with his vineyards, covers about fifteen acres.

Mr. Young was married in 1895 to Miss Clara Haines, who was reared near Bed- ford. and they have six children, with ages ranging from twelve to two years, namely : Paul, Glenn, Margaret, Harold, Kenneth and John Carl. Mr. Young and family at. tend St. John's Reformed Church at Evans

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City. In his thoughtful views on public questions, Mr. Young has definitely identi- fied himself with the Prohibition party.

IIENRY PERRY DOUBLE, a repre- sentative citizen of Butler County, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on a fine farm of ninety-six acres, lying along the Western border of Cherry Township, ad- joining Slippery Rock Township, is also a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Double was born on a farm in Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1838, and is a son of Isaac and Nancy (Snyder) Double.

The maternal grandfather of Mr. Dou- ble, Conrad Snyder, came to Butler County from Westmoreland County, and became a large landholder, one of his farms being the one on which Mr. Double now resides. John Double, the paternal grandfather, came to Butler County from Westmoreland County, and settled in what is now Brady Township, where Isaac Double was born. After his marriage, Isaac Double went to housekeeping in Worth Township, and with the exception of about three years spent in Virginia after the war, he and his wife were residents of Worth Township all of their lives, both dying there.

Henry Perry Double was reared on the home farm in Worth Township, and there resided until April 22, 1862, at which time he came to his present farm, which has been his home to the present time. In Sep- tember, 1864; he enlisted in the Fiftieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, serving with that organization until the close of the war, and participating in a number of engagements, including Hatcher Run and Fort Steadman, although most of his service was around Petersburg, he be- ing present at the evacuation of that point. Mr. Double received his honorable dis- charge at Georgetown, District of Colum- bia, and, returning to his farm, began again to cultivate his land. This property on his arrival had been very little attended to,

and the only buildings it boasted were an old log cabin and barn. Almost all of the land is in a high state of cultivation now, and Mr. Double has erected a set of excel- lent farm buildings. He has been success- ful in his operations, and is looked upon as one of the substantial men of his commun- ity.

In 1865 Mr. Double was united in mar- riage with Mary McClure, who is a daugh- ter of James McClure, and they have had five children: Isaac Orrin, who married and died shortly thereafter; James Silas, who is married and lives in Butler; Percy L., who lives in Chicago; Grace E., wife of Roy A. Watson, a merchant of Slippery Rock; and Emma P., wife of Robert Davis, residing near Hilliards.

ELIAS K. TAYLOR, residing on his farm of thirty acres in Venango Township, two and one-half miles west of Eau Claire, erected a blacksmith shop on his property after coming here and does general repair work. He was born May 6, 1845, at Chi- cora, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Matthew and Sarah (Kephart) Taylor, and a grandson of James Taylor.

The children born to Matthew Taylor and his wife were: James, who married (first) Mary Love and (second) Elizabeth Gallagher; Elias, who married Barbara, daughter of Stephen Montgomery; Perry, who married Catherine, daughter of Will- iam Barnhart; Matilda, who married N. Gold; William, who died in 1861, a soldier in the Civil War, falling at Cedar Creek; and Samuel H. and Joseph B., both of whom are now deceased.

Elias K. Taylor obtained his education in the vicinity of his home and then helped his father on the farm until he married, after which he lived for one year at Bul- lion, Venango County, and then bought a lot at Eau Claire, on which he built a house which he subsequently sold to Samuel Kas- tor. He then bought a farm of seventy acres which he afterward sold to James

HARRY L. GRAHAM

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B. McJunkin, and then bought his present place, and since building his shop has done a good business at repair work and wagon .. making, in addition to cultivating his land.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had the fol- lowing children: Elmer; William who married Margaret, a daughter of James Lackey; James, who married Mary, a daughter of David Taylor; Wilbert, who married Gertrude, a daughter of John F. Wilds; Anna, who married Calvin Sloan; Clara, who married Joseph Kittler; and Emma and Julia, both of whom reside with their parents. Mr. Taylor and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Eau Claire. In politics he is a Democrat and he has acceptably served the township as road supervisor.

HARRY L. GRAHAM, a leading mem- ber of the Butler bar and one of the city's representative citizens, serving in his fourth year as secretary of the Board of Education, was born August 5, 1870, in Concord Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania.

Thomas Graham, father of Harry L., was born September 10, 1840, in Concord Township, Butler County, on the farm which his father, Edward Graham, Sr., entered from the Government in 1797. Thomas Graham is one of Concord Town- ship's representative agriculturists.

Harry L. Graham attended the public schools and then enjoyed academic train- ing both at North Washington and West Sunbury, Pa., graduating at the latter institution in June, 1889, when he entered the University at Wooster, Ohio, where he completed his collegiate course in June, 1893, two years later receiving his degree of A. M. Upon his return from the Uni- versity, in 1893, Mr. Graham began the study of law, with Attorney S. F. Bowser, and was admitted to the bar on December 11, 1895. He has also been admitted to practice in the Supreme and Superior Courts of the State of Pennsylvania and

the United States District Courts of West- ern Pennsylvania. With the exception of a short period, Mr. Graham has been in continuous practice at Butler ever since his admission to the bar. In 1890 he served as Deputy Prothonotary and for six years was a member of the Board of Auditors of Butler. He has given atten- tion to all public questions and is identi- fied with the Republican party, in 1900 serving as secretary of the Republican County Committee. Aside from politics, however, Mr. Graham has been an active citizen, lending his influence to all move- ments promising to be of practical benefit to this section.

In October, 1900, Mr. Graham was mar- ried to Julia Stephenson Creigh, who is a granddaughter of Dr. Alfred Creigh, of Washington, Pa. They have one son, Harry Lee, Jr. Mr. Graham is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Butler, Pa., and Mrs. Graham is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, also of Butler, Pa. In his fraternal relations, he is a member of the Ancient and Illustrious order of Knights of Malta; Temple Lodge of I. O. O. F. and Clement Encampment ; Knights of Maccabees; Keystone Camp, No. 8, Woodmen of the World, F. M. C. and other organizations.

ERNEST ULYSSES SNYDER, M. D., of Portersville, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, has built up a large practice in the community, in which he is widely known. He was born two miles northwest of Union- ville, in Franklin Township, Butler Coun- ty, March 17, 1880, and comes of one of the pioneer families thereof. He is a son of Lorenzo and Canarissa (Weigle) Snyder, who have a farm of 100 acres just off the Butler and Mercer Road, about two miles from Unionville.

Lorenzo Snyder is a son of Zephaniah and Rachel (Kennedy) Snyder, and a grandson of Conrad Snyder, Sr., who was the original settler. He came from

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Switzerland at an early date, and in 1800 took up a tract of 600 acres in what was then Brady Township, and in the early days conducted a tavern. He was a man of exceptional ability and in time added to his possessions until he had 2,600 acres of fine land. At his death he was buried on the home farm. Lorenzo and Canarissa Snyder became parents of five children, as follows: Blanche E., wife of W. M. Hockenbury of Worth Township; Ottis L., who has a farm in Muddy Creek Township and who married Miss Jennie Wigton; Er- nest Ulysses; Mary S., deceased; and Bert W .. who carries on farming operations on his father's farm.

Doctor Snyder attended the district schools and worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he en -- tered Slippery Rock State Normal School. Upon leaving that institution he taught school at Brewster, and later at Unionville, after which he matriculated at the West- ern University of Pennsylvania. He was graduated in 1905, with the degree of M. D., after which he served as interne in the General Hospital at Uniontown. He then opened his office for practice at Porters- ville, and has a well established and re- munerative patronage. Fraternally, he is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society.

February 14, 1906, Dr. Snyder was unit- ed in marriage with Miss Elverda McCand- . was construction boss of the Standard Pipe

less, a daughter of J. J. and Etta McCand- less, she also being descended from one of the earliest families of the county. They' have one daughter, Marjorie. In religious attachment, they are members of the Bap- tist Church and are liberal in its support.

VALENTINE WHITENER, an influ- ential and enterprising business man of Buena Vista, has been a resident of Fair- view Township since 1873. He was born February 11, 1843, in Shippenville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Val- entine and Margaret (Cook) Whitener.

Valentine Whitener and his wife were both born in Germany and came to this country on the same ship. Three years later they were married and lived for about twelve years in Pittsburg, where he worked at brick laying. Mr. Whitener died at Green Oaks, Westmoreland County, and his wife died at Prospect in 1863. They had the following children: Valentine; Caroline, deceased; Philip, deceased; Katherine; Leonard and Adam.

Valentine Whitener received his educa- tional training in the schools of Pittsburg, Green Oak, and Butler County. Upon first entering the business world he drove a team of mules in a coal mine in Westmore- land County for some time, after which he worked for a time in a brick yard. He then began work in the oil fields, spending three days working on the first oil well drilled at Franklin. He has continued with success in the oil business since that time and is interested in a large number of oil wells in this locality. He owns stock in the Evans Manufacturing Company of Butler and the Producers Pipe Line Company. Subse- quent to his marriage he moved to Law- renceburg, where he worked in the oil fields for about two years, after which he went to Greece City, and engaged in the same business for one year, since which time he has been a resident of Fairview Township. For a period of five years he line.

Mr. Whitener served throughout the en- tire Civil War and first enlisted in Com- pany E, 103d Penna. Vol. Inf. for eleven months after which he enlisted in Com- pany E, 78th Penna. Vol. Inf. and served to the close of the war. Subsequent to the two days of fighting at the battle of Fairfax Court House, our subject was sent to the hospital for three months, thence home for six months, and as soon as able returned to his company. At the close of the war he was discharged at Washing- ton, D. C.

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Mr. Whitener owns a fine farm of eighty- seven acres in Muddy Creek Township, a tract of five acres in Fairview Township, as well as two pieces of town property. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise and has served his township as supervisor two terms. He is a member of the G. A. R., McDermott Post, and holds member- ship with the United Presbyterian Church of Fairview.

Mr. Whitener was married January 27, 1870, to Martha Ann English, a daughter of William and Mary Ann English, old set- tlers of Muddy Creek Township, and of their union were born the following chil- dren : Carrie, deceased; Margaret, who re- sides with our subject, was married June 7, 1892, to Henry C. Thorne, and has two children-Elsie and Aubrey ; O. S. married Nettie Stewart and resides in Concord Township; Della May married R. L. Wal- ter of Concord Township and has one child -Dora E .; and Dora, deceased, twin of Della May. Mrs. Whitener died August 15, 1908.

AUGUSTUS BOWERS, a leading busi- ness citizen of Prospect, where he operates a drug store, was born August 18, 1849, at Baltimore, Maryland, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Bitner) Bauers, the latter being the German spelling.

The father of Mr. Bowers was born in Bavaria, Germany, and took part in the Revolution of 1848 and came in that year as a refugee to America, landing at Balti- more. He remained in that city, and throughout his active life followed the cooper's trade. He married and he and wife had the following children: Au- gustus; Charles A., residing at Baltimore; Ferdinand, residing at Chicago; John, de- ceased; and Katherine, wife of John Zin- ser, residing in Chicago.

Augustus Bowers attended school in his native city until he was twelve years of age, and at the age of sixteen years came to Pittsburg and entered a cooperage es-

tablishment, having learned the trade with his father in Baltimore. As this did not suit his taste he learned that of marble cutter, which he followed for fifteen years or more. In 1869 he came to Prospect and at first was employed by George Reed and later became his partner and before he re- tired from the business had a marble and monument shop of his own. In 1885 he started into the drug business and since then has conducted his store at Prospect.

Mr. Bowers married Margaret Dodds Martin, whose mother and twin sister died when she was born and she was reared by her uncle, Jesse Dodds, in Franklin Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have reared four of their five children, namely : Jesse D., residing at Pittsburg; Charles A., re- siding in Slippery Rock; William Dickey, residing in Wilmerding; and Hattie A., wife of Dr. William A. Sproull, of Slip- pery Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers are members of the Presbyterian Church at Prospect, of which he is a trustee. In poli- tics, he is a Democrat and he has served as school director and auditor and also has been a member of the council of the borough of Prospect. He was appointed postmaster during President Grover Cleve- land's first administration, serving four years; was again appointed during Cleve- land's second term, serving four years more; in addition to above, served eight years as assistant postmaster. Fraternal- ly, he is an Odd Fellow and belongs to Rustel Lodge, No. 882, of which he is past grand, and also belongs to the Portersville Encampment. Personally Mr. Bowers is a popular citizen.

DARIUS L. HUTCHISON, residing on his excellent farm of ninety acres, which is situated in Washington Township, has long been one of the representative and en- terprising men of this section. He was born in Concord Township, Butler County, June 21, 1856, and is a son of Samuel C. and Catherine (Kuhn) Hutchison.

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Samuel C. Hutchison was born in Oak- land Township, Butler County, and was a son of Fergus and a grandson of William Hutchison, the latter of whom founded the family in Butler County. Samuel C. Hutchison lived in Oakland Township un- til 1863, when he removed with his family to Washington Township and settled on the farm on which his son Darius L. now lives, and here he died February 20, 1894. He married Catherine Kuhn, who was born in Venango Township, Butler Coun- ty, died December 11, 1890. Two of their children survive-Darius L. and Idella, the latter of whom lives in Washington Town- ship. For over a quarter of a century, Samuel C. Hutchison served in the office of school director in Washington Town- ship and on the Republican party's ticket he was elected, at various times, constable, assessor and collector, his many sterling traits of character making him an ideal citizen. He gave liberal support to the Presbyterian Church, of which both he and wife were worthy members.

Darius L. Hutchison accompanied his parents to Washington Township in 1863, and he attended school here and assisted his father, later becoming the owner of the home farm, where he carries on general farming and stockraising. Mr. Hutchison married Miss Ada Smith, of Parker Town- ship, a daughter of Thomas Smith, and they have three children - Margaret, Frances and Catherine. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party and is something of a leader in Washington Township. He served one year as super- visor and has also been a member of the board of elections. He is a Mason, belong- ing to Argyle Lodge, No. 540, F. & A. M.

ORIN P. GRAHAM, who comes of one of the oldest and most respected families of Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, resides on the old homestead of 110 acres of valuable land. He was born along Brush Creek, in Cranberry

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 150

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