Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 152

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 152

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Matthew Stoughton, father of Oliver W., was born in Clay Township, Butler County, in 1831, and died in 1855, when aged but twenty-four years. During his short life after reaching maturity, he was associated with his cousin, Oliver Stough- ton, of Harlansburg, in the stock business. He married Margaret Davis, who was born in Franklin Township, Butler County, in 1830, and is a daughter of Samuel Davis. To this union two children were born: Oliver W. and Mary Isabella, the latter of whom is deceased. Some time later, Mrs. Stoughton was married (second) to Robert J. Davis, and three sons were born to that marriage, namely : Elmer, residing at Unionville, Butler County; Otis M., deceased; and James Monroe, also of Unionville. The mother lives at Union- ville, where she is a valued member of the Presybterian Church. Although she has reached her seventy-eighth year, she is active in body and alert in mind.

When Oliver W. Stoughton was about four years of age, he went to live with his maternal grandfather and some years afterward, another relative, Mrs. Susan Davis, took charge of him and with her he resided until he was twelve years old and then became a member of the family of Thomas Brannon, with whom he re- mained for five years. For this man Mr. Stoughton cherishes feelings of esteem and veneration. To the fatherless boy he was as a parent and gave him a real home, being interested in his schooling, health and comfort. When seventeen years of age, Mr. Stoughton left the kind care of Mr. Brannon in order to prepare himself for a future life of usefulness. He came

to Butler with the expectation of starting to learn the wagonmaking trade, but cir- cumstances prevented and he worked awhile with farmers and then learned the plastering trade. While working as a plasterer in the summer he went to the Unionville schools in the winter until his health partially failed. Then he decided to prepare himself for teaching and at- tended Witherspoon Institute for three terms, after which he taught school for some years, mainly through the winter seasons, during 1874-5-6-7 and 1878. In the meanwhile he was married and in 1876, while he was teaching, his capable wife carried on a store at Holyoke, in Center Township. In April, 1878, Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton moved to Brady Town- ship and opened up a store and the enter- prise gave such promise of success that he decided to give up teaching and devote his entire attention to merchandising.

Mr. Stoughton continued his store busi- ness for several years when he decided to engage in farming and after selling his stock, he rented a farm in Brady Town- ship, which he operated for two years and then repurchased his old store and con- tinued to operate it for some years longer. He still cherished, however, a desire for an agricultural life and again bought a farm, this time in Prospect borough. While living there he organized and be- came the manager of the Prospect Cream- ery, his associates in the business being : John W. Shaffer, N. S. Grossman, James Wilson and David West. The creamery plant was built by a Pittsburg company that failed to make it a success and Mr. Stoughton and his associates purchased the property for $1,000. A loss of a con- siderable amount, through early misman- agement, threw the burden of indebted- ness on Mr. Stoughton, and he found him- self liable for more than he felt able to pay, but he assumed the debts and every dollar was reimbursed. The selling of that plant followed and a new one was erected

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and as Mr. Stoughton had full charge there he made it pay for itself and when he disposed of his interest in 1898, the plant was paying out to the neighboring farmers from $700 to $900 a month.

After leaving Prospect, Mr. Stoughton went to Evans City and for one year con- ducted a store there, which he sold in order to become superintendent of the Condensed Milk plant at Cowdersport, where he remained for one year. In 1901 he purchased the John C. Moore farm in Center Township, containing 150 acres, which he and sons have developed into one of the best estates in this part of But- ler County. The sons give all their at- tention to the various industries of this place, cultivating the land scientifically, raising fifty head of cattle and many horses, and wholesaling milk to the amount of $2,500 a year. Almost all of this large farm is under cultivation, scien- tific cultivation, and it produces abun- dantly, in 1908 they having a yield of 133 bushels of corn to the acre. Mr. Stough- ton has two silos on his own farm, one of 200 ton and the other of fifty ton. His buildings are substantial and all his sur- roundings indicate the effect of intelligent observation and practical application.

Mr. Stoughton was married to Parmelia Agnes Garvin, the estimable daughter of Benjamin Garvin, a farmer of Cranberry Township, Butler County. Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton have had five children, two of whom died in infancy, the three survivors being: Lester G. and George W., who operate the farm in Center Township; and Samuel J., who is in the employ of the Heintz Manufacturing Company. Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Holyoke, in which he is an elder and Sunday-school superintendent since 1880.

In 1906, Mr. Stoughton was appointed superintendent of the Butler County Home and his wife became the matron of

the institution. The Home accommodates 200 or more inmates. The county farm contains 125 acres under cultivation, there being 190 acres in the tract. Since Mr. Stoughton has had charge but two hands are needed in the summer and one in win- ter, the inmates being able to do the rest of the work. Mr. Stoughton applies the same scientific methods to cultivating the farm here that he does on his own prop- erty and in 1907 he sold produce to the amount of $1,997, and at the same time supported the inmates comfortably. In all branches of management, he and wife adopt the most modern methods and have succeeded in making this institution a model one. In politics he is a Republican.

JAMES WILSON MCCANDLESS, pro- prietor of a blacksmithing establishment and repair shop at Eau Claire, comes of an old and well known family of Clay Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, where he was born. The date of his birth is Jan- uary 7, 1839, and he is a son of Robert D. and Elizabeth (Turk) McCandless.

Robert D. McCandless was the youngest of four children born to his parents, the others being: James, who married a Miss McKlin; William, who first intermarried with the Ralston family, and later with Miss Ann McCall of Butler; and Mark, who married a Miss Russell. Robert D. was united in the bonds of wedlock with Elizabeth Turk, a daughter of John Turk of Center Township, Butler County, and to them were born six children: Emma, who married William McCall of Glade Mills, Butler County ; Martha, who married Samuel McCall and lives in Missouri; Cald- well, who married Nancy McCandless, a daughter of Robert McCandless, and has two children; David, who is a blacksmith at Euclid; and Mary (Wick) of Butler County ; John, who married Jane Thomp- son, a daughter of John Thompson, and has four children-Thompson, Elizabeth, Mag-

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gie and Carr; Reddick R., who first married a Miss Reider, and later a Miss Deere; and James W., whose name heads this sketch.

James Wilson McCandless attended the old Reider school and the Miller school in Clay Township, and then took up the trade of a blacksmith in 1856 under his brother John at Beaver Falls. He subsequently worked at his trade in West Sunbury, and at Dudley Furnace. He was working at Fairview during the early part of the Civil War, and in 1862 enlisted as a member of the Sixty-second Regiment, P. V. I., under Colonel Black. He saw much hard service and continued in the army until the last year of the war, being mustered out in 1865. He then resumed his trade at An- derson's Mills in Venango Township and continued there until 1870, when he lo- cated at Eau Claire. He has since con- ducted a blacksmith shop in that borough and has met with a high degree of success. He is the owner of three good properties there, and has good substantial buildings located thereon. He is deeply interested in matters of public improvement, and is a progressive and public spirited citizen.

Mr. McCandless was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah Sutton, a daughter of James Sutton of Fairview Township, and they became parents of the following : R. J., who married Nettie Scott, a daughter of John Scott of Eau Claire; Ursu, who mar- ried Nellie Woner and has two children, Arthur and a daughter who has not yet been named; May H., deceased wife of Sol- omon McCall, by whom she had two chil- dren, Earl and Clyde. In religious attach- ment, Mr. McCandless has been a member of the M. E. Church of the borough for more than a score of years. He is officer of the day of S. J. Rosenbury Post, No. 538, G. A. R., at Eau Claire. Politically, he is a Republican.

PROF. P. S. BANCROFT was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, where his

parents and maternal grandparents long resided. Earl Bancroft, the father of the subject of this sketch, moved to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, when the latter was eight years of age, settling on a farm near Meadville. The son was brought up on the farm and educated at Allegheny College, Meadville, where he graduated in the class of 1855. He taught Greek and Latin in Madison College, Uniontown, Pennsylva- nia, for two years, and in 1861 he entered the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers, as a Second Lieutenant, and subsequently be- came a member of the Third Regiment Vet- eran Reserve Corps, serving in all nearly four years, during the last two of which he held the rank of Captain. In 1866 Pro- fessor Bancroft married Bella ·Brinker, youngest daughter of Col. Jacob Brinker, and granddaughter of Abraham Brinker, one of the first settlers of Butler. They had two sons, and one daughter, viz .: Earl D., of Butler; Grove G., deceased; and Flora G., wife of William H. Tilton, of But- ler. Professor Bancroft came to Butler in 1877, and was for several years principal of old Witherspoon Institute, but finally abandoned teaching for newspaper work. He began writing for the Butler .Eagle in March, 1888, and in October 1, 1889, became associate editor of the Butler County Rec- ord, a position which he still holds. Pro- fessor Bancroft and family are members of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Butler, and in politics he is a supporter of the Republican party.

WILLIAM C. NEGLEY, editor of the Butler Citizen, is a son of John H. and Mary (Harper) Negley, and a grandson of John Negley, the pioneer of Butler. He was born in Butler borough December 18, 1850, attended the public schools of the borough, and passed a short term in what is known as the Old Stone Academy, and in 1865, he entered the United States Acad- emy at Annapolis, and there studied for

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four years. After completing his studies at the Academy, the condition of his health obliged him to abandon the naval service and he returned to Butler, where he became associated with his father in the publica- tion of the Citizen. He became sole owner and publisher of the Citizen in 1888 and still continues in the active duties of the office. Mr. Negley was married in January, 1878, to Mrs. Emma Stauffer, daughter of Squire Armor, of Zelienople. To them have been born seven children, three of whom are living: William, of California; John, of Butler; and Emma, who is mar- ried.

Mr. Negley has always been a staunch Republican, and in his capacity as editor of the Citizen has rendered invaluable services to his party in the county.

WILLIAM E. LACKEY, proprietor of the Lackey Hotel at Chicora, is one of the prominent men of Donegal Township. He was born in this township, one mile east of Chicora, September 25, 1857, son of James K. and Elizabeth (Wolfer) Lackey. His parents were old settlers of the county. The father died at the age of fifty-seven and the mother at that of forty-two years. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Eliza, deceased; John H .; William E .; Jacob M., deceased; Abraham M .; Al- fred, deceased; and Rosella.

William E. Lackey when a young man learned the blacksmith's trade, about 1873 becoming an apprentice under Henry Fred- erick. He subsequently followed the trade here for about thirty years, building a shop on Main Street, which he carried on until he retired, on May 10th, 1900. In that year he purchased his present hotel from John Dolan, and has since conducted it success- fully, proving a capable host and catering satisfactorily to the wants of a large and varied patronage. He has been a member of the Chicora Fire Department for thirty- two years, serving as chief for eighteen years of that time, and he was formerly a

member of the old Shannon Hose Company of this place. His administration of the department as chief has been progressive and up to date, and for a town of its size Chicora is well equipped for fire-fighting, both as to apparatus and personnel.

Mr. Lackey was married November 25, 1880, at Chicora, by Rev. Mr. Felker, to Mary A. Frederick, a daughter of Bern- hardt and Katherine Frederick, her par- ents being old settlers of Butler County, and among the most respected. Bernhardt Friederich was born at Birfelden, Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834. He came to America in 1853, first settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained for three years working at his trade of wagon making. He then came to Millerstown (now Chicora), Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and followed his trade until 1860, when his right hand was injured, making it necessary for him to find some other means of obtaining a livelihood. He ac- cordingly embarked in the mercantile busi- ness, beginning on a small scale, his first stock costing only thirty-five dollars. The oil developments in the county soon brought increased business and he found it necessary to erect a large two-story build- ing to accommodate his trade. In 1877 fire destroyed his store and the greater part of its contents. In 1873 he also suffered a severe loss by robbery. But not discour- aged by these reverses, he built a third store and was soon doing a larger business than ever. In 1884, however, his entire business was again swept from him by fire. He then went out of the mercantile business and devoted himself to oil production, op- erating in the vicinity of East Brady and in other fields. He was identified with the German National Bank of Millerstown, now Chicora, as director and stockholder, was intersted in a refinery at Brady's Bend, in the Buena Vista silver mine of Colorado, and various other business enterprises. He held at various times nearly all the princi- pal offices of the borough of Millerstown

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and of the school district from its incorpo- ration, was one of the first members of the Protected Home Circle, of Millerstown, and from the age of fourteen an active member of the Lutheran Church. At his death, which took place October 12, 1895, his age was sixty years, ten months and seventeen days; his loss caused general sorrow throughout the community.

In 1857 Mr. Friederich married Kather- ine Frederick, of Summit Township, this county. She survived her husband, dying at her home in Millerstown (Chicora) April 2, 1907, at the age of seventy years. She was a member of the Millerstown English Lutheran Church and belonged to the Pro- tected Home Circle. She was a woman much esteemed for her many kind and neighborly qualities. Mr. and Mrs. Fried- erich were the parents of five daughters: Mrs. Christine Foster of Parker's Land- ing; Mrs. Mary Lackey of Chicora, Mrs. Emma Baker of Allegheny, and Katherine and Lula.

To Mr. and Mrs. William E. Lackey have been born the following children: Harry B. F., Sylvester J., Irene Gertrude, Nina L., Lucinda Christena, and Lena Emma.

Harry B. F. Lackey, born September 1, 1881, died February 17, 1904. He was like his father, a member of the Chicora fire de- partment. Sylvester J. Lackey, born Au- gust 12, 1883, attended Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, after graduat- ing from the public schools of Chicora. He later became a student at the Medical De- partment of the Western University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated June 8, 1908. He began the practice of his profession at Limestone, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, November 1st of the same year and has already acquired a fine prac- tice. Dr. Lackey married Ethel Kemmer and he and his wife have two children, Evelyn R. and Lucilla Geraldine. Irene Gertrude Lackey married J. W. Painter in December, 1905, and lives at Oakland, Cal-

ifornia. She has a daughter, Mattie Irene. Lucinda Christena and Lena Emma reside at home.

Mr. Lackey is a member of the Protected Home Circle, at Chicora, and of the Eagles, at E. Brady. He belongs to the English Lutheran Church. In addition to his labors on the fire department, Mr. Lackey has given three years' service as school di- rector, proving very efficient in this office. His record exhibits him as one of the useful men of the township and he has the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens among whom he has passed his life thus far. His surviving children are all worthy members of the respective communities in which they reside.

E. DEWITT CLINTON, proprietor of the Hotel Clinton, one of the finest equipped hotels not only in Butler but in the state, has been a resident of Butler for the past fourteen years. He was born at Pleasantville, Venango County, Penn- sylvania. In 1894 Mr. Clinton moved from Warren, Pennsylvania, to Butler, and in association with his father became in- terested in the oil business.

In 1900 he became engaged in the hotel business. In 1906-1907 he built the Hotel Clinton. It is a fine structure, and is a credit to the city. It has thirty-five rooms and is modern in every particular, one of the features being the magnesia mineral spring which flows continually and is used throughout the hotel, all bed rooms and bath rooms having the running water.

In 1897 Mr. Clinton married M. Flor- ence McFarland, daughter of J. Wills Mc- Farland, and they have three bright sons -Edward Scott, Joseph De Witt, and Wills Hathaway-that make a happy family.

Mr. Clinton is a member of the Elks; the First Ward Hose Company, having been a member of the famous hose team for ten years. The Company holds the world's record for 250 yards, making the

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distance in thirty-two seconds, and they are also winners of many races. He is one of the charter members of the Butler Country Club, Butler Board of Trade and of the Chamber of Commerce.

RALPH GREGG, proprietor of the Lowry House, a well-kept and popular hotel at Butler, situated on the corner of Main Street and Jefferson Avenue, has been a resident of this city since 1887. He was born December 14, 1855, in Buffalo Township, Butler County, Penna., and is a son of William S. and Mary Catherine (Kuhn) Gregg.

Robert J. Gregg, grandfather of Ralph Gregg, was born in Washington County, Penna., in 1801, and followed farming there for many years. In 1840 he became weighmaster on the canal at Allegheny, where he resided until 1854, in which year he removed to Butler County. He was married in 1823 to Alice Hogan, a daugh- ter of William Hogan, of Washington County, and they became the parents of four children, namely : John, Harriet, Will- iam S., and Robert. Robert J. Gregg died January 31, 1893, his wife Alice having preceded him to the grave in 1838. They were members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In politics he was a Democrat.

William S. Gregg was born in Washing- ton County, Penna., September 3, 1831. He came to Butler County with his parents and settled at Monroeville, where he kept a hotel. Subsequently he operated a hack line between Butler and Freeport, later was in the distillery business for a while, operating a plant near Freeport. In 1886 he removed to Butler, where, besides oper- ating a hack line, he carried on a livery stable. He was married in 1852 to Mary Catherine Kuhn, of Butler County, and they were the parents of ten children, namely : John; Ralph; Ellen, wife of John Waters; Robert; Harry; William, now de- ceased; Isabel, wife of Charles Breneman ;

Annie M., wife of John Fullerton; Charles, and one that died in infancy. The mother of the above mentioned children died Octo- ber 14, 1905, and the father, William S. Gregg, now resides with his son Ralph, in Butler, having now attained to a venerable age.

Ralph Gregg in his youth attended the district schools of his neighborhood. He began industrial life on a farm and sub- sequently became employed in the oil fields, first at Karns City, and later in New York State and in the Bradford field, in Pennsylvania. In 1887 he returned to But- ler and for the next twelve years operated a first-class livery stable. He then went to Parker's Landing and engaged in con- tracting, with his brother, Charles Gregg, at the same time conducting a hotel. Sub- sequently he became proprietor of a hotel at Petrolia. Returning later to Butler he conducted the Park Hotel until April, 1907, at which time he purchased the Lowry House at Butler. This is one of the oldest and best known hotels in the city, with a desirable patronage, and under Mr. Gregg's able management it bids fair to excel even its former good record. Mr. Gregg is still interested in the oil business and is a prominent and prosperous citizen of Butler.

Mr. Gregg was married at Parker's Landing, on November 11, 1897, to Miss Charlotte Gertrude Burkholder, a daughter of Samuel C. and Thalia Ann (Frazier) Burkholder. The father of Mrs. Gregg is a veteran of the Civil War. He served three years and four months in the army, was wounded and taken prisoner at Ply- mouth, North Carolina, and was incarcer- ated for ten months in the Salisbury and Libby Prisons. He served for twelve years as postmaster at Pollock, Pennsyl- vania. Both he and wife now reside at Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg have had three children : Ralph Kenneth, Paul Emer- son and Ruth, the latter of whom died at the age of one year and ten months.

RALPH GREGG

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THOMAS J. GOLDTHORP, who is now living in retirement at North Hope, Wash- ington Township, in Butler County, Penn- sylvania, was for many years engaged as a glass blower, and later as an agricultur- ist. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sep- temper 20, 1839, and is a son of Franklin and Rebecca (Scott) Goldthorp, and a grandson of Josiah and Elizabeth (Pillon) Goldthorp. His maternal grandfather was Thomas Scott of Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Some years after his marriage, Frank- lin Goldthorp moved with his family to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where the remainder of his days were spent. He and his wife were parents of nine children, of whom there were four sons, as follows : Horatio, who died in 1900; John P., de- ceased; Joseph, deceased; and Thomas J. Of the entire family there are but two now living, Thomas J. and Mrs. Margaret Mc- Murray, both of North Hope,

Thomas J. Goldthorp received his in- tellectual training in the public schools of Pittsburg, after which he learned the trade of a glass blower. That trade he followed some years, then turned his attention to farming in Allegheny. He inherited a tract of fifty-five acres of land, but sold the property when he retired from busi- ness activity. He is the owner of one prop- erty in North Hope, and is a stockholder in the Washington Fair Association of that village.

Mr. Goldthorp was united in marriage with Mrs. Laura (Kerr) Bovard, a daugh- ter of Levi Thomas Kerr of Venango County, and widow of Thomas Bovard, by whom she had the following children : Plummer, who lives in California; Amy Etta : Cora Lillian; Minnie Fay; Sidney ; and Bessie May, who sings in the choir of the United Presbyterian Church at North Hope. They have a comfortable home in North Hope and have a wide circle of friends throughout this locality. Political- ly, the subject of this sketch is a Repub-

lican. He is a Presbyterian in religious faith, but owing to the absence of a church of that denomination nearby, attends the United Presbyterian Church at North Hope, to the support of which he liberally contributes.

LEANDER ADAMS is a prominent farmer of Marion Township, Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and is the owner of an excellent farm of 111 acres, located about one mile west of Murrinsville. He was born in a log house on the farm now owned by him, January 15, 1848, and is a son of Joshua and Sarah (Kimes) Adams.

James Adams, grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, came to Butler County at a very early period and settled at Adams Corners, near the present borough of Slip- pery Rock. He partly cleared the farm and continued to reside there until his death at the age of eighty years. He and his wife were parents of the following chil- dren: Joshua, Ephraim, John, Josiah, James, Eli, William, Sarah, widow of Rev. A. Dale, and Hannah Jane, who was the wife of a man named McCune.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 152

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