Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 153

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 153

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Joshua Adams was born at Adams Corners, Butler County, in 1819, and as- sisted in clearing the home farm, on which he lived until his marriage. His wife was in maiden life, Sarah Kimes, and upon her marriage, her father, Thomas Kimes, gave her a tract of forty-two acres, which was the nucleus of the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. They built a log house on this farm, which still stands, and from time to time added to their posses- sions until they had 120 acres. He died here in 1883, and was survived by his widow until 1898, when she passed away at the age of seventy-two years. They were parents of the following children : Eliza Jane, who was the wife of Richard Van Dike, both being now deceased; Leander, whose name heads this article; Sarah Ann, widow of Jackson Black; Maria, deceased wife of Jacob Dible; Me-

1282

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

lissa, who died in infancy; Josiah T .; and Laura, wife of Elmer Stoops.

Leander Adams spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the old district school a few months each winter. Being the eldest son, much of the farm work de- volved upon him, and he early in life be- came inured to hard work, which he has kept up throughout his active career. Af- ter his marriage he first located on a piece of the home farm, sixty acres of which he inherited at his father's death. He set up housekeeping in the old log house and later purchased a house of his brother-in-law, Jacob Dible, and in this they set up house- keeping. He later purchased ten acres of his brother, Josiah, and in 1896 bought an additional piece of forty acres from his mother. He has always followed diversi- fied farming, and success has crowned his efforts. He takes an active interest in public affairs and for some years was a Republican, being elected to the office of school director on that ticket. For a score or more of years he has been a Pro- hibitionist, and in 1908 was the party can- didate for county commissioner, receiving a complimentary vote of 660.

September 10, 1874, Mr. Adams was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Eliza- beth Black, a daughter of Squire William and Margaret (Cross) Black. Mr. Black served as justice of the peace in Marion Township for many years. He was first married to Isabella Mitchell, who died leaving eight children-Martin, Captain Mitchell, Hiram, William, Margaret, Julia, Isabella and Jackson. His second union was with Margaret Cross, by whom he had two children: Mary Elizabeth, wife of our subject; and Washington E. All are now deceased except Margaret and Mary Eliza- beth. Captain Mitchell, Hiram and Will- iam Black gave their lives in the Union cause during the war. Mr. and Mrs. Adams became parents of the following children : Lillian Jane, who is the wife of Harvey Henon and has a daughter, Aven-

nell Lucile; Fannie Fern, wife of Samuel McDonald; Twila Daisy; Margaret N .; Jessie M .; Dalas LeRoy ; and two who died in infancy. In religious attachment, Mr. Adams and his family are members of the Clintonville United Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the session.

PETER P. BROWN, the well known harness merchant and justice of the peace of West Sunbury, is a veteran of the Civil War and is commander of W. T. Dickson Post, No. 561, Department of Pennsyl- vania, G. A. R. He has been commander ever since the inception of the post at West Sunbury. He came to the borough from Butler in May, 1868, and established a har- ness and repair shop, and has continued the business with uninterrupted success to the present time. Mr. Brown was born in Penn Township, three miles south of But- ler, November 26, 1839, is a son of Robert E. and Catherine (Peterson) Brown, a grandson of John and Mary (Elliott) Brown, and great-grandson of William and Christina (Thompson) Brown.

William and Christina Brown, the great- grandparents, came to America from Scot- land, accompanied by their son and daugh- ter-in-law, George and Mary (Glass) Brown. They settled about thirty miles above Pittsburg, in what is now Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and lived there un- til 1796, when all of them removed to But- ler County. They took up land in Mid- dlesex Township, their farm being the site on which Cooperstown now stands. The great-grandfather, grandfather and father of the subject of this record, were buried in Middlesex churchyard.

John Brown, the grandfather, was born in what is now Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania, September 14, 1780, and died in Cooperstown, Middlesex Township, Oc- tober 14, 1853. He married Mary Elliott, who was born June 10, 1786, and died Jan- uary 28, 1868.

Robert E. Brown was born in Middlesex

1283

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and there grew to maturity. He married Catherine Peterson, who was born in But- ler Township, Butler County, and was a daughter of Peter Peterson, who was a na- tive of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. This union resulted in the birth of eleven children, seven of whom are living.

Peter P. Brown was reared on the home farm in Penn Township, whither his father had moved shortly after his marriage. When the Civil War broke out he was among the first to answer the call to arms. April 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Thirteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for three months. At the termination of his service he remained at home until August, 1862, then enlisted as private in Company C, 134th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, for nine months, and during his term of enlistment was advanced to first lieutenant. As such he was in charge of the company at Chancellorsville. He was wounded at Fredericksburg, a ball grazing the top of his head and leaving a deep scar, taking out a piece of the skull. He was in the hospital at Washington, District of Columbia, for ten days, then returned home on a furlough. He later rejoined his company, and was mustered out at Harris- burg, May 26, 1863. He took up his resi- dence in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he worked at harness making until February 15, 1864, when he again enlisted, becoming a member of Company L, Fourteenth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Cavalry. In all he par- ticipated in sixteen important engage- ments in addition to innumerable skir- mishes, and was finally discharged Sep- tember 5, 1865. An older brother, John M. Brown, enlisted in Company L, Four- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, in 1862, and served until 1865. He now resides in Colo- rado. A younger brother, Samuel E. Brown, enlisted in 1862 as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry and served until

the close of the war in 1865. His death occurred in Nebraska in 1892.

Peter P. Brown has been in the harness making business at West Sunbury ever since his removal from Butler in May, 1868, and in the meantime has identified himself with all that pertains to the wel- fare and progress of the community. He erected the store building in which his business is located, and the residence in which he lives. In 1905, he was elected justice of the peace of the borough, in which capacity he has acquitted himself with credit. He is a Republican in poli- tics.

Mr. Brown was married in October, 1865, to Miss Margaret A. Hilfinger, a daughter of Mathias Hilfinger, who was a native of Germany. The issue of this union is: Laura, who died at the age of eleven years; Wilda, wife of Charles Gil- lingham, of Colorado Springs, by whom she has two children: Margaret D. and Charles B .; Lucretia G., a trained nurse in Pittsburg; and Lloyd Grant. Religious- ly, the family is Presbyterian.

WILLIAM HENRY, one of the best known citizens of Venango Township, where he is engaged in oil production, is one of the old experienced men in this in- dustry, having been connected with its de- velopment in this section for many years. He was born in the north of Ireland, Sep- tember 25, 1841, and is a son of William and Mary (Hurst) Henry.

The parents of Mr. Henry were born in the north of Ireland, but the paternal an- cestors came to the British Isles from Hol- land. After the death of his wife, in 1861, William Henry, Sr., decided to emigrate to America, but the family, including his son and three daughters, did not get started until 1866. They settled in Washington County, Vermont, and there the death of the father took place in 1868, and the son decided to find another field of work. He found employment at Allegheny City,

1284

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1872 and then settled at Petrolia, in But- ler County. In the meanwhile he had been working in the oil fields and after moving to Allegheny Township, in 1878, continued to be connected with the oil industry. For twenty years he lived in Allegheny Town- ship and still has a wide circle of friends there and many business acquaintances. Since 1898 he has maintained his home in Venango Township, where he is numbered with the substantial men and useful citi- zens.

Mr. Henry married Miss Mary A. Wal- lace, who was born in the north of Ireland and is a daughter of Thomas Wallace. To this marriage nine children were born, the six survivors being: William, who resides in Virginia; Thomas W., who lives at Al- legheny City; Mary E., who is the wife of Leslie Demoss, of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; Martha J., who is the wife of Bert Jamison, of Venango Township; Margaret A., who is the wife of Bert Sloan, of Venango Township; and Thomas A., who assists his father.

In politics, Mr. Henry is a stanch Re- publican. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Eau Claire. He is a member of Allegheny Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 552, at Emlenton. In Mr. Henry is found a type of self-made man. In many ways his youth was one filled with difficulties, but through industry, energy and business integrity he has overcome ob- stacles and occupies a position of inde- pendence in his community, while suf- ficiently young to enjoy the comforts he has won for himself.

THORNLEY ROY COOKSON, a repre- sentative citizen and experienced farmer of Cranberry Township, residing on the old Goehring farm of 105 acres, was born on the old Cookson homestead, November 30, 1883, and is a son of Alfred Theodore and Malinda (Goehring) Cookson.

The above mentioned land is the old Goebring farm, on which the mother of Mr. Cookson was born, in 1860. Her par- ents, John and Caroline Goehring, lived here for fifty years and here the latter died. Mr. Goehring, now aged seventy- five years, resides in Beaver County. The Goehring children were: William, who died young; Edward, who lives in Penn Town- ship; Malinda, mother of Mr. Cookson, who was accidentally killed by a railroad train at Evans City, February 1, 1894; Cath- erine, who is the wife of Christopher Hoehn, of Cranberry Township; Cornelia, who is the wife of William Dambach ; Mary Etta, now deceased, who married Wesley Graham; John Alvin, who resides at Beaver Falls; Virginia, who married Jo- seph Stevenson, and lives at Centerville; Emmet, who lives at Beaver Falls; and Leonard, who died February 3, 1909.

On the paternal side, the great-grand- father of Mr. Cookson was Edward Cook- son, who moved to Beaver County at an early day and settled on a tract of fifty acres two miles from Brush Creek. There was born his son, Israel Cookson, who later married Charlotte Goehring Cookson. To- gether they came to Cranberry Township about 1835 and here they lived and died. They had five sons and one daughter, namely: William, who died in Evans City; Edward, who lived and died in Cranberry Township; Adam, who resides in this town- ship; Henry, who is a resident of Wilkins- burg; Mary, who died unmarried; and Al- fred Theodore, who was the youngest and was born in Cranberry Township, January 1. 1855. He died October 3, 1908, and both he and wife were buried in the Plains Church cemetery, they having been worthy members of that congregation. They had four sons, namely: Walter Henry, who was accidentally killed at the same time as his mother, at Evans City, in 1894, this he- ing a terrible family tragedy; Thornley Roy ; Harry Cleveland, who married Flora Ehrman, a daughter of George Ehrman,

JOHN S. CAMPBELL

"CLEARVIEW," FARM OF JOHN S. CAMPBELL, CENTER TOWNSHIP

1289

AND REPRESENTATIVE. CITIZENS

of Cranberry Township; and Dennis Floyd, who is now deceased.

Thornley Roy Cookson attended the Garvin school, District No. 4, Cranberry Township, and grew to manhood on a farm. He is a well educated, level headed young man, who takes a deep interest in the de- veloping and improving of his property and is numbered with the most successful agriculturists of the township. His resi- dence was built by his maternal grand- father, in 1874. In 1905 he was married to Miss Maggie Davis, who is a daughter of Joseph C. and Annie Jane (Vandivort) Davis, and they have two sons, Floyd Le- roy and Alfred Thornley. Mr. and Mrs. Cookson are members of the Plains Pres- byterian Church, in which he received his Sunday-school training. Like his late father, he is a Democrat and he has served very acceptably as an officer of Cranberry Township.

JOHN S. CAMPBELL, proprietor of the Clearview Stock Farm, which is located in Center Township, has long been also identified with many of the leading busi- ness interests of Butler. He was born March 15, 1847, at Butler, Butler County, Penna., and is a son of William and Eliza J. (Shaw) Campbell.

For many years the father of Mr. Camp- bell was one of Butler's most prominent and successful men of affairs. He was largely interested in railroad construction and in oil development, was one of the founders of the Butler Savings Bank and was financially concerned in many of the enterprises which served to bring about the city and county's present prosperity. He was married (first) to Clarissa Max- well, who died in 1839. On March 31, 1841, he was married (second) to Eliza J. Shaw and they had four children : William, John S., James G. and Mary, the latter of whom married Joseph A. Herron, of Mononga- hela, Penna. Of the above family, William

and James G. are deceased. William Camp- bell, the father, died November 17, 1893.

John S. Campbell obtained his education in the Butler schools and in the West Ches- ter Military Academy. His first business experience was gained in his father's em- ploy, which he entered in 1866, when nine- teen years old, and later he was a clerk in a store at the Brady's Bend Iron Works. From there he went to Pittsburg and be- came bookkeeper for Tack Brothers & Com- pany and then was with Thompson & Groet- zinger, of Allegheny. His business interests about this time became of more personal importance. His uncle, James Gilmore Campbell, died and John S., with his brother, the late William Campbell, inher- ited the uncle's interest in the hardware business which had been conducted under the firm name of J. G. & W. Campbell. On the death of the latter, in 1893, the two sons became sole proprietors and they con- tinued the business as a partnership until the death of William Campbell, Jr., in July, 1907.

Since the death of his brother as above stated, John S. Campbell has purchased the entire plant and has continued the hardware business alone and controls one of the largest concerns of its kind in this section, including store, tin shop and foundry, giving employment to over twenty people. His place of business is thoroughly equipped and he installed the second incandescent light plant introduced into this State, York having had the first. His other business interests cover many fields. He is the first vice president of the Butler Savings & Trust Company, is a director of the Standard Plate Glass Com- pany, is president of the North Side Ceme- tery Association, is a director of the But- ler Land and Improvement Company, and has built over seventy-five houses in East Butler. He was prominent in the organiza- tion of the Butler Electric Light Company, which since became the Butler Light, Heat

1290

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

and Motor Company, of which he is presi- dent and principal stockholder. For a number of years Mr. Campbell has been largely interested in the development of oil lands and is the junior member of the firm of McBride & Campbell, well-known operators. Formerly he was a member of the Bald Ridge Oil Company, and in both connections he has been active in the oil fields of West Virginia as well as in Penn- sylvania. His large stock farm claims also a large degree of his interest and attention. It consists of many acres of land in Center Township which he devotes to fruit grow- ing and to the breeding of registered Jer- sey cattle, Berkshire pigs and Barrel Plym- outh Rock chickens. In 1908 he planted 1,100 Italian prune trees, 1,000 pear, 1,000 quince, and 400 apple trees, and set out 10,000 currant bushes and 1,750 grape vines. His success as a stock breeder is as pronounced as has been his other activi- ties, all going to prove his business capac- ity in whatever line he has taken up.

On October 7, 1885, Mr. Campbell was married to Jennie E. Rogers, who is a daughter of R. J. Rogers, a prominent citizen of Attica, New York. They have two children : Richard R. and John S. The home of Mr. Campbell and family is sit- uated at No. 415 North Main Street, Butler.

In political sentiment, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat. His many business duties prevent his accepting political office, but he actively supports the claims of his friends. He belongs to several fraternal bodies and is a thirty-second degree Mason.

1853. His parents were James L. and Mary (McCandless) Dixon.

William Dixon, the grandfather, was a son of Thomas Dixon and was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and he and wife came to America just six months prior to the birth of their son, James L. William Dixon purchased 400 acres of land, of which the farm of Winfield S. is a part. For many years he served in the office of justice of the peace and was the most important man in his community.

James L. Dixon, father of Winfield S., was born in the city of Allegheny, Penn- sylvania, in 1818, a son of William and Isabella (Morrow) Dixon. He died June 7, 1894, aged seventy-six years. He came to Butler County when aged twelve years, and after his marriage moved to Parker's Landing, where he bought and cleared a farm, on which he continued to reside un- til 1865, when he sold out and returned to the old homestead in Penn Township. He, at one time or another, held every pub- lic office in the township. He was an out- spoken Republican and a close student of public affairs. He married a daughter of Robert McCandless, of Franklin Township, and they had four children, namely: Lu- cinda, who became the wife of Robert H. Harbison, of Penn Township; George Cal- vin, deceased; Winfield S., and one that died young. The mother of this family passed away June 22, 1876, aged fifty-six years. Both father and mother were worthy members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

Winfield S. Dixon has engaged exten- sively in general farming and stock-rais- ing, making a specialty of sheep and horses. He keeps about 100 head of sheep on the farm for mutton and wool and each year raises some fine specimens of draft and driving horses. Some twenty years since he began to operate for oil, working in the Butler, Allegheny and Beaver

WINFIELD S. DIXON, oil producer and general farmer in Penn Township, is one of the county's solid and substantial citizens and is identified with its best in- terests. Mr. Dixon belongs to one of the old and honorable families of this section of Pennsylvania and he was born in Alle- gheny Township, Butler County, April 17, County fields. He now has five producing

1291

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

wells on his own farm and is an inde- born November 22, 1840, in Hanover, Ger- pendent operator. Ever since he reached many, and is a son of Frederick and Emmie (Glecioncamp) Buhning. manhood, Mr. Dixon has taken a deep in- terest in public questions. He early identi- fied himself with the Republican party and has been one of its acknowledged leaders in the county for many years, serving on the State Central Committee and fre- quently attending important conventions as a delegate. He was the youngest justice of the peace ever elected in Butler County and he served with discretion and signal ability for ten years. In 1893, while a resident of Butler, he was elected county treasurer and served as such for three years.

On April 17, 1877, Mr. Dixon was mar- ried to Annie L. Balph, who is a daughter of Joseph Balph, a farmer of Mount Chest- nut, Butler County. Mrs. Dixon was born August 5, 1854, and prior to her marriage had been a successful teacher for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have the fol- lowing children: George Clarence, a drug- gist at Butler; Winfield Russell, residing at Butler, who is assistant cashier in the Farmers' National Bank of that place; Charles Warren, a student of medicine at Washington-Jefferson College; Homer Scott, who is deputy county treasurer of Butler County; and Frank Calvin, Paul Eugene and Presley. These seven sons are vigorous and healthy both physically and mentally, upright in conduct and an honor to their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are members of the Thorn Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a stew- ard. Mr. Winfield S. Dixon was favorably mentioned as a candidate for State senator in 1908.

HENRY BUHNING, one of Clinton Township's most respected citizens, resides on his well improved farm of ninety-two acres, which is situated about two and one- half miles south of Saxonburg, on the Tarentum and Saxonburg road. He was

Mr. Buhning comes of an agricultural family, both his father and grandfather owning and cultivating land in Germany, which country they never left. Before he left Hanover, Henry Buhning had attended school and was educated in his own lan- guage, but later, after reaching America, in 1867, he attended night school for sev- eral terms and thus made himself ac- quainted with English. He came to Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, after reach- ing the United States, and found employ- ment at Natrona, where he worked hard and saved his money until he had acquired enough to buy seventy-seven acres of his present fine farm. To the first purchase he continued to add, as he was able, and now he owns one of the most valuable farms in Clinton Township. This farm he cultivated and improved during many years, but now he has practically retired, his youngest son being able to carry on the farm to the father's entire satisfaction. General farming is carried on and enough stock is raised for home use. The first dwelling was a small log cabin, which is utilized for farm purposes since the hand- some new residence has been completed, the latter being one of the finest in the township.

Mr. Buhning was married at Tarentum, Pennsylvania, to Miss Nellie Rinehart, who is a daughter of Ludwig and Hannah (Gaverman) Rinehart. Mr. and Mrs. Buhning have five children, as follows: Mary, who resides at home; Frederick, who married Viola Bergman, has three chil- dren-Floyd, Edna and Helen; Annie, who married Andrew Heid, has three children -Leon, Herbert and Leonard; Amelia, who married Julius Stuebgeon, has four children-Albert, Sylvia and Alvin, twins, and Etta; and Charles, who is the present manager of the home farm, a very intelli-

1292

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

gent and capable young man. Mr. Buhn- ing and family belong to the Lutheran Church at Saxonburg.

BERNARD B. SIBERT, who bears an honorable record for service during the Civil War, is a prominent citizen of Fair- view Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, where he resides on a farm of 110 acres. He was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1839, and was the third of five children born to James and Catherine Sibert, the others being Reuben, Mary, Margaret (deceased), and Henry.

Bernard B. Sibert was two years of age when brought by his parents from Arm- strong to Butler County, Pennsylvania, and ever since that time, about the year of 1841, has been a resident on the farm he now owns in Fairview Township. He at- tended the public schools of this township, after which he turned his attention to farming, which has been his principal oc- cupation through life, although in recent years he has met with success as an oil producer. During the first year of the Civil War, in 1861, he enlisted at Pittsburg as a member of Company D, Sixty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, and during the three following years participated in some of the hardest fought ·engagements of the war. In that time he was never wounded nor seriously sick, and was never absent from the regiment except on detached duty. Among the most im- portant battles in which he took part may be mentioned: Fredericksburg, Gettys- burg, Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, seven days' fighting at James Mill, Second Bat- tle of Bull Run, Antietam, and Grant's campaign through the Wilderness. He was discharged at Pittsburgh, Virginia, in 1864, and returned to the home farm in Fairview Township. He purchased the in- terests of the other heirs and has farmed the place continuously since. He has four valuable oil wells on the farm, all of them still producing. Mr. Sibert owns a farm

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 153

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