Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 157

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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October 28, 1884, Mr. Kepple was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Ellenberger, a daughter of Enos and Mary (Harmon) Ellenberger, early settlers of Fairview Township, who still reside at Buena Vista. Seven children blessed this marriage, namely: Celia, Irene, Mabel, Loretta, Bert L., Edward H., and Alfred. Religiously, the subject of this sketch is a member of the Reformed Church. He has served as school director of the township and has taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the progress of the community.

WILLIAM G. ALTVATER, one of Jef- ferson Township's well informed and pro- gressive young agriculturists, is engaged in farming and stockraising, in association with his father, on their valuable estate of seventy-five acres, which is situated one and one-half miles west of Saxonburg. Mr. Altvater was born in 1882, in Washington County, Ohio, not far from the city of Marietta, and is a son of Benjamin and Barbara (Stark) Altvater.

The Altvater family was founded in America by the grandfather of William G., who was born in Germany and settled in Washington County, Ohio, in 1850. Ben- jamin Altvater, father of William G., is a butcher by trade and also follows farming. He married Barbara Stark and they have four children, namely: Bertha, who lives at Pittsburg; William G .; and Bessie and Edna, both of whom live at Pittsburg.

JAMES W. McKEE

RESIDENCE OF JAMES W. McKEE, BUTLER

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William G. Altvater went from Washing- ton County, to Tarentum, Pennsylvania, and from there to Pittsburg, and after his school days were over he went to work in the steel mills, where he continued for nine years and then, with his father, bought the present farm, which they operate together. It was formerly known as the old Helmhold place, good land, which, under the careful cultivation now being given it, makes large returns.

On August 23, 1905, Mr. Altvater was married to Miss Mamie Hepler, who is a daughter of Scott and Mary (Negley) Hepler, the former of whom is a very prom- inent farmer of Armstrong County. Mr. and Mrs. Altvater have one beautiful little daughter by the name of Helen. The com- fortable farm residence has been recently put up and Mr. Altvater has made other improvements and has substantial barn and cattle sheds.

JAMES W. McKEE, one of Butler's capitalists, who is engaged in looking after his extensive real estate interests in this city, was born in 1845 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where his social and educational opportunities were only those which come to boys who are forced to depend upon their own efforts after be- ing left fatherless in early youth.

The first chance to secure work by which he might provide for himself, Mr. McKee found in the oil fields near Franklin, and in a rough environment he spent one year and then went to the Armstrong fields, go- ing from there to Freeport. There he worked at drilling a salt well for one sum- mer, and then worked in a foundry for three years. One more year was spent in foundry work and then he returned to the oil fields to remain until 1874, after which he operated a planing-mill and engaged in contracting at Freeport, for three years. Later he was engaged in the manufacture of wheels and reels, near Bradford and subsequently purchased a foundry there,

continuing his interest in the oil business. He remained in that section for ten years, when he moved his foundry to Butler. Here he became a stockholder in the Butler Manufacturing Company, Limited, for the manufacture of engines, taking charge of the foundry and pattern department him- self. After six years he bought the inter- ests. of his partners and continued the manufacturing business until 1902, when he sold out. Since that time, Mr. McKee has given his attention to looking after his real estate interests. He is a stockholder in two of the banks at Butler and has financial interests in other enterprises.

October 11, 1887, Mr. McKee was mar- ried to Miss Margaret E. March, of New Castle, and they have one son, Vance F. Mr. McKee and family reside in a beauti- ful home which stands at No. 302 West Pearl Street, Butler. Mr. McKee's life story is typical of the indomitable energy and enterprise which have been the factors in the development of the great industrial resources of this section and his sucess has been greater than many another be- cause he has had more natural capacity and greater perseverance.

ROBERT B. CONN is a well known cit- izen and prosperous farmer of Clay Town- ship, Butler County, Penna., where he lives on a farm of 104 acres, located two miles south of West Sunbury, on the Butler road. He was born in what is now Washington Township, Butler County, February 12, 1841, and is a son of William and Nancy (Mortimer) Conn. His grandfather, Rob- ert Conn, was a native of Ireland, and upon coming to the United States settled in Washington Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, where he was among the pioneers.

William Conn was born in Washington Township and at an early age learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed many years, but farming was always his principal occupation. He married Nancy

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Mortimer, a native of Butler County and a daughter of Samuel Mortimer.

Robert B. Conn was reared on the old home farm and attended the public schools for a brief period. At the early age of twelve years he began learning the trade of yarn making in the Hopewell Woolen Mills in Washington Township. He worked at that business some years, a part of the time at Craigville, and also for W. L. Keefer in Venango County. He continued at this occupation for some years after his marriage, and then in 1872 moved upon his present farm, which he owns in conjunction with his wife, who was born and reared on the place. He is engaged in general farm- ing, is a first class business man, and an upright and useful citizen.

Mr. Conn was married in 1861 to Miss Margaret E. Sutton, and daughter of Jesse and Mary Jane (Hockenbury) Sutton, and they became parents of the following chil- dren : Levi E., an oil producer of Findlay, Ohio; Laura J., wife of S. C. McCandless, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Clarence G., who re- sides on a part of the home farm; Mary, wife of J. H. Timblin, of Latrobe, Pennsyl- vania; Harry Elwood, who married Pearl Wick and died at the early age of thirty- four years; Nancy Minerva, wife of J. A. Hallstein, of Clay Township; Minnie, wife of DeLoss L. Hindman, of West Sunbury ; Sylvia Ellen, wife of Charles A. Brown; and Goldie Pearl, who died when only 23 months old. Mr. Conn is a stanch Repub- lican in politics, and has served as consta- ble, tax collector, school director and asses- sor. He was school director for a period of eight years, and was tax collector from 1890 until 1900, proving a most capable offi- cer. Religiously, he is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Conn's grandchildren are as follows : Of Laura J., wife of S. C. McCandless, children-Cecil Budd, Conrad Masserela, Wesley Earl and Effie Jane; Levi E. and Margaret (Day) Conn's children-Cora A., Charles Wallace and J. Earl; Clarence G.

and Elizabeth (McCandless) Conn's chil- dren-Jesse Quay, Virgin Dearl and Sarah Margaret; children of Nancy Minerva, wife of J. A. Hallstein-Paul Conn, Harry Ward, Carl Zinbeck, Lena Christina and Sylvia Alberta ; children of Minnie, wife of DeLoss L. Hindman-Barbara Lucile; children of Harry Elwood and Pearl (Wick) Conn-Harriet Pearl and Cather- ine Ellen. (Eighteen grandchildren in all.)

Deaths-William Conn died August 4, 1881; Nancy Conn died June 1, 1890; Jesse Sutton died September 30, 1887; Mary Jane Sutton died March 30, 1892.

JAMES N. RANDALL, engineer at the Lockrie Brothers coal mine at Argentine, Washington Township, Butler County, Penna., is the owner of a well improved tract of twenty-eight acres in Venango Township, Butler County. He was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1860, and is a son of Mathias and Sarah (Rodgers) Randall, and a grandson of James Randall, who removed at an early day from Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, to Venango County.

Mathias Randall was one of the following children born to his parents: Simon, de- ceased, who married a Miss Brown, of Franklin, Pennsylvania; Joseph, who mar- ried Amanda Allen of Indiana; Eli, who married Marilla Rodgers of Crawford County; Anna, wife of Cyrus Rodgers of Venango County; Almena, wife of John Work of Crawford County; and Mathias. The last named, father of the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage with Sarah Rodgers, daughter of James Rod- gers of Venango County, and they reared three children, as follows: James N .; Eliz- abeth, deceased; and Wilson, who also is deceased.

James N. Randall was reared in Ve- nango County, and attended school at Mc- Kinzie's Corners. After leaving school he went to work in the oil fields of Butler County, and then learned the work of a

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stationary engineer, in which capacity he is now employed at the coal mine of Lock- rie Brothers, one and a half miles west of Hilliard. He cleared his farm of twenty- eight acres, and erected all the buildings thereon, having a well improved place.

Mr. Randall was united in marriage in 1885 with Miss Emma McCasslin, a daugh- ter of Vanderlin McCasslin of Annandale, Butler County. The following are the issue of their union : Bertha, who married Milton Daugherty of Butler County and has two daughters, Edna and Nellie; Maude, who married Clayton Williams. of Butler County and has one daughter, Fay; and Annetta, who is at home. Fraternally, Mr. Randall is a member of Lodge No. 782, I. O. O. F., at Lawrenceburg ; and the Knights of the Maccabees at Eau Claire. He is a Republican in politics.

D. W. DART, a successful oil producer and highly respected citizen of Buena Vista, Butler County, Pennsylvania, was born March 6, 1849, in Lorain County, Ohio, and is a son of Willard and Sarah (Adams) Dart.

The parents of our subject early in life came from Connecticut and located in Lo- rain County, Ohio, for some time. They then removed to Fulton County, Ohio, where the father died; the mother died in Lorain County. To them were born the following children : Levi, died in the army; D. W., our subject; George, a resident of Peru, South America, married Mary Vos- burg; L. L., residing in Fulton County, Ohio, married Emma Dinius.

D. W. Dart was reared in Lorain and Fulton Counties, Ohio, and in 1870 came to Parker Township from Oil Creek. In about two years he came to Buena Vista, begin- ning his work in the oil fields in the fall of 1872, his first work being on a 125-barrel well on the old John Thorn farm. He has since that time continued as an oil producer and is one of the most successful producers in this locality.

Mr. Dart was married December 26, 1877, to Emma Sutton, of Butler County, the Rev. Knapp of Parker Township offici- ating. Mrs. Dart is a daughter of James and Harriet (Brown) Sutton, prominent old settlers of Butler County.

James Sutton was born January 18, 1834, in Butler County and is a son of John and Mary (Sutton) Sutton, who came from Westmoreland County to Butler County at an early period. James Sutton was one of the following children: Joseph, deceased; Jeremiah; Jonathan, deceased ; Eliza J., de- ceased; James J .; John; Sarah; Mary. Mr. Sutton was reared in Concord Township, and obtained his education in the district schools. He taught for some time in Arm- strong and Butler Counties, and was post- master at Buena Vista for a period of eigh- teen years. He is a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in 1864 in Company B, Fif- tieth Penna. Vol. Inf. and served to the close of the war. Mr. Sutton is the father of one child, Emma, the wife of D. W. Dart. He is a member of the G. A. R. of Chicora, McDermott Post No. 223, and is religiously a member of the English Luth- eran Church of Buena Vista.

Mr. and Mrs. Dart have one son, J. L., who was born June 22, 1881. In fraternal affiliation the subject of this sketch is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Chi- cora, and the K. O. T. M. of Chicora. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church.

WILLIAM H. GRABE, a prominent farmer and representative citizen of Jef- ferson Township, resides on his valuable estate of 120 acres, which lies along the by-road running from the Glade Mill high- way, about one mile due west of Jefferson Center. Mr. Grabe lives on the old home- stead, which he purchased in 1879, and here, in the house still standing, he was born November 13, 1851. His parents were George and Elizabeth (Frieze) Grabe.

George Grabe was born in Germany and

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came to Butler County with his parents, August and Catherine Grabe. George Grabe assisted in clearing the land prepar- atory to the building of the first house at Saxonburg and he also cleared away the brush where now runs Main Street, with its business houses and busy daily traffic. Later he cleared up the original farm of the family, the third one located in this sec- tion, and through his own industry cleared off fully 120 acres. He died April 8, 1902. He was a good farmer and a highly re- spected man.

In his boyhood, William H. Grabe went to school whenever he could be spared from home work, and then commenced his ap- prenticeship in the carriage-making trade. He worked at his trade until he mastered it and during the winters of 1870 and 1871 he attended night school and perfected him- self in studies which he had been compelled to neglect prior to this opportunity. For fourteen years he carried on a carriage- making business at Jefferson Center, but in April, 1877, he removed to Jefferson Township and bought first a tract of forty acres, which adjoined the old homestead, and subsequently purchased the latter property and has resided here ever since. He carries on general farming and stock- raising and has made a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle for stock shows, and one winter he had forty-three head of his own raising. He has the reputation of also raising the best horses in the county and is widely known, in addition, as a successful raiser of fancy poultry and is the president of the Butler County Poultry and Pet Stock Association, of which he was a pro- moter. His orchards also are a feature of his farm and he has 500 peach trees, two- thirds of which are bearing; 400 apple trees; 100 cherry trees and fifty pear and plum trees. Mr. Grabe believes in the value of the county fair exhibitions and he sets the example by yearly entering stock and products. That he receives premiums on the greater number of his exhibits is proof

that they are superior to all others. He encourages agricultural organizations and is an officer of the Butler County Grange.

On November 16, 1876, Mr. Grabe was married to Miss Mary E. Wiskeman, a daughter of William and Amelia (Pollard) Wiskeman, prominent farming people of Clinton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Grabe have the following children : Oliver H., who married Lula Giles, has three children; Walter George, who married Vera Miller, has one son, Howard; John Edwin, who married Elizabeth Wetzel, has one daugh- ter, Helen; Edna, who resides at home; Amelia, who married William Weckerly, has two sons, Carl and Albert; and Will- iam C., Mabel and Ruth, all of whom live at home. The family is a leading one in the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Grabe is an elder. He is a broad-minded, progres- sive citizen and takes an active interest in all that concerns the public welfare of township, county and State. On many occasions he has been elected to office, in 1908 being made county commissioner.

ANDREW B. METZ, a successful busi- ness man and well known citizen of Middle Lancaster, Butler County, Penna., con- ducts the store established by his father at a very early period, and for a period of thirty-two years has been in partnership with his mother under the name of A. E. Metz & Son. He was born where he now resides, on April 13th, 1852, and is a son of Andrew and Anna Elizabeth (Luebben) Metz.

Andrew Metz, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in December, 1811, and has been deceased for fifty-seven years. His widow still survives him and has passed her ninety-first birthday anni- versary. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and both she and her hus- band reached maturity before moving to Butler County. They were married in the old Stauffer House, on the line between

HARMONY CEREAL CO

JOYNINY

HARMONY CEREAL COMPANY, ZELIENOPLE

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Lancaster and Jackson Townships, and became parents of the following children : Mary L., who died in May, 1884, and was the wife of W. E. Kirker; Dr. Albert H., a medical practitioner who died at East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1890; Anna E., wife of S. D. Kirker of Harmony; and An- drew B.

In 1846 Andrew Metz established a store in an old log house near where Middle Lancaster is now located, and the building still stands. About the year 1847 he moved to Middle Lancaster and continued the business until his death on January 8th, 1854. The business has continued without interruption since its inception, although for two years during the Civil War it was conducted by Albert H. Metz, and a brother-in-law, Mr. Kirker. Under the proprietorship of Mrs. Metz and An- drew B. Metz the business has flourished and a good trade built up.

Andrew B. Metz received a good com- mon school education in his home vicinity, and from boyhood has been identified with the store. He was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Robison, a daughter of James Robison of Thorn Hill, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and they are par- ents of four children: Isabella, wife of Rev. Leunzinger of Abilene, Kansas, for- merly pastor of the Reformed Church at Harmony; Mary V., who has taught school in Harmony and Butler Boroughs; A. Homer, a graduate of Westminster for P. Duff & Son of Pittsburg. Polit- ically, Mr. Metz is a Republican. In re- ligious attachment his family are members of the Zelienople Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Ma- sonic Lodge at Butler.

A. H. KNAUF, secretary and treasurer of The Harmony Cereal Company, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, is a leading citi- zen of this town and for many years prior to 1906 was an extensive farmer and stock-

raiser in Forward Township, where he still owns his fine farm of 250 acres. He was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1861, and is a son of John and Sophia (Rape) Knauf.

The late John Knauf, father of A. H., was born in Germany. For many years he was a successful farmer in Butler County and a well known, respected citi- zen. He died March 5, 1900, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Sophia Rape, who still survives. She was born in 1825 in Cranberry Township, But- ler County, Pennsylvania, and is a daugh- ter of Christian and Sarah Rape. They had one son and two daughters, namely: A. H .; Mrs. Amelia Dambach, of Jack- son Township, Butler County; and Mrs. Sophia Meeder, of Cranberry Township.

A. H. Knauf obtained his education in the Cooper School, in Forward Township and remained at home and followed farm- ing until he turned his attention to milling in 1906. He owns about seven-eighths of the stock in the Harmony Cereal Company at Harmony, which was incorporated in August, 1906, with a capital stock of $30,000. Its officers are: J. C. Bellis, president; A. H. Knauf, secretary and treasurer, with J. C. Bellis, A. H. Knauf and Smith Cavin as directors. The com- pany buys and sells a large amount of grain and does a large business and one that is constantly expanding. The mill College; and Letitia B., a stenographer - capacity is thirty-five barrels of flour a day. The plant is equipped with modern machinery and the business is conducted after the most approved methods.

Mr. Knauf married Miss Annie Mary Knauf, a daughter of George Knauf, of Jackson Township, Butler County, and they have six sons and two daughters, namely: William M., John Henry, Frank Walter, Edwin George, Herman Earl, Harry Lelland, Eva Christina and Milia Viola. Mr. Knauf and family are mem- bersof the German Reformed Church. In

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polities he is a Democrat and he has fre- quently been elected by his fellow citizens to responsible township offices and has served most acceptably as auditor, super- visor and assessor. He is a member of Eden Lodge, Knights of Pythias.

JOHN H. TEBAY, a well known oil and gas producer of Eau Claire, Butler County, Pennsylvania, was the first male child born in that village, the date of his birth being September 30, 1854. He is a son of William H. and Lydia (Chambers) Tebay, a grandson of John and Elizabeth (Stewart) Tebay.

John Tebay, the grandfather, was first married to Elizabeth Stewart, who was of Scotch descent and who came to the United States from England. They had two children: William H. and Stewart, the last named dying in boyhood. John Tebay formed a second union with a Miss Vogan of Lawrence County, and they had five children: John, deceased; Elizabeth of Slippery Rock; Josephine, wife of William Moore, who is a retired farmer and lives at Slippery Rock; Clark, de- ceased; and Chase, who resides in Slip- pery Rock and has business interests in the West.

William H. Tebay attended school near Portersville and lived at home until his fifteenth year, then went to Butler and learned the trade of a carpenter with Pur- vis & Company. He later moved to Eat Claire, where he followed carpentering throughout his active career. He married Lydia Chambers, a daughter of Lewis Chambers, who came from east of the mountains of Pennsylvania, and located on what has since been known as the Chambers farm, one mile west of Eau Claire. He, too, was a carpenter by trade. His wife was Elizabeth Hilliard, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Margaret Hilliard of Ireland. William H. and Lydia Tebay had the following offspring: Mary E., widow of J. E. Kaylor of Beaver Falls,

by whom she has had three children- Clarence E., deceased, Lamonte and Pearl ; Jennie Tebay, who resides in Franklin, Pennsylvania; John H., subject of this biography; O. H., an oil man of Cherry Valley; and Almira, who lives with her mother at Eau Claire.

John H. Tebay attended the public schools, all of them at the old Blair school, and afterwards started work in Butler County; he went into the oil fields as a tool dresser, and later as a driller in the Bradford field. He continued that busi- ness in the Hudson River field, and later returned to Butler, where he has since continued his operations. He has been contracting and drilling for many years and has met with success. During the past nine months he has been in the new state of Oklahoma, leasing land for vari- ous companies, but he has maintained his residence in Eau Claire as before. He is the owner of a valuable property of twenty acres, the northern part of the village of Eau Claire lying on a part of his land.

Mr. Tebay was united in marriage with Miss Florence A. Campbell, a daughter of James R. and Anna (Storey). Campbell of West Sunbury, and the following are the issue of their union: Paul J., a teacher in Eau Claire Academy; William J., line- man for the Eau Claire Telephone Com- pany; Helen L. The subject of this sketch is a Republican, burgess of Eau Claire one year, and justice of the peace ten years, his term to expire in 1911. He was twice candidate for the nomination for sheriff. He is a member of Butler Lodge No. 170, B. P. O. E. Religiously, he is a member of the United Presbyterian church.

HENRY F. GRENET, general brick contractor at Butler, with place of busi- ness at No. 354 North Main Street, has been identified with the brick business ever since he was old enough to take an interest in any industry. He was born in 1863, at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where

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also he was reared. His parents were James and Matilda (Foulkener) Grenet. The father, James Grenet, served in the Civil war as captain of Company B, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under appointment of Governor Curtin. He died in 1897, his death occurring about two years after that of his wife Matilda.

The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch on the maternal side was Charles H. Foulkener, a squatter on Alle- gheny Commons, now known as the Allegheny Park, where he died.

Henry F. Grenet as a boy worked for his grandfather, Henry F. Foulkener, in the brick business and later he learned the bricklayers' trade and has worked at the same ever since. For twelve years he has done brick contracting; for six years of this period he had George Gerberding associated with him, under the firm name of Grenet & Gerberding, since when he has carried on his extensive business alone. His brick work is seen in a number of Butler's finest structures and among these may be named: the Nixon Hotel; the Leedom & Worral wholesale grocery building, and the Cypher Building, in which he also contracted for the art plate glass work. Mr. Grenet has been called to other cities and a notable example of his fine work is seen in the Armory at Grove City. . Mr. Grenet has been a resi- dent of Butler for eight years and in that time has proven his capacity in his special line and also his standing as a good citizen.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 157

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