Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 162

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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Thomas Van Dyke was born in Marion Township, Butler County, in 1805, and died in 1880, at the age of seventy-five years. He was reared on the old farm, a part of which he cleared, and after a time he in- herited a portion of it. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Monjar, who was born in Venango County, Pennsylva- nia, in June, 1807, and is now living at the remarkable age of one hundred and one years. She is in good health, has a reten- tive memory and excellent eye sight, and is possessed of great vitality for one of her years. She now resides at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Peter Ghost. Nine chil- dren were born to Thomas and Mary Van

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Dyke, as follows: Isabella, wife of J. C. Hutchison; Richard, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary Ann, wife of James Du- gan; Julia, wife of Peter Ghost; Sarah, who was the wife of John Dugan, both now deceased; Jackson McMillen; Frances, wife of R. M. Hovis; and Joseph, who lives in the old homestead.

Jackson M. Van Dyke spent his boyhood days on the farm and also helped to clear it. He attended the old schoolhouse which then stood in his home district, and has witnessed a wonderful change in the pub- lic schools since that time. He lived at home until his marriage, and has always followed farming. He is a progressive citi- zen and takes an earnest interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the com- munity and public improvements.

Mr. Van Dyke was married January 7, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Fleegar, and they became parents of the following: Samuel, who married Bertha Hemminger; Abigail, wife of James A. Gillgrist; Richard, who married Alberta Dodds; Thomas Harrison, who married Sadie Shaw; Lee; Sadie, who is the wife of James McNell; Daisy, wife of Richard Huff; Maimie; Amanda; Jo- seph; and Charles. In political affiliation Mr. Van Dyke is a Republican, and has served as school director and as road su- pervisor.

LEONARD SMITH, whose excellent farm of fifty acres is situated in Venange Township, two miles west of Eau Claire, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 4, 1844, and is a son of Leonard and Eliza- beth (Streker) Smith, whom he accompa- nied to America at the age of ten years.

The parents of Mr. Smith emigrated to the United States in 1854, came to Penn- sylvania and lived at Chicora in Butler County and at Brady's Bend, in Arm- strong County. They had the following children : Leonard; George, who was mar- ried (first) to Sarah Rankin, daughter of Thomas Rankin, of Brady's Bend, and

(second) to Mary McMund, had three chil- dren to his first union-Thomas, Samuel and Ida, and three to his second-Charles, Dolly and Leslie; Rosanna, who married John Bessenicker, has five children-Will- iam, John, Henry, Susanna and Elizabeth; Elizabeth, who married William Ford, had an infant, now deceased; Susanna, who married Hugh McElroy, has one daughter, Margaret; Mary, who died aged ten years ; Samuel and Philip, twins; and William, who died in infancy.

After his parents settled near Chicora, Leonard Smith went to school in the village and also attended school after the family removed to Brady's Bend. After his mar- riage, in 1870, he moved to Troutman Hol- low and worked for two years as a team- ster in the oil fields, after which he pur- chased his farm of fifty acres. This was unimproved land and Mr. Smith had it to clear and at present has forty acres under cultivation and has excellent farm build- ings, all of which he had erected since com- ing here. His land is excellent for farming purposes and it may, like many others in this neighborhood, be also rich in oil, gas and coal, but he has never tested for either.

On April 7, 1870, Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Belle Morrow, who is a daughter of Mathew Morrow, of Concord Township, and the following children have been born to them: Dora, who married William Ferguson, of Venango Township, has four children-Carl Thompson, Nancy Belle, Mary Jane and Leonard Allison; Sarah Emma, who resides at Pittsburg; Harry, who married Cora Serena, daugh- ter of John Serena; Clyde, Bertha and Albert, all of whom reside at home; Rosa, who is a member of the class of 1911, at Eau Claire Academy; Pearl, who is a school teacher; and Mary, who is also a student. Mr. Smith and family are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church at Eau Claire, of which Miss Bertha has been treasurer and Miss Pearl several times sec- retary of the Sunday school. Politically,

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Mr. Smith is a Republican but he has never consented to fill any township office except that of school director, in which he is serv- ing in his second term. He is one of the representative and reliable citizens of Ven- ango Township.

JOHN L. CARPENTER, who has at- tained a high degree of success as an oil producer, is a resident of Fairview, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is the owner of considerable property in that vicinity. In addition to his village property, he has a tract of twenty and three-fourths acres with one producing oil well upon it, and another tract of fifty acres with six excel- lent wells upon it.

Mr. Carpenter was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1843, and is a son of Welcome A. and Lucinda (Dick- son) Carpenter. His paternal great- grandfather was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. He was one of the following children born to his parents : Prescott, Car- rie, John L., James D., M. L., Mary, Allen and Homer. The two last named are de- ceased.

John L. Carpenter was reared in his native county and upon arriving at his majority went to Pittsville, in Venango County, where he became identified with the oil business. After a brief period of three months, he went to West Hickory, in Forest County, thence to Warren County, and still later to the Borough of Butler, where he was located three years. He then, in 1873, purchased a farm of Thomas Hayes in Fairview Township, Butler County, upon which he lived until 1902. He then purchased property in the village of Fairview, where he has since resided. He has in the meantime continued his activity as an oil producer.

November 1, 1869, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Sophia J. Courson, a daughter of Benjamin P. and Elizabeth P. (Morrison) Courson of War- ren County, Pennsylvania. Her father

died at the early age of thirty-one years, and her mother survived to the age of sev- enty-two. Mrs. Carpenter is one of the following children born to her parents : Sophia, Hiram (deceased), Eveline, Oren W. (deceased) and Ellen. The subject of this sketch and his estimable wife are par- ents of three children : Melville A., of But- ler County, who married Grace Snow and has had two children, Gail and Clara, the latter dying at the age of fourteen months; Elizabeth L., who is the wife of J. F. Jew- art and lives at Buffalo, New York; and Carrie B., who resides with her parents and is connected with the postoffice at Fair- view. Religiously, the family is Presby- terian. Mr. Carpenter is a member of the Protective Home Circle.

JOHN A. MEAKIN, weighmaster for the Erie Coal & Coke Company at Ferris, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and assist- ant postmaster of that village, was born in Eastwood, England, August 19, 1885. He is a son of Frank and Harriet (Foster) Meakin, and a grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth Meakin.

Thomas Meakin, the grandfather, and his wife had the following offspring: An- na, wife of Albert Piper; Hannah Myra, wife of Charles Mabbott, by whom she has the following children,- Annie, Mabel, Charles, Leonard and Douglas; and Frank.

Frank Meakin married Harriet Foster, a daughter of James Foster of Brinsley, England, and their children are as follows: William, who owns a drug store in Not- tingham, England, and who married Nellie Newton; Elizabeth, who married William Patrick and has two children, Annie Eliza- beth and William Ray; John A., whose name heads this record; Frank, who is en- gaged in mining in England; Thomas of England; Samuel, a gardener residing in England; and Arthur, who is attending school in England.

John A. Meakin attended school at East-

JOHN A. MEAKIN

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wood, in his native country, after which he engaged as clerk in a store in that village. He later took up gardening and mining, and still later was employed as a clerk in a drug store. He then emigrated to Amer- ica, landing at New York City, and thence made his way to Hilliard, Butler County, Pennsylvania. He here engaged in cutting coal for a time, and subsequently became weighmaster for the Industrial Coal Com- pany of Pittsburg. Leaving that position he worked as brakeman on the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, and then served for two and a half years as weighmaster for the Bessemer Coal Mining Company. At the end of that time he accepted his present position with the Erie Coal & Coke Company at Ferris. He is a man of well known ability and stands high in the es- teem of his fellowmen.

Mr. Meakin was married' to Elsie E. Foster, a daughter of Thomas J. Foster of Ferris, and they have a son, Ernest La- mont. Fraternally, he is a member of Hil- liard Lodge No. 11, I. O. O. F .; and Hil- liard Lodge, No. 92, K. P. He has passed through all the chairs of both orders. He is a Republican in politics, whilst in relig- ious attachment he is a member of of the Church of England. From April 22, 1908, to June 2nd of that year, he was at his old home in England, in the enjoyment of a well earned vacation.

CHARLES T. WALTERS, who has charge of the pumping station of the American Natural Gas Company, in Clin- ton Township, Butler County, Pennsylva- nia, is also the owner of a fine farm of sixty-six acres in that township, on which he follows general farming. He was born on this farm, which is located about one and a half miles south of Ekastown on the Tarentum road, the date of his birth being September 15, 1858. He is a son of Frank and Almira (Douglas) Walters, and a grandson of Davis Walters, who was of

German parentage and possibly of German birth.

Frank Walters was born in Clinton Township, Butler County, where his par- ents were early settlers, and throughout his active life engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He and his wife Almira became par- ents of the following children : Charles T .; 'James, deceased; Edward; Frank, de- ceased; Daisy; Susan; Beulah; and Anna.

Charles T. Walters attended the common schools of Clinton Township and was reared to maturity on the farm. He learned stationary engineering, which he has followed for the last eighteen years with good results. He has held his present responsible position with the American Natural Gas Company for two years, and in addition to the discharge of its duties has continued his farming operations. He follows general farming and raises some stock. His farm is under a high state of cultivation and is well improved; Mr. Wal- ters has a fine two-story home and a large barn, together with other necessary out- buildings.

April 5, 1891, he was married to Miss Mary McKrell, a daughter of James and Jane (Taylor) McKrell of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Her father was a prosperous farmer and a well known citi- zen of the community in which she was reared. Two children were born of this union : Ethel Jane and Frank DeHass, both of whom are in attendance at school. Re- ligiously, the family belongs to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Walters mar- ried, second, Ethel Martin.

GEORGE B. IRWIN, general farmer in Venango Township, residing on his excel- lent farm of fifty acres, which is situated one and one-half miles west of Eau Claire, was born in Venango Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1843, and is a son of Samuel C. and Elizabeth (Curtis) Irwin, and a grandson of Reuben Irwin.

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The parents of Mr. Irwin were farming people in Venango Township for a number of years. The mother was a daughter of Truman Curtis, of Venango County, Penn- sylvania. The children of Samuel C. Irwin and his first wife were: Reuben, who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, in the Civil War; Truman C. and Ephraim, both of whom are now deceased; George B .; Margaret, who married Samuel Sloan, both now deceased, is survived by five chil- dren-Amanda, Finley J., Sarah Jane, Louisa Margaret and Loretta. Samuel C. Irwin was married (second) to Martha Boyle Atwell, and they had two children- James A. and Mary.

George B. Irwin secured an excellent common school education, attending what was known as the Pine Tree School and the Big Bend School, both in Venango County, and later the Mt. Pisgah School, in Butler County. His first work was done as a driller and tool dresser in the oil fields and after four years of that kind of labor, he went to lumbering along the Allegheny River, in Clearfield County. After the death of his father he received fifty acres of the home farm as his portion and then turned his attention to improving it with buildings and has continued to make im- provements while cultivating his land. So far he has been satisfied with the ample re- turns he has received from its tillage, hav- ing never tested for oil, coal or gas.

On March 28, 1879, Mr. Irwin was mar- ried to Miss Margaret A. Sloan, a daugh- ter of Thomas Sloan, of Venango Town- ship, and they have had the following chil- dren : Samuel E .; Calvin R .; Marilda E., who married William Campbell, of Barren City, Pennsylvania, and has had three chil- dren-Laverne I., Paul L. and Florence A .; and Alma Belle, who lives at home. Mr. Irwin and family attend the Seceder Church at Eau Claire. He is well informed on public questions and is a staunch sup- porter of the Democratic party, but he has never aspired to public office. He is one of

the township's practical farmers and rep- resentative men.

JOHN MAIZLAND, whose exceptionally fine farm of 128 acres lies in Clinton Township, on the Saxonburg and Pitts- burg road, about two and one-half miles southeast of Saxonburg, is not only one of the youngest independent farmers in But- ler County, but also one of the most enter- prising and successful. He was born August 16, 1876, on his present farm and is a son of Robert (deceased February 12, 1892) and Mary Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Maizland, and a grandson of John and Agnes (McMillan) Maizland.

The grandparents of Mr. Maizland were of Scotch descent. When they came first to Pennsylvania, they settled in Allegheny County and came to Clinton Township, Butler County, in 1858. The parents of Mr. Maizland had three children, namely : John, Margaret, who married Albert Al- derson, and has one child-Flora; Eliza- beth; and Flora, who resides with her brother.

John Maizland obtained a good common school education, working on the farm while attending school, giving attention both to his books and to farm work for some years. Since then he has devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits and through his excellent methods has de- veloped his land into its extreme of pro- ductiveness. He may yet develop gas in paying quantities, as experiments have proved that it exists on his land.

In February, 1907, Mr. Maizland was married to Miss Lottie Knoch, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Clendennon) Knoch, of Clinton Township, and they have one child, Gladys Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Maizland are members of the Presbyterian Church.

HARVEY D. HOCKENBERRY, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of West Sunbury, where he has been engaged

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in active practice for thirty years, and Medical Inspector of Butler County, was born in the town of Centerville, now known as Slippery Rock, Butler County, Pennsyl -. vania, October 17, 1850, and is a son of John and Mary Jane (Christley) Hocken- berry.

Dr. Hockenberry was reared in Slippery Rock, where until sixteen years of age he attended the village schools, and then went to a farm in Cherry Township with his par- ents. For three years he attended the West Sunbury Academy, and at an early age began teaching. school, continuing in that occupation for upwards of ten years. Deciding on the medical profession as his life work, he spent one year with Dr. A. M. Patterson of Slippery Rock, and in 1877 entered the medical department of Wooster University, Cleveland, Ohio, and was grad- uated therefrom in 1879, when he began practice in West Sunbury. Seven years later he took a post-graduate course at Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Dr. Hockenberry soon won the confidence of the people of his community, and in a short time built up a large practice, which he has retained to the present time. He is a close and careful student, and his con- tinued success is due not only to his skill, but to his personal characteristics. In 1904, the Doctor was elected to the office of Medical Inspector of Butler County, a po- sition which he still holds. He is president of the board of trustees of West Sunbury Academy, and is connected with the State and County Medical Associations and the International Tuberculosis Association. Dr. Hockenberry owns a handsome resi- dence, adjoining which is a property of sixty acres.

Dr. Hockenberry was married to Miss Mary A. Smith, who is a daughter of James Smith of Cherry Township, and they have had eleven children, namely : John Bertram, deceased; James Amos, de- ceased; Ella Smith, a graduate of Wilson College of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,

and now teaching in the public schools of Wilkinsburg; Carl Morrison, deceased; Zoe Dora, a graduate of West Sunbury Academy, who also attended Westminster College, and is now teaching school at Bridgeville, Allegheny County; Amy June, deceased; Bernice, a graduate of Martin's Business School, at Pittsburg, and for three years treasurer and bookkeeper thereof; M. S. Quay, deceased; Hazel D., at home; Hugh DeWitt, deceased; and Hannah Hazel, who also resides at home; an adopted daughter ..

HUGH THOMAS MURRIN, a promi- nent and substantial citizen of Venango Township, Butler County, residing on his valuable farm of 250 acres, situated two miles southeast of Murrinsville, was born on this place on June 22, 1840. He belongs to a family that has been one of impor- tance in this section for many years and his parents were George and Sarah (Keat- ing) Murrin.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Mur- rin were Hugh and Polly (Shaw) Murrin and they had the following children: Jo- seph, who married Catherine Keating; John, who married Elizabeth Keating; James, who married Polly Kimes ; William, who married Margaret Keating; George, who married Sarah Keating; Philip, who married Nancy Forkner; and Hugh and Peter, both unmarried.

The following children were born to George Murrin and wife: Catherine, who married William Holland; Mary, who mar- ried Patrick Cary; James, unmarried; Margaret, who married Michael McLaugh- lin; Sarah, who married John Martin; El- len, who married John Duffy; Martha, who married Francis Gormley ; Nettie, who married Patrick McMurrer; Hugh Thom- as; and Cecelia, who married Cornelius Gormley.

Hugh Thomas Murrin first attended school about one mile from the homestead, the sessions being held in an old log cabin

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there, and later he went to the Seaton school and still later to the new brick school house. His father then needed him to help on the farm for a time, after which he left home and engaged in rafting on the rivers, living at Warren and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and at Cincinnati, Ohio, for about six years. He then opened up the coal bank on the home farm, which is still being worked, and during the years of great oil production in this neighborhood, sold a large amount of coal. On his own land he has six producing wells. With the exception of 100 acres covered with valu- able timber, and two fine orchards, Mr. Murrin has all his land now under tillage. Formerly he dealt extensively in sheep and cattle, for some years raising and selling much live stock. His well improved place is the result of his own effort and care, he having erected all the substantial farm buildings now on the farm.

Mr. Murrin married Miss Ellen Thorn- bury, who is a daughter of Patrick Thorn- bury, and they have had the following chil- dren: George P., who married Nellie Smith; Clarence A., who married Stella Smith, of West Virginia; Nancy A., who married Lawrence M. O'Keefe; Lavisa, who married E. J. Hovis; Arthur P., who remains at home; Margaret K., who mar- ried M. J. Sherman, of Butler; Hugh F., who is now deceased; and Harold E., who resides at home. Mr. Murrin and family are members of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, at Murrinsville, of which Mr. Mur- rin was treasurer for three years and a member of the church committee for five years. In politics he is a staunch Demo- crat and has been an influential one in Ven- ango Township almost all his mature life. He has been many times elected to office and has given very efficient service. For twelve years he served as school director, one year as tax collector, one year as con- stable, one year as assessor, three years as auditor and three years as road super- visor.

WILLIAM HENRY PICKARD, found- er of the Starlight Refining Company, Lim- ited, at Karns City, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, is a prosperous business man and highly respected citizen of that village. He was born at Brady's Bend, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1846, and is a son of Amos and Eliza (Hines) Pick- ard.

The parents of the subject of this sketch were early pioneers in Armstrong County, where the greater portion of their lives was passed. She died in middle life, at the age of forty-five years, and he survived her many years, dying at the advanced age of eighty-five. The following children were born to them: Jennie, William H., George, deceased, Anna, Frank, Mary, Martin, Le- vina, and Edward.

William H. Pickard attended the pub- lic schools in Armstrong County, and after that worked at coke making with his fath- er, who, it was said, was the oldest coke maker in the United States. In 1872, he moved to Karns City, where he first en- gaged in teaming and drove stage to vari- · ous surrounding towns ; he also engaged in the junk business for some years. In 1892 he embarked in the refining business, founding the Starlight Refining Company ; this business he carried on alone for a few years, then took his son, John F. Pickard, into partnership, and 1903, sold a one- fourth interest in the business to Mr. C. H. Johnson, the firm name being changed to the Starlight Refining Company, Lim- ited. They employ a force of six men, and have a monthly output of 1,500 barrels. Mr. Pickard has been active in the affairs of the village and has frequently held lo- cal offices of trust. He was constable three years, school director a like period of time, and has served as a member of the town council.

September 16, 1869, Mr. Pickard was married at Brady's Bend to Miss Caroline Fox, a daughter of John and Kathryn Fox of Armstrong County, and the following

WILLIAM H. PICKARD

MRS. CAROLINE F. PICKARD

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are the offspring of their union : Adda, who was born June 18, 1870, and lives at home; George C., who was born November 24, 1871, and died August 28, 1874; Ella M., who was born February 13, 1874, and died September 8, 1878; William H., who was born June 17, 1876, and married Myrtle Brake, by whom he has a son, William; John T., of Karns City, who was born June 24, 1878, and married Bertha Mortimore; Charles E., who was born May 25, 1880, and died October 20, 1908; Mary A., who was born August 24, 1882, and is the wife of William J. Anderson of Washington Township, Butler County; Carrie E., who was born May 26, 1887, and lives at home ; and Edgar C., who was born March 13, 1889, and also lives with his father. Will- iam H., Jr., resides at Salem, West Vir- ginia. Mrs. Pickard was called to her final rest on March 20, 1906, at the age of fifty- nine years. In religious attachment, she was a member of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Pickard is a member. He was one of the charter members of the Knights of the Maccabees at Chicora, when the lodge was installed at that place in 1891.

MICHAEL HOOVER, residing on a farm of thirty-five acres in Fairview Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is a well known citizen of the community. He was born in Donegal Township, Butler County, May 2, 1855, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Leichner) Hoover, both natives of Germany.

Henry Hoover and his wife, upon com- ing to this country from their native land, located first in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania. They in 1854 moved to Donegal Township, Butler County, from Oakland Township, where they had lived for a few years after leaving Allegheny County. They purchased a farm of fifty acres in Donegal from a Mr. McNally, and lived there until their respective deaths, he dy- ing in 1864, and she in 1895. Nine children were the offspring of their marriage, as

follows: John, Tina, Katherine, Elizabeth, Henry, Michael, Daniel, Susanna, and Mar- garet.

Michael Hoover was reared to maturity in his native township and there received his educational training in the old Wal- ford School, which all his brothers and sis- ters attended. For a time after leaving school he engaged in teaming, then turned his attention to farming, at which he has been very successful. He lived in Donegal Township until his twentieth year, and since 1882 has lived on his present farm in Fairview Township, on which he has made nearly all the improvements.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 162

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