Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 166

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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WILLIAM C. ARNER, who carries on general farming on his valuable estate of fifty acres, which is situated three miles southwest of the village of Hilliards, in Washington Township, also carries on a very successful photographic business, for which he has fine, modern equipments. Mr. Arner was born in Washington Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1869, and is a son of George and Ermina (Campbell) Arner.

George Arner was a son of Tobias and Catherine (Daubenspeck) Arner, of Par- ker Township, Butler County. They had the following children : Mary, who married John Day, of Clay Township; Betsey, who married Andrew Kelly, of Warren County ; Philip, deceased; David, who married Eliza McCandless, daughter of Mark McCand-

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less, of Cherry Township; George; Anna, who married James Grant, of Washington Township; and Christina, who married Thomas Troutman. For several years George Arner conducted the Wick House.

William C. Arner obtained a public school education in Washington Township and then engaged in farming. His fifty acres are all under cultivation and the land responds readily to the care given it. Mr. Arner may also realize a fortune from coal, as there have been found four veins of this valuable substance underlying his fields. Mr. Arner is a good farmer, but he has other interests, having developed a very profitable enterprise in the line of photography. He learned the photograph business after he had finished school and after his marriage instructed his wife and together they turn out a large amount of beautiful and artistic work. Mr. Arner worked in studios at Butler and at Findlay, Ohio, and is thoroughly competent. He has about $300 invested in cameras and other necessary equipments and his work compares favorably with that done in a city studio.

In 1894 Mr. Arner was married to Amelia Cooper, who is a daughter of Stephen and Henrietta Seaton, and a granddaughter of William Seaton, of Ve- nango Township, Butler County. The late Stephen Cooper was born in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, and was taken to Indiana while young, but later returned to Butler County. He enlisted in 1861, for three months' service in the Civil War, as a member of the Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was captured on one occasion by the enemy, but fortunately escaped before the prison was reached. He returned to his home and re- sumed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Arner have the following children: Lee Carl, Dale D., Hazel H. and Gladys E., all bright students in the public school; and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Arner are members of the Eng- lish Lutheran Church at Annandale. In

polities, Mr. Arner is identified with the Republican party.

SAMUEL SHERWIN, a prominent coal operator of Butler County, Pennsylvania, is the owner of seventy-five acres of farm land in Fairview Township, on which he lives, and also has the coal rights to one hundred and thirty acres in the same town- ship. He is a native of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being February 8, 1873, and is a son of Peter D. and Anna (Blackett) Sherwin.

Samuel Sherwin, grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was identified with the coal industry in England prior to his com- ing to the United States, a line of busi- ness with which the family has been con- nected as far back as there is any record. Peter D. and Anna (Blackett) Sherwin became parents of the following children : Samuel; John B .; W. E .; James G .; Grace B. and Charles P. All of this family now reside in Butler County, the parents being located in the borough of Butler.

Samuel Sherwin was about three years of age, when the oil excitement caused the removal of the family from Clarion County to Karns City. Four years later they moved to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where they re- mained about six years, then returned to Butler County, where our subject has lived for more than a score of years. He has been living on a farm in Fairview Town- ship about fifteen years, and in 1906 pur- chased his present place from Joseph Ear- hart. He has been engaged in coal mining all his life, starting in the employ of his father, and for some years was superin- tendent of the latter's mine, known as the Sherwin Mine and located in Clay Town- ship. He continued as superintendent fourteen years, then branched out into business for himself. He opened his pres- ent mines two years ago, made all the im- provements and has what are considered the best mines in the county. They em- ploy seventy men and have an output of

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about 300 tons per day, all of which is taken by the Great Lake Shipping Com- pany. He is a man of great energy and enterprise, and has won his way to the front rank through his individual efforts.

Mr. Sherwin was united in marriage with Miss Alice Kaylor, a daughter of David and Keziah (Byers) Kaylor, old residents of Butler County. They were married at Butler, March 23, 1891, and have the following children: Harriet, Peter D., Jessie H., Hazel, Ella and Joseph. Re- ligiously, Mr. Sherwin and his family are members of the Methodist church. He is affiliated with Grove City Lodge No. 910, I. O. O. F., and Encampment No. 245, I. O. O. F., at Grove City.

JOHN W. HILLIARD, who comes of an old and respected family of Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, is a contractor in oil well drilling and is a member of the firm of Ekas & Hilliard. He makes his home on a tract of twenty-five acres which formed a part of the old homestead of 400 acres in Washington Township, but he does not do any farming. There are three veins of coal on this property, but as yet no banks have been opened.

Mr. Hilliard was born on the farm on which he now lives, September 25, 1866, and is a son of John M. and Elizabeth (Shira) Hilliard. He was one of the fol- lowing children born to his parents: Anvia (Henon) ; Margaret, wife of Adam Fogle of Washington Township; Olive, wife of Leslie Huffman of Lawrence County, by whom she has two children, Blanche and Fisk; Alvira (Rumbaugh) ; Newton; Lena, who is unmarried and lives in Washington Township; Vina, wife of Harry Guthrie, by whom she has three children-La- Vernge, Irene and Leola; Jacob, deceased; McClelland, deceased; and John William, whose name heads this sketch. Anna Hil- liard married Thomas Henon of Wash- ington Township and they had the follow- ing offspring: Harvey, who married Lil-

lian Adams of Marion Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, wife of Miles Hutchison; Thomas, deceased; Ollie, · deceased; Claude, who married Pearl Jack, a daughter of William Jack; Goldie, wife of Wade Patterson of Hilliards; and David, who is a teacher in the public schools. Alvira Hilliard married Henry Rumbaugh of Washington Township and their children are: Ford, Earl, Ina, wife of Eli Gaiser, and Vance. Newton Hilliard married Sarah Hutchinson, a daughter of White Hutchinson of Cherry Township, and to them were born; Miles; Harry Jay ; and Twila, who married Edward Seaton of Marion Township and has three children- Lee, Pearl, Vevia.

John William Hilliard attended the pub- lic schools of Washington Township, first attending the old Stoops School. His first occupation on leaving the farm was as tool dresser in the oil fields. He later began drilling wells and finally branched out as a contractor, becoming a member of the Ekas & Hilliard Contracting Company, of Butler. He has achieved a distinct suc- cess in this field of operation and takes rank among the substantial men of the community. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and his many friends twice advanced his candidacy for the office of county com- missioner.

Mr. Hilliard was united in marriage with Miss Helen Heinauer, a daughter of Andrew Heinauer of McKee's Rocks, Alle- gheny County. Andrew married Mary Burkhart, a daughter of John Burkhart of Woodsfield, Ohio, and they had the follow- ing children: Helen, wife of the subject of this record; Katherine, deceased; John, deceased; Charles, who married Mary Hotchkiss, a daughter of Charles Hotch- kiss, and has a son, Charles, Jr .; Edward; and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard have three children: John L., who is a member of the Class of 1909 at North Washington Academy; Vevia L., who is attending the public schools; and LaVernge J. Relig-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

iously, they are active members of the Lutheran Church at Anandale, and Miss Vevia and John L. Hilliard sing in the church choir. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World.

GILL M. THOMPSON, one of Center Township's leading farmers and reliable and substantial citizens, resides on his farm of 100 acres of excellent land, which is situated on the Sunbury and McGrath mill road. Mr. Thompson was born June 9, 1861, on the farm in Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, which is now the property of J. G. Renick, and is a son of Anthony and Abigail (Russell) Thomp- son.

Anthony Thompson was born May 5, 1838, in the same house that saw the birth of his son Gill M., and was a son of Moses, who was a son of Anthony Thompson, who was born in Ireland. This Moses Thomp- son married his cousin, a daughter of James Thompson, who came also from Ire- land to Pennsylvania and settled on the farm on which Gill M. Thompson and his father were born. Moses Thompson was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and he was eighteen years of age when he came to Center Township. The father of Gill M. Thompson still survives and he and wife reside in Center Township. He mar- ried Abigail Russell, who was born in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County, May 27, 1836, and is a daughter of William Russell, who was born in Concord Town- ship, Butler County. The father of Will- iam Russell was an early settler in Con- cord Township, to which he came from Eastern Pennsylvania. William Russell and wife moved to a farm in Venango County, where he cleared up a farm from the dense forest, about 100 acres, made im- provements there and later sold the place and decided to make a prospecting trip to Illinois. On this his family remained be- hind and he subsequently returned to But-

ler County. To Anthony and Abigail Thompson were born six children, namely : Gill M., Mrs. Lizzie A. Young, Mrs. Mag- gie Upham, Bert, Martha and William, the two latter being deceased.

Gill M. Thompson was one year old when his parents moved on his present farm and this has been his home ever since. He has carried on general farming and met with excellent success. For a time he spent his winters in the oil fields, as a tool dresser, cultivating the farm during the summers, and has one well on his own land that is a constant producer.

Mr. Thompson was married in Cherry Township to Miss Annie E. Wolford, a daughter of Perry and Elizabeth Kiester Wolford, and they have five children: Grace, Mary, Wayne, Florence and Ralph. Mr. Thompson is a member of the order of Odd Fellows. He is not active in poli- tics but he has the best interests of his community at heart and he served three years as school director of School District No. 3.

A. W. DAVIDSON, who fills the office of tax collector for the borough of Butler, of which he has been a resident for some twenty-two years, was born in 1865, in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Isaac A. and Analiza Davidson, and a grandson of Rob- ert Davidson.

Isaac A. Davidson was born in 1826, in Slippery Rock Township, where his father had been one of the earliest settlers. He died in May, 1905, on the farm on which he was born and on which he had spent his entire life.

A. W. Davidson was reared on the old homestead and there he remained until he was about twenty-one years of age, in the meanwhile securing an excellent common school education. He then came to But- ler and began work in the old fields, later was a clerk in a store for a time and still later embarked in a grocery business which

A. W. DAVIDSON

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he continued for nine years. In the spring of 1906 he was elected to the office he has since efficiently filled. He has been an ac- tive citizen, working ever for the good of the community. For one term he served as school director in the Second Ward, but has seldom aspired to public office.

Mr. Davidson was married May 17, 1893, to Miss Tillie D. Gilgrist, who was born in Butler County, and they have five sons- Wallace A., George B., Ira Roland, John Elmer and Thomas D. Fraternally, Mr. Davidson is identified with the Masons, the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Mystic Cir- cle. He is a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Butler.

PERRY FRANKLIN RAY is a repre- sentative farmer and business man resid- ing on a fine farm of 195 acres in Wash- ington Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of pedigreed stock. Mr. Ray was born in Fairview Township, Butler County, Sep- tember 11, 1856, and is a son of William and Nancy (Campbell) Ray, and is a grandson of William Ray, Sr., who came to this country from Ireland at an early date. His maternal grandfather was An- drew Campbell of Fairview Township.

William Ray, father of the subject of this sketch, was a well known citizen of Fair- view Township. He first married a Miss Hindman, and of the children born of their union the following are living: Jane, who is the wife of John Porter of Oil City; Mary Ann, wife of Harvey McConnell; and Margaret, wife of John Weeks. Those de- ceased are Robert, William, Andrew, James, Thomas, John and George. Mr. Ray formed a second marital union with Nancy Campbell, and they became parents of two children: Ada, wife of Mathew Banks ; and Perry Franklin.

Perry F. Ray was reared in Fairview Township, and there received his educa- tional training in the common schools. He

has a farm of 195 acres, of which 160 are in tillable shape. He raises standard-bred horses and pure-bred Durham cattle, in ad- dition to sheep; he makes a specialty of small grain, raising approximately 600 to 1,000 bushels of oats, 200 to 300 bushels of buckwheat, and from 300 to 400 bushels of corn each year. He has made many impor- tant improvements on the place since it . came into his possession, rebuilding both house and barn and erecting the other structures on the place. He has five good producing oil wells but little gas. He has two coal mines opened, and another vein of coal which has not been touched. He is a progressive and public spirited man, taking an active interest in the develop- ment and welfare of the community.

Mr. Ray was united in marriage with Miss Mary Badger, a daughter of Alonzo Badger of Fairview, and they reared six children: Erla Pearl, who is the wife of G. W. Marshall of Pollock, Clarion Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, by whom she has three children-Ossoli, Rosilla and Georgena; Cora Etta, wife of Edward Kuhn of Wilkinsburg, by whom she has a daughter, Mary Katherine; William, deceased; Lewis; Charles, who is married and has a son, Virgil; and Mary, who is at home. Mr. Ray formed a second union with Miss Sarah Campbell, a daughter of Mathew Campbell of Washington Township, and they have three children-Myrle C., Floyd G., and Harriet Ray. He is a Republican in politics, and has served two years as trustee of the Presbyterian Church at North Hope, of which he is an active mem- ber and a liberal supporter.

CHARLES ADAM OHL, a well known business man of Sarver, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is proprietor of a hardware store and an extensive dealer in farming implements. He was born in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, January 17, 1862, and is a son of Henry and Jo- hanna (Kramer) Ohl, and grandson of

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Adam Ohl. The last named was a native of Germany, and located in Butler County, Pennsylvania, at an early date, settling at Saxonburg. Henry Ohl engaged in blacksmithing at Saxonburg, and also fol- lowed general farming.

Charles A. Ohl received his educational training in the common schools, mainly at school No. 2, in Jefferson Township. At the age of fifteen years he began learning the trade of a harnessmaker with William Schroth, at Saxonburg, and from there went to Chicora, where he resided one year. He then went to Warren, Pennsyl- vania, thence to the borough of Butler, where he continued for eight and one-half years. He left Butler with Jacob Kiefer and went to Pittsburg, where they pur- chased the store and business of Hartman & Kost, which they conducted for twelve years with good results. At the end of that time, or in 1893, Mr. Ohl came to Sarver and established the hardware store which he now conducts. 'He is one of the leading business men of the village, and enjoys a large trade throughout the con- tiguous territory. He has a comfortable two-story home on Main Street, opposite the store.

August 9, 1883, Mr. Ohl was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Schwartz, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Bip- pus) Schwartz, her father being a pros- perous farmer of Butler County. Two children were born to bless this union, namely, Louis Edward and Ina. Louis Edward, who received his education in the Allegheny schools and Iron City College, is head clerk in the store at Sarver. He married Miss Lorine Bierley, and they have a son, Charles Adam, Jr. Ina died at the age of eight years. Religiously, the subject of this sketch is a member of the Lutheran church, of which he is an elder.

H. M. BARNEY, a representative citi- zen and business man of Petrolia, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is owner and pro-

prietor of the Petrolia Boiler Works. He has a fine shop, with modern equipment, and does a large business.

Mr. Barney was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1852, and is a son of Garry Columbus and Nancy (Allen) Barney. He had a brother Frank, who met his death by drowning in Lake Erie; the latter was twice married, his first union being with Miss Rose Berry, who died leav- ing four children: Blanche, Grace, Rose and Rell. A sister to the subject of this sketch, Emma, married Thomas Hinton, by whom she has three children-Glen, Jo- seph and Lent. They live in Oklahoma. Garry C. Barney died at the old age of eighty-four years, and is survived by his widow, who is now seventy-six years old.

H. M. Barney lived in Erie County until he was fifteen years old, then moved to Petroleum Center, in Venango County, where he remained six years and engaged in the oil business. He then came to But- ler County and for a period of more than thirty-four years has resided within a radius of five miles of Petrolia, most of the time being located near Bruin and Karns City. He engaged in the oil busi- ness until 1901, when he moved to Petrolia and bought out the boiler works of Beatty Brothers, which undertaking he has car- ried on on an enlarged scale. He has al- ways taken a deep interest in the public affairs of the community in which he has resided; he served two terms as burgess of Petrolia and as a member of the town council. . He was a school director in Par- ker Township for some years.

Mr. Barney was married in Erie Coun- ty on November 2, 1872, to Miss Emma Bannister, daughter of Josiah Bannister, and they became parents of the following children: Archie of Rochester, New York, who married Miss Lena Wheelhouse of Jamestown, in that state; Walter, who lives in Fairview Township and married Susan Eddinger, by whom he has a son, Herbert B .; Fred, who married Lotta Jen-

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nings and lives in Fairview Township; and Earl C., who married Ollie Henry and lives at Petrolia. Religiously, the subject of this record is a member of the Meth- odist Church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Chicora.

WILLIAM PLUMMER STICKLE, a prosperous business man and well known citizen of Eau Claire, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is a harnessmaker by trade and is at the present efficiently discharging the duties of office as justice of the peace of the borough. He was born at Wimer- ton, Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1860, and is a son of Abraham and Margaret Ann (Gal- lagher) Stickle, and a grandson of Simon Stickle.

Simon Stickle, the grandfather, was married to Miss Susan Howe of Lawrence County, and to them were born the follow- ing: Samuel, William, Jacob, Simon, George, Abraham, Shimp, John, and Susan, who is the wife of Jefferson Wimer of Worth Township, and has two sons, Will- iam and Gilmer.

Abraham Stickle was joined in marriage with Margaret Ann Gallagher, a daughter of William Gallagher of Worth Township, and the issue of their union was: William Plummer, whose name appears as the head of this sketch; Hannah M., who married M. D. Maxwell of Plain Grove, Lawrence County, and has six children-Olive, Ray- mond, Grace, Sherrill, Ralph and Gladys; Clifford G., who married Sarah Stoughton and has a son, Arthur; and Samuel, who is deceased. Abraham Stickle, the father of this family, received his educational train- ing in the public schools at Princeton, in Lawrence County, and in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County. He learned the trade of a shoemaker in Muddy Creek, and also followed it in Worth Township. He later learned the trade of a harnessmaker,

both of which he followed with much suc- cess, at Jacksville.

William P. Stickle attended Zion and Billsburg schools in Worth Township, the Mt. Pleasant School in Westmoreland County, and later was enrolled in Grove City College, Mercer County, for a time. He then engaged in teaching one term in Perry Township, Lawrence County, and a term in Franklin Township, Butler Coun- ty. He learned his trade as a harness- maker under David Gill at Harlansburg, under David St. Clair at Jacksville, un- der T. M. Rhoades at Slippery Rock, and William Young at Grove City. He then started into business for himself at Eau Claire in 1884, but later became estab- lished in a general store in partnership with G. F. Gardner at Plain Grove, in Lawrence County. He then returned to Eau Claire, where he has built up a large and well paying business. He has owned three different properties in the borough, but at the present owns but the property on which he lives. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and has been active in the party for many years; he was elected jus- tice of the peace for the borough and is a member of the Prohibitionist County Com- mittee.

William P. Stickle was united in mar- riage with Emma E. Gardner, a daughter of Nicholas Gardner, and four children were born to them-Fern M., Ida M., Mar- jorie, and a son who died unnamed. He was called upon to mourn the loss of his beloved wife on October 29, 1900, and she lies buried in Zion cemetery in Worth Township. She was a member of the M. E. Church at Eau Claire, to which Mr. Stickle belongs. He is very active in church work, serving as Sunday School superintendent, and also steward. Fraternally, he is a member, and at present chaplain, of Eau Claire Tent, No. 23, K. O. T. M .; and for- merly was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Plain Grove. He

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

is a man who retains the highest regard of his fellow citizens, and always allies him- self with the best interests of the commu- nity.

JOHN HARVEY SNYDER, general superintendent of gas-pumping stations for the T. W. Phillips Gas and Oil. Com- pany of Butler, Pennsylvania, is a resident of Buffalo Township, Butler County, and is a man of recognized standing in the community. He was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1872, is a son of James M. and Mary (Lamison) Snyder, and a grandson of John Snyder.

John Snyder, the grandfather, engaged in the blacksmith's trade for some years, but later made his chief pursuit oil operat- ing. His later years were spent on the farm, his death occurring in July, 1906. His wife, in maiden life Emeline Somers, died some eight years prior to his death.

James M. Snyder is widely known in the oil and gas fields of Armstrong and Butler Counties; he engaged in the oil business for many years, and is now successful in the gas business. He was joined in mar- riage with Mary Lamison, a daughter of Adam Lamison, a collier in the various furnaces in this part of the state. Nine children were the issue of their marriage: John Harvey; Adam, who married Belle James; Samuel, who married Clara Clay- pool; Jesse, who married Tillie Bauldoff; Mary Ellen, deceased; William B., de- ceased; Dee Viola, wife of Abraham Flick; Carrie Elizabeth; and Margaret.

John H. Snyder received a common school education in Butler and Armstrong Counties, and during his boyhood days worked on the farm. At the age of six- teen years he entered the employ of the T. W. Phillips Gas and Oil Company, do- ing ordinary labor work; a conscientious discharge of his duties resulted in advance- ment from one position to another until he was made general superintendent of the pumping station, the position he now fills

with marked ability. He is a capable busi- ness man and a progressive one, and has the esteem of all with whom he is brought in contact. He goes to and from his work in an automobile of the Thomas 1907 model.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 166

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