Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 167

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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September 6, 1899, Mr. Snyder was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Clara Lyon, a daughter of Josiah and Clara (Howard) Lyon. Her parents came from the East, and Mr. Lyon became an operator in the oil fields. Religiously, the subject of this sketch and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and have been very active in church and so- cial affairs. He was for a long period superintendent of the Sunday School. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Blue Lodge, F. & A. M .; and the Chapter No. 540, at Chicora, Pennsylvania.

THOMAS V. ROACH, owner of the Petrolia Refining Company of Petrolia, Butler County, Pennsylvania, has a large and well established business. The firm of which he is the head manufactures a white petroleum jelly, of the purest qual- ity, known as Petrolatum, and is disposed of mainly to large wholesale drug firms, its exceptional quality giving it a ready market.

Mr. Roach was born in Petrolia, Febru- ary 14, 1875, and is a son of Michael and Anna (McFarland) Roach. His father is at present burgess of Petrolia. Michael and Anna Roach became parents of the following: Frank, who married Lottie Osenbaugh and lives at Oakdale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Thomas V .; Jo- seph; Walter, who married Gertrude Car- nihan and lives at Petrolia; and Mary. The father of this family came to Petrolia during the oil excitement, and he and most of his sons have always engaged in the oil business.

Thomas V. Roach has always been in the oil business and in 1901, in partnership with Frank Hernon, purchased the Pe-

JAMES C. BUCHANAN AND FAMILY

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trolia Refining Company, of George Son- ricker. The last named, in association with Frank Carman, had established the business in 1900. The subject of this sketch and his partner established the com- pany on a firm business basis and con- tinued together until 1904, when in Feb- ruary, of that year, the former purchased the interests of his partner. He has since continued alone and has achieved a high degree of success. He employs an aver- age of three men, and produces a large quantity of petrolatum per year. In addi- tion he refines oil and gasoline of high grade.

WILLIAM BARBER, residing on his valuable farm of 160 acres, situated in Washington Township, Butler County, was born at Harlansburg, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1859, and is a son of William and Anna (Kauffman) Barber.

The father of Mr. Barber was born in the State of New York and was brought to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in his boyhood. He engaged in farming there un- til 1860, when he moved to Missouri, but subsequently returned to Lawrence Coun- ty and in 1866 he bought a farm in Butler County, on which he died when aged sev- enty-three years. He married a daugh- ter of Adam Kauffman, of New Castle, Lawrence County.

William Barber attended school during his boyhood, as opportunity offered, but his advantages were not many, and he is largely a self-made man. Before he set- tled down to farming as his chief busi- ness, he worked at the Butler Glass Works, having a contract to put in all the sewer- age. He also has done a large amount of teaming at various times. At present, Mr. Barber is much interested in sheep grow- ing and is making preparations to handle 100 head and will no doubt make a suc- cess of the enterprise, as he has made a

study of the industry. From two oil wells on his land he receives a royalty.

Mr. Barber married Miss Margaret Hil- liard, a daughter of F. M. and Hannah Hilliard, residents of the village of Hil- liards, the family giving the place its name. To Mr. and Mrs. Barber have been born the following children: J. F., residing at Thompson Corners, is a blacksmith by trade; Thomas M., residing also at Thomp- son Corners, is a carpenter; Jessie, who is the wife of James Gillespie; L. A., and Tillie May, both residing at home; and Hannah, Carl and Albert, all three bright students in the country schools. Mr. Bar- ber and family belong to the United Brethren Church. He belongs to the Odd Fellow lodge at Hilliards. He has taken considerable interest in public affairs in Washington Township and served one term as supervisor. In politics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Barber is one of the substantial and respected citizens of Wash- ington Township, a representative man of this section.

JAMES C. BUCHANAN was born in the old log house which adorned the home farm in Mercer Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being August 10, 1857. He is a son of James and Isabelle (Pringle) Buchanan, and a grandson of Alexander and Mary (Bo- vard) Buchanan, natives of Ireland. Alex- ander Buchanan moved from County Down, Ireland, with his family in 1834, and took up his residence in Butler County, Pennsylvania, first stopping at the home of Associate Judge Bovard, who was a cousin of his wife. He purchased the old Donahue farm in Mercer Township, which he largely cleared, and there he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. They were parents of the following chil- dren : Margaret, who married a Mr. James in Ireland, and by whom she had several children. Her husband died in Ireland

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and the children came with her to this country. Afterward she became the wife of Joseph Russell. Sarah, wife of Will- iam Russell; Mary, who married a Mr. Stephenson; Susanna, wife of Joseph Bailey; Charles; Robert; Washington; James; and John. All these and their consorts are now dead, except Joseph Bailey, who is still living at the advanced age of 93 years. The old homestead fell into possession of Washington and James Buchanan. James Buchanan, father of the subject of this sketch, was born (1825) in County Down, Ireland, and was eight years of age when he accompanied his par- ents to the United States. He was reared on the farm in Mercer Township, Butler County, which he aided in clearing, and there spent his entire mature life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also was the owner of a farm in Marion Township, But- ler County, which his son, Alexander, now owns.

The first marriage of James Buchanan was with Miss Isabelle Pringle, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Nelson) Pringle, who also was born in Ireland and in child- hood accompanied her parents to this coun- try. Her death occurred February 20, 1860, at the early age of 36 years, and was survived by seven children, these being: Margaret, widow of R. A. Hartley; Alex- ander; Sarah, wife of William Moore; Rob- ert; William; Mary, widow of G. D. Fos- ter; and James C. James Buchanan sub- sequently was joined in marriage with Mrs. Eleanor Martin, widow of James Martin and a daughter of George Ray. By this union three children were born, Isa- belle, wife of David Bovard; George, who died October 18, 1865, and Susanna, who died October 18, 1871.

Dr. James C. Buchanan was reared on the old homestead and attended the public schools of that district. He turned his at- tention to farming and continued at that until he was twenty-eight years of age. He was then in the employ of the Bessemer

Railroad for a period of seven years, and in 1889 he began his preparation for the profession of dentistry. He entered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery from which he received the degree of D. D. S. in 1892. In. April of that year he opened an office for practice on Main Street in Har- risville, and he has since continued in this borough with good results. He resides on a farm of ten acres in the borough, and also is possessed of a valuable tract of seventy-two acres (a part of the old home- stead), together with twenty-five acres (formerly owned by James McKisson), of which nearly all is underlaid with lime- stone. The Pittsburg Limestone .Quarry is located on this property.

Dr. James C. Buchanan was united in marriage November 22, 1877, with Miss Alice C. McKisson, a daughter of James S. and Elisabeth (Wiley) MeKisson of Mercer Township, Butler County. The following children were born to them : Her- man D., born February 8, 1880, died Au- gust 27, 1883; Dr. James L., born June 6, 1882, and graduated from the dental de- partment of the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1906, and is engaged in practice at Portersville, Pennsylvania; Lester D. was born April 16, 1884, served in the United States Army during the Spanish-American war; Benjamin K. was born July 17, 1888, and is a graduate of the Slippery Rock State Normal School; Gaylord W. was born May 20, 1892, and is in attendance at Mercer Academy; Dean H. was born November 25, 1894, and is an attendant at the public school of Harris- ville. Dr. James L. Buchanan was mar- ried to Miss Mellissa Jack, September 29, 1903. Their children are as follows : James William, Lawrence Douglas, and Alice Floy. The subject of this record is a mem- ber of the Butler County Dental Society. In 1900 he pursued a post-graduate course at Marchants Post-Graduate School of Prosthetic Dentistry (Baltimore). Relig- iously, he is a member of Harmony United

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Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trus- tee and a member of Session. In politics he is unswerving in his support of Pro- hibition principles, and was the candidate for county treasurer on the Prohibition ticket in 1908. He has served as president of the Harrisville Council, of which body he is at the present time secretary. He is also president and general manager of the Harrisville Telephone Company, in which he is a stockholder.

JOHN WESLEY POWELL, postmaster and general merchant at Sarver, Butler County, Pennsylvania, has had a varied experience in the business world and has met with a high degree of success. He was born in this county, September 11, 1853, and is a son of Butler and Nancy (Black) Powell. The Powell family has long been one of prominence in eastern Pennsyl- vania, and dates back in this country to the time of William Penn, from whom they received grants. They came from Eng- land. The Powells in Butler County are the direct heirs to valuable land in Phila- delphia, which is now in litigation.

Butler Powell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Malachi Powell. His mother's maiden name was Butler. These parents came from the eastern part of Pennsylvania about 1812, and were farmers. Butler Powell was a painter by trade and was one of the pioneers at that trade in this part of But- ler County. He later purchased a farm in Buffalo Township, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits the remainder of his days. He was united in marriage with Nancy Black, and they became parents of the following children: James, deceased; Elizabeth Jane; John W .; David Alex- ander, deceased; George Calvin; Clara Belle; and Margaret Ann.

John W. Powell received his early edu- cation in the common school of his home district, supplemented by a course in the

state normal school at Edinboro, in Erie County, Pennsylvania. He later engaged in teaching in Buffalo Township for three years, and then returned to Edinboro, where he was graduated in the commercial department. He went to Homestead and was employed in a store for three years, then went to Pittsburg, about the year 1884, and worked as bookkeeper two years. At the end of that time he was for one year connected with a wholesale grocery business at Allegheny, after which he re- turned to the home farm in Buffalo Town- ship and farmed for three years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Sarver, and continued with uninterrupted success for eleven years, when he sold out and returned to the old farm. He followed farming two years, and in the meantime made the canvass for county treasurer. He next went to New Kensington, where he was in business three years, then re- turned to Sarver, where he purchased the property on which he is now located. He has an up-to-date store, with a compre- hensive line of dry goods, groceries and hardware, and the thousand and one things for which there is a demand in a small vil- lage. He is widely known through this section, and enjoys the liberal patronage of the people. He has a large and com- modious two-story residence on Main Street, which is neat and attractive in ap- pearance.

February 1, 1887, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Agnes Weber, a daughter of John and Maria (Markle) Weber, of Penn Township. They became parents of the following children: Lillian, who graduated from New Kensington High School with the class of 1906, and is now ticket agent at Sarver; Gladys; John Butler; and David Weber. Fraternally, Mr. Powell is a member of Lodge No. 401, Jr. O. U. A. M .; and Darling Council No. 888, Royal Arcanum. He was one of the charter members of the latter, which is at present the banner council of Western

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Pennsylvania, and one of the strongest in the entire state. Religiously, he is a mem- ber of Fisk Chapel M. E. Church at Leasureville, of which he is a steward.

G. W. KAYLOR, one of Fairview Town- ship's substantial citizens, residing on his farm of 165 acres of valuable land, favor- ably situated but three and one-half miles east of Chicora, carries on threshing in season, and also operates a saw-mill in ad- dition to cultivating his large farm. He was born on this farm, July 5, 1863, and is a son of John and Susana (Pontious) Kaylor.

The father of Mr. Kaylor was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, but married and spent the larger part of his life in Butler County, where he died when aged eighty-two years. His family con- sisted of nine children, namely: Gabriel W., J. G., John M., Lewis J., Hannah M., Carolina E., Phoebe A., Emma D. and Mary.

Gabriel W. Kaylor has devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits and lum- bering and has resided all his life in Fair- view Township with the exception of one year which he spent in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He obtained a public school education in his boyhood, but has been ac- tively engaged in business ever since he attained manhood. His farm is numbered with the best ones in the township, giving excellent crops, at the same time proving rich in oil, there being three producing wells on the place. Mr. Kaylor is an ener- getic, practical man and has met with con- siderable success in conducting his several enterprises.

In 1893, Mr. Kaylor was married to Miss Edna E. Linaberger, who is a daughter of John Linaberger, of Armstrong County, and they have three children: Russell L., born February 9, 1894; Clifford R., born July 12, 1895, and Thomas G., born August 6, 1897. Mr. Kaylor takes no very active interest in politics, but he is always ready

to do a good citizen's duty when the wel- fare of his community is at stake.

MANUEL A. KORONA, engineer at the Nellie Coal Mine, at Argentine, in Wash- ington Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, has always lived in this community. He was born in Washington Township, July 14, 1887, and is a son of Louis L. and Elizabeth (Wade) Korona.

Louis L. Korona was a well known resi- dent of Washington Township, where he resided until his death in 1897. He mar- ried Elizabeth Wade, whose father, Isaac Wade, was a soldier and lost his life in battle. The following children were born of their union: Manuel A .; Mary; Eliza- beth, deceased; Annie; Louisa; and Louis.

Manuel A. Korona received his educa- tional training in School No. 9, at Argen- tine, and immediately thereafter entered the employ of the Nellie Coal Mining Com- pany, with which he has since continued. He has been engineer at their plant for the past two years and is one of their most trusted employees. He was placed upon his own resources at an early age, and the success he has attained has been due to his own efforts solely. He is a Republican in politics, and takes an earnest interest in the affairs of the community. Religiously, he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at North Hope.

WILLIAM J. BARTLEY, a veteran of the Civil War and a prosperous farmer of Buffalo Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, is the owner of a valuable tract of seventy-two acres. He was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Dick) Bartley, and a grandson of Thomas Bartley, Sr.

Thomas Bartley, Sr., was born and reared in County Antrim, Ireland, and there learned the trade of weaver in the town of Milletroy, where he lived. He came to the United States at an early date

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and became an extensive landowner. He lived in Penn Township, Butler County.

Thomas Bartley, Jr., was born on the old Bartley homestead in Penn Township, which is still in the family name. He was married to Mary Dick, and the following children were born to them, all of whom are now living: William J., subject of this record; Isabella; Thomas A .; Joseph; Margaret; and Mary L. They all reside in this section of Pennsylvania.

William J. Bartley began his business career by working in a brick yard with his father, and in the meantime attended the public schools. His educational training was continued in Oakland Township, where his father had purchased some 250 acres of land and whither his family had moved. In September, 1864, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company K, 5th Reg., Pa. Art., at Butler, and during the remainder of the war served in the Army of the Potomac, serving in all of the engagements fought. After the war's close he returned to But- ler County, and resumed farming opera- tions. He has followed general farming, and his property in Buffalo Township is one of the best improved in that vicinity. He has taken an earnest and active inter- est in the affairs and development of the township, especially in matters pertaining to the schools. He served on the school board for a period of twenty years with marked efficiency, and would probably be serving yet had he not resigned.

In 1866 Mr. Bartley was united in mar- riage with Miss Emeline Millinger of Oak- land Township, a daughter of Lewis S. and Sarah (Boyer) Millinger. Her father, now deceased, was a prosperous farmer of that township, and her mother is now liv- ing at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bartley: Harry M., who married Miss Nora Williams; William D., who married Miss Lulu Bierley ; James L., who now manages the home farm; and

Zetta V., a graduate of Slippery Rock Normal School. Religiously, they are members of the United Presbyterian church in Freeport. Mr. Bartley is a member of James Harvey Post No. 514, G. A. R., in Clinton Township, of which he was commander for a number of years.

FRANK TOTTEN, an oil producer and well known citizen of Petrolia, Butler County, Penna., has been a resident of this borough for the past sixteen years, and is the owner of considerable oil and town property. He was born in New York State, December 28, 1869, and is a son of Eber and Rebecca J. (Clapsaddle) Totten.

Eber Totten, now deceased, was an oil producer and a successful business man. He died at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife at the age of fifty-five years. They were parents of the following chil- dren: John, deceased; Burless, deceased; Frank; Buelah ; Burrell; Emma, deceased; and Benjamin.

Frank Totten was about three months old when his parents moved from New York State to Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in the oil busi- ness. He was about fourteen years old when he came to Butler County, which has been the seat of his entire business activ- ity. He has always been identified with the oil industry and is the owner of valu- able properties. His home in Petrolia is one of the finest in the borough.

Mr. Totten was married on June 17, 1896, to Miss Mary Sophia Milburger, a daughter of John Milburger, their mar- riage occurring at Petrolia. Her father is deceased, and her mother is living at the age of seventy-eight years. Religiously, they are members of the Methodist church. In fraternal affiliation, the subject of this sketch is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of the Maccabees at Petrolia, and the Masonic Lodge at Parker.

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CALEB B. MeFARLIN, JR., is weigh- master at the mines of the Nellie Coal Mining Company, at Argentine, Washing- ton Township, in Butler County, Penna. He was born at Salem, Ohio, and is a son of Harmon and Alice ( Whaley) McFarlin, and a grandson of Samuel and Mary (Kirk) McFarlin of Mercer County, Penn- sylvania.

Harmon McFarlin was the youngest of the following children born to his par- ents : Caleb B., superintendent of the Nellie Coal Mining Company at Argen- tine; and Harmon. The latter was united in marriage to Miss Alice Whaley, a daughter of Samuel Whaley of Mercer County, and to them were born five chil- dren-Harry, Caleb J. Jr., Jennie, May and Nellie.

Caleb B. McFarlin, Jr., attended the public schools at Mansfield, Ohio, and later the schools at Annisville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, whither his father had moved. His first work was with the United States Telephone Company of Ohio, which position he left to accept that of weighmaster with the Nellie Coal Com- pany. He is a man of good business abil- ity, and is highly regarded by his asso- ciates and friends throughout this com- munity. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Annandale. He is a Repub- lican in politics, whilst religiously he at- tends the Free Methodist Episcopal Church at Argentine.

MARTIN SAUTER is a prosperous farmer of Buffalo Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and owns a farm of 123 acres of fine land located about a quarter of a mile south of Sarver on the east side of the Freeport Pike. He was born in Germany November 11, 1838, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Schree) Sauter, and a grandson of Michael Sauter. His father engaged in farming in that country, where he lived all his life.

Martin Sauter, after receiving a supe-

rior education in the public schools of Germany, learned the trade of a shoe- maker and was thus employed there until 1866. He then came to the United States, just after the close of the Civil War, and for a period of fifteen years engaged at the shoemaking trade in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania. He then purchased his present farm in Buffalo Township, Butler County, where he has since continued with uninter- rupted success.

May 30, 1870, Mr. Sauter was united in marriage with Miss Alberta Neibert, by whom he has the following children: Emil, deceased; Charles, a carpenter by trade, who was married to Emily Drane; Leon- ard, deceased; Emma, wife of Roy Kling- smith; Theodore, who at the present time is the active head on the home farm .- He is twenty-six years of age and a fine specimen of physical manhood, being an all-around athlete ;- and Tillie, who is the youngest of the family. Religiously, they are devout members of the Catholic church. Mr. Sauter has a fine home of two stories, and has one of the best improved farms in his section of the county.

· SAMUEL H. KAMERER, a prominent citizen of Fairview Township, resides on his fine farm of 125 acres, which is not only well adapted to agriculture, but is also rich in gas and oil. Mr. Kamerer was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylavnia, Janu- ary 25, 1853, and is a son of Daniel L. and Anna Harriet (Daubenspeck) Kamerer.

The grandfather, Peter Kamerer, set- tled in Armstrong County in 1790, and there his son, Daniel L., was born in 1811. The latter, in 1853, removed, with his fam- ily, to Butler County and settled on the farm in Fairview Township which now be- longs to his son, Samuel H. Daniel L. Kamerer and wife had thirteen children born to them, as follows: Peter, John, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, George D., William, Adam, Catherine, Lavina, Lewis L., Hannah and Samuel H. The father of

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this family died in 1896, and the mother in 1905, having reached her ninety-third year. They were well known and respected peo- ple.

Samuel H. Kamerer was two years old when his parents came to his present farm and this has remained his home ever since. In his boyhood he attended the county schools and since then has been interested in developing and improving his farm and in late years has also been engaged in oil production. At the present time he has five producing oil wells and two gas wells on his place.

In 1882 Mr. Kamerer was married at Muncey, Pennsylvania, to Miss Nina A. Henton, who is a daughter of the late Charles and Lydia Henton, former resi- dents of Erie County, Pennsylvania, where the father died aged seventy-four years and the mother aged sixty years. Mrs. Kamerer is one of a family of nine chil- dren, namely: Jennie, deceased, Fannie, Tillie, Nellie, Lettie, Nina, William, and two that died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Kamerer have three chil- dren-Ethel L., Obed G. and Edna B. Ethel L. was educated in the Slippery Rock State Normal School and the Irvin Academy for Young Ladies, at Mechanicsburg, Pennsyl- vania. She married Dr. S. J. Lackey, of Chicora, and they reside at Limestone, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and have two children: Evelyn Romain and Geral- dine Lucile. Obed G. Kamerer attended the State Normal School at Slippery Rock for two years and on June 16, 1908, was graduated from Duff's Business College at Pittsburg. Mr. Kamerer and family are members of the Lutheran Church at Mt. Pleasant.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 167

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