Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 168

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 168

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Mr. Kamerer takes a prominent part in public affairs in his township and has fre- quently served in the local offices, for twelve years consenting to be a school di- rector. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, belonging to both the subordinate lodge and the Encampment, is a member

of the Maccabees lodge at Chicora, and has passed all the chairs in the lodge of Knights of Pythias. He is a man of wide acquaintance and much influence.

ALBERT WARREN ROBB, a well known and popular young citizen of Wash- ington Township, Butler County, Penna., is fireman at the Nellie Coal Mine at Ar- gentine. He was born in Parker Town- ship, Butler County, October 7, 1880, and is a son of Madison C. and Bertha (Sims) Robb, and a grandson of John Robb.

John Robb, the grandfather, reared the following family of children: Frank of Oil City, Pennsylvania; Sarah, wife of F. Milford; Martha, who married George Mc- Mahan; and Madison C. The last named was married to Bertha Sims, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Albert Warren, Finley, who married Pearl Knox, Delphia, Clyde, Stella, who is the wife of Edward Sedwick, Irene, Mary, Floyd, Howard, and Roy.

Albert Warren Robb was reared to man- hood in his native township, and there re- ceived a common school education, first at- tending the McMahan School. His first business employment was at dressing tools in the oil fields, which he continued until he became fireman at the mines of the Nel- lie Coal Company. He is an able and con- scientious workman, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his employers and fellow workmen. Mr. Robb is a Republican in politics. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church at New Salem.

JOHN L. M. HALSTEAD, M.D., a busy physician and surgeon of Sarversville, is a representative of one of the oldest families in Clinton Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, where he was born, in 1869. He is a son of John and Sarah A. (Hazlett) Halstead and a grandson of Henry Hal- stead.

It was Dr. Halstead's grandfather, Henry Halstead, who came from England

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and established the family now so well known to Clinton Township. He cleared the land on which the home of Dr. Halstead stands and he laid out the present town of Sarversville, which he named Whalley, in remembrance of his native village in Eng- land.

Dr. Halstead was reared on his father's farm in Clinton Township and started to school when he was but five years old. When aged nineteen, he entered the West Sunbury Academy, after which he read medicine and attended medical college at Louisville, Kentucky, where he was gradu- ated in 1898. After his return to Penn- sylvania, he took the required examination before the State Board, and then entered into practice at Tarentum, where he con- tinued for three years. Since then he has lived on the G. W. Painter homestead in Buffalo Township. Being the only physi- cian in the extreme south end of the county, Dr. Halstead enjoys an unusually large practice. Many of the old families in that section have known him from child- hood and many others have tested his med- ical skill within the past few years, and a markedly large number of his fellow citi- zens repose confidence in him profession- ally and respect him personally.

Dr. Halstead married Miss M. Helen Painter, who is a daughter of George W. and Mary (Buckley) Painter, substantial farming people of Clinton Township. Dr. Halstead was reared in the Presbyterian Church in which his parents were active for many years.

JAMES C. WIDGER, a representative citizen of Fairview Township, where he owns oil leases, has been identified with the oil industry during the entire course of his business life. He was born April 9, 1850, near New Brighton, Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of James and Sarah (Saddler) Widger.

The parents of Mr. Widger came to Western Pennsylvania from Philadelphia.

The father engaged in paper manufactur- ing, first at New Brighton and later at Pittsburg, and then moved to Oil City and went into the oil refinery business. He survived to the age of eighty-one years but his wife died when aged sixty-one. They had children as follows: Lafayette and John, both deceased; James C .; Hannah, deceased, was the wife of John Love; Eliza, married Mathias Cole; Phebe, de- ceased; Mary E., married D. S. Criswell, and three died in infancy.

James C. Widger was three years old when his parents moved to Pittsburg, where they lived until he was eight years old, when they located at Oil City. . There he went to school through early boyhood but as soon as old enough, he found work to do for his father. He remained at Oil City until 1868 and then moved to Petro- lia, Butler County. He grew up in the oil business and has had much experience in every phase of it.

On April 14, 1885, Mr. Widger was mar- ried to Miss Lida Fall, who was born in England and is the third member of her parents' family of six children, she, with two older brothers, Henry and William, having been born before the family left England, and Anna, Catherine and John, after the family settled at Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Widger have one son, Howard, who was born February 10, 1895. Mr. Wid- ger is a member of the Royal Arcanum lodge at Petrolia, and the Masonic lodge at Chicora.

O. P. BERRY, founder and for some years proprietor of the Berry Machine Company at Petrolia, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is the inventor of the Berry Pump Piston or Plunger Valve, which is coming into more general use in sand wells every day. It is an article which has been tried in service for some years and not found wanting, and its durability and ef- ficiency enables it to outstrip its competi- tors.

O. P. BERRY

MRS. MELINA B. BERRY

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O. P. Berry was born in Elk County, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Silvers) Berry. His father was born near Brady's Bend in 1810, and died at the age of forty-nine years. His mother was born in Butler County in 1821. There were the following children born of their marriage: David, John, O. P., Wakefield, George A., Thomas M., Miles H. and Catherine. The mother of this family formed a second marital union with Samuel Jordan, and they had two children, Abner M. and Annie E.

O. P. Berry lived in Elk County until his seventh year when his parents moved to Clarion County, his father dying at Monterey. He was reared in that county and there learned the trade of a machin- ist; for a period of nine years he traveled about for H. T. Blaney, setting up machinery. In 1896 he established what has since been known as the Berry Ma- chine Company, which he operated with much success for some years and then turned it over to his sons. He obtained a patent from the government on his inven- tion. He is a member of the order of American Mechanics.

Mr. Berry is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861 as a private in Company F, Sixty-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania, and served until January 4, 1865, when they were discharged at Washington, D. C. The regiment was in many important engagements and all its members were taken prisoners in the Shen- andoah, the regiment being badly demor- alized. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has served the village as constable and as coun- cilman.

September 3, 1872, Mr. Berry was mar- ried to Miss Melinda J. Bowser, a daugh- ter of Peter and Jane Bowser. Her father died May 14, 1879, and her mother lived to reach the age of seventy-eight years. They were parents of the following chil-

dren: Alfred, Lewis, Logan, Andrew J., James M., Ross T., Harry M., Melancthon G., Adeline, Melinda J. and Amelia.

Mr. and Mrs. Berry also became parents of eleven children: Lewis D., John P., George I., Harry H., Pryor, Roy, Eliza- beth J., Alma V., Adeline, Arminta L. and Lotta G. Lewis D., who lives at Petrolia, married Clara Stoughton and has two children, Ruth and Pauline. John P. Berry of Petrolia, married Allie Given and they have three children-Chester, Mary M. and Iva. Elizabeth J. Married Demer Hemphill of Fairview Township, and they have a son, Roy. Alma V. mar- ried William Neal of Petrolia and they have two children, Elizabeth and Pryor. Arminta married James W. Espey and has Laurine, Helen, and Walter R. Ada Berry married Geo. L. Gilchrist and has one son, Lawrence.

HARVEY A. SLOAN, a well known citi- zen and business man of Eau Claire, But- ler County, Pennsylvania, is engaged in the jewelry business and is also efficiently discharging the duties of postmaster of that village. He was born in Emlenton, Venango County, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1847, and is a son of John and Sarah (Allabaugh) Sloan.

Samuel C. Sloan, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was united in mar- riage with Mary Foster, a native of Ire- land, and they had two sons, Samuel and John. Samuel married Elizabeth Conn and had the following children-Mary Jane, Caroline, Nancy- Ellen, Margaret and Perry. John married Sarah Alla- baugh, daughter of Henry Allabaugh of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and they be- came parents of the following: Harvey A., whose name heads this record; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of John Sowash, by whom she has the following children-Elmer, Frances, Emma, George, Jackson, and Harry; Emma, who married Stewart Eakins of Venango Township and has four

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

children-Plummer, Frank, Charles and Harry; William, who is married and lives in California; Samuel, who married Pris- cilla Eisenbaugh; and Melvin, who is de- ceased.

Harvey A. Sloan received his educa- tional training in the public schools of Em- lenton, and in Cherry Valley, whither his parents had moved. He early in life learned the trade of a jeweler and watch repairer, which he has followed through- out his active business career, although for a period of twenty years he also engaged in barbering. He owns the home in which he lives in Eau Claire and is a prosperous citizen. For more than two years he has discharged the duties of postmaster, and has gained the good will and approval of the citizens. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and for a period of six years served as school director in West Sunbury, and a like period in Clintonville. He also served three years as councilman at Clintonville, and six years as constable.

Mr. Sloan was united in marriage with Miss Amelia C. Delamater, a daughter of Leonard Delamater, and to them were born the following: Marshall, who resides in Nebraska; Harry L., an instructor in the public schools; Edith, who was gradu- ated from Eau Claire Academy with the class of 1908; Esther; Homer, deceased; and Hazel. Religiously, the family belongs to the United Presbyterian Church of Eau Claire, and Mr. Sloan has been a church member for more than forty years. Miss Edith Sloan is church organist and is also a teacher in the Sabbath School, being very active in church work.

SAMUEL FALKNER, one of Buffalo Township's most respected citizens, re- sides on his finely cultivated farm of sev- enty acres, which lies on the Bear Creek road about one mile east of Sarver. This is a part of the old Falkner homestead, and here Mr. Falkner was born November

16, 1865. Ilis parents were John and Eva Falkner.

John Falkner and his brother Lawrence were born in Germany and both came to America young, leaving their parents in the old country. Lawrence Falkner settled at Cleveland, Ohio, where he reared a large family and died about 1894. John Falkner came to Butler County and secured the present farm in Buffalo Township and here worked hard to improve his property and develop the capacity of the soil. This farm has been cultivated for about a half century. John Falkner had seven children: John W., Louis H., William, Samuel, Mat- thew, Lizzie and Anna (deceased).

Samuel Falkner obtained his education in the public schools. His home has always been on his present farm and since it has come into his possession he has continued the work his father commenced. The land is fertile and well watered, and lies on both sides of the Bear Creek road. Mr. Falkner grows the usual grains of this climate and raises stock for his own use and does dairy- ing for domestic purposes. On December 25, 1888, he was married to Lizzie Wagner, who is a daughter of Daniel Wagner, who formerly lived at Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Falkner have had ten children, namely: Eva, Albert, Ida, Helen, Bessie, Frederick, Samuel, Harold, Berenice and Lewis, all of whom survive except the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Falkner are valued members of the Lutheran Church, in which he was an elder at one time. . They are estimable, hos- pitable people who live in pleasant accord with their neighbors and have a wide circle of friends.

ISAAC KAYLOR, owner and proprie- tor of 119 acres of good farming land in Fairview Township, was born on his pres- ent farm, January 5, 1843, son of Peter and Anna (Silvis) Kaylor. His paternal grand- father, Leonard Kaylor, was one of the early settlers of this township. Leonard

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Kaylor, with his son Peter, father of the subject of this sketch, cleared this farm, which when they took hold of it, was all brush and woods.

Peter Kaylor was born in Westmoreland County, Penna. Both he and his father, Leonard, served in the War of 1812-15. Peter Kaylor died in 1861, at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife Anna died at the same age in 1874, she being about thir- teen years younger than her husband. They were the parents of eight children, who were as follows: Jacob, born March 24, 1825; Elizabeth, born February 3, 1827; Polly, born September 28, 1829; Anna, born March 10, 1832; Christina, born March 8, 1834; Sarah, born February 20, 1838; Sophia, born March 22, 1840, and Isaac, born January 5, 1843.

Isaac Kaylor has always resided on his present farm. In boyhood he attended the old log schoolhouse on the Mclaughlin farm and afterward a frame school that was erected on the William McLaughlin farm. He was brought up to agriculture and has always been a farmer. When he reached his majority the Civil War was raging, and, resolved to do his part for the preservation of the Union, he enlisted for three years, at Butler, in Company H, 102d Pennsylvania Infantry, with which he took part in the battles of the Wilderness, siege of Petersburg, Sailors' Creek, and in the pursuit of Lee to Appomattox, being pres- ent at the surrender of the main Confed- erate army under that general, May 5, 1865. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness by a gun shot in the left cheek, which shattered the jaw bone, cut the tongue and affected the left eye. He was in the hospital at Washington for about two weeks and in the Satterlee Hospital at Philadelphia until near the end of the year (1864), when he was furloughed for twenty days, rejoining his command at the siege of Petersburg. He was honorably dis- charged June 28, 1865, near Washington, D. C., and returning home resumed farm-

ing and has resided at his present location ever since.

Mr. Kaylor was married, January 17, 1867, at the home of his bride, to Priscilla Barnhart, a daughter of Michael and Rachel (Hemphill) Barnhart, of Donegal Township, Butler County, Penna. Mrs. Kaylor was one of six brothers and sisters, namely: Kathryn, Peter A., Anna M., Adam, Ruben, and Priscilla. Her father died November 16, 1895, at the age of eighty-six years, and her mother March 17, 1887, at the age of eighty.

Mr. and Mrs. Kaylor's family number two children, both daughters-Rachel E. and Anna E. The former married Joe Kaylor and resides in Armstrong County, this State. She has had four children- Edna A. (deceased), Priscilla J., Mary L., and Isaac L. Anna Kaylor married J. B. Jordan and resides in Butler County. She has two children-Herbert I. and Rich- ard S. J.

Mr. Kaylor is a member of Campbell Post, G. A. R., of Petrolia. He has served the township acceptably as judge of elec- tion and as school director as well as in other minor offices. He and his family are members of the Lutheran Church of Mt. Pleasant.

JOHN FULTON GALLAWAY, a well known citizen and substantial business man of Hilliard, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, is proprietor of the hotel at that vil- lage and has a well established business. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsyl- vania, April 8, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Ghost) Gallaway, and a grandson of William Gallaway.

Thomas Gallaway was born in Ireland and was one of the following children born to his parents: William; John; Thomas; Isaac, who married Eliza Kohlter, daugh- ter of John Kohlter of Mercer County ; and Eliza, deceased. Thomas came to the United States at the age of seventeen

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

years and landed at New York City with just seventy-five cents in his pocket. He received employment at blasting rock in the construction of the Erie Canal, then worked for a distiller in New York State. He was an industrious man, and of a fru- gal and saving disposition, and while thus employed accumulated enough money to purchase a farm of 150 acres in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. It was a heavily timbered tract, but little of the land having been cleared. He cleared the farm and lived upon it for a time, then purchased the Ross tract of land, consisting of 300 acres, on which he engaged in stock raising on an extensive scale. He at the same time carried on a general store at Mechanics- ville, in Venango County. He married there to Sarah Ghost, a daughter of Philip Ghost, of Venango County, and they reared the following children: Craft, who married Mary Ellen Atwell, a daughter of John Atwell of Mercer County, and has three children,-Thomas, Clyde and Eliza- beth; Isaac, who married Mary Jane Bon- ner, a daughter of Archie Bonner of Ve- nango County, by whom he has one son and two daughters,-John, Elizabeth and Susan; John F., whose name heads this sketch; Ann Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, deceased; Lytle, deceased; and Martha, deceased.

John Fulton Gallaway attended school in Venango County, after which he en- gaged in farming and clerked in the store conducted by his father. He purchased eighty-five acres of land one-half mile south of Westley P. O. He went from there to Callery Junction during the oil excitement and teamed, having three teams. These he traded for a store and stock of merchan- dise at Barkeyville, Venango County, pay- ing the difference in value in cash. He went from there to Mechanicsville, where he rented the Woods property for one year, then purchased that farm. He later traded that farm for sixty-five acres of land located about two miles north of Har-

risville, in Butler County, and carried on general farming until the marriage of his son, Walter, when he left the farm in the latter's charge. He then returned to Me- chanicsville, and after a time sold his prop- erty to Robert B. Eakin and moved to Richland Township, Butler County, where he purchased fifty acres of coal land. He later came to Hilliard and in competition with others obtained the contract for the Star Mail Route from Hilliard to Petrolia. When the rural free delivery was estab- lished he was given Route No. 52, over which he carried the mail for two years and three months. He then purchased the hotel at Hilliard, which he has since con- ducted with uninterrupted success.

Mr. Gallaway was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Hoffman, daughter of Walter Hoffman of Venango County, and they have four children: Thomas, who married Emma Syrena, daughter of Fin- ley Syrena, and has three children-Ralph, Raymond and Leonard; Walter, who mar- ried Blanche Syrena, a daughter of John Syrena; Mary, who married John A. Blair, son of A. N. Blair, and has three chil- dren-Marie, John Freeman and Edna; and Ida, who married J. S. Kohlmyre, son of Marion Kohlmyre of Butler County, and has one child, Althica. Religiously, they are members of the M. E. Church. Politi- cally, Mr. Gallaway is a Prohibitionist.

CHESTER A. EKAS, a progressive and enterprising young farmer of Buffalo Township, residing on his excellent farm of fifty acres, which is situated on the Butler Road, about a quarter of a mile from Ekastown, was born on the old Ekas homestead, in Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, May 28, 1887. His parents are Adam and Mary Jane (Kirk) Ekas, and he is a grandson of John Ekas.

John Ekas, the grandfather, was born in Germany and when he came to Buffalo Township, Butler County, he found him- self one of the earliest settlers. The vil-

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lage that subsequently came into being near his farm was named in his honor.

Adam Ekas, father of Chester A., suc- ceeded his father and has been engaged in farming through the whole of his mature life. His children were Agnes, James, Clementine and Chester A.

Chester A. Ekas attended the schools near his father's farm, on which he has always resided. He was trained to agri- cultural pursuits in the most practical way, and, although he is one of the young- est independent farmers of the county, he is one of the most successful. His farm is a portion of the old Ekas homestead and its present owner takes a deep inter- est in its development and improvement. On February 12, 1908, he was married to Miss Carrie Ohl, who is a daughter of George E. and Mary (Higgins) Ohl. Mr. Ohl is a successful farmer of Butler County. His parents were Henry and Johanna (Kramer) Ohl. Grandfather Ohl came from Germany to America very many years ago and was an early settler in Butler County, where he has many de- scendants. The above marriage united two prominent families. Mr. and Mrs. Ekas are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. They are very popular in the pleasant social life of the community.

FURMAN STEWART, a successful farmer of Washington Township, who is carrying on operations on an excellent tract of 120 acres, was born on his pres- ent property in Washington Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1876, and is a son of William C. and Mary (Stanley) Stewart.

William M. Stewart, the grandfather of Furman, married Rebecca Jane McCall, who was a daughter of Samuel McCall, of Donegal Township, and they had the fol- lowing children : Samuel M., died in young manhood; John, died when young; Nancy Jane, deceased; William C .; Anna Eliza, married Reuben Heckathorn, of Venango

County; Wilson McCall married (first) Sarah Day, daughter of John Day, and (second) Mary Johnce, daughter of Hir- man Johnce; and Louisa M., married Joseph Campbell, of Concord Township.

William C. Stewart was married to Mary Stanley, who was a daughter of An- drew Stanley, of Lawrence County. Mr. Stanley married Elizabeth Heckathorn, daughter of John Heckathorn, a cabinet- maker, and they had the following chil- dren: John, married Barbara C. Fox, daughter of Michael Fox; Sarah, married Peter Young, of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County; Elizabeth, married Mark Mencer, of Indiana County; Ann, married Milton L. McCormick, of Slippery Rock Township; Mary; Jane, who mar- ried George Smith of Slippery Rock Township, died in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Andrew, married Isabelle Wood, daughter of Gideon Wood of Law- rence County; Rachel; and Cephas, who married Elizabeth Hunt, daughter of James Hunt of Lawrence County. The children born to William C. and Mary (Stanley) Stewart were: Elizabeth Jane, residing on the homestead; William A., married Cora A. McCoy, daughter of Lewis McCoy, of Grove City, Mercer County; Lena, married A. M. Christy, of Washington Township; Mary Eva, mar- ried L. M. Dickey, of Butler; John S., married Lydia Ross, daughter of John Ross of Cherry Township, and resides at Butler; and Furman. Both William C. Stewart and Andrew Stanley offered their services in their country's defense during the Civil War, but the former was refused on account of defective teeth after having gone as far as Pittsburg. Mr. Stanley served in the struggle, however, and was never wounded, although he had a narrow escape from injury at Pittsburg Landing, his cap being shot from his head while he was eating breakfast.

Furman Stewart first attended the com- mon schools of his native vicinity, and

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later took a course at an academy, after leaving which he engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been engaged ever since. He now owns a fine farm of 120 acres in Washington Township, on which he has erected a handsome resi- dence, his father having built all of the other farm buildings. Although he has never tested for oil on his farm, there are believed to be three or four wells on the property, and it is considered one of the valuable tracts of farming land in Washington Township.

Mr. Stewart was married to Sarah Hummel, who died January 25, 1909. She was a daughter of Jeremiah Hummel of Cherry Township. Of this union there were born seven children, as follows: Ethel, Cora, Lois and Paul, who are stu- dents in the public schools; and Charles, Mary and William John, residing at home. In his political views, Mr. Stewart is a Republican. He attends the Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Valley.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 168

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