Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 169

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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REUBEN FRANKLIN RUCH, who has a comfortable home and six acres of land on the road between Petrolia and Karns City, has been a resident of Fair- view Township, Butler County, Penna., since' May, 1872. He followed oil well drilling and contracting with good success. He was born in Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, May 14, 1844, and is a son of Charles and Sarah (Burkhalter) Ruch.

The Ruch family is an old and promi- nent one of Lehigh County. General Peter Ruch, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and afterward received his title of general in the State Militia. He was born in Lehigh County, February 28, 1779, and was a son of Lawrence Ruch, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who was born on November 14, 1744. The father of Law- rence Ruch was George Ruch, who came to the United States from Alsace, Ger- many, and was buried in Lehigh County,

where he died at the remarkable age of one hundred and five years.

Charles Ruch, father of our subject, was born in Lehigh County, August 23, 1803, and there passed a long and useful life. He was married to Sarah Burkhalter, whose great-grandfather, Jolin Peter Burkhalter, was a soldier in the American Army during the Revolutionary War. She is descended from one Ulrich Burkhalter, who came to this country on the "Samuel of Sweden," landing on August 11, 1732. He had a son, Peter, and a daughter, Eliz- abeth Barbara, the latter intermarrying with John Jacob Mickley. Charles and Sarah (Burkhalter) Ruch became parents of the following children : Henry, de- ceased; Allen P., who was a soldier in the Union Army during the Rebellion; Ste- phen, deceased, who was a physician; Solomon; Reuben Franklin; Edwin L., whose recent death at Karns City resulted from an accident; Susan, deceased; and Sarah, who married John J. Reel and lives at Scranton.

Reuben F. Ruch lived in Lehigh County until he was about twenty-one years of age, and there received his educational training and learned the trade of a shoe- maker. With the Civil War in full swing, he was consumed by the fighting spirit and patriotism inherited from his ances- tors, and on September 22, 1862, enlisted for nine months as a member of Company F, 153rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, at Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He served ten months, participating in two of the most important engagements of the war, Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg. In the latter was wounded by a shot in the knee and was confined in the hospital at Harrisburg for one month. He was then taken in a car- riage by his captain to Camp Curtin, where he was mustered out July 24, 1863. He returned to his home and spent six months in convalescing. He then taught school from November, 1864, to 1865, in

FAMILY GROUP OF WILLIAM WAHL.

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which year he went to Oil City, arriving there on the night of the assassination of President Lincoln. He worked in the oil fields there at drilling and contracting, and then in 1872 moved to Petrolia, But- ler County, during the oil excitement. Here he continued the business of drilling and contracting and met with great suc- cess. In March, 1887, he purchased his present place of Jesse L. Cole and has since resided here.

September 25, 1870, Mr. Ruch was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah Gross, a daughter of Jesse Gross, and she died March 21, 1902. They adopted a daugh- ter, Miss Zella, who keeps house for Mr. Ruch. Fraternally, he is a member of Karns City Lodge, No. 931, I. O. O. F .; Karns City Dura, No. 498, K. P. of Petro- lia; and Campbell Post, G. A. R. He has been representative to the Grand Lodge of each of these orders and passed through the various chairs. He is a Democrat in politics, and is at the present roadmaster.

WILLIAM WAHL, owner and pro- prietor of the Waldorf Hotel of Evans City, Pennsylvania, comes of one of the prominent old pioneer families of that sec- tion of Butler County. He was born on his father's farm in Forward Township, February 15, 1852, and is a son of Martin, Jr., and Christina (Kriess) Wahl.

Martin Wahl, Sr., grandfather of the subject of this sketch, with his wife, Lena, and their family emigrated from Alsace- Lorraine, France, about 1833, and took up their residence in Jackson Township, But- ler County, Pennsylvania. He became the owner of a small farm there and lived to reach the advanced age of ninety-four years. He and his wife had three children, as follows: Martin; Lena (Burr) ; and Mrs. Jacob Hite. All are now deceased.

Martin Wahl, Jr., was born in Alsace- Lorraine, France, in 1823, and was ten years of age when he accompanied his par- ents to Butler County. He immediately

began work by caring for Mr. Zigler's stock at Harmony, and spent the remain- der of his life in Butler County. He was a man of great energy and industry and ac- cumulated a large property. His old home farm was the site of the town of Wahlville, which bears his name, and in later years he purchased the John Stewart farm in Evans City, which he laid out and sold in lots. He entered actively into the business life of Evans City, aiding materially in its development and growth, and was one of the town's most substantial citizens. His death occurred in 1905. His first marriage was with a Miss Hultery, by whom he had a son, Martin, deceased. His second union was with Miss Christina Kriess, whose death occurred in 1896. They were par- ents of twelve children, as follows: Chris- tina, wife of Henry Basnecker; William; Henry; Andrew; Katherine, wife of Henry Mickley; Lena, wife of John Marburger; Matilda, wife of W. C. Laderer; Asmus; George; Anna, wife of Adam Dambach; and two who died in infancy.

William Wahl was reared on his father's farm and received a public school educa- tion. At the age of fifteen years he entered the grist mill at Evans City, conducted by his father in partnership with Robert Ash, and he continued at that work for eight years. About the year 1878, he opened a hotel at Middle Lancaster and received a license from Judge McJunkin, which he had granted him nine times and trans- ferred once. He moved to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a hotel for some time and also engaged in the oil business. He continued there some thirteen years, then moved to Evans City in 1899 and opened a hotel, in which busi- ness he has continued with uninterrupted success since. In 1904 he moved to his present location at the corner of Pittsburg and Washington Streets, a property owned by him. The Waldorf Hotel contains thirty rooms, equipped and furnished in up-to-date style, and enjoys a liberal pat-

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ronage at the hands of the traveling pub- lic. Mr. Wahl is also the owner of consid- erable property in the town and is rated among the most substantial men of the place.

September 12, 1872, William Wahl was united in marriage with Miss Mary B. Mc- Kinney, a daughter of C. A. and Margaret D. Mckinney, and they became parents of twelve children: Margaret and Christina, twins; Myrtle; Emma, deceased; William; Sarah; Edward; Bertha; Laura; Ida; Floyd; and Zelda. Politically, Mr. Wahl is a Democrat. In religious attachment, he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

MATTHEW FALKNER, one of Buf- falo Township's representative citizens, resides on his valuable farm of sixty-five acres, which is situated on the east side of the Bear Creek Road, about one mile from the village of Sarver, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, was born on this farm, Sep- tember 23, 1868, and is a son of John and Eva (Strimstifer) Falkner.

The Falkner family is of German origin and John Falkner, father of Matthew, was the first of its members to come to Amer- ica. He purchased the present homestead about 1858, from John Kreitzer. The land at that time was uncleared and during his life-time he developed it into a good farm. His children, seven in number, were named as follows: John W., Louis H., William L., Samuel, Matthew, Elizabeth and Annie, the latter of the daughters being deceased.

Matthew Falkner was reared on the farm on which he has spent all his life ex- cept during the time he was working as a blacksmith, at Sarver Station. He ob- tained his education in the public schools of Buffalo Township. He carries on gen- eral farming, in which he takes much in- terest. He has improved the property very considerably since it came into his posses-

sion and his residence and farm buildings indicate a large degree of prosperity.

On April 18, 1892, Mr. Falkner was mar- ried to Miss Mary Schweizer, who is a daughter of Martin and Mary (Nanstiel) Schweizer, who are prominent farming people of Butler County. Mrs. Falkner has a twin brother, Martin Schweizer. Mr. and Mrs. Falkner have seven children, namely: William Martin, Elmer L., Lil- lian Mary, Nellie P., Matthew J., Merl Jes- sie, and Elizabeth. Mr. Falkner and fam- ily belong to the Lutheran Church, in which he formerly was an elder. He takes no ac- tive part in politics, but is a good citizen, who pays his taxes, gives support to school and church and deals honestly with his fel- low men.

SAMUEL PLUMMER CHRISTIE, a successful farmer and leading citizen of Washington Township, residing on his valuable farm of ninety-eight acres, was born June 27, 1863, in Washington Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas T. and Catherine T. Christie.

The father of Mr. Christie was married twice and the children born to his first union were: Oscar L., who married Mira Louden, a daughter of Captain Louden, of . west Sunbury ; Cornelia, who married J. B. Campbell, of Washington Township; Eber L., who married Bessie McNare, a native of New Jersey ; Emma, who married Dr. J. A. Brison, of Creekside, Indiana; Effie, who married Walter Christley, of Denver, Colorado; and Samuel Plummer, of Wash- ington Township. The second marriage of Thomas T. Christie was to Lydia Borland, of Butler, and they had three children: Thomas B., deceased; Victor, a resident of San Francisco; and William.

Samuel Plummer Christie has spent his life in Washington Township and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising for many years. His farm of ninety-eight

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acres is a part of the old homestead, which originally contained 600 acres. His land is known to be rich in coal and probably also in oil. He carries on mixed farming and raises fine horses. Each year he has from three to eight colts, thorough-bred, and has made this a paying industry. His cattle are of registered stock and his herds show, in their sleek appearance and graceful shapes, that they have come from no com- mon stock. Mr. Christie has made all the improvements on his place and has put up his present substantial buildings. He has what is probably the finest spring-house in the township, built of stone and cement.

Mr. Christie married Miss Jessie M. Bell, who is a daughter of Alexander Bell, of Washington Township, and they have five children, namely: Claire, residing at home, assisting her mother; Francis, Lee and Katherine, bright students in the pub- lic school; and Mildred, who is yet an in- fant. Mr. and Mrs. Christie attend the Presbyterian Church in Washington Town- ship which is situated at North Hope. He is a Republican in politics and takes a hearty interest in public affairs, particu- larly in his own neighborhood, where he is serving as a school director. He is a stock- holder and one of the board of directors of the North Washington Fair Association and each year has many exhibits to send from his own farm. For a number of years he has been an active member of Naomi Lodge No. 111, Odd Fellows, at Hil- liards, and has served in all its official positions.

W. H. DAUGHERTY, a prominent cit- izen of Petrolia, Butler County, Penna., was the founder of the large refinery at that place which is operated under the name and style of W. H. Daugherty & Sons' Refining Company. The plant was established by him in 1880, and in 1901 his two sons were taken into partnership. In 1904 the business was incorporated under the name of W. H. Daugherty & Sons, in

the State of Delaware, and the following were chosen as its officers: Dr. F. Sonne- born, president; Sigmund B. Sonneborn, treasurer; and Carl R. Daugherty, vice- president and manager. It is one of the largest independent refineries in the coun- try, and is the largest producer of petro- leum jelly. It is affiliated with the firm of L. Sonneborn & Sons, of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore in this country, and with Oelwerke Stern-Sonne- born, Aktien Gesellschaft, of Hamburg, Paris, London, Genoa, Koln and Moscow, with some sixty European branches. The local output is 1,500 tons per annum, and they have their own pipe line service, transporting the crude oil from the wells to the refinery. They employ about fifteen men at the plant.

W. H. Daugherty was one of the earliest refiners in the country and is probably the oldest now living. He began in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1861, where he was in business with Burtis Brothers and others until 1868. He then became a producer and as early as 1873 began operating at Petrolia although it was not until 1876 that he took up his residence in that vil- lage. In connection with his two sons he acquired extensive oil producing proper- ties, which are now carried under the firm name of W. H., M. G. and C. R. Daugherty and are under the management of Carl R. Daugherty.

W. H. Daugherty was born in Stark County, Ohio, near the city of Alliance, July 3, 1835, and lived there until eleven years of age when he moved with his par- ents to Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was married in 1857 to Miss Jane Nesbit, a daughter of John Nesbit of Erie County, Pennsylvania, and three children were born to them: H. Ward, who married Mary G. Davis, by whom he had four chil- dren-Eugene, deceased, Roy, Ward and Frances; Cora, who is the wife of A. W. Frey of Washington, Pennsylvania, and has three children-William, Carl and

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Jane; and Carl R., who on June 24, 1908, was united in marriage with Miss Netta Black, a daughter of R. M. Black of But- ler County. HI. Ward Daugherty died at the age of thirty-seven years just as he was entering the prime of life. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Titusville, and the Knights of the Maccabees at Petrolia. His son, Carl R., is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of the Maccabees. Religiously, the family is Presbyterian.

HON. JOHN MORGAN GREER, head of the well known law firm of John M. Greer & Sons, of Butler, is a citizen who has gained well earned recognition, not only as a leader in the ranks of his pro- fession, but also as one who has ably up- held the dignity and honor of the Bench, and has proved his ability as a legislator, serving for eight years as a member of the State Senate.

Mr. Greer was born in Jefferson Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1844. His parents were Thomas and Margaret Jane (Morgan) Greer, and his grandparents, on the paternal side, were Matthew and Isabella (Boise) Greer, who were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland.

Mr. Greer's literary training was com- menced in the common schools and con- tinued at Connoquenessing Academy, at Zelienople, and, as has been the case with so many men of mark in State and Na- tional history, the knowledge thus gained was the more firmly impressed upon his memory by his being required to impart it to others. During the winter of 1861-2 he taught school in Winfield Township and in 1863-4 in Jefferson Township. This was an eventful period of his life, for the Civil War was now raging and he was eager to perform his patriotic duty to his country. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty- seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers, with which he participated in the

momentous battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancel- lorsville, serving until the end of his term. In March, 1864, he reënlisted, entering Battery E, Second Pennsylvania Artillery, but as this regiment had more than its quota, a new regiment was organized by the War Department, and called the Sec- ond Provisional Artillery, in which Mr. Greer served as sergeant of Battery B, in Ledlie's Division, Ninth Army Corps, un- til the close of the war. With this battery he took part in the battles of the Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, including the Mine Explosion, where he was wounded in the thigh by a minie ball, while in com- mand of his company. He remained in the hospital until January, 1865, when he rejoined his battery in time to be present at the eventful surrender of General Lee. He was mustered out with his regiment in February, 1866.

On his return from the army, Mr. Greer resumed teaching, but in a short time turned his whole attention to the study of law in the office of Judge Charles Mc- Candless. In September, 1867, he was ad- mitted to the bar and at once opened a law office. His legal ability soon attracted at- tention and in the following year he was elected to the office of district attorney, which he filled for three years. In 1873 he formed a partnership with Judge Mc- Candless, which continued for five years. His public life, in a wider sense, may be said to have begun in 1876, when he was elected on the Republican ticket, senator of the Forty-first District, composed of Butler and Armstrong Counties. In 1880 he was reelected and was a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania for eight years, during all of which period he served on the Judiciary Committee. He was the author of several important bills relating to judiciary matters, one of them provid- ing for an appeal to the Supreme Court, in case of the refusal of the lower court to

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open a judgment entered on a power of attorney, on a note or bond. Another, equally important, was one providing that no deed, regular and absolute on its face, shall be treated as a mortgage, unless the defeasance is in writing, made at the time of the deed, and placed on record within sixty days. Another important bill intro- duced by Senator Greer was one providing that judgment by default, against one of several defendants, shall not bar a recov- ery against other defendants in the same suit.

In 1882, Senator Greer was honored by a nomination, on the first ballot for the office of Secretary of Internal Affairs, and, although his party suffered defeat that year, he led the ticket by a respectable majority. In 1884 he was nominated as one of two judicial candidates in the Sev- enteenth District, and failed of election by less than 200 votes, the people of Lawrence County supporting Judges Hazen and Mc- Michael as a matter of local pride.

In 1887, Senator Greer formed a law partnership with Everett L. Ralston, which continued until 1893. Also in 1887, he was appointed by the Governor, inspector and examiner of Soldiers' Orphan Schools, which office he held for four years, when he resigned. On the death of Judge Mc- Michael, in 1892, Mr. Greer was elected to succeed him, and in the following year, on the division by the Legislature of the Sev- enteenth District into two separate dis- tricts, Judge Greer became president judge of the Seventeenth District. In this position, the well balanced, judicial quali- ties of his mind were conspicuously mani- fested on every important occasion, and were enhanced by a courteous demeanor that rendered him very popular with the members of the bar, as well as with the general public. He has ever tempered jus- tice with mercy, and no righteous cause has ever suffered at his hands, from a lack of wisdom of judgment or want of judicial fairness. Since his retirement

from the Bench, which took place in 1903, he has been engaged in the practice of law in association with his two sons, John B. and Thomas H., under the style of John M. Greer & Sons, the firm being known as one of the strongest law firms in Butler County.

Judge Greer was married March 24, 1864, to Miss Julia S. Butler, who was. born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John B. and Harriet N. (Stebbins) Butler. To this marriage were born four children, namely: Hattie, who died in 1876, at the age of nine years; Thomas H. and John B., both of whom are associated with their father in the practice of law, and Robert B., who is a physician.

The religious affiliations of Judge Greer and his family are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has taken a hearty interest at all times in educational mat- ters, having been one of those Butler County citizens who were instrumental in establishing Slippery Rock State Normal School, of which he has since been one of the State trustees. For six years he has also been one of the trustees of the State College. In many other public matters his counsel and encouragement have proved of value, and the people of Butler County are proud to denominate him one of their best and most representative citizens.

CHARLES F. HOSFORD, residing at 450 North Main Street, Butler, came to the Pennsylvania oil fields in the early days of Titusville, Pleasantville, Pithole, and Tidiout, moving to Butler County when Petrolia first began to develop into an oil town. He later resided at Greece City for a time and in 1874 located in But- ler, going to West Virginia when the oil fields were being developed in that state, and returning to Butler in 1903. Mr. Hos- ford has been engaged in the hotel busi- ness nearly all his life, also in the produc- tion of oil. In the year 1885 he was mar- ried to Miss Emma Reiber of Butler. They

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

have one son, Charles F., Jr., a Princeton man and now a student at the law depart- ment of Harvard University. The family are members of the First English Lu- theran Church.

W. CLARK CULBERSON, oil producer and manufacturer, treasurer of the Butler Torpedo Company, is one of the repre- sentative men of this city. He was born August 18, 1865, in Clarion County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of William Culber- son, who was one of the early oil men of this section.

Almost since leaving school, Mr. Cul- berson has been in the oil business and his operations have been carried on in the oil fields. of New York, West Virginia, Penn- sylvania, Ohio and Illinois. In 1884 he came to Butler County and was much in- terested in the developments on Thorn Creek. Mr. Culberson has been an ex- tensive but judicious operator. He is a stockholder in the Pittsburg Oil & Gas Company, the Clarion Gas Company, the Southern Oil Company and the Butler Torpedo Company, the works of the latter being located at Callery. He is interested also in real estate at Butler.

On September 14, 1887, Mr. Culberson was married to Frances Fidelia Cheers, who was born in Chautauqua County, New York, and they have one daughter, Har- riet S., residing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Culberson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he belongs to the official board. His fraternal connections include the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees.

THOMAS TUCKER STEWART, one of the best known pioneers and respected citizens of Center Township, resides on his farm of 120 acres, which is situated about five miles north of Butler. Mr. Stewart was born June 3, 1834, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Nancy (Scott) Stewart.

When Mr. Stewart was about one year old, his parents brought him to this farm, and with the exception of three years after he was married, he has spent his entire life on this place. When his parents set- tled here it was nothing but a wilderness and it required years of hard work for both father and son to put it into the shape it now is. With constant industry and prudent saving, Mr. Stewart gradu- ally was enabled to put up the substantial buildings which make it a very comfort- able home. The parents died here when full of years.

Mr. Stewart was married to his cousin, Nancy Stewart, who died in 1901. They had five children: Robert W., Emma C., Milton A. and two unnamed infants. Rob- ert W. lives in Pittsburg. Emma C. mar- ried (first) Christian Shaw and had two children : Russell C. and Bertha, the latter of whom married Harry Seigfried and they have a son, George. Mrs. Shaw be- came a widow and married Harry Wright and they have one son, Robert. Milton A. is deceased. He reached manhood and was married and settled at Butler, where he died leaving no children.

Until within four years, Mr. Stewart re- tained his health and strength but he then suffered from a fall which has left him crippled. Nevertheless he still looks largely after his affairs and lives alone in his house since the death of his wife, car- ing for his necessities himself in spite of his advanced age. Although well able to reside in any village or town and hire others to serve him, he is like many an- other one, devoted to the place where he has lived so long and determined to be independent as far as possible. All his life he has been provident and thus has accumulated property, more than could ever be used in making his declining years full of comfort. Almost all his life Mr. Stewart has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Stewart is a man of intelligence and general informa-

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 169

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