Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 172

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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ANDREW O. MILLER, who for many years has been prominently identified with the business interests of Eau Claire, is pro- prietor of a drugstore at the present time and is treasurer of the Eau Claire Tele- phone Company. He was born in Monroe County, West Virginia, June 25, 1839, and is a son of John and Selina S. (Neel) Mil- ler, and a grandson of Andrew and Isabella Miller.

Andrew Miller was born in Scotland and when a young man, some time prior to his marriage, came to the United States. He and his wife became parents of the follow- ing : Margaret, who became the wife of Gib- son Jarrell and had two children, Andrew and Eliza, was born in 1797; Thomas Mil- ler, who was born in 1799, married Mar- garet Neel of Monroe County, West Vir- ginia, and they had two children-William F. and Jane, the last named being de- ceased; Christina, who was born in 1805, and died May 7, 1851; John, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1807; Eleanor, born in 1811, became wife of Smith Watters of West Virginia; and James Y., who was born in 1814, married Sarah Burdette and four children were born to them,-Andrew, Mary, William and Yeman.

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John Miller married Selina S. Neel, a a time, then moved to Fulton County, daughter of Joseph Neel of Monroe Coun- ty, West Virginia, and the following were the issue of their union : an infant son, who was born and died on March 5, 1838; An- drew O., whose name heads this sketch; Isabelle R., born May 14, 1846; Melvina J., born April 1, 1849; and James T. G., who was born July 26, 1853. Isabelle R. Miller married Robert Burdette of West Vir- ginia, and their children are Rosa L. Bur- dette, born July 26, 1870; Ella S. S., born April 2, 1872; Mary Martha S., born July 10, 1874; Carrie Judson, born March 15, 1877; Emma B., born February 8, 1880; Robert O., born February 9, 1883; and Clara Elizabeth, born August 1, 1887. Melvina J. Miller married Andrew J. Bur- dette of Monroe County, West Virginia, and the following are their offspring: Cora A., born November 23, 1880; U. Grace, born July 8, 1885 ; Zella M., born April 17, 1887. James T. G. Miller was married to Dorothy. Edds, and to them have been born four children-Vida, born August 21, 1885; C. Fay, born February 19, 1887; Myrtle M., born March 14, 1893; and Glenna H., born July 10, 1896.

Andrew O. Miller went to school in his home district, about nine miles west of the county seat in Monroe County, West Vir- ginia. He taught school for one term in each of the following years, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, and in 1871, and in the mean- time carried on agricultural pursuits. He was the owner of a farm of 400 acres, which he disposed of, and in 1872 he went west to Minnesota where he acquired a quarter section of land, located about eight miles west of Worthington, in Nobles County. He continued there until 1874, then sold out and after a time returned east, work- ing at farming in every state through which he passed. He was for a time locat- ed in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and was able to see much of the country. He located in Butler County and engaged in house painting, in addition to farming, for

Pennsylvania, where he continued his former occupations and also worked at carpentering. He next went to the old home farm in Monroe County, West Vir- ginia, visiting his mother and assisting in the care of the place. He moved to Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and again took up carpentering and painting, in connection with farming, then in 1885 returned to Butler County, purchasing a drug-store at Eau Claire of Dr. R. J. Grossman. He has since carried on the drug business with un- interrupted success, but has also devoted much of his energy to other enterprises. He became active in the Butler County and Ohio oil fields, and later became one of the stockholders in the Eau Claire Telephone Company, of which he was made bookkeep- er and treasurer. He is a man of excep- tional ability in business affairs and has prospered. His drug-store and residence are located on the same lot, and in addi- tion to these he owns the property in which the hardware store is located, and a house and lot in the south part of the borough. He is a stockholder in the Eau Claire Tele- phone Company. He is a Republican in politics, and for fourteen years was school director, and twelve years director and trustee of Eau Claire Academy.

Mr. Miller was a conscript in the Southern Army, serving from 1862 until September 19, 1864, when he was taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester. He was held prisoner at Point Lookout, Mary- land, until March 24, 1865, and except for the fact that he did not always get full ra- tions, fared very well, a rugged constitu- tion enabling him to stand the confinement without ill results.

Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Mary Ann McGinnis, a daughter of Thompson McGinnis of Butler County, Pennsylvania, and they have had four chil- dren : John T., who was born June 30, 1889, and died October 2, 1890; Zethina A., who was born March 18, 1892; T. A. Owen, who

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was born May 29, 1895, and is a student at Eau Claire Academy ; and Rutherford B., who was born July 13, 1897, and is also in attendance at the academy. Religiously, Mr. Miller is a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church, of which he is a dea- con, and has served twelve years as treas- urer of the church board of publication, and the church organization.

OTHO J. GILLESPIE, an electrician by profession and a prominent business citi- zen of Ferris, Butler County, Pennsylva- nia, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, No- vember 6, 1874. He is a son of Thomas B. and Sarah (Medley) Gillespie, and a grandson of David Gillespie.

David Gillespie and his wife, whose maiden name was Dumars, had the follow- ing children who grew to maturity: Alex- ander D., who married Nancy Lynn and had three children: E. P. (deceased), A. D., who is superintendent of the Green- ville Electric Light Plant, and A. J. of Youngstown, Ohio; Sarah J., wife of J. L. Turner, by whom she has a son, John A., of Grove City, Pennsylvania; and Thomas B.

Thomas B. Gillespie married Sarah Med- ley, a daughter of Bazell Medley, and six children were born to them, namely : John T., who married Sarah Allen, daughter of James Allen of Mercer County, and has three children-Lea, May and William; Sarah J., wife of Grant Shuler of Wash- ington Township, by whom she has five children-Sarah, Hannah, Arthur, Chloe and Thomas; Otho J .; Hannah L., wife of Robert Hovis of Washington Township, by whom she has two children, Eugene and Bessie; David, who is unmarried and lives at the home place; and Eugene B., who married Jessie Barber, a daughter of Will- iam Barber of Washington Township, and has a daughter, May.

Otho J. Gillespie first attended the pub- lic schools in Wayne County, Michigan, and afterward at Hilliard, Pennsylvania.

Hle then began working about the mines of . this vicinity and was employed in various capacities at inside and outside work. Al- ways ambitious for success, he zealously pursued a course of study in electricity through the International Correspondence School of Scranton as a means to that end. He installed a plant at the Keystone Mine, where he remained one and a half years, and in 1907 located at Ferris, which has since been his home. In 1909, he was em- ployed by the Bessemer & Lake Erie Coal Mining Company to put in a plant in West Virginia. He purchased the Jerry Hilliard farm of sixty acres in Washington Town- ship, from A. D. and T. B. Gillespie, and is the owner of three houses and lots in Hilliard. He also is a stockholder in the International School of Correspondence. His farm is an excellent property and is underlaid with coal, one of the banks hav- ing been opened. It has never been tested for oil or gas.

Fraternally, Mr. Gillespie is a member of Hilliard Lodge, No. 111, I. O. O. F .; and Hilliard Lodge, No. 92, K. P. He is a Democrat in politics and serves on the election board in Washington Township. In religious attachment, he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. April 22, 1908, Mr. Gillespie began an enjoyable so- journ in England, which ended June 3, 1908, when he set sail from Liverpool.

CALEB B. McFARLIN, a man well known to the people of Washington Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, has been a resident there since 1881, and has been prominently identified with its lead- ing interests. He opened the first mine of what is now the Nellie Coal Company, an incorporated concern of which he is at the present time vice-president. It is capital- ized at $8,000, and in addition to the sub- ject of this sketch, its officers are H. K. Wick, of Youngstown, Ohio, president ; and W. D. Ward, of Buffalo, New York, sec- retary and treasurer. Employment is

OTHO J. GILLESPIE

JOHN R. HELMBOLD

THEODORE HELMBOLD

MRS. MARY E. HELMBOLD

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given to a force of 127 men, and 300 tons of coal are mined each day. The mines are located at a point known as Argentine, one- half mile from a railroad connection, but it is expected that railroad facilities will be provided in the near future. Before the organization of the company, Mr. McFarlin had 200 acres of land under lease; at the present time 750 acres are leased and 600 acres are owned by Mr. H. K. Wick. One well was drilled as a test on the Whitt property adjoining H. K. Wick property, and oil and gas were found in paying quantities.

Caleb B. McFarlin was born in West Middlesex, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Kirkpatrick) McFarlin. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, but the family has been established in this country for some generations back. The maternal grand- father was Andrew Kirkpatrick, who saw service in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Samuel and Mary McFarlin became parents of the following children : Harmon; Ralph, deceased; Mead, deceased; and Caleb B.

Mr. McFarlin is a Democrat in politics, but is inclined to be independent, giving his support to the man he deems best fitted for the office in issue. He is now serving a three years' term as road supervisor of Washington Township, and is game war- den for Butler County. He is a sportsman of the highest, and as a marksman is un- excelled in the county. He is the owner of a valuable farm of 145 acres in Mercer County.

JOHN R. HELMBOLD, a prominent citizen, and postmaster at Saxonburg, was born at Saxonburg, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, July 5, 1862, and is a son of Theodore and Mary E. (Graham) Helm- bold.

The Helmbold family came to these parts about the same time as the Roebling

-the pioneer family-and has been an im- portant one in the upbuilding of this sec- tion. The grandparents, John G. and Frederika (Speack) Helmbold settled in Jefferson Township, Butler County, in 1834. John G. Helmbold bought 800 acres when he settled in Jefferson Township, and there the late John G. Helmbold was born. He married Mary E. Graham and they had ten children born to them, name- ly ; John R., Etta L., Charles R., Louis A., Clarence E., Elmer G., James A., and three deceased.

With the exception of four years, during which he was gaining mercantile experi- ence in a store at Evans City, John R. Helmbold has spent his life in Butler County and identified himself with her in- terests. He assisted his father in his youth in his store, the latter conducting a large mercantile business here through many years, and also worked on the farm. Since March, 1906, he has been the popu- Tar postmaster of Saxonburg and, although not an active politician, has served on the School Board and Election Board. He is a man of public spirit and of progressive ideas and has recently installed a new tele- phone plant, which is a sub-license of the Bell Company, and which is a great con- venience to the people of Saxonburg in general.

Mr. Helmbold is a member of the Wood- men of the World and the Maccabees, and was formerly active in the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He has been very prominent in the Knights of Maccabees and has served in official positions in the order for some twelve years.

DAVID S. CRISWELL*, a leading resi- dent of Isle, has been identified with the oil industry for many years, and has large in- terests in Butler County, as well as in other sections. He was born in Clarion County, Penna., January 12, 1842, son of Robert and Sarah (Pickles) Criswell. Mr.

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Criswell's paternal grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, and after its close settled as a pioneer in Indiana.

Robert Criswell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Dearborn County, Ind. In early manhood he went to Arm- strong County, where he was engaged for many years in the hotel business. In 1861 he went into the oil country and drilled the first well on Cherry Run, Venango County, but this well did not produce until after he had leased it to William Reed, who shot the well with a torpedo. It is said that this was the first time that this since com- mon expedient was resorted to. He con- tinued his experiments and operations in this field until he had secured an ample fortune, and then retired to Aurora, Indi- ana, where he spent the remainder of his life. A Democrat in politics, he served as justice of the peace at Oil City, Arm- strong County. He married Sarah Pickles, who was born in England, and of their thirteen children eleven grew to maturity. The parents were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

David S. Criswell was reared near Mon- terey, Armstrong County, and from boy- hood was associated more or less with his father's enterprises in the oil fields. After the elder Criswell sold out his interests, the subject of this sketch continued his operations, which he has since extended all over the Pennsylvania oil territory. In 1890 he began to operate his present lease and now has twelve wells that are pro- ducing. Since 1902 he has resided in the pleasant village of Isle.

Mr. Criswell's success has been largely due to his powers of close observation and to his original methods of thought. In the prosecution of his daily business he has been led to delve deeply into Nature's secrets and to inquire closely into the causes that have had to do with the laying down of the vast stores of petroleum con- tained within the earth's crust in order that he might have some tangible clue to

guide him in the selection of new localities for drilling and avoid the heavy financial losses that are the usual sequel of haphaz- ard work in this direction. In his investi- gations he has not been content to accept the views laid down in the ordinary ge- ologie text books, but has developed ideas and theories of his own which are in accord rather with the doctrine of special creation than with the modern geological theory that the present condition and arrange- ment of the earth's crust and surface is the result of a long series of natural processes operating successively through immense periods of time. His views he has eluci- dated in a number of articles which have been published at different times in lead- ing journals devoted to the oil and gas in- dustry. Certainly his success in locating profitable wells would indicate that he is possessed of knowledge, which for practi- cal purposes is superior to any mere the- ories developed by college professors, how- ever ingenious and attractive they may ap- pear in the class-room.

Mr. Criswell married Miss Mary E. Widger, and they have five children, name- ly : Robert, Mrs. Mabel Cotterell, residing at home; Cecil, who married Robert K. Williams, of San Francisco; Byron G., who is a resident of Rawhide, Nevada; Minnie L. Nevins, who resides in New York City. In politics Mr. Criswell is a Republican. He takes an intelligent interest in both local and national governmental affairs, but has never sought office.

W. J. McDOWELL*, proprietor of the McDowell Laundry, which is situated on South Mckean Street, Butler, is one of the city's progressive business men and sub- stantial citizens. He was born in 1855, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated.

Mr. McDowell's early life was devoted mainly to farming, but after he came to Butler, in 1890, he embarked in the laun- dry business and established the first steam

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laundry in the place. He started his plant near the flats along the Bessemer Railroad, but when the tracks began to encroach, he bought his present site on Mckean Street and on this land built a substantial build- ing with dimensions of 30 by 100 feet, with boiler rooms in the rear. In 1896 he took possession of it and has done a large and satisfactory business ever since. He gives employment to twenty-one people, makes a specialty of fine work, the possibility of this being increased as Mr. McDowell con- tinues to add superior equipments to his already very modern establishment. He has other business interests, being a stock- holder in the People's Telephone Com- pany; in the Butler Silk mill and in the American Mower works.

On March 28, 1877, Mr. McDowell was married to Miss Elizabeth Smith, and they have four children, namely : Lawrence H., who is associated with his father; John Q. A. and Paul F., both concerned in the laun- dry business; and James W. Mr. McDow- ell is an Odd Fellow, a member of Conno- quenessing Lodge. He is not particularly active in politics, but cheerfully performs the duties of a citizen and is numbered with those who represent its best interests.

JOHN EDGAR THROWER,* general farmer and stockholder, being particularly interested in developing fancy cattle and fast horses, resides on his valuable farm of eighty acres, which is situated in Clin- ton Township, about three miles from Saxonburg, on the Laidentown and Saxon- burg Road. Mr. Thrower was born December 20, 1862, on the present farm, and is a son of Matthew and Mary (Alder- son) Thrower.

The father of Mr. Thrower was born in Lincolnshire, England. He came to Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, in early manhood, and for a number of years was engaged in the charcoal industry and at one time was a river man, sailing on both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The

money with which he purchased the farm of his son, John Edgar, was made in char- coal. At the time of purchase it was not valuable as it now is, because its present owner has greatly improved it, but it has always been considered excellent land. Matthew Thrower married in America and both he and wife died in Butler County and their remains lie in the old Sarver cemetery. They had four children, as follows: Thomas; John Edgar; Nettie, who married John McCurdy, and had one son, Walter, since deceased; and Mary Jane. The last mentioned is deceased. She was married (first) to George Crout, who left one daughter, Sadie. She was married (second) to Richard Parker.

Since the death of his father, John Ed- gar Thrower has been at the head of the farm. He obtained his education in the public schools, attended the Love School when it was under the care of Professor Fulton, and he completed his education at the Saxonburg High School. Formerly Mr. Thrower raised Jersey cattle, but for several years has been more interested in Durhams, of which he has a fine herd. He raises horses for speed, mainly for his own use, but they command a very high price on account of the records many have made. Mr. Thrower believes it is as easy to raise live stock of good blood as of the commoner kind and assuredly it is more profitable. Mr. Thrower is unmarried. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.

ELI VANDYKE* is a prosperous farmer and well known citizen of Marion Township, Butler County, Penna., where he has a well improved farm of eighty-six acres. He was born on the old family homestead in that township, April 27, 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Mon- jar) Vandyke, and a grandson of Samuel Vandyke.

Samuel Vandyke was of Scotch descent and became one of the earliest settlers of

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Marion Township, where he acquired 300 acres of land. This was in a wild and uncultivated state at the time of his ar- rival and it was necessary for him to make a small clearing before he built a log cabin, which served as the family home for some years. He later built a stone house which was one of the best in all the sur- rounding country at that time.

Thomas Vandyke, father of the subject of this record, was one of three sons and three daughters born to his parents, the date of his birth being 1805. He was born on the home place in Marion Township and died on the same farm in 1880, at the age of seventy-five years. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Monjar, who was born in Venango County, Pennsyl- vania, in June, 1807, and is now living at the remarkable age of one hundred and one years, and in the enjoyment of good health and unimpaired faculties. Nine children were born of this union : Isabella, wife of J. C. Hutchison; Richard, de- ceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary Ann, wife of James Dugan; Julia, wife of Peter Ghost; Sarah, who was wife of John Dugan, both being now deceased; James McMillen of Marion Township; Frances, wife of R. M. Hover; Joseph, who lives on the old homestead; and Eli.

Eli Vandyke was the youngest of the family born to his parents, and spent his boyhood days on the old farm. He re- ceived but little schooling, his inclination being to get out and make his way in the world. He lived at home with his father and mother until he was thirty years old when he was married. He always engaged in farming in his younger days, and shortly after his second marriage moved upon his present farm which he purchased of Mrs. Vanderbilt. He has three good producing wells on this property and for a period of twenty years has been identi- fied with the oil industry, leaving the care of the farm to his sons. He is at the

present time pumping for the Mechanics- ville Oil Company.

Mr. Vandyke was first married to Miss Orsina Dunlap, who did not live many years after their union. They had four children: Clarence, Floyd, Joseph and Velma. Mr. Vandyke was subsequently married to Mrs. Laura Shields, widow of Samuel Shields and a daughter of Nicholas Yard. A daughter, Miss Ruth, was born to them. Religiously, they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in politics, and has consistently supported the principles advocated by that party. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

GEORGE and CHARLES WEIGAND* are prosperous and progressive farmers of Butler County, Pennsylvania, the for- mer owning a farm in Winfield Township, and the latter in Buffalo Township, each consisting of fifty acres. They are brothers and are sons of Valentine and Henrietta (Miller) Weigand, and grandsons of Dan- iel Weigand, who emigrated to this coun- try from Germany and settled on the farms now owned by his grandsons in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He cleared most of the land and was a successful man of his day.

Valentine and Henrietta (Miller) Wei- gand became parents of the following chil- dren : Sophia, deceased, married Christian Kimmer, by whom she had three children -Walter, Edna and Eugenia, the latter being now deceased; Louise married Nicholas Mangel and had the following children-Walter (deceased), Gertrude, George and Ermie; Conrad is single and lives in Butler; Anna is the wife of Will- iam Post, by whom she had three children -Chester (deceased), Henrietta and Will- iam Lee; George, the next in order; Charles; and Mary, who died unmarried. George and Charles Weigand are both

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engaged in general farming and have well improved farms; they are public spirited and always found in support of such meas- ures and enterprises as tend to benefit the community. The former operates a thresh- ing machine and does most of the work in that line in this part of the country. They belong to Saxonburg Lodge No. 72, K. P. Both are members of the Lutheran church, of which Charles is church librarian, and on Sundays takes the contributions.

JAMES M. HINES,* one of Slippery Rock Township's large land owners and representative farmers and stockraisers, resides on his estate of ninety-three acres, which is situated on the New Castle Road, about one mile west of Slippery Rock, and also owns fifty more acres in this town- ship, lying along the Plain Grove Road. Mr. Hines was born July 17, 1848, in Slip- pery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Margaret (Robison) Hines.

William Hines was born in Brady Town- ship, Butler County, and was a son of Richard Hines, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to Butler County when eighteen years of age. He lived in Worth Township, near Brady, in Butler County, and there subsequently married a Miss Brandon. William Hines spent his life in Butler County and both he and wife died on their farm in Slippery Rock Township. Of their family of ten chil- dren, eight are living.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 172

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