Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 174

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 174

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PHILIP P. KRAUSE*, who conducts a general store at Saxonburg, operating un- der the firm name of A. Krause & Son, is a successful business man and one of the youngest merchants in the county. He was reared to the business, working in his father's store at Marwood during his school days, and was about twenty-seven years old when he embarked in his present business at Saxonburg. His store is one of the largest and most complete to be found in any village in Butler County, and its trade is an extensive one.

Mr. Krause was born in Marwood, Penn- sylvania, June 25, 1877, and is a son of Al- phonse and Amelia (Leighthold) Krause Alphonse Krause has for many years been a prosperous merchant at Marwood, and also engages in agricultural pursuits. He and his wife are parents of the following children: Emma, who is the widow of Henry Paul and has two children, Edna and Chester; Albert, who married Ger-

trude Miller and has three children,- Gladys, Verna and Kenneth; Lydia, who married Rev, Philip Wilhelm and has five children; Josephine, who is wife of Harry H. Goetz; Hattie; Philip; and Clara, de- ceased.

Philip P. Krause received his educa- tional training in the public schools of his native county, and in boyhood his business education began in his father's establish- ment in Marwood. At Saxonburg they own the property on which his store and resi- dence are located, the land, which consists of two acres, extending from Main Street back to Water Street. The building is a two-story structure of modern arrange- ment, is substantially built and equipped with a slate roof. He has taken a forward position among the progressive men of the community, and has been most active in the furtherance of its best interests.

Mr. Krause was married February 21, 1905, to Miss Clara E. Hartenstein, a daughter of Lewis and Caroline (Beck) Hartenstein, her father being a merchant in Great Belt. Religiously, they are mem- bers of the English Lutheran Church, in the affairs of which he is very active. He is a member of Lodge No. 279, Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor com- mander. Mr. Krause is at the present time a member of the Saxonburg town council.

W. D. McCUNE, M. D.,* one of the best known physicians in North Butler County, with which he has been identified for the past twenty-eight years, has been estab- lished at Branchton since 1898, coming to this flourishing town from Bovard, where he had been engaged in medical practice for eighteen years. He was born near Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1847, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Devin) McCune.

Dr. MeCune's boyhood was passed on his father's farm, his educational ad- vantages being covered by the few winter months when farm work was at a stand-

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still. He was ambitious, however, and made much of his limited opportunities and later entered Grove City College. From boyhood his study and observation had been in the direction of medical science and after leaving college he per- severed until he became a student in the medical department of the Miami Uni- versity at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated in 1879. He immediately settled at Bovard, which vil- lage offered a promising field at that time, and from there he came to his new home followed by the appreciation and good will of those to whom he had ministered so long. He has been most cordially received at Branchton and has a large and lucra- tive practice. His handsome residence he erected since coming to this place.

Dr. McCune married Miss Mary Cos- grove and they have one son, Harry B. He is engaged as freight agent at Grove City for the Bessemer Railroad and is a highly esteemed young business man. He married Miss May Bovard, a daughter of W. H. Bovard, Esq., and to them were born three children: Velma, and Henry and Harriet, twins. The young mother died when her twin babies were six weeks old and they are being reared by Dr. and Mrs. McCune. The older daughter lives with her maternal grandparents.

In all that concerns the public welfare, Dr. McCune has shown a continued inter- est, but his professional duties have more or less prevented his accepting public office. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, having been identified with that or- ganization since he was twenty-one years of age.

WILLIAM MCINTYRE,* of Danville, Butler County, Penna., is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits and makes his home with his sister, Mrs. Martha Iman. He is a veteran of the Union Army, having served from the first year of the Civil War until

its close, and took part in many of its most important engagements.

Mr. McIntyre was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1844, and is a son of Hugh and Alice McIntyre. His father also served in the Union Army during the Civil War and lived to the age of sixty-eight years. The mother of the subject of this sketch died at the age of seventy-six years. They were parents of the following children: Nancy J., de- ceased; James, deceased; John; Hugh; Rebecca; Anna, deceased; William; Le- vina; Martha (Iman); Harry; Tillie; and Margaret.

William McIntyre resided in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, until he entered the army. He enlisted in 1861 at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, as a private in Company D, Forty-sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until 1865, being mustered out at Harrisburg. Among the battles in which he took part may be mentioned Tunnel Hill, Pine Knob, Re- saca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savan- nah, Chattanooga and Bentonville, the last named engagement being the last fought during the war.

In 1865 Mr. McIntyre was united in marriage with Miss Maggie J. Ingram, and five children were born to them: Mary K., deceased; Agnes, deceased ; Matilda, deceased; David E .; and Mary J., deceased. David E. McIntyre, the only one of the family living, is a resident of Scottdale, Westmoreland County ; he mar- ried Lottie Donahue and they have four children.

William McIntyre was for some years a resident of Scottdale, where he served as chief of police, and of Livermore, where he faithfully discharges the duties of the offices of street commissioner, tax collector and constable, at different times. He is a member of Ellsworth Post, No. 209, G. A. R., of Livermore, and a member of the Royal Arcanum, Knights

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of Labor, and Junior Order United Amer- ican Mechanics at Scottdale. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Church at Livermore, and served a number of years as steward and trustee of the church organization.

GODFREY WILKEWITZ,* one of Buf- falo Township's substantial citizens, re- sides on his farm of fifty-three acres and owns a second farm of thirty acres, the two valuable pieces of property being divided by the Bear Creek road and both lie about one-half mile south of Sarver. Mr. Wilkewitz was born in Dantzig, Ger- many, February 20, 1852, and is a son of Frederick and Mary (Memberg) Wilke- witz.

Jacob Wilkewitz, the grandfather, was a soldier under Napoleon in Russia, being one of the 22,000 men that the King of Prussia turned over to Bonaparte to assist him in his proposed conquest of Russia. Veteran Wilkewitz returned safely to Germany after the disastrous defeat of the French army, and, unlike many of his unfortunate comrades, was able to die in his own land. In October, 1880, Godfrey Wilkewitz started for America and he was accompanied by his father, Frederick, who still survives and enjoys excellent health, although he is eighty-six years old. His wife died in Germany in 1871.

Godfrey Wilkewitz displayed excellent judgment when he purchased his land in Buffalo Township, its situation ensuring its increase in value. He has devoted much attention to improving and increas- ing the fertility of the soil and in this work has used old German methods, which have had their benefits shown by time. He was the first farmer in Buffalo Town- ship to use lime as a fertilizer. He has worked hard ever since he came to Buffalo Township, but has his reward in now own- ing one of the best farms in this section. In addition to the property mentioned, Mr. Wilkewitz owns a lot in Sarver, on which

he has a tenant, and which he is holding as an investment.

Mr. Wilkewitz was married in Germany, on November 5, 1876, to Mary Dumske, who was a daughter of Godfrey and Louise (Stender) Dumske, who died be- fore Mr. and Mrs. Wilkewitz left their native land. Mrs. Wilkewitz died October 11, 1905, the mother of eight children, namely : Frederick, born-in Germany, who married Mary Herselgesser; Elizabeth, who married John Freeling; and Robert, Annie, Lena, Maggie, Willis and Harry, the two last named being deceased. Mrs. Wilkewitz was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church and was a woman who was loved by all who knew her. For a year prior to her death she had been in poor health, but she bore her afflictions with Christian fortitude. Her burial was at Sarversville. Mr. Wilkewitz and his children also belong to the Lutheran Church, in which he was a member of the council for two years. He devotes his at- tention to general farming and to stock- raising and makes these industries profit- able. His residence is a large two-story house and his farm buildings present an excellent appearance. He is a highly re- spected citizen and a useful member of the community, giving liberal support to schools and church.

MILTON CRESS,* a general farmer and building contractor, whose home is on his own valuable property consisting of 11.5 acres of improved land in Connoque- nessing Township, was born on this farm, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1848, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Riefler) Cress.

The parents of Mr. Cress were born in Hesse, Germany. The father learned the shoemaking trade in his own country and after coming to America, settled in Con- noquenessing Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. He lived on the present farm for about twenty years and then

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went to Missouri, where he subseqently died. He was the father of the following children: John, who lives at Colesville, Pennsylvania; Nicholas, who lives in Beaver County; Henry, deceased; Eliza- beth, who married Caspar Foust, of Macon County, Missouri; William, deceased; Mil- ton; Katherine, who married James Mol- lineux, of Missouri; Jacob, who lives in Missouri; Mary, who married John Jones, of Missouri; and Daniel, who resides in Missouri. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church at Butler.

Milton Cress was reared in Connoque- nessing Township and attended the public schools. He accompanied the family to Missouri, but after three months there concluded to return to Butler County. He is a natural mechanic and without serving an apprenticeship to the carpenters' trade has become an expert workman, is engaged in contracting and has built many houses and barns all through the county, having the name of building more barns than any other builder in this section. They are thoroughly constructed and his work has always given the best satisfac- tion. For the past thirty years he has occupied his present farm and divides his time between his building work, having a portable saw mill also, and its cultivation.

Mr. Cress married Miss Louisa Burch- ert, who was born in Germany, but was brought to America and was reared in Jefferson Township, Butler County. They are leading members of the Lutheran Church at Petersville, in which he has served as deacon and elder. He does his own political thinking and casts his vote independently.

PETER KING LAWRENCE* is

a prominent agriculturist of Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and resides on a fine farm of 158 acres, located about three miles northeast of Portersville, about midway between But- ler and New Castle. In addition to this

property, he owns a well improved farm of 200 acres in Worth Township, making a total of 358 acres. He was born in But- ler County, April 19, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Catherine (Keister) Law- rence, and a grandson of Samuel Law- rence, who came from County Down, Ireland, and was a pioneer settler of But- ler County.

. Robert Lawrence was a stone mason by trade and worked as a foreman in the con- struction of the canal. In this employ- ment he managed to accumulate a suffi- cient sum to purchase 200 acres of land, on which he farmed during the remainder of his life. He and his wife became par- ents of six children, as follows: Martha, deceased; Sarah; Samuel, deceased; Su- san; Robert, deceased; and Peter King.

King Lawrence was reared in his native township and received a common school training, in the meantime working on the home farm. He has always engaged in general farming, raising enough stock for his own use, and has been more than ordi- narily successful. He is a man of strong personality and a progressive citizen, who enjoys the highest esteem and confidence of his fellow men.

Mr. Lawrence was married September 9, 1880, to Miss Margaret A. Fisher, a daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Wimer) Fisher of Worth Township, and they have two children: Robert J. and Cora. Rob- ert J. Lawrence was married to Mary S. Snyder, who died six months later, and he formed a second union with Miss Mary A. Wilson, by whom he has a son, Albert J. Miss Cora Lawrence was joined in mar- riage with J. W. McCandless, and they have two children, Flora Leota and Carl. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is a member of Portersville Lodge No. 909, I. O. O. F. In religious attachment, the family is Baptist.

WILLIAM H. RADER,* owner of a farm of 165 aeres in Forward Township,

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Butler County, Pennsylvania, comes of an old and well known family of that com- munity. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, in March, 1868, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Sheaver) Rader.

Peter Rader, father of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared in Ger- many. Shortly after his first marriage he emigrated to America and located on a farm near Middle Lancaster, in Butler County, Pennsylvania. While a resident there, his first wife died and he formed a second union with Caroline Sheaver. She, too, was a native of Germany and was but eight years of age, when her father, Henry Sheaver, moved with his family to the United States. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Rader moved to Forward Township and purchased what has since been known as the Rader home farm of a Mr. Deitch. He and his wife became parents of six chil- dren, as follows: Mary, wife of George Briggle; Margaret, wife of Ferd Feigel; Lewis; Elizabeth, wife of William May; Emma, wife of James Steen, is deceased; and William Henry, whose name heads this sketch. The parents of this family moved to Petersville in 1894, and Mrs. Rader there passed away in 1900, at the age of sixty-eight years. He died in But- ler in 1905, at the age of seventy-four years.

William Henry Rader has always lived on the home farm, which he inherited at his father's death. At the age of twenty years he began working in the oil fields, teaming and drilling for some years, but farming has been his main occupation in life. Twenty-seven wells have been drilled on the farm, without a dry hole, and he now has six producing oil wells on this farm; he also has an interest in various other wells in this vicinity. He and his brother Lewis are owners of the Rader Gas Company at Petersville, and together they own a tract of 640 acres in Lawrence

County, mostly coal, limestone and tim- berland, which they purchased in 1902.

William H. Rader was married in 1880 to Miss Nina Hays, a daughter of Robert Hays, and their union has been blessed with five children: Stella, Bessie, Clara, Hazel, and Clarence. Mr. Rader is a man of ability, and a progressive citizen, who stands high in the esteem of his fellow men.

SHERMAN CLYMORE HUMPH- REY*, one of Butler County's substantial and representative men, resides on his farm of 100 acres, which lies in Worth Township, on the Portersville and North Liberty road, about six miles north of the former village, and together with his brother, William H., owns a second farm of 100 acres, also in Butler County. Mr. Humphrey was born in Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1866, and is a son of John and Lydia (Studebaker) Humphrey.

John Humphrey, father of Sherman C., was one of Butler county's prominent citi- zens. He was born in Butler County and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Vo- gan) Humphrey. William Humphrey was one of the earliest settlers in Worth Town- ship and helped to clear the land on which his grandson now lives. John Humphrey served in township offices and then was ap- pointed deputy sheriff and filled that office under W. H. Hoffman for thirty years. Later he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of County Commis- sioner John L. Kelley and at the expira- tion of the term was elected to the office with the largest vote ever given to a com- missioner, in the county. He died June 28, 1895.

Sherman C. Humphrey completed his education at Edinboro and when he re- turned home his father retired and moved to Butler, and then the young man took charge of the farm and since his father's

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death has been the actual head. He is a man with practical ideas and in the main follows modern methods in managing his land and finds them satisfactory. The stock he raises he keeps for his own use.

On September 16, 1890, Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Clara Studebaker, who is a daughter of John and Jane (Rut- ter) Studebaker. The Studebakers were very early settlers in Worth Township, the grandfather, Joseph Studebaker, coming as a pioneer. The father of Mrs. Humph- rey is still actively and successfully en- gaged in farming although he has reached his seventy-third year. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have three children, Thelma, Glenn and Grace. The family belong to the Zion Baptist Church, being among its most active and interested members.

DR. DANIEL W. FIEDLER*, a prom- inent physician of Harmony, Pennsylva- nia, is a representative of one of the pio- neer families of Butler County and is of German descent. He was born August 9, 1855, in Harmony and is a son of Daniel and Lena (Zeigler) Fiedler, and a grand- son of Jacob Fiedler, who came to this country from Germany and located in Bal- timore, Maryland.

Daniel Fiedler, father of our subject, was born in Jackson Township, Butler County, in 1828, and was the eldest of a family of seven children, namely: Daniel ; Jacob, a resident of Harmony, now sev- enty-seven years of age; George, a resident of Hubbard, Ohio; Harrison, who is en- gaged in farming near Middlesex, Mercer County Pennsylvania; Caroline, residing in Harmony, the wife of Abraham Zeigler; Melissa, deceased wife of Eli Zeigler; and Louisa, deceased wife of Gottlieb Pfeiffer. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Jones Zeigler, a son of Abraham Zeig- ler, who purchased all of the holdings, con- sisting of 1,500 acres of land, from Jones Zeigler. Jones Zeigler, grandfather of our subject, married Elizabeth Shontz and

reared a family of three sons and five daughters, namely: Mary, widow of Peter Nesbitt, resides one mile east of Harmony in Jackson Township; Lena, mother of Dr. Daniel and wife of Daniel Fiedler; Eliza- beth, is the wife of Jacob Hobinger of Buena Vista, Ohio; Annie, married Robert Crooks of Pittsburg, and both are de- ceased; Barbara, wife of Leslie P. Hazlett, president of the Butler County National Bank of Butler; Jones, deceased; Aaron, a resident of Harmony Junction; and Moses, a resident of Zelienople.

The late Daniel Fiedler was a farmer by' occupation and for many years conducted the Harmony Flouring Mill. He married Lena Zeigler and to them were born the following offspring: Jacob, who married Susanna Wise, died leaving four children, two of whom are now deceased; Jonas, who resides in Butler, married Lydia Stouffer and has four children; Daniel W., is the subject of this sketch; Benton, who married Louisa Schaffer, died leaving two sons, one now deceased; Louisa, widow of George Walker, resides at Harmony, but was for many years a resident of Neshan- nock. Mr. Fiedler died in 1901 and is sur- vived by his widow, who is now in her sev- enty-sixth year.

Dr. Daniel W. Fiedler was reared in Harmony and attended the public schools after which he became a student at Heidel- burg College of Tiffin, Ohio, for three years. He then read medicine with Dr. Ly- man of Butler, after which he studied at Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, graduating with the class of 1880. Subse- quent to his graduation he practiced sev- eral years in Pittsburg, but since 1886 has been located in Harmony, where he has been eminently successful, his capability having gained for him the support and confidence of the community in which he lives.

Dr. Fiedler is a member of the Jefferson Alumni; the State Board, and also the Medical Board. He is a Republican in poli-

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tics and has served as a member of the school board some years. He is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 648, Har- mony, and his religious connection is with the Grace Reformed Church of Harmony.

C. I. GOERMAN*, a general contractor doing business at Butler, of which city he has been a resident since 1902, was born in 1874, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and grew to the age of thirteen years on the home farm.

About 1887 Mr. Goerman went to Mur- rinsville, Butler County, and his first work was done in the Glass Works at Ford City. In that city he later learned the carpen- ter's trade, at which he has worked ever since and for the past five years has en- gaged in a general contracting business. There are many older contractors in But- ler than Mr. Goerman but a mention of all the work he has done in his line would show that in spite of close competition, he has had his full share of public patronage.

In 1896 Mr. Goerman was married to Miss Bertha Kopp, who is a daughter of the late John Kopp, a well known citizen of Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Goerman have four children: Helen, John, Gertrude and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Goerman are members of the First English Lutheran Church. He belongs to the order of A. I. U., of Columbus, Ohio. He takes no very active interest in politics, but is a fair- minded, intelligent citizen who does his full duty, as he sees it, to his country, commu- nity, church and family.

PETER MILLER*, general farmer and representative citizen of Muddy Creek Township, whose estate of 112 acres is sit- uated about one and one-half miles south of Portersville, on the west side of the Mercer road, the highway passing through a portion of his land, was born June 8, 1838, in France. His parents were Peter and Catherine (Lights) Miller.

The parents of Mr. Miller emigrated to

America in 1847, landing at New Orleans, Louisiana, on Christmas Day, and came right on to Pittsburg and later to Alle- gheny, where the father worked for a time as a blacksmith. He then bought a farm of 114 acres, in Lancaster Township, which is now owned by the present Peter Miller. The latter was only nine years old when his parents brought him from his native land, but he had already been at school and un- derstands both the French and German languages and later obtained a good know- ledge of the English tongue. As both father and grandfather had been black- smiths, he learned the trade and worked for a time as a smith, but has devoted his main attention to agricultural pursuits, in- cluding general farming and the raising of sufficient good stock for his own use.

Mr. Miller was married (first) to Miss Mary Flinner, a daughter of John and Barbara (Rader) Flinner. At her death two children survived her: Emma L., who married John Bauder and has two chil- dren-Mary and Walter; and Margaret M., who married William Heberling and has two children-Florence and Esther. Mr. Miller was married (second) to Miss. Mary Mowery, a daughter of John and Mary (Bauder) Mowery, and they have two daughters: Mary C., who married Louis Rutter and has one child, Helen D .; and Anna L., who married W. C. Neer, of Steubenville, Ohio, and has four children- Bonnie Lee, Dale, June and Blanche. Mr. Miller and family belong to the Lutheran Church, he being a member of the council. He takes no very active interest in politics but on one occasion consented to serve as road supervisor, declining a second elec- tion.

HON. NELSON H. THOMPSON*, for- merly a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature and a representative citizen of Brady Township, of which he is audi- tor, resides on his valuable farm of 130 acres, which lies on the turnpike road run-

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ning through the eastern part of the town- ship, north and south, between Euclid and West Liberty. He was born on his present farm in Brady Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1848, and is a son of Robert W. and Frances (Craig) Thompson.

Robert W. Thompson was born in what is now Brady but was then Center Town- ship, Butler County, in 1803, and was a son of John Thompson, who came from Ire- land, after his marriage. He settled first in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where two of his children were born, and in 1798 settled in what is now Brady Town- ship on a farm adjoining the one that is occupied by his grandson. That farm is now owned by the heirs of Rev. William Thompson. John Thompson had about 1,000 acres of land. He died May 15, 1844. On the maternal side, the ancestors of Mr. Thompson came also from Ireland. His maternal grandfather, Andrew Craig, came to America late in life but never visited Butler County. The mother of Mr. Thomp- son was brought to Philadelphia from Ire- land, a motherless little girl of seven years, by her uncle, John McKinney, and in early womanhood she accompanied the· McKin- ney family when it came to Butler County and settled in Concord Township.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 174

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