USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 175
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Robert W. Thompson inherited lands and stock and always engaged in farming although he turned his attention also to other enterprises. In 1833 he put up a building and rented it out for hotel pur- poses, until 1845, after which he conducted it as the Forest House, which was situated on the site of his son's present handsome dwelling, for six years. He also was post- master for years of the Forest Post Office, which was later changed to the Memphis Post Office. At that time, the turnpike road was the main thoroughfare between Pitts- burg and Erie, there being then no railroad communication. Robert W. Thompson lived to be forty-four years old before he married and then brought his wife to the
present farm and they went to housekeep- ing in a little red house which their son has preserved and utilizes as a summer house. Robert W. Thompson died September 9, 1863, but his aged consort still survives, having passed her ninety-third birthday on December 24, 1908. They had five chil- dren, namely: Nelson H .; Martha V., wife of Benjamin Scott; Jennie, deceased; Mag- gie, wife of Frank Critchlow; and Robert C., residing in Clay Township.
Nelson H. Thompson was fifteen years old when his father died and he has man- aged the farm ever since, adopting many new methods and making many improve- ments. The larger number of the old build- ings he tore down and in 1903 he erected his present tasteful residence and built his substantial silo. He makes a specialty of pure milk, selling wholesale and shipping from Claytonia to Butler.
Mr. Thompson married Miss Jessie A. Kerr, who was reared in Slippery Rock Township and is a daughter of Thomas Kerr, and they have four children, namely : Robert W., Elsie P., Nelson Kerr and James Eugene. Robert W., who is a grad- uate of the Slippery Rock State Normal School, is a student of engineering at Ursinu College, near Philadelphia. Elsie F., who is also a graduate of the Slippery Rock State Normal School, is a successful teacher in Allegheny County. Nelson Kerr, also a graduate of the Slippery Rock Normal School, is a student at Ursinu Col- lege. Mr. Thompson and family belong to the Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church. He has long been active in public affairs, has frequently served in township offices and ably represented his district in the State Legislature, serving through 1901, elected on the Republican ticket.
MILTON HOWARD KELLY,* who has resided at his present home in Fairview Township, Butler County, Penna., for a period of thirty years, has been success- fully engaged as an oil producer for many
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years and is also in the ice business, sup- plying the residents of Chicora. He was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1854, and is a son of William D. and Julia Ann (Kelly) Kelly, coming of old Clarion County families on both sides. His paternal grandfather, John Kelly, came from east of the mountains of Penn- sylvania and located in that county in the pioneer days.
William D. Kelly was reared in Clarion County and was there married. He en- gaged in farming there until about the year 1866, then moved to Callaway County, Missouri, where he purchased a farm and lived for five years. At the end of that time he returned to Pennsylvania and for one year resided at Martinsburg, Butler County. He then lived a like period at Angelica, Fairview Township, after which he lived the remainder of his days in Millerstown, dying at the age of sixty- eight years. He was survived some years by his widow, who passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. They were par- ents of the following: Nancy, widow of Jacob Callender; Prethina, wife of C. J. Loge; Minerva, deceased; Darilla, de- ceased; Milton H .; Torsa, deceased; Joseph L .; Samuel G .; Anna, who be- came the wife of James Stewart; and William P.
Milton H. Kelly was twelve years of age when his parents moved west to Missouri and was about seventeen when they re- turned to Pennsylvania. He remained with his parents in their various moves in Butler County, and was given a good common school education. He engaged in farming until he located in the oil regions, since which time his energies have been devoted to the oil industry. He is a man of exceptional business ability, and has prospered beyond the average. His ice business has also been a source of con- siderable income to him.
April 8, 1881, Mr. Kelly was joined in marriage with Miss Emma Duffort, who
was one of the following children born to Jacob and Mary (Hepler) Duffort of Fairview : W. S. Duffort, Emma (Kelly), Amelia, Anna, James, Charles, Minnie, Grace, Edward, and David, who is de- ceased. Mr. Duffort passed away at the age of fifty-eight years, ten months and fourteen days, and is survived by his widow who is living in the enjoyment of good health at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have three children, as follows: Luella, who is the wife of C. A. Fleeger of Armstrong County, and has two children, Victor and Ethel; Beryl, who is the wife of C. W. McCollough of Fairview Township, and has a daughter, Velma; and Loyal H., who was born Sep- tember 8, 1885, and lives with his parents. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is a member of Chicora Lodge No. 947, I. O. O. F., and has passed through the various chairs of that lodge.
ELRIDGE HARVEY," who is among the most prominent of the younger gener- ation of farmers of Clinton Township, is the owner of a valuable farm of 109 acres, located about five miles south of Saxon- burg, on the Tarentum road. He was born June 12, 1879, and is a son of Newton and Agnes (Riddle) Harvey.
Newton Harvey, a son of William and Betsy Harvey, was for many years a resi- dent of Clinton Township, and was a man of wide acquaintance. He was a farmer by occupation and highly successful in business affairs. His death occurred July 7, 1893, and the community regarded his death as an irreparable loss.
Elridge Harvey was reared to maturity in his native township and received a superior education in the public schools. He has always followed farming and at the time he took the management of the home place was probably the youngest agriculturist in this part of the county. His place is well improved and he has been highly successful.
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December 23, 1903, Mr. Harvey was united in marirage with Miss Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Slagle) Smith, and they have three chil- dren-Wilma, Lester and Joseph. Re- ligiously, they are members of the United Presbyterian church.
ORENZO WAYNE EAGAL,* proprie- tor of Eagal's mill, in Connoquenessing Township, is a man whose milling experi- ence covers many years, it having been his main interest since he was fourteen years of age. He was born July 22, 1866, in Center Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Eli D. and Mary (McCandless) Eagal.
The father of Mr. Eagal has been a resi- dent of Center Township for a long period but he was born in Venango County, Penn- sylvania. He is a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served for three years, and was wounded at the battle of the Wilder- ness. His occupation has been farming and he has also given time and attention to the duties of public office. He is identified with the Republican party. He married a daughter of Robert McCandless, of Center Township, and three of their four children grew to maturity, namely: Nora, who is the wife of William Bortmas, of Center Township; Hetty, who is the wife of Harry Thompson, of Butler; and Orenzo Wayne, who is the eldest.
Orenzo W. Eagal attended school until he was fourteen years of age and then en- tered his father's mill and learned the busi- ness in the mill that he now owns. It is one of the landmarks of this section, the first mill on the site having been erected by William Bryson in 1828. When Eli D. Eagal purchased the mill it was operated with but three burrs and not many im- provements were introduced until its pres- ent owner took charge. He has installed modern machinery and a 35 horse-power engine, and his capacity is about twenty- five barrels of wheat flour and the same
of buckwheat flour a day. He also does a large amount of business in grinding feed.
Mr. Eagal was married to Miss Dora Campbell, a daughter of R. D. Campbell, of Connoquenessing Township, and they have the following children : Belle, Robert, Wayne, Gladys, Rose and Grace. The eld- est daughter is the wife of David Burry. Mr. Eagal and family belong to St. John's Reformed Church. In politics he is a Re- publican but the only township office he has ever accepted has been that of school director. He is one of the reliable, sub- stantial men of his section.
LAWRENCE M. WHITE,* contractor and builder, is a representative citizen of Butler, of which city he has been a resi- dent for eighteen years. He was born in 1868, in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Mil- ton J. White.
The White family has lived in Butler County for generations, the grandfather, Joseph White, establishing his home in Muddy Creek Township, in early manhood. There he reared his family and spent his remaining days. Milton J. White, father of Lawrence M., was born in the old home in Muddy Creek Township, in 1840, and his life was devoted entirely to agricul- tural pursuits, after a few years in the huckster business at Pittsburg.
Lawrence M. White attended school through boyhood in Muddy Creek Town- ship and then learned the carpenter's trade at Butler, to which city he came when twenty-two years of age. For four years he worked at Cleveland, Ohio, and two at Pittsburg, but with the exception of that period he has been a resident of Butler, returning to this city in 1902. He has been engaged in building and contracting since that date and has done a large amount of the city's excellent work, some of which may be seen on the Eberle Block, the fine brick residences on North Street and a number of other handsome and substantial
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buildings. He has invested in city real es- tate and is engaged in its improvement.
In 1882 Mr. White was married to Miss Myrtle McGinnis, who was born in Arm- strong County, and they have one son, Floyd Carlisle. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with the fraternal order of the Woodmen of the World and belongs to the Builders' Exchange.
AMOS M. HALL,* residing on his well improved farm of 100 acres, which is sit- uated in Slippery Rock Township, about one mile south of Keister Station, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of But- ler County. He was born in Clay Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1859, and is a son of Jesse R. and Catherine (Dunbar) Hall.
The parents of Mr. Hall are now aged people, but they retain their faculties and live in comfortable retirement on their farm of eighty acres, situated in Brady Township. They were born in Clay Town- ship and have been residents of Butler County all their lives.
Amos M. Hall was reared in Brady Township and there followed farming and teaming until 1888, when he came to his present property. This land was unim- proved and in poor condition at that time, but now ranks well with other farms in this township and few of these have better resi- dences or more substantial farm buildings. Mr. Hall has his farm well stocked and owns a large amount of valuable farm ma- chinery.
Mr. Hall married Miss Maggie Renick, a daughter of William Renick, and they have a very pleasant family of seven chil- dren: Reed, Caroline, Alma, Charles, Donna, Wilda and Paul. The eldest son married Amanda Grove and they have one son, Stanley. Mr. Hall is an intelligent, progressive man, takes considerable inter- est in township affairs and votes according
to his judgment. He belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
SAMUEL N. TAGGART,* one of Worth Township's representative men and suc- cessful agriculturists, lives on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated on the highway between Butler and New Castle road and about three and one-quarter miles southwest of Slippery Rock. Mr. Taggart was born on his present farm in Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1857, and is a son of John W. and Martha (Hoge) Taggart.
The father of Mr. Taggart was born on the Worth Township farm and died here in September, 1899. His parents were John and Mary (McDonald) Taggart, who settled in Western Pennsylvania in 1800, and his grandparents were James and Elizabeth (Hines) Taggart. The latter couple probably came to America from Ire- land about 1795 and in 1800 came to But- ler County and made the first settlement on the land now owned by Samuel N. Tag- gart, who was born in the second log house built on the place. The father of Mr. Tag- gart, John W. Taggart, was both a farmer and carpenter and was one of the best known men of this section. He married Martha Hoge, who died about 1899 and both she and her husband were buried in the cemetery at West Liberty. They had two children: Mary J., who is the wife of C. J. Mclaughlin; and Samuel N.
Samuel N. Taggart was reared on the home farm and from boyhood has taken an interest in all kinds of farm work. As soon as he finished school he began to ma- terially assist his father and later assumed about all the responsibility, being the only son. He carries on general agriculture and raises stock and Percheron horses, hav- ing annually some to sell. Since coming into the home property, Mr. Taggart has done a large amount of improving and his farm buildings are of substantial construc- tion and of commodious size.
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On December 29, 1881, Mr. Taggart was married to Miss Mary E. Dennison, who is a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Wright) Dennison. The Dennisons were of old Mercer County stock, while the Wrights were pioneers in Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Taggart have had five children, namely: Ida May, who mar- ried W. M. McDeavitt, and has two chil- dren, Ora L. and Berenice M .; Clyde, Emma C. and William J., who live at home; and Harry E., who is deceased. Mr. Taggart has the satisfaction of know- ing that all his family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church with himself and all are active Christian workers.
GIDEON R. ALLEN,* a prominent citi- zen of Clay Township and one of the large landowners of this section, resides on one farm of 139 acres, which lies on the road between Hallston near to the Muddy Creek Church, and owns also a second farm, con- taining 117 acres, situated north of the one on which he lives. Mr. Allen was born in 1840, on a farm in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Robert and Caroline (Richardson) Allen.
The mother of Mr. Allen died when he was three years old and when he was four- teen, his father returned to the homestead farm on which he was born, in Clay Town- ship, Butler County, which had been set- tled by the grandfather, Stephen L. Al- len, in 1800. Gideon R. Allen has lived continuously in Clay Township from that time until the present, with the exception of his long period of service in the Civil War, and one year spent in Missouri.
Mr. Allen had just reached his majority when the country became convulsed by Civil War. He immediately decided to of- fer his services in defense of the flag he had been taught to reverence, and by Oc- tober 12, 1861, had so arranged his affairs that he felt at liberty to leave everything behind and enter the army. He then en- listed in Company H, Seventy-eighth Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was commanded by Capt. William S. Jack and Col. W. G. Sirwell, and entered upon a long and dangerous service which covered three years and two months. Dur- ing all this period Mr. Allen was ever at the post of duty and his remarkable record shows that he was a soldier who not even once was off duty for a single day, never missed a roll call, never fell sick and suf- fered neither imprisonment nor injury in battle. Further than this the record proves that he participated in a large num- ber of the most serious battles of the whole war and looking back over his experiences, he can scarcely understand how he could have escaped the misfortunes which left many of his comrades to fill unknown graves or to pass through life as disabled pensioners of the Government. He took part in the following engagements in 1861-2: Wildcat Gap, October 21; Mill Springs, Kentucky, January 19; Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6-7; Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, July 13; Richmond, Kentucky, Au- gust 30; Mumfordville, Kentucky, Septem- ber 14-16; Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, and Stone River, Tennessee, December 31. In 1863 he participated in the following battles, again, as his record discloses, be- ing ever at the post of duty: Fort Donel- son, Tennessee, February 3; Thompson's Station, March 4-5; Hoover's Gap, Tennes- see, June 24; Liberty Gap, Tennessee, June 25; Shelbyville, Tennessee, June 27; Mor- gan's Raid, Kentucky, July 2-26; Chicka- mauga, Georgia, September 19-20; Wau- hatchie, Tennessee, October 27; Mission- ary Ridge, Tennessee, November 23-25; and Ringold Station, Georgia, November 27. In 1864 the battles were no less im- portant, February 27 chronicled by Buz- zard's Roost, Georgia; and on the way to Atlanta, beginning May 1 and terminating May 31, Mr. Allen took part in the engage- ments at Red Clay, Rocky Face Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Mill Creek or Dug Gap, Buz- zard's Roost Gap, Varnell's Station,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Resaca, Tilton, Tanner's Bridge, Adairs- ville, . Rome, Kingston, Dallas, New Hope Church, Burned Hickory, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Allatoona Hills, Cassville Sta- tion, Burned Church and Moulton. In ad- dition, daily and even hourly there were skirmishes and attacks that only constant vigilance could prevent being dangerous to the Federal troops and these demanded courage and endurance that sadly tried the already over wearied soldiers. Mr. Allen's term of enlistment expired October 14, 1864, and at that time he was with that portion of his regiment that had been mounted and, under the command of Gen- eral Thomas, was guarding the rear of General Sherman's army which was on its way to the sea. Mr. Allen was mus- tered out of the service at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and reached his home on Hallow Eve, 1864.
For some years Mr. Allen worked as a driller and tool dresser in the Butler oil fields and spent one year, 1867, in Mis- souri, and then engaged in farming on the homestead, in 1870 purchasing his present property, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising.
In 1892 Mr. Allen was married to Miss Leah Christley, who is a daughter of Will- iam Christley, and they have two children : Gideon R. and Manila Bay. He takes no very active part in politics but has always proved himself a worthy citizen. He is identified with the order of Odd Fellows.
B. M. HOCKENBERRY,* who resides on his valuable farm of 180 acres, which is situated in Cherry Township, is one of the extremely well educated and progres- sive citizens of this section. He was born in Cherry Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, October 12, 1875, on a farm ad- joining the one he owns, and is a son of William and Frances (Cowan) Hocken- berry.
The Hockenberry family is an old pio- neer one of this section. The late Will-
iam Hockenberry was born in Cherry Township, where he spent his life, mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died March 14, 1883, his widow still surviving.
B. M. Hockenberry attended the Pipe Stem country school and later the West Sunbury Academy, going from there to the Slippery Rock Normal School and still later to Grove City College. Mr. Hocken- berry has divided his attention, giving a part of his time to operating his large farm. which was formerly known as the old John Smith farm, and a part to teach- ing school. He has taught the Coaltown School, formerly known as the Pigeon Wing School, the old buildings having been destroyed by the cyclone of 1880, for some five terms and is a capable and popular educator.
Mr. Hockenberry was married to Miss Della Campbell, who is a daughter of John Sheppard Campbell, Esq., one of the most prominent citizens of Cherry Township, and they have three children: Margaret, Benj. and Alice. Mr. Hockenberry is a member of the fraternal order of the Woodmen of the World.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN BOOK* is a well known citizen and agriculturist of Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and owner of a farm of 225 acres, located about four miles north of Porters- ville, just off the Pittsburg and Mercer Pike. He was born on the old Book home- stead about two miles north of his pres- ent home, February 3, 1856, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Bennett) Book, be- ing an only child. His grandfather, George Book, Jr., and great-grandfather, Captain George Book, came from across the moun- tains and settled in Worth Township dur- ing the pioneer days. Captain George Book was captain of a military company which marched from Butler County to Erie, Pennsylvania, where they joined Col- onel Prescott's command for service dur- ing the War of 1812.
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William F. Book attended the public schools of his home vicinity and being the only child in the family, much of the work on the farm devolved upon him at an early age. He has always followed general farm- ing with a high degree of success, and is endowed with exceptional business quali- fications. He has 225 acres of good tilla- ble land, on which he has a fine modern home and the other necessary and sub- stantial farm buildings.
Mr. Book was married in May, 1884, to Miss Lizzie Humphrey, a daughter of John
and Lydia (Studebaker) Humphrey, and they are parents of four children: Mabel, who is a graduate of the local schools and resides with her parents; Walter, who at- tended Rose Point High School and is now practically in charge of the farming opera- tions at home; Alta, who is in attendance at the Slippery Rock State Normal School; and Fred, who is in the public schools. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is a member of Portersville Lodge, No. 909, I. O. O F., and takes a very prominent part in the work of the order.
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