Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 83

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 83

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Joseph Nachman

Representative Citizens.

HON. JOSEPH HARTMAN, formerly one of the best known and most successful oil producers of Butler County, president of the Butler County National Bank, and previously also of the Chicora Bank, Chicora, Penna., was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1827, son of William and Mary (Winters) Hart- man. His father, a blacksmith, brought him up to that trade, and he worked at it until reaching the age of seventeen years. He then became employed in the ore mines and also engaged in contracting until January, 1855. Being an ambitious youth, he saved a large part of his earnings, and in 1849 purchased a farm in Donegal Township, Butler County, to which his parents removed in the same year. He took up his own residence there in 1856, and it continued to be his home until his removal to Butler. He saw military serv- ice for nine months in the Civil War, in the One Hundred and Sixty-Ninth Penn- sylvania Volunteers. In 1864 he entered into the oil business, commencing opera- tions in Venango County, but later trans- ferring them to Butler County, where he was prominently and successfully engaged in oil production for over thirty-five years. Besides his extensive operations in the Millerstown field, he also developed good oil territory in Allegheny County, New York, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in the St. Joe, Callery Junction, Jefferson

Centre, the McDonald and Hundred Foot fields, and in the Mannington field of West Virginia which was one of the largest pro- ductions of that State. One of his best strikes was on the Black farm in Butler County, which realized for him a hand- some sum. He was a stockholder in sev- eral large oil companies, including the United States Pipe Line Company, and the Producers' Pipe Line Company.

When the movement was inaugurated to curtail production, Mr. Hartman strongly supported the plan of Mr. Phillips to set apart 2,000,000 barrels of oil for the pro- tection of the labor engaged in the petro- leum industry. He was also associated in mining enterprises outside the State, be- ing included among the capitalists who purchased the Trade Dollar Mining Com- pany, of Idaho. Succeeding Mr. Taylor as president of the Butler County National Bank, soon after its organization, he filled that office very creditably for a number of years thereafter. In politics Mr. Hart- man was a strong Republican, and in 1884 was elected to the Legislature, serving until 1886. He belonged to A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R., of Butler, and was always warmly interested in Grand Army matters and in the welfare of the old soldiers.

Mr. Hartman was twice married: first in January, 1853, to Margaret Black, a daughter of John Black, of Donegal Town- ship. She died July 5, 1869, having borne

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her husband the following children : Mary E .; Lizzie J., who married Patrick Gallagher, an oil producer of Butler, re- siding at No. 394 N. McKean Street; Anna L., wife of Michael Leonard; Fran- ces Eva, and Joseph. Mary and Frances Eva are unmarried and reside at No. 400 N. Main Street. Mr. Hartman married for his second wife, in 1873, Miss Mary McFadden, who died April 17, 1892. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, as are also the surviving members of his family. He performed useful serv- ice as a member of the Building Commit- tee in the erection of St. Patrick's Church at Sugar Creek. Mr. Hartman came to Butler in November, 1892, and resided here until his death, which took place February 29, 1904. He was regarded as one of the foremost citizens of the place. Successful in business, he had at heart the interest of the community in which he had largely achieved his prosperity, and he gave with no niggardly hand to religious and educational institutions, and to other philanthropic enterprises. His death was a distinct loss to the community, and his part as an up-builder of the material pros- perity for this section will not soon be forgotten.

DR. JOHN M. SCOTT, who for the past thirty-five years has been actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession in the village of Cabot, is the only physician in Winfield Township, throughout which locality he enjoys an extensive and lucra- tive practice. He was born in Center Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1849, and is a son of John and Mary (Reed) Scott, the latter being a daughter of Samuel Reed, who came of a family long established in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Scott is of Scotch descent, his grandfather having come from Scotland at a very early period and settled in Huntington County, Penn- sylvania.

John M. Scott received his primary education in an old log schoolhouse in In- diana County, supplementing it with a course of study at Homer City Academy, and finally graduating from the Medical College at Columbus, Ohio. He first en- gaged in tlie practice of his profession at Livermore, Pennsylvania, where he was associated for two years with Dr. Banks, at the end of which period he came to Cabot, where he has since been located and where he enjoys the confidence and esteem of an extensive circle of friends and patrons.

September 26, 1872, Dr. Scott was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock with Agnes M. Black, a daughter of Col. John A. and Margaret (Kerr) Black. Into their house- hold were born five children: Mary J., wife of Dr. O. G. Crawsham, a dentist, who has had two children-George S. (de- ceased) and Jackson O .; Viola, who is the wife of E. M. Craig of Oakmont, Pennsyl- vania, and has three children-Robert, Isabelle, and Virginia Scott; John B., a graduate of the dental department of the Western University, who is engaged in the practice of his profession in the village of Cabot; Helen Carrie, who is residing at home; and James Willis, who is at present a student.

Dr. Scott and his estimable wife reside in a commodious two-story brick residence in the village of Cabot and are promi- nently identified with the social affairs of that city. Dr. Scott is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Buffalo.

ELI D. ROBINSON, the present post- master at Butler, and a veteran journalist, was born in Penn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1855. He is a son of the late Thomas Robinson and his wife, Ann Eliza (DeWolf) Robinson.

Eli D. Robinson was eight years of age when his parents located at Butler. He was educated in the common schools and at Witherspoon Institute, where he spent

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five years. Shortly before attaining his majority he began the study of law under his father's direction. His tastes inclin- ing to journalism, he gave up the law, and in 1879 purchased the Butler Eagle from his father, and was associated with that paper as editor and publisher until 1903. An ardent Republican by conviction, he has ably supported the cause of his party, and has often proved an able champion of needed reforms, possessing the pen of a ready writer, with the power of original and forceful expression. His appointment as postmaster met with the hearty appro- bation of his fellow citizens and he as- sumed the duties of the office on January 1, 1905.

Eli D. Robinson was married March 14, 1883, to Emily E. Rogers, and they have four children : Mrs. Richard H. Wick, Bertha, Carl and Donald. Their commo- dious and tasteful residence is situated at No. 416 East Clay street, Butler. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WARREN AGGAS, one of Center Township's substantial and representative citizens, interested both in farming and in oil well contracting and drilling, resides on the fine farm of 212 acres, on which he was born, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1866. His parents were James and Catherine (Andrews) Aggas.

In tracing the ancestors of Mr. Aggas, the reader comes to one of those trage- dies which marked the advance of civili- zation, but a few generations ago, when the white man contended with the savage. The great-grandfather of Warren Aggas was killed by the Indians, in Westmore- land County, in 1796. His widow fled into the forest of what is now Center Town- ship, accompanied by her two little boys, Sylvanus and Abner, aged eleven and ten years respectively. It was her intention to chose a home there, hidden as she be- lieved herself, from the cruel savages that

had shed the blood of her husband, and with this end in view, a pitiful story is told of her getting lost and separated from her children and neighbors who had also sought a refuge in the woods. For three days she wandered lost and alone, but sub- sequently was reunited to her children and together they established a home on the land which has ever since remained in the family, no division ever having been made.

James Aggas, father of Warren and son of Sylvanus, was born on the above named farm and continued agricultural pursuits through life, both he and wife passing away in the old home. The old residence built by Sylvanus Aggas almost seventy years ago, still shelters his de- scendants. There were other buildings and the barn, a still substantial structure, was put up in 1859, a second barn being built in 1885. James Aggas married Cath- erine Andrews and they had six children, namely : Warren; Loyal, who lives in Cen- ter Township; Sylvanus, who resides in Illinois; William John, who lives at Ell- wood City; Elizabeth Belle, who died aged about twelve years; and an unnamed in- fant.

Warren Aggas was reared to farm life and has always been interested in agri- culture. In addition to managing his large estate, he is in partnership with a Mr. Hamilton in contracting and drilling oil wells, the latter being a practical driller.

Mr. Aggas married Miss Sarah Belle McCandless, who is a daughter of Red- dick McCandless, and their children are as follows : James, who dresses the tools used in oil well drilling, and who married Bessie Barkley; and Stella E., Huldah, Laura Muriel, Samuel Claud, Evelyn and Leroy. Mr. Aggas is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, Lodge No. 1154, of West Sunbury.

JAMES A. McKEE, one of the best known residents of Butler and editor of the present volume, was born in Butler Township, this county, May 11, 1865, son

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of Robert and Mary Jane (Kirk) McKee. His paternal grandfather was James Mc- Kee, and his great grandfather, Thomas McKee, who married Margaret Hogue. James, the grandfather, who was the eld- est son of his parents, was born in 1780, in Tuscarora Valley, Mifflin County, Penna. He came to Butler from Ligonier, Penn- sylvania, in 1796, and purchased a tract of land in Butler Township adjoining that of his father. He married Mary McKee, a daughter of John and Mary (Hogue) Mc- Kee, of the Tuscarora Valley, and they were the parents of seven children, as fol- lows: John, who served one term as sheriff of Butler County, died in 1864; Robert, who resided on the old homestead until 1888, then removed to Butler, and died December 18, 1890; Martha, who died in youth; Thomas, who died at the age of twenty-one; Mary A., who resided in But- ler down to the time of her death, July 2, 1890; James, who was drowned in the Ohio River in 1852, while en route to California; and Hugh, a surveyor of Butler County in 1852, and afterwards appointed surveyor- general of Kansas by President Buchanan, who died April 30, 1886. James McKee and his brother Hugh served in the War of 1812; the former served as sheriff of the county from 1815 to 1818, and as a member of the state legislature in 1828. His death occurred October 1, 1832. His wife survived him more than thirty years, and died in 1874 at the age of eighty-seven.

Robert McKee, son of James and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Butler Township, Butler County, June 17, 1817. He was reared upon the farm, and in 1847 he married Mary J. Kirk, a daugh- ter of John Kirk, an early settler of Clar- ion County. They resided upon a farm in Butler Township until 1888, and then removed to Butler, where Mr. McKee died on December 18, 1890, leaving two chil- dren, Mary A. and James A. Robert Mc- Kee was a justice of the peace in Butler Township for thirty years and was a prom-

inent member of the United Presbyterian church. His widow survived him until March 9, 1902.

James A. McKee was educated at With- erspoon Institute, Butler, and at Wooster University, Wooster, Ohio, and came with his parents to Butler Borough in May, 1888, where he has since resided. In Oc- tober, 1888, he formed a partnership with William G. Ziegler and purchased the Democratic Herald from the estate of the late Jacob Ziegler. He continued in the active duties of newspaper work until 1899, when the Herald plant was sold to P. A. Rattigan & Sons, and the partnership of Ziegler and McKee was dissolved. He was subsequently engaged as reporter for the Associated Press, the Tri-state Press Bu- reau, and eastern papers, and in 1902-3 was city editor of the daily Eagle. He was subsequently engaged in contracting busi- ness for two years, and since that time has been in the insurance business. For over twenty years he took an active interest in local military affairs, first enlisting in Company E, Fifteenth Regiment, P. N. G., in 1885. After serving two enlistments he was discharged with the rank of sergeant.

In 1898, when the local militia company was called into the service of the United States for the Spanish War, Mr. McKee, James M. Maxwell, and John C. Graham organized a second company and drilled it for the second call of troops. The serv- ices of this company were tendered to the adjutant-general of Pennsylvania and also to the secretary of war. The suspension of hostilities after the battle of Santiago rendered the further call of troops unnec- essary and the local company was tendered a place in the provisional guard of the State, which was accepted. Mr. McKee was elected Captain of Company L, Six- teenth Regiment, National Guard, July 2, 1902, and served the full term of five years. He is a Democrat in politics and has taken an active part in the affairs of his party in the county, but has never held any pub-

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lic office. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, which his parents as- sisted in founding.

ELMER W. SCHENCK, a representa- tive of one of Butler County's old German pioneer families, is one of the city's pros- perous business men, where he is engaged in general contracting. He was born at Butler, in 1876, and is a son of Leonard and a grandson of Adam Schenck.

When his school days were over, Elmer W. Schenck lost no time seeking employ- ment but went to work in a brickyard and two years later became an-employe at the Purvis planing-mill. During the six years that he worked in the mill, he took a course in business at the Butler Commercial Col- lege, in this sensible, practical way fitting himself for both manual and professional work. He then worked one year as a car- penter, and this was followed by a year of contracting, after which he was fore- man for two years for a large contracting firm at Beaver Falls. When he returned to Butler he resumed contracting and has had about as much work in his line as he has been able to handle.

In 1898 Mr. Schenck was married to Miss Mary Wagner, who is a daughter of Henry Wagner. The Wagners were established in Butler County by Henry Wagner, the grandfather of Mrs. Schenck, who built the first pottery in Butler County, having learned his trade in Germany. The father of Mrs. Schenck was born in Butler County and for some years followed paper-hang- ing, but at present is engaged in a mer- cantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Schenck have two children: Charles E. and Bertha M. They are members of Grace Lutheran Church. Mr. Schenck is a member of the National Protective League and of the Moose fraternity.

HON. CHARLES C. SULLIVAN, in former years one of the most prominent figures in the public life of Butler County, and a lawyer of high reputation, was born

on his parents' farm, in Franklin Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1807.

From some records carefully collated by the genealogist of the family, the late Lieut. Aaron Sullivan, who was killed in the Civil War, while fighting in defense of the Union, it appears that one Peter O. Sullivan located in Northumberland County, Virginia, about the year 1700. He married a lady named Craven and they had children, John, Moses, Charles and Elizabeth.

Early in 1757 Charles Sullivan married Jemima Reeve and they were the grand- parents of the late Hon. Charles C. Sulli- van. Charles Sullivan died March 27, 1767, the father of five children, all of whom were born on the Wecondia River, near Chesapeake Bay, in Northumberland County, Virginia.

Charles C. Sullivan, second son of Charles and Jemima Sullivan, was born March 27, 1760, and died January 12, 1813. In 1785, in Chester County, Penn- sylvania, he married Susannah Johnston, who was born October 29, 1764, and died July 7, 1834. Her parents were Thomas and Margaret Johnston, of Chester Coun- ty. She made the acquaintance of her fu- ture husband while he was serving under General Washington at Valley Forge. Their children. were Moses, Aaron, Thomas, John, James, Margaret, Jemima, Elizabeth, William, Charles Craven, Su- sannah, the four last named being born on the "Sullivan Farm," in Franklin Town- ship, Butler County.

Charles Craven Sullivan, the seventh son of Charles C. and Susannah Sullivan, was graduated in 1828, from Jefferson College; soon after became a law student in the office of Gen. William Ayers and was admitted to the bar, October 10, 1831. He soon won recognition for his forensic ability, becoming one of the leaders of the Butler County bar, noted then as now, for the high quality and character of its mem-

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bers. He soon became connected also with public affairs, and in 1841, he was elected to the State Senate and was reelected in 1844. During his six years of service in that body he originated and carried through much useful legislation, some of which still remains on the statute books. By this time he had become widely known all over the State and had it not been that the Whig party, to which he belonged, was in the minority during the period of his legislative career, he would have occupied a still more exalted position. As a mark of appreciation of his character and serv- ices, Sullivan County, in his native State, was given his name.

While professing and believing in Whig principes, Senator Sullivan was an inde- pendent thinker, endorsing no measures or policies that were not in accord with his personal convictions. He was strongly opposed to slavery and was much pleased with the nomination of General Scott by the Whigs, over Millard Fillmore in 1852, and correspondingly disappointed by the subsequent election of Franklin Pierce. Possessing such principles, Mr. Sullivan welcomed the formation of the Republican party and identified himself with it. By this time Abolition sentiment was becom- ing general throughout the North, and Mr. Sullivan was not alone in his opinions, as had been the case, in his county, but a few years previously.

With the approach of the great National crisis, Mr. Sullivan's interest in public affairs deepened. He foresaw the coming struggle, and his great hope was that the new party would rise to its opportunity and stand up boldly for the right. He was active in the discussion of public affairs, in particular during the winter of 1859-60, endeavoring to influence the young men of his acquaintance to take a firm stand for principle, whatever might be the outcome. He looked forward with eager anticipa- tion to the Republican National Conven-

tion, expecting to see the birth of a new radical policy, with the abolition of slav- ery as its ultimate goal, but he was not destined to realize his hopes nor to wit- ness the last tragic act in the great slavery drama. His health began to fail, and on February 27, 1860, he passed from life's scenes, leaving behind a record of worthy achievement and devotion to principle that may well stand as an example to many of our own day, who are entrusted with weighty responsibilities.

In a material way, Mr. Sullivan pros- pered and was able to leave a handsome estate to his family. His law practice ex- tended over Butler and into several adja- cent counties. His fellow citizens had confidence in him in every relation of life for they knew his acts were the results of his firm convictions. On many occasions he displayed his local pride for he always honored Butler County as it had honored him.

Mr. Sullivan was married July 24, 1845, to Susan Catherine Seltzer, of Jonestown, Lebanon County, Penna., who was born June 26, 1824, and who still survives. Of this union there were five children-Moses, Charles, Louise M., Josephine, and Ma- tilda. Moses, who is unmarried, is a well known lawyer of Butler and Bradford, Penna. Charles, who is now deceased, was a practicing attorney at Pittsburg. He married Mary Reed and left his wife with eight children, of whom there are now three survivors-Catherine G., Reed, and Joseph, all living in Pittsburg. Louise M. Sullivan was married, June 26, 1871, to Joshua H. Shaw, who died March 17, 1874. She resides at No. 123 Diamond Street, Butler, and has one son, George J., who married Iola Campbell of Butler and the latter are the parents of a daughter- Isabelle. Josephine Sullivan, now de- ceased, was the wife of Thomas H. Rabe, of Pittsburg. She left four daughters, namely : Janie (Mrs. Burt A. Miller),

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who has two children-Thomas Rabe and Jane Catherine; Catherine Louise, Joseph- ine, and Eleanore Hanna. Matilda Sulli- van, who married Joseph E. Dunton, of Philadelphia, Penna., is deceased. She had no children.

JOSIAH P. McCALL, general farmer, who resides on his excellent estate of eighty-nine acres, which is situated in Franklin Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, was born on this farm on October 8, 1852, and is a son of Allen and Martha (Turk) McCall.

Allen McCall, father of Josiah P., was born about 1807, in Butler County, his old home farm being now owned by Lorenzo B. Snyder. He died in 1867. In early years he was a Whig but later became a Republican. He was an active citizen but never accepted any office but that of school director. He married a daughter of Will- iam Turk, of Brady Township, Butler County, and they had the following chil- dren: Samuel James and Robert T., both now deceased; Margaret Emeline, wife of Asaph Cranmer, of Clay Township; Re- becca Jane (deceased) who was the wife of Hezekiah Patterson; Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Josiah P .; William John, resid- ing in Franklin Township; Sarah Belle (deceased) who was the wife of Elva Sny- der, of Brady Township; and Elmer Allen, residing at Butler. The father was a trus- tee of the Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church.

Josiah P. McCall has spent his life in Franklin Township. After he completed his school attendance he settled down to farming and has made his life-work both pleasant and profitable. Of his eighty- nine acres he has fifty under the plow and raises corn, oats, wheat, hay, potatoes and buckwheat, devoting the remainder of his land to pasturage, keeping eight cows for dairy purposes and making choice butter for particular customers at Butler.

Mr. McCall married Miss Mary Ann

Snyder, who is a daughter of Conrad Sny- der of Brady Township, and they have had three children: Conrad Allen, who died aged two years; Willis Austin, who mar- ried Valera Thompson of Clay Township and reside in Washington County (he is a physician and has a daughter, Mary Dor- othy); and Orren Josiah, who married Marie Brown, of Clay Township and has one child, Edna Mary. Mr. McCall and family belong to the Muddy Creek Presby- terian Church, in which he has served as a trustee. In politics he is a Republican but is no more active than the demands of good citizenship require, having no desire for political honors.

EDWARD EVERETT ABRAMS, who has for more than twenty years been one of the most stirring and progressive busi- ness citizens of Butler, is a native of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, having been born at Rimersburg, July 9, 1856, son of James H. and Hannah (Mccutcheon) Abrams. His paternal grandfather was David Abrams, whose parents were the first settlers at Turkey Foot, Westmore- land County, Penna. They were of Scotch ancestry, and the subject of this sketch is in possession of the family record, beauti- fully written in a bible over 118 years old.

Edward Everett Abrams passed his early years in his native town of Rimers- burg, where he attended the common school and Clarion Collegiate Institute. His edu- cation was further advanced by attendance at the seminary at Clarion and Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Penna. He then pursued a commercial course at East- man's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and to further round out his general education took a course in a mili- tary academy at Tarrytown-on-Hudson. Having some taste for military matters, he joined the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, and at the age of eighteen was first sergeant of Company F, Seventeenth Regi- ment, N. G. P. While in camp with two

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 83

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