Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 84

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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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

regiments, he was complimented by the in- specting officer for keeping the best rec- ords.

His father, James H. Abrams, was one of the pioneers in the oil and steamboat business at Oil City, and in 1874 was a prominent oil producer at Karns City, Penna. The subject of our sketch having begun his business career as bookkeeper in a banking house, became his father's active assistant in the oil business at Karns City in 1876. From 1877 to 1879 their op- erations were continued in the Bradford field. In the year last mentioned he was married and, having purchased the famous Meclimans farm, on which Karns City is built, he removed there and remained until 1886, when Butler became his place of resi- dence. Butler has been the scene mainly of his subsequent activities, though he con- tinues to manage his property at Karns City and oil farms near there.

He has been a prominent factor in the commercial and business life of Butler County and in the year 1900 was one of the original and very active incorporators of the Butler County National Bank, which he served as director and member of the Discount Board for ten years. After re- signing from that institution he was one of the first incorporators of the Farmers' National Bank, of which he has been an active director since it was organized, and continues to thus serve this very successful bank.

During his early years in the oil busi- ness, and under the nom de plume of "Van Winkle," he made something of a reputa- tion as a newspaper writer, both for the oil country and metropolitan press, his ar- ticles on various subjects of interest being written in a style to command the atten- tion and appreciation of a wide circle of readers.

Mr. Abrams has devoted some part of his time to public affairs, believing it to be the duty of a good citizen, when called

upon, to make some sacrifice of time and private interests for the welfare of his party and the cause of good government. A stanch Republican, he was elected a dele- gate to the State convention that nomi- nated Senator Quay for State treasurer, in 1885. He also served as chairman of the Republican County Committee in the Beaver campaign, in 1886, and was elected in 1892 alternate delegate to the Republi- can National Convention at Minneapolis. He was Presidential elector in 1896 and in January, 1897, cast his ballot for Mckinley and Hobart. His advice has always car- ried weight in the local councils of his party.

Butler having no public park, Mr. Abrams interested himself in the matter and in 1908 succeeded in persuading a land company to cancel the contract to cut down a forest of noble white oak and other trees ; and he secured twenty public spirited citi- zens who purchased eight acres of wood- land, and thus preserved a beautiful nat- ural park within the borough limits. If there is anything in his history that he thinks worthy of special record, it is that he has led a life of absolute integrity and has done what he could to promote the good things in our government.

Mr. Abrams was married, August 20, 1879, by Bishop Stevens, to M. Genevieve, daughter of Charles M. Allen. Mr. Allen was formerly consul to the Bermuda Is- lands, being appointed to that office by President Lincoln during the Rebellion, and continued to fill it until his death in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams are the par- ents of Myra Genevieve, Lucile, wife of Lieut. Donald C. Cubbison, U. S. A .; Elea- nor, Edward Everett, Allen, Dorothy Han- nah, John McClelland, Richard Henry and Elizabeth Loveberry. Dorothy died in 1895 at age of two years.

The family belong to the First Presby- terian Church, of which Mr. Abrams is a Trustee.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

HENRY A. RITNER, the popular and efficient postmaster of Bruin, Pennsylva- nia, is a leading citizen of this place and he is also an honored veteran of the great Civil War. Mr. Ritner was born at Dar- lington, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1837, and is a son of Nathaniel and Isabella B. (Vogan) Ritner.

Mr. Ritner can trace a distinguished an- cestry. His great-grandfather Ritner was a native of Alsace, France, and after com- ing to America, established his home in Lancaster County. His son, Joseph Rit- ner, founded the Crawford County branch of the family, and he bore the same name as did his cousin, Governor Joseph Ritner, who was once the chief executive of Penn- sylvania. On the maternal side the family was noted for its military valor, Great- grandfather James Vogan serving with distinction in the Revolutionary War and Grandfather James Vogan being equally prominent in the War of 1812. The latter was one of the early settlers in Butler County, coming before the first courthouse was erected-a simple log structure which stood on the site of the present fine build- ing-and he attended the first session held there.

Henry A. Ritner was about nine years old when his father died and three years later he accompanied his mother, step- father George Clupper, and other members of the family, to Mercer County. His edu- cational opportunities were meager and when fourteen years of age he was ap- prenticed to a shoemaker, at Grove City, with whom he remained for three years. Following this he worked as a journeyman until the opening of the Civil War. He was then twenty-four years of age and, like thousands of other young men, had prob- ably planned a life with which the boom- ing of cannon and the terrors and dangers of war had nothing to do. Nevertheless, when duty called he answered the summons and on October 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Regiment, Pennsyl-

vania Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Col. Robert J. Phipps, of Franklin, Penn- sylvania. After three years of hard serv- ice, Mr. Ritner was honorably discharged. In the interim he had participated in many of the most decisive battles of the whole war, including those of Fredericksburg, the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam and the long series of engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. Although at all times a brave and fearless soldier, he escaped all serious injury and practically unharmed he returned to his home. In 1872 he came to Martinsburg, now Bruin, and for a time was engaged in the oil fields and then started his shoemaking shop and has been interested more or less in working at this trade ever since, although, since 1900, when he was appointed postmaster, his time has been mainly given to public duties.

Mr. Ritner married Ann E. Davidson, who was born at Slippery Rock, Pennsyl- vania, and they have two children, Frank L. and Mary W., both residing at Bruin. Mr. Ritner and family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In his political views he is a strong Republican. Formerly he served as commander of Lysander Robb Post, No. 530, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, at Bruin, which subsequently was dis- continued, but he has never lost his inter- est in this great organization of his com- rades.

THOMAS ALEXANDER, treasurer of Butler County and a leading citizen who is interested in oil producing and contract- ing, has been a resident of the city of But- ler for the past twenty-two years. He was born in Brady Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1844, and is a son of Ambrose and a grand- son of Thomas Alexander.

Grandfather Thomas Alexander was born in the north of Ireland and came to Butler County among the early settlers, taking up land in Brady Township, on which he continued to live until 1854 when

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

he moved to Franklin Township where he resided until death. On the farm in Brady Township his son, Ambrose Alexander, spent his life, mainly engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and died in old age and was buried at West Liberty.

Thomas Alexander bears his grand- father's name. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age and then found employment in the oil fields, visiting those of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, and ever since has been more or less concerned in oil produc- ing and oil contracting. In 1886 he came to Butler and very soon became one of the city's active and useful citizens. He has served three years as a member of the City Council and for three years as a member of the School Board. In 1905 he was elected treasurer of Butler County, for a period of three years, and his admin- istration of this weighty office has been marked with the efficiency that its impor- tance demands.

In 1871 Mr. Alexander was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Double, and they have had five children, namely: Lulah J., who is the wife of Emory Beighley, of Butler; Harriet Lillian, who died when aged twen- ty-one years; John W., who died in May, 1908, aged thirty-four years; Harry Mc- Devitt, who resides at Butler; and Mary Hortense, who is the wife of Claud Burns, of Vandergriff, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Alex- ander belongs to the United Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World.

CHARLES A. FETZER, one of Chi- cora's leading business men, conducting a haberdasher and general clothing store, . purchased the business and has devoted

is his father's successor, he having founded it many years ago. Mr. Fetzer was born at Chicora, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, in 1872, and is a son of Gotleib Frederick and Harriet (Fleeger) Fetzer.

Gotleib Frederick Fetzer, was born in

Germany and was about eight years old when his parents brought him to America. They settled in Butler County, where both shortly afterward died and he spent his whole subsequent life in this county, almost the whole of his mature years being de- voted to merchandising. He first was in partnership with H. L. Westerman for five years, when Mr. Fetzer withdrew for a time but later became again associated with Mr. Westerman, for a few more years. He then entered into partnership with John G. Myers and they conducted a mill and had farm and oil interests. Mr. Myers withdrew after some years but Mr. Fetzer operated the mill, with his other enterprises, until his death on August 28, 1907, at the age of sixty-nine years. He married Harriet Fleeger, who died in Sep- tember, 1881, aged thirty-seven years. She was a daughter of Solomon Fleeger, one of the early settlers in this section. They had a family of seven children, namely : Emma (Hummell), Agatha (Herrick), Clara (Jacobs), Charles A., Albert J., William H. and Frank E. Mr. Fetzer was a man of many fine traits of character and he is remembered by his fellow citizens with feelings of respect and esteem. As one of the older business men of this place, he had much to do with its material devel- opment.

Charles A. Fetzer attended the public schools at Chicora until he was fourteen years of age and then became a clerk in the Westerman store, where he continued for six years, going then in the same ca- pacity to Pittsburg, two years later return- ing to his father's store, where he contin- ued until the death of the latter, when he himself to its successful continuance.

Mr. Fetzer married Mary Donahue, in 1898, who died in 1905, leaving four chil- dren: Charles J., Agatha, Gerald and Catherine. In January, 1908, Mr. Fetzer was married (second) to Miss Anna

HON. IRA McJUNKIN

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Hodges, of Pittsburg. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church at Chicora. He belongs to the order of Elks, No. 170, of Butler, and to the Protected Home Cir- cle at Chicora.

LESLIE P. HAZLETT, president of the Butler County National Bank, and a prominent representative of the important oil industry of this section, was born upon his parents' farm in the neighboring county of Allegheny, in the year 1843. The parents, James and Margaret Haz- lett, removed to Butler County, settling on the line of Connoquenessing and Forward Townships, where James Hazlett pur- chased a farm.

Leslie P. Hazlett, being an ambitious youth, made the best of his educational opportunities, and after accompanying his parents to Butler County, he purchased a tract of fifty acres adjoining his father's farm, and subsequently purchased the parental homestead. He followed agri- culture successfully for a number of years, but a large part of his ample fortune has been derived from the oil industry, in which he is now a large operator, being a member of the well known firm of Hazlett & Mccullough. His farm property, which has proved one of his chief sources of wealth, lies within the Hundred Foot Field operated by the Forest Oil Company, the Columbia Oil Company, Abrams & Com- pany and Elias Barnhart. In later years Mr. Hazlett's business experience has ex- tended into other channels, and he is now the capable president of one of Butler County's most important financial institu- tions.

A Republican in politics, a part of his time has been devoted to the public serv- ice. He has been one of the school direc- tors of his township for the last twenty- two years, and he has been a justice of the peace for five years. For forty years he has been a member of the Masonic frater- nity, belonging to Harmony Lodge, No.

429, F. & A. M. Formerly a Presbyterian in religion, he later united with the Metho- dist Church.

Mr. Hazlett was married, in 1870, to Barbara Ziegler, a daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth Ziegler, of Harmony, Butler County. Mrs. Hazlett died in 1887, hav- ing been the mother of five children, name- ly : Letitia, who married Clinton Henshaw, resides on Mr. Hazlett's old home in For- ward Township, and has two children- Ralph Leslie and Grace Ethel; George W., who is bookkeeper in the Butler County National Bank, where he has been em- ployed for fourteen years; Lizzie, who re- sides with her father; Frank L., deceased; and Maggie, who married C. A. Ensmin- ger, resides in Butler, and has one child- Helen Elizabeth.

HON. IRA McJUNKIN, a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature, to which honorable body he was a second time nominated in the spring of 1908, is a prominent citizen of Butler County and a member of the Butler bar. He was born in this city, February 13, 1860, and is a son of James T. and Martha McJunkin.

Prior to his seventeenth year, Mr. Mc- Junkin attended the public schools of But- ler and Witherspoon Institute, and then entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, securing this gen- erally coveted appointment through Col. John M. Thompson. Mr. McJunkin was graduated from that institution in. 1881, after which he spent two years in the service of the United States, attached to the Asiatic Station. After his return, de- siring to follow other than a maritime life, he was honorably discharged in 1883. In the fall of the same year he entered upon the study of law in the office of Judge Mc- Junkin, and on April 10, 1886, he was admitted to the bar. His ability in his chosen profession was soon recognized, and in 1892 he was elected district attor- ney of Butler County. In the meanwhile,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

he had become active in politics, and in 1906 he was first elected a member of the State Legislature of Pennsylvania. His attitude on public questions and his use- fulness to his own section, his loyalty to party and fidelity to principle, all con- tributed to his continued popularity and in 1908 he was renominated to the Legis- lature and again reelected.

Mr. McJunkin had long been identified with the Fifteenth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania National Guards, and his military record in connection with the same is as follows: In May, 1898, was mustered into the United States service at Mt. Gretna as captain of Company E, Fifteenth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered out at Athens, Georgia, Febru- ary 1, 1899; was appointed captain and adjutant on the staff of Col. W. T. Mech- ling, Fifteenth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards in 1900, served in the Homestead riots and was placed on the retired list by General Order No. 28, 1900. He entered the State service with the rank of first lieutenant and was subsequently elected and reelected captain.

Mr. McJunkin belongs to the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He was reared by a careful mother in the faith of the Pres- byterian Church.

JOHN H. HEINER, a prominent citi- zen, whose headquarters are at Bruin, Pennsylvania, for years has been very prominently identified with oil and gas production in Butler County, having large interests on Bear Creek, in Parker Town- ship. `He was born at Kittanning, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 12, 1842, and is a son of Daniel Broad- head and Mary (Graham) Heiner.

Capt. Casper Heiner, the great-grand- father of John H., was a Revolutionary soldier. He married Ann G. Broadhead, the only child of Gen. Daniel Broadhead, who served in the Revolutionary War with Gen. Washington, was prominent in In-

dian warfare, for a time was commander at Fort Pitt and later served as the first surveyor-general of the State of Pennsyl- vania. Of their children, John Heiner be- came the grandfather of John H. Heiner and he settled among the early people at Kittanning, married a lady who was of Virginia birth, and reared a large family.

Daniel B. Heiner, father of John H., was a leading business man of Kittanning and a prosperous citizen. He engaged in mer- chandising and also in the manufacture of furniture and spinning wheels, and for a quarter of a century served as a justice of the peace. He married Mary Graham, who was born at Butler, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Robert Graham, an early set- tler of that borough. Her father at one time owned a farm in the north end of But- ler where now stand some of the best resi- dences. He and Mr. Cunningham donated part of the ground that forms the present site of Butler. The following children were born to this union: Robert G., de- ceased, who was formerly a captain in the United States Army; John H .; William G., formerly a member of the State Legis- lature, who is a resident of Kittanning; Daniel B., who resides at Kittanning, was formerly a member of Congress and was United States attorney under the first ad- ministration of the late President McKin- ley and at the present writing (1908) is serving as a Government official in West- ern Pennsylvania; Mary L., who lives in the old home at Kittanning; Sarah K., re- siding at Washington, Pennsylvania, who is the widow of Rev. J. F. Core; Margaret, deceased; Annie E., who is the widow of Thomas W. Dickson, formerly of Yank- ton, South Dakota, now of Kittanning; Lydia, the youngest of the family, who is the wife of Major Percy E. Tripp, a grad- uate of West Point and an officer in the United States Army.

John H. Heiner was reared at Kittan- ning and obtained his education in her ex- cellent schools. During some years of

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earlier business life he was a member of the firm of Heiner Bros., manufacturers of building supplies, lumber dealers and planing mill operators, but for the past thirty-five years he has given his almost exclusive attention to the oil industry. He is one of the pioneer oil producers of Par- ker Township, a rich oil field of Butler County, and it is largely owing to his per- sistance and enterprise that this territory has so greatly prospered. For some years past he has also been developing gas, and supplies gas to Bruin and surrounding territory.

Mr. Heiner is also a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in the Federal Army in the spring of 1861, in Company A, Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the memorable battles of Gainesville, the seven days of continu- ous fighting in front of Richmond, the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam, being wounded at the latter · place. He fought also at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and all the other engagements in which his regiment took part until the summer of 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He is a charter member of John Croll Post, No. 156, Grand Army of the Republic, at Kit- tanning.

Mr. Heiner married Miss Mary H. Per- shing, of Pittsburg, who is a daughter of Rev. I. C. Pershing, D.D., who formerly was president of the Pittsburg Female College, which is no longer in existence, but which was a noted educational institu- tion in its day. Mr. and Mrs. Heiner have three children: Mary C., who is the wife of Paul Sturtevant, a resident of Pitts- burg; and Helen G. and John P., both re- siding at Butler. The family home is sit- uated at No. 107 Standard Avenue, Butler.

In politics, Mr. Heiner is a Republican. He has served on the School Board in Parker Township, at times as the presi-

dent of that body and takes a good citi- zen's interest in public affairs. He is a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank at Bruin and was one of the promoters of the same. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bruin.

A. A. MARSHALL, proprietor of a fancy and staple grocery business, located at No. 109 East Jefferson Street, Butler, is one of the city's leading business men. He was born in the northern part of But- ler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of the late Samuel T. Marshall.

Samuel T. Marshall was born at Parker, Pennsylvania. For many years of his ma- ture life he was engaged in merchandising at Parker and North Hope, Butler County, and was an active political factor in the county. For a protracted period he was clerk to the Board of County Commis- sioners and subsequently was elected a member of that body and served with the greatest efficiency.

A. A. Marshall has been a life-long resi- dent of Butler County and has been en- gaged in business since his boyhood. For fourteen years he was with the Hamilton Bottling Works and for some years has successfully conducted his present enter- prise. In addition to dealing in first class groceries, he carries also a fine line of confectionery.

Mr. Marshall has been quite prominent in several fraternal organizations, partic- ularly in the Woodmen of the World and the Protected Home Circle. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a resident and tax payer of Butler for the past twenty years.

CHARLES STOKEY, burgess of Ze- lienople, and a life-long resident of But- ler County, is one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Zelienople, where he has resided for the past thirty years.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

He was born April 22, 1856, in Jackson Township, a son of Henry and Margaret (Behr) Stokey.

Henry Stokey was born in 1822 in Al- sace, France, where he grew to maturity and during the early fifties, when the gov- ernment was changed from a republic to a monarchy he became dissatisfied and emigrated to the United States. He had prior to this made three trips to this coun- try, and first located in Philadelphia for a short time, after which he removed to Pittsburg. He continued his residence in this city for two years, at the end of which time he located on a farm in Jackson Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. In 1864 he became proprietor of a hotel, which he conducted successfully until 1869, when he located on a farm, which is now a part of the present site of Evans City. In 1878, he purchased the Old Eagle Hotel at Zelienople, conducting same until the time of his death in 1883. Henry Sto- key married Margaret Behr, who was also born in Alsace, France, in 1830, and is at present a resident of Zelienople. The fol- lowing children were born to Henry Sto- key and his estimable wife, namely: Theo- dore, died aged seventeen years; Henry, proprietor of the New Hotel Stokey; Jacob, and Lewis, residing on a farm in .Jackson Township; and Charles, the sub- ject of this sketch.

Charles Stokey, was reared in Jackson Township and obtained his educational training in the common schools of that lo- cality. He devoted considerable time to the work on the farm and after leaving school worked for three and a half years at the harness trade in Evans City. In 1878, when his father purchased the Old Eagle Hotel of Zelienople he became man- ager of it, continuing as such until the 'death of the father in 1883, after which he took entire charge of the hotel until 1899. He then leased the hotel for five years, and in 1904 again became its proprietor. Shortly afterward, he disposed of it, since

which time he has lived in retirement on the old Amos Lusk farm, which is located in Zelienople. There is a fine running spring on the place, and it is claimed that General Washington drank from it on his way from Allegheny County to Venango.

Mr. Stokey is a Democrat in politics and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. He has served as a member of the Town Council, and in March, 1903, was elected burgess of the vil- lage of Zelienople. He resigned from same and was again elected in 1906. He is a di- rector of the First National Bank of Zelienople. Mr. Stokey is very promi- nently identified with fraternal organiza- tions. He is a Mason, of the Blue Lodge No. 429 Harmony ; Royal Arch Chapter of Butler County; Tankard Commandery of Pittsburg No. 48, and of the Pittsburg Consistory. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of the Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 84

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