Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 85

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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Mr. Stokey is the father of the follow- ing children: Leila; Ellsworth; Russell and Herschell (twins), and Carl.

THOMAS R. HOON, in former years one of the substantial and representative citizens of Centre Township, Butler Coun- ty, and for some years sheriff of the. county, was born in Centre Township, De- cember 3, 1835, a son of John Hoon. He was reared and educated in his native township, and after beginning industrial life, was engaged in teaming until 1860. He then went to Oil Creek, Venango County, where, until 1862, he was employed in the oil business. In the year last men- tioned he enlisted in Company G, One Hun- dred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, with which regiment he served until the close of the war. He took part in some of the bloodiest and most impor- tant battles waged by the Army of the Po- tomac, including those of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, the Wilderness, the operations in

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front of Richmond, and the closing scenes which culminated in the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He had served under Gen- erals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker and Grant. After being mustered out, he re- turned to Butler County and engaged in farming on the old homestead, having 300 acres of well improved land. Here he fol- lowed agriculture until his death, which took place July 13, 1904.

Mr. Hoon was a successful farmer, being both industrious and progressive. He pos- sessed in a high degree the confidence of his fellow citizens, and served at different times in most of the township offices. He was at one time sheriff of Butler County, in which position he showed his courage and capacity on the occasion of the cap- ture of the Biddle brothers, of whom he had charge in the hospital jail, and who had to be guarded at the point of a re- volver.

In politics Mr. Hoon was a Republican. He took great interest in Grand Army af- fairs, being a useful and active member of John Randolph Post. He also belonged to the Patrons of Husbandry.

Mr. Hoon was married, March 23, 1871, to Sarah J. Jones, a daughter of David Jones, of Franklin Township. They had seven children, namely: George H., now deceased; Mary, the wife of Dr. Wasson, died March 11, 1908; William C., deceased; John R., who is now county detective, with an office in the Butler County National Bank Building, and residence at No. 532 Mifflin Street; Nancy B .; Henrietta and Lina. Mrs. Hoon, who survives her hus- band, resides at No. 428 Mifflin Street, Butler.

ISAAC N. JOHNS, one of the success- ful oil producers and agriculturists of Parker Township, was born August 10, 1865, near Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Nancy (Hooks) Johns, natives of Arm-

strong County, where the Johns family is an old and prominent one.

When Isaac N. Johns was still a small lad his father died, and his mother subse- quently married W. M. Henry, by whom the youth was reared, his education being secured in the public schools of. Armstrong County. On attaining his majority, Mr. Johns engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in the early nineties he located in Par- ker Township, where he is now half-owner in a farm of forty-six acres and the oil wells thereon, W. H. Orton of Parker's Landing being the owner of the other one- half of the property. Mr. Johns is a self- made man, and his success in life is due to his own energy and enterprise. He is a Republican in political matters, and de- votes a great deal of his time and attention to movements in behalf of the advancement of education. He has shown himself to be a man of integrity, and his rating is high in business circles.

On November 15, 1891, Mr. Johns was married to Elizabeth C. Levier, who was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Josiah Levier. Mr. and Mrs. Johns have had the following children : Byron B., Forest F., Waldo W., Melvin M., Hazel Ione, Elma V. and Myrtle V.

JOHN YOUNKINS, one of the best known oil operators of Butler County, a. member of the firm of Younkins Brothers, at No. 340 N. Mckean Street, Butler, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylva- nia, May 5, 1848, son of William and Sarah Younkins. His youth was spent on a farm and he acquired his education in the com- mon schools. He became connected with the oil business soon after acquiring his majority, embarking in the business at Parker's Landing, in July, 1869. After- wards he was engaged in it at Shamburg, Venango County, and subsequently at Mount Hope, Clarion County. He made

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his advent in Butler County, commencing business operations at Petrolia, and later extending them to the Bradford and War- ren fields. In September, 1884, he returned to Butler, and has since confined his opera- tions to this county. In addition to their extensive oil business, the firm of Younkins Brothers are large dealers in real estate, and they rank well up among the most prosperous business concerns of the county. Mr. Younkins' business responsi- bilities also include the presidency of the Farmers' National Bank. He held the of- fice of tax collector of the borough of Butler, to which he was elected on the Democratic ticket, in February, 1894. His fraternal affiliations are with Ziegler Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Younkins was married, December 27, 1877, to Naomi C., a daughter of Robert H. Campbell, of Parker Township, this county. He and his wife are the parents of four children : Edith M., Myrtle F., Earl L. and Vera G.

WILLIAM V. POWELL, owner and proprietor of the Powell Boiler Works, a prospering enterprise of Chicora, is an ex- perienced, practical machinist and boiler- maker, having been identified with the busi- ness since he was seventeen years of age. Mr. Powell was born June 28, 1867, in Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Richards) Powell.

Thomas Powell was born in Butler County and died in the same county, No- vember 13, 1907. The main occupation that he followed through life was farming. He married Mary Richards, who has been a resident of Butler County for thirty-six years, but was born in Westmoreland County. They had the following children : J. W., William V., Walter and Thomas, both deceased, Anna, Sadie, deceased, Frank, C. E., and Nettie.

William V. Powell was six years old when his parents moved to Armstrong

County, where the family lived for two years, returning then to Butler County, where he attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old. For three years he assisted his father and then entered the shop of Frank Quinn, to learn the boiler- making trade, after nine months going to Petrolia, where he was in the employ of J. C. Lyons, for five and one-half years. From there he went to Slade Run, in For- ward Township, where he conducted a shop for three and one-half years and then en- gaged with the Forest Oil Company of that place and worked for that corporation for seven and one-half years. Mr. Powell then came to Chicora, where, in partnership with Fred Henman and W. C. Aikens, he bought out Charles Hunter, this transac- tion taking place November 11, 1900. Later, Mr. Henman sold his interest to Mr. Powell and three years afterward, Mr. Aikens died and since that time Mr. Powell has been sole owner and has conducted the business by himself. He does all kinds of repair work and builds gas and oil tanks. His business standing is high and his per- sonal character without reproach, making him a truly representative citizen.

Mr. Powell married Miss Mary Aikens, of Butler County, and they have had two children: Iva, who was born July 4, 1892; and a babe that died early. Mr. Powell and wife are members of the English Lu- theran Church. He belongs to the fraternal orders of the Woodmen of the World, the Woodmen of America and the Knights of Maccabees.

HON. THOMAS ROBINSON. Among those citizens of Butler County who have now passed off the scene of life, but whose memory will long be preserved and cher- ished by their fellow citizens, was Thomas Robinson, who, for seventy-one years was a resident of this section. He was born July 4, 1825, in County Armagh, Ireland, and was a son of Thomas and Arabella (Riley) Robinson.

HON. THOMAS ROBINSON

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The parents of Mr. Robinson came to America and in 1832 they settled on a farm in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and three years later secured farming land in Penn Township, Butler County, where the rest of their lives were spent.

Thomas Robinson was ten years old when his parents located in Penn Town- ship and his early education was secured in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home. He was a grown man before the opportunity came to him to obtain more advanced instruction, as it was in 1851 that he entered Butler Academy. It is probable that he pursued his academic studies for about one year, subsequently teaching school for some two years and in 1854 securing recognition by those in authority in county affairs. He secured appointment as a clerk in the county com- missioner's office and immediately began the study of law, under the direction of George W. Smith, and was admitted to the Butler bar September 25, 1855. Poli- tics soon claimed his attention and in Feb- ruary of this year he had been sent as a delegate from Butler County to first Re- publican convention convened at Pitts- burg. His ability was so generally recog- nized both in his profession and as a po- litical factor that in 1860 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature. In the troubled years which followed, Mr. Robin- son, by tongue, pen and personal effort up- held the government in its struggle with rebellion and fearlessly advocated meas- ures relative to public safety, often in the face of fierce opposition. During 1863-4 he was the able and resourceful chairman of the Butler County Republican commit- tee. He was not an active seeker for of- fice, his greatest interest being confined to journalism, but in 1876 he was nominated by the Republicans of the county for the Senate, but failed to secure the district nomination. In 1880 he was sent as a del- egate to the Republican National Conven-

tion held at Chicago, supporting the claims of the great statesman, Hon. James G. Blaine, for the presidency. His name is indelibly associated with journalism in Butler County. In 1863 he founded the American Citizen, which still exists, under the title of the Butler Citizen, of which he was editor for several years. During many of his most active years he was edi- tor and proprietor of the Butler Eagle, which he later sold to his son, Eli D. Rob- inson, who is the present postmaster at Butler. This journal, under the manage- ment of both father and son, ever wielded a large amount of influence throughout this section of the State.

Mr. Robinson married a daughter of Dr. Eli G. De Wolf and to this union was born a family of thirteen children, and the fol- lowing survive: Eli D., Sallie A., Clara B., Adelaide K., Arabella, Electa, Charles C., George T., and Thomas. With his fam- ily, Mr. Robinson belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. While frequently outside affairs claimed a large measure of his attention, he never permitted them to cause him to forget the needs and demands of his family, friends or city. He was particularly interested in educational mat- ters; served on the city school board, and was a trustee of the Slippery Rock State Normal School from the time of its organi- zation until his death, which took place June 23, 1906.

C. E. MILLER, shoe merchant at Butler, conducting a large business with well ap- pointed quarters at No. 215 South Main Street, has been a resident of this city for twenty-two years and in that time has built up a business that covers the whole county. He was born March 17, 1867, in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, but was taken by his parents to Armstrong County when a child.

Mr. Miller attended school in the country near his father's farm and later took a commercial course in Duff's Business Col-

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lege at Pittsburg, where he was graduated in 1887. He gained his first experience in the shoe trade as a clerk in John Bickel's store at Butler, where he remained three years, after which he was with B. Himmel- rich & Co., at Pittsburg, for more than a year, after that taking charge of the shoe department in a store at New Kensington, where he continued until 1893. Mr. Miller settled then at Butler, where he put in a good shoe stock, not more however than he, with the assistance of one clerk, could manage, and from that beginning the busi- ness has expanded until he now has the largest shoe store in the city and the big- gest trade in his line in the county. He requires nine assistants and employs three wrapping girls and keeps three shoemakers busy. Honest goods and fair dealing have been Mr. Miller's assets, and their worth has been appreciated. In addition to this business, Mr. Miller is interested in oil production and is a stockholder in two banks. In politics, Mr. Miller is affiliated with the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Elks, and socially is a member of the Sterling Club.

GEORGE H. FOX, who follows general farming on a tract of seventy acres, lo- cated one and one half miles south-east of Cabot on the east side of Bear Creek, also does contract teaming, and is one of the leading and highly respected citizens of Winfield Township. He was born Decem- ber 7, 1869, in Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Henry and Jane (Kaufold) Fox and a grandson of George Henry Fox, a native of Germany who came to this country at a very early period and located first in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Butler County and was among the earliest set- tlers.

George H. Fox was reared in his native county and received his elementary school- ing in the district schools of that locality,

completing his education in the common schools of Cabot, Pennsylvania.

On May 22, 1894, when twenty-four years of age, Mr. Fox was united in mar- riage to Adelia B. Kennedy, a daughter of Peter and Rachael (Cooper) Kennedy, well known farmers of Butler County, and of their union were born the following children: Mabel, aged twelve years, and Juanita, who is nine years old. Mr. Fox has always followed general farming and in connection with this is now engaged in contract teaming. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise, giving his support to all measures which tend toward the ad- vancement of the community in which he lives. His farm of seventy acres is well improved and equipped with all the neces- sary out-buildings of a substantial kind and his residence is a comfortable two- story frame building.

In religious affiliation Mr. Fox is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cabot, of which he is president of the board of trustees and was for some time superintendent of the Sabbath school.

HON. J. DAVID McJUNKIN, who for many years has been prominently identi- fied with the affairs of Butler, Pennsyl- vania, is one of the practitioners before the courts of Butler County. He was born on the old homestead in Centre Township, Butler County, September 3, 1839, and is eldest son of William and Priscilla Mc- Junkin.

Mr. McJunkin received a preliminary education in the common schools of his home district, supplemented by four years at Butler Academy, Witherspoon Institute and West Sunbury Academy. He taught school for several years, and in 1862 served as a member of Company G, Four- teenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, to assist in repelling Lee's invasion of the State. His preparation for the legal pro- fession was under the preceptorship of Judge McJunkin, and he was admitted to

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the bar of Butler County, June 8, 1863. The following year he removed to Frank- lin, Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he practiced with good results until 1873. During that time he was called upon to serve in official capacity, being elected to the State Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1869, and reelected in 1870 and 1871. He returned to Butler in 1873 and there has since resided and engaged in active prac- tice. His activities have not been confined to his professional work, and in 1879 he was connected with the Bald Ridge Oil Company, whose operations were the means of attracting oil men to the further development of the Butler field. He is a Republican in politics, and has been an active worker for the success of that party. He was in 1880 and 1882 the choice of his county for the nomination for Congress; also in 1904 and 1908.

Mr. McJunkin was united in marriage with Miss Margaret A. Campbell, a daugh- ter of James Campbell of Butler, and they became parents of the following children: Clara Bell; William David; Mary Chris- tie, wife of Lewis R. Schmertz; Charles Campbell; John Welles; and Margaret Kathleen, who died in January, 1888. Re- ligiously, he is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church, to the support of which he has contributed liberally.

HUMES A. McCANDLESS, who came to his fine farm of 100 acres, which is sit- uated in Center Township, two miles south of Unionville, in 1868, is numbered with the representative men of his section and with its excellent and successful farmers. He was born near Unionville, in Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1832, and is a son of Nathan F. and Elizabeth (Thompson) McCandless.

Nathan F. McCandless was also born in Center Township and was a son of Will- iam McCandless, a native of Ireland, who came to this neighborhood when he was sixteen years old. The McCandless fam-

ily is one of the oldest and most respected of the pioneer families of Center Town- ship. Nathan F. McCandless was reared on his father's farm and spent his whole life in Center Township, where he died in 1890, aged eighty-seven years. He was married (first) to Elizabeth Thompson, who was born in what is now Brady Town- ship, and who was a daughter of John Thompson, who was born in Ireland. There were nine children born of this mar- riage, five of whom still survive. Mrs. McCandless died when her son Humes A., was about eighteen years of age. Nathan F. was married (secondly) to Delilah Mitchell, and the two children born of the second marriage are now living.

Humes A. McCandless obtained his edu- cation in the country schools, grew to man- hood on the home farm, and has made farming his main business in life. In 1864 he gave one year to the service of his country, enlisting in Company A, Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. After the close of his military service he returned to the farm at home, where he remained until his marriage, when he came to his present property.

In 1868 Mr. McCandless was married to Martha Thompson, who is a daughter of James and Sarah (Allison) Thompson. She was born in Allegheny County but came to Center Township in early girl- hood. Mr. and Mrs. McCandless have eight children, namely: Josiah N. mar- ried Amanda McKee and they have five children; Orrin Bert married Mildred Ste- venson and they have five children; Al- gerta married Elmer Cranmer, and they have two children; Adella married Ever- ett Cranmer and they have five children; Martha J .; James T. married Lyda Albert and they have two children; Newton H. married Stella Albert, and they have two children; and William J. married Maggie Kummer, and they have one child. Mr. McCandless is a leading member of the Presbyterian Church in Center Township.

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NATHANIEL S. GROSSMAN, one of the present commissioners of Butler County, has been a resident of the city of Butler since his election to this responsi- ble office in November, 1905. He is a mem- ber of one of the pioneer families of the county and was born in Franklin Town- ship-the portion which now constitutes Brady Township-in September, 1845, son of John and Eliza (Stevenson) Grossman.

He is a descendant in direct line of Simon Grossman, a native of Germany, who came to America about 1740, settling in what is now Adams County, Pennsyl- vania, on Mass Creek, near the present town of Gettysburg. The line of descent from this founder of the family in this country is Simon (1), Benedict (2), Simon (3), John (4), Nathaniel S. (5).

Simon, the immigrant ancestor, was mar- ried twice, but so far the name of neither of his wives has been ascertained. Of his children, besides Benedict, who was born on the passage over to this country, there were Simon, of whom nothing further is known; Margaret or Peggy; Rosa, who it is said married a Mr. Sawyer; and another daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Matthias Sawyer and the mother of eleven children, whose names need not here be given. It is possible, perhaps probable, that Simon had other children, but if so their history is unknown to that branch of the family under present consideration. It is thought, however, that a certain Michael Grossman, who was born about 1745 near Lancaster, Penna., across the Susquehanna River, towards the moun- tains, was another son of Simon's, though the evidence on that point is not conclusive.

Benedict Grossman, second in this line of descent, and great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, married a Mrs. Betsey Siebert, whose maiden name was Grove. When a child but seven years old she was captured by Indians and scalped, but her life was spared and she lived with the Indians until she was thirteen, when

she was exchanged. In after years when she accompanied her husband to Butler County, she recognized several localities along Slippery Rock as places where she had been with the Indians. Benedict and Betsy Grossman were the parents of six children-Simon, Katy, Betsy, Jacob, Polly, and Benjamin-most of whom, if not all, were born in Adams County, Penna., though in later years they came to Butler County. Benedict is buried on the Abner McCallen farm, near Annandale, Butler County. He was one of the first settlers in Cherry Township.

Simon Grossman, eldest son of Benedict and grandfather of Nathaniel S. Grossman, left Adams County when about eighteen years of age and went to Huntington County, Penna., where he afterwards mar- ried Elizabeth Carothers. They resided in Huntington County until after the birth of their two eldest children, when they moved on west to Butler County, and soon set- tled on the farm where John W. Grossman now lives in Brady Township. To Simon and Elizabeth were born nine children, namely: Benjamin and Elizabeth (both born in Huntington County), Alexander, Hugh C., Simon, John, Mary, Robert, and James McKee Grossman.

John Grossman, son of Simon and father of Nathaniel S. Grossman, was born in what is now Brady Township in 1812, and his entire life was spent in Butler County, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He married Eliza Stevenson and took up his residence on the farm now owned by John W. Grossman. Later he removed to the farm now owned by Alfred Grossman in Brady Township. He and his wife were the parents of a large family, numbering ten children,-Benjamin C., Nathaniel S., John A., Jennie, Elizabeth, Robert Marion, Hugh Forrest, Margaret W., George G., and a daughter who died in infancy. Rob- ert Marion and George also died when quite young. Benjamin C. enlisted in the Union army at the time of the Civil War

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and served four years. After his return he went to Missouri, where he married Jane Blakeley. They had two children, John H. and Ida B., the latter of whom married Harry Hatzell. Benjamin became quite a prominent citizen in his new home. He was elected county judge, an office simi- lar to that of county commissioner in Pennsylvania. He was postmaster for sev- eral years and cashier in the Bosworth Bank for a number of years, but finally resigned this latter position on account of failing health. He died May 31, 1906.

John A. Grossman, son of John and Eliza Grossman, taught school for several years and was also engaged in mercantile business at Greece City, and later in Pros- pect in partnership with W. R. Riddle. He died at the home of his brother Na- thaniel, March 12, 1875.

Jennie Grossman married John John- ston and their children are Everett, Mina, who married Joseph Kissick, Forrest, Floyd, Earl, and Mossie, the last mentioned died in 1904.

Elizabeth Grossman, another sister of the subject of this sketch, married Oren Dodds. She died March 6, 1876.

Hugh Forrest went to Missouri and there married Lula Timbrook. After re- siding in that state for several years he went farther west to Oklahoma Territory (now state), where he is still living. He has one child, Jeanetta, who married Ayers K. Ross.

Margaret W. Grossman married Andrew Wahl of Evans City, and they have one child, Clyde M.

Nathaniel S. Grossman was twelve years old when his parents removed from Brady to Franklin Township, and there, after the usual attendance at school, he engaged in farming, dairying, and stock-raising until he was elected county commissioner. He was also one of the stockholders in the Prospect Creamery. He has long been re- garded as one of the leading agriculturists of this section. Since reaching manhood

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 85

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