Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 90

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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Charles Collins was a lifelong resident of Parker Township, where he died in 1872. He was a son of William Collins, who was a native of Ireland and one of the early set- tlers in this section. Charles Collins was, in his day, one of the township's solid, re- liable men. He was a Democrat in his po- litical views and on that ticket he was fre- quently elected to local offices, the duties of which he carefully performed. The chil- dren who survive him are: Julia, who is the wife of Jacob Faller, of Butler County ; and Isaiah, of Parker Township. Charles Collins and wife were members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Isaiah Collins has passed his life in the township in which he was born and he has given his attention almost exclusively to farming, successfully growing the grains which do best in this climate. He has a comfortable home and has many friends among those who have known him from boyhood.

Mr. Collins married Miss Louisa For- quer, who is a daughter of the late William Forquer, of Washington Township, Butler County. They have had seven children, the four survivors being: Annie, who is the wife of Joseph Slater, of Butler; Agnes, who resides in Parker Township; Cathe- rine; and Sophia, residing at home. Mr. Collins and family belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Collins takes an in- terest in all that concerns his community and section, gives support to religion and education and is numbered with the town- ship's useful citizens. For five years he served most acceptably as a justice of the peace.

CONRAD GUNDLACH, owner of a fine farm of eighty acres lying two miles east of Cabot on the Saxonburg road, is one of the leading farmers of Winfield Town-

JOSEPH COLESTOCK

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ship, Butler -County, Pennsylvania. He was born January 27, 1850, on the old home farm in Winfield Township, and is a son of John and Catherine (Biehling) Gundlach, also residents of this township, who were the parents of six children: Conrad, our subject; Maggie, Henry, Catherine, John, and T. Andrew. The paternal grandpa- rents of Mr. Gundlach were natives of Ger- many, where they spent their entire lives engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Conrad Gundlach was reared and re- ceived his schooling in his native township and has followed farming all of his life. He was married when thirty-two years of age to Elizabeth Wetzel, a daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Smith) Wetzell, who were prominent farmers of Winfield Township. Four sons and five daughters have blessed their union, namely : Pauline; Albert; Oscar, deceased; Anna; Alice; Esther; John; Ruth; and Raymond, de- ceased. Mr. Gundlach and family occupy a large modern two-story residence, one of the most attractive and up-to-date homes in this section of the country. The family are all active members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Gundlach is fraternally a member of the Grange.

ALEXANDER BREWSTER, who was a lifelong resident of Center Township, spent his sixty-eight years of useful living on the farm of 180 acres on which he was born, December 5, 1840. He died amid the familiar scenes of his lifetime, May 5, 1908. His parents were Joseph and Jane (Dunn) Brewster.

Joseph Brewster came to Butler County from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, at a very early day and settled in Center Township when all this section was wild, uncleared and almost uncivilized. He se- cured the large body of land which subse- quently was inherited by his children, and he was the pioneer in clearing it from its wild state and developing it into a rich, productive farm, through cultivation. He

was twice married and on this farm both he and his second wife died when full of years.

Alexander Brewster followed farming all his mature life. He was a man of quiet, home-loving tastes, practical in his ideas and firm in his opinions, and his advice was frequently sought not only on matters per- taining solely to agriculture, but also on those which make for the advancement and happiness of a community. Among his closest friends were those of recognized sterling character matching his own.

In early manhood Mr. Brewster married Delilah M. Albert, a daughter of Henry Albert. She was born and reared in Franklin Township, but her father's farm was only two miles distant from the Brew- ster farm. She died May 31, 1906. To this happy marriage were born ten children and nine of these still live: Wilson Curtis, the eldest, resides in Wyoming; Preston Albert; Alexander Mitchell, married and lives in Allegheny; Laura Adellah and Heber John live at home; Benjamin Ben- ton married and moved to a farm adjoin- ing the homestead; Minnie Jane married Vinton A. Cranmer; Maniford Emmett married and lives at Queen's Junction; Charles Oscar, the youngest, lives at home and works the farm. Edwin Lawrence, the eighth in order of birth, died February 14, 1900. The late Alexander Brewster was a consistent member of the Mt. Chestnut United Presbyterian Church. He was a man of upright character and honest in- tentions and to say of him that his word .was as good as his bond was telling the simple truth.

JOSEPH COLESTOCK, a highly re- spected citizen of Butler, who for twenty years has been prominently identified with the oil industry in Butler and Allegheny Counties, has resided in the city of But- ler for the last two decades. He was born in 1856 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, son of Joseph and Isabella (Speer) Cole- stock, the paternal branch of his family

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being one of the oldest in that section. The line of descent is as follows:

John Colestock, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Saxony, Germany, and emigrated to York County, Pennsylvania, in 1740. There he married Julia Foist, and they had three sons-Henry, John, and Jonas-also two daughters.

Jonas Colestock, son of John, and grandfather of Joseph of the present gen- eration, was born in York County, Penn- sylvania, in 1765, and was a captain in the militia for fourteen years. In 1787 he married Margaret Sese. His family con- sisted of nine children-Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, Charlotte, Nancy, Sidney, Su- san (wife of William McCormick, now re- siding in Uniontown in the eighty-sixth year of her age), and two sons, John and Joseph.

Jacob C. Seese, father of Mrs. Jonas Colestock, was a native of Lorraine Prov- ince, France (now a province of Ger- many). He was of noble birth and well educated, especially in the languages, but being of a military turn of mind became an officer in the French army. He came to America early in the eighteenth cen- tury and as a soldier in the Revolutionary War held a command under Gen. Sullivan in the latter's expedition to avenge the Wyoming massacre. About 1783 he set- tled in Westmoreland County, where he encountered many perils and hardships of Indian warfare. His wife was Mary Fou- ble of Bavaria, Germany, and she was the mother of four sons-Michael, Martin, Christopher, and Rudolph.

Joseph Colestock, son of Jonas and father of the present Joseph Colestock, was born in Connellsville, Fayette County, Penna., June 13, 1808. When old enough he learned the hatter's trade, which he followed for some years subsequently. Afterwards he clerked at Donegal for John Gay. He taught school at Uniontown for

a number of years; was a merchant in Springfield Township, and then, in 1867, came to Dunbar Township, where he en- gaged successfully in farming. In 1837 he was married to Isabella, daughter of William and Margaret Speer, of Union- town. They were the parents of eleven children, whose record in brief is as fol- lows: Margaret is the wife of James F. Imel, a lumber merchant of Crawford County. Lieut. John married Miss Jane King, served in the Eighty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers with honor, being pro- moted to first lieutenant for bravery. Minerva is the wife of Matthew Patterson of New Haven. Mary married Thomas Pyle of Pittsburg (first) and subsequently became the wife of William Gibbs of Mt. Pleasant. Louisa married David Faulk of Titusville, Penna. Joseph is the di- rect subject of this sketch. Samuel is now deceased, as also are William and Jonas. David H. resided on the old homestead in Dunbar Township, but later retired and removed to Swissvale, Penna. Anabel be- came the wife of French E. Laishley, also of Swissvale, Penna. Joseph Colestock, the father of the above-mentioned children, was a Republican in politics, but was not very actively concerned with political mat- ters. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and gave his entire time to the management of his farm while liv- ing.

Joseph Colestock remained with his father until he was about twenty years of age, and then entered the oil fields at Pe- trolia. From there he went to McKean County, drilling a number of wells, after which he engaged for some years in what is termed "wild-catting," coming to But- ler in 1888. From that time on he has been interested in oil production in the Butler fields and has drilled hundreds of wells. He is a member of the firm of John J. Sheridan & Company, of Mars, manufac- turers of all kinds of oil well supplies and

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owners of extensive oil properties in Alle- gheny County. Mr. Colestock is also in- terested in the Mars National Bank.

In 1888 Mr. Colestock was married to Miss Anna White, who is a daughter of the late Capt. Eli White, who served dur- ing the Civil War as a captain of cavalry in a Pennsylvania regiment, and died in 1868 from a wound received in action. Mr. and Mrs. Colestock have two sons, Joseph Hess and Samuel Leroy, the for- mer of whom is in the Butler County oil fields and the latter a student at Belle- fonte, Penna. Mr. Colestock and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Butler. He is a Knights Tem- plar Mason and both he and Mrs. Cole- stock belong to Eastern Star, Butler Chap- ter, No. 45, of which Mrs. Colestock is past worthy matron.

B. J. RADER, whose excellent farm of 108 acres is situated in Forward Township, is one of the enterprising citizens and rep- resentative agriculturists of this section. He was born on his present farm, December 23, 1870, and is a son of Oswald A. and Margaret (Flenner) Rader.

Oswald A. Rader was born in Germany and was a son of Casper Rader, who was a farmer in that country. When twenty- three years of age, Oswald A. Rader came to America and settled in Butler County, Pennsylvania, purchasing his first farm from a Mr. Burton, which he sold and then bought the present home farm from Will- iam Fitzsimmons. Mr. Rader was a quiet, industrious man and was one who was very highly respected. He spent a long and useful life and died in April, 1905, aged eighty-two years. In October, 1850, he was married to Margaret Flenner. She also was born in Germany and was quite young when her parents, John and Eve (Miller) Flenner, brought her to America. They settled on land in Butler County, not far from Zelienople. She was born September 11, 1831, and can tell many interesting

things concerning the early times in this section. She is a beloved member of the family of her son, B. J. Rader. Oswald A. Rader and wife had thirteen children, as follows: John, deceased; Henry; Adam; Catherine, wife of James Oesterling; Eliz- abeth; Peter; William; Fred; Anna, who married Levi Goehring; Benjamin J .; Ma- thilda, who married H. Trushel; Philip; and Ida, who is the wife of Charles Nicholas.

Benjamin J. Rader has spent his whole life on his present farm, which he pur- chased from his father. He raises the usual crops, corn, oats and hay, and enough cattle and stock for his own use, managing all his farming operations with excellent judgment.

On September 16, 1897, Mr. Rader was married to Miss Amelia Noss, who is a daughter of Fred and Caroline (Smith) Noss. They have three children: Lester, Ralph and Edwin. Mr. Rader and family belong to the Lutheran Church. In poli- tics, Mr. Rader is a Democrat. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in township affairs and is serving at present as a member of the School Board.

CAPT. SAMUEL WALKER. The name of Walker has been honorably identified with Butler County for many years and the late Capt. Samuel Walker was a worthy representative of this pioneer stock. He was born on the old Walker homestead in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1835. His parents were Nathaniel and Grizella (Crowe) Walker.

The paternal grandfather, Lewis Walker, was of New England birth and was brought to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, when very young. He was reared in that county but when he had reached his majority he started out for himself and subsequently acquired 800 acres of wild land that is now included in what is Cranberry Township, Butler County. There he lived for many

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years, becoming a man of affairs, and in old age passed away, at Butler, his death taking place in 1845. The family name of his wife was Parks but her first name has been lost. They became the parents of seven children.

Nathaniel Walker, the fifth son of Lewis Walker and the father of Capt. Samuel Walker, was born on the homestead which his father had secured, and he remained there, probably engaged in agricultural pursuits until the year following his father's death, when he moved to Mercer County. In 1847, however, he returned to Butler and during the remainder of his active life was successfully engaged in the manufacture of bricks. He was a man of sterling virtues and even balance of judg- ment and hence was frequently called upon by his fellow citizens to fill posts of trust and responsibility. For many years he adjusted local difficulties as a justice of the peace and in 1862, in a time of great financial depression, he was elected treas- urer of Butler County and wisely and efficiently performed the onerous duties pertaining to the office. Samuel was his eldest son and was born to his first mar- riage, with Grizella, a daughter of John and Jane (Pollock) Crowe. A second son, John, was also born to this union. The second marriage of Nathaniel Walker was to Sarah M. Slater and they had four chil- dren: Leonidas, Caroline, Clarence and Leverett H. Mr. Walker was one of the early Abolitionists and on many occasions he gave assistance to escaping slaves. He later was thoroughly identified with the Republican party. In every relation of life he lived up to his convictions and in him the Presbyterian Church found a con- sistent and worthy adherent.

Samuel Walker grew to his twelfth year among the peaceful surroundings of his father's farm and through his educational period there was nothing to suggest the military ambition that dominated so large a part of his subsequent life. He had com-

pleted a course in Witherspoon Institute before he enlisted, in answer to President Lincoln's first call for troops at the out- break of the Civil War. Mr. Walker en- listed in April, 1861, in Company H, Thir- teenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until his honorable discharge August 6, 1862. On August 22, 1862, he reënlisted, entering Company F, One Hundred Fifty-fifth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until March 12, 1864, be- coming then a member of the Reserve Corps. He continued in the service until August 27, 1868. He had the honor and distinction of being one of the last twelve soldiers (this number including Gen. O. O. Howard), discharged from the volunteer service. He had participated in many of the most important engagements of the war, notably Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and it was on the last mentioned field on May 3, 1863, that Captain Walker was so seriously wounded that he lost his right leg. On February 20, 1864, he had been commissioned second lieutenant in the Reserve Corps; on March 13, 1865, was commissioned captain; and on September 16, 1868, he was commis- sioned second lieutenant in the United States army. He received his final dis- charge on December 31, 1870, having given nine years to the service of his country. During the last three years he had been connected with the Freedmen's Bureau as agent, under General Howard and had been stationed at Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville.

After the close of his military life, Cap- tain Walker returned to Butler and entered the business field. Until 1873 he was teller of the First National Bank of Butler and was subsequently connected with other organizations. In 1890 he was elected tax collector of Butler borough and continued to serve in that capacity until his death. He had a wide acquaintance and many warm personal friends who ad-

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mired him for the courage displayed in military life and esteemed him for the qualities which belonged to him by nature.

Captain Walker married Caroline Zim- merman, who was a daughter of John Michael Zimmerman, a leading citizen of Butler County. They had two children, Samuel and Catherine. The former is a well known attorney at Butler and for- merly served as district attorney. Captain Walker was a zealous Republican. He was identified with the Union Veteran League and with several beneficiary organizations.

JAMES M. BARTLEY, residing on his excellent farm of fifty-three acres, situated in Parker Township, is one of the repre- sentative men of this section and belongs to an old Pennsylvania family, of Irish extraction. He was born June 1, 1855, in Summit Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of George W. and Eliza J. (McLaughlin) Bartley.

George W. Bartley, who died in 1900, was born in Penn Township, Butler County, and was a son of Robert Bartley, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to America when seventeen years of age. Robert Bartley settled in Penn Township, Butler County, in 1811 and from there en- listed for service in the War of 1812. In this same war, one of James M. Bartley's great-grandfathers, Abraham Brinker, was a captain of a company. Prior to that he had kept a tavern at Butler, selling it in 1809, and subsequently, after his return from the war, built what is known as Brinker's Mills, in Summit Township, four miles east of Butler. He left many de- scendants, numbers living in this section.

George W. Bartley was a man of con- siderable prominence in his day. In his younger years he was a school teacher and later served in a number of local offices. He identified himself with the Republican party and at one time was its candidate for county registrar and recorder. He married Eliza J. Mclaughlin, a daughter

of James McLaughlin, who, at one time, was the publisher of the Butler Herald and who went to California in 1850, and died while on the Pacific coast. The sur- viving children of the first marriage of George W. Bartley were: James M .; John Isaiah, residing in Mckean County ; Robert, living at Butler; Francis, in Alle- gheny County; and Oliver A., who lives in the city of New York. The long and useful life of George W. Bartley encom- passed eighty years and in his death, But- ler County lost a man of sterling character.

James M. Bartley was reared on his father's farm where he was trained to be a practical agriculturist and he obtained his education in the schools of Summit Township. His life has been mainly de- voted to farming but during five winters he engaged in lumbering in Southwestern Michigan. In the spring of 1887, he set- tled on his present farm in Parker Town- ship and has proven himself a useful and reliable citizen, taking an interest in all that promotes the welfare of this section. On May 7, 1877, he was married to Miss Martha De Vinney, a daughter of the late William De Vinney, a substantial resident of Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County. Mrs. Bartley died January 10, 1905. She was a most estimable lady, be- loved by all who knew her and was a con- sistent member of the United Presbyterian Church at Fairview, of which Mr. Bartley is also a member. In his political affilia- tion, Mr. Bartley is a Republican.

PETER HERBERT KENNEDY, owner of a fine farm of seventy acres located one and a half miles east of Cabot on the Bear Creek road, is one of the representative farmers and highly respected citizens of Winfield Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, He was born on the old home- stead in Butler County, March 18, 1878, a son of Peter and Rachel (Cooper) Ken- nedy. He is a grandson of James and Margaret Kennedy, who came to this coun-

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try from Ireland and established the old home place in Butler County. There were fifteen children born to the parents of our subject, namely: William, Ellen, Mame, James, Joe, Thomas (deceased), Susan, Florence, Carrie, John (deceased), Adelia, Peter the subject of this sketch, Clifford, Harry, and Edwin.

Peter H. Kennedy was reared and re- ceived his educational training in Winfield Township and has always followed farm- ing in a general way.

In 1903 when twenty-five years of age he was united in marriage with Maud Moore, a daughter of Clarence and Kate (Albany) Moore, prominent farmers of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Three chil- dren have been born to our subject and his estimable wife-Marjorie, Dorothy, and Olive.

The religious connection of the family is with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cabot of which both Mr. and Mrs. Ken- nedy are active members. Fraternally the former is a member of the Winfield Grange No. 1105, the I. O. O. F. No. 496.and the Shenango Valley Lodge No. 387, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Kennedy is now serving as supervisor of Winfield Township.

JOHN A. GILLILAND, justice of the peace, in Summit Township, resides on his fine farm of 125 acres, which is favorably located about three-fourths of a mile northeast of East Butler, on the line ad- joining Oakland Township. Mr. Gilliland was born on his present farm, November 7, 1860, and is a son of Robert and Rebecca (Armstrong) Gilliland.

John Gilliland, the grandfather of John A., was born in Ireland and came to Amer- ica in the spring of 1818 and in 1820 he bought the present farm in Summit Township. In the ensuing fall he married and all of his children, with one exception, were born on this farm. He was a weaver by trade and engaged in this business for three years in Center Township, during

which period his son James was born, and then returned to Summit Township, and spent the remainder of his life on his old farm.

Robert Gilliland, father of John A., was born on the same farm and here spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died April 25, 1894. He married Rebecca Armstrong, who was born near Perrys- ville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Her father was Andrew Armstrong. Her mother died when she was a child and she came to Butler County, where she was a member of the family of her uncle, a farmer in Jefferson Township, until she reached maturity and then joined her father and step-mother at Allegheny City, where she remained until her marriage with Robert Gilliland. The four daughters and one son born to this union all were born in Summit Township, on the present farm. Mr. Gilliland was the second in the family, his sisters being: Mary E., Mar- garet Ellen, Isabella and Rachel Jane, all of whom have elected to remain unmar- ried. The mother survived the father for a number of years, her death taking place on September 28, 1903.

John A. Gilliland attended the country schools during boyhood, and being the only son, has had the management of the farm ever since he was old enough to assume the responsibility. He carries on general farming and has one oil well on his place. The frame residence was built by the grandfather and at the time it was erected was considered a marvel of architecture, being the first frame house put up in all this section. The father of Mr. Gilliland erected the other buildings. Mr. Gilliland is serving in his ninth consecutive year as a justice of the peace, and few citizens are better known or more highly regarded. He is a member of the United Presbyte- rian Church at Butler.

LESLIE R. HAZLETT, physician and surgeon, is engaged in the general practice

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of his profession at Butler, but makes a specialty of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He was born in Butler Town- ship, Butler County, Penna., September 1, 1868, being a son of Thomas J. and Mar- garet E. (Ramsey) Hazlett, who is now a citizen of Butler, retired from active labor. Thomas J. Hazlett was born in Allegheny County, Penna., in 1836, and came to But- ler County at the age of sixteen years. For many years he was engaged in farm- ing in this county. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1862 in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, with which regi- ment he served until the close of the war, participating in all the battles of his regi- ment. October 5, 1865, he married Mar- garet Eliza, daughter of William Ramsey, of Butler Township, Butler County. Five children-three boys and two girls-were born to this union, namely: Mary Belle, Leslie Ramsey, Sarah Ella, Howard Clin- ton and William Lynn, all of whom are living except the youngest, William Lynn, who died January 24, 1902, while attend- ing the Baltimore Dental College at Balti- more, Maryland, a short time before his graduation.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 90

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