Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 91

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 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Leslie R. Hazlett spent his early years on his father's farm and in attending the country schools. His literary education was subsequently continued at an academy at Connoquenessing, and still further ad- vanced by attendance at the State Normal School at Edinboro, where he was gradu- ated in 1890. For a while after his grad- uation he followed the occupation of teaching, successively in the Phillips School, in Penn Township, Butler County, the Parnassus School, Westmoreland County, of which he was principal, and in Allegheny County, where for two years he was principal of the Natrona Schools. He then entered upon the study of medicine in the old Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and after pursuing the usual course, was graduated from that venerable

seat of medical learning in 1896. He began practice at New Galilee, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1902. He then took special courses at the Polyclinic College, Philadelphia, after which he located for further practice in Butler, of which city he has since been a resident. He is identified with both the County and State medical associations, and also belongs to the American Medical Association. In his professional life he aims to keep abreast of the times, and has met with gratifying success, having built up a lucrative practice.

Dr. Hazlett is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He has fraternal affiliations with the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, and the Knights of Malta.

ERHART LANG, one of Winfield Township's highly respected citizens and owner of 153 acres of fine farming land, was born January 19, 1855, in Bavaria, Germany, and is a son of Lawrence and Anna (Reil) Lang. Mr. Lang's parents came to this country in 1882, locating in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where they both died. Theyhad eight children, six of whom came to this country, five being residents of Pennsylvania and one of Wis- consin. They are Erhart, Andrew, Kate, Henrietta, Elizabeth, Adam, Margaret, and Eva.

Erhart Lang was reared and educated in Germany and spent three years in the German army, serving as a private in the" artillery. After coming to this country he was joined in marriage with Frederica Roenigk, who is a daughter of Christian and Hannah (Frank) Roenigk, well known farmers of Butler County. There have been six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lang, as follows: Andrew, who married Kate Zier, is the father of two children, Minnie and Edward J .; Adam, married Mary Doer and has one child, Milton Ed- ward; Frederick C., a resident of Mar-

678

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

wood, married Laura Sassa and has two children, Fred and Charles; Albert, Louis, and Tillie are all living at home. Mr. Lang and family are active members of the Ger- man Lutheran Church. Mr. Lang has al- ways engaged in agricultural pursuits and purchased his present farm of 153 acres in 1885. He resides in a commodious two- story frame house.

CHARLES SIDNEY PASSAVANT, JR., who is vice president of the First Na- tional Bank at Zelienople, is a man of more than usual prominence in his native city and has always been identified, with the interests of this section. He was born February 21, 1871, at Zelienople, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Charles Sidney and Jane (Randolph) Pas- savant.

Mr. Passavant doubtless has many rea- sons for feeling attached to and being proud of the prospering little city of his birth and residence, and one of these may be that the place was named in honor of his grandmother. His ancestors were the founders of the town, his grandfather, Philip Louis Passavant, settling in Jack- son Township, on the present site of Zeli- enople, prior to 1807. He was of French extraction but was born at Frankfort-on- the-Main, Germany. In 1807 he founded a mercantile business which was continu- ously conducted for ninety-five years, by his immediate descendants. He continued its proprietor until 1840, then selling out to his son, Charles Sidney. Philip Louis Passavant married Miss Zelie Basse and through combining the musical name of Zelie with the German "nople," meaning town, the little settlement acquired its un- usual title. Philip Louis Passavant and wife spent the years of a long and happy companionship here and their remains rest in one of the quiet burial places of the town. The record of their children reads as follows: Charles Sidney ; Detmar, who died at Pittsburg and was interred at

Zelienople; William A., deceased, who was a Lutheran minister, and was buried at Zelienople; Emma, who married Rev. Sid- ney Jennings, died and is buried at Se- wickley, and Virginia, also buried at Zelienople.

Charles Sidney Passavant, Sr., was born at Zelienople, in 1817, and died in the same residence, in 1894. For a number of years he was associated with his brother Detmar, in a wholesale business at Pittsburg, from which he withdrew in 1840 and returned to Zelienople to take charge of the business from which his father was retiring, and he continued to conduct this store until his death, in 1894. His responsibilities were immediately assumed by his son, Charles Sidney, who, in turn, continued the operation of the same store until its destruction by fire, in 1902. The passing of this old landmark was very generally regretted for it had connected the begin- ning of the civilization of the place with the culture and business importance of the present. In all these years the Passavants had been leading factors in the town's de- velopment. The first Charles Sidney Pas- savant united himself by marriage with an- other of the old pioneer families of the place. His father-in-law, Edward Ran- dolph, served for many years as a justice of the peace and was a man of character and substance. To this marriage two chil- dren were born : Charles Sidney and Emma Virginia.

Charles Sidney Passavant entered his father's store as an assistant, after he had completed his school course. In the spring of 1902 the property was destroyed by fire, after which came his association with the First National Bank. This, however, is but one of many interests, an important one being his connection with the Zelieno- ple Light and Power Company. He is also an active citizen, has worked steadily for the best civic conditions and at present is effectively serving as president of the Borough Council, in his second term of of-

MR. AND MRS. ANDREW O. EBERHART AND FAMILY

681

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

fice. In his political views he is a Repub- lican.

In 1892 Mr. Passavant was married to Miss Lillian E. Tebay, who is a daughter of J. H. Tebay, and they have two sons, Charles Sidney and James Louis, aged thirteen and seven years, respectively. The elegant family residence was ereeted by Mr. Passavant in 1895. It is of brick con- struction and is modern in every particu- lar. Mr. and Mrs. Passavant are members of the English Lutheran Church. His fra- ternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masons, in the latter organization belonging to Har- mony Lodge, No. 429.

ANDREW O. EBERHART, oil pro- ducer and general farmer, residing on his valuable property containing 240 acres, almost all of which is under cultivation, was born in Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1851, and is a son of John and Catherine (Barn- hart) Eberhart.

John Eberhart was born July 16, 1827, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was a young man when he moved to Millers- town. He learned the carpenter's trade, but the main business of his life was farm- ing and stock-raising. He was the organ- izer of Thalia Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, in his section and served as its chaplain from its founding until his death, which occurred August 11, 1885. In poli- tics he was a Republican and he served in the offices of school director and super- visor. On April 29, 1849, he married a daughter of Rudolph Barnhart, and they had eight children, the three who grew to maturity being: Andrew O .; Lewis D., who resides at Big Bend, Virginia; and Jonathan, who died in August, 1907. The parents were members of the Reformed Church, the father being an elder. They were people of acknowledged piety and were sincerely esteemed. For many years

the father taught singing school and was chorister in the church.

The Eberhart family can be traced very far back, even to A. D. 850, but no com- plete record goes farther than 1266, when an Eberhart became bishop of Constance. Since then the family has been distributed through the centuries all over the German Empire and the United States, the gen- eral religious trend being to the Lutheran Church.

The great-great-grandfather was Paul Eberhart. His son, Christian Eberhart, was born March 9, 1772, in what is now Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and in 1773 was taken to Westmoreland County, where he was reared. He married Anna Marie Snyder, born in 1773 and died in 1849. When he married, Christian Eberhart moved to his farm which was situated seven miles from Greensburg and lived there until his death in 1839. He was a member and an official in the Lutheran- Church.

Joseph Eberhart, grandfather of An- drew O., was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1800. By trade he was a tailor. In 1854 he emi- grated to Kansas, where he engaged in farming and also preached in the Lutheran Church, labored as a Bible agent and held many churchly offices. He married Katie Kiester, who was born January 4, 1805, and died in Kansas, December 21, 1885.

Andrew O. Eberhart was reared in Fair- view Township and after he completed his school attendance, he worked at the car- penter's trade for several years and also engaged in farming. After his marriage he moved to Butler Township and settled on a farm adjoining his present one, buy- ing the latter and moving on it, in 1887. With the assistance of his sons he culti- vates almost the entire acreage. The sons make a specialty of fruits, potatoes and garden truck. The farm has three or- chards, producing many apples, while a

682

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

market is annually found for 125 bushels of strawberries. In 1873 Mr. Eberhart be- came first interested in the oil business, in Donegal and Fairview Townships, and has continued ever since and now is concerned in six producing wells.

March 11. 1873, Mr. Eberhart was mar- ried to Mary E. Barnhart, who is a daugh- ter of Philip Barnhart, of Fairview Town- ship. They have the following children : Tessie Terilla, an accomplished musician, who is the organist of St. John's Reformed Church; Jeremiah A., residing on the farm, on April 24, 1907, married Emily Miller; Henry Harrison married Mae Sharrår September 30, 1908, lives on the home farm; and Etta E. After locating on his present farm, Mr. Eberhart was elected a deacon in St. John's Church and later served as an elder for a number of years. With his sons he belongs to the East End Hose Company Drum Corps. As he taught music to bands for a long period, and during the Civil War played much martial music, he very ably fills the place of almost any musician in local musi- cal organizations. In politics, he is a Re- publican and has served as school director, constable, and for two and one-half terms as jury commissioner. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs, the Royal Arcanum of Butler, of which he was a charter member, and while he resided in Fairview Township was a member of the Grange. For twenty-five years Mr. Eber- hart was a director of St. Paul's Orphan Home. He assisted in getting the right of way for the Butler and New Castle electric line through this township, and a station has been established on his farm known as Eberhart Station.

CHARLES B. WULLER, a leading business citizen of East Butler, where he carries on a drug business, is a man of experience in this line, having been identi- fied with it ever since leaving school. He was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, August

13, 1868, and is a son of J. H. and Johanna ( Keifer) Wuller. The parents of Mr. Wuller were natives of Germany. They came to America and resided at Butler. where the father was a professor of music and also a dealer in real estate.

Charles B. Wuller attended the public schools of Butler until he went to work for his brother, J. L. Wuller, who was pro- prietor of what is now the Crystal Phar- macy, with whom he remained for four years, in the meanwhile qualifying as a druggist. He then entered into partner- ship with Dr. J. F. Moore, operating a drug store of the name of the Springdale drug store, in 1887, and later bought and conducted the business for himself. He then sold a half interest to C. J. Harvey, they later selling out to J. L. McKee. Later he conducted the store of his brother, D. H. Wuller, for two years, for the Wuller estate and then came to East Butler and started his present business in December, 1907. His building is a commodious one, two stories in height, with basement, the latter of which is utilized for a lunch room and barber shop. The location is on the corner of Broadway and Tenth Street. Mr. Wuller uses the corner for his drug store, the adjoining room for a grocery store and he rents the upper floor as a flat for living purposes.

Mr. Wuller married Mary C. Redd and they have one son, John H., who is a bright boy at school. Mr. and Mrs. Wuller are members of St. Paul's Catholic Church. He belongs to the fraternal order of Wood- men of the World and is a charter member of Keystone Camp, No. 8.

R. S. PENFIELD, A.M., county super- intendent of schools of Butler County, is a well-known educator who has been iden- tified with the school and literary inter- ests of Butler County for some twelve years. Professor Penfield was born June 10, 1868, in Crawford County, Pennsyl- vania.

683

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

After completing the common and high school course in his native place, Mr. Pen- field entered the Edinboro State Normal School, where he was graduated in 1889 and from there went to Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and later Grove City College and was graduated from the latter institution in 1899. He be- gan teaching when seventeen years old, and with the exception of the years during which he has been himself a student, he has continued in the educational field ever since. For five years he was superintend- ent of the schools of Linesville, for three years was principal of the Cochranton schools (both of Crawford County, Penn- eylvania), from 1897-8 he was instructor in Latin in the Edinboro State Normal School, for six years was principal of the Chicora High School and is serving in his second term as county superintendent for Butler County. As opportunity offered, he also spent about eighteen months study- ing law under the direction of Attorney Frank M. Ray, at Meadville. He is a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania State Educational Association; of the Round Table Associa- tion of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio; was one of the founders of the Inter- State Summer School of Methods, and for two years was identified with the Conne- aut Lake Summer School of Pedagogy. To all these organizations, Professor Penfield has contributed of his intellect, his knowl- edge, culture and experience and he has the pleasant consciousness that in all he has done he has encouraged higher stand- ards and wherever he has been has left warm personal friends behind.

In 1892 Professor Penfield was married to Miss Anna M. Brown, of Linesville, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: Williard E. and Gertrude M. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is very active. Since 1906 he has been president of the Butler County Sabbath School Association, and

while he resided at Chicora he served as one of the church stewards. His fraternal connection is with the Odd Fellows.

HUGH G. STEELE, a well-known citi- zen of Butler County and a member of the firm of Steele Brothers, prominent oil pro- ducers, with headquarters at Bruin, was born in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1868, and is a son of Samuel C. and Phœbe (Snow) Steele.

The parents of Mr. Steele were natives of Armstrong County and for many years were substantial farming people there. The father died in 1897 and his surviving children are as follows: Jemima, who is the wife of J. W. Miller, of New Castle; A. C., who resides in Parker Township; Sadie, who is the wife of D. P. Emery, of Butler; Nancy, who is the wife of R. W. Shakeley, of Fairview Township; Julia, who is the wife of E. J. Delaney, of Arm- strong County; Hugh G .; Edward J., who resides at Bruin; and Maud, who is the wife of L. W. Miller, of Kaylor, Armstrong County,

Hugh G. Steele grew up on his father's farm in Perry Township and continued in agricultural pursuits until he came to But- ler County, since which time he has been engaged in oil production. He has resided at Bruin since 1898 and is serving as pres- ident of the borough council, having been a member of this body for several consecu- tive years.

Mr. Steele married Miss Nettie Hillard, a daughter of the late John Hillard, for- merly a well-known resident of Karns City, Butler County. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are members of the Presbyterian Church at Bruin and his activity as a Sunday-school worker is shown in his consenting to serve as assistant superintendent and also as treasurer. In his attitude on public ques- tions, Mr. Steele is a strong prohibitionist and sees much to encourage the advocates

684

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

of temperance in the change that has re- is situated in Summit Township, was born cently come over the country concerning this great moral question.

ANDREW J. LANG, one of the most successful of the younger generation of farmers and business men of Winfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is the owner of a valuable farm of 100 acres about two miles east of Cabot on the Winfield, Furnace and Saxon Street Rail- way. He comes of a prominent old family of the county, and was born on the old homestead in Winfield Township, January 10, 1882. He is a son of Erhart and Fred- erica (Roenigk) Lang, and grandson of Lawrence and Anna (Reil) Lang.

Lawrence Lang and his wife, with six of their eight children, emigrated to Amer- ica and located in Butler County, Penn- sylvania, all of them being natives of Ger- many. Erhart Lang, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 19, 1856, and was for three years a soldier of the German Army. He now resides on a farm of 153 acres in Winfield Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, and fuller mention of him and his family may be found on another page of this work.

Andrew J. Lang was reared on the home. farm and received a good educational training in the public schools. He has al- ways engaged in farming, and his estate of 100 acres is one of the best improved in this vicinity; he erected a new two-story frame house and has a good, substantial barn and other necessary outbuildings. At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Lang was united in marriage with Miss Katie Zier, a daughter of George and Rachael Zier, of Butler County, and they have one daughter, Minnie, and one son, Edward J. Religiously, they are members of the Ger- man Lutheran Church.

ANDREW YOST, whose excellent farm of ninety-three acres on which he resides

on a second farm of thirty-three acres, which he also owns, in Summit Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1843. He is a son of Jacob and Annie Catherine (Knouse) Yost.

Jacob Yost was born in Germany and remained there until a young man, when he came to Butler County. He met Annie Catherine Knouse in Summit Township and they were married here. She was also a native of Germany and had been brought to Butler County in girlhood. Jacob Yost acquired a farm of sixty-five acres on which he started housekeeping with his bride. Later he divided his farm with his brother-in-law, Andrew Knouse, retaining thirty-three acres for himself. There Jacob Yost and wife reared their family and continued to live until death. Mrs. Yost died in 1866 and he survived her but two years. Their children were: Mary, who died aged nine years; Catherine, who is the widow of Mathias Keck, lives in But- ler; Jacob, who served in the Civil War, returned home in 1865 only to leave again and has never since been heard from; and Andrew.

Andrew Yost continued to live on the home farm and to entirely manage it as his father grew older, and also learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for fourteen years. During this time he built many houses and barns through Butler County. In 1877 he bought the old Mc- Curdy farm and moved on it in the same year and immediately began to improve the place. In 1881 he built his handsome and comfortable residence and has gradually done other improving and has now one of the very best farms in Summit Township. He cultivates the larger part of his land and finds the soil very productive.

Mr. Yost married Elizabeth Barbara Rettig, who is a daughter of Adam Rettig, and they have a family of seven children and a number of grandchildren: Edward Adam, the eldest son, residing at Butler,

JOHN C. KELLEY

687

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

married Emma Frederick, and they have three children-Irvin Andrew, Philbert Gottleib and Carl Adam. Annie, the eld- est daughter, married Charles Frederick and they have three children-Verna Bar- bara, Irene Edith and Earl Edward. Will- iam and Ida live at home, the former work- ing at the carpenter trade. Nora is the wife of Henry Grover Miller and they re- side at Herman. The youngest daughter and son, Gertrude and Albert, both reside at home. The family belong to the Lu- theran Church. Mr. Yost has always taken an interest in educational matters and he has served for six years as a school di- rector.

WILLIAM FOSTER, architect, with of- fices at No. 223 South Main Street, But- ler, has been a resident of this city for eighteen years and is thoroughly identi- fied with its interests. He was born in 1860, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated.

When it became necessary, after leav- ing school, to select the tools for a subse- quest business success, Mr. Foster did not at once turn his attention to the profession in which he at present is a recognized leader. He found the carpenter's trade one in which he could take an interest, and after completing his apprenticeship, he worked for two years prior to 1890, when he came first to Butler, in a mill in Frank- lin, Pennsylvania. After reaching this city he entered the planing mill of the S. G. Purvis Company, where he continued for eight and one-half years, after which he worked for four and one-half years in the Freeport planing mill at Freeport, Pennsylvania. Mr. Foster then returned to Butler and worked in a planing mill for three years, in the meanwhile devoting himself to the study of architecture. This natural taste he easily cultivated and the large amount of satisfactory work that he has done at Butler and throughout the county, gives testimony to both his indus-

try and ability. Among the principal buildings for which he has made the plans may be mentioned: the Schultz & Koch Building, the Ralston Block, the Clinton Hotel, the Keystone Hotel, the Atlas Hotel, the Reed Building, on the corner of New Castle Street and Fourth Avenue, St. Paul's Church, the Hall Building, six busi- ness blocks in Lyndora, the Slavonic Par- sonage, Dr. Britton's Block, the T. W. Phillips residence, and numerous others. In all these structures the taste and ap- propriateness of the designs have resulted in buildings which are ornaments to the city.

In 1880 Mr. Foster was married to Miss Mary McDonald, of Mercer County, and they have eight children, namely: Olive, who is the wife of C. W. Floyd, of Home- stead, Pennsylvania; O. W., residing at Butler; Mary A., who married M. F. In- graham, of Butler; John C., who is asso- ciated with his father; and Estella, Eliza- beth, Alvin and Margaret. Mr. Foster is a Republican in his political sentiments. In his fraternal relations he belongs to the Protected Home Circle and the Wood- men of the World.

JOHN C. KELLEY, one of Butler County's leading citizens, an oil operator,. farmer, stock buyer and formerly commis- sioner of the county, was born in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, February 13, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Eliza (McKee) Kelley.

Samuel Kelley, father of John C., was born in County Down, Ireland, December 25, 1800. When he was eighteen years old he started to America, which he reached after six months on the Atlantic Ocean, in a sailing vessel, and came to Mercer Town- ship, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he found a home with James George. He soon was given employment on the Erie Canal, then in course of construction, and he worked his way up, ceaselessly and faithfully, until he became a contractor

688

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

and served as such both on the Erie and Johnstown Canals. After the completion of these public works, Samuel Kelley re- tired to a large farm in Slippery Rock Township, in which he had invested his earnings, and lived there until 1865, when he sold it to advantage and bought 160 acres of land, in Butler Township, of which John C. Kelley's farm is a part. He carried on farming and stock-raising and throughout the greater part of his life held some local office. He was a strong Democrat and always interested in public matters, but the offices to which he was elected came to him entirely unsolicited. His death occurred on his farm on April 1, 1880. He was very charitable to the poor and his judgments during the time he served as a justice of the peace were tempered with mercy. He married a daughter of Richard McKee, of Muddy Creek Township in 1831, and eight of their children reached maturity, namely : David M., deceased; Catherine J., wife of F. M. Shira, of Parker Township; Eliza- beth J., deceased, married I. J. McCand- less; Samuel R., residing at New Castle; John C .; Agnes, deceased, married A. Perry Stewart; Margaret A., wife of Dr. K. M. Kreecorian, a physician residing in Farnam, Nebraska; and William C. While living in Slippery Rock Township, Sam- uel Kelley was a member of Harmony Church, at Harrisville, but in later years he was connected with Shiloh United Pres- byterian Church of Jefferson Township.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 91

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