Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 96

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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In 1842 Mr. Reiber was united in mar- riage with Mary Rigger, who was a daugh- ter of Jacob Rigger, of Summit Township. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: Martin G .; Caroline, wife of William F. Miller, of Butler; Henry, who is president of the Independent National Gas Company and resides at No. 465 N. Main Street; Wilhelmina, wife of Rev. Mr.

Meiser, of Detroit; Mary L .; Anna M .; Elizabeth; George L., who is treasurer of the Independent National Gas Company ; and Edward, who is secretary of that cor- poration; Ida F., and Agatha, deceased. Mrs. Reiber resides in a stately stone man- sion which undoubtedly is the finest pri- vate residence in Butler.

JOHN E. KOCHER, of Zelienople, the editor and proprietor of the Connoqueness- ing Valley News, published in that place, is a native of Butler County, having been born on a farm in Jackson Township, July 22, 1870. His parents were John Henry and Elizabeth (Shanor) Kocher, and he is a grandson of John Kocher, who was born in Germany, and who, coming to America prior to 1835, settled on a farm in Jackson Township, near the Lancaster Township and Beaver County lines. This property at this date still forms a part of the Kocher estate. John Kocher had the misfortune to lose his first wife, she dying on board ship, while on the passage to this country. He then married a widow, Mrs. Susannah Wild, whose husband had also died on shipboard while on the voyage to this country. Her name in maidenhood was Susannah Gausz. Of this marriage, John Henry, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the only issue.

John Henry Kocher was born on his parents' farm in Jackson Township, But- ler County, Penna., and there his entire life was spent, covering a period of sev- enty-two years, one month and nine days, and terminating on March 28, 1908. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lu- theran Church at Zelienople, serving the church for more than thirty years as a member of the vestry, and for a greater part of the time being presiding officer. He was first married to Elizabeth Shanor, a daughter of Daniel Shanor of Lancaster Township, and his wife Deborah, née Moyer, a daughter of Samuel Moyer of Lancaster Township. She died in 1872

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

and he married for his second wife Anna M. Ziegler, daughter of John Ziegler, later of Harmony. Of the first marriage there were six children, of whom five are now living. The offspring of the second mar- riage also numbered six children, there be- ing now four survivors. The record of the children of the family is in brief as fol- lows: Edward S. was formerly a teacher in Butler County, for several years serv- ing as principal of the Zelienople schools. He is now residing at Northeast, Penna. Ile married Miss Ellen Pickett, of North- east. Daniel S. is a resident of Joplin. Mo. He married Cora Cullifer of Galena, Kan. Amelia is the wife of Edwin Stout, of Wadsworth, Ohio. Eliza is the wife of George A. Luntz of Jackson Township. Jacob E., the direct subject of this sketch. Catherine is the wife of Panl Gerwig of Beaver County, Penna. Sophia married William T. Gerwig, and lives at South Bend, Washington. H. E. Kocher, who married Margaret Allen of Whitestown, this county, and Alfred N. Kocher are res- idents of Jackson Township, this county. ·Wilfred and Ida are deceased.

Daniel Shanor, the maternal grand- father of our subject, was a soldier of the War of 1812-1815, doing duty in the vicin- ity of the Great Lakes. Jacob Shanor, an uncle, became a citizen of Georgia previous to the Civil War and when that conflict broke out was pressed into service and was wounded. Abraham Moyer, in his time a popular auctioneer and at one time a crier in the county court, was a great- uncle.

John E. Kocher, the direct subject of this article, and the date of whose na- tivity has been already given, spent the first twenty-one years of his life on the Kocher homestead in Jackson Township, participating in the usual pleasures and occupations of country life. He began his education at the Old Furnace School in Beaver County. After mastering the somewhat limited curriculum which ob-

obtained in this primary institution of learning, he became a pupil, in 1892, in the Slippery Rock Normal School, from which he was graduated creditably in 1895, hav- ing in the meanwhile taught a term of school at Middle Lancaster, Butler County. After his graduation he turned his whole attention to educational pursuits, being elected principal of the Zelienople public schools, the duties of which office he as- sumed in September, 1895. In this occu- pation he continued for seven consecutive years, during which time he had the pleas- ure of seeing his sphere of labor increase from a four-room to a six-room school, and add an advanced course of high school work, in which he graduated four classes. During these years also he spent three summers at Grove City College and one summer at Sarversville, teaching the first term and organizing what is now "Cabot Institute," now located at Carbon Black.

In January, 1901, he was commissioned by the State Superintendent of Public In- struction as a member of the Commit- tee on Permanent Certificates in Butler County. On December 28, 1901, Mr. Kocher deserted the ranks of pedagogy for those of journalism, becoming the proprietor of the Connoquenessing Valley News, into which he has infused some of his own cheery and go-ahead spirit. The News is a welcome visitor in numerous homes throughout this section of the county, and takes rank among the newsy and up-to-date sheets of this region. It has already passed its thir- tieth anniversary and in Mr. Kocher's hands bids fair to see many more years of prosperity and influence.

Mr. Kocher was married, August 17, 1899, to Miss Laura M. Sloan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sloan, of New Brigh- ton, who previous to her marriage was a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Kocher are the parents of one son, Ralph Sloan Kocher, born September 14, 1904. They are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Kocher has been elected to the elder-

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ship. Politically he is a Democrat. He has served his home town as auditor and as borough treasurer, and has held a no- tary public commission since April, 1892.

JOHN WHITMIRE, residing on his birthplace farm, a finely cultivated estate of 100 acres, which is situated in Oakland Township, about one mile northwest of Boydstown, Butler County, Pennsylvania, belongs to one of the old and honorable families of this county. He was born March 10, 1835, and is a son of John and Catherine (Painter) Whitmire.

John Whitmire the elder, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was brought to Butler County by his father, Francis Whitmire, when very young. Set- tlement was made near the present home farm in Oakland Township, and in this sec- tion the elder John Whitmire passed his life. He married Catherine Painter and they had eight children, of whom the four older ones-Margaret, Francis, Peter and Jacob-are all deceased, the eldest being accidentally drowned. John Whitmire, bearing his father's name, is the eldest of the four survivors, namely: Elizabeth Catherine, who is the widow of Robert Morrow; Mary, who was the wife of Chris- topher Rider; and Susan, who is the wife of John Beatty. Christopher Rider died in May, 1894.

John Whitmire was reared a farmer and has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, with the exception of ten months, dur- ing which he was serving his country as a private soldier in Company B, Sixth Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery. He enlisted in the fall of 1864 and remained in the serv- ice until the close of the war. He returned to his home and resumed his peaceful avo- cation and continued an active farmer un- til his sons grew old enough to take the re- sponsibility. At different times he has made many substantial improvements on his place and in 1877 he built his large and comfortable frame residence.

On September 8, 1859, Mr, Whitmire married Jane Campbell, who died Novem- ber 23, 1903. She was a most estimable woman and her death was a grief to her family and a loss to the community. To this marriage were born ten children, the following of whom survive: Emma Zilla, who is the wife of Alonzo Campbell, of Prospect; John Elmer, who resides at Los Angeles, California; Charles Campbell, who lives at home; Harry Painter, who also lives at home; Everett Burton, mar- ried, who resides in the old home; Ada Pearl, who married William Timblin; and Frank. The three children deceased are Minnie Catherine, William Alva and an unnamed infant. Mr. Whitmire is a mem- ber of the English Lutheran Church.

THEODORE L. SCHENCK, one of the most extensive dealers in real estate in Butler, who is also concerned in general contracting, was born November 4, 1874, in Butler, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Leonard Schenck, a well-known business man, who was born also in Butler, in 1848.

Theodore L. Schenck completed his edu- cation in the Butler schools and then went to work in a local brickyard, where he re- mained for six months. From there he went into the employ of Klingler & Com- pany, as office boy, and remained with that house for a year and then worked in the mill for the same length of time with the firm of S. G. Purvis & Company. The youth went then to Pittsburg, but he found no better opening there than was afforded in his native city and after six months he came back and learned the carpenter's trade. As his work in this line increased from year to year and his experience grew, Mr. Schenck soon found himself doing more or less contracting and he finally gave a large part of his attention to general contracting. He has prospered also in dealing in real estate, purchasing lots, building on them and making improve- ments and then selling or renting. For

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

the past seven years he has been interested in these operations and can advanta- geously combine the two forms of business enterprise. At the present writing (1908) he owns ninety houses and lots in Butler and is also concerned in the oil business to some extent.

In 1904, Mr. Schenck was married to Miss C. Louise Stein, who is a daughter of John Stein, of Butler. He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of the Mac- cabees.

JOHN H. DOWER, of the firm of Dower and Russell, well known contractors and drillers of oil wells, is a representative citi- zen of Bruin, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is at the present time treasurer of the borough School Board. He was one of the most active in support of the proposi- tion to create the borough of Bruin, and has always taken a forward position in matters pertaining to the development of the community and its resources.

Mr. Dower was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1856, and is a son of John C. and Clara (Sigworth) Dower, his father a native of Germany, and his mother of Clarion County, Pennsylva- nia. John C. Dower, who now resides at Marionville, Pennsylvania, and is eighty years of age, was twelve years old when brought by his parents from Germany to the United States. He was reared to man- hood in Venango County, Pennsylvania, which was the field of his greatest busi- ness activity. He there farmed many years and also met with much success as an oil producer. His wife died in February, 1908, her death severing a union of devo- tion and companionship which had endured for more than half a century.

John H. Dower was reared on the farm in his native county until his eleventh year, when his parents moved to Pioneer, Ve- nango County. There he attended the pub- lic schools, and later was in attendance at

the State Normal School at Edinboro, and the Jamestown Business College at James- town, Pennsylvania. For more than thirty years he has been engaged as a contractor and driller of oil and gas wells, carrying on a flourishing business. He came to Mar- tinsburg, now Bruin, Pennsylvania, in 1884, and has resided here since. He has always been deeply interested in matters of public concern to the community, but especially so in educational affairs. He has been a director on the School Board ever since the incorporation of Bruin as a borough, and was secretary of that body for a time. He is now discharging the du- ties as treasurer of the board.

Mr. Dower was married to Miss Belle Sutton, who was born in what is now the borough of Bruin, and they are parents of three children, as follows-Fred S., Mary C., and Helen. He is a Republican in poli- tics, while in religious attachment he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge at Chicora, the Chapter at Butler, and. of the Commandery at Franklin, Pennsyl- vania.

THOMAS I. WHITMIRE, a prominent citizen of Oakland Township and one of the principal owners of the valuable farm of ninety acres, on which he resides, which is situated about one mile northwest of Boydstown, adjoining the Whitmire School, was born on this farm, August 27, 1861, and is a member of a substantial old But- ler County family. His parents were Will- iam and Mary M. (Andre) Whitmire.

William Whitmire, father of Thomas I., was born on the farm just mentioned, July 5, 1820, and was a son of Daniel Whitmire, who was the eldest of the three brothers, Daniel, Francis, and John Whitmire, who came together from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and settled in But- ler County. Francis Whitmire was the father of Daniel, Francis, and John. Will-

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iam Whitmire and wife both died on this farm, the former in 1889, and the latter in 1900. She was born and reared near West Sunbury, Butler County. Seven of their eight children survive, namely: Mrs. Liz- zie King, Samuel A., Thomas I., Mrs. Emma J. Wachof, Mrs. Anna Belle Boyd, Mrs. Dora E. Baker, and Mrs. Minnie L. Kelly.

Thomas I. Whitmire has always been that most independent of men, a farmer, from youth up, having devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He raises all the staple crops of this section and his mead- ows show herds of sleek cattle and his pastures are filled with the stock that finds ready sale in every market.

Mr. Whitmire married Annie E. Black, who is a daughter of John Black, of Oak- land Township, and they have four chil- dren, namely: Daniel Webster, Mary Cath- erine, Clara Lorinda, and Annie Laverne. Mr. Whitmire and family belong to the Lutheran Church. He is an active citizen, taking a deep interest in township affairs, and he has been frequently elected to of- fice. He has served acceptably as school director and as township auditor and at present is one of the board of three town- .

ship road commissioners.

HARRY LEE JOHNSON, superintend- ent of the Pittsburg Limestone Company, Limited, situated on the Buchanan farm in Mercer Township, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, is a man of recognized business ability and through his individual efforts worked his way from a lowly position to the important one he now occupies. He was born at Forestville, Butler County, March 8, 1878, and is a son of William P. and Catherine (Bell) Johnson, and a grand- son of William W. Johnson.

William W. Johnson, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where the family was one of the earliest pioneer ones, his mother being the first white female

child born in the county. When a young `man he sailed on Lake Erie for seven years, the lake being then under government con- trol. He then followed his trade as a shoe- maker a short time, after which he moved to Harrisville, Butler County. He oper- ated a pottery kiln at that point for some years, and then located at Forestville, where he died at the age of more than sixty years. Of the twelve children born to him and his wife, William P. and James twins, were sixth in order of birth.

William P. Johnson was born and reared at Harrisville, and at the age of twenty- five years moved to Forestville, where he still conducts a blacksmith shop. He was married to Catherine Bell, by whom he had eight children: Harry Lee, whose name heads this record; Cora Belle, de- ceased; Mary Etta; Lawrence B .; William L .; Carry Catherine; Cecilia; and Charles.

Harry L. Johnson attended the public schools at Forestville, and as soon as he was old enough began assisting his father in the shop, thoroughly mastering the blacksmith trade. At the age of eighteen years, he began working in the oil fields of Butler County, and later went to the oil fields of West Virginia, where he con- tinued for some ten years. He then began his connection with the Pittsburg Lime- stone Company, working at blacksmithing at the quarry in Mercer Township. He demonstrated his worth and in the short space of two years' time was advanced to the position of superintendent. The quar- ries, located on the Bessemer Railroad, give employment to about 150 men, and are located on about fifty acres of the Buchanan farm. This farm was originally settled by James Donahue, whose daugh- ter, Catherine, was married to William Bell, the maternal grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch. Mr. Bell came into possession of a part of the land, and later, in conjunction with Mr. Donahue, disposed of it to Alexander Buchanan, by whose heirs it is owned at the present time.

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November 2, 1898, Mr. Johnson was mar- ried at Butler, to Miss Elizabeth Shields, a daughter of Robert and Fannie (McEl- haney) Shields. Three children have been born to them, Muriel E., Amber, and Mary Elizabeth. They reside in the brick home at the quarry. He is the owner of good property at Forestville. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Harris- ville. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist.

HARVEY DOWNY THOMPSON, whose fine farm of 122 acres is situated in Center Township, is one of Butler County's leading citizens, one whose home has been within her borders for a half century. He was born in the town of Bentleyville, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1829, and is a son of William and Ann ( Wallace) Thompson.

William Thompson was a man possessed of qualities far beyond the ordinary. By trade he was a harness and saddle-maker and to this business he added a general store, which he conducted for many years. He was also in the transportation business and ran wagons with freight as far distant as Baltimore, Maryland, and on several occasions his son Harvey D. made the trip, transacted the business and safely returned. William Thompson also ac- quired two excellent farms. Late in life he removed to Greene County, and later to Noble County, Ohio, where he died. He was thrice married and was the father of twenty-four children.

Harvey D. Thompson grew to manhood mainly on his father's farm, and then learned the trade of coach-making, after which he located at Butler, where, in 1838, his two brothers, Wesley Thomas Fowler and Isaiah Wood Thompson, had started the first coach factory in the place. The three brothers conducted the factory until the Civil War broke out, when they closed their business and all three enlisted in the

Federal army. Harvey D. enlisted first in the Sixty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, but was later trans- ferred to the One Hundred and Fifth Regi- ment. After his return from military service, he located at Prospect and there engaged in the house painting business, which he continued until 1870, when he was elected, on, the Republican ticket, sheriff of Butler County. In this im- portant office Mr. Thompson served for three years, with the greatest efficiency. In the spring of 1873 he settled on his present farm in Center Township, which originally contained 280 acres, and here he has lived ever since, carrying on a gen- eral line of agriculture. Mr. Thompson has reached the age when ordinary men are disposed to think they have been in active life long enough, but with Mr. Thompson it is different and he still very capably manages his large farm and also finds time to serve in various offices of a public nature, when called upon, and also to be interested in his church and the quiet social life of the neighborhood.

Mr. Thompson was married (first) to Mary Forrester, and of their five children, two survive: Stella Florence, who is the wife of M. W. Albert; and Millie Ida, wife of Louis Craig, who is engaged in a hard- ware business at Butler. Mrs. Thompson died while Mr. Thompson was serving in the sheriff's office and he subsequently married Catherine M. Roth. Five children were born to them, namely : Lewis, Louisa, George, Annie Lydia and Marietta Ger- trude. Mr. Thompson's third marriage was to Mrs. Lydia Ann (Myers) Kneiss, who was the widow of George Kneiss, who was formerly county recorder, being in office at the same time as was Sheriff Thompson. To this marriage one daugh- ter was born, Catherine Loveletta.

Mr. Thompson is a member and liberal supporter of the First English Lutheran Church at Butler. Few men in this section are better known. For a long period he

HARVEY D. THOMPSON

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was a justice of the peace and has also served as school director and overseer of the poor.

EDWARD WINTER, of Zelienople, Butler County, Pennsylvania, was one of the originators and promoters of the Pitts- burg, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, which he now serves in the ca- pacity of cashier and paymaster. He is a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, having been born at Monaca, June 28, 1852, and is a son of Rev. E. F. and Jo- hanna (Schwarz) Winter.

Rev. E. F. Winter was for a period of fifty years a minister of the gospel and was a man of great prominence in this sec- tion of the country. He was the founder of what is known as Burry's Church, three miles west of Zelienople, which pulpit he filled for forty-four years, and also founder of St. Peter's German Evangelical Church in Zelienople. Under his pastorate these churches were of the most flourishing and had the largest enrollment of members of any in this part of the county. In addition to those named he also served a congrega- tion at Evans City and another at Middle Lancaster, making four charges at one time. He perhaps confirmed more commu- nicants and baptized more infants than any other minister ever located in this re- gion. He was representative of the high- est type of manhood, and was universally loved and esteemed by his fellowmen, re- , gardless of any differences in religious be- lief they might hold. Rev. Winter was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Prussia, in 1813, and came to this country at about the time he reached his majority, locating first in Pittsburg, where he expected to meet a friend from his native land. However he was doomed to disappointment as the friend had already departed, and he was left "a stranger in a strange land." He soon after drifted to what was then known as Water Cure, or Phillipsburg, now Mo-

naca, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he acquired a small farm of fifteen acres near where the station of the Pitts- burg & Lake Erie Railway is now located. This property he sold in 1859 and moved to Zelienople, where he purchased of Jo- seph Schwartz, the Herr farm, afterward known as the Winter farm. He resided on this place some twenty-five years, when his death occurred in 1884, at the age of seventy-one years. He converted it into a beautiful piece of property, setting out evergreens and shrubs under the direction of a landscape gardener whom he had en- gaged to come out from Pittsburg. This property continued in the family some eight years after the death of Rev. Winter, and is now owned and occupied by a Mr. Lockwood.

Rev. E. F. Winter was united in mar- riage with Miss Johanna Schwarz, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and accompanied her parents to America. Her father also was a minister, and upon com- ing to this country located in Ohio. Twelve children were the issue of this union, namely: Mary Ann, deceased wife of Henry Noss; Charles F., who is in busi- ness in Beaver Falls; Pauline, wife of I. N. Hunter of Eldora, Hardin County, Iowa; Ferdinand A., head of the firm of F. A. Winter & Son of Altoona, which con- ducts the largest music house between Philadelphia and Pittsburg; Bertha, wife of Austin Peasce of Pittsburg, the latter being representative of the Union Central Life Insurance Company at Pittsburg; Ernest, who died in infancy; Albert, a jeweler of Pittsburg; Edward, whose name heads this record; Dr. Frank E., a prac- ticing physician of Pittsburg, Pennsylva- nia; Nettie E .; Mollie E., wife of Prof. Richard Griffith, professor of music in the Belleview and other schools of Pittsburg; and one who died in infancy.

Edward Winter received educational training in the public schools of Zelienople

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and New Brighton, after which he went toumrest, being survived by her husband and Pittsburg, where for eight years he was Two children: Anna Jeannette, an attract- ive young lady of education and refine- ment; and Albert, who is identified with the Pittsburg, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway. Mr. Winter was again married in 1898, to Miss Matilda Buhl, a daughter of the late Henry Buhl, Sr., of Zelienople. Religiously, they are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. employed by the C. C. Miller Music Com- pany. He then returned to the home farm in order to care for his father during his declining years, and farmed the place for five years. In 1884 he went to Florida, where he established a reputation as an authority on the cultivation and growth of oranges. He met with severe losses in the freeze of 1895, and thereafter became gen- eral manager of the Florida interests of John B. Stetson of Philadelphia. He spent thirteen years in Florida and in addition GEORGE SCHENCK, general con- tractor at Butler, with business location at No. 413 West Jefferson Street, is a rep- resentative citizen. He was born at But- ler, in 1852, and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Oesterling) Schenck. Adam Schenck was born in Germany but was reared from the age of six years in Butler. He was a shoemaker and shoe merchant for many years in Butler County. to his own interests engaged as manager for others. He read a paper before the State Horticultural Society of Florida, which was considered of such merit and importance that the American Agricultur- ist (southern edition) devoted half a col- umn of its publication to the article. In the spring of 1897, Mr. Winter returned to Zelienople, where he has since resided, and for six years conducted what is now the Harmony Hardware Store. In March, 1905, he dropped all other interests in order to devote his attention to the success of the Pittsburg, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, then in contempla- tion, and of which he was one of the pro- moters. He became right-of-way man and traveled thousands of miles to secure a single right of way, working day and night, to find all the parties and secure the neces- sary rights of way. He met with unusual success and may well take pride in the operation of this road, which consists of about seventy-five miles of track and is one of the best equipped lines in opera- tion. He is at the present director, cashier and paymaster of the road and is stationed at the Harmony Junction office.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 96

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