Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 97

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. Winter was first married to Miss Annie M. Bacon, who was a lady of accom- plishment and educational attainments, and was a daughter of Prof. H. H. Bacon, deceased, of Georgia. After six years of married life she was called to her final

George Schenck was four years old when his parents moved into the country and he gained his education in the country schools. When eighteen years old he came to But- ler and entered the shops of H. Bauer & Company, where he served an apprentice- ship of three years to the carpenter's trade. He then worked as a journeyman for one year, after which he began con- tracting and continues in the same line of business. For some years his brother, Peter Schenck, was associated with him. To name all of the buildings which Mr. Schenck has erected would include the larger part of the finest structures of the city, but the following may be mentioned : The A. Troutman Building, the Bickel Building, the Diamond Block, the Second Presbyterian Church, the Kirkpatrick Building, C. Koch & Sons' Building, the City Hospital, the Armory Building, the Waldron Block, the Richard Hughes Block, the wholesale grocery of Leedom & Wor- rall, the Court House, the new Hotel Mon- roe, and numerous other buildings at

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Butler and many at other points, includ- ing the Carnegie Library at Grove City. He has other interests in addition to his contracting.

In 1876 Mr. Schenck was married to Miss Louise M. Forcht, who died in 1905, leaving five children: Alfred A., who is connected with T. W. Phillips, of Butler; George O., who assists his father; Mar- garet L .; Etta E .; and Walter Living- stone, who is in the office of T. W. Phillips. Mr. Schenck was married (sec- ond), in 1908, to Mrs. C. Dunmyre. He is a member and liberal supporter of St. Mark's German Evangelical Lutheran Church and is secretary of the church council.

CHARLES M. MYERS, vice-president of the First National Bank of Bruin, Penn- sylvania, is also proprietor of a meat market in that borough where he has been located since 1903. He is a man of fine business qualifications and a progressive citizen, who enjoys the confidence of the entire community.

Mr. Myers was born in Wayne Town- ship, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1872, and is a son of Jacob R. and Martha (Blake) Myers, both of whom spent most of their lives in Armstrong County. Charles M. Myers was reared and educated in his native township, and at the early age of sixteen years began shifting for himself. He has always been on his own resources, and the success he has achieved in the business world is at- tributable solely to his own energy, indus- try and good management. For some years he followed farming, and in 1900 embarked in the butcher business at Slate- lick, in Armstrong County. His success was such that he sought a larger field of operation, and in 1903 moved to the bor- ough of Bruin, in Butler County, where he has since continued. He became one of the promoters and organizers of the First National Bank of Bruin, of which he has

been a director and vice-president since its inception.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Ida M. Gibson, of Slatelick, Armstrong County, and they have two children, Beulah and Ralph L. Religiously, he is a member of the Presby- terian church at Bruin. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and is deeply interested in matters of public importance.

JOHN C. CYPHER, a well known citi- zen of Winfield Township, who resides on his excellent farm of forty acres, which is situated on the Winfield road, about one . mile east of Cabot, was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1852, and is a son of John and Mary (Hazlett) Cypher. The father of Mr. Cypher was engaged in farming and working at the carpenter's trade through his active years. His father was one of the early settlers of the county, coming from West Virginia.

John C. Cypher obtained his education in the country schools and later learned the oil business. He married Margaret McGee, who is a daughter of John and Ellen (Seymour) McGee. Her father was a well known man in this section of Butler County. He was born in the city of Pitts- burg, May 15, 1819, and was a son of Patrick and Lettia (Haggerty) McGee, who had come to Western Pennsylvania from County Donegal, Ireland. John Mc- Gee cleared up a farm and cultivated it while carrying on his work as a black- smith. The McGees were early and prom- inent people in Butler County. Mr. and Mrs. Cypher have had seven children, namely : John A., who is a railroad man on the Pennsylvania system, married Ade- laide Nieson and they have one son, Clark; Clarence, who, with his brother Hugh, is in the oil business, being one of the young- est and most successful drillers in this section, married Catherine McAnalan; Hugh F., who is in the oil business as above stated; Beryl, who carries on a

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dressmaking business at home; Fredia G., Margaret E. and Willis A., who are all students. Mr. Cypher and family belong to the Catholic Church at Cabot. Polit- ically he is a Democrat.

JOHN EWING MACTAGGART, who comes of an old and well known family of Mercer Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, has a valuable farm of seventy-five acres located about two miles southwest of Harrisville. He was born in the old log house which stood just below his present dwelling, on August 11, 1873, and is a son of William and Nancy (Barnes) MacTag- gart. His grandfather, William MacTag- gart, Sr., was a civil engineer by profession and resided in Scotland.

William MacTaggart, Jr., was born in Scotland and was a young man when in 1868 he accompanied his brother, John, and his sister, Gene, who was the wife of James Sterling, to the United States. They first located at Sharon, Pennsylvania, but shortly afterward William moved to For- estville, in Mercer Township, Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where he was boss driver in the coal mine for eight years. He pur- chased the farm on which his sons now live from Thomas McCune and there spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1893, at the age of fifty-one years, and his wife died in 1906, at the age of seventy- one years. She was in maiden life Nancy Barnes and was a daughter of James Barnes, an early settler of Butler county. Their marriage resulted in the birth of two sons: John Ewing; and William James, who is unmarried and assists the subject of this record in farming.

John E. MacTaggart received a com- mon school education, and when quite young began assisting in the work about the farm. He has always followed farm- ing and has been very successful. He was married, January 14, 1897, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Rowse, a daughter of Thomas

and Charlotte (Martin) Rowse. Her mother died in 1891 at the age of fifty-five years, and her father in February, 1906, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Mac- Taggart was one of seven children born to her parents, namely : Charles, de- ceased; Thomas; Frederick; Lewis, de- ceased; George, deceased; Mary Elizabeth; and John, deceased. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. MacTaggart-Syl- vanus E., William Claire and Mildred Hazel. Religiously, they are members of the United Presbyterian church. He is an ardent Republican in politics.

STEPHEN CUMMINGS, a leading member of the Butler bar, practicing in the local courts and also the superior and supreme courts, was born at Butler, Penn- sylvania, in 1860, and is a son of Isaac J. Cummings.

Isaac J. Cummings was born in Mary- land and came to Butler County in early manhood. In 1867 he removed with his family to Minnesota, engaged in banking for a number of years, and died at Butler, in 1872.

Stephen Cummings accompanied his pa- rents to Minnesota and lived in that State for the next ten years, attending school during that time, but returned to Butler when seventeen years of age. For about nine months he worked as a pumper in the oil fields, after which he turned his attention to the study of law. His read- ing was done with Attorney L. Z. Mitchell and in 1881 he was admitted to the bar. He immediately opened an office at Butler and has continued in active practice ever since. He takes an alert citizen's interest in public matters and on many occasions has proven his value to his community, aside from his professional work. He is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. He maintains fraternal relations with the Woodmen of the World.

.. ..........

GEORGE WALTER

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CHARLES EDWARD WALTER, of the firm of George Walter & Sons, pro- prietors of the Butler Rolling Mills and dealers in hay, grain, seeds, etc., is one of the representative business men of Butler. He is a native of this city, born in 1870, and is a son of George and Elizabeth Walter.

George Walter, the father, was born in Butler, Penna., September 11, 1843, and was a son of Jacob and Mary Walter. He was educated in the Butler schools and learned the millers' trade with his father, with whom he was afterwards associated, at the latter's death succeeding to the busi- ness. In 1876 he was elected sheriff of Butler County, on the Democratic ticket, but was deprived of his office after a bitter legal fight. He filled the office of council- man for seven terms and was school direc- tor for three terms. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order and of the A. O. U. W. In 1866 he was married to Elizabeth Troutman, a daughter of Adam Troutman, of Penn Township. She died in 1874 leaving four children: Jacob A., a member of the firm of George Walter & Sons; Mary A., wife of E. O. Chambers; Charles Edward, subject of the sketch; and G. Wilson, who is now deceased. In 1876 George Walter married Mary Trout- man, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had one daughter-Kitty. Mr. Walter was a member of the Christian church, and was one of the well known and respected citi- zens of Butler, where he spent his entire business life, engaged in milling. His death took place in 1903.

Charles Edward Walter was reared in his native city and attended her best schools. From early youth he has been interested in the milling business and for some ten years has been a member of the firm of George Walter & Sons. The busi- ness conducted by this firm is of large im- portance, their dealings covering a wide territory. In 1906 Mr. Walter was mar- ried to Miss Effie Richards of Toledo,

Ohio, and they have two children, Nellie Margaret and George Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Walter are members of the Lutheran Church of Butler. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Elks, the Eagles and the Woodmen.

JOSEPH H. ORR is a prominent con- tractor and builder and dealer in lumber and building materials at Bruin, Pennsyl- vania, where he has been engaged in busi- ness many years and is widely known. He was born in Armstrong County, Pennsyl- vania, July 9, 1850, and is a son of John G. and Susanna Orr, both natives of that county. The Orr family is an old estab- lished one in Armstrong County, and is of English extraction.

Joseph H. Orr was reared to manhood in his native county, and from his youth- ful days has engaged in mechanical pur- suits. He learned the trade of a carpenter with his father, who was successfully en- gaged in contracting for many years. He is a man of good education, receiving ex- cellent training in the public schools and in contact with the business world. In 1872 Mr. Orr left Armstrong County, and for two years resided at East Brady, after which, in 1874, he took up his residence in Martinsburg, now known as Bruin. He established a business of his own here many years ago, and from a small begin- ning has developed it to large proportions. In addition to contracting and building, he deals in rough and finished lumber, sash, doors, sewer and building tile, brick, slate and paints. He is a progressive man and has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of the borough. He has served as a director of the schools of Bruin and has been treasurer of the borough. He is a Democrat in politics.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Martha Cox of Arm- strong County, and they became parents of nine children, seven of whom are liv- ing, namely: Emma R., wife of F. W.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Heckman, of Marietta, Ohio, and mother of two children-Floyd, who is fifteen years old, and Meda, ten years old; Myrtle G., wife of James II. Ramsey of Bruin, who has one son, Joseph O., now twelve years old; Carrie B., wife of John W. Guthrie of Lawrenceville, Illinois, who has a daughter, Isabella, two years old; Bur- ton M. of Bruin, Pennsylvania, who has two children-Gertrude, five years old, and Richard Arden, eight months old; Alvin R., has one girl, Amelia, who is nine months old; Harry L .; and Hazel. Re- ligiously, Mr. Orr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he formerly was a steward. In addition to his other business, he has oil interests in the vicinity of Marietta, Ohio.

PHILIP CYPHER, who is a well known and experienced contractor in oil and gas, confining himself entirely to this work, is a resident of the pleasant village of Mar- wood, his comfortable home being located west of the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, the residence standing in the midst of a carefully laid-out lawn, which contains fully an acre of ground. Mr. Cypher was born August 7, 1877, on the Cypher home- stead, which is situated two miles north- east of Marwood, and is a son of Martin and Eva (Bleighner) Cypher.

Martin Cypher was also born on the Cypher homestead in Winfield Township, Butler County, and was a son of Philip and Nancy (Denny) Cypher, very early settlers, the former of whom cleared two adjoining farms. Martin Cypher taught school in Butler County for many years. He married Eva Bleighner and they had nine children born to them.

Philip Cypher bears his grandfather's name. He obtained his education in the schools located near his home and as soon as old enough, he went into the oil fields and has worked there winter and summer ever since, advancing in the business grad- ually as he gained experience and also ac-

quiring property. He owns two gas wells and sells their product to different com- panies having interests in this locality. He has been a successful contractor for the past thirteen years and is one of the youngest in the business in this section.

Mr. Cypher was married October 29, 1901, to Lida Jack, who is a daughter of Williamson J. and Mary Ann (King) Jack. W. J. Jack was formerly a very prominent farmer and merchant at North Buffalo, Armstrong County. Mrs. Cypher has had one brother and one sister-Orlo A. and Effie B., the former of whom died September 18, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Cypher have two children: Winifred Marie, born August 13, 1902; and McCurdy Martin, born October 15, 1905. Mr. Cypher takes a great interest in his family, his beautiful home and his community. He is too busy to dip deeply into politics, but his citizen- ship is of the kind that obeys the laws and lends influence to everything that prom- ises substantial benefits to the State in which he has spent his entire life.

JOHN ORR is engaged in general farming and has a fine estate of eighty-five acres, located in Mercer Township, Butler County, Penna. He was born on the farm now owned by his brother, William Orr, in Mercer Township, January 19, 1848, and is a son of John and Ellen Margaret (Watt) Orr.

John Orr, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Down, Ire- land, and was a mere lad when his father died. His mother was subsequently re- married and moved to America, finally locating at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where she passed away. John Orr followed his mother to the United States when he was about twenty-one years of age, and he too took up his residence in Pittsburg. He worked in the stone quarry there for about fourteen years, making fuses. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Butler County, in 1840, and purchased a farm in

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Mercer Township. There he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, he dying in January, 1884, at the age of eighty-nine years, and she in 1899, at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Orr also was a native of Ireland. They became pa- rents of the following children: James W., deceased; Nancy, wife of George Hicks; John; Charles; Perry ; and William.

John Orr was reared on the home farm, which he aided in clearing, and lived with his parents until he reached his majority. He then spent many years in the oil coun- try, and in 1874 purchased his present farm of the James G. Harrigan estate. He follows general farming, and in addition is agent for the Worth Mutual Fire In- surance Company. He has served in that capacity since 1893, and is also one of the directors of the company, in which he is financially interested.

Mr. Orr was married May 17, 1871, to Miss Deborah Jane Braham, a daughter of W. P. Braham, and the following are the issue of their union : Clarence, who married Edith Hamilton, by whom he had the fol- lowing children-Ila May, Anna Hamilton and Ethel; William B., who married Grace B. Lamb and is the father of the following -Glen F., Garth, John P. (deceased), Charles R. and Virgil K .; Perry, who mar- ried Alice Moon and has two children Raymond S. and John Stewart; and Nettie May, at home. Mr. Orr is a Republican in politics, and served as constable nine years, as overseer of the poor, assessor, super- visor and in other township offices. Re- ligiously, he and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

F. W. LEIDECKER, a representative citizen, largely identified with the business interests of Butler, an experienced manu- facturer and oil producer, was born in 1849, in the city of New York. When aged four years, Mr. Leidecker was taken by

his parents to Ulster County, New York, where he was educated in the public schools and remained until May 10, 1865, when he came to investigate into industrial condi- tions in the oil fields. He had but little capital at that time, and after locating in Titusville, he went to work in the adjacent oil district, moving later to Pleasantville, and for several years was employed as a driller and tool dresser. He also handled junk and second-hand tools, for a time, near Oil City, gradually investing in the oil country and for a number of years has been an oil producer both in the Pennsyl- vania and Virginia oil fields. At the pres- ent date of writing (1908), he is operating in the Brush Creek fields, near Duff City, pumping eight wells and having thirty in operation at different points. He is finan- cially interested in several prospering oil companies and aside from this commodity, he has other business connections.

In 1873 Mr. Leidecker was married to Miss Margaret H. Wilson, who is a native of England, and they have six surviving children, namely: Frederica W., who is the wife of A. C. Richards, of Butler; Robert W., who is an oil operator in the Brush Creek fields; and Josephine May, Grace Maud, Iona M., and Nevin C., all residing at home. Mr. Leidecker was reared a Lutheran but his family belong to the Episcopal Church. He is a mem- ber of the fraternal order of the Royal Arcanum.

GEORGE BALDIN is proprietor of a blacksmith and general repair shop at Bruin, Pennsylvania, where he has suc- cessfully engaged in business since the spring of 1897. He is widely known and commands the patronage of many of the leading citizens throughout this section of the county, with whom he is very popular. He was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1874, and is a son of Herman and Amelia (Wine-

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hart) Baldin. His parents were both born in Germany and now reside at Boyer's Post Office, in Butler County.

George Baldin was five years of age when his parents moved from Brady's Bend to Murrinsville, Butler County, and was but little older when they moved to Annandale, Butler County. There he grew to manhood and attended the public schools; he later attended West Sunbury Academy for a time, and also the Pennsyl- vania State Normal School at Slippery Rock. He learned blacksmithing under his father, and was but fourteen years of age when he began shoeing' horses. He mastered his trade most thoroughly, and it is the character of his work which en- abled him to build up the large business he now conducts. He is a man of good education, intelligent and public spirited, and every worthy measure for the benefit of the community finds in him an earnest and active supporter.

September 15, 1896, Mr. Baldin was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kep- ler, a daughter of the late George Kepler of Parker Township, Butler County, and they have been the parents of three chil- dren: Charlotte, who is now deceased; Pauline, and Isadore. Politically Mr. Bal- din is an unswerving Republican.

HENRY WAGNER, engineer for the Standard Plate Glass Company, at Mar- wood, is one of the town's active citizens. Mr. Wagner was born in Jefferson Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1861, and is a son of John and Barbara (Sachleins) Wagner. The parents of Mr. Wagner moved to Penn Township, from Jefferson, when he was three years old and there reared their ten children, the survivors all residing and following dif- ferent pursuits in Butler County. Those living are Minnie, Kate, Henry, Christo- pher, and Julia. Those deceased were named, respectively, George, John, Sam- uel, Anna, and James.

Henry Wagner attended school in both Penn and Middlesex Townships, and in early manhood entered into training which prepared him for positions like the one he has held with the Standard Plate Glass Company for the past ten years.

On November 21, 1897, Mr. Wagner was married to Mrs. Sadie (Gravatt) Barton, who is a daughter of Capt. Daniel and Martha (Girth) Gravatt, the former of whom served in the heavy artillery from Pennsylvania during the Civil War. Mrs. Barton had two children; Mabel Tressa, an accomplished young lady living at home; and Henry Willard, who is a stu- dent in the Cabot Academy. Mr. Wag- ner's first wife died December 3, 1899, and on April 17, 1902, he married Susan Mor- rison. Mr. Wagner and family occupy a very attractive residence which is situated near the center of the town. He is a mem- ber of the order of Woodmen. He belongs to the Reformed Church and takes an active part in its affairs.

SAMUEL SCHAFFNER, SR., one of Butler Township's well known and highly esteemed citizens, was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1833, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Ann (Martin) Schaffner.

The father of Mr. Schaffner was born in 1806, in Wissenberg, Germany, and was a son of Nicholas Schaffner. Jacob Schaffner was accompanied to America in 1831 by his wife and their three-year-old daughter, and he settled in that part of Butler Township, Butler County, which has been absorbed by the borough of But- ler. Later he bought forty acres of land, adjoining the present farm of his son Samuel, and in the depth of the forest he built his log cabin. At a later period he rented a farm in Slippery Rock Township, on which he lived for five years and then returned to Butler and went into the coal business. He rented a coal bank that ad- joined his farm and paid a royalty until

SAMUEL SCHAFFNER, SR.

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he reached the vein of coal that extended through his own land. He continued to mine his coal very profitably and he also cultivated his forty acres. He was a man of more than ordinary capacity and be- came one of the township's most useful citizens. When he came to America he became an American and informed himself on public matters, voting first, intelli- gently, with the Whigs and later with the Republicans. He served in township offices and at one time was delegated to take the census of three townships. He lived to the age of seventy-one years. He married a most estimable woman, who was born and reared in his own neighborhood. They both were long active members of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. They had five children, namely: Frances, who became Sister Mary Crescintia, in a con- vent at St. Louis, Missouri; Samuel; Maria, who became the wife of Frank Koch, of Butler Township; George, a resi- dent of Springdale, and John, residing at Butler.

Samuel Schaffner passed through his boyhood years with many responsibilities resting on his shoulders. He was the eldest son and became his father's main helper. Three months during the winter he tried to be punctual at school, but there are many duties for a boy to perform, on a pioneer farm, during the seasons of cold and storm, not the least of these being the preparing of the firewood, and frequently the school attendance period was short- ened thereby. As he grew older he drove a team for his father, delivering coal and continued to work at home until his mar- riage, when he went into the coal business for himself, working in his father's coal bank. He continued in the coal business, more or less continuously until 1888, a period of forty years. During this time he had done a little farming, owning four tracts aggregating 146 acres, and he also drilled a number of oil wells on his place, which became small producers.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 97

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