Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 98

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 98

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In politics, Mr. Schaffner is a Repub- lican. He has always been a most patri- otic citizen. In 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany D, Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and served in the defense of Washington. Early in 1862, when Gen- eral Lee threatened to invade Pennsyl- vania, he went out in the State militia with the rank of fourth sergeant of Com- pany G, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Infan- try. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Butler.

On June 26, 1858, Mr. Schaffner was married to Josephine Hinchberger, who was a daughter of Anthony Hinchberger, a pioneer of Butler Township. Mrs. Schaffner died February 2, 1893. She was a good Christian woman, a devoted member and regular attendant of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. Of the ten children born of this marriage eight reached maturity, namely: Josephine, George A., Jacob F., Christopher, Sam- uel Jr., Frank O., Edward and Herbert. Josephine, who married Joseph Wuller, resides with her father and husband on the home farm. She has four children -Margie, Josephine, Alma, and Leo. George A., who lives in Butler, has three children-Josephine, Marie, and Jacob. Jacob F. and Christopher live in Virginia ; Christopher has four children-Christo- pher, Walter, Ruth, and Harold. Samuel Schaffner, Jr., who is a resident of Butler, has five children-Samuel, Eugene, Laura, Gladys, and Bernard. Frank O., who is a resident of Virginia, as also is Herbert, has two children-Lawrence and Mar- garet. Edward, now a resident of Butler Township, has one child-Edward. Mr. Schaffner attends St. Paul's Catholic Church. At various times during his long life he has been elected to township offices, although he has never been a politician in the general acceptance of the term. He has served as a justice of the peace for five years.

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CYRUS E. BLANEY, who in partner- ery; he also is a member of the Knights of ship with his brother, W. E. Blaney, under the Maccabees. the firm name of Blaney Brothers, is en- gaged in oil operations, is a well known J. W. HUFFMAN, an enterprising and prosperous business man of Butler, who is engaged in contracting and in manufactur- ing concrete blocks, has been established in this city for some years, but his birth took place in the neighboring State of Ohio, in the town of Grand Rapids, November 13, 1869. resident of Oakland Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and makes his home at "The Woodbine." Blaney Brothers are owners of four oil wells located on leased land in Oakland Township, and have been operating in this vicinity for six years.

Cyrus E. Blaney was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1865, and is a son of Hugh and Susan (Eber- hart) Blaney. His father was a farmer in early life, and then turned his attention to the oil business. He is now deceased and is survived by his widow.

Cyrus E. Blaney has been in the oil busi- ness practically throughout his business career. He moved from Armstrong to Butler County in 1876 or 1877, and con -. tinued here until 1893, in which year he removed to Washington County, Pennsyl- vania. He lived there and in Allegheny County for ten years, then in 1902 re- turned to Butler County. and located in Oakland Township. His brother is a resi- dent of Pittsburg. They have met with a high degree of success in their business, and are progressive and public-spirited men.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Myers, who was born and reared in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, but was a resident of Butler County at the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of Samuel Myers. Six chil- dren were the offspring of this union, of whom five are living: Fay, wife of Paul R. Oswald, of Butler, by whom she has a son, Robert Cyrus; Margaret E .; Edith M .; Edna; and Mary Alice. A son named Cyrus E., Jr., died at the age of eight months. Fraternally, Mr. Blaney is a member of the Masonic lodge, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Command- venting the loss of life and property by

His schooldays were scarcely concluded before Mr. Huffman began to be self- supporting, becoming an employe of the firm of Loomis & Marble, implement deal- ers at Bowling Green, with whom he re- mained for three years, and then became traveling salesman for the Williams Man- ufacturing Company, of Kalamazoo, Michi- gan. During the seven years that he con- tinued with this concern, he traveled over a large portion of the United States, his territory extending from Maine to Wash- ington on the Pacific coast. Mr. Huffman then embarked in business for himself, or- ganizing a plant at Pleasant Bend, Ohio, for the manufacture of brick and drain tile, which he continued there for three years and then transported it to Mauvilla, Alabama, where he conducted it for two years. Mr. Huffman went then to Nash- ville, Tennessee, where he remained for three years with the Pintsch Compressing Company, after which he returned to Grand Rapids, Ohio, having become inter- ested in the manufacturing of concrete blocks, a business he carried on there until he came to Butler and established his pres- ent plant. So great an interest has been awakened in the use of concrete blocks, in late years, that there can be no question about the continued success of a manufac- turing enterprise of this kind. The time is not far distant when concrete will form the composition of our houses and public buildings, thereby, in large measure, pre-

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fire. Mr. Huffman is working to the capacity of his plant at the present time. In 1892 Mr. Huffman was married to Miss Martha Dillinger, of Macomb, Ohio, and they have three children: Amelia, Orrin and Florence.

JAMES MEEK, general merchant at Bonus, in Allegheny Township, Butler County, Penna., has been engaged in that business since 1897 and has a well estab- lished patronage. In addition he gives much of his attention to farming, having two farms in Allegheny Township, consti- tuting 144 acres in all.

Mr. Meek was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, June 11, 1841, and is a son of James and Nellie (Brown) Meek, both natives of Scotland. He was nine years of age when he began working at the coal mines, and continued at that line of work in Scotland and England until 1869, in which year he emigrated to America. He located in Mer- cer County, Pennsylvania, and mined coal several years, then came to Butler County. He operated a coal bank in Parker Town- ship for some time, and about the year 1875 or 1876 took up his residence in Alle- gheny Township. Of late years he has devoted his energies mainly to agriculture and the mercantile business, although he has met with some success as an oil pro- ducer. He was postmaster at Bonus for several years, continuing until the office was abolished. He is possessed of supe- rior musical talent and for many years has given instructions in band music; he was leader of bands in Mercer and Butler Counties in years past, and has an estab- lished reputation.

In 1869 Mr. Meek was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Tate, a native of Scotland, and the following were the chil- dren born to them: Lillie, wife of Lincoln Phillips of Allegheny Township; James, who lives in Indiana ; Nellie, who also lives in Indiana; Janet, wife of Taylor Ankers of Indiana; William, who is in Ohio;

Mary J. of Pittsburg; Caroline, wife of Thomas Slater; Maggie, who is a resident of Illinois; Robert of Allegheny Town- ship; Ritchie; and Emma and Minnie, twins. The subject of this sketch is Re- publican in politics, but is inclined to be independent, voting for the man best fitted for the office. He is efficiently serving the township as a member of the School Board. Fraternally he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church. He is a man of wide acquaintance through his section of the country, and enjoys the good will and high esteem of his fellow citizens.

JOHN GREENERT, an experienced and successful farmer of Winfield Township, resides on his fine farm of fifty acres, which is situated on the Denny mill road, about three miles from Cabot. He is a son of Henry and Kate (Gunst) Greenert. The father of Mr. Greenert came to Amer- ica when a small boy, with his father, who settled in Winfield Township and cleared up the farm on which John Greenert now resides.

John Greenert attended the schools of Winfield Township and has followed farm- ing as an occupation ever since early man- hood. He has an excellent tract of land and gives it the careful attention which causes it to produce abundantly. His main crops are wheat, hay, oats and corn. Mr. Greenert married Annie Kromfuf, who is a daughter of August and Laura (Link) Kromfuf, and they had nine children- Fred, Milton, Gilmore, Amelia, John, Laura, Kate, Clifford and Ellen-five of whom are living. Mr. Greenert and wife belong to the Lutheran Church and are good Christian people. He takes some in- terest in local politics and has served the township as roadmaster.

DANIEL YOUNKINS, oil operator and one of Butler's leading citizens, was born

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June 27, 1854, son of William and Sarah Younkins. He received a good education in the common schools of his district and at at Slate Lick, Armstrong County, Penna., Worthington Academy, and until 1876 was engaged in farming on the homestead. In that year he came to the oil country and engaged in drilling and contracting at Pe- trolia and later was interested in the busi- ness at Fairview. He followed the excite- ment to Bradford in 1878, and still later successively in McKean, Forest, Warren, Butler, and Allegheny Counties, locating permanently in Butler in 1884 and engag- ing in operations in the Thorn Creek field, Butler County. Since then he has been contracting and operating in the fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia. He has also invested in property and engaged in business enterprises in Butler, besides continuing his oil interests. Since taking up his residence here Mr. Younkins has taken an active part in the development of the town, being concerned, as partly in- timated above, in a number of its manu- facturing industries and financial institu- tions. He is a director in the Farmers' National Bank, of which his brother, John Younkins, is president; is also a director in the Guaranty Safe Dejosit & Trust Com- pany; chairman of the board of directors of the Evans Manufacturing Company, Limited; president of the Craigsville Woolen Manufacturing Company, and a member of the firm of Younkins Brothers, and of the East End Hose Company, of which latter he is treasurer. The manner in which he discharges the various obliga- tions which devolve upon him is proof that he is a man of more than ordinary business capacity.

Mr. Younkins is a Democrat in politics and has been three times elected a mem- ber of the town council from the Fourth Ward, of which he is a resident; and dur- ing his services as councilman he was twice honored by being chosen chairman of that body.

Mr. Younkins was married, September 10, 1884, to Miss Eva E. Minteer, daugh- ter of Joseph Minteer, of Craigsville, Armstrong County, Penna. Seven chil- dren have been born into their household, namely : Sarah Josephine, Mabel V., William M., Victor D., Florence E., Delma E. and James Kenneth. The family are members of the United Presbyterian Church and Mr. Younkins is liberal in sup- port of its various benevolent enterprises, as he is also generous to many more ob- scure charities. His family join him in the social and benevolent work of the church. Mr. Younkins' fraternal connections in- clude membership in the Woodmen of the World, the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Malta.

LESTER G. STOUGHTON, who is in partnership with his father under the firm name of O. W. Stoughton and Son, is ex- tensively engaged in farming and dairying in Center Township. They own a valuable and well-improved farm of 150 acres, keep an average of fifty-six head of cattle, and wholesale the milk. O. W. Stoughton, senior member of this firm, is superin- tendent of the Butler County Home.

Lester G. Stoughton was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1878, and is a son of O. W. and Permelia A. (Garvin) Stoughton. He was reared on the farm and has always followed farming and dairying. He received his education at the academy at Prospect, Penna .; took a short course in dairying at State Col- lege, Center County, Penna, and a course in agriculture at State College, Center County, Penna., and he follows farming along scientific lines. He is a member of the U. P. Church at Holyoke, Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Stoughton married Miss Anna Walters of Evans City, and they have four children: Frank, Agnes, Paul, and Irene. Mr. Stoughton is a young man of recog- nized business ability and occupies a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

MR. AND MRS. JAMES M. KNOX AND CHILD

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JAMES M. KNOX, representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of Parker Township, Butler County, Penna., resides on a farm of 100 acres, which was settled by his great-grandfather, George Knox, upon his arrival in this country. The latter was a Scotch-Irishman and was the first of the family to settle in Butler County. James M. Knox was born in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Penna., December 20, 1856, and is a son of George and Jane (Steele) Knox, and a grandson of James Knox, who was born in Perry Township, Armstrong County.

George Knox, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Parker Township, Butler County, and for many years re- sided on the farm now owned by James M. Knox. He was one of the prosperous and substantial men of his day, and took a pro- gressive part in the development of the community. He was a Republican in poli- tics and served some years as a school director. His wife, in maiden life Miss Jane Steele, was born in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Penna., and was a daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Story) Steele, a granddaughter of Samuel Steele, and a great-granddaughter of John Steele, who was killed in a battle with the In- dians, the engagement being known in his- tory as the battle of Hannahstown. The widow of John Steele survived him long, living to the remarkable age of 104 years, and was buried near Karns City in Butler County. Samuel Steele, Sr., son of John, was of Scotch-Irish parentage and was a boy of seven years when he accompanied his parents from Ireland to America. With other emigrants they lived for a period of ten years in the block house at Pittsburg.

George and Jane (Steele) Knox became' parents of six children, as follows: James M .; Jennie E., wife of James E. Sammel, of Pittsburg; Nancy, wife of Edgar Say of Bruin, Butler County; Mary A. May, the wife of George Say, also of Bruin;

Abraham L. of Parker Township; and Elda J., deceased. Religiously, the par- ents of this family were Presbyterians.

James M. Knox was about seven years of age when his parents moved to Parker Township, and here he grew to man's estate, receiving a good education in the public schools. From youth up to the present time he has followed farming, and in connection has been identified with the oil industry. For more than twenty years he has been an oil producer, finding it a very remunerative field of labor. He owns, in addition to the home farm of 100 acres in Parker Township, some 140 acres in Perry Township, Armstrong County, much of it timberland, and a farm of forty- six acres in Allegheny Township, Butler County. He is a man of exceptional capacity for business, and his every trans- action has been characterized by foresight and good management.

June 26, 1903, Mr. Knox was joined in marriage with Miss Mary Barto, a daugh- ter of the late Daniel Barto of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and they have one son, George, born April 8, 1904. He is a Republican in politics, and has taken a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare and development of the county.

WILLIAM C. HUTZLER, who fills the important position of field superintendent for the Standard Plate Glass Company, in Butler County, is an example of the true self made man. His birth took place on July 13, 1865, on the Denny farm, about three miles northeast of Marwood, Penn- sylvania, and he is a son of John and Mar- garet (Weaver) Hutzler. The father of Mr. Hutzler followed farming as an occu- pation. He married Margaret Weaver and they became the parents of the follow- ing named children: James F., William C., John, Ellen, Peter, Charles, Margaret, Mary, Sarah and Alice. James F. Hutzler of this family is cashier of the Farmers' National Bank at Butler.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

William C. Hutzler attended no other school than the Denny School in the neigh- borhood of the farm on which he was born. At a very early age he went to work and his industry has never ceased. His first real labor was ditch digging and from that humble position, through sheer persever- ance and native energy, in the space of ten years he had been advanced and given his present position, which he has held for the past three years. In an unusual degree he enjoys the esteem and confidence of his employers.

On June 7, 1894, Mr. Hutzler was mar- ried to Agnes Cypher, who is a daughter of Martin and Eva (Bleichner) Cypher, and they have six children-Ralph James, Pearl Agnes, John Martin, Harry Austin, Helen Marie, and Walter Joseph. The family home is located on Main Street, Marwood. With his wife and children, Mr. Hutzler belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, and to the congregation of St. Jo- seph's at Cabot. He takes a good citizen's interest in politics and has served as a member of the township election board.

JOSEPH KUTSCH, general contractor in plaster, cement and tile work, has been a resident of Butler for only four years, but in that time has done a large amount of business and has established himself as a capable and reliable man in his line of work. He was born in 1879, in Germany.

Mr. Kutsch attended the excellent Ger- man schools and in his own land served his apprenticeship to his trade. In 1903 he came to America and settled first at Fort City, near Kittanning, Pennsylvania, but shortly afterward came to Butler, and his first work, which was in the construction of the new Methodist Church, gave him standing in trade circles and he has main- tained the same excellence in all his sub- sequent contracts. He has proven himself a very enterprising citizen and has done much toward improving the western part of Butler. He has recently completed his

own private residence at No. 522 Mifflin Street, which is of cement construction and of North German architecture.

Mr. Kutsch was married in 1903, before leaving Germany, to Miss Mary Josephine Gilliam, and they have one child, Freder- ick Joseph, born December 4, 1905. They are members of the German Roman Catho- lic Church. He belongs to the order of the Knights of St. George, in which he is serving at Butler as secretary and treasurer.

MARSHALL NEY HALLACK, who has been engaged in the oil fields of Alle- gheny Township, Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, since 1876, and is now in the employ of the South Penn Company, is well known to the citizens of the community. He is a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served creditably for three and a half years.

Mr. Hallack was born near Elmira, New York, April 3, 1844, and is a son of Caleb and Lurana (Stoll) Hallack, his father a native of Connecticut, and his mother of New Jersey. He was about six years of age when brought by his parents to Troy, Pennsylvania, and after a time moved with them to Cuba, Allegheny County, N. Y., where he grew to maturity and obtained a good common school education. He en- listed at Elmira, New York, as a member of Company D, Thirteenth Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, and subsequently was detailed to the musical department of that regiment. He continued to serve as a musician during the remainder of the war, and a part of the time was with the headquarters band at Norfolk, Virginia. During his service he was in the Army of the Potomac, and later with the Army of the James. He was honorably discharged in August, 1865, after three and a half years of service, and then returned to Cuba, New York, where he remained until he came to Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1876. He located in Allegheny Town-

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ship, and since that date has been prac- tically in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, with which the South Penn Company is affiliated.

Mr. Hallack was joined in marriage with Miss Ellen J. Mooney, who was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of the late Adam Mooney of that county. The following are the issue of this union: Harvey O. of Parker Town- ship, Butler County; Thomas G. of Salem, West Virginia; Minnie F. of Bruin, But- ler County; Luella M., wife of R. A. Kelly of East Mckeesport, Pennsylvania; and Edward C. of Allegheny Township. Re- ligiously, Mr. Hallack is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Foxburg, and is at present serving as class leader. He is superintendent of the Allegheny Cemetery in Allegheny Township. He is a Republican in politics; and formerly he belonged to the G. A. R. Post at Parker's Landing. He is endowed with finest at- tributes of manhood, and well merits the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow men.

JOSEPH WEAVER PATTERSON, of Cabot, Butler County, Pennsylvania, has been a mail carrier for the past seven years, and is also the owner of a valuable farm of 134 acres in Jefferson Township, located near the Shilo oil field. He was born in Freeport, Armstrong County, March 13, 1858, and is a son of Samuel and Barbara (Weaver) Patterson, and a grandson of James and Mary (Murphy) Patterson.

James Patterson and his wife were natives of County Down, Ireland, and some time after marriage emigrated to America, becoming early settlers in Arm- strong County, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Patterson was born in Arm- strong County and settled on a farm when he was seventeen years old. He always followed that occupation and became one of the substantial men of Jefferson Town-

ship, Butler County, where he was the owner of the farm now owned by his son, Joseph W. He and his wife became the parents of three children-James L., Mary Jane, and Joseph W.

Joseph W. Patterson received his educa- tional training in the common schools of Jefferson Township, and at Witherspoon Institute, at Butler. He turned his atten- tion to farming, after leaving school, and continued without interruption until he received appointment as mail carrier. He is a man of superior business ability, a hard worker and a good manager. He is enterprising and public-spirited, and is highly respected by his fellow men wher- ever known.

September 13, 1883, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Wright, a daughter of James and Eliza Wright, who were formerly residents of Butler County, but are now both deceased. Five children were born to bless this union: Carl R., who married Mabel Max- well and has a daughter, Winnifred; Lyda F., Agnes, Edith Lenora, and Anna Margaret. Religiously, they are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Patter- son has served as school director and county auditor, proving a most efficient officer.

JAMES I. CAMPBELL, one of But- ler's leading citizens, treasurer of the Butler Wood-Fiber Plaster Company and also interested in oil production and farm- ing, was born in Concord Township, But- ler County, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1851.

The late John A. Campbell, father of James I., was born also in Butler County, the family being a pioneer one of this sec- tion. John A. Campbell led an agricul- tural life and on many occasions was elected to township offices. He married Mary Milford and had nine children- Mrs. Jane Kighner, Thomas M., Lee Ann (Campbell), Amelia, deceased; John F.

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died in Civil War; Sophie (McClure), William H., James I., and Mary Nancy (Campbell), deceased.

James I. Campbell was reared on the home farm and continued to be actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1902, and for a number of years has been an oil producer, having seventeen wells on his own land and others on other property. He has other interests, being treasurer for the Wood-Fiber Company of Butler, owns stock in other enterprises and is con- cerned in real estate operations, particu- larly in connection with the East Oakland Land Company.

In 1873 Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Sarah C. Whitmire, a daughter of Peter Whitmire, of Butler County. She died July 23, 1903, the mother of four sons and two daughters, namely: Harry W. and Charles P., both of Butler County; Orrin C., a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical College, who is engaged in prac- tice in Armstrong County; John B., who operates the home farm; Margaret, who is the wife of Clarence V. Blair, of Butler; and Myrtle P., who resides at home. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Second Pres- byterian Church. In 1905 he was married (second) to Miss Olive C. Cleeland, who is a daughter of William Cleeland. Mr. Campbell has been a resident of Butler since 1903.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 98

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