USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 23
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(II) Charles Henry Amsler was born in Switzerland, May 21, 1831, and when three years of age was brought to the United States by his par- ents. His early life was spent in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, the family home being on the Brownsville road, in Baldwin township, and in that local- ity he attended school. When a young man of about nineteen years he began independent farming operations on a rented tract of one hundred and thirty-six acres, which he later purchased, and all his active life was an enthusiastic and successful agriculturist. He now lives retired in Leets- dale, Pennsylvania, aged eighty-three years. His has not been a life of "ignoble ease," which one of our greatest statesmen decries, but has been filled with diligent toil, and that his final years may be spent in peaceful quietude is a fitting respite from the labor of years. His lifelong faith has been that of the Reformed Evangelical Church, to which his wife also belonged, and in which he held office, while his political support has ever been accorded the Democratic party.
He married Christina Hammann, born in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and there died at the early age of thirty-two years, her husband never marrying a second time. She was a daughter of Philip Hammann, a native of Germany, who in that country was a baker, continu- ing at his trade in New Orleans, Louisiana, for eighteen years after his immigration to the United States. He later bought a farm of one hundred and six acres in Economy township, Beaver county, on Shield's first survey, and there died. He married Elizabeth Britenstein, and had the following children, all of whom are deceased: Elizabeth, married William B. Junker; William, unmarried; Christina, of previous mention, married Charles Henry Amsler. Children of Charles Henry and Christina (Hammann) Amsler : I. Emilia, married Dr. William Linnenbrink, deceased; lives in Ambridge;
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children: Cora, married Lesley Meek, and lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania ; Teny, married Harvey Patterson, and lives in Wisconsin, the mother of four children; Alma, lives at home, unmarried; Charles, died aged about three years. 2. Sophia, married William Sohm; lives in Leetsdale, Penn- sylvania; they have: Archie, married V. O. Williams, and lives in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, the parent of one child, Jene, aged three years; Al- bert, lives at home, unmarried; Viola, lives unmarried at home. 3. William Hammann, of whom further. 4. Henry, married Annie Otto; lives in Econ- omy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; they have: A child, who died in infancy, unnamed; Charles, twin of the first, died aged two years; Walter, lives with his parents, as do Lawrence, Olive, Howard. 5. Mary, married Albert Gross, deceased; lives in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania.
(III) William Hammann Amsler, third child and first son of Charles Henry and Christina (Hammann) Amsler, was born in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1860. Until he was twenty-four years of age he lived on his father's farm, in boyhood attending the public schools and later assisting his father in the cultivation of his acres and the per- formance of the many duties incident to farm life. Since that time he has lived on his own farm and conducted agricultural operations independently with excellent success, his land being of the best in the neighborhood and his methods of cultivation modern, modeled after the scientific experiments that have been productive of the best results. He is a Democrat in political belief and for ten years has been justice of the peace in Economy township, an office to which he was recently re-elected, but which he declined to accept, feeling that in that department of public service he had more than done all that loyalty to his township and the duties of good citizenship demanded. For several terms he was also supervisor of roads in the township, and dur- ing his tenure of office was instrumental in procuring for the locality many highway improvements. Mr. Amsler holds membership in the Beaver County Agricultural Association, an organization that has done a valuable work in introducing to the farmers of the region the results of the new scientific methods practicalized for daily use and in disseminating information on topics of interest and benefit to its members, and as one of the executive committee has been one of the promoters of the many practically helpful projects of the association.
He married, April 23, 1884, Sophia Frey, born in Marshall township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1866, daughter of John and Sarah (Knoderer) Frey, the latter a native of Germany, who came to the United States when twelve years of age. She was born in 1831, and is now living in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, aged eighty-four years. She was the daughter of Captain Frederick Knoderer, who spent many years in the military service of his country, and was with Napoleon on his trip through Russia. John Frey was brought to this country when a boy of four years of age, and all his life was a farmer in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred. John and Sarah (Knoderer) Frey
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were the parents of: I. Christina, married John Leathen; lives in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania; their children: John, unmarried; Margaret, married Samuel Warrick, and has one child; Sadie, deceased, married Lester Bohmer, and had three children, her husband living in Ohio; William, mar- ried Mary Warrick, and lives in Pittsburgh, the father of one child; Homer, lives unmarried at home; Roy, lives at home, unmarried. 2. Elizabeth, died aged nineteen years. 3. Catherine, married Fred George; lives in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; their children: William; Mary, married John Zort- man, and lives in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Minnie, married Frank Eickley, and lives in Allegheny county, the mother of two children, one of whom is deceased; John, married a Miss Neely, and lives in Sewickley, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; Clara, married Albert Sheib, and lives in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, the mother of two chil- dren; Christian, lives at home, unmarried; Carl, lives unmarried at home. 4. Margaret, married Henry Marr; lives in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania ; their children : Clara, lives at home, unmarried ; Flora, lives at home, unmarried; Lester, married Edith Taubit, and lives in Econ- omy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, the father of one daughter, Florence; Margaret, married James Fegley, and lives in Gary, Indiana, the mother of three children: Margaret, James, and an infant; Stella and Hazel, live at home, unmarried. 5. Henrietta, married Henry Gross; lives in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania ; they are the parents of two sons: Irwin, mar- tied Clara Arnold, and has three children: Gladys, Alvin, and an infant; Arthur, at home. 7. William, died aged two years. 8. Christian, married Lucinda Roll, deceased; lives in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, with his four children, all of whom live at home: Edith, Ruth, Margaret, Raymond. 9. Emma, married John Graff; lives in Ohio, the mother of four children, of whom Edna, Mabel and Emma Jane, are three, the first two married, Edna being the mother of two children. 10. Sophia, of previous mention, married William H. Amsler. II. Anna, died aged two years. 12. Ida, married William Black, and lives in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, the mother of three children, all of whom live at home, Clyde, Elmer, Edith. 13. Clara, married Albert Hillman, and has three children, all living at home, Mildred, Erma, Herbert.
Children of William Hammann and Sophia (Frey) Amsler: 1. Edith, born April 15, 1886, a student of theology at Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is taking up a special course. 2. Albert, born July 18, 1888, married Clara Charleston, and lives on the home farm; children: Ethel, died aged two years, and Florence, aged eighteen months. 3. Grace, born November 29, 1891 ; married Raymond Bruce, and has one child, Helen. 4. Emma, born July 16, 1894; lives at home. 5. Charles, born May 14, 1897; lives at home. 6. Marie, born November 14, 1900. 7. Helen, born April 12, 1911. Mr. Amsler's post office address is Baden, Pennsylvania, Rural Free Delivery, No. 2.
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Although Pennsylvania can lay claim to but little as the THOMPSON scene of the life and labors of William Thompson, the founder of this line of the Thompson family, in America, the state nevertheless was the first home of the emigrant in the United States. William Thompson was a native of Ireland, one of her sons who despaired of finding opportunity in his homeland, and came to the United States when a young man, making his first home near Georgetown, Pennsylvania. He here married and for a time engaged in general farming, later moving to Cal- cutta, Ohio, and became the proprietor of the general store so well known to rural districts. He continued in this line until his death, prominent in the community, and popular as well, the first by virtue of the conspicuous part he played in the town life, his store being the sole "mart of trade," the second because of his genial and affable manner. Both he and his wife were members of and generous contributors to the support of the Presby- terian Church. Children, the first six deceased, their entire lives having been spent in Ohio: William, Josiah, Matthew, John, George, Samuel; Mary, widow of Dr. Scroggs Sr., lives in California, in her eighty-eighth year; David Clark, of whom further.
(II) David Clark Thompson, son of William Thompson, was born in Georgetown, Pennsylvania, in 1817, died in Glasgow, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, in 1898. He spent his adolescent years in the former locality, and when a young man entered the mercantile business in Glasgow, selling his store to enter upon farming operations. After following this occupation for a time he became interested in oil operations, with moderate success. His death occurred on his farm of one hundred and fifty acres, near Smiths Ferry. His political belief was Republican, although he never took part in the activities of the organization, and with his wife he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He married (first) Mary Ann Rayl, born about 1820, died in 1859, (second) Clarinda Rayl, daughter of Noble Rayl, and a relative of his first wife. Children of the first marriage: I. Susan, married Dr. Nevin, and lives in Negley, Ohio, where he is engaged in practice. 2. Ella, married Dr. William Sawyer, a practitioner of Darlington, Pennsylvania. 3. William R., of whom further. 4. Matilda, died in infancy. 5. Mary Ann, married Monroe Patterson, and lives at East Liverpool, Ohio. Children of second marriage : 6. Ida, a teacher in the public schools, lives at home. 7. Maria, lives at home, unmarried. 8. Samuel, a merchant of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. 9. George, a lawyer practicing in East Liverpool, Ohio. 10. Laura, formerly a teacher in the public schools, now living at home.
(III) William R. Thompson, eldest son and third child of David Clark and Mary Ann (Rayl) Thompson, was born in Glasgow, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1853. He attended the Rockport school at Smiths Ferry and there obtained his entire education. Until 1893 he was connected with the oil fields in various capacities, finally as operator, discontinuing his relations with that industry to engage in farming, cultivating a rented farm near Black Hawk, Pennsylvania. Six years later he purchased a tract of
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one hundred and thirty-nine acres in Industry township, which he named "Calamity Farm" and has there ever since resided. If ever a title was a misnomer it is surely "Calamity Farm," for his operations along agricul- tural lines have met with all good fortune, and have been attended by their due share of profit. Here, in addition to his grain and vegetables, he devotes a great deal of time and space to the cultivation of fruit trees, his apples and peaches ranking with the best raised in the region. Plums are also the object of his constant care and attention, a very high grade of fruit resulting there- from. He also operates two oil wells, both of steady flow, from which he realizes a substantial income. Mr. Thompson has ever been a supporter of the Republican party. He is a substantial member of the community, a farmer along modern lines, and has behind him an honorable record in business life.
He married, in 1880, Mary Irene Stewart, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Bruce) Stewart. Daniel Stewart, born in Hancock county, Virginia, now West Virginia, October 28, 1830, died in Georgetown, Pennsylvania ; he was a carpenter ; married Cathe- rine Bruce, born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1833, now living with her son, William R., aged eighty years. Although at such an advanced age her health is good, her faculties clear, and her capacity for the enjoyment of life unimpaired. She is a daughter of Andrew and Mary Bruce, natives of Ireland, who on coming to the United States settled in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, later moving to Hancock county, West Virginia, where began the courtship that terminated in her marriage to Daniel Stewart. Children of Daniel and Catherine (Bruce) Stewart: I. Mary Irene, of pre- vious mention, married William R. Thompson. 2. Camelia, deceased; mar- ried Isaac Dougherty. 3. Alice, deceased; married George D. Dawson. 4. Jennie, married Howard Davis; lives in Detroit, Michigan. 5. George, acci- dentally killed in November, 1906. 6. Bertha, married John Sebastian; lives In Cleveland, Ohio. Children of William R. and Mary Irene (Stewart) Thompson: I. Clark Stewart; lives at home. 2. Mary Ann. 3. Irene, mar- ried George McKee; resides at East Liverpool, Ohio. 4. Clara, twin of Irene, married Charles Baxter ; lives at Wellsville, Ohio.
Mr. Thompson's residence near Industry, Pennsylvania, is linked with the pioneer days of the county in no uncertain manner. The east wing of the house is composed of the original log cabin erected on the site, although the roughly hewn timbers have been weatherboarded so that its antiquity is not discernible at a glance. This part is more than a century and a half old, tradition recording that in its spacious chimney, leading upward from an open fire-place, an Indian was shot and killed by Aunt Betty Reed, who was alone in the house, guarding it from savage depredations. It is indeed inter- esting to discover such landmarks connecting so closely with the thrilling days of the past, so rapidly fading in time's mists.
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John Thompson was born in the eastern part of the state THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, and later journeyed across the moun- tains and took up his residence in Greene township, Beaver county, with the interests of which section this family has since been closely identified. In 1787 he was awarded a grant of land of sixty acres, and this he cleared and cultivated. He was accidentally killed during the construction of the public road which now passes the family residence. He married and had several children.
(II) William Thompson, son of John Thompson, was born in Greene township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the subscrip- tion schools of that period. His entire life was spent on the homestead where he had been born, and to which he added one hundred and forty acres. He and his family were members of the Presbyterian Church. He married Ruth Conner, and had children. Ursula; Jane; Mary; Ann; Milo, see forward; Samuel; William.
(III) Milo Thompson, son of William and Ruth (Conner) Thompson, was born on the family homestead in Greene township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, and was educated in the township schools. During his youth he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm, then engaged in work on a steamboat, and was thus occupied on the lower Mississippi river for a period of twenty years. He then returned to the homestead, and followed the occupation of farming during the remainder of his life. In political matters he was a Republican, and he and his family were members of the Presbyterian Church. He married Mary Moody, born on the Moody homestead, just south of Hookstown, and they had children: I. Lucretia, married G. W. Workman. 2. Clark, see forward. 3. Margaret, who mar- ried John P. Cotter, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 4. Harry L., deceased, who received his degree as Civil Engineer from Purdue University, Lafay- ette, Indiana. In 1903, while he was still a student at the university, a train which carried him and a number of the other students, was wrecked near Indianapolis and Mr. Thompson was seriously injured. He completed his course, but his injuries were of so serious a nature that he eventually died as a result of them, never having been able to practice his profession.
(IV) Clark Thompson, son of Milo and Mary (Moody) Thompson, was born on the Thompson homestead in Greene township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1867. He acquired an excellent practical education in the public schools of the township, and from his earliest years assisted materially in the labors of the farm. In this manner he obtained a thorough working knowledge of all the details of farm cultivation, and when the entire management rested in his hands, in the course of time, he was able to take up these responsibilities in a capable manner. He has displayed an unusual amount of financial and executive ability and has been identified with some of the most prominent enterprises in this section of the country. He was one of the organizers of the Triumph Mutual Fire Insurance Company, July 23, 1907, and has been secretary and treasurer since its inception. He
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is also a member of the board of directors of the Midland Bank. In political matters he has the courage of his convictions, and prefers to form his opin- ions independently rather than be bound by ties of partisanship. He is a member of Glasgow Lodge, No. 485, Free and Accepted Masons. In re- ligious faith he adheres to the Presbyterian denomination. Mr. Thompson inarried, January 12, 1902, Ada M., daughter of Stephen Doak, of Beaver county ; one child, William Harry, born December 9, 1913.
BAKER Originating in Bavaria, Germany, this branch of the Baker family had its beginning in America in the persons of four immigrants whose arrival was as unwelcome as such an event could be. They were Hessians, and their arrival in this country was as the pledged foe of the thirteen colonies that had recently banded themselves together to resist the oppressions of tyranny and the unjust exactions of the ruling monarch of the mother country. It was here that the Baker immi- grants displayed the qualities that had induced the imminent conflict, and, after viewing the Colonial situation from both sides with the unimpassioned judgment of the foreigner, arrived at the decision that they could not con- scientiously fight against a people whose wrongs were so obvious and whose grievances so well founded. They came of sturdy stock and the light of duty was a beacon that had guided the race for generations, and they felt no disloyalty in deserting the cause of their English masters and in allying themselves with the Colonial forces. Ever after their arrival on the Ameri- can continent they were at heart Americans of the truest type, and fought for independence with the same loyal zeal that inspired those who had suffered under royal rule in the colonies.
There were three brothers-George, Jacob and Peter-who came with their father, George Baker, while Elizabeth and Henry, two other children, remained at their birthplace, Strassberg, Germany.
(I) George Baker, born in 1732, died April 17, 1802. He came to America about 1750, and located on Raccoon creek, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania. He was the first permanent settler in his section of the country, which was in what is now Moon township. He located at Baker's Station in 1774, and took part in the Dunmore War, a blockhouse having been previously erected. The cabin in which they lived with their children-George, Daniel and Michael-was attacked by the Indians. One Indian came down the chimney and attacked Mr. Baker with a large knife. The blow was warded off by Mr. Baker, who seized the knife and was severely cut across the fin- gers. The entire family was captured and taken to Detroit, where they were made to run the gauntlet. They were then sold to British officers, who took them to Quebec, and resold them to the highest bidder. After the surrender of Burgoyne they were exchanged to the south branch of the Potomac river and in 1785 reached their old home in Moon township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania. George Baker married Elizabeth Nickelson, an Englishwoman of exceptional talent and beauty. She sent to England for her wedding trous-
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seau and the ceremony was in all probability performed in the city of Phila- delphia. She died in the autumn of 1812, and they are both buried in the graveyard on the land which he originally took up. They had children : George, see forward; Daniel, born in 1768, died April 26, 1843; Michael and John, no record; Henry G., died October 5, 1839, at the age of seventy-six years.
(II) George (2) Baker, son of George (1) and Elizabeth (Nickelson) Baker, was born February 20, 1762, died at the age of ninety years, two months and eleven days. He married, June 3, 1794, Jane Quinn, born in 1772, died October 3, 1857: They had children : I. Eleanor, born April 30, 1797, died August 28, 1865; married Samuel Nelson. 2. George, born June II, 1799, died in his seventy-sixth year; married Elizabeth Hall. 3. Eliza- beth, born March 31, 1802. 4. Michael, see forward. 5. Isabel, born July 14, 1807, died June 19, 1858; married James F. Hall, born January 28, 1801, died March 12, 1889. 6. Charles Quinn, born May 20, 1810, died June I, 1886; married Elizabeth Ann Nickem, born March 6, 1812, died April 17, 1893. 7. John G., born June 6, 1813, died January 6, 1896; married Mar- garet Shroades. 8. Mary Jane, born February 3, 1816, died August 10, 1881 ; married Wilson Uselton, April 30, 1855, who died November 14, 1881.
(III) Michael Baker, son of George (2) and Jane (Quinn) Baker, was born September 26, 1804, died April 16, 1881. For many years he lived on the land on which his grandson, James Orin Baker, now lives. He came to the place about 1840, cleared the land and cultivated it for general produce. He was a Republican in political matters, and a member of Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church. Mr. Baker married Mary Jane Nickem, who died April 1, 1869, in her sixty-first year. Children: John; George, see for- ward; Joseph, a soldier of the Civil War, killed in action at the battle of Chancellorsville; Martha, Eliza J., Melinda, Isabella, Adeline, Mary.
(IV) George (3) Baker, son of Michael and Mary Jane (Nickem) Baker, was born in Independence township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools of that district. He was a farmer all his life on a farm now owned by Dr. Joseph H. Baker, remaining there from 1865 to 1900, when his death occurred. His political affiliations were with the Republican party. After the death of George Baker his widow removed to Georgetown, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, now resides in Beaver. He married, November 5, 1857, Emeline Warnock, and they had children : James Orin, see forward; Calvin Quinn, deceased; Daniel W., a practicing physician ; Joseph Henry, see forward; Michael; Edward; Lillian, married Calvin Kronk, and resides in Beaver, Pennsylvania; Vesta Agnes and Vinie J., twins; Vesta A., married Frederick Patton, and Vinie J., mar- ried John H. Glasser; Edwin, deceased.
Joseph Warnock, grandfather of Mrs. Baker, was an early settler near Sheffield, and owned a large tract of land there, comprising several hundred acres. He married, and had children : James, see forward; John, Nancy, Margaret, Mary.
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James Warnock, son of Joseph Warnock, was born near Sheffield, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. From a very early age he commenced to manage a farm. Later he was a constable, and also carried the mail from where Woodlawn is now located to Hookstown. After he had sold suffi- cient of his land to furnish the present site of Sheffield, he still retained one hundred and six acres for his private use. He was a Republican, and a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Warnock married Agnes Christy, born near New Sheffield, a member of an old family of settlers. They had children: Rebecca; Mary; Emeline, married George Baker ; Joseph, Daniel, who was killed during the Civil War at the Second Battle of Bull Run.
(V) James Orin Baker, son of George (3) and Emeline (Warnock) Baker, was born in Moon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1858. He was educated in the schools of his native township, and has been engaged in farming all of his life. He is the owner of seventy-six acres of fine farming land, which was a part of the tract originally taken up by his grandfather. In 1911 he had a very fine and commodious barn erected, and he devotes a good part of his farm to dairying, in which he is very successful, selling his milk at Woodlawn. He has taken an active part in local political matters, in the interests of the Republican party, and has filled the office of supervisor for the past seven years. His religious affilia- tions are with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Baker married Sarah Eliza- beth White, and they have had children: Harry D., Euphemia C., George, Grace, Arthur, Martha, Emeline, Sarah.
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