USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 16
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The company failed and the contractor got little money and not much honor. He con- tinued in active business until the age of seventy-six, when, in a hale and vigorous old age, and under some protest, he retired. He was naturalized in Dauphin county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1853. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, but not a strong partisan, and never sought public office, though he was twice chosen a member of the city council. He was a member of the Lutheran faith, and died in Connellsville January 20, 1904, aged eighty- six years, highly respected and sincerely mourned for his rugged integrity and sterling worth. He married Jane McCormick, born in Connellsville, daughter of Judge Provance McCormick and Susan (Bowers) McCormick.
Judge McCormick was also a man of ener- getic and enterprising character, though mild in manner, and held in high esteem for the purity of his character. Notwithstanding some claims have been made for pioneer coke manufacturers of the Connellsville re- gion who are said to have made coke on the ground and used it to a very limited extent in local furnaces and foundries, it is a well- established fact that Provance McCormick, John Taylor and William Campbell built the first coke ovens and manufactured the first merchant coke in the Connellsville region. Their plant consisted of three ovens just east of Dawson, on the Youghiogheny river. They built their own ovens, mined their own coal and made their own coke during one season, in the meantime loading it in two barges constructed by themselves. These barges they took down the river on the spring rise of 1842 to Cincinnati, where they peddled part of the cargo out for foundry use and traded the balance for a patent iron grist mill that wouldn't work after they had packed it back to Connellsville. They gave up the business in disgust. Their plant was taken over by the Cochrans, who found ready sale for their product at a good price the following year at Cincinnati, and who came back home, as one of them expressed it, with more silver dollars than he had ever seen before. The Cochrans continued in business and made fortunes. Their descendants are still represented among the prominent oper- ators of the Connellsville region.
Judge McCormick was a son of William Mc- Cormick, and a grandson of Colonel William
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Crawford, the personal friend and frequent personal representative of General George Washington. Colonel Crawford was one of the prominent Western Pennsylvania pio- neers. He was born in 1732, the same year that gave birth to Washington, and in the same state, Virginia, then Fred- erick county, now Berkeley county, West Virginia. He was the son of a pioneer farmer, and a pioneer . he remained to the last. His military service began in 1755, when he was commissioned ensign by the governor of Virginia and fought under Washington in the ill-fated Braddock campaign against the French and Indians at Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh) in 1755. He came out of the battle with honor and was recommended by Washington for promotion. He was commissioned captain and accom- panied the Forbes Expedition against Fort Duquesne the following year. After hostilities ceased he returned to the more peaceful pur- suits of agriculture and surveying. The Pon- tiac war again called him to arms, and he rendered efficient service in protecting the frontier from the murderous forays of the Indians. Early in 1767 he made a permanent location on the banks of the Youghiogheny, within the present city of Connellsville, then known as Stewart's Crossings, from the fact that William Stewart had lived there in 1753. He supposed he was settling in Vir- ginia, but Pennsylvania established her claim to the territory, which was first Cumberland, then Bedford, then Westmoreland, and, final- ly, as now, since 1783, Fayette county. Craw- ford's services as a civilian and soldier were conspicuous and continuous during the years of his residence in the Valley of Youghio- gheny. In 1770 he was commissioned justice of the peace for Cumberland county. When Bedford county was founded, March 1, 1771, he was appointed by Governor Penn one of the justices of the peace for the new county, and in 1773, when Westmoreland was cre- ated, one of the justices of the court of quar- ter sessions of the peace and of the court of common pleas. As he was first named on the list of justices, he became by courtesy and usage the president judge of Westmoreland, the first to hold that office in the county. The same year he was appointed surveyor of the Ohio Company by the College of William and Mary. In 1774 occurred the Dunmore
and Cresap war, when the celebrated speech was made by Logan, the famed Indian chief and orator. Crawford became a conspicuous figure in this war. He commanded a com- pany scouting on the Ohio; defended the frontier; destroyed two Mingo villages near where Columbus, Ohio, now stands, and per- formed many other signal services. After
the decisive battle of Point Pleasant, fought October 10, 1774, which brought compara- tive peace to the frontier, he retired again to his home, "Spring Garden," as he had named it. Washington was a frequent visitor here, chiefly on business connected with taking up lands. Correspondence between Washington and Crawford and the books of Washington show continuous business relations marked by uninterrupted friendship and trust from 1750 to 1774, when the opening of the war of the revolution changed business to war and the sword again took the place of the compass. As Washington's agent Crawford was constantly up and down the valleys of the Youghiogheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Kanawha, selecting, locating and surveying lands. Correspondence tells of frequent trips to Williamsburg and Mount Vernon and vis- its to the home of Washington, where his business was transacted. Crawford also took a prominent part in the boundary dispute be- tween Virginia and Pennsylvania, but upon the opening of the Revolution he dropped county disputes and threw all his energy and patriotism into the cause of Independence. He entered the service as lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Virginia Regiment, but was soon called to the command of the Seventh. Soon after he was assigned the duty of recruit- ing a new regiment. He resigned his col- onelcy of the Seventh and recruited the Thir- teenth Virginia or West Augusta Regiment.
This was in 1777, under date of February 17.
Congress resolved: "That 20,000 dollars be paid Colonel William Crawford for raising and equipping his regiment, which is a part of the Virginia war levies." In August, 1777, with 200 of his new recruits, Colonel Craw- ford joined the army under Washington, near Philadelphia. He rendered efficient service in the movements that resulted in the battle of Brandywine. He participated in the battle of Germantown, the Long Island campaign and the retreat across New Jersey. He was engaged in the defense of Philadelphia and
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commanded the scouts in Delaware. He was in great favor with Washington, who appre- ciated his courage, sagacity and patriotism. Late in the year, an experienced commander being needed on the western frontier, Colonel Crawford was sent to Fort Pitt to take com- mand under Brigadier-General Edward Hand. This removal cost him his place in the Continental line which even Washington, much to his regret, could not get restored. He was in command of the Virginia militia in the Indian country until the close of the Revolution. In 1781 he retired from the ser- vice and returned to his home, determined to pass the remainder of his days in peace. But this was not to be. Indian troubles made it necessary to send an expedition to Ohio, and at the earnest request of General Irvine, in command at Fort Pitt, Colonel Crawford took command of the expedition. He started with 480 mounted men, the flower of the bor- der, including many of the most experienced Indian fighters of that section. The march began May 25, 1782, the objective point be- ing the Indian towns on the Upper Sandusky and its object their destruction. While every precaution was taken, the Indians, reinforced by the British Rangers, succeeded in attack- ing in both front and flank. The Americans finally retreated after the loss of about 180 men, including their beloved commander, his son John, his son-in-law Major Harrison, his nephew and Dr. John Knight. The "Great Captain," to the unspeakable joy of the In- dians, was in their hands, and they were de- termined to put him to death with all the fiendish tortures that devilish malignity could invent. Their intentions were carried out to the letter. On June II, at Upper Sandusky, he was burned at the stake. After four hours of the most excruciating torture his daunt- less spirit took its flight from its cruelly mu- tilated earthly tenement. Dr. Knight, who was compelled to witness the torture of Crawford, subsequently escaped and gave to history a vivid and circumstantial account of Crawford's frightful end.
Colonel Crawford's wife was Hannah Vance. Her brother was the father of the Vance family of Tyrone township, and for a century prominent in its affairs. She bore him three children: John, who accompanied his father on his last fatal campaign, but es- caped and subsequently settled on lands
along the Ohio; Sarah, married to Major William Harrison, who also perished in the Sandusky affair, and Effie, who married Will- iam McCormick. The latter were the parents of Judge Provance McCormick, father of Jane McCormick, wife of Christian Snyder. Children: Mary; Lillian Elizabeth, married Charles L. Gray ; George B., died August 7, 1909; and Henry Provance, of further men- tion.
(II) Henry Provance, son of Christian Snyder, was born in Connellsville, Pennsyl- vania, August 2, 1856. He was educated in the public schools and at Mount Pleasant Academy. At the age of fifteen he became his father's principal assistant in the man- agement of his numerous interests. He acted as bookkeeper and paymaster and did most of the clerical work. Just prior to this time he graduated from the commercial school of Thomas P. Forsythe, a famous teacher of his time. Upon completing the course Mr. Sny- der was presented with a certificate stating that he was competent not only to keep books, but to open and close them and "to settle deranged partnership accounts." This knowledge served him in good stead subse- quently, when his activities brought him in contact with numerous diversified industries and actual connection with not a few.
In 1878 he began the study of law in the office of P. S. Newmyer, of Connellsville. In 1879 the Connellsville Tribune became finan- cially involved and was sold by the sheriff to satisfy the claims of creditors. The ma- chinery and materials were purchased by a small group of progressive and public spir- ited Connellsville business men, who felt that a dead newspaper did not indicate a live town. The paper was renamed The Courier and Mr. Snyder, who had joined in its pur- chase, was requested to become its editor. He consented to so act temporarily, little doubting, in the large confidence of youth, his ability to become a successful lawyer and editor at one and the same time. It soon dawned upon him that he could not serve both mistresses. He abandoned the law and devoted his energies to making The Courier what some of the highest critics subsequently declared to be "a model weekly paper." He became sole owner of the paper in 1891. In 1902 a daily edition was established, which soon acquired a phenomenal circulation. A
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Sunday edition was added in 1906, but the panic of 1907 so limited its advertising reve- nues that it was discontinued. The Courier is a prosperous and influential newspaper. The weekly edition is a recognized authority on the statistics of Connellsville coke produc- tion and output, its figures having for years been accepted as authoritative by the coke and iron interests, and by the industrial bu- reaus of the State and the United States and due credit given therefor in their official pub- lications.
In addition to the management of his newspapers Mr. Snyder has always been con- nected more or less actively with numerous other business interests. He has been en- gaged in the lumber business in Pennsylvania and the rice business in Louisiana; he has mingled in the management of various indus- tries from a tin plate plant to a ferry com- pany; he has been a bank director and man- ager of building and loan associations; he was secretary of the first chamber of com- merce established in Connellsville, and was for a time president of the present reorgan- ized chamber; he is secretary and a life trus- tee of the Carnegie Free Library, and a trus- tee of the Cottage State Hospital. He has been active in newspaper association work. He has been prominent in the affairs of the National Editorial Association; served as president of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association early in its career, and is now president of the Western Pennsylvania Asso- ciated Dailies, which includes all the leading daily newspapers of Western Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburgh. His energies were never confined to a single purpose, yet in all he has succeeded very well, owing chiefly to his keen foresight and restless mental activity.
Mr. Snyder is naturally very much inter- ested in local history, and has made some valuable contributions thereto in the columns of The Courier. A concise but comprehen- sive historical address on the life and services of Colonel William Crawford, delivered be- fore the Washington County Historical So- ciety, February 22, 1909, excited widespread favorable comment, and applications for printed copies were received by the author from historical societies and universities all over the country.
In politics Mr. Snyder has been a man of
strong convictions and earnest purposes. He was reared a Democrat and continued in that faith until 1896, when he refused to support the Free Silver platform of the Democratic party and identified himself with the Gold Democracy. Four years later he supported the Republican ticket, and he has been of that political faith since. In his political changes The Courier has faithfully reflected his views. He never lacked the courage of his views on questions, political or otherwise, and the clientele of The Courier has always respected them, no matter how much it has differed from them, because it has felt that they were the courageous expression of conviction.
Mr. Snyder has never identified himself with any church or secret society. His re- ligion has been as broad as his charity and his home life too happy to make lodge af- filiations attractive. He is a member of a number of purely social clubs and has been prominent in Connellsville's social life.
He married (first) August 24, 1886, Jane, daughter of David and Josephine (Emery) Roberts. of Connellsville. David Roberts was born in Wales, came to the United States, where he married Josephine Emery. Mrs. Jane Snyder died, 1902. He married (second) January 25, 1905. Katharine McIntyre, daughter of Mrs. Alice (Kuhn) McIntyre, of Mckeesport, a prominent family of Western Pennsylvania, related to the Speer family of Pittsburgh. Child of first wife: Jean, born 1887, educated at National Park Seminary, Washington, and Miss Capron's School for Girls at Northampton, Massachusetts. Chil- dren of second wife: Henry Provance (2), born 1906; Alice Kuhn, 1908; Josephine, 1900.
The Sny ders of Dawson, Penn- SNYDER sylvania, descend from a Ger- man ancestry, the father of Jo- seph C. Snyder being the first of his branch to settle in the United States. His grand- parents lived and died in Germany. Their children: John B., Louise and Louis; the two latter lived and died in Germany.
(1) John B. Snyder was born in Essen, Germany, July 1, 1831, died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1899. He was well educated in the German schools, and learned the ma- chinist's trade, working in the great Krupp works at Essen, the most famous iron works
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in Europe, known perhaps best throughout the world as the plant at which the great Krupp guns are manufactured. He married and remained at the Krupp works until 1869, when he came to the United States with his wife and her widowed mother. He settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as a machinist until his death, at the J. & L. Iron and Steel works. He was a devout member, with his wife, of the Ger- man Lutheran church. He married Amelia Woerman, born at Essen, Germany, May 15, 1839, died in Pittsburgh, May 13, 1887, daughter of John and Louise Woerman, both born in Germany, where John Wöerman, a farmer, died. His wife Louise accompanied her daughter and son-in-law, John B. Snyder, to the United States. Their children: Amelia (of previous mention); Matilda, married John Johnson, and resides in Baldwin township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Tillie, mar- ried Dietrich Schmidt, and resides in Essen, Germany: Augusta, married Augustus Pros- ser, and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Children of John B. Snyder: 1. Hugo, died in infancy. 2. Albert, died in infancy. 3. Joseph (of whom further). 4. Elizabeth, married Charles Ashbaugh. head roller in the tin plate mills at New Kensington, Pennsylvania, where the family resides. 5. Henry, a bridge builder, resides in New York City.
(II) Joseph, son of John B. Snyder, was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1874. He attended the public schools of that city until he was fifteen years of age, then became a wage earner at the Cunningham Bottle Works, remaining one year; then at the McKee Glass Works on Tenth street, Pittsburgh, one year; then two years at the J. & L. Iron and Steel works. He then decided to learn the machinist's trade, and entering the repair shops of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad, served a four years' apprenticeship. From 1892 until 1897 he was employed in the McKees Rocks shops on locomotive re- pairs. In 1899 he became foreman of the machine shops of the Pressed Steel Car Com- pany, continuing three years, then returning to the machine shops of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. Two months after his return ne was made foreman at the McKees Rocks roundhouse, holding that position seven years. In 1909 he was appointed general forc.
man of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie machine shops at Dickerson Run, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and so continues. He is a most skillful machinist and a capable manager of men. His entire record with his company is one of efficiency and honorable service. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Con- nellsville, Pennsylvania; also of the Knights of Malta, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a Democrat, and now holds the office of school director at Dawson, Pennsylvania, his home.
He married, January 14, 1897, Anna K. L. Shulte, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1878, daughter of Henry and Lisetta Shulte, both born in Germany, where they were married, came to the United States about 1875, and settled in Pittsburgh, where Henry Shulte died; his widow is still living in that city. Children of Joseph and Anna K. L. (Shulte) Snyder: Wilbert, born May 15, 1898; Alberta, October 20, 1899; Helen K., March 18, 1902; Joseph C. (2), May 4, 1904.
ARTIS This name dates in Pennsylvania to pre-revolutionary times. A William Artis served in the war for independence from Chester county, but the Connellsville family descends from John Artis, who came to Fayette county from Vir- ginia at an early date. He met his death fron a falling tree near the town of Dunbar. He married and left issue.
(II) Elijah, son of John Artis, was born about 1786. He spent his life and died in Fayette county. He was a teamster and a worker around the charcoal furnaces, and is said to have been a soldier of the war of 1812. He married Sarah Dillinger, and left issue, in- cluding: Jacob, of whom further; William, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg.
(III) Jacob, son of Elijah Artis, was born in Fayette county in 1816. He was a tinner by trade, and also a stationary engineer. He enlisted during the civil war in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He mar- ried Amanda Curry, whose mother, Hannah (Bland) Curry, was of the old Virginia family
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of that name. - Curry, father of Amanda, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was one of the defenders of Fort Henry, in Balti- inore harbor, when it was attacked by the British. He died shortly after that war, and his daughter Amanda was reared by an uncle, John Bland. Hannah Curry, her mother, then came to western Pennsylvania, and died at Connellsville, aged eighty years. Children of Jacob and Amanda (Curry) Artis: I. Will- iam Alexander, of whom further. 2. Oscar, a molder by trade, died in Sacramento, Cali- fornia, leaving a daughter. 3. Jacob Emery, now of Connellsville. 4. George, died in in- fancy. 5. Melissa, married James Cady, of Connellsville. 6. Carrie, married George Critchfield, of Mount Washington, Pennsyl- vania.
(IV) William Alexander, son of Jacob Artis, was born near Liberty (now Vander- bilt), Pennsylvania, October 10, 1846. He was educated in the public schools, but when the civil war broke out enlisted, although very young, in the same company as his father and Uncle William-Company H. One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Fredericksburg, and for two months was confined in Libby prison. After the exchange of prisoners began his name was soon reached, the exchange being in alphabetical order. He then rejoined his regi- ment and fought at Gettysburg, where he re- ceived four wounds. Later he was honorably discharged and mustered out. After the war he learned the tanner's trade and also en- gaged in teaming. In 1882 he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad as wreck master, a position he still holds. His work is highly commended by his superior officers, who fully appreciate his valuable services in times of disaster to the road. In politics he is a Republican. In fraternal rela- tion he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an order he joined in 1862, and the Union Veteran Legion.
He married, in 1867, Theresa, born in Uniontown, daughter of Simon and Mary Ann (Gorley) Samsell. Simon Samsell was born in western Virginia, came to Fayette county before the civil war, and served in the Union army. He was a coach builder and merchant before the war, but afterward lived
retired on account of ill health. He died about 1880; his wife, Mary A. Samsell, died aged seventy-two. They had fifteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity. Children of William Alexander Artis: I. Walter, born July 8, 1870, married Jessie Calhoun; chil- dren: Ada Bertha, Annabel, William Robert. 2. Ada Mary, June 28, 1873, married Robert Hamman, of Connellsville; children: Robert, Ada May. 3. Annabel, December 24, 1875, died in youthful womanhood, June 30, 1899. 4. Daisy Ellen, born November 15. 1879; died June 13, 1910, married John Collins; chil- dren: Helen, William, John, James Edward.
RIST While the spelling of this name would indicate German origin, it was brought to the United States from Scotland, where Conrad and Helen Rist were born, lived and married. On coming to this country they first located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they remained two years, and where Conrad worked at his trade of boat builder or ship carpenter. They then came to Fayette county, where both died. Children: Conrad (2), became a farmer of Kansas, where he died: John H., of whom fur- ther: Katherine, died at Bradford, Pennsyl- vania, married John Orbin: Eliza, died at Bradford, married Henry Orbin.
(II) John H., son of Conrad (1) Rist, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, died October 26, 1876. He received a good edu- cation, and for many years engaged in teach- ing ; later became a farmer. He was a Demo- crat, and a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Toward the close of the civil war he was drafted and served his term. He married Katherine C. Bally, born in Fayette county, May 2, 1843. She married (second) James E. Sidebottom, of Connellsville. Cliil- dren of John H. Rist: I. George T., of whom further. 2. Charles H., now living in Con- neaut, Ohio. 3. John S., now of Cincinnati, Ohio. 4. Molly, married William Cole, of Pittsburgh. 5. Anna Kate, died in infancy.
(III) George T., son of John H. Rist, was born in Connellsvlle, March 17, 1864. He was educated in the public schools. His first employment was a brakeman on the Balti- more & Ohio railroad, later being advanced to conductor. After twelve years' service he left that company and for three years was
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conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad. He then for the next ten years was in the employ of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, making his home in West Newton, Pennsylvania. In 1899 he returned to the employ of the Balti- more & ()hio railroad, and until 1910 held the position of conductor. In 1910 he left the company, and has since been night watchman at Broad Ford for Overholt & Company. In 1909 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Fay- ette county, and is now holding both the last named positions. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He also belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of Railway Conductors.
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