USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 46
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sent to Philadelphia. Possibly true. At the mouth of Canoe creek, Mr. Delo saw a panther on a rock on the opposite side of the river watching for a fish breakfast. He shot her and got twenty dollars for the scalps of the mother and two cubs. Once he shot a bear and gave the skin to a neighbor, who said: "Sure, Mr. Delo, ven you was so gute as to gif me de skin, mebby you gif me de hear too." The skin was of no value, but the meat was a necessity. Deer and bear were to be had at almost any time ; fish also, filled the streams, great shoals of them, were in the Clarion river, pike, salmon and bass, with suckers and smaller fry. The creeks were full of speckled mountain trout.
Mr. Delo served two campaigns in Captain Neely's company from Venango county, at Erie, in the war of 1812. He and his family were Lutherans in religious belief. He died March 11, 1848, when he had living nine sons and three daughters. One daughter, Polly Keiser, wife of George Keiser, had died in 1845. The oldest son was Daniel, of whom below.
Joseph, son of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, was born in Hempfield town- ship, Westmoreland county, in 1801. When he came to manhood he married Susan Best, of Beaver township, Clarion county, where he purchased a farm. They had four sons and four daughters when his wife died. He then married Rebecca Wiles, who blest him with three daughters and three sons. Among them were the following: 1. Joseph, married a Miss Ashbaugh. 2. George Adam, was twice mar- ried, and lives in Centerville, Mckean county. 3. Daniel, married a Miss Lamb, of Clarion township; he died in 1910: they have two daughters living in Warren, Pennsylvania. 4. David, living in Enterprise, Warren county ; married, and has a daughter living, a teacher. 5. Mary, married John Black, of Licking township. 6. Susan, married George Baker ; she is deceased. 7. Elizabeth, married John Shively ; she died without issue. Of the sec- ond wife's children: Simeon served in the civil war, married Miss Stover, and have a family ; William, lives in Pittsburgh, married a Miss Canan, of Millcreek township; Amos, a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, deceased, married a Miss Barnet.
Jacob Delo, son of George and Eve Cath- erine (Kuhns) Delo, married a Miss Silvis; they moved to Mckeesport in 1840, where he
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was mine boss for some time; an injury made him a cripple for life; he had a son killed in the civil war, and another son was also in the civil war; a grandson, David Delo, lives in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and has two sons- John and Albert. George P., son of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, married Betsy Best; they had four sons and a number of daughters; one son, Rev. I. J., is a Lutheran minister. John, son of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, died without issue. David, son of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, married a Miss Logan of Kittanning, Armstrong county; in 1840 he moved to Wheeling, West Virginia ; he was a coach maker ; during the civil war he was in service, and was superintendent of ar- tillery wagon shops in Chattanooga, Tennes- see ; his son Watson lost a leg in the civil war ; was a printer and was employed in the gov- ernment printing department ; deceased, leav- ing a widow, four daughters and a son, who reside in Washington, D. C. Another son of David, Rev. Frank Delo, is a Lutheran minis- ter in the west. David Delo died at the age of eighty-five years. Anna, daughter of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, married Daniel Winger, of Beaver township; they had a family of five children when she died. Of the sons, John J. was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He built the first Methodist church building in Kansas City, was a missionary in Arizona and New Mexico. After twenty years of earnest work on the frontier his eyesight failed. He died at Los Angeles, California. Simon, a veteran of the civil war, died in Michigan in 1910; Reuben, another veteran son, lives in Beaver township; Susan McDowell, a daughter, aged cighty-five years, lives in Beaver township; Katharine Murphy, died in Illinois. Esther Fry, another daughter of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, died in Missouri aged ninety-five years and five months, at the home of her son, Isaac Fry. Eve, daughter of George and Eve (Hummel) Delo, married Slocum Kerr, a physician ; they went to Cin- cinnati in 1840; a second husband was Jacob Reiche, who lived near Chicago, where she died. Henry J., son of George and Eve (Hummel) Delo, married Hannah Barr, of Beaver township; for a time they lived at Walnut Bend, and then moved to Elkhart, In- diana, on a farm, where he died; his descend- ants live in that vicinity. Louis, son of George
and Eve (Hummel) Delo, married Caroline Lobaugh, of Licking township. They are both deceased; they have a number of children living: Reuben F. and two brothers live in the Bradford oil field. Rev. Reuben F. Delo, son of George and Eve ( Hummel) Delo, a Luther- an minister, was educated in the common schools and Wittenberg College, at Spring- field, Ohio; his pastorates were at Elkhart, Indiana, and Three Rivers, Michigan ; he died in Colorado; he was chaplain of an Ohio regi- ment of volunteers during the civil war. All the sons of George Delo were active in church work and liberal in support thereof. Three of them taught in the public schools of the county.
Daniel Delo, first born son of George and Eve Catherine (Kuhns) Delo, was born De- cember 9, 1779, in Hempfield township, West- moreland county. He was seven years old when he came with his parents to Clarion county, then Armstrong county. A year later he had three months in school, all he ever had. Some time later he went with his father on a flatboat to Pittsburgh, where he purchased a Testament, which became his daily companion and study. When resting his horses in the plow he would sit on the plow beam or under a tree and read until his mind became filled with the wonderful story of the Christ and His tragic death. In his old age he related to his son Benjamin this experience : While rest- ing his horses he sat under a tree reading and in meditation. Suddenly there appeared be- fore him the Christ with the print of the nails in His hands and the thrust of the spear in His side, with a halo of light enswathing His person. He saw the risen Christ as Thomas had seen Him. He had never seen any pic- tures at any time and there were none about the house. In explanation he remarked that becoming so familiar with the facts impressed upon his mind a mental image was formed and thrust out before his eyes. At the age of fourteen he had his right shoulder dislocated; all efforts failed to adjust it, notwithstanding six months spent under the treatment of Dr. Merchant, of Greensburg. During this period he made his home with his uncle, David Keifer. Not being able to do manual labor, he procured books and gave himself to study. In the evenings a pine torch afforded him light. At the age of eighteen he taught his first school, on Cherry Run, in Clarion county, on the Louis Wilson farm. He sub-
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sequently taught at Leatherwood, Churchville, and at Alts, in Beaver township, where for some time he had a select school to which students came from other neighborhoods, boarding in the vicinity. Among those was John Over, who came especially to study Ger- man. Mr. Over died in Clarion at the age of ninety-four years, in 1900. He was the father of Judge Over, of the orphans' court of Allegheny county. Mr. Delo served as con- stable for several years. In 1823 he married his stepsister. Christiana Loughner. They had thirteen children: two died in infancy, one at ten years. In 1828 Mr. Delo was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Shulze, for the townships of Richland, Rockland, Elk, Paint and Beaver, in Venango county. The territory extended on the west side of the river, from the mouth of the Clarion to Horse Creek on the Allegheny, taking in all of what is now Clarion county, west of the Clarion, and part of what is now Venango. He la- bored especially for the adoption of the com- mon school law. He served one term as audi- tor of Venango county. After serving four- teen years in the office of justice, he was elected sheriff of Clarion county and served a term, and was deputy for the two succeeding terms. In 1844 he was a campaign speaker for the Democratic party, and was especially sought after for his capabilities as a German orator. He was appointed colonel on Governor Shunk's staff. He had then been captain of a militia company for fifteen years. He was one of the owners and builders of Eagle Furnace on his land, where he had a sawmill, hav- ing formerly been engaged in boatbuilding and lumbering. In 1847 he sold his interest in Eagle Furnace and bought the Great Western Hotel in Clarion, which he con- ducted for three years, when he sold out. In 1853 he was appointed weighmaster on the Pennsylvania canal at Hollidaysburg, and also served three years as cargo inspector; then was for a short time weighmaster for the P. R. R. at Johnstown. Returning to Clarion, he taught school one winter, and in 1860 was elected prothonotary of the county and served one term. In the beginning of the civil war he drilled the first volunteers enlisted in Clar- ion, and went over the county speaking at mass meetings for enlistments. He subse- quently served a term as justice and was for a number of years president of the school board and tax collector. Soon after their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Delo united with the German Reformed church; he was treasurer of the classis of that church in Clarion county. At Hollidaysburg they united with the Luth- eran church, and on their return to Clarion became members of the Presbyterian church, of which he was a ruling elder for twenty years. He never departed from one great interest-the education of the people and their religious culture in the Sunday school. He was spiritually minded, and his home was ever open to all ministers of the gospel. Mrs. Delo was an ideal mother and housekeeper, and was of wonderfully well balanced mind, an assist- ant to her husband in counsel, and of loving and tender heart. Mr. Delo died October 19, 1877. aged seventy-eight years, and his wife went to her reward only six weeks later, aged seventy years. They were buried in Clarion cemetery. Few people were so universally esteemed. All classes gave them honor and their memory abides as ointment poured forth.
Dr. George Washington Delo, son of Daniel and Christiana (Loughner) Delo, was born March 14, 1824, in Beaver township, Clarion county. He was educated in the common schools, and added thereto by close applica- tion thereafter. He married Sophia Wheaton, daughter of Charles Wheaton ; she was a na- tive of New Jersey, and came to Pennsylvania when she was four years old. They were highly esteemed in the communities where they lived. They had an old-fashioned fam- ily of thirteen children ; three died in infancy, the living ones are: C. A., a coachmaker in Frisco shops, Springfield, Missouri, is married and has a family of four children. William R., married Sadie Adams, of Rockland, Ven- ango county : he operated in the Bradford (Pennsylvania ) oilfield, and state of Indiana, where he died in 1910; his widow lives in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and a daughter, Le- nore Coswell, lives in Bartleville, Oklahoma. John A. is a brickmason, in Springfield, Mis- souri, and has a family. Mary E., widow of Benjamin La Belle, lives in Springfield, Mis- souri. Wesley B. is a brickmason, and lives in Springfield, Missouri. Maria, wife of George Atterbury, resides on a farm near Springfield, Missouri. George F. is a railroad man of Kansas City. Joshua H. is a car- maker in the Frisco shops, Springfield. Han- nah J. is the wife of L. B. Cooper, and lives on the farm with her father, the mother hav- ing died a few years ago, aged eighty-two
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years. George W. Delo, the father, was a car- penter in his early manhood, later he studied medicine. He had taught school for several winters. For some years he lived in the oil- field of Oil Creek, Pennsylvania; then in Clarion county. In 1857 he moved to Elk- hart, Indiana, thence to northern Alabama, where he practiced medicine in connection with agricultural pursuits. The Kuklux sent him several death notices. He finally sold out his plantation at a sacrifice and moved to a farm joining the city line of Springfield, Mis- souri, where he has prospered, and in his eighty-ninth year is a well preserved man, physically and mentally, and has a compe- tence for his old age. He and his wife held membership in the Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal churches in their changes of resi- dence. He is a Prohibitionist.
Rev. John A. Delo, second child and son of Daniel and Christiana (Loughner ) Delo, was born April 15, 1826. He had a common school education, and for a time was a clerk at Eagle Furnace. He had united with the Methodist Episcopal church when sixteen years of age, but transferred his membership to the Evangelical Lutheran. Feeling called to the ministry, he studied for a time with his pastor, Rev. Witt, in Shippensville, and finish- ed his course in Wittenberg College, at Spring- field, Ohio. During his first pastorate at Marionville, Pennsylvania, he married Amelia Buffon, in 1855. He after had pastorates at North Washington, Butler county, and Apollo, Armstrong county. From Apollo he went into the army as chaplain of the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers. He went with his regiment through the Wilderness campaign, to the James river, where they were discharged. He had contracted a chronic dis- ease, and the same fall, November 1, 1864, he died at North Washington, Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he is interred. He was a man of deep piety and much more than ordin- ary pulpit ability. The veterans of his regiment have spoken of him as an ideal chaplain in camp and in hospital, ever on the lookout for their physical and spiritual good. He and his wife were the parents of one daughter, Alice, and two sons, Alonzo and Howe. Alonzo was an artist in Pittsburgh, died leaving two chil- dren ; the mother also died, and the children are in the care of Alice Delo, who is unmar- ried. Rev. Howe Delo, the other son of John A. Delo, was a Lutheran minister at Beaver
Falls, Pennsylvania ; he had consumption, went to Texas for relief but died there in Austin.
Abigail, daughter of Daniel and Christiana (Loughner) Delo, married Abraham K. Page, of Juniata county, Pennsylvania. She was born in Beaver township, June, 1828, and died in 1907, aged seventy-nine years. Mr. Page was long engaged in the furniture and under- taking business in Clarion. Their children are: I. William E., married Louisa Brinkley, of Clarion, and has two sons married : William E. and Charles ; all are painters and decorat- ors. 2. Benjamin F., married Carrie Fleming, and is the successor of his father in the furni- ture and undertaking business in Clarion. Their children are: Ora, wife of John W. Cy- phert, locomotive engineer of Union City, Pennsylvania ; Mary B. Hood, of Seattle, Washington ; Ruby, married Charles Wensel, cigar manufacturer of Clarion, they have two children : B. F. Jr., and Paul A. The Flem- ings are a large connection in Clarion county and are sturdy Scotch stock. B. F. Page also had three other children who are deceased. 3. James, married Erdine Reyner, of Knox, Pennsylvania ; they have a son Wayne and a daughter. Mr. Page was engaged in the gro- cery trade, is now deceased, and his widow carries on the business successfully. 4. George B. is a painter and decorator in Clarion. He married Nora Neely ; their children are : Abra- ham K., Abigail Delo, George Neely, and Har- old Earl. 5. Mary, married N. B. Rowley, of Chester, West Virginia. They have two daughters: Abigail, a student in college, and Mary, at home. Mr. Rowley is a general traveling agent. 6. Christiana, married M. L. Longnaker ; they have one daughter. Mr. Longnaker is a bookkeeper for the Westing- house Electric Company, East Pittsburgh. They reside in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. A. K. Page was a Presbyterian, also her son William and Mrs. Longnaker; B. F. and family and the Rowleys are Baptists. George B. and family are Presbyterians, and Mrs. James Page is a Lutheran.
Jeremiah, son of Daniel and Christiana (Loughner) Delo, was born in Beaver town- ship, July 3, 1830. His education was in the common schools of Clarion. In 1850 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. He then organized the first church choir of Clar- ion ; then went to Meadville, was a carpenter and contractor, choir leader in the First Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and married Melvina
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Lane, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Lane, came from Chautauqua county, New York. Their four children are living: Eva Bell, Har- riet O., and Charles, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and William, married, superintendent of pat- tern department, shops of P. R. R. at Belle- vue, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. In 1858 Jeremiah Delo moved to Altoona, Penn- sylvania, and for a short time was carpenter for the P. R. R., when he was appointed weighmaster. When first appointed he had three hours' work in the day and his assist- ant three at night. After serving forty-one years he was retired on age limit, when super- intendent of weighing, with seventeen assist- ants who were constantly employed. Such was the increase of tonnage in his time of service. His wife died in 1870. In 1872 he married Charlotta Wandel, of Salem, Clarion county, daughter of William Wandel. At once, on moving to Altoona, he took charge of the choir of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. When the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was organized he filled the same position there. He was chairman of the building committee, constructing two succes- sive church buildings for this organization, and on the committee that built the present beautiful and costly edifice. He was a most exemplary Christian, and had the confidence of all who knew him. During his retirement he enjoyed a most happy life for several years, when his health failed and he gradually came peacefully to the translation to the better life.
Herman Levi, son of Daniel and Christiana (Longhner) Delo, was born in Beaver town- ship, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1836. He was educated in the common schools and academy of Clarion. He married Sarah Eliza, daughter of Samuel and Char- lotte (Brotherline) Longanecker, of Holli- daysburg, Pennsylvania. He was in the employ of the P. R. R. for fifty-two years and three months, dating from April 1, 1854, to July, 1906, when he was retired by age limit, and was at that time assistant chief motive power clerk of all the P. R. R. lines east of Pittsburgh and Erie. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. For many years he was the organist of the First Lutheran Church of Altoona, and he is a prominent member of the F. and A. M., and past commander of Moun- tain Commandery. Herman L. Delo's chil- dren are: Herman E., O. Frank, George H ..
Howard, Sarah Matilda. Herman E.'s chil- dren are : Harry C., has a son Joseph C .; Ed- ward F., has children Dorothea L., Harold E. and Lucial B .; Walter H. and Elma R. O. Frank's children are: Rebekah Elizabeth and Sarah Martha. O. Frank Delo is chief clerk of the middle lines of the P. R. R. George H. is chief clerk of Juniata locomotive works of the P. R. R. Co., where they build their loco- motives. Howard is electrician of the eastern grand division and branches between Altoona and Philadelphia. Herman E. is chief in- spector of the Altoona & Logan Valley Street railway from Hollidaysburg through Altoona to Tyrone.
Samuel Porter, son of Daniel and Christiana (Lougliner) Delo, was born May 1, 1839, in Beaver township, Clarion county. He was married twice, and has a son William by his first wife, who lives in North Baltimore; he is a locomotive engineer on the B. & O. R. R. A son by his second wife lives in Los Angeles, California, with his mother. Samuel P. Delo was a violinist and an expert on nearly all musical instruments. He had a common school education, and became a locomotive engineer on the P. R. R. between Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne. In an accident his arm was broken ; after recovery he enlisted in Pittsburgh in the first call for volunteers in the civil war. After serving his term he re-enlisted and became a recruiting sergeant, when he was appointed chief clerk in the provost marshal's office in Meadville, where he remained up to the close of the war. He then traveled for a number of years as a canvasser. Last he was employed as timekeeper for the Southern Pacific R. R. at Birmingham, Alabama, where he died in 1893.
Joshua Hunter, son of Daniel and Chris- tiana (Loughner) Delo, was born October 15, 1841. He was educated in the common schools and academy of Clarion. He married Susan Richards, daughter of Abraham Rich- ards, of Clarion. He clerked for his father in the prothonotary's office until 1862, when he enlisted under Captain B. J. Reid, in Com- pany. F, of the Sixty-third Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, Colonel Hays commanding. In the beginning of the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines he was killed while as first ser- geant, he was forming the company for action : he was buried on the battle field. Following is the last letter he wrote to his wife, also ex-
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tracts from various sources giving testimony as to the esteem and love in which he was held by friends and associates :
12 Miles from Richmond, Henrico Co., Va .. May 28th, 1862.
Dear Wife :- When I last wrote, we had just re- turned from a picket, having been relieved by the 87th Regiment New York Volunteers. They in turn were relieved by the 57th Regt. Penna. Volunteers on yesterday morning. By custom they should have been relieved by the 105th Regt. Penna. Volunteers, but were not, for what reason I cannot tell. Nothing worthy of note or interest has occurred since being on picket. I am in the enjoyment of excellent health today, and have been for sometime past for which I am thankful to my Heavenly Father.
An order was issued on day before yesterday that all knapsacks and contents were to be sent to the rear, keeping nothing but our woolen blankets, and shelter tents. We are to be encumbered as little as possible in view, I suppose, of approaching conflict. I kept my Bible and likenesses of both mother and yourself, all of which I shall carry with me. We had a delightful shower of rain this afternoon which has effectually cooled the scorching rays of Old Sol.
Evening .- The sun is about setting, the beautiful rays flashing in the heavens, and painting the clouds with a beauty and richness the art of which a painter might court to possess. John is very sick, and has been for several days, hardly being able to walk. He will have to go to the hospital. I hope that his sickness will not be of a very serious character. The health of the company generally is good, that also of the regiment. I do not know when we will leave our present camp. I hope and trust that this war will speedily come to a close, as I am tired of it, yet my love for my fallen and bleeding country is such, that unless I have to be discharged on account of sickness or disability, or death should take me, I will remain and share all its privations, hardships and toils, and while I am fighting for my country, may I also fight the battle of the Cross.
May 29th, 1862, 61/2 a. m .- I am in the enjoyment of very good health, as also that of the company. I had a very delightful conversation with Rev. Dr. Marks on last night. He says he will give me a certificate of membership, and a letter to Rev. Mont- 'gomery, today. I want to send it as soon as possible, for if there was any danger of Mr. Montgomery leaving this world, I want him to know it before he leaves, as his prayers and supplications are at last answered. I am very sorry to hear that the usually very quiet place of Clarion was so excited that a riot almost occurred. I hope that that riot will be last that Clarion shall ever behold. As it is time for company drill I must close, and I want my letter mailed in time. My love to father, mother and the boys, also to Pages. My most sincere love to you and the children, kiss them for me. I remain as ever your loving and affectionate husband,
JOSHUA H. DELO.
Battle Field of Fair Oaks, Va., June 4th, 1862. My Dear Friend :- My heart almost fails me when I take my pen to speak of what you already know- the early but glorious death of your son, Sergeant Joshua H. Delo, who fell fighting bravely for the
flag of his country on the bloody battle field of Sat- urday last. It is natural that you should grieve-as well as all who were connected with him by family or social ties. In that grief I sympathize with you deeply. But let it be a source of just pride to you that he has acquitted himself well and fell honor-
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