History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 129

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790

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George Shoemaker, son of the original pioneer progenitor of this family, was a minister of the Gospel and founder of the church of Brethren in Christ, which was formed by a body who seceded from the Dunkards. This church was organized at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, about 1834, and for a number of years, chiefly through the labors of Rev. Shoemaker, flourished very fairly, but since his death in 1867 a portion of its adherents have merged themselves with the Free- Will Baptists. George Shoemaker married Lydia Newcomer. Their son Jacob attained national celebrity as the founder of the Philadelphia Elocu- tionary College. An older son, John, now lives in Kansas. Joshua, who is a minister, resides in Madison township, and Sarah (Neff) in Westmore- land county.

THE SHOEMAKER FAMILY.

Solomon Shoemaker, father of George Shoema- maker, the well-known old resident of this county, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1770, and

emigrated from there to Armstrong in the fall of 1799. Prior to his becoming a pioneer here he had married Miss Elizabeth Uncafer, who was also a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and born in 1774. Upon their arrival here Mr. Shoemaker en- tered 340 acres of land, and built upon it a cabin in which he and his wife lived until 1806, when he completed a stone house, which served them as a more comfortable home. This house, the first of its kind erected in the township, is still standing, but is commencing to show the ravages of time. In it Mrs. Shoemaker cooked over the great fire- place all of her married life, never owning a cook- stove. In this old house, too, she used the spin- ning-wheel, and spun the flax from which she made all of her own, her husband's and her children's clothing. She died in 1846, and her husband in 1854, after rearing a family and passing through the hardships and privations peculiar to the life of the pioneer. There were born to them six chil- dren, three sons and three daughters, whose names were: John, Joseph, Catharine, George, Margaret and Elizabeth. The three last named are living.

George Shoemaker was born May 26, 1804. 1le now owns a portion of his father's old homestead farm, which he has cleared and brought into a fine state of cultivation, principally by his own labor. He lives upon this land, about 225 acres, in a house which he built in 1834. Mr. Shoemaker married in December, 1826, Miss Elizabeth Grimm, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1808. The fruits of this union were six children, whose names, with dates of birth are as follows: Jacob, born September 21, 1827; John, November 1, 1830 (died in 1864, leaving a wife and three children); Catharine, February 11, 1834; Elizabeth, August 23, 1838; Mary, June 22, 1845, and Solomon, April 6, 1847.

The parents of Mrs. George Shoemaker, Jacob and Margaret (Silvees) Grimm, were both born in this state, and were early settlers in Westmoreland county, where they lived until their deaths. They had twelve children, of whom Adam, Margaret and Elizabeth are living.

CHRISTIAN MARDORF.

This gentleman, one of the prominent manu- facturers of Freeport, was born in the city of Melsungen, province of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Jannary 23, 1847. In 1852 the family came to this country and located in Butler borough, But- ler county, Pennsylvania, where the father followed his trade, that of a tanner. ITIs son Christian was brought up to this trade, and at the age of fifteen began to work at it regularly, having before that

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

time engaged in it at intervals. After completing his term of apprenticeship he followed his calling in Pittsburgh, where he remained until the war broke out. He went into the army, and was at Richmond and Petersburg. After the close of the war he went to East Liverpool, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of leather in company with his brother Augustus. After the expiration of two years they came to Freeport, where they established the business of which Christian Mar- dorf is now the sole proprietor. At first the busi- ness was conducted on the most rigorously econo- mical principles, and in a comparatively small way. Having been reared in the business and thins securing a thorough, practical acquaintance with all of its details, and having also a sincere desire to produce only the best goods, it was not long before his leather obtained the reputation which it deserved abroad, and his business in- creased to such an extent that he was obliged to improve his facilities. Since the date of establish- ing the tannery in Freeport, 1867, the business has grown steadily from its small beginning, until at the present Mr. Mardorf's sales amount to fully $75,000 per annum. It is still increasing although no traveling salesmen are employed, and additional facilities for manufacturing must soon be provided, a fact which affords positive evidence of the sit- periority of the goods His patronage comes from all parts of the great region between Maine and Missouri.

Mr. Mardorf was married in 1869 to Miss Wil- helmina, daughter of Andrew Zimmerman, of Jefferson township, Butler county. Both are con- sistent members of the Lutheran church of Free- port.

JAMES DOUTT.

Anative of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born November 10, 1832, now a resident of Arm- strong. James Doutt, thrown upon his own re- sources at the early age of fourteen years with no capital save industry, finds himself in the prime of his manhood enjoying a well earned independency. His first work was performed for Reynolds & Rit- chie, furnace proprietors. He was engaged for five years in this county, and has since followed the furnace business until the year 1875. In April, 1854, he was married to Miss Hannah Shall, who was born in Armstrong county, May 18, 1835. Soon after their marriage this young couple re- mnoved to Ironton, Ohio, where they remained un- til 1870, when they went to Greenup county, Ken- tucky. When Mr. Doutt located in Ironton he had but $7 in cash, but securing employment at once in a furnace owned by a certain Robert Hamilton, he

succeeded by hard work and frugality in acquiring and saving sufficient means to enable him to begin housekeeping. While in Ohio and Kentucky he accumulated by his labor so much more money than was necessary to support his family that he found himself able to purchase his mother's estate from the heirs. He returned to Armstrong county in 1875 and settled upon this property-a farm of 137 acres of as good land and well improved as can be found in Cowanshannock township. Mr. Doutt is a republican in politics, a man of sterling char- acter and a respected citizen.

The offspring of the marriage of James and Hannah (Shall) Doutt were eleven children, whose names, together with dates of birth are as follows: Lizzie J., born January 30, 1855; Daniel F., March 22, 1857; Martha Ann, September 13, 1861; James Albert, January 20, 1863; Tillie B., April 12, 1865; Maggie B., October 15, 1867; Emma V., March 26, 1869; Essie R., May 15, 1871; Addie M., December 30, 1873; Cora E., February 12, 1874; and Ettie L., October 10, 1876.

JACOB LIAS.

The man whose name heads this sketch was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1811, where he spent his youth. In the spring of 1831, his mother having died, he came with his father to Wayne township, Armstrong county. In the fall of the following year, October 4, 1832, he married Miss Susanah Schrecengost, a native of the town- ship, born June 22, 1814, and daughter of Martin

and Christiana Schrecengost, who were very early settlers. Eleven children were born of this union, eight of whom are living-James W., Eliza Ann, Asbey M., Elzada C., Leander E., Cyrus B., Mary C. and Laura C. Those deceased are Sarah Jane, McKindra C. and Curtis E. Soon after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Lias settled in the old home farm which belonged to Mr. Lias' father, and there they lived for fifteen years. Then they removed to the farm in the northern part of Cowanshan- nock township, where they now reside. This farm purchased by Mr. Lias consists of 237 acres of land. His grandparents on both sides of the house and also his wife's were of German birth or ex- traction and had followed farming. Mr. Elias' name has been by common usage abbreviated to Lias, and an uncle of his, John Elias, was so called before him.

ROBERT COCHRAN.

Robert Cochran was the son of Robert and Catharine Cochran, an old pioneer family who set- tled in Allegheny county, where he was born in the year 1805. He learned the carpenter's trade

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

when a boy and worked at it for fifteen years in Pittsburgh when that city was quite a small place. At first he received only seventy-five cents per day, and the largest wages he received were $1.50 per day. In 1835 he married Margaret Green, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, about 1818, but then living in Harrison county, Ohio, where she had inimigrated with her parents. Eighteen months after their marriage a child was born and the mother died. This child, Margaret Elizabeth, also died in her eleventh year.

In 1843 he married as his second wife Mary Richardson, who was born in Allegheny county, October 16, 1816. By this nnion there were born five children, as follows : Robert L., born March 16, 1848; Edwin G., born September 10, 1850; Willison A., born April 7, 1853 ; Marietta Ann, born June 16,.1857, and Alice K., born December 16, 1860. Only Willison A. and Alice K. are now living, the latter unmarried and residing with her brother in Leechburg. The mother of these children died September 6, 1871.

Mr. Cochran came to this county early enough to experience some of the disadvantages of life in a comparatively new country. He planted corn on the ground where Leechburg now stands, when it was partly timbered. In that early day the arti- cles which were put upon the table were corn- bread, hominy, mush and milk, tea made from herbs grown in the garden, and coffee made from corn and rye. The clothing then worn was chiefly made from the flax which the settlers raised. In Mr. Cochran's family the clothing was mostly of linen spun by his young wife. They were com- pelled to live cheaply in order to raise their little family of children and to educate them, and some- times their clothing and food supply was not as abundant as they might wish. Mr. Cochran now lives a retired life, making his home with his son, Willison A. This young man is employed as a sheet-iron shearsman in the Leechburg ironmill, and by steady hard work has secured for himself a pleasant home as well as become the owner of several houses in Apollo which bring him in a fine income. He was married in 1879 to Miss Sarah E. Gosser, who was born in this county in 1858. They have one child, Robert Lee.

HENRY KIPP McKALLIP.

Archibald McKallip, father of the old citizen of Leechburg whose name stands at the head of this brief biographical sketch, was the son of a pair of Scotch immigrants, and was born on shipboard while they were en route to America, in the year 1774. He married Catharine Kipp, who was of

German descent, and born in this state in 1779. Archibald McKallip died in 1842, and his wife in 1844. They had a family of nine children, of whom Henry K. and Nathaniel are the only ones now living.

Henry Kipp McKallip was born January 9, 1809, and married Miss Mary Kelley, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Idings) Kelley, who was born Decem- ber 10, 1817. By this union ten children were born, whose names in the order of their age are as follows: Labana S., Amanda C., Caroline, (Rev.) John K., Joanna Jane, James Albert and Mary Hannah. Caroline and two children not named are deceased.

Mr. McKallip has been an industrious, prudent and successful business man. Ile has been con- stantly engaged in the mercantile trade since he was twenty-one years of age, and now carries on a large store, and owns besides four farms in West- moreland county, and a number of houses in Leech- burg. His commencement in business was made with a capital of only $100, for one-half of which amount he received a credit. He has transacted business carefully, and as a result has now an in- dependency. He is an upright and respected citi- zen and widely known in southern Armstrong and northern Westmoreland counties.

JOHN KEELY.

John Keely was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1810, and was the son of Daniel and Mary Keely. The family moved to Indiana county, and his father died February 7, 1851, at the age of seventy-four, and mother March 25, 1846, at the age of sixty-three.

In 1833 John Keely came to this country and purchased the farm in Kiskiminetas township, which he now owns. He carried on a tannery until 1864, but has since that time devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursnits.

Upon March 4, 1841, he married Miss Nancy Watson, daughter of Robert and Sarah Watson, early settlers of the township. She was born Octo- ber 29, 1821, and died August 18, 1881, leaving five children, the survivors of ten of whom she was the mother. The following are the names of these children, together with dates of births and deaths: Mary E., born July 4, 1843; William W., December 15, 1845; Sarah J., March 27, 1848; an infant, 1850, who died the same year; Nancy M., August 23, 1852; James H., July 11, 1855; Alice Ann Amanda, May 8, 1857; Flora E., January 25, 1859; John N., January 22, 1861, and Mary M., July 9, 1862. Deaths occurred as follows: John N., September 8, 1861; Nancy M., March 23, 1862; James H., April 2, 1862; Mary E., May 13, 1862,

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

THE TRUITT FAMILY.

Thomas Truitt, from whom sprang the Truitt family of Madison township, was born in New Jer- sey, in 1789, and came to this county about 1800, with his father, Parker Truitt. The latter did not long remain here, moving to the State of Indiana. Thomas Truitt was in the war of 1812, and, returning from his tour of duty in 1813, married Lydia, daughter of Thomas Williams, who was an early settler of Madison township. She was born in 1794. After his marriage, Mr. Truitt worked upon leased land until about 1832, when he bought the farm in the northern part of the township, on which one of his sons now lives. He remained there until his death, which occurred in 1854. His wife died in 1866. Their children were : Anderson (deceased), Elizabeth (Hetrick), G. W., Thomas and D. J., all residents of Madi- son township, Mary (Buzzard), who lives in Ohio, J. A., a farmer of Mahoning township, and Will- iam, who lives in Clarion county.

THE CRAIG FAMILY,

of Madison township, is one of the largest in its territory, or, for that matter, in the county. George Craig was born in Butler county April 6, 1798, and came to Armstrong county in 1831, settling where his son Alexander T. now lives, where he resided and followed farming until his death in 1862. Before leaving Butler county he married Magdalen Conrad, of Harmony, who still survives and lives with her son, Alexander T., at the old home- stead. Mr. and Mrs. Craig were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are now living. Their names are: Samuel H., John A., James A., George W., Thomas G., William H. H., Alexander T., Elizabeth, Margaret (Hines), Nancy Ann, Mary Jane (Fox) and Nancy Elizabeth (Fox). Of these William H. H., Elizabeth and Nancy Ann are deceased. The first-named of these three was a member of the 78th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf., and died in Andersonville prison. Samuel H. was also a member of the 78th regt., and James A. was in the 107th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf. They both live in Madison township, as also do their brothers John A., George W., Thomas G., Alexander T., and their sisters Margaret and Mary Jane. Nancy Elizabeth resides in Pine township.

JOHN WANAMAKER.

The parents of John Wanamaker, the old and well known resident of Leechburg, were Henry and Susannah (Silves) Wanamaker. The former was born in this state in 1792, and died August 7, 1860, and the latter born in 1794, and died

January 14, 1880. They had ten children: John, Elizabeth, Annie, Cyrus, James, Henry, Joseph, George, Esther and Caroline; Joseph and George are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wanamaker removed from Westmoreland county, in 1813, and settled in Allegheny township (now Gilpin), where the remainder of their lives were spent.

Their son John was born in this county Feb- ruary 22, 1814. He was joined in wedlock with Miss Margaret Wagley, daughter of John and Catharine (Beck) Wagley, upon May 31, 1838. She was born January 25, 1814, in what is now Burrell township, where her parents were early settlers. The fruits of this union were seven chil- dren, whose names with their respective dates of birth are as follows: Mary Ann, born July 28, 1839, died May 11, 1863; James, born June 21, 1841, died same year; Sarah, born. July 2, 1842, died same year; Eliza (now the wife of Henry Byrer, and living in Shelby, Ohio), born June 23, 1844; Emma (now the wife of Levi Hill, of Leechburg), born October 21, 1847; Martin L., born March 12, 1849 (he married Sarah Jane Art. man, and has two children, Emma Irene and Effa Thirza); Elizabeth the youngest of the family of children (now the wife of Joseph Bowers, of Ve- nango county), was born October 4, 1851.

Mr. Wanamaker has followed the furniture and undertaking business most of his life in Leech- burg, and is one of the most respected citizens of that town.

THE MILLER FAMILY.

Jacob Miller, the progenitor of this family, was one of the earliest settlers of Kiskiminetas town- ship, where his descendants now reside. He was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1774, and his wife, Mary Uncafer, was born the same year. They emigrated to this county in the spring of 1803, the year the county was organized judicially, and lived here the remainder of their lives, rearing a family of five children. Jacob Miller died May 3, 1856, and his wife in 1821. Their children were: Joseph, born October 31, 1798, died October 31, 1862; John, born February 18, 1800; Margaret (wife of David Black), born December 18, 1803; William, born May 13, 1806; Andrew, born April 15, 1814; and Mary, born 1809, who died in infancy.

Andrew Miller, who owns the old homestead farm, and lives upon it, married June 21, 1855, Miss Mary Jane Baker, who was born in West- moreland county, October 4, 1834. They have had eight children, as follows: Wilhelmina, born September 18, 1856 (wife of William McKnstry,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

and a resident of Kiskiminetas township); Oliver Milton, born February 25, 1860; William John, born November 21, 1861; Jacob Andrew, born July 7, 1865; David Franklin, born July 21, 1867; Harry A., born February 10, 1870; an infant not named, born January 31, 1874, and Ida Rosetta, born April 27, 1875. Andrew Miller has been all of his life a farmer. He owns about 130 acres of land, the old homestead, which is well improved and valuable.

KITTANNING TOWNSHIP.

David Shoemaker was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1828; moved to Armstrong county, . Pennsylvania, 1844; is of German descent.

James Hielman, a son of Jacob Hielman, of Ger- many. James H. was born on his present farm in 1829.

Isaac Hielman, son of Daniel Ilielman, who died in this county in 1832. Isaac was born in 1821 ; now lives on the same place where born ; is of German descent.

Jacob H. Schall enlisted August 24, 1864, in the 6th Heavy Pa. Art., Co. M, discharged July 3, 1865, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at close of war.

Benjamin Evans enlisted August 9, 1862, in Co. C, 139th Pa. Vols .; discharged on June 21, 1865, at Washington, District of Columbia; received a severe wound in left wrist at battle of Wilderness; was taken prisoner at Fredericksburg on May 8, 1864, and lay five months in rebel prison at Rich- mond, Virginia, when he was exchanged.

Charles Nichols enlisted August 18, 1862, in Co. K, 155th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf., in Pine township; dis- charged Jnne 2, 1865, at Washington, District of Columbia; served the entire time in the army of the Potomac in the 5th corps.

William H. Barnett enlisted September 7, 1863, Co. H, 6th regt. U. S. A .; discharged May 29, 1865.

Josiah J. Shaffer, son of Philip and Susanah Shaffer, was born in Kittanning township July 25, 1838; taught school ten years, and is postmaster and merchant at Blanket Hill.

William K. Gibson enlisted Angust 29, 1861, in Co. A, 78th Pa. Vol. Inf .; discharged October 12, 1864; laid in the hospital at Bridgeport, Alabama, six weeks with smallpox, from which has never fully recovered.

Solomon S. Peters enlisted September 1, 1862, at Brady's Bend, in Co. C, 139th regt. Pa. Vols .; discharged June 6, 1865, at West Chester, Philadel- phia; lost leg at the battle of Fisher LIill, West Georgia, by fragment of a shell.

John Brice enlisted in Co. II, 6th regt., in July, 1863; was killed in battle in front of Petersburg, Virginia, June 4, 1864; went from Templeton, Arm- strong county, Pennsylvania.

Peter Brice enlisted in Co. H, 6th regt., July, 1863; was killed at Dead Bottom, Virginia, same year.

J. J. Shaeffor enlisted February 23, 1864, Ço. D, 112th Pa. Vols .; discharged January 22, 1866; was slightly wounded in hand at Chaparis farm, Virginia, October.29, 1864.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

William W. Caldwell enlisted August 23, 1862, in Co. K, 155th Pa. Vol. Inf. ; discharged May, 1863.

Ephraim Morrow enlisted May 15, 1861, in Co. K, Pa. Reserves, "Bnck Tail Regt.," and was trans- ferred in November, 1861, to the U. S. Signal Corps ; was discharged June 17, 1864.

William T. McFarland enlisted August 27, 1861, at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in Co. H, 78th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf. ; discharged November 4, 1864, at Kittanning.

Frederick Broombaugh enlisted August 28, 1862, at Eddyville, in Co. A, 78th regt. Pa. Vols. ; discharged May 12, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.

David S. Cochran, enlisted October 13, 1861, at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in Co. G, 78th Pa. Vols .; discharged November 4, 1864.

VALLEY TOWNSHIP.

Ernest Miller enlisted September 7, 1861, Co. B, - Pa. regt. ; discharged for disability October 15, 1863, at Chester Hill.

Jesse F. Hyskell enlisted June 28, 1861, at Camp Wright, Pennsylvania, in Co. F, 9th Pa. Reserves ; discharged May 12, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; wounded in leg severely at battle of Antietam, Maryland, in September, 1862.

Archaberd A. Marshall was mustered into the state service in Co. G, 22d regt., on September 16, 1862, called into the service by the governor of Pennsylvania for state defense.

John Cochron was mustered into state service in Co. G, 22d regt., September 16, 1882 ; called into service by the governor of Pennsylvania for state defense.

Jeremiah Bowser enlisted November 25, 1864, at Belknap, in Co. I, 76th regt. Pa. Vols .; dis- charged in April, 1865, at Washington, District of Columbia.

Joseph T. Irwin was mustered into the state volunteer service as captain of Co. G, 22d regt.,

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

September 16, 1862, called into service by the. governor of Pennsylvania for the state defense.

David L. Marshall enlisted September 5, 1864, in Co. M, 5th Pa. Ileavy Art. ; discharged on July 8, 1865, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

John T. Mathews enlisted December 12, 1862, at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in Co. M, 2d Pa. corps ; discharged July- 24, 1865, at Cloud's Mill, Virginia ; captured at the battle at Ream's Sta- tion, Virginia, July 12, 1864, and in the following prisons : Libby, Andersonville, Charleston and Florence, South Carolina-nine months in all ; paroled at Wilmington, North Carolina, April 6, 1865.

SOUTH BEND TOWNSHIP.

William H., son of William and Margaret Wilson, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1835; resides on a farm of 160 acres, purchased by his father in 1844; was married in 1857, to Lenna A., daughter of William and Mary Armstrong, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He is a farmer and stock dealer. Postoffice, South Bend.

Z. J. Heilman, son of William and Margaret Heilman, was born in Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania, in 1851; followed farming until March, 1882, when he embarked in mercantile business at Idaho, where he keeps a full line of goods such as is usually found in a village store. Was married in 1873, to Rosannah, daughter of Joseph and Anna N. Klingensmith. Postoffice, South Bend.

Henry, son of Robert and Elizabeth Townsend, was born in Westmoreland connty, Pennsylvania, in 1823; came with his father to this county in 1825. At the age of twenty-eight commenced the mercantile business; came to South Bend in 1862, where he still resides. Was married to Levena, daughter of David and Mary Boggs, who died September, 1875, leaving two children. In 1876 was married to Rebecca, daughter of Mathew and Mary Harbinson. Postoffice, South Bend.

George I., son of John H. and Frances A. Smith, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, in 1825; was raised a farmer; learned blacksmithing, which business he carries on at South Bend. In 1873 was married to Eliza J., daughter of Samuel and Hettie France. Postoffice, South Bend.

Lebius, son of William and Esther Heinselman, born in South Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania, 1828, where he still resides on a part of the old homestead, having 104 acres. Was married in 1853, to Jane, daughter of Jared and Elizabeth McCandless. Postoffice, South Bend.

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 129

Author: Smith, Robert Walter Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins Number of Pages: 790

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790