USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 19
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Dr. Masters married, in 1880, Amanda J. Garman, daugh- ter of Dr. William A. and Mary Ann (Burnett) Garman. the former named having been his preceptor in medicine, and the latter a daughter of Dr. Burnett, who was a soldier and surgeon in the Mexican war, and who died at an advanced age on his farm close to Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Dr. Garman is still in practice at Berlin, Pennsylvania, at the advanced age of seven-
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ty-six years; he has been in continuous practice for half a cen- tury, and is still hale and active. He is president of the Na- tional Bank of Berlin, and has served as school director for many years, also burgess and pension examiner. He is a Luth- eran in religion, and a Democrat in politics. One child was born to Dr. and Mrs. Masters: Frederick Garman Masters, who is at present (1905) teaching school. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of Rockwood, Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, from which institution he was graduated in the classical course in 1904.
CHARLES PYTHIAN COBAUGH.
Charles Pythian Cobaugh, deceased, who was a prominent and influential citizen of Rockwood, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, was born in 1841 in Taylor township, Cambria county, near Conemaugh, the son of Daniel and Nancy (Gochenow) Cobaugh, and one of eight children, namely: Charles Pythian, of whom later; David, a resident of Johnstown; Philip, lives in Conemaugh; Jennie married (first) Richard Clay, (second) a Mr. Davis, of Chicago; Alice married David Mover, of Cone- maugh; Susannah, wife of Thomas Grove, of Morrellville; Louisa, wife of John Good, and Daniel, who was in the war of the rebellion and was a prisoner in Libby prison nine months.
Charles P. Cobaugh, in his earlier days, worked upon a farm. At the breaking out of the Civil war he tendered his services to his country, serving two enlistments. The first was for three months in Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves. On October 21. 1861, he re-enlisted in Company (, First Battal- ion, Nineteenth United States Infantry, served for three years, and was honorably discharged at Camp Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, October 29, 1864. The command to which he be- longed was a part of the Western army and was commanded by General Benjamin Harrison. At the close of the war he be- came fireman and later engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, and accepted a position, nearly twenty years ago, on the Bal- timore and Ohio railroad. He removed his family to Mevers- dale, and it was during his residence at this place that he had charge of the engine on the "Keystone Shifter," a coal train that plied between Salisbury Junction and Cumberland. His next removal was to Rockwood, thence to Connellsville and back again to Rockwood, where his family have since resided. In 1886, while engaged in shifting in sight of his own home, the locomotive of which Mr. Cobangh was in charge blew up, and he and his fireman, the late Harry Dayton, escaped with their lives, as if by a miracle. For many months after the terrible accident the unfortunate engineer was confined to his bed. hov- ering between life and death, occasioned by the great nervous
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shock and other injuries of a serious nature sustained in the awful catastrophe. He never fully recovered from the effects of the explosion, but as soon as he was again able to engage in active pursuits he railroaded and rested by turns, his last work at the throttle having been performed several years ago on the Confluence helper. From that time on he was engaged in the manufacture of cigars and tobacco on a limited scale. Politically Mr. Cobaugh was an ardent Republican. He was a member of the William H. Weller Post No. 549, G. A. R .; Meyersdale Lodge No. 554, F. and A. M .; and of Rockwood Council No. 801, Royal Arcanum. During his residence in Rockwood Mr. Cobaugh identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Charles P. Cobaugh married, June 18, 1866, Rebella Parks, daughter of Joseph Parks, who for many years was an engineer on the famous Old Portage railroad, and who met his death by an explosion of his engine in 1865. Eight children, five sons and three daughters, were born to them, namely: George P .; Clara B., wife of William Millhouse; Grace, wife of George E. Beatty; Lewis D .; Lena M., wife of W. A. Shumaker; the three other sons, Joseph W., Charles P. and James G., are all de- ceased. Joseph W. died from the effects of having his head caught between two cars loaded with rails in the Rockwood yards, in 1887; Charles P. died in 1892 of typhoid fever; and James G. was scalded to death in 1902 in a wreck on the Som- erset & Cambria branch of the railroad.
Charles P. Cobaugh died at his home in Rockwood, Janu- ary 9, 1904, aged sixty-four years. His demise was most sin- cerely mourned by those who knew him intimately. He was a fond parent, a Christian man and an ideal citizen in every sense of the term. The funeral services were conducted on January 11th, in the Rockwood Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. C. L. E. Cartwright, of Scottdale, during whose pastorate in Meyers- dale Mr. Cobaugh was received into the church, delivered a powerful and impressive sermon. He was assisted in the serv- ices by Rev. O. E. Rodkey, Rev. W. H. Blackburn and Rev. R. D. Ellis. Interment was at New Centerville. The services at the cemetery were conducted by his comrades of the Grand Army and his brethren of the Masonic fraternity, a large dele- gation from Meyersdale Lodge being in attendance.
ALEXANDER CASEBEER.
Alexander Casebeer, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, descend- ed through the following ancestry :
(I) Solomon Casebeer, the grandfather of Alexander Casebeer, was a native of Germany. He emigrated to our shore, settling in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, near the close
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of 1700. There is no other record in possession of his descend- ants, hence his occupations, general achievements, religion and education can only be conjectured at. It is only known that he died when a young man. He married Elizabeth Emmert, who was of German descent, her people being among the early set- tlers of Somerset county prior to 1800. Solomon Casebeer and wife had seven children, four daughters and three sons. The sons were Isaac, Solomon and Joseph. The names of the daugh- ters were: Hannah, who married John Mellinger and moved to Wooster, Ohio, about 1830; she was the mother of nineteen children. Elizabeth married Michael Mellinger, moved to the same place in Ohio and was the mother of two daughters. Sarah married Jacob Sarver and resided at Greensburg, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, where he conducted the old stone hotel until his death. She was the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters. One son and one danghter reside in Westmoreland county. Mary married George Hartman, a Ger- man, and resided in Somerset county until 1863, when they emigrated to Michigan. They had three children, two sons and one daughter, one son died in the Union army during the Civil war. The daughter still resides in Michigan, the wife of a far- mer living in Tuscola county, her father and mother having died about 1902. The son with his family live in West Eliza- beth, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.
(II) Solomon Casebeer, son of Solomon Casebeer (1), the American ancestor, was a stone and brick mason and re- moved from Somerset county to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with his family early in 1840. There he formed partnership with a man named Coulter, and they became heavy contractors and builders. He married Sarah Baker, a descendant of George Peters Baker. on the river Rhine, Germany. He was very wealthy. He had four sons and one daughter, who emigrated to this country about 1752. One son died soon after arriving here. The family were highly educated. The surviving brothers were surgeons and performed much government work. They possessed large estates in many sections of the United States. Prior to 1800 they were officers in the army, one, Col- onel Henry Baker, became a merchant and had ship at sea, also owned much land near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1801. Before his death his lands were leased for nine- ty-nine years, and the business portion of the city to-day is lo- cated on this tract. By will his estate fell to his brothers, Jacob and Peter, and the sister Elizabeth. They resided in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. and later moved to Somerset county, where Jacob was killed by the Indians about 1816. Peter emi- grated to Ohio. Colonel Henry died single. Jacob Baker was Alexander Cascheer's great-grandfather on the maternal side.
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Mrs. Sarah (Baker) Casebeer died in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, before the death of her husband, leaving three children, two of whom soon followed her, Alexander being the only remaining child, and his father died when he was about nine years of age. (III) Alexander Casebeer, son of Solomon and Sarah (Baker) Casebeer, was born June 11, 1830, in Stoystown, Som-
erset county, Pennsylvania. His education was necessarily very limited, as his parents both died when he was but a mere lad, and he was thus compelled to make his own way through an untried world, unaided by the council of a father and the love and care of a mother. When but ten years of age lie went to live with a farmer in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until eighteen years of age, then returned to friends in Somerset county. In the spring of 1850 he went to Michigan, where he found employment in the big woods at lumbering for five years and more. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land and cleared up a good farm and made many improvements thereon. He next embarked in the grocery business, but within one year sadness came to his new-made home by the death of his wife. He then sold out and spent the following winter in Canada, that being the winter of 1887-88. In the spring of 1888 he returned to Michigan, spent the sum- mer and the fall there and then returned to his native county- Somerset.
Mr. Casebeer has been a Republican ever since that party had an organization, with the single exception of Mr. Cleve- land's first term. Aside from local offices, such as school and township offices, he never has aspired to public positions. He has been township clerk, and for four years a notary public. In the agricultural societies he has held positions befitting his qualifications. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Regiment, for three years, during the great Civil war, but declined each and ever offer of promotion, preferring rather that such promotions should go to his comrade friends. About 1856 Mr. Casebeer united with the Methodist Episcopal church and was for a number of years class leader, steward and Sunday school superintendent. He also held an exhorter's license for several years and became leader of a "praying band," which proved a successful feature of Christian work. For a number of years he was a member of the Knights of Honor, in which order he was treasurer. He is also a mem- ber of the Knights of Maccabees, and being one of the deputy supreme commanders, planted the order in Somerset county. He has held the office of record keeper for several years in suc- cession.
Mr. Casebeer married (first), August 26, 1856, Elizabeth Woodward, in Denmark township, Tuscola county, Michigan.
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She was well educated and by occupation a dressmaker and milliner. She was an English lady and had done much work in hier line for the nobility. Her father was James Woodward, a hotelkeeper at Long Sutton Bridge, England, he owning the property in his own right. Mrs. Elizabeth Casebeer died in the autumn of 1876. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Casebeer married (sec- ond) Ida Fisher, of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Samuel Fisher and wife. Her father was a soldier in the Union cause in the Civil war days, in one of the Pennsylvania regiments. He was a native of Somerset county, his ancestry being among the earliest settlers and of German descent. His education was limited. Politically he was a Democrat. By Mr. Casebeer's first marriage were born to him: 1. James, born April 22, 1858, in Denmark township, Tuscola county, Michigan. He obtained a common school edu- cation ; married Eve David Mersdal, of Indian Fields township, Tuscola county, Michigan. He is now a farmer of the same location. 2. Eliza, born in the same place as her brother, Au- gust 22, 1861, married Charles Mercill, a farmer in Tuscola county, Michigan. 3. George A., born in the same place as those named above, May 18, 1865; for several years followed school teaching, but is now a farmer. He married a Miss Patterson, of Michigan. By his second wife, Mr. Casebeer is the father of four children: 4. Perry M., born December 18, 1891. 5. Charles Harrison, born November 18, 1896. 6. Jennie, born November 18, 1900, all in school. 7. Theodore Roosevelt, born November 8, 1903.
In reviewing the career of Mr. Casebeer, the reader must have already observed it to have been indeed a checkered one, even from his earliest boyhood days. He relates how, at the death of his father, an uncie virtually robbed him of two thou- sand dollars, which then would have been a fortune to him. Again soon after his first marriage, he entrusted a minister of the Gospel to cash a $666 draft, the same person being a post- master, and for failing to account for this sum paid the penalty in the penitentiary for a term of fifteen years, reduced to eleven years; but even this did not repay Mr. Casebeer. During the man's eventful life, he has traveled much and ever been a keen observer. With graphic description he now relates the wonder- ful changes wrought out since 1850 in methods of travel and machinery employed to relieve burdens from mankind. He states that in 1850, so slow did the trains move, in passing an apple orchard he saw luscious fruit, and he left the cars and procured a quantity of apples, overtook his train, and that with- out great exertion. He further relates of his travel by steam- boat, canal boats and other early-day means of locomotion, all of which can scarce be comprehended by the present fast-living,
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swiftly-transported generations. On the farm he has worked with sickle and cradle and lived to see and employ the self- binder and all the kindred machinery. He easily discusses how such an army of rich men have grown up, and now sees where in years gone by he had golden opportunities that slipped by un- heeded, all for a lack of real confidence in his own judgment. Yet with all the adverse winds, life's journey to him has not been fraught with shipwreck. He has lived a conscientious life, has reared sons and daughters to honor his good name and served his country in time of war. Now, at the sundown of life, he abides in the county of his nativity, with friends on every hand, who only wish him many years of happiness this side of the dark river.
ALEXANDER H. HUSTON.
The ancestors of Alexander H. Huston, of Somerset, were among the old settlers of the county and became possessed of land which has always been in the Huston name ever since the first fence was built on it. Peter Huston served as a lieutenant during the war of 1812, and was a Whig politically. His wife was of Scotch-Irish descent, and in her youth emigrated from Ireland to the United States.
Chambers Huston, son of Peter Huston, was educated in the common schools of Somerset county, and followed the car- penter's trade, being also engaged in the undertaking business. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. His wife was Margaret Pritts.
Alexander H. Huston, son of Chambers and Margaret (Pritts) Huston, was born November 2, 1841, in Somerset, and received his education in the common schools of his native place. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for a term of three years, being dis- charged December 18, 1863. He re-enlisted for another three years in Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge August 23, 1865, in Washington, Dis- triet of Columbia. On his return home he took up the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed for several years, and then went into the undertaking business, in which he has been engaged ever since. The firm is now A. H. Huston & Son, the partner- ship being formed in January, 1904.
Mr. Huston married, November 30, 1865, Catharine Bruner, and they became the parents of five children: Lloyd, died in infancy; Emma, Samuel, Clara and Ella. Mrs. Huston is a daughter of Samuel Bruner, who was born in Connellsville, and was a Republican in politics. He married Mary Laning and their children were: Joseph, Davis, George, Clark, de-
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ceased: Emma. wife of Henry Eicher, a carpenter of Meyers- dale; Elizabeth, married Solomon Fisher, a retired farmer of Coke Mail, Iowa; Catharine, wife of Alexander H. Huston, as mentioned above.
WILLIAM H. CARRELL.
William H. Carrell, a representative citizen of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born September 15, 1836, in Bedford township, Bedford county, a son of George and Catherine (Sipes) Carrell. His grandfather, Anthony Carrell, was a native of Ireland, emigrated from his native land, set- tling in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in young manhood. George Carrell (father) was born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, a carpenter by trade, and a Republican in politics.
William H. Carrell received a good common school educa- tion, and after leaving school learned the carpenter's trade and later the machinist's trade. He then associated himself with Hiram Baker in the conduct of a sand mill, in which he was engaged for twenty years, with the exception of the time he served in the army. In 1861, when the great war of the re- bellion was in progress and the call for loyal men was urgent, Mr. Carrell enlisted in Company A, Fifty-fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three years. After his term of service expired he re-enlisted in the same company for three years, serving until the cessation of hostilities. He received his discharge June 17, 1865.
William H. Carrell was united in marriage July 4, 1867, to Lucy Petrican, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Park) Petri- can, and of this union, one child, Harry S., was born. His first wife died in 1868, and Mr. Carrell married for his second wife Minerva J. Baker, daughter of Hiram and Louisa (Hoover) Baker. Hiram Baker was a contractor by trade, and in 1898 engaged in mercantile pursuits in Somerset, continuing in this line until his death, January 28, 1903, since which event Mrs. Carrell has engaged in the conduct of the store, having changed the name to the South Side Grocery Company. One child was born of the second marriage, Lucy, October 6, 1889.
COUNTRYMAN FAMILY.
This sketch relates to the Countryman family of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, to which belongs Harry A. G. Country- man, of Somerset borough, who is now engaged in the under- taking and furniture business.
(I) George Countryman was one of the pioneer settlers in Brothers Valley township. Somerset county, Pennsylvania. The date of his coming was 1761, two years prior to that of the set- tlement made by Simon Hay, which was according to records
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in 1763, or five years prior to lands being open for actual set- tlers by purchase. Mr. Countryman went to some one of the eastern counties of Pennsylvania to secure work, and while there met Simon Hay and told him that he had two "tomahawk claims" in the wild woods across the Allegheny mountains, and that if he would help him do some work he would give him one of the claims, where the Indians still roamed at will and fre- quently made hostile attacks upon the whites. The claims thus offered was what is now the Philip Hay farm. Mr. Country- man kept the south claim; in all, he claimed one thousand acres. The land office records show that he made application for four hundred and ten acres December 9, 1772, which was surveyed May 17, 1774. George Countryman married a Miss Griffith, by whom was born one son, Jacob. RACHEL MILHAUSE
(II) Jacob Countryman, only son of George Countryman (1), was born in Somerset county in 1787, died March 4, 1869, aged eighty-two years, two months and eight days. He mar- ried Hannah, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Lane, of Berlin, Pennsylvania. By this union were born: Mary, Catharine, Jacob J., Malinda, Caroline, Jerome, Samuel, Ephraim, Fran- cis J.
(III) Francis J. Countryman, son of Jacob and Hannah (Lane) Countryman (2), married Laura, daughter of George Fritz and wife, by whom were born: Clarissa, George, Jacob, Ellen, Henry, Elriam, Tracy, Milton, Herman, William. The father died in Jenner township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October, 1883. Mrs. Francis J. Countryman, the mother, died at Meyersdale, February, 1887.
(IV) George Jacob Countryman, son of Francis J. and Laura (Fritz) Countryman (3), was born in 1854. He obtained his education at the common schools and taught for three terms successfully. His chief occupation, however, was that of a farmer. In his church connections he was a member of the German Reformed body and served as deacon. Politically he was always a staunch, intelligent Republican, believing that this party came closer to meeting the demands of the people at large than any other organization. He married Belinda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Hay, of Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1874. By this union were born four children: William, married, October 21, 1901, Estella Pile, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania; they have one child, James. Harvey, married, December 27, 1905, Edith Dysart, of Nachusa, Illinois. Harry A. G., of whom later. Ellen, married, June 7, 1903, John Seibert, now deceased. Mr. Countryman, the father, died in Quemahoning township, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, April 28, 1890.
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(V) Harry A. G. Countryman, son of George Jacob and Belinda (Hay) Countryman (4), was born in Jennerstown, Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1880. He attended the common schools and worked on the farm until seventeen years of age, when he went to Dixon, Illinois, where he worked on a dairy farm for a time, but soon came east and found employ- ment with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as fireman, but believing there was some easier, safer manner of gaining a livelihood, he came to Somerset borough and assisted in estab- lishing the first regular music store of the place. This was in 1900, and in 1901 he sold to W. L. Morrison. The next six months he clerked in the hardware store of John H. Miller. He then purchased a half interest in the furniture business of F. H. Sufalls. In the autumn of 1901 he attended the Pittsburg (Penn- sylvania) School of Anatomy, from which he graduated. To the former business he then added an undertaking department (generally coupled with the furniture trade, especially in the smaller places), and in 1903 the firm of Sufalls & Countryman built a department store of their own, on West Main street, Somerset, where they enjoy a prosperous business. In each of the years 1904 and 1905 Mr. Countryman erected a dwelling, one of which he now lives in. In politics he is a Republican, and in the matter of religion is a member of the German Re- formed church.
He was united in marriage November 14, 1901, to Nellie Ardene Gaynor, daughter of Thomas and Frances (Fogle) Gaynor, and they have one child, Thelma Marie, born March 3, 1906. Mrs. Countryman was well educated in the common schools, and in 1898 accepted employment as clerk in the large dry goods store of J. H. Siffords & Company of Somerset, Pennsylvania, where she remained until the date of her mar- riage. Little is known of her paternal ancestry except the fact that when but twelve years of age her father, Thomas Gaynor, left his home in New Jersey to become a drummer-boy in the Union army during the great civil war period. It is related of him that he took passage from home under a box-car, thus rid- ing to the point where he hoped to be admitted to the govern- ment service, but upon being rejected he went to Baltimore, Maryland, then drifted north into the copper mine regions, from which location he came to Somerset, Pennsylvania. His marriage occurred in Maryland.
Among the enterprising business factors of Somerset no young man stands higher in business circles than does he for whom this record is given.
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CALVIN M. ANKENY.
The grandfather of Calvin M. Ankeny. of Somerset, was Isaac Ankeny, son of Peter Ankeny, and a native of Somer- set county. He was a life-long farmer and in politics a Re- publican. His son, Jones D. Ankeny, was born in Jenner town- ship and received his education in the common schools. He has devoted himself to cultivating the farm which he inherited from his father, and has always been a Republican. He mar- ried Elizabeth McDowell, a native of Westmoreland county, and they have six children: Calvin M., of whom later; Mary, Agnes, Laura, Lida and Isaac.
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