History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 110

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

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WILLIAM M. RALSTON was born in South Buffalo township. Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1861, son of Joseph W., and Isabel Ralston, of that county. His father was born at Slate Lick, Armstrong county, in 1826, was a school teacher for many years, and afterwards a farmer. In IS-19 he went

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to California, remaining there until 1854. then returned to Armstrong county and purchased the Clapole farm, in North Buffalo township. He sold this in 1859, purchased a farm in South Buffalo township, which he afterwards disposed of and bought another at Mackville, where he now resides. Joseph W. Ralston and Isabel Miller, daughter of William Miller, of North Buffalo township, Arm- strong county, were married on May 20, 1856, and are the parents of nine chil- dren, six of whom survive, viz. : John J., a United Presbyterian minister : William M. ; Harry W. : Edward L. ; James C., and Carrie. Mr. Ralston is now serving as a justice of the peace, and is a member of the school board. The family are connected with the United Presbyterian church. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native county, and has always followed farming. In 1885 he purchased the Weaver farm in Buffalo township. Butler county, containing 187 acres, upon which he has since been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. Mr. Ralston was married on September 9, 1886. to Sarah .1. Sarver, a daughter of John Sarver, of Buffalo township, and has four children, viz. : James H. : Edna M. ; Phoebe B., and Alice B. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and politically a Republican.

JOHN MANGOLD was born in Germany in 1829, there grew to maturity and followed the business of a stonecutter and contractor. He came to Pennsylvania in early manhood, and settled in Buffalo township. Butler county, where he fol- lowed his trade until 1870, in which year he embarked in the grocery business at Freeport. He died in that borough in October, 1870, and his wife in 1878. He was married in 1853, and was the father of six children, as follows : Henry W. ; Christian ; John ; Peter ; George J., and Louisa, who married J. C. Wyle. Mr. Mangold was a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics, he was a Democrat.

JOHN J. RANDOLPH was born in Patterson, New Jersey, in 1816, a son of Samuel F. Randolph, and a descendant of John Randolph of Roanoake. Ilis father married Nancy Girard, of New Jersey, and reared seven children, viz. : Abraham : Charlotte : John ; Mary ; David ; Sarah, and William. Samuel F. Ran- dolph was postmaster of Liberty, Pennsylvania, for several years, and in politics, was an adherent of the Democratic party. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in 1872, and in 1882, respectively. The subject of this sketch learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, and in 1841, was married to Mary A. Shaffer, a daughter of John Shaffer, of Westmoreland county, where he now resides. Hle is the father of seven children, as follows : William ; Samuel F .: Amanda : John J .; Emma ; Charles J., and Nancy. politics, Mr. Randolph is a Democrat, and is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES J. RANDOLPH, youngest son of John J. and Mary A. Randolph. was born in Westmoreland county, October 31, 1855, attended the common schools, and learned the printer's trade. On January 21. 1875, he married Hen- rietta Hoffman, a daughter of Philip Hoffman of Westmoreland county, to which union have been born five children, viz. : Jacob : Emma; Walter ; Ida, deceased. and Grace. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, Mr. Randolph is a Democrat. In September, 1891, he purchased the

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old Johnson farm in Buffalo township, Butler county, containing fifty acres, upon which he has since resided.

PATRICK GRAHAM, a native of Ireland, was no doubt the first settler in Jef- ferson township, Butler county, Pennsylvania. He immigrated to Westmoreland county, there married Elizabeth McKee, came to Butler county in 1796, and erected a cabin upon a tract of land which he had previously selected in what is now Jefferson township. He then returned for his wife, Elizabeth, and three chil- dren, Rosanna, Joseph and Daniel, whom he brought on pack horses to his new home in the unbroken forest of Butler county. Including the children born in Westmoreland county, the following are the names of their family : Rosanna. who married Alexander Martin ; Joseph ; Daniel, who settled in Brady township, and there died : Patrick, born upon the homestead May 25, 1798, the first white child born in Jefferson township, and resided upon the same until his death ; Elizabeth, who married James Pryor ; James, who settled in Mercer county, and died there : John, who died in Connoquenessing township, was a merchant at Whitestown, and Harrison who located in Beaver county. Though not a large man, Patrick Graham possessed a strong and vigorous constitution, a tireless energy, and wonderful endurance. He died in 1844, at the remarkable age of ninety-seven years.

JOSEPH GRAHAM, eldest son of Patrick and Elizabeth Graham, was born in Westmoreland county, in 1794, and was about three years old when his parents came to Butler county. His youth was passed amidst pioneer scenes, and he grew up inured to the hardships and privations of that period. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served as a major in the early militia. After arriving at maturity he located upon the farm now owned by H. Kirchner. He married Eliza- beth Freyer, who died without issue, and he subsequently married Nancy Thomp. son, to whom were born four children, as follows : Robert T. ; Elizabeth ; James. who served in the Mexican war and also in the Rebellion, and Esther. Mrs. Gra- ham died, and he was again married, to Margaret Balph, who became the mother of eight children, viz. : William B .; Rebecca J., wife of Thomas McConnell ; Joseph : George K .; Susan, wife of John M. Stark; Margaret, who married Matthew McKane ; Eli, and Nancy E., wife of William S. Bartley. Joseph Gra- ham died May 1, 1880, and his wife August 7, 1890. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder. Mr. Graham was a Democrat, served one term as county commissioner, and three terms as a justice of the peace of Jefferson township.

WILLIAM B. GRAHAM, eldest in the family of Joseph and Margaret ( Balph ) Graham, was born upon the homestead farm, in Jefferson township, Feb- ruary 2, 1837, was reared a farmer, and subsequently learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he has followed in connection with agriculture. He was married February 8, 1864, to Eliza J. Bartley, a daughter of Joseph Bartley, of Penn township, where the family settled at an early day. They are the parents of the following children : Agne. R., wife of James Sefton ; Margaret C. wife of J. H. Mckeever; Mary E., wife of S. N. Shaw ; Emma L., wife of Thomas Harbison : Joseph L., who married Lizzie Covert ; William F. : George R., and John H. Mr. Graham and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.

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and in politics, he is a Democrat. He has filled the office of school director, and takes a commendable interest in educational affairs.

THOMAS WELSH, SR., was a native of Londonderry, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States about 1798. Ilis father, William Welsh, was a man of wealth and prominence, but in aiding friends he lost the most of his property, and Thomas was obliged to seek his own fortune. He learned the baker's trade in his native land, and upon reaching Philadelphia he readily found employment at his trade. Possessing industrious and thrifty habits, he soon saved sufficient means to start in business for himself, and by strict attention he became in a few years the head of a prosperous business establishment. About 1810 he married Elizabeth Welsh, a native of Derry county, Ireland, and she became the mother of twelve children. After a prosperous business career of twenty years, and having a large family, Mr. Welsh decided to remove to Butler county, where he purchased 4,500 acres of land in Jefferson township, to which he brought his family in 1819, coming the whole distance with a team of horses through a track- less forest. He settled near the southeast corner of the township, on the farm where his grandson, John Welsh. now lives, and resided there until his death, which occurred in 1858, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, in which denomination he tilled the office of elder. He was a man of powerful physique, peaceable and kindly in disposition. and was much esteemed for his charity, and genial, pleasant manner.

GEORGE WELSH was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1812. and was in his eighth year when his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Welsh, set- tled in Butler county. He lived at home until the age of twenty-three years. obtaining such an education as the pioneer schools afforded, and then commenced business for himself. In 1845 he built a saw mill on the creek and soon after- wards a gristmill, at what is now known as Frazier's Mills, which he carried on for several years in connection with the lumber trade. In 1835 he married Jane Davis, a daughter of John Davis, a native of Ireland, who died in Jefferson town- ship, in 1853. Nine children were born to this marriage, as follows : Matilda, wife of Arthur Turner; Thomas; John; Joseph, who was a member of Com- pany G. One Ilundred and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in 1872: Eliza, wife of Thomas W. Frazier; Emily, deceased; Elvira: Rebecca, deceased, and Sarah, wife of John Walker. In 1859 Mr. Welsh located in Allegheny City, for the purpose of educating his children, and was employed by the government in the custom house for four years. In 1862, when Governor Curtin called for troops to repel Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, Mr. Welsh, though exempt by age from military duty, was among the first to respond to the call. He joined the Eighteenth regiment, and went to the front, thus display- ing that undaunted patriotism which is a distinguishing mark of the Celtic race. In 1863 he returned to Jefferson township, where he has since been engaged in farming. Ile owns 450 acres of the original lands purchased by his father, and has been one of the most successful agriculturists in the county. Mr. Welsh has been a life-long Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. Like his father, he is a man of powerful physique and robust constitution. He is a genial, pleasant and intelligent gentleman, and has always occupied a leading position

James Walker

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among the representative farmers of Butler county. Though in his eighty-third vear, he is still hale and vigorous, and with the exception of being afflicted with partial blindness, he is as happy and bright as if in the prime of manhood.

JOHN WELSH, JR., was born in Jefferson township. Butler county, March 4, 1839, and is the second son of George and Jane ( Davis) Welsh. He has always resided upon his present homestead of 100 acres, a part of the original purchase of his grandfather, Thomas Welsh, excepting the few years his father lived in Allegheny. He was educated at the Pittsburg public schools, and since his father returned to Jefferson township he has been engaged in farming. He was married January 29, 1869, to Sarah Ann Welsh, a daughter of Thomas and Anna Eliza ( MeKenzie ) Welsh. Her father was an uncle of her husband's, was a farmer, owning 100 acres of land adjoining that of George Welsh, but subsequently operated a linseed oil mill in Pittsburg for twenty-five years. Her mother was a daughter of Alexander McKenzie, a Scotchman, who first located on the Island of Jamaica, where he had a sugar and coffee plantation. He sold his property and came to the United States with the intention of buying land, but his family never heard of him again and it was supposed that he was murdered. In 1815 his wife and family came to Philadelphia, where they resided for some time, com- ing to Butler county about the year 1520. Mrs. Anna Eliza Welsh died in 1850, and her husband, Thomas Welsh, in ISSB. Mrs. John Welsh was born Decem- ber 16, 1837. and is the mother of seven children, five of whom are living, viz. : Charles C. ; Jennie F., wife of Theo. Il. Stepp ; Frank J. ; Annie E., and George M. Mr. Welsh is a Democrat, and both he and wife are members of the Presby- terian church.

JOHN WELSH, SR., was a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Philadelphia with his family early in the present century. He had learned the baker's trade in his native land, and soon after coming to Philadelphia he established himself in that business, and carried it on for many years. He was a brother of Thomas Welsh, Sr., and in [821 came to Butler county and purchased 300 acres of land from his brother, located in what is now Jefferson township. Thomas had settled here two years previous, and bought a large tract of land, a portion of which he sold to John. The latter remained on this farm until his death, and both he and wife are buried in this township. He married Bathia Marshall, and reared a family of two sons and five daughters, as follows : William ; Thomas ; Sarah ; Margaret ; Rebecca ; Elizabeth, and Martha.

THOMAS WELSH, son of John and Bathia Welsh, was born in Ireland, May 5, 1802, and came with his parents to Philadelphia when about eight years old. He was reared in that city. and was nineteen years of age when his father located in Butler county. Hle married Mary Cunningham, a daughter of James Cun- ningham, of Lancaster county. who settled in Penn township, Butler county, upon a tract of 300 acres, early in the present century. James Cunningham was a son of Matthew Cunningham, also an early settler of Butler county. Thomas erected a saw mill in 1830, on Thorn creek, near Jefferson Centre. and continued in the lumber business in connection with agriculture until his death, January 7, 1858. His sons. James Q., Loyal Y., and William J., are residents of this township. Both he and wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian church

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of Butler. Ile was elected an elder in 1839. Politically, Mr. Welsh was a stanch Democrat. filled the office of school director in his township, and served as com- missioner of the county.

WILLIAM J. WELSH was born upon the homestead in Jefferson township, Butler county, September 3. 1817, son of Thomas and Mary (Cunningham) Welsh. He was reared a farmer, and inherited 120 acres of the old homestead, upon which he now resides. On May 10, 1878, he married Julia A. Patterson, a daughter of William R. Patterson, of Penn township, and has a family of four children, viz. : William P. ; Ada B. ; Thomas M., and Clarence. Mr. Welsh and wife are members of Jefferson Summit Presbyterian church, in which he was elected an elder in [894. In politics, he is a Republican, and has filled the office of school director for fifteen years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., both the Lodge and Encampment.

THOMAS FRAZIER was born in Armagh county, Ireland, in August, 1801. son of James Frazier. a native of Scotland, born in 1773. His father married Elizabeth McCarroll, to whom were born six children : Arthur ; James ; Archi- bald ; Nancy, who married James Turner : Thomas, and Mary, who married Arthur Frazier. The father died in 1827, and the mother many years before. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native land, and followed farming as a vocation. He married Alice Thompson, a daughter of William Thompson of Armagh county, Ireland, to which union were born the following children : James ; George T. : Samuel J. ; Andrew ; Thomas W. ; David, and Hance M., the last two of whom are dead. George T., and Thomas W., served in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. Mr. Frazier immigrated to Carroll county, Ohio, in 1832. and some years later settled in Batler township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, resided there until 1857, and then located in Jefferson township, purchasing from George Welsh what is now known as the Frazier mill property. Here he died in April, 1876, and his wife in March. 1871. They were members of the United Presbyterian church, in which he held the office of elder. In politics, he was a Democrat.

JAMES FRAZIER was born in Armagh county, Ireland, October 6, 1828, eld- est in the family of Thomas Frazier, and came with his parents to Butler county when he was only four years of age. He grew to maturity in this county, received a common school education, and is now engaged in farming in Clay township. He was married April 10. 1851. to Isabella Gilliland, a daughter of John Gilliland of Summit township, to which union were born the following children : John G. : Thomas A .; Alice J., who married William Sterling ; Elizabeth ; Robert __ 1. ; Margaret, wife of Henry George; James E. ; Maria \., wife of Edward Pogue, and Isabella, deceased. In IS86 Mr. Frazier located in Clay township, where he purchased the Brown farm. His wife died April 5, 1874, and in 1882 he mar- ried Sarah Allen, of Lawrence county. Mr. Frazier is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is an adherent of the Democratic party.

THOMAS W. FRAZIER was born in Carroll county, Ohio, October 25, 1839. son of Thomas and Alice (Thompson) Frazier. He came with his parents to this county, and in September, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Penn- sylvania Cavalry, and was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga and

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Atlanta, was taken prisoner at Thompson Station. October 1, 1864, and confined in rebel prisons for ten months. He returned to Butler county in July, 1865, but his health was so shattered from long confinement that he did not recover for nearly two years. Mr. Frazier made a good war record, has always been a stanch Democrat, and gives his unswerving support to the principles of that party. He is a member of the U. V. L., and is also connected with the Masonic order. He was married July 18. 1868, to Eliza Welsh, a daughter of George Welsh. She was born in Jefferson township, September 24, 18H4, and has one daughter. Bettie, wife of F. J. Byers. The family are adherents of the Presby- terian church.

THOMAS A. FRAZIER, Second son of James and Isabella Frazier, was born in Butler township, Butler county, April 8, 1852, and has always resided in his native county and in the city of Allegheny. He worked for six years at the mill- ing business, was subsequently engaged, as a contractor, in the plastering busi- ness, and for the last nine years he has devoted his attention to operating in oil and gas, his present fields being at Belmont. Virginia, Jefferson Centre and Coylesville, Butler county, and Port Royal, Westmoreland county. He controls 12,000 acres of leaseholds, and is quite an extensive operator. Mr. Frazier was married December 22. 1871, to Harriet R. Bicket, a daughter of Matthew Bicket, of Clinton township, and they are the parents of the following children : Nettie J. : Eugene G., deceased ; Chauncey E. ; Howard M., deceased ; Frank ; Elva : Bes- sie : Hazel, and Hattie. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and politically, he is a stanch Democrat. He is now filling the office of school direc- tor, and has always taken a deep interest in public affairs.

JOHN WALKER was a native of Scotland, there grew to manhood. and mar- ried Esther Mc Millan, and about 1843 they immigrated to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. They lived in that county for several years, and came to Butler county in 1860, where they purchased a farm of eighty-five acres in Clinton township, where Mr. Walker resided until his death, August 15, 1892. His widow still resides upon the homestead. They were the parents of six children, three of whom grew to maturity, as follows : Mary, who married Jonathan Grinder, of Venango county, and died September 10, 1878; James, and John. the latter residing with his mother. Mr. Walker was a member of the Presby- terian church, to which denomination his widow also belongs.

JAMES WALKER was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January Is. 1857, eldest son of John and Esther Walker. He resided with his parents until 1876, when he purchased his present farm of 100 acres, in Jefferson township, upon which he now resides. He has given considerable attention to the import- ing and breeding of fine stock, and claims to have imported the first Clydes- dale horses from Great Britain brought to Butler county. On December 20, 1879, Mr. Walker married Harriet Maizland, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Seif) Maizland, the former of Scotch and the latter of German descent. Iler grandfather, George Maizland, was a native of Scotland, and settled in Butler county in 1857. Mrs. Walker is the mother of four children, viz. : Alonzo E., born September 17, 1880; Ida Marian, November 20, ISS3; Hattie E., Novem- ber 12, 1887, and Paul M., October 1, 1891. Politically, Mr. Walker is a Dem-

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ocrat, and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Clinton township.

JOHN BURTNER Was a native of Clinton township. Butler county, Pennsyl- vania. His parents came from Berks county late in the Eighteenth century and settled on 200 acres of land, now known as the Krumpe farm, in Clinton town- ship. The family are of German origin, and were among the organizers of the German Lutheran church at Saxonburg. John Burtner was the father of five sons and five daughters, viz. : Jacob ; Philip: William ; Daniel ; Andrew ; Bar- bara : Betsy ; Catherine: Polly, and Christina. Philip grew to manhood in Clinton township, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and married Ellen Gallagher, a native of Ireland, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of this locality. They reared tive children, as follows : John ; Peter ; Philip ; Will- jam, and Mrs. Fannie Haslett. The father died in 1828.

PinLar BURTNER, son of Philip and Ellen Burtner, was born July 3, 1820, in Clinton township, Butler county, within one mile of his present residence. When he arrived at the age of twenty years he commenced working on the Pennsylvania canal. and finally became captain of a boat. He afterwards engaged in farming, which vocation he has since followed. In 1842 he married Rebecca Shobert, a daughter of John Shobert, of Luzerne county, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812. They are the parents of ten children, as follows : Henry ; John; Mary; Helen; Eliza; Nettie; Rebecca; Fannie; Anna, and Edward. The last two named are dead. The eight surviving members of this family are heads of families. Mrs. Burtner is a member of the Baptist church. Since 1847 Mr. Burtner has been connected with the I. O. O. F., and is one of the highly respected citizens of the community.

ISAAC P. BURTNER was born near Tarentum, Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, June 10, 1849, son of Jacob .and Martha ( Byerly) Burtner, the former a native of Allegheny county, and the latter of Buffalo township. Butler county, where her father, Jacob Byerly, settled at an early day. Philip Burtner, grand- father of Isaac P., came from eastern Pennsylvania to Allegheny county in 1802, and located three miles north of Tarentum, in Harrison township. his farm being three miles from the Butler county line. Jacob and Martha Burtner were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom grew to man and womanhood, as fol- lows : John N., who served in the Rebellion one year: Margaret; Isaac P .; Ilarmon ; Henry ; Lavina ; Wilhelmina, and Luther. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, and followed the coal trade for some years. In 1882 he purchased a farm in Jefferson township, Butler county, upon which he has since erected substantial buildings and made many other improvements. He was married July 22, Is74, to Amanda Singer, daughter of David and Amanda (Bole) Singer, of Armstrong county. Her father was a carpenter, and was reared in Armstrong county, where the family were early settlers. He died in 1862, aged fifty-two years. Her only brother, Donald, was a soldier in the Rebellion for nearly two years. Mr. Burtner is the father of five children, as fol- lows : Roy ; Dorcy ; Ethel; Forest, and Claire. Mr. Burtner is a Republican. and is one of the progressive citizens of the township.

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ISAAC LEFEVER, SR., was a native of France, who settled in the present township of Winfield, Butler county. Pennsylvania, early in the century. He was a soldier in the War of 1512, serving with the troops from western Pennsyl- vania. He reared a family of six children, as follows : Samuel; Isaac ; Joseph ; Jesse : Nancy, and Mary. The parents and all of their children, excepting Jesse, removed to Ohio at an early day, where they spent the balance of their lives.

JESSE LEFEVER was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, there learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed in Pittsburg, whence he came to Butler county and purchased a farm near Hannahstown, in Buffalo township, where he died soon afterwards. He married Catherine Stepp, a daughter of Bernard Stepp, of Buffalo township, and was the father of four children, as follows: John ; Levi ; Isaac, and Elizabeth, deceased. Mr. Lefever died in 1826. and his widow mar- ried James Martin, of Donegal township.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 110

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658