History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

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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JOHN MONTGOMERY, eldest son of Samuel and Eleanor Montgomery, Was born in Philadelphia, December 18, 1827, and was reared in Pittsburg. He was educated in the common schools, and learned the brickmaker's trade, which he followed until 1847, then came with his father to Butler county, and in 1-57

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located on a farm in West Deer township. Allegheny county. He afterwards purchased 108 acres of the old homestead in Clinton township, erected buildings, and has since been engaged in farming. In AAugust. 1864. he enlisted in Com- pany F. Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, participating in the following engagements : Bridgewater. Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creck. Mount Jackson, and Waynesboro, close to Winchester, Virginia, and was discharged on June 12, 1865. In politics, Mr. Montgomery is a Republican. has served as school director for ten years, and filled other township offices. He is a member of James Harvey Post, G. A. R. He married Catherine Flick, a daughter of Henry Flick, who has borne him the following children : Samuel : Henry F. : Emma E. : Mary E., wife of R. E. Morrow ; George W .: Albert : Harvey C .; Margaret J., wife of Thomas Morrow ; William HI .. and Bertha E. Mr. Mont- gomery is one of the enterprising farmers of his township.

HENRY HALSTEAD was born in Lancastershire. England, April 24, 1809, the son of Robert Halstead. He was reared in his native country. and was a calico printer by trade. In 1832 he came to Philadelphia, and thence removed to Pitts- burg, where he was engaged in peddling notions until 1838. In that year he purchased a farm at Sarversville. in Buffalo township. where he remained until 1846. and then bought and settled upon the farm where his son John now resides. He developed the coal deposits upon this farm, opening three banks. and carried on an extensive business for some years. He died June 5, 1886. He was married in England to Jane Martin, a daughter of James Martin, and their children are named as follows : Margaret. wife of Sam- uel Snyder; John : Martha, wife of Martin Hartung; James, deceased : Jane, deceased wife of William Sheppard : Henry Il. ; Mary A .. wife of Jacob Hartung ; Isabel, deceased wife of Milo Johnson, and Samuel M .. of Kansas. Mrs. Ilal- stead died on November 5, 1888. In politics, he was a Democrat until 1856. when he became a Republican.

JOHN HALSTEAD, eldest son of Henry and Jane Halstead, was born April 7. 1835, and was reared in Pittsburg, and in Butler county. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve, and served three years, participat- ing in all the engagements of his regiment up to the battle of Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded and sent to the hospital at York, Pennsylvania. He was discharged at the expiration of his term of service, and returned to his home in Clinton township. He subsequently embarked in the hotel business in Alle- gheny, but returned to the farm and is now engaged in farming and mining on the homestead. He married Sarah A. Hazlett, and their children are as follows: James II. O .; John L. M. : Franklin W. H. ; Etta A. M. ; Jane E. B. ; Sarah M. P., and Samuel E. E., deceased. Mr. Halstead is a member of Butler Camp, Number 15, U. V. L., also of James Harvey Post, Number 514, G. A. R.

HENRY HI. HALSTEAD, son of Henry and Jane Halstead, was born near Sarver-ville, Butler county, March 18. 1843, was reared upon the farm and edu- cated in the common schools. In October. 1862, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months. In February, 1864, he again enlisted, in Company F, Independent Light Artillery, and served until June 26. 1865. A few months after his enlistment he was

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detached for duty under General Hunter, in the Shenandoah valley, and remained there until the war closed. Returning home, he engaged in droving for the Pittsburg market, was next engaged in coal mining for nine years, and in 1875 purchased his present farm of 107 acres, in Clinton township, upon which he has made all of the improvement -. Mr. Halstead was married in November, 1866. to Sarah Griffith, a daughter of Joseph Griffith, of Allegheny county, and has tive children, viz. : Eliza J. ; James G. : Joseph C .: Albert II. S .. and Everet J. 11. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, has served as school director for nine years, and is quite an ardent supporter of the public schools. He is a member of Emery Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, and is connected with James Har- vey Post, G. A. R. He is one of the leading farmers and public-spirited citizen- of his township.

WILLIAM MORRISON was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, about 1820, son of Matthew Morrison, a native of Mifflin county, born March 14, 1797. Matthew Morrison married a Miss Howe, who was born in Philadelphia, December 24. 1801. He died September 14, 1867, and his wife, August 26. 1882. in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania. After arriving at manhood, William Mor- rison came to Butler county. In 1847 he married Martha Stewart, of Lawrence county, and carried on a wagon factory in the borough of Butler for several years. Ile finally moved to Penn township, where he purchased fifty acres of land, and died upon his farm in 1867. During the Rebellion he served in Com- pany B, Sixth Pennsylvania Artillery, and had charge of the magazine. Mr. Morrison was the father of nine children, viz : Robert A. ; John II. ; Elizabeth E., who married Robert Critchlow ; Charles W. : James C. ; Joseph S. : Ilar- riet L., who married William Wood ; Nancy, who married William Emrick, and William M., deceased. The family were connected with the Methodist Episco- pal church, in which society Mr. Morrison served as Sabbath school superin- tendent. In politics, he was a Republican.

CHARLES W. MORRISON was born in Butler borough, Butler county, July 27. 1856, son of William and Martha Morrison. His education was obtained in the common schools, and his whole attention has been devoted to farming. On July 4, 1877, he married Jennie Williams, a daughter of Morgan Williams, of Allegheny county. They are the parents of the following children : Martha M .: William M. : Charles R. ; Clarence W. ; Lila 1. ; Harry T. ; Alti 1., and Olive E. In 1889 Mr. Morrison purchased the Criswell farm, containing 145 acres. where he has since resided. He also owns a farm in Penn township, and has been a successful oil operator for many years. In politics, he is a Republican. and one of the enterprising citizens of his township.

CHARLES BOICE was born in Buffalo, New York, October 24, 1>40, son of Isaac Boice, a native of Brunswick. New Jersey. Ilis father was a sailor. and about 1835, was married to Rosanna Rogers, of Buffalo, where he was working at his trade. They were the parents of six children, viz .: Cornelius, deceased : William, a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota; Leonard; John II .. deceased : Charles, and Eliza A .. deceased. The mother died in Buffalo in 1861, and her husband removed to Pithole, Venango county, in 1861. thence to Hunter's Point. New York, and then to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1850.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

The subject of this sketch received a common school education. and learned the plumber's and gas fitter's trade, at which he worked in Buffalo until his removal to Plumer, Venango county. in 1863. He afterwards worked at Pithole for six years, and for the following six years had charge of the Empire Oil Works, at Hunter's Point, New York, whence he removed to Etna, Allegheny county. In 1881 he settled in Clinton township, Butler county, where he has since resided. Mr. Boice has been twice married. In March, 1864. he married Susan Over- heim. a daughter of Daniel Overheim, of Plumer. Venango county, who bore him six children, viz. : Sarah F. ; William ; Daniel; John H., and Elizabeth, both deceased. and Charles. Mrs. Boice died February 21. 1875, and he was again married. November 29, 1880. to Sarah Overheim. a sister of his first wife. He has been a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and in politics, is a Republican. Mr. Boice is superintendent of the Natural Gas Company, Lim- ited, which position he has filled for nearly nineteen years.

JAMES SIMPSON, son of William and Mary ( Moffat) Simpson, was born in Antrim county, Ireland. April 6, 1837. He was educated in a private school, and learned the butcher's trade in his native land. In 1853 he immigrated to the United States, and followed carpet weaving in Philadelphia for some years. He then found employment in the iron mills of Pittsburg, which business he followed for sixteen years. In Is7s he moved to his present farm of 100 acres, in Clinton township, Butler county, upon which he has erected new improvements. He married Mary J. Park, and has four children. viz. : John P. ; Hannah Q. : Mary M .. and Bessie R. Mr. Simpson is a member of Deer Creek United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is an adherent of the Republican party.

CHARLES PFABE was born in Jefferson township, Butler county, October 8. 1846, and is a son of Henry Pfabe. He was educated in the common schools, was reared upon a farm. and learned the carriage maker's trade in Pittsburg, which he followed for three years. He then found employment as a tool dresser in the oil fields, which he followed for several years. In 1883 he purchased a farm in Clinton township, containing 116 acres, upon which he has since resided engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Pfabe married Sophia Miller, a daughter of George Miller. of Saxon Station, Winfield township, and has tive children, viz .: Howard J. ; Frank A. ; Tilmer H. ; Walter W., and Sadie E. In his religious views, he is an adherent of the Lutheran church. His farm is one of the well improved places of the township, and he is a progressive and esteemed citizen.

ROBERT BROWN was the first settler of what is now Penn township, Butler county, Pennsylvania. Ile was born in New Jersey, in 1779. son of Caleb Brown, who subsequently located near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, where Robert grew to manhood. In 1797 Robert came to Penn township, Butler county, built a small log cabin in the primitive forest, in the southwest part of that subdivision, and commenced the work of making a home. His parents afterwards came here, and ended their days at the home of their son. Robert was married here to Ruth Rathbun, a daughter of Clark Rathbun, also a pioneer of Penn township, and of a family of sixteen children, born to this union, thir- teen grew to maturity. as follows: Caleb; Clark : John; Robert; Nathan ; Sarah ; Abigail; Rhoda; Elizabeth ; Ann: Clarissa; Lydia, and Caroline

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Matilda. The last named is the only one now living. Robert Brown was a justice of the peace in Penn township for twenty five years, and was a class leader and steward in the Methodist Episcopal church. He died upon his farm in 1853, and his wife in 1850.

NATHAN BROWN was born upon the homestead in Penn township, in 1816, and received a good education. He taught school in early manhood, and was an examiner of teachers for the township. He was also a professor of music, and was one of the well known citizens of that locality down to his death. He married Sarah A. Coe, of Portage county, Ohio, and became the father of eight children, viz. : Elizabeth C .; Milton R .: Harriet, deceased ; Rosaline, wife of William Copely ; Hamlin ; Clara, wife of Isaac Andrews; Anna, wife of Calvin Glasgow, and Melissa, wife of Austin Meals. Nathan Brown died October 26, 1891, and his wife, October 17, 1889. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held several offices at different periods. Politi- cally, Mr. Brown was a Republican, filled the office of school director for several years, and served as prothonotary of Butler county one term, to which office he was elected in 1857.

MILTON R. BROWN, eldest son of Nathan and Sarah A. Brown, was born upon his father's farm, in Penn township, Butler county, December 9. 1848. He attended common schools in boyhood, learned the stonemason's and brick - layer's trades, and followed that calling for eighteen years. He is now living upon the old homestead, engaged in farming. He married Elizabeth Critchlow, a daughter of John L. Criteblow, of Forward township, and has four children : Ezra F. ; Martha A. ; Almeda G., and Ruth E. Mr. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is now filling the offices of trustee and steward. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist, and has filled the office of township auditor.

JouN DODDS, a native of Ireland, known for many years as . Squire Dodds," immigrated to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, lived there for eight years, and in 1808 came to Butler county and purchased sey- eral hundred acres of land in what is now Penn township. He located near the present site of Brownsdale, but some years later settled on the farm where his grandson, David B. Dodds, now resides. He was a soldier in the War of Ist2. was a man of excellent qualities, and served as justice of the peace for many years. His children were as follows: James; John ; Joseph; Josiah; Jesse B .; William, and Adam, all of whom are dead. He moved his family and goods from Cumberland county with one horse hitched between two poles, the ends of the latter dragging on the ground. This was known as a " slide car." He brought with him some pits of English cherries, which he planted upon his farm, and thus introduced this fruit into the pioneer settlement. Mr. Dodds was one of the founders of the United Presbyterian church of Butter, as well as the church at Brownsdale. He died in 1862, at an advanced age.

WILLIAM DODDS, son of John Dodds the pioneer, was born on the home- stead farm in Penn township, Butler county, April 23, 1814, and died Sep- tember 21, 1872. Soon after reaching his majority he purchased a farm near Brownsdale, now owned by W. J. Burton, upon which he erected a brick resi-

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dence, manufacturing the brick- on his farm. He married Martha J. Douthett. a daughter of Benjamin Douthett, one of the pioneers of Forward township, Jan- uary 2. 1843, and became the father of nine children, viz. : Emma : William J., who died at Camp Copeland, while serving in the Union army : Mary M. ; Ben- jamin F. : Findley B., of Penn township; Maggie A. ; Robert : David L. (the last three of whom are dead ), and Joseph. Mr. Dodds was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he was a Republican. Mrs. Dodds was again married September 26, 1876. to H. B. Weisz. who died at the home of his daughter in Zelienople. Mrs. Weisz is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and resides in Butler.

FINDLEY B. Dopps, son of William and Martha J. Dodds, was born upon the homestead farm in Penn township. Butler county. June 3. 1853, was reared a farmer, but subsequently learned the carpenter's and stairbuilder's trade. which he followed for a few years. lle then located upon his present farm in Penn township, which contains seventy acres, and has since devoted his atten- tion to agriculture. On March 20, 1879, he married Belle M. Waldron, a daugh- ter of Hon. W. S. Waldron, of Forward township. Mr. Dodds is a Republican, and has served as collector and assessor in his township. Both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, to which denomination his father and grandfather belonged.

ADAM DODDS, youngest son of John Dodds, the pioneer of the family in Butler county, was born April 16, 1816, in Penn township. Butler county, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm. He inherited the homestead, and fol- lowed farming the balance of his days, dying in 1887, at the age of seventy-one years. He married Margaret Sutton. and their son. David B., resides upon the homestead farm. Mr. Dodds was a good neighbor and an excellent citizen, was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and died in that faith. In politics, he was a Republican, though he took very little interest in political affairs.

DAVID B. DODDS, son of Adam and Margaret Dodds, was born upon his present farm in Penn township, September 20, 1850, and has always resided thereon. He received a common school education, and has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He married Mary M. Bartley, a daughter of William- son Bartley. They are the parents of four children, viz. : Adam ; Williamson : Clora, and James. The family are connected with the United Presbyterian church, and politically, Mr. Dodds is an ardent Republican.

JonN WELSH was a native of Ireland, came to America about 1770. when a mere lad, grew to manhood in this country, and served as a soldier in the War of the Revolution, being shot through the body at the battle of Brandywine. from which wound, however, he recovered. After the war closed with the triumph of the Colonies and the establishment of independence, he settled in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania. He came to Butler county about 1800, purchased a tract of land containing 250 acres in what is now Connoquenessing township, built his cabin in the midst of the primitive forest, and began the work of making a home for himself and family. He lived to see the country thickly settled, and to enjoy the satisfaction of a well improved homestead, upon which he died at a very advanced age. His children were as follows: William ; James; Thomas ;

Henry & Welsh.

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John ; Mrs. Susan Brandon; Mrs. Elizabeth Shannon. and Mrs. Morrow. The sons served in the War of 1812, and, like their father, were patriotic and liberty- loving citizens.

JAMES WELSH, son of John Welsh, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, about 1785, and came with his parents to Butler county when he was about fifteen years of age. lle grew to manhood upon his father's farm, which he inherited upon the death of the latter, and throughout his life he was one of the well-known farmers of Connoquenessing township. He died upon the old homestead in 1878. at the remarkable age of ninety-three years. He was married three times and had children by each marriage. His last wife was Eliza Mallison, who died in 1868, at the age of fifty-six years. The parents were con- sistent members of the Presbyterian church, in which faith they lived and died. Mr. Welsh was a stanch Republican from the formation of that party, prior to which he was a Whig.

HENRY C. WELSH, son of James and Mary ( Mallison ) Welsh, was born on the old homestead in Connoquenessing township, and was reared beneath the parental roof. The farm is now the property of Henry C. and an older brother. He has followed farming since early manhood, and has also been interested in oil producing. several wells having been put down on the old farm. In 1891 Mr. Welsh purchased his present farm in Penn township, located upon it in 1892, and has erected a fine residence and other buildings since that time. It was known as the Felix II. Negley farm, contains 100 acres, and is one of the best improved places in the township. Mr. Welsh was married November 11. 1883. to Lizzie S. Brown, a daughter of Joseph Brown, of Penn township, to which union have been born four children, viz. : Lucile; Clara B .: Stella E., and James E. Both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and politic- ally, Mr. Welsh is a stanch Republican.

JOHN KENNEDY, SR., was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1756, and was a son of John Kennedy, a native of Antrim county, Ireland, born in 1722. Hi- mother was a Miss Murray, a relative of Regent Murray of Scotland, and soon after their marriage, in 1748, they immigrated to Baltimore. Our subject received a good education, and followed school teaching in early manhood. He enlisted in the Revolutionary war, served under Washington until its close, and drew a pension from the government to the time of his death, in 1835. He was married in 1786, and was the father of ten children, nine of whom are dead, named as follows: Sarah : Hannah ; Catherine ; James ; John ; Mary ; Jacob ; Margaret, and Elizabeth. Jane is the only survivor of the family. He removed with his family from Baltimore to the site of Mckeesport, Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, and in 1801 settled in what is now Winfield township. Butler county. where the remaining years of his life were passed.

JOHN KENNEDY was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. January 25. 1794. and came with his parents to Butler county when about seven years oldl. lle grew to maturity upon the old homestead in Winfield township, and endured the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life. He served in the War of 1812. was a justice of the peace, and also filled the office of county commissioner. In 1832 he purchased a farm in Penn township, where he resided until his death.

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In 1822 he married Ann C. Smith, of Allegheny county, who bore him nine chil- dren, viz. : John Q. A., of Butler ; Henry, and James, both deceased ; Barbara, deceased wife of Barney Stepp; William ; Jacob; Margaret, wife of John C. Emerick; Nancy, and Hamilton C., who was killed at Fair Oaks. Mr. Kennedy died January 4, 1869, and his wife, August 12, 1859. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he was an ardent Republican.

WILLIAM KENNEDY, son of John and Ann C. Kennedy, was born in Win- field township, Butler county, September 15, 1831, and removed with his par- ents to Penn township the following year, where he grew to maturity. lle learned the blacksmith's trade, and worked at it for twelve years, since which time he has devoted his attention to farming. 1Ie married Matilda Graham, a daughter of Robert Graham, of Penn township, and is the father of ten children, viz. : William J .: Ann C., wife of P. E. Gaveren; Charles ; Lulu M., wife of Morris Flachner; Clara, wife of E. W. Robbins; Clyde; George; Ada ; Eva, and Francis M. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which society Mr. Kennedy has served as steward and trustee. IIe has also served on the school board of his township, and in politics, is an ardent Republican.

ROBERT MARTIN came from Ireland with his parents, William and Eliza- beth Martin, to Connoquenessing township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1801, where his parents died at ripe old ages. Robert became quite prominent in that locality during pioneer days, was a justice of the peace for nearly forty years, also commissiorer and auditor of the county. He served in the War of 1812 under Gen. David Mead, the founder of Meadville, as captain of a company in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania Militia. In 1808 he mar- ried Kesiah McClure, who died in 1843. He survived her four years, dying in 1847. They were the parents of seven children, viz. : William C. ; Abdiel C .: Robert ; John ; James; Mrs. Jane Dodds, and Mrs. Mary Ann Anderson.

JAMES MARTIN, youngest son of Robert and Kesiah Martin, was born in C'onnoquenessing township, Butler county, in 1818, and died in 1892. He mar- ried Margaret Anderson, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States with her parents when a child six years of age. Nine children were born to this union, eight of whom are living, viz. : Alice, wife of Samuel Dunbar, of Pitts- burg : William T., who was born in Connoquenessing township, September 9. 1851, and is a farmer in Penn township; Benton O., a contractor and bricklayer, of AAllegheny ; Jennie, wife of Albert Wible, of Penn township; Maggie, wife of Albert Starr, of the same township; Robert H., of Allegheny ; Aggie, and Frank C. of Allegheny. Mr. Martin removed to Penn township, in 1865, pur- chasing what was known as the Wise farm, near Maharg, containing 120 acres, where he resided until his death. His widow resides with her son, William T., upon the homestead. The latter is a justice of the peace, and in politics, he is a Democrat.

ROBERT HARBISON was born in Jefferson township, Butler county, Penn- sylvania, September 10, 1807, son of William Harbison, a native of Ireland who first located in Middlesex township. Butler county, in the last decade of the Eighteenth century, and later removed to Jefferson township, where he settled

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and improved a farm. William was a soldier in the War of 1812. Ile had three sons, viz. : William, who spent his life upon the old homestead in Jefferson town- ship, and filled the office of county commissioner ; Robert, who settled on a farm adjoining his father's, and Matthew, who located in Oakland township. Robert received his education in a subscription school. learned the shoemaker's trade in youth, and followed that vocation all his life. Ile married Susan Ekas, a daughter of John Ekas, of Buffalo township, about 1847, to which union were born ten children, as follows: John ; Mary; William ; Sarah : Thomas ; Dan- iel; Robert H .; Catherine ; Joseph. and Susan. The survivors of this family are William ; Robert H. ; Joseph, and Susan. Mr. Harbison died March 28, 1874.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

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