History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 122

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 122

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ROBERT MORROW, youngest living child of John and Isabella Morrow, was born in Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, May 1, 1833. removed to Jefferson county with his parents, and subsequently to Butler county when thir- teen years of age. Ile spent his boyhood days upon a farm in Concord township. their first home in this county being a small log cabin. He wore the home-made clothes of the period, and attended the pioneer school of his neighborhood. On June 3, 1856, he married Eliza Catherine Whitmire, a daughter of John and Catherine ( Painter) Whitmire, natives of Butler and Westmoreland counties. respectively. She was born in Centre township. Butler county. February 26. 1838, and was the sixth in a family of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Mor- row resided upon the Morrow homestead until 1870, when they settled on their present farm in Donegal township, which they had purchased the pre- vious year. It contains 146 acres, upon which are located eight producing oil well -. lle has erected good buildings, and has otherwise improved the property. They are the parents of nine children, viz. : John M .; Sarah Betty, wife of Z. Double ; Lorenzo: Julia A., wife of John Stoops; Mary C., wife of Richard Vensel : Norman : Alice Jane ; George, and Laura May. The family are connected with the English Lutheran church, of Miller -- town. Although formerly a Republican, Mr. Morrow is now a stanch Prohi- bitionist. While a resident of Concord township, he served as supervisor, judge of election, and school director. He is one of the prosperous and enter- prising farmers of the community.

GEORGE HENRY DIVENER was born in Prussia, Germany, September B. 1801. Ile learned the linen weaver's trade in his native land, and followed it there until his immigration to this county. He was married October 25, 1830. to Dorothy Mary Kaufhold, a native of the same country, born June 28, 1809. In the spring of 1847 Mr. Divener, with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, came to the United States, and settled in Butler county, Pennsylvania. near Saxonburg. He followed farming and weaving for about two years, then went to Brady's Bend, where he continued working at his trade, and also engaged in mining. In March, 1858, he moved to Donegal township, Butler

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

county, settled upon a farm he had purchased the year previous, and engaged in farming. He resided upon this place down to his death. which occurred June 7, 1868. Ilis wife survived him until August 9, 1880. The names of their children are as follows: George H., deceased ; John Frederick, a resident of East Brady ; Charles, of Donegal township; William Edward, deceased, and Caroline E., wife of Lewis Hartenstein. The parents were members of the Ger- man Lutheran church, and died in that faith.

CHARLES DIVENER, son of George H1. and Dorothy Mary Divener, was born in Prussia, September 21, 1839, and was eight years old when his parents came to Butler county. He enjoyed good educational advantages in the schools of his native land and afterwards in Butler and Armstrong counties. When quite young he worked in the mines at Brady's Bend, and assisted his parents to sup- port the family. After his father settled in Donegal township, Charles devoted his attention to clearing and improving the farm, and after the death of the former he conducted the farm for his mother. He subsequently began farming for himself, and later purchased the old homestead, upon which he now resides. It contains 101 acres of land, with good oil production, upon which he has erected a commodious residence and other buildings. He is one of the active workers in the Democratic party, and has served two terms as overseer of the poor. Mr. Divener was married February 22, 1870, to Mary E. Frederick, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, who came to the United States with her parents, Leonard and Elizabeth Frederick. Ile and wife are members of the German Lutheran church, at Millerstown.

ZEPHANIAH DOUBLE, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, came to Butler county with his parents, John and Jane Double, in boyhood. They settled in what is now Brady township, and there the parents died. Zeph- aniah was reared in Brady township, there married Elizabath Snyder, and settled upon a farm. Ile subsequently removed to Warren county, lived there three years, and then returned to Bulter county, settling in Donegal township in 1864. Later he removed to Millerstown, where he died September 9, 1880. After his death Mrs. Double made her home with her son Joseph, and died October 1, 1887. Mr. Double was a Democrat, and filled the offices of assessor, collector, constable, and school director at various periods. He was the father of nine children, four of whom are living, as follows: Zephaniah, of lowa ; Prushey, and Joseph. both residents of Donegal township, and Mary Ann, wife of Thomas J. Carnahan, of Kansas.

PRUSHEY DOUBLE was born in Brady township, Butler county, March 22, 1835, was reared upon his father's farm, and received a common school education. On January 14, 1858, he married Elizabeth Carnahan, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Carnahan. She was born in Westmoreland county, October 8, 1841, and is the mother of ten children, viz. : Zephaniah A., born Au- gust 20. 1859; Mary E., March 10. 1861 : Sarah A., September 12, 1862 ; JamesL. January 4, 1865; Lucinda E., July 4. 1868; Prussia A., March 5, 1870; Harriet C., January 31, 1872 ; Thomas J., September 22, 1878 ; Annie C., February9, 1876, died June S. 1894, and Charles C., born February 1. 1878. After their marriage they located on a farm in Brady township, came to Donegal township in the fall of 1863,

James Brownfields (2)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

and settled upon his present farm in the spring of IS75, which he has since improved by the erection of substantial buildings. He is a stanch Republican, and has held various township offices.

JOSEPH DOUBLE, son of Zephaniah and Elizabeth Double, carly settlers of Brady township, Butler county, was born in that subdivision, August 31, 1840. and remained with his parents, following the usual avocations of a farmer's life, until the Rebellion. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, attached to the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He served in the battles of Sugar Loaf Mountain. South Mountain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and was honorably discharged June 5. 1862. Returning to his home in Butler county, he was married to Lucinda Hilgar, November 16, 1862. She is a native of Slippery Rock town- ship, Butler county, and the mother of eleven children, as follows : Peter R. ; John H. : Zephaniah II. ; Elizabeth E. : Joseph E. ; William E. ; Lucinda A. ; James L. : Thomas L. ; Jacob O .. and Edward E. The family are members of the English Lutheran church of Millerstown. Mr. Double is a stanch Republican, and has served as school director. In March, 1863. they located upon their present home- stead farm in Donegal township, which contains 137 acres of well improved land. For the past eighteen years he has been a contractor in building oil rigs. and has done a large business.

WILLIAM BROWNFIELD was born in Sugar Creek township. Armstrong county, April 11, 1833, son of William B. and Mary ( Quinn ) Brownfield, carly settlers of Arm.trong county, where they resided until their death. His father died January 4, 1868, and his mother in 1973. They were members of St. Patrick's Catholic church, at Sugar Creek, and are interred in the cemetery near that church. They were the parents of nine children. five of whom are still living. William remained at home until arriving at maturity, working with his father upon the farm during the summer, and attending school during the win- ter season. At the age of twenty-one he went to Wisconsin, and worked in the Black river pineries for nine years, a portion of which time he was rafting on the Mississippi. In 1864 he returned home, then went to Oil City and engaged in drilling oil wells. In 1872 he again returned to Armstrong county, and in 1875 purchased his present farm and settled upon it It contains 120 acres, upon which eight oil wells are located. Mr. Brownfield was married November 26, 1868, to Mrs. Ellen Jane Griffin. a daughter of Thomas and Cath- erine Haggerty. She was born in Venango county, December 21, Is Hf. married John Griffin, and bore him a family of four children, as follows : Francis A. : Mary L. : Sarah Elizabeth, a graduate of the Philadelphia Training School, and now a professional nurse at Pittsburg, and Emma E. Mr. Griffin died Septem- ber 6, 1866. To Willlam and Ellen Jane Brownfield have been born seven chil- dren, viz. : William A .. deceased ; Martha E. : Margaret C. : Olive M .: James Harland; John Edgar, and Charles L., deceased. The family are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church, at Sugar Creek. In politics, Mr. Brownfield is a Democrat, and has served as a member of the school board for three terms.

JAMES BROWNFIELD was born in Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county. Pennsylvania, August 25, 1835, and was one of a family of nine children born to 61

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

William B. and Mary ( Quinn) Brownfield. His boyhood days were passed upon his father's farm, and he dressed in the coarse homespin clothing of the period ; while his education was acquired in a small log school house, withrude furnish- ings, which he attended only for a few weeks in each year during the winter season. He assisted his father in the farm duties until he reached his maturity, and remained with him until his marriage. On July 7, 1872, he married Hannah Crawford, and they took up their residence in East Brady, Clarion county. While making their home in that town. Mr. Brownfield followed oil drilling in various fields, drilled the first well at Oil City, and later engaged in contracting. Mrs. Brownfield is a native of Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, and a daughter of John and Sarah A. ( Vasbinder) Crawford. Her father was a native of Ireland, and came with his parents to America when a young man, settled in Armstrong county, and there married Sarah Vasbinder. Both resided in Arm- strong county until their death, leaving a family of four sons and two daughters. Mr. Crawford was a prominent citizen in his community, beld various positions of trust, and both he and wife were respected members of the United Presbyterian church, at Middlesex. Mr. Brownfield and wife removed from East Brady to Armstrong county, and in 1872 purchased and settled upon the farm in Donegal township, Butler county, where his widow and family now reside. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuit-, was a leading and successful farmer of the township, and brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. In 1886 oil was discovered on this farm, and it now contains seventeen producing wells. Three children were born of his marriage to Hannah Crawford, as follows : Ida: Mary A., and James. Mr. Brownfield died at his home in Donegal township, Novem- ber 10. 1889. He was a practical member of St. Patrick's Catholic church, at Sugar Creek, to which congregation his widow and children belong. He was universally esteemed for his sterling manhood and upright character. As a citi- zen, he was public-spirited and progressive, taking a deep interest in all matters that tended to benefit the community. He was especially active in furthering the schools of his township, and gave an unwavering support to educational and religious institutions. Politically, he was a Democrat, but was broad-minded and liberal in his views on all public matters. Ile left to his descendants an untarnished name, and died respected and esteemed by all who knew him.

SIMON MONROE WILES, a prosperous farmer and producer of Donegal town- ship, was born near Petrolia, Butler county, July 7, 1557. His father was born in Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, September 29, 1822, and married Elizabeth Daubenspeck, February 9, 1843. She was born in Parker township, Butler county, March 6, 1826. They were the parents of the following children : Mary E., wife of W. J. Myers, of Donegal township ; Catherine Jane, deceased wife of Samuel Wagner; John Sylvester, of Centre township; Harriet Ann, wife of William Thompson, of Bradford, Pennsylvania ; Fannie Agnes, wife of Dr. A. K. Carmichael, of Trinidad, Colorado ; Simon Monroe, of Donegal town- ship, and David Elmer, a physician of Pittsburg. Mr. Wiles died April 28. 1892, and his wife in March, ISSO. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm, and attended the common schools of his neighborhood. At the age of seventeen years he engaged as a pumper and tool dresser in the oil

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

fields, and by judiciously investing his earnings in some oil leases he became possessed of a production of his own. and has since continued in that business. Mr. Wiles was married August 16. 1877, to Jedidah Jenkins, a native of Arm- strong county, born October 22. 1859. Her father, David Jenkins, was born in Wales, in 1826, and was married May 15, 1846, to Jane Davis, also a native of Wales, born in November, 1828. Mr. Jenkins died February 7, 1868, his wife surviving him until May 7, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Wiles are the parents of four children, as follows : Clarence Vernon. deceased : Myrtle Clare: Elsie Beulah, and Alta Beryl. In [879 be purchased and located upon his farm in Donegal township, which is highly improved and contains a fine oil production. fle has since erected a handsome residence, large and commodious barns, and devotes particular attention to raising fine pacing horses. He is one of the most success- ful farmers of his township. Politically, he is a Republican, is a member of Millerstown Lodge, Number 457, K. of P., also of Blaney Tent. K. O. T. M., of Millerstown.

RUDOLPH BARNHART, SR., was born in Westmoreland county. Pennsyl- vania, in 1775, son of John William Barnhart, a native of Germany, who came to Pennsylvania in 1764, and settled in Westmoreland county, where he died in January, 1822. Rudolph was reared in that county, and in the year 1795 he came to Butler county and purchased 400 acres of land in what is now Fairview township. The following spring he brough this family to his cabin. which he had erected in the primitive forest, and took up his permanent residence in this county. His wife's maiden name was Christina Rice, and she was a native of eastern Penn- sylvania. They were among the earliest settlers in the vicinity of Millerstown. and both spent the remainder of their lives in that locality. Eleven children were born to them, as follows : William : Philip; Susannah, who married Jona- than Andrews ; Christina, who became the wife of Joseph Vensel, of Donegal township : Frederick ; Elizabeth, who married John Andrews ; Rudolph ; Simon ; Andrew ; Polly, who married Nicholas King, and Catherine, who became the wife of John Eberhart. Mr. Barnhart and wife were members of the Reformed Presbyterian church, and died March 21. 1851, and 1854, respectively. He was a man of strict integrity, and was widely known and respected.

ANDREW BARNHART, youngest son of Rudolph and Christina Barnhart. was born upon the old homestead in Fairview township, Butler county, Decem- ber 12, 1821, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm. When a young man he learned the baker's trade, in Butler, and followed that business for a few years in Millerstown, where he established a bakery and confectionery store in IS 13. Hle subsequently embarked in general merchandising, which he carried on down to the spring of 1873, being for thirty years one of the leading business men of that borough. Throughout this period his character was marked by sterling integrity and diligence, which rendered his business career a most prosperous one. In 1844 he married Priscilla Eberhart, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Kistler) Eberhart, of Mercer county, who subsequently removed to Douglas county, Kansas. She was born in Hickory township, Mercer county. April 25. 1825. Of their nine children, four grew to maturity, viz. : Paul I .. of Fairview township ; Aaron E., of Millerstown : Sadie C., wife of James Gill. of Ottawa.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Kansas, and Obadiah F .. deceased. Mr. Barnhart died December 26. 1873. Hle was a life-long and zealous member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, was an ultra Abolitionist prior to the emancipation of the slaves, and an active temper- ance advocate. His widow resides with her daughter in Kansas.

AARON E. BARNHART, son of Andrew and Priscilla Barnhart, was born in Millerstown, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1851, received his education at the pub- lic schools and the State Normal Schools at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and Leb- amnon, Ohio, and afterwards taught for two years. lle assisted his father in the store, and at the death of the latter was appointed executor of the estate. In 1883 he became a member of the firm of Hoch Brothers & Barnhart, which part- nership existed until 1888. Since that time he has devoted his attention to his oil and farming interests, owning 112 acres of the original Barnhart tract. He has been prominently interested in the development and improvement of the borough, was one of the originators and first president of the Citizens Light and Fuel Company, also one of the original promoters and stockholders of the Millerstown branch of the Producers Oil Company, Limited. The Barnhart family have been very liberal in their support of churches, and have donated the following church lots: The Sugar Creek or White Oak church lots, donated by Andrew Barn- hart. in 113 ; ground for the English Evangelical Lutheran church at Millers- town, by F. W. Barnhart, in 1850; the lot for St. John's Reformed church, by David Barnhart, in 1869, and the Methodist Episcopal church lot, at Millerstown, by A. E. Barnhart, in 1871. Mr. Barnhart was married August 18, 1874, to Catherine Fleeger, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Kittering) Fleeger, of Butler county, and has one son. Oscar Z. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P .. and the K. of HI. fraternities. He has served a number of terms on the school board and borough council, and one term as burgess of Millerstown.

MARTIN Hoch was born in the City of Genningen, Canton of Tuebingen, Wurtemburg, Germany. February 15, 1818, son of Jacob lloch. He grew to manhood in his native land, and in 1847, after a few months sojourn in England, he came to New York, journeyed westward by canal to Erie, thence to Pittsburg, and after a short stay in that city, went to Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, where he found employment in the iron mills. By industry and economy he accumulated sufficient capital to start in business for himself, and invested his savings in the erection of a brewery at Millerstown. He at once wrote for his brother, Gottlieb Hoch, an experienced brewer, to join him, and together they conducted the business for many years. Martin finally sold his interest to his brother. and in 1855 opened a hotel in a small building on the site now occupied by the Central Hotel, conducted by his sons, Hoch Brothers. On September 7, 1818, Mr. Hoch was united in marriage with Catherine Gebhardt, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, born in the City of Giengen, Canton of Heidenheim, February 28, 1822, who alone and without a protector had come to America in 1817. This union was blessed by five sons and one daughter, viz. : Adolphus 1 .; Augustus ; Jacob, and Martin, both deceased ; Albert M., a physician, and Catherine Pauline. Mr. Hoch died at his home in Millerstown, December 18, ISSs. During his long residence in that borough he was actively identified with its growth and progress, and was one of its most respected citizens.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ADOLPHUS A. Hocu, eldest child of Martin and Catherine Hoch, was born in Millerstown, Pennsylvania, April 1. 1850, and obtained his education in the pub- lic schools. When sixteen years of age he began a two years' apprenticeship with his uncle at the brewing industry. He afterwards engaged as a pumper in the Venango and Warren oil fields, and when twenty-one years old he returned to Millerstown, and began operating in that field as a producer in 1873. He had previously been interested in the livery business with his brother, Augustus. In the winter of 1877 the firm of Hoch Brothers was organized, and they erected the Central Hotel block at Millerstown. In 1883 they embarked in the hardware business, and now conduct one of the most extensive and completely equipped hardware and oil well supply houses in Butler county. Mr. Hoch is a charter member of the Citizens Light and Fuel Company, is an extensive stockholder in the Producers Oi! Company, Limited, and is a trustee of the Millerstown Branch, and a member of the general advisory board. He has been a member of the borough council for eighteen years ; is now president of that body, and has also served as burgess, and as a member of the school board. Mr. Hoch was married September 15, 1874, to Miss Nannie Campbell, a daughter of W. II. II. and Lucinda ( Boozel) Campbell. She was born October 22, 1854, and is the mother of four children, viz. : Harry A., born October 22, 1875; Charles W., August 12. 1877 : Earl, July 2, 1879, and Adolphus A., April 2, 1882.

AUGUSTUS HOCH, second son of Martin and Catherine Hoch, was born in Millerstown, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1852, and grew to maturity in his native town, receiving a public school education. At the age of fourteen years he started in life for himself as an oil pumper, and followed that business for six years. He then returned to Millerstown and engaged in the livery business, which he con- ducted for three years. Disposing of his stock he embarked in oil producing. and has since developed into one of the most extensive producers in the Millers- town field. In 1877 he became associated with his brother, under the firm name of Hoch Brothers, and, besides their extensive hardware and oil well supply busi- ness, they conduct the Central Hotel, of which our subject has charge. Mr. Iloch is also a member of the firm of Seibert, Hoch & Company, who operate a lumber yard and planing mill at Millerstown. In 1877 he married Miss Eliza- beth Krugh, of Winfield township, Butler county, a daughter of Henry and Bar- bara Krugh, and has two children, viz. : Martin G., and Ralph W. E. Mr. Iloch is a Republican, and is a member of Millerstown Lodge. 457, K. of P. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and are liberal con- tributors towards every worthy public enterprise.

HENRY L. WESTERMANN, a native of Prussia, came to the United States in 1847, and located at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in a store. In 1856 he removed to Millerstown, and engaged in merchandising, which he carried on successfully until 1879, when he retired from business. Ile was also interested in oil producing, and was one of the leading citizens of this section of the county. While at Brady's Bend, he mar- ried Mary Fetzer, a native, of Germany, who came to this country with her par- ents. She bore him a family of five children, as follows : Charles J., of the firm of Westermann Brothers; Jacob J., a member of the same firm ; Cassie D .. wife

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of J. C. MeKisson. of Toledo, Ohio: Emma, deceased, and Loretta. Mrs. Westermann died in June, 1871. Her husband married Dora Fetzer, who bore him two sons : Henry M., and Richard. He died in October, 1885, aged sixty- three years.

JACOB J. WESTERMANN. of the firm of Westermann Brothers, was born in Millerstown. Butler county. July 5. 1857. second son of Ilenry L. and Mary Westermann. He was reared in his native town, and was educated in the pub- lic schools. In 1875 he entered the Normal College, at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1879. Returning to Millerstown, he formed a partnership with his brother. Charles J., embarked in merchandising and has since continued in that business. They have now the largest department store in Millers- town and one of the largest in the county. They carry a complete stock of dry goods, carpets, and boots and shoes. They are also extensive oil producers, both in the Millerstown field and in Ohio. In 1859 Mr. Wester- mann married Gertrude MeLaughlin, a daughter of John Mclaughlin, and has one son, Jacob J. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and politically. Mr. Westermann is a stanch Democrat.

CHALES J. WESTERMANN, of the firm of Westermann Brothers, is the eldest son of Henry L. and Mary ( Fetzer) Westermann. Ile was born in MiHerstown, Butler county, August 10. 1855, and was educated in the public schools, and at the Normal College. Lebanon, Ohio. In 1873 he was appointed teller of the German National Bank, at Millerstown. In 1876 he commenced operating in the Miller-town oil field, and in ISSO, in connection with his brother, Jacob J., became interested in the Millerstown and Butler fields, and has extensive pro- duction in this county and in Ohio. Ile is also associated with his brother in the mercantile business at Millerstown. Mr. Westermann married Emma Zettle, and both he and wife are members of the German Lutheran church. Politically, he is an ardent Democrat. is a member of the Masonic order, and is one of the representative citizens of the borough.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 122

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