History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 123

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 123

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JACOB MYERS was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and immigrated to Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1831. He settled in Summit township, but two years later purchased a farm in Oakland township, upon which he resided down to his death, in 1881, at the age of eighty-three years. He was married in Germany to Catherine Ginter, and they were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Myers died in 1878. They were members of the German Lutheran church, and died in that faith.

JOHN G. MYERS, fourth child of Jacob and Catherine Myers, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, November 18, 1828, and came with his parents to Butler county when about three years old. He was reared upon the homestead in Oak - land township, and received a common school education. At the age of seven- teen he commenced to learn the plasterer's trade, and followed the same in Butler and Brady's Bend until 1867. In that year he located at Millerstown, and engaged in the milling business. under the firm name of Myers & Fetzer, which they still carry on. He has also been interested in oil producing and farming, and in 1887, in connection with his son Henry J., he established the Millerstown Deposit Bank, which has since been in successful operation. Mr. Myers was

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married in 1858, to Catherine Fetzer, a daughter of Jacob Fetzer, and is the father of six children, viz. : IIenry J .; Charles L .; Ida, deceased ; Estelle D. ; Gussie J., and one that died in infancy. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. is one of the trustees of the Millerstown congregation, and has filled the office of deacon in that society. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has served in the borough council, and has filled the office of school director for twelve years.

HENRY J. MYERS, banker, is a son of John G. and Catherine Myers, and was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1862. He came with his parents to Millerstown when six years of age and has since resided in this borough. He attended the public schools of Millerstown and subsequently spent two years at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, where he pursued a thorough course of study. He afterwards accepted a position as teller in the German National Bank, of Millerstown, was promoted to cashier, and in 1885, upon the suspension of the bank, he was appointed liquidating officer by the National Bank Commis- sion and filled the position successfully. In 1887 the Millerstown Deposit Bank was organized by Mr. Myers and his father, and he has since been cashier and bad general supervision of that institution. Mr. Myers is a prominent member of the Masonic order ; is W. M. of Argyle Lodge, Number 540, F. & A. M .: is connected with Butler chapter, Number 273, R. A. M. ; with Tancred Com- mandery, Number 48, K. T. : with Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and Penn- sylvania Consistory, S. P. R. S., in which he has attained the 32d degree, the last three mentioned being in Pittsburg. Politically, Mr. Myers is a Democrat, and aside from his banking interests, he is also interested in the oil industry.

SOLOMON FLEEGER was a native of Centre township, Butler county, Penn- sylvania, son of Jacob and Catherine ( Whitmire) Fleeger, of Centre township, and a grandson of Christian Fleeger, who came to America during the Revolu- tion as a cavalry soldier in the German contingent of the English army oper- ating against Washington; but he deserted at Philadelphia, and went to Lancaster county, thence to Westmoreland county, and finally settled in Centre township. Butler county, in 1797, where he died. Solomon was the fifth in the family of seventeen children, born to Jacob and Catherine Fleeger. His mother was a daughter of Francis Whitmire, one of the pioneers of this county. He grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and married Clarinda Davis, of Allegheny county. Hle settled near Millerstown, became quite prominent in that borough, and held the offices of postmaster and justice of the peace for many years. He died Febru- ary 17, 1892. His widow still resides in Millerstown. Their family consisted of five children, as follows: John; Andrew. and Harriet, who married G. F. Fetzer, all of whom are dead. The survivors are Martin, of Fairview township, and Austin, a resident of Millerstown.

AUSTIN FLEEGER, youngest in the family of Solomon and Clarinda Fleeger, was born in Millerstown Pennsylvania, in 1851, and received his education in the public schools and at a select school in Unionville. At the age of thirteen he went to Brady's Bend, where he served an apprenticeship of two years at the shoemaker's trade. He afterwards located in Butler, and learned the cabinet- maker's trade. Returning to Millerstown, he established himself in the cabinet. making and undertaking business, later engaged in the furniture business, in

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company with his father, and is now connected with the undertaking trade. About this time he became interested in oil producing, and has since devoted his attention to that industry. Mr. Fleeger was the originator of the Citizens Light and Ileat Company, was one of the largest original stockholders, and is at pres- ent one of the principal stockholders in the company, as well as president. Although formerly a Republican, and postmaster of Millerstown during Hayes' administration, he is now an ardent Prohibitionist. He is a member of the bor- ough council, and is connected with Millerstown Lodge, No. 947, 1. O. O. F. In 1879, Mr. Fleeger married Katie Nugent, a daughter of Morris Nugent, deceased, of Clearfield township, to which union have been born the following children : E. Luella ; llarold L. ; Mary C .: George W. ; Katie Irene ; John T., and Austin ().

JOUN JACOB FREDERICK, Son of John Peter and Margaret Elizabeth Fred- erick, was born in lesse Darmstadt, Germany, May 21, 1824. In 1834 his par- ents immigrated to the United States, and located in Summit township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, upon the farm now owned by Gottlieb Frederick, and resided there down to their death. John Jacob was the second in a family of eight children, and was but ten years old when his parents came to this county. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm in Summit township, and when fourteen years of age he commenced working as a water boy on the Pennsylvania canal. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced learning the blacksmith's trade at Butler, and served three years with George Walter. He subsequently went to Brady's Bend, where he followed his trade, and later located at Millers- town, establishing himself in business in this borough. He was a good work- man and soon won the reputation of being one of the best blacksmiths in the county. After following his trade for many years, he finally retired from active life and devoted his attention to his various business interests. By industry and economy he had accumulated a handsome competence, and, at the time of his death, was one of the wealthiest citizens of Millerstown. Mr. Frederick died at his home, October 21, 1890, dying as he had lived a consistent member of the German Lutheran church. He married Christina Remp, a daughter of John and Anna Maria ( Eberhard ) Remp, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, born April 13. 1828. She came to America with her parents when a girl of four years of age, and is still a resident of Millerstown. They reared a family of eleven chil- dren, as follows : Elizabeth, wife of James M. Byers, of Fairview ; Edward G., and William L., of Millerstown ; Mary Ellen, wife of J. C. Gaisford, of the same place : Catherine, wife of Philip Callaghan, also a resident of Millerstown ; Christina, deceased ; Anna D. ; Maggie ; Sarah M., wife of P. G. Frederick. of Millerstown ; Minnie, and Agnes.

EDWARD G. FREDERICK, eldest son of John Jacob and Christina Frederick, was born in Millerstown, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1850, upon the site of the Central Hotel. He was reared in his native town, at the age of fourteen years began learning the blacksmith's trade with his father, and finally took charge of the business, which he has since conducted. He is also an extensive oil pro- ducer. Mr. Frederick was married August 19, 1877. to Louisa Camphire, of Brady's Bend. She is a daughter of Jacob and Christina Camphire, and was

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born at Brady's Bend May 22, 1857. Three children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Clarence L., born June 6, 1879; Annita M., May 4, 1883, and Ruth A .. October 13, 1893. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, of Millerstown, in which Mr. Frederick fills the office of trustee. Upon his father's death he was appointed executor of the estate, and has filled the position with satisfaction to the remaining heirs.

JAMES SEIBERT came with his wife Catherine and family of three children from Armstrong county about 1842, and settled on a farm in Fairview township, Butler county, where he resided down to his death in 1844; his widow survived until September 16, 1891. They were the parents of five children, as follows : Reuben, of Millerstown ; Mary S., wife of Samuel Byers ; Bowman B., who resides upon the old homestead in Fairview township; Margaret D., wife of George Emrick, of Virginia, and Henry II., a resident of Crawford county.

REUBEN SEIBERT, eldest son of James and Catherine Seibert, was born in Armstrong county in 1836, and came with his parents to Butler county when a lad of six years old. He spent his boyhood days upon a farm, received his edu- cation in the district school, and afterwards learned the wagon- maker's trade. Having a natural aptitude for mechanics, he became quite proficient at his trade. About 1861 he established a wagon factory in Millerstown, as a member of the firm of Seibert & Craig, which he carried on until his shop was destroyed by fire in 1873. For the next two years he followed pumping, and then various occupations until 1883, in which year he established a lumber yard and planing mill in Millers- town, in partnership with P. G. Frederick, under the firm name of Seibert & Fred- erick, in which he continued until 1888, when he sold his interest. In 1889 the firm of Seibert, Hoch & Company was organized, and has since carried on successfully the lumber and planing mill business. Mr. Seibert was married in 1860, to Lavina Heppler, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Heppler, of Fairview town- ship. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as a member of the borough council. He is a member of the E. A. U., is a good business man, and stands well in the community.

VALENTINE HAYS, a native of Germany, came to America with his parents when twelve years of age. They settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where Valentine grew to maturity. Ile learned the cigarmaker's trade, and located at Pittsburg, where for several years he conducted a cigar factory. He was married in Pittsburg to Margaret Upperman, a daughter of Conrad Upper- man, one of the pioneers of that city. Conrad Upperman organized the first police force of Pittsburg, and kept one of the early hotels opposite the site of the Monon- gahela House. He took quite a prominent part in the militia, and was familiarly known as Captain Upperman. In 1851 Mr. Hays and wife came to Butler county, and located at Saxonburg ; he engaged in the manufacture of cigars, and resided in that borough for eleven years. In 1861 they returned to Pittsburg, and later located in Armstrong county, where Mr. Hays died in 1877, aged fifty- eight years. Ilis widow now resides at Watertown, South Dakota. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living, as follows: John V., of Washington, Pennsylvania ; William II., of Los Angeles, California; E. F., of Millerstown ; George W., a resident of Washington, Pennsylvania ; Louis E.,

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also a resident of Washington, and Anna 1., wife of Frank Grim, of Watertown. South Dakota.

E. F. HAYs, son of Valentine and Margaret Hays, was born at Punxsutaw ney, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1851, and was less than a year old when his parents settled at Saxonburg. At the age of thirteen he went to work in Knapp's Gun Works, Pittsburg, then engaged in making cannon for the United States Gov- ernment, where our subject worked at putting up shells for the navy. He remained there until after the close of the war, and then entered the employ of A. Bradley, stove manufacturer, where he learned the moulder's trade, later he returned to Knapp's Gun Works, and while there was seriously burned with molten metal. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years. After some time spent at Kittanning and Brady's Bend, he en- gaged in the oil business at Parker, and also in Clarion county. In the autumn of 1872 he located at Millerstown, and followed the oil business until 1881. In that year he formed a partnership with his brother, George W., and purchased the hardware store of 1. Simpson, which they conducted, under the firm name of Hays Brothers, until March 1, 1890, when E. F. became sole proprietor. He was burned out in the fire of June 14, 1892, suffering a loss of $16,000. He immedi- ately commenced the erection of his present substantial building, which is a two- storied structure, forty by eighty, with basement, which he occupied on October 12, of the same year. Ile has now the largest stock of oil well supplies, buggies, farming machinery, furniture, etc., in this section of the country. Aside from his business he still devotes considerable attention to oil producing. Mr. Hays was married November 13, 1873, to Margaret C., a daughter of Josiah Klingen- smith. of Kittanning, and has three children, viz. : Minnie; Frank, and Clarence. The family are members of the English Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served two years in the borough council, one of which he was president of that body. He is a member of Millerstown Lodge, No. 947, I. O. O. F. ; also of Millerstown Lodge, No. 340, K. of P., in which he has passed through all the chairs.

CHARLES H1. JOHNSON, general hardware, oil well supplies, buggies, farm- ing implements, etc., was born in Nunda, Livingstone county, New York, November 6, 1842, son of Ichabod M. and Mary Ann (Colegrove) Johnson. His father was a native of Vermont, came to Pennsylvania when a young man, and located at Smithport, where he followed the shoemaker's trade. He was married in Smithport to Mary Ann Colegrove ; then removed to Livingstone county, New York, where he was lock-keeper on the Genesee Valley canal, and died in that State, in 1889, aged seventy-four years. Mrs. Johnson died in 1590, at the age of seventy-two. They were the parents of four children, viz. : Ben- jamin C .; Charles II., of Millerstown ; John T., deceased, and Fred M., also a resident of Millerstown. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days with his parents, and received his education in the public schools of New York. At the age of fourteen he engaged as a driver upon the canal, at seven dollars and fifty cents per month, between Olean and Rochester. He saved his money care- fully, and at the age of eighteen owned a boat of his own, and when he retired from that business, he was proprietor of a boat and acted as captain. While

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his father was lock-keeper, Charles H. tended lock, for which he received one dol- lar per month. In January, 1565, he came to Petroleum Centre. Venango county, and engaged in teaming in the off region, and did an extensive business. Later in the same year he built the Pithole Hotel, at Pithole, Venango county, which be carried on in connection with a livery and feed stable and general teaming business. Mr. Johnson was one of the first men to locate on the site of Pithole, during the great oil excitement at that point, and slept on the ground for want of better accommodation. He remained there until 1873, having in the meantime engaged extensively in oil producing. In 1873 he came to Millerstown, engaged in teaming, and later went into the oil business, and is now one of the producers of the town. In December, 1889, he established his present mercantile business, and also was in the livery business for ten years. In politics, he is a Democrat, served as chief of police of Millerstown, from September, 1873, to September, 1876, and also filled the offices of burgess. councilman, and member of the school board. In April, 1865, he married Miss Helen Pifer, a native of Hinsdale, New York, and a daughter of John Pifer. They are the parents of two children, viz. : Charles H., and Grace. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and her husband is connected with the Knights of Honor. He is one of the prominent, enterprising and progressive business men of the community.

ALEXANDER H. SIMPSON was born at Newton, New Jersey, June 22, 1837, and was educated at the Newton Academy. At the age of seventeen he com- menced to learn the hardware, stove and tin business. During the war he was engaged in the United States Military Railroad Department, with headquarters at Alexandria, Virginia, and was honorably discharged in August, 1865. The following month he located at Pithole, Venango county, where he found employ- ment in the hardware store of F. H1. Eddy. After a few months he purchased the stock and building and carried on the business until 1868, when the oil pro- duction at that point collapsed. Mr. Simpson was married on December 23, 1868, to Helen M. Ridgway, a daughter of Charles B. and Sarah Ridgway, and sister of Hon. T. J. Ridgway, of Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pennsylvania. Four children are the fruits of this union, all of whom are living, viz. : Nellie R. ; Harry A. ; Edward O., and Blanche. In the spring of 1873, when the oil excite- ment reached Millerstown, Mr. Simpson was one of the first to see the advantages that town offered as a business center, and in less than two months from his first visit to the place, he had a store building erected and was engaged in active busi- ness. He continued without interruption until 1881, when owing to various oil interests and his connection with the Butler County Bank. he sold his business to Hays Brothers. He is an ardent Republican, and has been president of the com- mon councils for two terms, also a member of the school board. Since 1860 he has been connected with the Masonic order, and is also a member of Millerstown Lodge, K. of H.

J. C. GAISFORD is a native of England, born in Warminster, Wiltshire, Feb- ruary 25, 1840, and received a good education in schools of his native land. At the age of thirteen he engaged as a clerk in a wholesale dry goods establish- ment, in the City of London, which position he filled for five years. He then went to South Africa, and for the ensuing nine years was employed in the dry

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goods department of a large wholesale house in Cape Town. During his resi- dence there, he became familiar with many of the strange custom- and manners of the native population. In 1871 he immigrated to the United States, and join- ing his brother, Walter W., in business at Oil City, Pennsylvania, remained in that city until 1878. In the latter year he came to Millerstown and engaged in the oil industry as a producer, to which he still devotes considerable attention. Mr. Gaisford is a charter member of the Citizens Light and Heat Company, and has officiated as secretary since its organization. He is a stockholder in and sec- retary of the Millerstown Fair Association, and also secretary of the Producers Protective Association. He joined the latter in 1887, being the first member initiated in Butler county. Mr. Gaisford is a stanch Democrat, is quite active in polities, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. He has also served for four years as secretary of the borough school board. He is connected with Millerstown Lodge, Number 947. 1. O. O. F., in which he is past district deputy grand master, and is a Royal Templar, and a member of the P. H. C. In 1875 he married Mary E. Frederick, a daughter of John Jacob and Christina Fred- erick, of Millerstown.

WALTER A. DENNISON was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1852, son of Garrett and Mary E. Dennison. His father died when Walter A., was a child, and he grew to maturity in his native city under the care of a devoted mother, receiving his education at Germantown Academy. In 1870 he went to Pittsburg, and engaged as a clerk, but after two years in that capacity, entered into business for himself. In 1876 he came to Butler county and engaged in the furniture business at Millerstown, from which he afterwards retired and engaged in the oil well supply and machinery business, which he conducted for a number of years with marked success. He finally retired from merchandising. his oil and gas interests requiring his entire attention. Mr. Dennison is one of the largest operators in oil and gas in Butler county. He is president of the Pittsburg Refining Company, and is a gentleman of enterprise and public spirit. A Democrat in politics, he has served on the school board for five years, and always manifests a commendable interest in public affairs. Mr. Dennison was married May 27, 1877, to Miss Isadore L. Rivenberg, a native of Scranton, Penn- ylvania, and a daughter of Capt. H. W. Rivenberg, who was killed in the sery- ice during the Rebellion. Six children have been born to this union, four of whom are living.

PETER A. RATTIGAN, editor and proprietor of the Millerstown Herald, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1816, son of Peter and Ann (Snee) Rattigan. His father was a native of Longford county, Ireland, came to America when a boy, and followed the carpenter's and builder's trade in Pittsburg. He was quite an extensive contractor of that city, and died there in September, 1862, aged fifty-two years. His widow survived him until April 17, 1892, dying at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. She was born in Pittsburg, in a house which stands near the site of the Boyer Hotel, and when a child playing on the river bank at the foot of Seventh street, a band of Indians appeared on the opposite shore and tired at her. Peter A., attended the Pittsburg public schools, and in early life became newsboy. When but nine years of age he obtained a

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situation in the press room of the Pittsburg Dispatch, and there began his career as a printer. Ile rose rapidly in the art, and at the age of seventeen was fore- man in the printing house of Benjamin Singerly, the most extensive establish- ment of the kind in the city at that time. On August 9, 1862, at the ege of sixteen, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He had previously enlisted five times, but was rejected because of his youth. His regiment was assigned to service in the Army of the Potomac, and he participated in the battles of Frederick City, Snicker's Gap. Warrenton, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, etc., and was honorably discharged in 1863. In an engagement near Port Royal, Mr. Rattigan was wounded by the concis- sion of a bursting shell, which destroyed hearing in the right ear, and was also wounded in the left foot at Chancellorsville. Upon his discharge he returned to Pittsburg, but was unable to continne at his trade, and became steward on a boat running between that city and Nashville. In 1868 he went to Oil City, and accepted a position as foreman on the Oil City Times, now the Oil City Derrick. After assisting to establish that paper, he accepted a position as superintendent of the Oil City Herald. In 1872 he returned to Pittsburg, and remained there until February, 1877. when he came to Millerstown, Butler county, and in May of that year purchased the Millerstown Herald, which he has since edited and published. Ile has enlarged the paper from a five column to an eight column folio, and made it one of the leading Democratie journals of this section. Mr. Rattigan is a stanch Democrat, has been active in political matters, and has been a delegate to many State and county conventions. He has served as burgess of Millerstown, also as justice of the peace and a member of the school board, was appointed postmaster in October, 1885, and filled that office until March, 1890. Ile is a member of Robert MeDermott Post, Number 223, G. A. R., in which he is past commander, and is an aide on the staff of the department commander of the Pennsylvania G. A. R. He is a member of Millerstown Lodge, Number 947, I. O. O. F., and is past chancellor of Millers- town Lodge, Number 457, K. of P. Mr. Rattigan was married October 25, 1868, to Miss Etta M. Bell, daughter of Wellington and Mary Ann (Ryan) Bell, natives of Queens county, Ireland. She was born in that county December 21, 1847,and came with her parents to Pittsburg in 1863, where both her father and mother died. The following children have been born to this union : Harry T. ; Annie M. ; Wellington J .: Peter .A .; Etta; Howard, and Bessie. The family are members of Mater Dolorosa Catholic church, of Millerstown.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 123

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