History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 131

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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THOMAS BARTLEY. SR .. one of the pioneer- of Penn township, Butler county, was born in Derry county, Ireland, where he was reared and learned the weaver's trade. He also served six years in the British cavalry. In 1802 he married Margaret Logan, and in the fall of that year immigrated to Baltimore, whence they went to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and thence to Pittsburg. They lived in the latter city until 1805, in which year they took up their residence in Penn township, where Mr. Bartley purchased 150 acres of unimproved land. He was a man of great industry and energy, and soon built up a home for him- self and family in the wilds of Butler county, owning before he died one of the best improved farms in the township. He was a sollier in the War of 1>12, and resided upon the homestead in Penn township until his death, December 1. 1-59. aged eighty-five years. His wife died December 6. 1857, at the age of eighty- four. They were pioneer members of the Associate Reformed church, and after- wards of the United Presbyterian church of Butler. In politics. he was a Demo- crat, and always took a deep interest in local matters. They were the parents of the following children : David, a ship carpenter, who died at the age of twenty- four ; Robert, a hatter, who died in Baltimore. November 16. 1891 : John L .. who died in Oakland township; William L., who died in Butler, February 24. 1893; Thomas, a brick maker, who died in Allegheny, March 11. 1877; Anna- bell ; Abner, who died in Penn township, July 2, 1893, and Joseph L., who died on the old homestead, April 28, 1891.

JOHN L. BARTLEY, son of Thomas and Margaret Bartley, was born in the City of Pittsburg, October 23. 1807. and came with his parents to Penn town- ship, Butler county, the following year. Here he grew to manhood, receiving a limited education in the pioneer schools of his neighborhood. At the age of eighteen he started out in the world with thirty-seven and a half cents, and going to Pittsburg. found employment as a gardener for two years, near Manchester. He afterwards engaged in hauling coal from Coal Hill, also worked on the Penn- sylvania canal for several years during its construction. On November 17, 1829, he purchased a farm in Oakland township, where he kept bachelor's hall until 65

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his marriage. On November 17, 1835, he married Elizabeth MeQuistion, a daugh- ter of John MeQuistion. one of the first settlers of Butler county. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Isaiah Niblock, of Butler, and the young couple took up their residence in a log house, built for a tavern, which then stood upon the place. December 17, 1835. They lived in this structure until the erection of a brick residence in 1811. A part of the farm had been laid out in town lots about 1807-10, under the name of Somerset, and its original proprietor had hopes that the county seat would be removed to this point, which soon contained three houses, a blacksmith shop, etc. Mr. Bartley and wife were the parents of six children, only one of whom, J. Walter, survived infancy. They resided upon the homestead until June 17, 1871, when they removed to Butler, where Mrs. Bartley died. June 17, 1876. Her husband returned to the old homestead, where he died, January 20, 1892. They were members of the United Presbyterian church, formerly the Associate Reformed. in which he filled the office of ruling elder for more than half a century. He was one of the most prominent members of that denomination, and was honored and respected for his upright life and strict integrity. He was an ardent Democrat until the Fremont campaign, when he became a Republican, and remained so the balance of his life. He was a very successful farmer, and had one of the first and best grafted orchards in the county.

J. WALTER BARTLEY, only living child of John L. and Elizabeth Bart- ley, was born in the old log house in Oakland township, March 13, 1843, remained with his parents until August 29, 1861, and then enlisted in Company K, Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. He served until July 1, 1865, on which date he was mustered out at Camp Reynolds. He returned home and has since been engaged in farming. On March 17. 1570. he married Nancy Sechler, of St. Paul's Orphan Home, of Butler. She is a native of Harmony. Butler county. and a daughter of Abraham Sechler, born in Montgomery county, in 1793, and died in May, 1872. Her father reared a large family at Harmony, and was well acquainted with Father Rapp, founder of the Harmony Society. Mrs. Bartley is the mother of eleven children, as follows: Edwin S, who died May 28, 1891; Winslow, who died September 23, IS78; John E., who died March 1, 1878 ; William Clyde: Florence Elizabeth ; Howard: Edith : Findley ; Etta ; Oscar, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Bartley and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, of Butler.

ANDREW MOORE was born in 1790, and came to Oakland township, Butler county, with his parents at at early day. They settled on the adjoining farm to that now occupied by his grandson, Andrew G. Moore, where he grew to man- hood. He remained with his parents until his marriage with Ann Storey, a daughter of Alexander Storey, a pioneer of Fairview township. She was born in Ireland, and came to Butler county with her parents in girlhood. After marriage they settled in Fairview township, where both resided on the old homestead until their decease. Mr. Moore died in 1872, aged eighty-two years, and his wife some years before. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to maturity. Their names are as follows : James : John : Andrew : William : Nancy, and Elizabeth. William

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is yet living on the old homestead in Fairview township. Mrs. Nancy Rankin lives in the same township, and Mrs. Elizabeth Kincaid, resides in Illinois.

JAMES MOORE was born in Fairview township, Butler county, in 1825, son of Andrew and Ann Moore. He was reared upon the home farm, assisted his parent- during boyhood and attended school at one of the old fashioned log buildings of pioneer days. At the age of sixteen he commenced working on the canal, then in course of construction, and afterwards went to Allegheny county, where he was employed on a farm until his marriage to Sarah Montgom- ery, a native of the same county. They resided there until 1852, when he returned to Butler county, and settled in Fairview township. About the close of the war they removed to the farm in Oakland township. now owned by his sons. In 1877 he removed to Crawford county, and died there in 1881. His widow survived until 1888. Both were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of fifteen children, four of whom are yet living, viz. : Andrew G., of Oakland township ; Mrs. Margaret Wick, of Concord township ; J. Emer- son, of Oakland township. and David K .. who resides in Crawford county.

ANDREW G. MOORE was born in Allegheny county, in 1845, son of James and Sarah Moore. Ile was the eldest in the family, and resided with his parents until manhood. At the age of twenty-three years he settled on a part of the old homestead, and is now the owner of 100 acres of well improved land. In 1870 he married Isabella Wick, a daughter of William Wick, of Concord township, to which union have been born five children, as follows : Samuel HI. ; Charles M. : Alvin C. : Ira C., and John E., deceased. Mr. Moore and wife are mem- bers of the Luthern church, in which he holds the office of deacon. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and is one of the progressive farmers of his township.

J. EMERSON MOORE was born in Oakland township. Butler county, in 1866, son of James and Sarah Moore, and grandson of Andrew and Ann Moore. IIe resided with his parents until arriving at manhood, and obtained his education in the public schools. When he was eleven years old his parents removed to Craw- ford county, and upon the death of his father, four years later, the responsibilities of the farm largely rested upon his shoulders. At the age of twenty-two years he returned to Butler county, and settled on a port on of the original homestead, where he has since resided. In 1889 he married Altie C. Ellis, a daughter of Abner and Margaret Ellis, of Crawford county. She was born in that county, and is the sixth in a family of ten children. Three children are the fruits of this union : Ellis and Edward, both deceased, and Edna Esther. Mrs. Moore is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. Politically, Mr. Moore is a Republican, and was elected to the office of school director in 1893. He is the owner of 100 acres of well improved land, which is under good cultivation and contains first class buildings.

CAPT. JOHN G. Birres was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 31, 1830. His parents, Matthias and Agatha ( Herman ) Bippus, were natives of Wurtemburg, and died in their native land in 1846 and 1870, respectively. Ilis father was a lumber dealer, and also a contractor and buildler, and had four chil- dren, viz. : Jacob; John G .; Barbara, and Anna Mary. In 1842 Jacob and John G. immigrated to Pennsylvania and settled at Hollidaysburg. Blair county,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

where they followed contracting and building. In 1867 John G. removed to Butler county, and soon affer established himself as a carpenter and builder near Fairview. Later he purchased seventy five acres of land in what is now Oak- land, to which he soon added eighty-seven acres. llere he devoted his energies to agriculture, until November 20, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was commissioned first lieu- tenant, and served as such until his promotion to the captaincy of his company, December 24, 1862, which rank he held until mustered out on July 25, 1863. In September, 1864, he assisted in recruiting the One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served as a captain in that command until wounded in the assault on Fort Gregg, before Petersburg. Virginia, April 2, 1865. After four months spent in a hospital, he returned to his command. and was detailed as assistant inspector general on the staff of General Briscoe, First Brigade, First Division, of the Twenty-fourth Corps, Army of the Potomac. and held that posi- tion until the close of his services, June 28, 1865. Captain Bippus is a member of A. G. Reed Post, Number 105. G. A. R., and is popular among the veterans of Butler county. On July 1, 1 51, he married Rachel Myers, a daughter of Jacob Myers. She, too, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and at the age of seven years accompanied her parents to Pennsylvania and resided with them in this county until her marriage. There were eight children born to this union, viz. : Katie, who married Clarence Booth, and died on January 23, 1890, leaving a family of five children ; John, a resident of Butler ; Jacob, and Matthias, of Oakland township : Samuel, a physician of Butler ; Christie C., a physician of Allegheny : Lyda, and Emma, both residing with their parents. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Captain Bippus is an unswerving Republican, and gives his earnest support to the principles and measures of his party.

ROBERT WILSON came from eastern Pennsylvania with his parents to But- ler county in boyhood. They settled on a farm in Centre township. His father, James Wilson, died in middle age, leaving a family of three sons and several daughters, all of whom are dead. Robert was the eldest son. He married Bar- bara Crayner and settled on a farm in Clay township, where he died in 1870, at the age of seventy-seven years. Ilis wife died the same year. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, while she was a Lutheran. They reared a family of seven children. two of whom are living, George and James. The deceased are Nancy, who married Robert Barkley; Eliza Jane; Margaret, who married John McKissick : Ellen, and Jemima. Mr. Wilson was a veteran of the War of 1812.

GEORGE WILSON was born in Clay township, Butler county, in 1825, son of Robert and Barbara Wilson. He grew to manhood upon the old homestead, assisting his parents in the farm duties, and attended a subscription school during boyhood days. In the fall of 1817 he married Elizabeth Wonderly, a native of Oakland township. Her father, Christopher Wonderly, was a pioneer shoe- maker of this vicinity, and died in 1889. aged ninety-two years. He reared a large family, five of whom are living, viz. : Joshua ; William ; Nancy ; Jemima, and Elizabeth. In 1848 Mr. Wilson purchased a small tract of land from his father, to which he has added until he is now the owner of 115 acres, nearly all

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under a good state of cultivation. He has reared four children, three of whom sur- vive. : John ; Mary Elizabeth, and Etta J. Emma married Nelson Davis, and died in 1878, and her husband in 1879, leaving one son, Newton, who lives with his grandfather. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Wilson enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months. In 1864 he re-enlisted in the Sixth Pennsylvania Artillery, and was mustered out of service in July, 1865. Returning to his home he resumed farming, which he has since followed. In politics, he is a Republican, and both he and wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church.

PETER HECK, a native of Lorraine, France, there grew to manhood, and married. In 1833, with his wife and four children, he immigrated to the United States, and after a voyage of sixty-two days landed at Baltimore. They imme- diately came westward to Butler county, Pennsylvania, to which county his brother Daniel had preceded him, and settled near Prospect. Mr. Heck rented the Sullivan farm for a few years, and in 1841 purchased a farm of 150 acres in Oakland township, upon which his son Daniel now lives. It was then covered with the primitive forest, in the midst of which he erected a log cabin and began the work of making a home for himself and family. Here he continued to reside until his death, October 31, 1879, in his eighty-fourth year. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church, in which he held an official position. Ile was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican, and filled the office of school director, etc. He belonged to the militia of the county for many years, and took a lead- ing interest in public affairs. Mr. Heck was the father of eight children, as fol- lows : Henry, a resident of West Virginia : Caroline, wife of George Lohry, of Oakland township; Margaret, deceased wife of Henry Dierkin ; Christina, wife of Adam Nohe, of West Virginia ; Peter, deceased ; Catherine, widow of Henry Grossheim; Daniel, and George, a resident of Freeport.

DANIEL HECK was born seven miles northwest of the borough of Butler, on the old Sullivan farm, in 1840, son of Peter and Mary Heck. He attained his majority upon the homestead in Oakland township, assisting his parents during boyhood to clear the farm and support the family. He has resided upon the old homestead up to the present, engaged in farming and producing. In 1863 he married Catherine Lightner, a native of Allegheny county. Her father, George Lightner, came to Butler county with his family in 1859, and settled in Oakland township. Mrs. Heck died in 1873, leaving a family of six children, as follows : George W .; Catherine E., who died on December 25, 1892; Emma C. ; Rebecca J., wife of Grant Croft ; Mary L., deceased, and Bertha, wife of J. H. Kepple. She was a member of North Butler Presbyterian church. Mr. Heck married for his second wife Louisa Kammerdiner, a daughter of J. P. Kammerdiner, a native of Lorraine, France, and a resident of Armstrong county, where he is yet living. She is the eldest in a family of twelve children, and was reared in Armstrong county. Mr. Heck and wife are members of the Lutheran church. He isa stanch Republican, and has filled the office of school director for several years.

IGNATZ NEFF was born in the district of Unterfranken, village of Muench- berg, Bavaria, Germany, January 28, 1800. there grew to maturity and married Mary Ann Bauer, who was born in the same place on February 2, 1502. Mr.

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Neff followed farming in his native land and carried on an earthenware business. In May, 1845, with his wife and seven children, he set sail from Antwerp, and after a voyage of fifty-two days arrived in the City of New York. From there they proceeded by water to Albany, thence to Syracuse and Buffalo, and to Erie, Pennsylvania. From the last mentioned point they came down the canal to Greenville, Mercer county, and thence by wagon to Butler county, arriving in what is now Oakland township, on All Saints Day, November 1, 1815, at the home of Wendell Scholl, who kept an inn at Oakland village. Soon after arrival, Mr. Neff purchased a tract of sixty-six acres of land from Mr. Scholl. which had a clearing of some fifteen acres, a log house, and a log barn. Here by hard toil and careful management he made sufficient to purchase another tract of seventy-five acres, in 1852, and in 1858 bought an additional traet of seventy- five acres, making in all 216 acres. Ile devoted his time and attention to improv- ng these lands, on a portion of which he resided until his death, July 30. 1871. His wife survived him until 1885. The old homestead is still in possession of the family. Mr. Neff was the prime mover in the erection of St. Joseph's Catholic church, at North Oakland, and walked over the county to raise money for that purpose, accepting whatever he could get in money or produce. IIe was also a liberal contributor towards the building of the English Catholic church, at the same village. He was an active supporter of the Democratic party, and quite prominent in local affairs. Strictly honest and honorable in all his dealings. he was well liked by the people, and his death was regretted by the whole community. Mr. and Mrs. Neff were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in early youth. The names of the others are as follows: Josefa Theresa, wife of Basilius Berninger, of Centre township: Egid, of Oakland ; Gabriel, who served in Company K, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and died some years after the war; John, of Oakland ; Pius, a resident of Illinois; Helena, wife of Lawrence Witt, of Oakland, and Charles, who died in Illinois, leaving a wife and three children.

EGID NEFF, eldest son of Ignatz and Mary Ann Neff, was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 1. 1830, and was fifteen years of age when his parents settled in Oakland township. He received a fair education in his native land, and learned to read and write the English language after coming to Butler county. Ile assisted his parents in clearing and improving the farm until 1847. when he went to Brady's Bend to learn the saddler's trade. He remained there and at Pittsburg for seven years, and spent another year at his trade in Illinois. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he returned to Pittsburg and was employed by the government in the manufacture of cartridge boxes. Later he established a shop in Butler, carried on afterwards at Oil City for a short time, and then disposed of his business and returned to the old homestead, where he has since devoted his attention to farming. having now one of the best equipped farms in the township. There are tive oil wells on his farm, four of which were producers, but only two are now working. Mr. Neff was married in November, 1859, to Josephine Maischein, a daughter of Michael A. and Regina ( Link) Maischein, who came from Bavaria to this county some years before the Neff family. Eleven children have been born of this union. seven of whom survive, viz. :

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Michael J. ; AAnthony C. ; John ; Emma ; Magdalene ; Wendelin and Francis. The deceased are Frankie, Ignatius. Patrick and Cecelia, all of whom died in early youth. The family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, of North Oakland, and Mr. Neff was one of the building committee in the erection of the English Catholic church at that place. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has held the offices of supervisor, school director, overseer of the poor, etc. He has always taken a commendable interest in matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the community.

CHARLES OSWALD, a native of Bavaria, Germany, there grew to manhood and learned the dyer's trade. He married Genevieve Ott, and in 1840 immi- grated to Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm in Centre township, Butler county, where he resided for about five years. He afterwards worked in the iron mills of Brady's Bend for some ten years, then returned to North Oakland and pur- chased the farm now occupied by his son Philip. His wife died here in 1866, and himself, in September, 1852, at the age of seventy-eight years. They were members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, of North Oakland and among the organizers of that congregation. Their family consisted of three sons and one daughter, viz. : Charles, a resident of Minnesota; Mary, deceased wife of Michael Dessing ; Philip, and Joseph, the latter residing in the west. Mr. Oswald settled in the woods in a small cabin built of round logs. in which he lived until he was able to erect a more commodious home. He was a very indus- trious, hard-working man, but enjoyed the best of health up to a few days of his death. He cast his first vote for General Taylor, but later became a Democrat, and afterwards supported that party.

PHILIP OSWALD came with his parents to Butler county, grew to manhood on the home farm, and assisted his father to clear off and improve the same. He attended the common schools during the winter months, and the balance of the time he devoted to the home duties. Throughout his boyhood days he wore the home-made clothing manufactured by his mother on the home loom, and endured the privations and hardships of that period. He afterwards went to Butler and learned the saddler's and harness-maker's trades, spent four years in that borough, and subsequently was connected with his brother-in-law, Michael Dessing, in the manufacture of soft drinks at Kittanning about two years. He then engaged in the dairy business in Pittsburg, for three years, was next in the dry goods business in the same city for about ten years, but his health failing he sold out and returned to Butler county, purchased the old homestead from the heirs, and has since made it his residence. In 1870 Mr. Oswald married Mary Meyer, a daughter of Philip J. Meyer, a dry goods merchant of Pittsburg. Ten children are the fruits of this union, named as follows : Minnie M., wife of Joseph Ball, of Donegal township; Charles Joseph, a resident of Illinois ; Philip J., a mem- ber of the Capuchin order ; AAlbert G. ; Theodore W. ; M. Clementina : Paul R. E .; Harry A. ; Eugene 1., and Clarence E. The family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, of North Oakland, and in politics, Mr. Oswald is a Democrat. He is the owner of sixty-three acres of well improved land, is an industrious farmer, and a worthy citizen.

JOHN BALL was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1830, son of John and Mar-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

garet ( Ostheimer ) Ball, of that Kingdom. His parents reared four children, viz. . Elizabeth, who died in Germany ; George, who came to the United States in 1848, and is now living in Pittsburg ; John, and Joseph, a resident of Butler. The mother died in 1848, and the father some years later. They were members of the Catholic church, and reared their children in that faith. At the age of eighteen the subject of this sketch immigrated to New York city, taking passage on the sailing vessel " Columbus." From New York he came to Pittsburg, where he found employment in a tannery for several years as an engineer. In 1862 he came to Oakland township, Butler county, and settled on the site of the brick church, where he purchased twenty-six acres of improved land. He lived there for a few years, then removed to Allegheny, and thence to this county. In 1865 he returned to Butler county a second time, and bought forty-two acres of land, on which he resided until 1870, when he sold out and bought the old Thorn place. Here he remained until 1872, when he purchased the old homestead, and the Ilill place, holding the latter until 1879, but not living on it. He now owns sixty acres in Donegal township, and twenty-five acres in Oakland township, on which he has lived since 1872. He also owned two other farms comprising about ninety-four acres. Mr. Ball was married in 1863, to Susanna Graham, of Done- gal township, where she was born and reared. Nine children have blessed this union, eight of whom survive, viz. : Joseph, a resident of Donegal township : George, a merchant of North Oakland : Margaret Susanna, a Franciscan Sister in a Pittsburg convent ; Philip, who died in early youth ; Mary Ann ; Gertrude : Frances Eve: Anna Ursle, and John Anselm. The family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, of North Oakland, and in politics, Mr. Ball is a Dem- ocrat. In 1862 he joined the Home Guards, and assisted in the defense of Pennsylvania.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 131

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