History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 138

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 138

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MOSES THOMPSON, ellest son of James and Sarah ( Gilliland ) Thompson, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, April Is, 1814, and was reared and educated in Butler and Beaver counties, In August, 1532, he came to Butler county from Beaver, and has since resided in this county. On February 19, 1833, he married Jane Thompson, a daughter of Anthony Thompson, of C'entre town- ship, to whom have been born the following children : Elizabeth A., wife of Henry Whitmire : Sarah, deceased : Anthony; William IL., deceased : Josiah M .. and James M. Mr. Thompson was a justice of the peace for ten years, and held most of the other township offices. In politics, he was in early life a Whig. and since the formation of the Republican party he has been an adherent of that

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organization. He is now retired from active life, and resides in the borough of Butler. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

ANTHONY THOMPSON, eldest son of Moses and Jane Thompson, was born in Centre township, Butler county, May 5, 1838, and has always followed farming. Ile received a good common school education, and since attaining his majority he has filled nearly all of the township offices. Politically. he is a Republican, and in religion, he is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Thompson was married September 20, 1860, to Elizabeth A., daughter of William Russell, of Centre township. Six children have been the fruits of this union, as follows : Moses G. ; Elizabeth A. : Martha J., deceased ; Maggie .A. ; William R., deceased, and Anthony Robert. Hi- present homestead was settled by Simon Young, Sr. ; was bought by Moses Thompson fifty years ago, and was purchased by Anthony Thompson from his father twenty-three years ago, since which time it has been his permanent home.

BENJAMIN JOHNSTON, was a native of Down county, Ireland, and came to America about 1794. Hle afterwards settled in Jackson township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased 150 acres of land, which he cleared and improved. lle resided upon this farm until his death, which occurred about 1558. His family were as follows : Joseph; Wilson ; John ; William ; Jesse ; Cynthia, who married John McGrew : Jane, who married Jesse Miller ; Nancy. who married John Wallace ; Mary Ann, who married Joshua Davis, and Eliza. who married a Mr. Young. Mr. Johnston was an elder in the United Presbyterian church for many years, and was a stanch adherent of the Democratic party.

JESSE JOHNSTON, fifth son of Benjamin Johnston, was born on the homestead in Jackson township, Butler county, July 7, 1820, and learned the blacksmith's trade at Zelienople. He followed his trade for a few years at Portersville, but in 1850 he removed to Zelienople and engaged in farming in Jackson township. In 1852 he located in Jefferson township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. In 1862 he returned to Butler county and purchased the old Johnston homestead of 211 acres, in Centre township, where he died, October 17, 1865. He was a Demo- crat. in politics, and was one of the early constables of Portersville. For many years he was an elder in the United Presbyterian church. He married Sarah J., a daughter of Joseph Allen. of Zelienople, and of the ten children born to this union, eight grew to maturity, as follows : Thornley, of Centre township: Jos- eph A., who died in 1871 ; Stephen A. ; Martha J., who married Calvin Steven- son : John H .. of Centre township; Mary A., deceased ; James R., of Forward township; Charles C., of Centre township ; Rosanna, wife of A. Il. Campbell. and George B. McC., deceased.

THORNLEY C. JOHNSTON, eldest son of Jesse and Sarah J. ( Allen ) Johnston, was born at Portersville, Butler county, Pennsylvania, February 28. 1842. and lived with his parents until his majority. He received a common school educa- tion, and afterwards attended Curry Institute, Pittsburg. He then returned to his father's home and taught school for two winters. After his father's death he remained on the homestead until 1570, in which year he married Arabella M. Walker, a daughter of William Walker, of Centre township, and located upon his present farm. To this union have been born seven children, as follows:

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Jessie A. . Clara L. ; Mary M. : Clarence W. ; Lulu M. : Alma S., and Albert L. Mr. Johnston is an elder in the United Presbyterian church of Butler. In poli- tics, he is an ardent Democrat, and is one of the most intelligent and progressive farmers of his township.

DANIEL HECK, SR., was born in Lorraine, Germany, September 13, 1813. son of Daniel Heck, a native of the same place, who came to Butler county in 1>28, where he resided until his death. Daniel came here with his parents, who settled in Prospect. where he remained about one year, and then began working at the cabinet-making business in Butler, removed two years later to Unionville. and carried on there for about five years. He then settled upon his present homestead in Centre township, where he has since resided. Mr. Heck has been twice married. First to Elizabeth Rose, a daughter of John Rose, of Centre township, who bore him the following children : Daniel A., a merchant of Butler ; Mary A., who married Philip Gruver ; Martha, who married John D. Albert ; Margaret ; Rachel, who married John Iyle; John C., deceased ; Jacob A. : Presley J., and James W. His second wife was Mrs. Mary Gold, a daughter of Jacob Fleeger, to which union were born four children. as follows : C'lara ; Emma ; George B. Me., and Elizabeth. Mr. Heck is a stanch Democrat, and is a member of the Lutheran church.

JOHN BADGER was born in Derry county, Ireland, in 1782, immigrated to the United States in 1822, and settled in Clinton county, New York. He located in Butler county about 1829, and purchased a farin of 200 acres in Centre township, which he cleared and improved. He died upon his farm August 22, 1877 ; his wife died in 1869. They were married in Ireland, and her maiden name was Isabella lludson. Eleven children were the fruits of this union, whose names are as follows : Eliza, who married John Thompson ; Mary, who married Jacob Boyd: James; John, deceased ; Rosanna, who married David Cameron ; William, and Nancy, both deceased : Matilda, who married William Thorn ; Jane, who married William Colbert ; Margaret, who became the wife of George Shaffer, and one that died in carly youth. Mr. Badger and wife were members of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he was a Democrat.

JAMES BADGER, eldest son of John and Isabella Badger, was born in Ire- land, in 1813, and came to Butler county with his parents when he was about sixteen years of age. He has resided in this county sixty-five years, and has watched its development from a comparative wilderness to its present well improved and prosperous condition. He was married June 10, 1840, to Mary Elliott, a daughter of John Elliott, of Centre township, and has four living chil- dren, as follows : Angeline, wife of Francis O'Donnell ; Margaret B. : Isaiah, and Matilda, wife of Presley Elliott. The deceased are: John; William II. : James ; Mary E. ; Milton. and Florence. Mr. Badger is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he has always been a Democrat. lIe is residing upon the homestead settled by his father in 1829.

JACOB RIDER was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1787, grew to manhood in his native county, and then removed to Allegheny county, where he married Sarah Bright, a daughter of Michael Bright, of that county. He came to Butler county in 1830, and purchased the present Rider homestead of 200

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acres, in Centre township, upon which he resided down to his death, in 1859. llis widow survived until 1866. They were members of the English Lutheran church, in which denomination Mr. Rider filled the office of elder for several years. In politics, he was originally a Whig, and afterwards a Republican, and filled many of the township offices at different periods, among them school direc- tor, being very earnest in his efforts in behalf of education. Jacob and Sarah Rider were the parents of nine children, as follow : Michael, who was shot and killed while hunting, in 1839; Mary, who married Peter Fleeger ; Christopher ; Jacob; John S. ; Samuel B. ; David ; Margaret who married Peter Whitmire ; Sarah, and George, all of whom are dead except Samuel B., Margaret, and George.

SAMUEL B. RIDER was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1826, and came with his parents to Butler county when four years of age. He remained on the homestead farm until his marriage to Catherine Byers, June 5, 1851. She was a daughter of Daniel Byers, of Centre township, and is the mother of the following children : Sarah J., deceased, who married Redick McCandles. ; Lorenzo ; Orestes C. ; Samuel 1., deceased ; George A. : Harriet 1., wife of Edward Graham ; Laura A., wife of Calvin Stevenson ; Olive E .. wife of John Albert : Jessie V., deceased ; U. S. and Carrie. Mr. Rider received a good public school education, and taught for six terms in Centre and Oakland townships. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Battery A, Sixth Heavy Artillery, attached to General Auger's Division, Twenty-second Army Corps, and served until his discharge, June 18, 1865. Most of his service was at Washington, where his battery assisted in the defence of the Capitol. He also did guard duty on the Orange and Alexandria railroad. Mr. Rider is a Republican, and has filled the offices of school director for several terms, also that of auditor, overseer of the poor and road commissioner. lle is a member of the G. A. R., and is an adherent of the English Lutheran church.

ORESTES C. RIDER was born upon the homestead farm in C'entre township, October 21, 1854, received a common school education, and was reared a farmer. On October 22, 1879, he married Emeline Sanderson, a daughter of Philip Sander- son, of Clay township, and is the father of five children, as follows : Homer C .; Celia C. ; AAlvin L. ; Elmer, and Leda E., deceased.

ULYSSES S. RIDER was born in Centre township, upon the homestead farm. March 23, 1869, received a common school education, and has followed agricul- ture as a vocation. He was married April 21, 1891, to Clara C. Hock, daughter of Conrad Hock, of Franklin township, and has one child, Charles D.

GEORGE RIDER, youngest son of Jacob and Sarah Rider, was born in Centre township, Butler county, March 24, 1833, was reared upon his father's farm, and received his education in the public schools. On April 26, 1855, he married Mary A., a daughter of . Jacob Rumbaugh, of Centre town-hip. She died May 16, 1890, having borne him a family of eight children, as follows : Margaret L., wife of Harrison Miller ; Sarah B., wife of Andrew Baker; Olive B., deceased ; Emma E .; Mary E., wife of Jacob Christley ; Maria, wife of Orin 1. Hutchison ; Elsie J., and one that died in infancy. Mr. Rider is a member of the Lutheran church, and an elder in that organization. Politically, he is an

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ardent Republican, has filled the office of school director and several other posi- tions of trust in his native township.

JOHN R POLLOCK was born in Down county, Ireland, April 2, 1812, and immigrated to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. in 1832. where he worked for the firm of May & Andrew. of Pittsburg, for ten years. Ile then came to Butler county, and purchased a farm in Centre township, upon which he resided down to hi- death, February 11. 1893. Mr. Pollock was twice married, his first wife being Mary Black, and his second wife, Mary Blain. He was the father of thir- teen children, two of whom died in infancy. The names of the others are as follows: Agnes, who married Alfred Aggas ; Martha : Alexander ; William ; Maggie : James A .; Lizzie: Mary : Isaiah N .: John. and Thomas. Of these Martha, William. Maggie, and James A., are dead. Mr. Pollock was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics. a Democrat. He held several of the offices in his township at different periods.

ALEXANDER POLLOCK was born February 27: 1848, upon the homestead farm in Centre township, and is the oldest son of John R. Pollock. He attended the public schools of his district in his boyhood, and has since been engaged in farming. On December S, 1874, he married Annie Park, a daughter of John Park, of Pittsburg. and is the father of six children : John ; AAllen ; Clarence ; Howard; Foster, and George. Mr. Pollock is a Democrat, and is a member of the Holyoke United Presbyterian church.

JOHN POST, SR., was born in Germany, in 1822, was reared in his native land, and there married Elizabeth Crowley. They came to this country in 1843. and located at Buffalo Furnace. whence they removed to Winfield township. Butler county. where Mr. Post died at the age of fifty-four years. They reared a family of nine children, as follows : Elizabeth, who married Henry Weitzel : Catherine, who married Jacob Eisler; Margaret, wife of John Dur ; John ; Mary, wife of Frank Acre : Henry; Ida ; William, and Annie, wife of William Crooks. Mr. Post was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which denomina- tion his wife also belonged.

JOHN POST, eldest son of John and Elizabeth Post, was born at Buffalo Furnace, December 27, 1853, received a common school education, and has been engaged in farming since early manhood. He married Margaret A. Acre, a daughter of August Acre, of this county, to which union have been born five children. as follows : Clarence A. ; Mary E. ; George A., who died December 19. 1891, and two that died in early youth. Mr. Post is a Republican in politics, but takes no active interest in political matters.

WILLIAM THOMPSON was a native of Ireland, and a son of John Thompson. who came from Ireland to New Jersey with a family of five children, as follows : John : James ; William : Amy C., and Elizabeth. William grew to manhood in New Jersey, subsequently moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Greene county. He was married three times, and was the father of twenty-four children. By his first wife three children were born to him. Ilis second wife. Catherine Hull, became the mother of seven children: John ; Charles; Joseph ; Maria ; William : Sarah A., and Ruah. His third wife was Annie Wallace, to whom were born fourteen children, as follows : Isaac ; James ;

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Hannah: Parker: Albert P; Harvey D. : Wesley T. F. ; Isaiah E. W .: Eleanor S. ; Rebecca A. ; Hiram W. ; Amy E. : William, and one that died in early youth.

HARVEY D. THOMPSON, son of William and Annie ( Wallace) Thompson. was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 21. 1829, removed with his parents to Greene county at the age of ten years, and remained there until he was sixteen years oldl. He then went to Pittsburg to learn the coach- maker's trade, spent four years in that city, and located at Prospect, Butler county, in 1856. Ile there married Mary Forrester, a daughter of Joseph For- rester. She died in 1871, the mother of five children, as follows : Clarence : Flora E. : Harry F. : Millie, and John G. In 1578 he married Catherine MI. Roth, to whom were born five children : Lewis R. ; Louisa R. : Annie L. E. ; George W., and Marietta G. Mrs. Thompson died in 1881, and in 1883 he mar- ried Mrs. Neese, and has one daughter by this union, Catherine. Mr. Thomp- son is a member of the English Lutheran church, in which he has filled the office of deacon for two terms. In politics, he has always been a Republican, has filled many of the township offices, and was elected sheriff of Butler county in 1869, in which office he served a full term. In July, 1863, he enlisted in Com- pany A, Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Ile located upon his present homestead in 1874. is a good, practical farmer, and a very worthy citizen. He has always been active in political affairs, as well as in church and educational matters.

WILLIAM BLAIN was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, in 1797, grew to man- hood in his native land, and there married Jane Arnold, a daughter of John Arnold, of the same shire. In July. 1852, they immigrated to Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, remained there about two years, and then came to Butler county. locating in Buffalo township. In 1864 Mr. Blain purchased a farm in Centre township, upon which he resided down to his death, in April, 1876. He was a member of the United Presbyterian churches at Butler and Holyoke, and in pol- itics, he was a Republican. By his marriage to Jane Arnold he became the father of the following children : Mary, deceased wife of John Pollock ; Eliza- beth, wife of John Park ; John ; Jane, deceased ; William ; Thomas A. ; Alex- ander, and Jessie, deceased. John, William, and Thomas A. Blain were soldiers in the Union army. John and Thomas A., enlisted in Company D, Sixth United States Cavalry, August 26. 1861. and participated in the battles of Williams- burg, siege of Yorktown, and all the principal battles of the Army of the Poto- mac during their term of enlistment. John was captured during Mcclellan's campaign before Richmond, in 1862, was severely wounded at Savage Station, taken to Libby prison, and thence sent to Fortress Monroe. He remained in the hospital at that point four months, and was discharged on a surgeon's certificate. in October, 1862. He re-enlisted March 15, 1865. in Company K. One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served as corporal, until his final dis- charge at Fort Smith, Virginia, August 25, 1865. Thomas A. was never off duty a single day during his term of service. He was captured June 18, 1864, at Travellian Station, was held prisoner at Libby and Andersonville six months, was then exchanged, and was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C .. March 16, 1865. William entisted in Company M, Fifth Heavy Artillery, and

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served from the organization of the regiment until honorably discharged, June 13, 1865.

ALEXANDER BLAIN was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, January 15, 1840. and is the youngest son of William and Jane Blain. He came with his parents to Pennsylvania in 1852, and to Butler county two years afterward. He received a common school education, and has been engaged in farming from early boy- hood. Ile was married January 3. 1871, to Sarah E., a daughter of Robert Allison, of Centre township, and is the father of six children. as follows : William C. A. : Robert C. : John M. : Thomas H. ; Agnes J., and Wilber Alex- ander. Mr. Blain is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and has been an elder and treasurer in that organization. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held many of the offices in his township.

Jony S. SHAKELY, son of Henry Shakely, was born in Fairview township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1836, grew to manhood in his native township, and subsequently settled on a farm in Centre township. In 1864 he married Susan Byers, of C'entre township, and is the father of one son, Alva, who now resides upon the old homestead. Mr. Shakely removed from the homestead farm to Butler, where he has retired from active business life. He is a member of the German Reformed church, and in politics, he is an adherent of the Republican party.

ALVA SHAKELY, only child of John S. and Susan Shakely, was born upon the homestead farm in Centre township, Butler county, January 23, 1865, and was reared beneath the parental roof and received a common school education in the district school, He has always resided upon the old homestead, which he has now charge of. He married Miss Kate Young, a daughter of Simon Young, of Centre township, September 24, 1800, and has one child, Cleo, born April 17, 1892. Both he and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church, and politically, he is a Republican.

FRANCIS M. NEFF was a native of Muenchberg, Bavaria, Germany, born March 10, 1795. He grew to maturity in his native land, and was married in Kleinwallstadt, to Regina Kessler, a daughter of Adam Kessler, to which union were born seven children, only two of whom survived infancy, as follows : John Ingnatz, deceased, and John Vitus. In 1845 Mr. Neff immigrated to Butler county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a small farm in what is now Oakland township. He was a potter, but after coming to this county he engaged in farm- ing. His wife died upon the homestead in Donegal township, April 24, 1861. Ile survived her until March 19, 1872.

JOHN VITUS NEFF was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 15, 1829, and is the only survivor of his father's family. He was sixteen years of age when his parents located in Butler county, and had received a fair education in his native land. He learned the potter's and carpenter's trades after coming to this county, at which he worked until 1871. In 1875 he purchased his present homestead in Centre township, and has since devoted his attention to agriculture. He married Mary A. Palmert, a daughter of Philip Palmert, of Donegal township, to which union were born the following children : John P., deceased; Frank P .; Jose- phine B., wife of Andrew Nickel, of Butler township : John C. ; Joseph C. ; Mary

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E., wife of John Shinieder ; Theresa M. : Clara R. ; Annie B .. and Barcillius F. Mr. Neff and family are members of the Catholic church, in which faith his parents lived and died. Politically. he is a stanch Democrat. and is one of the enterprising farmers of his township.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ZELIENOPLE, HARMONY AND EVANS CITY BOROUGHS-JACKSON, FORWARD, ADAMS, CRAN- BERRY, CONNOQUENESSING AND LANCASTER TOWNSHIPS.

DR. LORING LUSK was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1799. and was reared in Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, where his parents settled at quite an early day. He studied medicine under his brother-in-law, Dr. Cossitt, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, and there married Mary, a daughter of Joseph Smith, one of the pioneers of that borough. Dr. Lusk commenced the practice of medicine at Harmony. Butler county, in 1823. removed to Beaver county in 1829. and continued in practice there for a few years. Ile next engaged extensively, as a contractor, in the construction of the Pittsburg and Erie canal. but returned to Harmony in 1844, and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1854 he removed to Canton, Lewis county, Missouri, where he practiced until 1861. He was then appointed surgeon of the Twenty-first Missouri Volunteers, remained one year in the service, and again returned to Zelienople, where he established a drug store, which he carried on until his death, in 1878. His children were as follows : Joseph S., and Amos, two of the well remembered physicians of Butler county ; Mary, who married Dr. F. S. Dodds, and Imelda, who married J. P. Cooksey, all of whom are dead.

DR. AMos LUSK, second son of Dr. Loring Lusk, was born at Harmony, Butler county, May 31, 1828, but spent most of his boyhood days in Mercer county. Ile was educated in the schools of Mercer and New Brighton, read medicine with his father, and began practice in 1849. Ile attended lectures at the Medical Department of the Western Reserve Medical College. Cleveland. Ohio, where he was graduated in 1854. In 1853 he was appointed surgeon at the United States Marine Hospital, Pittsburg, which position he held for four years. In 1857 he removed to Canton, Missouri, where he practiced his profes- sion until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when the disorganized state of society in Missouri caused him to return to Butler county, and, in 1861, he located in Zelienople, where he continued to practice medicine for over thirty years. Throughout his long and varied career, he enjoyed the fullest confidence

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of the public, and built up through the passing years a large and lucrative prac- tice. In JSS3 he and his son, Amos M .. purchased the bank established by Nicholas Dambach, and the banking house of Amos Lusk & Son proved a finan- cial success. Dr. Lusk was an excellent financier, and with the assistance of his son he built up a solid and substantial business. After his death his son sold an interest in the bank to John A. Gelbach, and subsequently sold the remaining interest to the latter's brother, and the firm then became Gelbach Brothers. Dr. Lusk was a celebrated linguist, was master of twelve languages, and spoke fluently, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Hebrew. French, German, Italian, English and other tongues, and had studied in all twenty-five different languages. He was perhaps the most proficient linguist in the State, was a gentleman of fine classical taste, and devoted his leisure moments to the perusal of the choicest literature. Ile was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of Zelienople, and for many years had rendered professional services gratuitously to the Orphan's Home near that borough. Dr. Lusk married Agnes S. Clow, daughter of James S. Clow, of Westmoreland county, who survives him. Six children were born to this union. all of whom are living : William II., attorney at law, of Butler : James L., a captain of engineers in the United States army ; Joseph R., chief train dispatcher of the Pittsburg and Western railroad at Allegheny ; Amos M., of Zelienople : Mary V., wife of John A. Gelbach, of the same borough, and Julian. Dr. Lusk died November 17, 1891, his death occurring very suddenly, while on his way to attend a patient. In politics, he was a Republican, but took little interest in political affairs. He was a pioneer member of Harmony lodge, F. & A. M. and was buried by the Masonic order. Few men in Butler county stood so high in the estimation of their fellow citizens as this pioneer physician, most of whose long and varied career was spent in the place of his birth.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 138

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