History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 142

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 142

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PHILIP RIPPER is a native of Germany. and came to the United States in 1850. He learned the tailor's trade in his native land, which he followed in Ger- many and the United States. In 1852 he brought his family to this country and located at Zelienople, Butler county, where he resided until 1867, engaged in the brewery business, tailoring, and dealing in coal. In that year he located on a farm in Forward township, and has since resided in that subdivision and Jack- son township. He married, in Germany, Elizabeth Doerr, and they are the par- ents of seven children. as follows : John A .; J. P. : P. H. ; George ; Lizzie. wife of Adolph Kober ; Leonard, and John. Mr. Ripper and wife belong to the German Lutheran church, of which he became a member in the year 1852.

JOHN A. RIPPER was born in Germany, October 26. 1-50, and is the eldest son of Philip Ripper. In 1865. at the age of fifteen years, he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade at Butler, and worked there about six years, and about five years in Pittsburg. He then located at Petersville, Butler county. He was married in 1876. to Margaret, daughter of Leonard Kropp. of Alle- gheny City. In 1877 he removed to Evans City, worked at his trade there until 1888, and then engaged in the news and stationery business. He was elected justice of the peace in 1884, has since filled that office, and has also been burgess, tax collector and assessor of the borough. In politics, he is a Democrat. and both he and wife are members of the German Lutheran church. in which body he was trustee, also secretary, and is now treasurer, which position he has held for four terms. He has a family of five children. as follows: Lizzie : Chark- J. : Bertha M. : William .1., and Nora M.

DR. II. M. WILsox was born at Luthersburg, Clearfield county, Pennsyl- vania, son of Dr. George and Anna ( Iluber) Wilson. He received a public school education, read medicine with his brother. Dr. C. A. Wilson, and gradu- ated from the Medical Department of the University of Maryland, at Baltimore. in 1887. He commenced practice at Stanton, Jefferson county. Pennsylvania. the same year, and remained there until January 15. 1591. when he located at Evans City. In October, 1892, he formed a partnership with his brother. Dr. J. C. Wilson, under the firm name of H. M. & J. C. Wilson, and has built up and enjoys a large practice. He is a member of the Butler County and Jefferson County Medical Societies; also of the State Medical Society, and the National Association of Railway Surgeons. He is surgeon for the Pittsburg and Western Railway Company at Evans City, and is recognized as one of the leading physi- cians of that part of the county. Dr. Wilson is a member of the K. of PA and the 1. O. O. F., and takes a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of his adopted home.

DR. JOSEPH C. WILSON was born at Luthersburg, Clearfield county, March 12, 1854, son of Dr. George and Anna Wilson. After receiving a public school education, he entered the State Normal School at Edinboro, and was graduated from that institution in 1879. He then taught for three years, and filled the position of principal of the public schools of Reynoldsville, Jefferson county. He read medicine with his father, Dr. George Wilson, and his brother, Dr. C. A. Wilson, and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Mary. land, at Baltimore. He commenced practice at Sigel, Jefferson county, whence

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be removed to Evans City. Butler county. in October. 1892, and formed the present partnership of II. M. & J. C. Wilson, physicians and surgeons. He was married in 1584. to Ratie A., daughter of John F. Hummer, of Titusville. Pennsylvania, and has one daughter, Anna. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society: also of the State Medical Society, and is connected with the K. of P .. and the Masonic order.

REV. JOHN M. DIGHT, of Evans City, is a son of Richard W. and Matilda ( Downs) Dight. His mother was a descendant of an old and prominent fam- ily that settled at an early date at Redbank, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. His parents removed to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where John M. was born, May 30, 1813. His primary education was obtained at the old Stokley school house, two miles from the town of Mercer, on the Franklin pike. lle grew to manhood on his father's farm, following the usual avocations of a farmer's life. He taught school when nineteen years of age, as an introduction to an extensive experience in school work. When he was twenty-one years of age he removed with his parents to Sandy Lake township, where he lived until the age of twenty-four. In [869 he entered Westminster College, at New Wil- mington, Lawrence county, and subsequently attended Allegheny college, at Meadville, and graduated June 26, 1871. In the spring of 1875, Mr. Dight was elected county superintendent of schools of Mercer county, which office he filled for three years. He then entered the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Allegheny City, and graduated from that institution in 1880. He was at once called to his present charge, was ordained June 9, 1880, and has been the con- tinuous pastor of his present charge, consisting of the United Presbyterian churches at Evans City, and Mount Pleasant, Allegheny county, during the past fourteen years. Mr. Dight was the originator of the Evans City Cemetery, and is president of the Evans City Natural Gas Company, which he re-organized and placed upon a paying basis. Politically. he is a Republican, and while not a Prohibitionist, he is a warm friend of the temperance cause. Mr. Dight was married August 21. 1875, to Martha. daughter of John Richey, of Sunville, Ven- ango county. Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of four sons and one dangh- ter. as follows : John C .; Herman H .: Howard W .: Alice. and Eugene K. Mr. Dight early learned the useful lesson of self-dependence. He made his way through college and the theological seminary mmaided. and his success in life has been the result of his own untiring efforts.

REV. LOUIS WAGNER, Son of Nicholas I. and Catherine ( Kuntz) Wagner, was born in Bavaria. Germany, August 24, 1857. His father was a professor of classics at St. Wendenlinus College, of the City of St. Wendenl, where our subject received his preparatory education, and graduated in 1880. lle after- wards attended the University of Leipsic, where he was graduated in 1882. He came to the United States the same year, entered the theological department of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from that institution in 1885. He then commenced teaching classics in the German and English Col- lege at Wheeling. West Virginia, was called as pastor of St. John's church, Perryville, AAllegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1885, and was ordained in 1885, in which year he accepted the pastorate of his present church at Evans City.

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Mr. Wagner was married in 1886. to Sophia, daughter of Rev. C. F. W. Brecht, of Perryville, where the latter has had charge of a church for forty years, and ha- also preached in Butler county for twenty-four years. Two children are the fruits of this union : Tabitha, and Theodosia. Mr. Wagner is a member of the Joint Synod of Ohio and other States, and is one of the well-known ministers of his denomination. Politically, he is a Republican, is one of the enterprising citizens of the county, and takes a deep interest in all public matters.

Joux HAZLETT was born in County Down, Ireland. August 12, 1753. At the age of twenty-eight he came to America, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. On the 12th of May, 1806, he was married to Mary Campbell, who came to this country a year or two before her husband. In 1828 they removed to the town of Allegheny, Allegheny county, and soon afterwards to a farm near the site of Evans City, Butler county, now owned by James Sut- ton and Joseph Ash. Mr. Hazlett subsequently removed to Allegheny City, where he established the first white lead works west of the Allegheny mountains. In 1844 these works were incorporated under the firm style of Fahnestock, Ilaz- lett & Schwartz, which later became Schwartz & Hazlett, but are now known as the Pennsylvania Lead Works. Mr. Hazlett died March 9, 1869, aged eighty- seven years, at the residence of his son, John, in Allegheny City. Ilis wife died April 10, 1824. Their family consisted of ten children, as follows: The two oldest who died in infancy ; Mary ; Robert, deceased ; Martha, who is in her eighty-fourth year and resides in Wilkinsburg; Annabell, deceased ; Sarah, a resident of LeClair, lowa : Rachel ; John, and Joseph, the last deceased.

ROBERT HAZLETT, eldest son of John and Mary Hazlett, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1809. He removed with his par- ents to Butler county, and afterwards to Allegheny City, where he was engaged with his father in the manufacture of white lead. He was married, October 21. 1834, to Janette McKee, of Allegheny City, to whom were born eight children, viz. : John M., deceased : Robert C. ; James, deceased ; Joseph E. : William J .; Samuel W. ; Andrew N .. and Anna M. J., wife of William S. Watt, who resides near Wilkinsburg. Joseph E. and William J. were missing from their home at the lead works one evening in December, 1852, and were never heard of again. They were supposed to have been drowned in the Allegheny river, as the works were situated on the river bank. Mr. Hazlett died on his farm near Evans City. November 5, 1866. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. S. Watt, of Wilkinsburg, May 14, 1881.

SAMUEL W. HAZLETT, fifth son of Robert Hazlett, was born in the okl log house on the homestead of his grandfather, John Hazlett, near Evans City, But- ler county, December 28, 1847, obtained a common school education and has since been employed in the mercantile business, In the fall of 1-6s, he and two companions went to the head waters of the Sioux river, Dakotah Territory, for the purpose of securing government land for settlement, and were the only white men who remained in that valley after the Sioux massacre of 1562. They hunted and trapped, and were pursued by Indians several times, but escaped. Mr. Ilaz- lett returned to Allegheny City, where he was married in May, 1877, to Maggie

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M. Stewart, daughter of David and Eliza (Scott ) Stewart, of the same place. Three children are the fruits of their union, viz. : Perey S. ; Mabel S., and Will- iam E., deceased. In ISTs Mr. Hazlett returned to Evans City, and sold goods on the road during the year that the Pittsburg and Western railroad was opened. He has since been engaged in clerking, with his residence at Evans City. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, has filled the office of trustee, and is now an elder. In politics, Mr. Hazlett is a Republican, and has served in the borough council of Evans City for two terms.

JEREMIAH Serrov, a native of New Jersey, settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, about the close of the Revolutionary war, having served through that struggle as a member of a New Jersey regiment. About 1800 he came to Butler county, settled in Concord township, and purchased 100 acres of land, which he cleared and improved, and spent the balance of his life thereon. He married in New Jersey, and had one daughter, Polly, who became the wife of a man named Voorhees, and three sons, Platt, Joseph, and Jeremiah.

PLATT SUTTON was born in New Jersey, and came to Butler county for his father on a tour of inspection, selected the land which his father afterwards purchased, and, after the death of the latter, he bought it, and resided upon it to the time of his death. He married Elizabeth Sterling, of Westmoreland county, to whom were born the following children : Mary, who married John Sutton ; Nancy, who married John Harper ; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Andrew Bowman ; Jeremiah, and Joseph, both of whom are dead; Phoebe, who resides on the homestead ; Margaret, wife of Scott Jamison : Platt, and James. Platt Sut- ton, Sr., served in the War of 1812, and died in 1852, aged seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1848. They were members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, he was a Democrat.

JAMES SUTTON, youngest son of Platt and Elizabeth Sutton, was born upon the homestead in Concord township, Butler county, October 21, 1821. He received a meager education in the log school houses of pioneer days, inherited the homestead, and lived thereon until 1873. In that year he purchased the Robert Kinnear farm in Forward township, consisting of 156 acres, upon which he resided until 1891, then erected his present home in Evans City, and retired from active business. Mr. Sutton was married in 1860, to Dorcas, daughter of Mordica Graham, of Forward township. They are the parents of six children, five of whom are living, as follows : Mordica ; Alva ; Elmer P. : Mary E., wife of John Irwin ; Ora, and Harry W. Mr. Sutton is a member of the Presbyterian church, and although in early life a Republican in politics, he is now in- dependent.

GUSTAVE GRIESBACH, oil producer, was born in Germany, October 3, 1849, son of Christain and Hannah Griesbach. He immigrated to the United States in 1873, located in Pittsburg, and worked at butchering for four and a half years. In 1877 he married Catherine, daughter of John Dombart of Forward township, and in 1879 located in Evans City, engaged in the butchering business, and Tol- lowed it for eleven years. In 1889 he embarked in oil producing at Bakerstown, and in 1890 he organized the Griesbach Oil Company, which has since been one of the heavy producers in this field, operating largely on the Little Connoquen-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

essing creek. Mr. Griesbach is a Republican, and has served on the school board of Evans City. He is a member of the Reformed church of Evans City, and i- a trustee in that organization. Seven children are the fruits of his marriage to Catherine Dombart, as follows : Annie M. ; Albert G. ; Walter C. ; Amanda I ..; Clyde G. : Clara P., and Gustave A. Mr. Griesbach is one of the solid and sub- stantial oil producers of Evans City.

REV. HENRY VOEGELE was born in Jackson township, Butler county. Pennsylvania, March 6, 1812. His parents were Frederick and Catherine (Sweitzer) Voegele, natives of Alsace. Germany, who immigrated to Pennsyl- vania about 1833, and settled at Harmony, Butler county. His father was a weaver, and followed that business here about two years, then purchased a farm, in Jackson township, where Philip Voegele now lives, upon which he resided down to his death, in 1876. His widow survived him until the spring of 1886. Their children were as follows : Philip and Frederick, both of whom are dead ; Catherine, wife of Philip Wolfe ; Margaret, wife of Gottlieb Henzel ; Philip, and Henry. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and contributed towards the erection of the first building at Zelienople. The subject of this sketch received his primary education in the public schools, subsequently attended Union College, Queensburg. Ohio, and studied theology with the Rev. Lewis Troutman. of Canton, Ohio. Mr. Voegele was called to the Boliver charge, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1868; was licensed at Ashland, Ohio, the same year, and in 1869, was ordained at Wooster, Ohio. He spent two years at Bolivar, and then became pastor at Canton, where he continued as pastor for thirteen years. His next charge wa- St. John's German Lutheran church, Pulaski county, Indiana, where he remained two and a half years, and then became pastor of St. Martin's church, LeRoy, New York, where he continued to preach for three years. In 1890 he accepted a call from St. Peter's Evangelical Union church, of Evans City, and also of Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, at Mount Hope. Mr. Voegele was married in 1869, to Lydia, daughter of Samuel Weidman, of Stark county, Ohio. In 1887 he was married the second time to Lucindy D. Sailer, of Le Roy, New York, which union has been blessed by three children : Elizabeth C. ; Charley F., and Margaret Mary. He is a member of the Evangelical Luth- eran Synod, of Pittsburg, and is well known inchis church throughout western Pennsylvania. Hle supports the Republican party, and takes quite an active interest in public affairs.

ZENO MARKEL was born in Bucks county. Pennsylvania, November 1. 1815. son of Daniel and Hannah ( Hartzell) Markel, natives of Montgomery and Bucks counties, respectively. His father was a major in the War of 1812. Mr. Markel is the youngest of seven children, all of whom are dead except himself and Lydia, wife of Philip Klein, of Montgomery county. At eighteen years of age he removed to Montgomery county. there learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1838 came west to Beaver county, where he worked at his trade for two years. In 1839 he married Susannah Stamm, a daughter of David Stamm, of Beaver county, and in 1840 he located in Muddy Creek township, Butler county. where he continued farming for eight years. He removed from Muddy Creek to Forward township, and resided in the latter until 1889, when he retired to Evans City to spend the

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remaining years of his life. He is the father of three children, as follows: Maria, wife of John Weaver, of Penn township ; Hannah, and Daniel. Mr. Markel and wife are members of the Reformed church, and in politics, he is a Democrat.

DANIEL MARKEL, only son of Zeno Markel, was born in Forward township, Butler county, May 7. 1854, and was reared and educated in his native town- ship, where he has always been engaged in farming. In 1879 he married Mary A., daughter of John Helm, of Evans City, and located on a farm in Forward township. He resided there until 1889, and then removed to Evans City. Mr. Markle was one of the organizers of the Rough Run Manufacturing Company. Limited. He has a family of eight children : Lawrence O. ; Flora T. ; Emma ; Amanda D; Lewilla C. ; Iva Marie : Karl H., and Zeno H. le and wife are members of the English Reformed church, in which body he fills the office of trustee. Mr. Markle is a stanch Democrat, has served as burgess of Evans City. and also in the borough council.

JAMES BEERS Was born in Down county. Ireland, in June, 1807, and was reared to farm life, and also followed boating. He married Jane, daughter of Samuel Ferguson, of the same place, to which union were born eleven children : Ellen, and Sarah, both deceased : Catherine, wife of John Cashdollar, of Adams township : Samuel ; John ; Ellen, wife of J. M. Little, of Callery : James ; Mar- garet, wife of Robert McKee, of Fayette county : Alexander M. : Robert, and Eliza, wife of R. J. Park, of Adams township. Mr. Beers came to the United States in 1827, first settled in Missouri, then removed to Louisiana, and from there to Pittsburg, whence he came to Butler county. He purchased the Patter- son farm in Adams township, also the Johnson farm, and a part of the Patton farm, making in all 106 acres. He also bought mining property in Fayette county, where he mined fire clay and quarried rock. He owned property at Dunbar, Fayette county, and was quite a prosperous business man down to his death, in July, 1886. His widow survived until March, ISSS. They were mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church. In politics, Mr. Beers was a Democrat, filled the office of school director for several years, and took an active interest in public affairs.

ALEXANDER M. BEERS, fourth son of James Beers, was born upon the Beers homestead, in Adams township, Butler county, December 18, 1850. He received a common school education, and followed farming until 1877, when he removed to Dunbar, Fayette county, and went into the coal mining business, and after- wards carried on a general store. In 1882 he returned to Callery Junction, But- ler county, where he carried on merchandising, during which time he was appointed postmaster at that point by President Arthur. In 1887 he was appointed a railway postal clerk by President Cleveland, and afterwards embarked in the oil business, in which he has continued up to the present. He is now senior member of the firm of Beers & McKee, who are operating in the Evans City field. Mr. Beers was married January 26, 1876, to Emma, daughter of John Lloyd. of Adams township, and has six children, as follows : John \. ; Mabel M. : Sarah B. ; Walter L. : Clare, and one that died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Beers has always been a Democrat, was mercantile appraiser of Butler county in

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

1884, and was the Democratic nominee for register and recorder in 1893. Both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.

DANIEL FIEDLER, a native of Brandenburg, Saxony, Germany. was born in 1764, and immigrated to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, about 1798. About the year 1803 he was induced by Dr. Muller to come to Butler county. He set- tled on the site of Zelienople, just below where the stone Lutheran church now stands. He was a shoemaker, but after coming to Zelienople he worked for Dr. Muller at his furnace for a number of years. He then purchased a farm of Hf0 acres, where Jacob Gutenkunst now lives, in Jackson township, which he cleared up and lived upon until 1839, when he sold it and removed to Harmony, Butler county, November 21, 1840. He married Catherine Firestone, in 1802, at Darlington, Beaver county, to whom was born one son, Jacob. Mr. Fiedler was a man of fine education, and one of the most intelligent Germans of this locality. He was a member of the Lutheran church, one of the founders of that denomination at Zelienople, and did much towards the erection of the old stone building still standing at Zelienople. He was also one of the early elders of the church. Though a Democrat, in politics, he cast his last vote for Harrison. in 1840.

JACOB FIEDLER, only son of Daniel and Catherine Fiedler, was born in 1803. on the banks of the Connoquenessing. in Jackson township. He was reared on a farm, and after arriving at his majority he purchased a tract of 232 acres, where George Lotz and Adam Mickly now live, in Jackson township. Ilere he resided until 1838, when he sold out and removed to Harmony, purchased a hotel, which stood on the site of G. D. Swain's store, and carried on the hotel business until his death, which occurred September 11, 1842. Hle was a Democrat until 1840, in which year he joined the Whig party, and supported Harrison for the presi- deney. He was a member of the Lutheran church at Zelienople, and an earnest supporter of that organization. Mr. Fiedler married Susannah, daughter of Jacob Goehring, of Beaver county, to which union were born seven children : Daniel ; Jacob; Caroline, wife of Abraham Ziegler, Sr .; Louisa, deceased wife of Gottlieb Peffer ; George W., a resident of Ohio; Melissa, wife of Eli Ziegler, of Harmony, and William H., a resident of Ohio. His widow married Abraham Ziegler, and died in 1887. She is buried in the cemetery near the Mennonite church, in Jackson township.

DANIEL FIEDLER, oldest in the family of Jacob Fiedler, was born upon the farm settled by his father, in Jackson township, Butler county. August 19, 1828. Ilis primary education was obtained in the common schools, and he finished his studies at Columbus College. Columbus, Ohio. After his father's death he assisted his mother in conducting the hotel at Harmony, until her second mar- riage in 1845, when he engaged in various occupations until 1851. He then purchased a farm in Cranberry township, lived upon it six years, and in 1861 he bought his present homestead, which then contained sixty-eight acres. Ile has since added thereto 175 acres, erected a substantial brick house, and made other good improvements. Mr. Fiedler entered politics when a young man, being a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he joined that organiza- tion, and was one of its active and leading members for many years. After filling

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nearly all of the township offices, he was elected associate judge in 1871, and filled that office until ISTS. In IS84 he was a delegate to the State Convention in the interest of James G. Blaine, was a member of the county committee for years. but has finally retired from taking any active part in politics. In connection with his farm, he has been engaged in coal mining thereon for nearly forty years. Mr. Fiedler married Magdalene, daughter of Jonas Ziegler, and has five children liv- ing : Jacob; Jonas; Dr. D. W. : Benton, and Louisa, wife of George Walker. lle and wife are members of the Lutheran church, and he is recognized as one of the representative citizens of Butler county.

THOMAS WILSON, a native of Down county, Ireland. immigrated to the United States in 1793, with his wife and three sons. Andrew H., Thomas, and James. In 1827 the family came from Mifflin township. Allegheny county, where the settlement was first made, and the father and sons each took up a tract of 400 acres in what is now Jackson township, Butler county. Andrew II. located where John M. and George W. Wilson now reside : James, immediately south of his brother, and Thomas immediately west of James. The mother died in Allegheny county, and her husband died upon the farm settled by his son Thomas, and was buried in the cemetery at Plains church. Thomas Wilson, Jr. married Betsey White, and died upon his farm, leaving no children. James Wilson married Nancy Cooper, to whom were born eight daughters and five sons, all of whom are dead.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 142

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