History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 146

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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JACOB MILLER was born about 1778. in Alsace, Germany, where he grew to manhood. Hle settled first in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, about 1830, whence he removed to Butler county about 1832, and settled upon a rented farm near Prospect, in Franklin township. After a few years he removed to Beaver county. and died there in ISIS. He was married in Germany, and his children were as follows : Nicholas: Adam: John : Jacob, who went to South America : Mrs. Mary Nicklas ; Mrs. Lizzie Boss. and Mrs. Brunner.

JouN B. MILLER, third son of Jacob Miller, was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1807. He learned the mason's trade, immigrated to the United States with his parents, came with them to Butler county. and purchased a small farm near Harmony, in Jackson township, where he resided until 1543. He then bought fifty acres, now owned by his son John M., in Forward township, upon which he resided until within two years of his death. when he retired, and lived with his son John M. until he died, in April, 1590. Ile married Christina Martz, a native of France, who died in February, 1869. Their children were as follows: Jacob M., a resident of Forward township, who married Margaret Cashdollar, and is the father of eight children ; John M. ; Elias M. ; Catherine, deceased, who was twice married, first to Wheeler Henry, and after his death to Adam Beal : Mar-

Aus Barr

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

garet, who married William Irion, and subsequently John Halficker ; Sadie, wife of John Hord, and three that died in infancy. Mr. Miller and wife were members of the Evans City Reformed church, in which organization he filled the office of elder. Politically, he was a stanch Democrat.

JOHN M. MILLER, second son of John B. and Christina Miller, was born January 19, 1846, in Forward township, Butler county. At the age of twenty- eight he took charge of the homestead farm, which he conducted until 1883, and then purchased his present farm, known as the Nicklas place, contain- ing fifty-six acres, and now cultivates both farms, but resides upon his own. He has one producing well upon his own property, and ten upon the old home- stead. He married Caroline Burr, who died in the spring of 1885, leaving four children, three of whom are living: Annie, wife of Frank Thomas; Tillie ; Lena, and Peter, deceased. Mr. Miller is a member of the Reformed church, and politically, he is a Democrat.

GEORGE MARBURGER, SR., was born in Hesse-Hingelhoff, Kreischluter, Germany, November 3, 1813, and was a son of George Marburger, born in the same place, in 1781. His parents came to Zelienople, Butler county, in 1838, accompanied by their sons George and Ifenry, removing one year afterwards to the vicinity of Evans City. Three sons and two daughters had preceded them to this country. His father resided with our subject until his death, which occurred December 7, 1870. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and was buried in the Evans City cemetery. The subject of this sketch came to the United States with his father, and lived with him until 1843, when he purchased a farm of 100 acres, to which he later added forty acres, in what is now Forward township, Butler county, upon which he still resides. Prior to immigrating to the United States he learned the wheelwright's trade, and also served five years in the German army. He was a member of the Lutheran church, was an elder in that denomination for a number of years, and also a trustee and treasurer. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr Marburger married Kunigunda Marburger, of his native town, who bore him a family of six children, as follows: Catherine, who married John Kauffman ; Margaret, who married John Twentier ; Mary, deceased; George ; Eva, wife of Alexander Schilling, and John.

GEORGE MARBURGER was born upon the old homestead in Forward town- ship, Butler county, January 12, 1845, and was reared in his native township. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Capt. R. I. Boggs, and was honorably discharged from the service September 11, 1865. He married Magdalene, a daughter of Casper Kauffman, of Jackson township, and is the father of the following children : William L .; John A., deceased; Emma C .; George A., deceased; Daniel ; Catherine K .; Anna M., and Henry, both deceased; Charles ; Maggie L., and Flora M. Mr. Marburger is a member of the Lutheran church, and has been president of the church council. He is one of the active and influential Demo- crats of Adams township, has filled the offices of school director and overseer of the poor for a number of years, and was the Democratic nominee for treasurer of Butler county in 1893.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

JOHN MARBURGER, youngest son of George Marburger, Sr., was born upon the homestead farm in Forward township. August 28, 1851, where he also grew to manhood. He is now the owner of 170 acres of land in Forward township, which he cultivates in connection with his father's farm. He married Mary M., daughter of Martin Wahl, of Evans City, and they are the parents of eight chil- dren : Martin ; Katie : Andrew : John ; Wallace: Ausmus : Adam, and Min- nie. Besides his farming operations, Mr Marburger is also engaged in oil pro- ducing, and has eight oil wells and two gas wells. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church, and in politics, he is a Democrat,

JAMES HAZLETT was born in 1800, upon the old homestead farm in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, was reared a farmer, and learned the tanner's trade in Butler county, after which be embarked in that business in Allegheny county. He carried it on for eight years, and then settled upon a farm in Forward town- ship. Butler county, where the remainder of his life was spent. In 1830 he mar- ried Margaret Hamilton, a daughter of James Hamilton, of Allegheny county. Her father was a son of James Hamilton, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to West Deer township, Allegheny county, in ISI9, where he reared a family of six children, and was prominent in the Presbyterian church of that locality, dying about 1848. Her father was the third in the family. Ten children were born to James and Margaret Hazlett. as follows : Robert, now a resident of Canada ; John, who died at Andersonville prison during the Rebellion : William, deceased; James, a resident of Wyoming : George, who resides in Boston : Alexander, who is now in McDonald : Leslie P., of Forward township: Martha, who married Hillary Wilson : Mary, a resident of Grove City, and Margaret, wife of Alonzo Shorts, Mr. Hazlett died in 1873, and his wife in ISS7. They were members of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he was a Republican. During his residence in Forward township he filled the offices of school director and supervisor, and was one of the warmest supporters of the public school system.

LESIAK P. HAZLETT was born in 1843, upon the homestead farm in Alle- gheny county, son of James and Margaret Hazlett, and came with his par- ents to Butler county, where he purchased fifty acres of land adjoining his father's farm, on the line of Connoquenessing and Forward townships, and afterwards bought his father's homestead. In ps70 he was married to Barbara Ziegler, a daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth Ziegler, of Harmony, Butler county, to which union have been born five children, viz. : Letitia, wife of Clinton Henshew, of Allegheny: George W. ; Lizzie: Frank L. and Maggie. Mrs. Hazlett died in 1887. Politically, he has been one of the active Republicans of his locality for many years, has been school director in his township for twenty- two years, and has filled the office of justice of the peace for five years. He was re-elected to the last mentioned office, but refused to serve. He was originally a member of the Presbyterian church, but is now a Methodist. He is connected with Harmony Lodge, Number 129. F. & A. M .. and has been a member of the Masonic order for nearly thirty years. Mr. Hazlett is one of the prosperous farmers of Butler county, his farm being in the Hundred Foot field, and now containing twelve producing wells, operated by the Forest Oil Company, the Columbia Oil Company. Abrams & Company, and Elias Barnhart.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ISAAC RILEY, a native of Armagh county, Ireland, grew to manhood in his native land, and afterwards immigrated to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in an iron mill. He followed the occupation of heater for some years, but about 1854 he purchased a farm in Forward township, upon which his son Samuel now lives, which he cleared and improved. lle died here August 3. 1864. aged fifty-eight years. He was twice married, his first wife being a native of Ireland and dying before he came to the United States. She was the mother of the following children : John : Joseph, deceased : William : Robert ; Mary J., who married John E. Small, and Eliza, who married Martin McBride. These children came with their father to Pittsburg. His second wife was Mrs. Margaret Beck, nec Spear. She survived him some years, and is buried in the United Presbyterian cemetery at Brownsdale. Two children were the fruits of this union : Samuel, and Thomas, the latter deceased. In early life Mr. Riley was a Presbyterian, but after coming to this county he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of Forward township, and was a trustee in that body. He was first a Whig, and later a Republican.

SAMUEL. RILEY, only living son of Isaac and Margaret ( Beck ) Riley, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1845, and came with his parents to Forward township, where he was reared and educated. After his father's death he purchased the homestead, and has since made all the improvement- now upon it. Mr. Riley married Sarah J., daughter of John McElroy ; she was born in Pittsburg, and died May 14. 1861, leaving no children. Mr. Riley married for his second wife, Mary J., daughter of John Thompson, of Middlesex town- ship, and they are the parents of nine children : John: Harry : Langdon ; Will- iam ; Wylie ; Charley: Josie : Maggie, and Lizzie. Mr. Riley is one of the leading farmers of his township, and is recognized as an enterprising citizen. In politics, he is a Republican, and has filled the office of school director for one ferm.

HENRY PHILIP CONRAD WAGNER, Son of John Jacob and Eva Catherine (Masonholt ) Wagner, was born in the City of Worms, Germany, May 21, 1834. His father emigrated from Germany in 1839, and settled with his family in New Sewickley township. Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he is yet living. His family consists of the following children : Henry Philip Con- rad: Eva, wife of Joseph Goehring: John Jacob: Laura, wife of Charles Cheney; Caroline, wife of George Stinecker : Margaret, wife of John Behm : George P., and Elizabeth, wife of Adam Rape. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in 1860 he purchased a portion of his present homestead in Forward township, and has added thereto, until he has now a farm of nearly 170 acres. Mr. Wagner learned the carpenter's trade, and for a time followed that business in connection with farming. He has always manifested commend- able interest in the public schools, has served as school director, and has also filled the office of township anditor, In politics, he is a Democrat, and in religion, adheres to the German Reformed church. He has been an elder in the Evans City congregation for many years. In 1863 he married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Peter Marshing, of Penn township, and has four children : George II. : Charley P. : Sarah M., and Paulina E.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ADAM WEBER, a native of Baden, Germany, came to the United States about 1830, and lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, about one year. He was a miller, and operated a mill in Pittsburg, whence he removed to Butler county about 1832. Hle purchased about 100 acres of land in Penn township, where his son John now resides, and this he cleared and improved. He was married in Germany to Fanny Doup, and was the father of the following children : Peter, of Butler township ; Samuel, of Forward township; George, a resident of New York state: Adam, of Butler ; Susannah, and John, of Penn township. Mr. Weber died in March, 1865; his wife survived until 1883. He filled the offices of constable, and collector of his township. In religious belief. he was a Lutheran, and was a trustee in the Lutheran church at Butler.

SAMUEL WEBER, second son of Adam Weber, was born in Germany, Jan- nary 26, 1826, and was educated in the German schools. Ile learned the stone- mason's trade, and followed that business until 1883, when he retired to his farm in Forward township, which he had purchased in 1852. He cleared and improved this place and erected all of the present buildings. Mr. Weber was married in 1855. to Anna Welt, a native of Germany, who died in 1874. The following children were born to this union : Margaret, widow of Hugh Strowick ; John, of Beaver Falls : Adam, of Pittsburg; Kate, wife of Jacob Strowick : George, deceased : Samuel: Fannie, and Louisa, wife of F. Brown. His second wife was Lucinda, daughter of George Shaffer. Politically, Mr. Weber is a Democrat, and both he and wife are members of the Lutheran church of Butler.

HENRY MAY was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834, and came to Butler county when sixteen years of age, settling in Cranberry township. He followed farming, and after reaching manhood he bought the Hartman farm, but subsequently sold it and bought a farm in Forward township, where he died, Feb- ruary 12. 1880. In 1854 he married Annie, a daughter of Peter Scheidemantle, of Lancaster township, who bore him a family of seven children : William H. ; Eli, of Butler ; Annie K., wife of Jonas Hartzell, of Penn township; George ; Eva, wife of John Scheidemantle, of Pittsburg; Mary E., and Matilda, Mrs. May resides at Evans City, and is a member of the Reformed church, to which denomination her husband belonged. In politics, he was a Democrat, and filled the office of school director for one term.

DAVID C. JOHNSTON was born on the Johnston homestead, in Pine town- ship, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1844. and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Crawford) Johnston, who were married in 1837. His father was a native of Pine township, Mercer county, born in 1815, and by his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Crawford, he was the father of ten children, as follows: Albert G. C. ; Elizabeth ; Jane; Catherine; David C .; Ruth ; Mar- garet: Hannah ; Kennedy K., and John N. The father died in the spring of 1864 ; his widow resides with her daughter, Catherine, at Grove City. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the homestead in Mercer county, and received a common school education. He enlisted in Company II. Two Iluin- dred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered into service at Camp Copeland. His company proceeded to Washington, D. C., and then went into service on the Alexandria railroad, where they remained eight months, then

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returned to the forts at Washington, thence to Camp Copeland, where Mr. Johnston was mustered out of service June 22, 1865. Returning to Mercer county he was engaged in the lumber business until 1869, when he embarked in oil producing at Parker City. From there he came to Butler and operated in the Thorn Creek field, and has continued the business up to the present. Mr. Johnston married Mary M., daughter of James McConnell, of Mercer county, June 4, 1868, to which union were born six children : Edwin E., deceased ; Lester E. ; Willna W. ; Celia A. ; Lizzie C., and John N. Mr. Johnston is a member of A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R, ; is a Republican in politics, and was one of the confreres that nominated John M. Greer for State Senator in 1876. In 1875 he was a candidate for treasurer in AArmstrong county, and received every vote but three in Hovey township, where he lived, and every vote in his pre- cinct. Though he had been a resident of Armstrong county only five years. he was fourth in the contest for nomination.

JOSEPH BLAKELEY was born in Ireland about 1773. received a fair English education, and after arriving at manhood he immigrated to the United States and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Alle- gheny county. He came to Butler county in 1796, purchased a farm of eighty acres in what is now Forward township, where he died in Is5>. He was mar- ried in Ireland to a Miss Harvey, who came with him to America. and died in Butler county, about 1838. They were the parents of six children, as follows : Jane, who married William Mellis; Delilah, who married Alexander Steel : Mary, who married Jesse Rolls ; Lewis: Harvey, and Joseph. Mr. Blakeley was a Quaker, and died in that faith.

LEWIS BLAKELEY was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1794, came to Butler county with his parents when but two years of age, and grew to manhood in Forward township. In 1815 he married Jane McAllister. She was born in Washington county, March 7, 1797, a daughter of Archibald Mc Allister. a native of Ireland, who settled in Forward township, Butler county. in 1501. Mr. Blakeley established a distillery on the farm subsequently owned by his son Andrew, and carried on that business in connection with agriculture for many years. Lewis and Jane Blakeley were the parents of the following children : John; Andrew; Jesse; Isaac: Joseph : Archibald ; Lewis; Harvey ; William; Hannah J. ; Thomas G., and Mordecai G. Archibald and William were mem- bers of the Butler county bar for several years, and are well known in this county. Encouraged by their mother's patriotic devotion and loyalty, five of the sons entered the Union army, and one laid down his life in defence of the flag. The father died September 3, 1845, leaving to his widow the care of a large family. She was, however, a woman of keen discretion. strong will power, and great industry, and possessed both moral and physical courage. She performed well the duties that fell to her lot and gave her children every advantage which the times afforded. She and husband joined the Union church, which was organ- ized in the neighborhood, and both remained consistent members the balance of their lives. Mrs. Blakeley survived her husband nearly thirty-seven years, dying June 15, 1882, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Cookson, of Cranberry township, in the eighty-sixth year of her age.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ANDREW BLAKELEY, second son of Lewis and Jane Blakeley, was born in Forward township, Butler county, June S. 1818, grew to manhood in his native township, and married Sarah Jane Harris, to which union were born six chil- dren, viz .: Lewis, a resident of Missouri; William J., of Adams township : Margaret J .. wife of John Cooper : Isaac E .. also a resident of Adams; Harriet E., deceased, and Joseph L., of Jefferson township. Mr. Blakeley is a member of the Union church, of Adams township, where he now resides, and hauled the brick used in the erection of the building. In polities, he is a Republican. He has followed farming all his life, and is to-day one of the oldest native born citi- zens of Butler county, in which he has lived for more than three quarters of a century.

ISAAC E. BLAKELEY, Son of Andrew Blakeley. was born on the old home- stead, in Forward township. Butler county, June 7, 1851, received a common school education, and learned the marble cutter's trade in Butler. Ile has worked at that business ever since, and is now carrying on marble cutting upon his farm in Adams township. He married Louisa Behm, a daughter of Nicholas Behm, of Forward township, and has seven children, as follows: Henry A .; Amelia M .: Walter G. : Gertrude A. ; Sarah L. ; Charles J .. and John B. Mr. Blakeley is one of the active workers in the Republican party. and gives an unswerving support to the principles and measures of that organization.

WILLIAM CRISWELL was born in Down county, Ireland, in 1774, and came to Philadelphia in 1791, where he began selling goods through the country dis- tricts surrounding that city. Ile followed peddling for about seven years, and in 1795 he crossed the Allegheny mountains on foot, and settled upon a tract of 200 acres of land in what is now Adams township, Butler county. He was then a single man, and kept bachelor's hall for two years in a log cabin which he had built in the midst of the primitive forest. Often the wolves would surround his cabin as soon as darkness came on and make night hideous with their howling, until driven away by a shot from his trusty rifle. For some time after making his set- tlement, he engaged in packing salt, ammunition, etc., from Pittsburg. Carlisle, and Philadelphia, for the use of the pioneers, and thus earned a little surplus money. In June, 1800. he was married to Margaret, daughter of Robert Cris- well, of Cumberland county, and the young couple began their married life in the rude cabin erected two years before. Eleven children were born to this union, two of whom, John and Isabella, died in early youth. The names of those who grew to maturity are as follows : Mary, who married William Hutchman; Martha, who married James Kidd : Robert, who died unmarried, in 1556; Nancy, who died single, in 1868; Margaret, who married Robert MeKinney: Elizabeth, who became the wife of James Plummer; Jane, who married Samuel Purvis, of Beaver county : Susanna, who married Samuel Kidd, and James. The parents were members of the Covenanter church, in which Mr. Criswell was an elder. They spent their whole married life in this county, and died upon the farm where they settled.

JAMES CRISWELL was born in Adams township, Butler county, February 7. 1820, and was the youngest son of William and Margaret Criswell. He grew to manhood on the old Criswell homestead, and was married November 21, 1842,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

to Elizabeth, daughter of David Spear, of Adams township. They are the par- ents of seven children as follows : William, deceased ; David ; Robert, deceased; Margaret, wife of Professor Mitchell, of New Wilmington ; John A. ; James P'., and Mary E., wife of T. L. Donaldson, of Glade Mills. Mr. Criswell was formerly a Republican. but is now a Prohibitionist. He has filled several of the offices in his township, but aside from local matters has taken little interest in public affairs, devoting his life to agricultura! pursuits.

JOHN A. CRISWELL, fourth son of James Criswell, was born May 18. 1853, and was reared upon his father's farm. Ile followed agriculture for some years, then went into the undertaking and livery business, and is now located at Mars in that business. He married Jennie. a daughter of James Mckibben, of Ohio, and has five children : Imo V. ; Nettie E., deceased ; John R. ; David C., and Lulu B. Mr. Criswell is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

ANDREW BARR, SR., was a native of Derry county. Ireland, and there mar- ried Jane McKee, about 1794. In 1813, accompanied by his wife and three chil- dren, John, James and Jane, he immigrated to the United States, and purchased a tract of land called " Camperdown " from William Roseboro, located in what is now Adams township. Butler county, Pennsylvania. Here Andrew and wife spent the remainder of their lives, and did their full share towards the improve- ment of the township. John married Jane Dickey : James, married Jane Spear, and was killed while assisting in the erection of a barn on the Ross farm ; while Jane remained unmarried, and died in 1875, aged seventy-eight years. The par- ents were members of the Covenanter church.

JOHN BARR was born in Ireland, in 1795, was the eldest child of Andrew and Jane Barr, and came to Butler county with his parents, where he grew to man- hood. In 1821 he was married to Jane Dickey, daughter of David Dickey, of Deer Creek township, Allegheny county, to which union were born seven chil- dren : Mary J., deceased wife of Jacob Stoup; Andrew, and David, both deceased ; James : Margaret E., deceased ; Margaret E., named for her deceased sister. and John. The parents were members of the Covenanter church, and died upon their farm in Adams township, which is now the property of their son, James. They were worthy people, and won the respect and confidence of the community in which they resided.

JAMES BARR was born April 5. 1528, upon the homestead in Adams town- ship, Butler county, and is the oldest living son of John and Jane Barr. Ile received a good common school education, and has been a farmer all his life. Mr. Barr has been twice married. his first wife being Mary Ann. daughter of Isaac Sterrett, of Lawrence county, who became the mother of one son, John C., born January 26. 1854. His second wife was Matilda, daughter of Archibald S. McCord, of Allegheny county. Both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which denomination he has been trustec for a number of years, and is now filling the office of deacon. In politics, he is a stanch Repub- lican, has filled the office of justice of the peace for ten years, and has been a school director for the same length of time. He is one of the leading farmers of his township, and takes an active part in the public affairs of the county.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 146

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