History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 153

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 153

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

118O

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

a farm of 111 acres, from David Marshall, of Prospect, located in Muddy Creek township, upon which he resided down to his death, in 1876. His wife survived him three years, dying in 1881. Mr. Alexander was one of the thrifty and pro- gressive farmers of his township, a good citizen and a worthy man.

WILLIAM H. ALEXANDER was born in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, in 1862, received his primary education in the district school, afterwards attended Grove City College for one year and graduated at Duff's Mercantile College at Pittsburg. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in teaching, and followed that vocation for seven years. He then went to California, where he remained only a brief time, when he returned to Butler county and purchased an interest in a general store at Whitestown, where he is now engaged in merchan- dising, under the firm name of Alexander & Doutt. In 1984 he married Edith McGowan, a daughter of James and Sarah McGowan of Prospect. She is the mother of two children : James II., and Grace B. Both he and wife are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church, in which society he has served as trustee and superintendent of the Sabbath school. Politically, he is quite an influential worker in the Republican party, and gives an unswerving support to its measures and principles. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .. and the Order of the Iron Ilall.

JOHN C. SHANOR was born June 17, 1817, is a son of Henry and Susan ( Bieghley) Shanor, and a grandson of Henry Shanor, the first settler of the family in this county. He was reared upon his father's farm, and learned the shoemaker's trade at Butler, which business he followed for ten years and then engaged in farming. In 1846 Mr. Shanor married Catherine Cratty, a daughter of James and Jane Cratty, of Muddy Creek township. They had one daughter, Mary Jane, who died in 1863. They adopted Susan M. Sheiver when she was four years old, and she is now the wife of W. A. Shanor. of Beaver Falls. Both he and wife are members of St. John's Lutheran church. in which he holds the office of elder. Mr. Shanor attended school at the old Stone Church, which was one of the early school houses of Lancaster township. Politically, he is a Repub- lican, and has served as tax collector of his township.

SAMUEL STEWART Was one of the early settlers of Lancaster township. But- ler county. He was the eldest son of Robert Stewart, who settled on the site of Porter-ville in 1796, was born in Cumberland county, but came from Westmore- land county, whither his parents had removed from Cumberland. Samuel had a family of twelve children, six son- and six daughters, as follows : Robert; Will- iam; John; Samuel; Archibald; Joseph; Betsey ; Sarah ; Margaret ; James : Ann. and Nancy, all of whom are dead. The father served in the War of 1812. and was a well known hunter of pioneer days. His wife was one of those courageous, resolute women, fitted by nature to bear the hardships and overcome the obstacles of a new country. They were members of the Presbyterian church. and died upon their farm in Lancaster township.

WILLIAM STEWART was born upon his father's farm in Lancaster town- ship, Butler county, in IS05, and was the last surviving son of Samuel Stewart. He died in Connoquenessing township, in March, 197S. aged -eventy-three years. He was reared upon the farm, and in IS27 was married to Eliza Frew. a daughter

1190

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of John and Margaret Frew. She was born in Lawrence county, in 1806, and by her marriage to William Stewart became the mother of eight children, viz. : Alexander : Nancy J., a resident of Michigan ; Margaret, wife of William Lutz ; J. Frew, a resident of Washington, D. C .: Rose, deceased wife of Samuel White; Archibald ; Lydia H., who resides in Rochester, and Emeline, deceased wife of Benjamin Hydenberk. Mr. Stewart was a Whig prior to the formation of the Republican party, and afterward- a Republican. Both he and wife were members of the United Presbyterian church. The latter died in 1876.

ALEXANDER STEWART, eldest in the family of William and Eliza Stewart, was born upon the homestead farm in Lancaster township. Butler county, in 1828, attended the district school of his neighborhood. and afterwards learned the carpenter's trade, which. however, he only followed for a short period. He purchased a farm of 150 acres, from D. C. Roth, in Connoquenessing township. and has been engaged in farming for more than forty years. In 1851 he married Marian, a daughter of William Scott, of Butler county, to which union have been born four children, as follows : Elizabeth .A., wife of M. J. Humphrey : Will S. ; Ada, wife of William Moore, and Nettie, wife of Stewart Wilson. Mr. Stewart is an ardent Republican, and has served as justice of the peace for fif- teen years. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian church of Prospect. and was one of the principal contributors towards the erection of the church building in that borough. He is a progressive, enterprising farmer, and is highly respected by the community in which his life has been passed.

FREDERICK BARNHART was born upon the homestead farm in Fairview town- ship. Butler county. in 1809. son of Rudolph Barnhart, and his early life was spent in assisting his father in the usual duties that fall to the lot of a farmer's boy. He attended school in the log school house of the neighborhood, and endured the usual trials of pioncer life. He married Catherine, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Thorn, who bore him a family of six children, viz : Rudolph ; Eliza- beth. who married J. J. Barnhart : Susan ; Caroline : Sarah L .. and Andrew J .. all of whom are dead except Rudolph and Elizabeth. Mr. Barnhart was a mem- ber of the Reformed Presbyterian church, held the offices of deacon and elder in that denomination, and was a prominent factor in the erection of the first church building of that society near Millerstown. Politically. he was a Republican. and served as school director for a number of years. Ile died in 1879, and his widow resides with her son, Rudolph, at Petersville.

RUDOLPH BARNHART, Son of Frederick and Catherine Barnhart, and grand- son of Rudolph Barnhart. the pioneer. was born upon his father's farm near Mil- lerstown. Butler county. in 1842, and was educated in the public schools and at Clarion Academy. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in the battles of Antietam. Fredericksburg. Chancellor-ville. and several minor engagements, during his term of nine months, which expired in 1963. He was married in that year to Mary Shakely, a daughter of John and Susan Shakely, of Millerstown, and has two children. William and Frederick. The Barnhart farm near Miller -- town, is one of the pioneer oil farms of the county, the first well being drilled in 1×78, and commenced flowing at the rate of 1 100 barrels per day. A year after this

1191

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

event, Mr. Barnhart located near Harmony, where he resided on a farm for twelve years, and then removed to Peter-ville, where he has since carried on a general store in partnership with his son. He is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, has held the office of deacon and elder, and is quite active in church affairs. He is a member of the G. A. R., also of the P. of 11., and the Jr. O. U. A. M. Politically, he is an unswerving Republican, and always gives his earnest support to that party.

ROBERT HAYS came from eastern Pennsylvania to Pittsburg early in the present century, where he was offered 150 acres of land, upon which Allegheny now stands, for a sorrel horse and sixty dollars, but not considering the land worth what was asked for it, he rejected the offer. Ile then came to Butler county with his family, and located in Connoquenessing township, upon a tract of 400 acres of land, but soon returned to Pittsburg. He afterwards returned to Butler county, settled upon his farm, and spent the remainder of his life thereon. He married Nancy Plummer, to which union were born the following children, all of whom are dead : William : Jonathan : Alexander ; Anna : Sarah: Matilda; Rebecca, and Samuel. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He was a Whig, in politics, and served a number of years as justice of the peace.

SAMUEL HAYS, third son of Robert and Nancy Hays, was born upon the homestead farm in Connoquenessing township, Butler county, in 1805, and remained with his parents until 1822. when he started a small store in one room of the house. Ile carried on merchandising in connection with farming for twenty years, and this was the pioneer store of that vicinity. Mr. Hays married Harriet Henderson, a daughter of Hugh Henderson, about 1827. and they became the parents of the following children : Elizabeth : Robert S. : Nancy : Caroline; Rebecca ; Louisa, who married Harvey Colbert of Butler ; Henderson ; James S., and one that died in early youth. The only survivors of the family are Robert S., and Jame- S. Samuel Ilays was a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, a Republican. Ile died in 1573, and his wife in Issl.

ROBERT S. HAYs, eldest son of Samuel and Harriet Hays, and grandson of Robert Hays, was born in 1830, upon his father's farm in Connoquenessing town- ship, and resided there until 1564. when he purchased a farm of 150 acres in the same township, where he has since resided. In 1865 he bought a flour mill from Joseph Mckinney, of Allegheny county, which he has since carried on in con- nection with agriculture. The mill has a capacity of twenty-five barrel- per day. Mr. Hays married Mary J., a daughter of John and Elizabeth Cooper, of Law- rence county, and six children are the fruits of this union, viz : Orrie W. ; Her- schel ; Mina, wife of William Rader ; Lionel ; Bertie, deceased, and Troy. Mr. Hays has been an elder for three years, and a trustee in the Presbyterian church for twelve years. In politics. he is a Republican, and has filled the offices of col- lector and auditor for six years cach. He is one of the energetic, enterprising and successful farmers of his township.

ADAM YOUNG was born in Alsace, Germany, and there grew to maturity. In 1940, at the age of twenty-seven, having served seven years in the army, he came to the United States. landing at New Orleans. He was there during the

1192

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

yellow fever plague, and was employed with a horse and dray in hauling the dead to the trenches. He took the fever, but. through the efforts of a trained nurse, survived. In I-46 he came to Cranberry township, Butler county, and married Mrs. Catharine Noss, nec Zehner, widow of George Nos-, who then had two children : Catharine, since deceased, and Frederick, a carpenter and mill owner of U'nionville, Beaver county. Mr. Young and wife were acquaintances in the Fatherland. In 1553, after residing near Zelienople for a few years, he bought 110 acres in Connoquenessing township, to which he later added forty acres. By hard work and persistent industry he brought this land to a high state of cultivation. In [890 oil was found on this farm, the production of which has since been valuable. Neither Mr. Young nor his wife lived to see what the earth beneath them contained. He died died May 28, 1878, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. His wife died April 1, 1864, in her sixty-ninth year. Their children consisted of four boys and three girls, viz. : Mary, who died in early youth ; Adam, who was accidentally strangled to death while swinging in the barn. during the absense from home of his parents; Caroline, wife of John Flinner ; llenry, who married Louisa, a daughter of Martin Beam : Sophia : Charles, who married Mary, a daughter of Casper Frishkorn, and Edwin. Mr. Young was an elder in the United Presbyterian church for several years, and in politics, an adherent of the Democratic party.

EDWIN YOUNG, youngest in the family of Adam and Catharine Young, was born upon his present farm in Connoquenessing township. October 17. 1560. By his parents will the ohl homestead was divided between himself and his brother Charles. He afterwards purchased his brother's interest and is now the sole owner. Mr. Young married Caroline Frischkorn, a daughter of Casper Frishkorn, of Lancaster township, a sister of his brother Charles' wife. and has four children, viz. :. William G. ; Norman C. ; Clara E., and Ida Mary. Ile is an elder in the German Reformed church of Zelienople, and in politics, a Demo- crat. Mr. Young is a successful and progressive farmer, and has his farm well supplied with the latest improved machinery.

IRWIN ANDERSON was born in Allegheny county. Pennsylvania, October 11, 1820. the eighth son in a family of ten children. He was a son of Robert Anderson, a soldier of the Revolution, descended from a pioneer family of Lan- caster county, whither they had emigrated from Ireland prior to the Revolution. After the war had ended. Robert settled in Allegheny county, about seven miles from Allegheny, where he followed farming until his death. Irwin was reared upon his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age, and then went to Pittsburg, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He followed his trade in that city until Is13, afterwards engaged in farming, and in 1853 purchased a farm in Forward township, Butler county, upon which he lived twelve years. In 1565 he bought a farm of 107 acres in Connoquenessing township, now owned by his son William, upon which he died. October 12, 1892. He married Mary, daughter of Andrew Wible, of Allegheny county, and was the father of five children : Edward; Mary J., who died in infancy; William; Joseph, who removed to Michigan in 1869. married Lydia M. Williams the same year, and died in 1974, leaving a widow and two sons, William 1 .. and John G. : and

Tra Stauffer

1193:

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Catherine W., who married Aaron Shontz, of Harmony, December 1, 1870, and is the mother of five children, viz. : Mary E. ; Clara S. ; Luella B ;. Catherine .A., and Myrtle M. Mrs. Anderson resides with her son William in Connoque- nessing township. Politically, Mr. Anderson was an ardent Republican, and always manifested an interest in public affairs.

WILLIAM ANDERSON was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 5, 1847, received a common school education, and has been engaged in farm- ing since boyhood. He is the owner of two farms. one containing 107 acres, and another of sixty-two acres, and also owns a tract of fifteen acres near Petersville. all of which he cultivates. He has ten producing wells upon the first mentioned place, which are operated by the Forest Oil Company. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as school director, and collector in his township. Ile is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church, and a liberal con- tributor toward that denomination. Ile married Sarah Dambacher, a daughter of Frederick Dambacher, October 14, 1869, and to this union have been born the following children : Bertha E., wife of Mead Eyman ; Laura ; John II. ; Presley C. ; Joseph II. ; Ann M., and Rose E.

PETER RADER, son of John and Margaret ( Gleinhentz) Rader, was born in Germany, in the year 1823. His parents had three children, viz. : Elizabeth : Peter, and Adam. The last mentioned lives in Germany, where the parents lived and died. The father died in 1882, and the mother in 1884. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native land, there married Catherine llart- man, and immigrated to Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1851, settling near Middle Lancaster. lle purchased a farm of fifty aeres, lived upon it for five years, then sold it and bought 160 acres in Connoquenessing township, near Petersville, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is also interested in oil producing. having twenty-four wells upon his farm. They were formerly operated by W. A. Clark & Company of Butler, but are now con- trolled by the Standard Oil Company. Mr. Rader and wife are members of the German Reformed church of Petersville, in which he has filled the office of elder. Politically, he is a Democrat, and gives his earnest support to the principles and measures of that party.

MATTHIAS RASELY, son of Henry Rasely, a native of eastern Pennsyl- vania, was born in the eastern part of this State, January 12, 1817, there grew to maturity and learned the tailor's trade, which he followed for nearly twenty years. Ile was married to Priscilla Fairchild, February 22, 1840. She was born August 31, 1821. and became the mother of the following children by this union : William II., who married Caroline T. Purviance, January 5, 1864. and died June 29. 1865; Anna A., wife of Robert W. Stewart : Laura Jane, who first married Calvin Dietrich, and is now the wife of Henry Dersheimer : Solomon Fairchild, who died June 22, 1858; George J., who married Priscilla A. Miller : Margaret E., wife of Alfred Sarver : Presley R., who died June 9, 1858; John R., who died January 31, 1864. and Harvey W. The last mentioned was born upon the homestead, October 17. 161, and has always resided thereon. Since his father's death he has had charge of the farm, his mother residing with him. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in religious belief, a Presbyterian. Matthias Rasely set-

1194

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

tled upon a farm in Connoquenessing township, upon which he resided until his death, February 12, 1892, aged seventy-five years.

MICHAEL BIEGHLEY was born in Lancaster township. Butler county, in 111. son of George Bieghley, who settled in what is now Lancaster township, Butler county, near the site of Middle Lancaster, prior to 1800. He was reared upon his father's farm, and received a meager education in a pioneer subscription school near his home. In ISBs he married Catherine Shanor, a daughter of Abraham Shanor, of Muddy Creek township, and is the father of nine children, as follows : Susannah, wife of Samuel Mover ; Abraham : Christina. wife of J. G. Mckinley : Aaron : Levi, deceased : Harriet, wife of Joseph Rodenbaugh; Amos : Lydia, deceased. and Mary, wife of Andrew Wier. Mr. Bieghley is living upon the farm settled by his father, and is one of the oldest residents of Lancaster township. He is a member of the English Lutheran church, and in politics, is an adherent of the Republican party. He has filled the office of township supervisor, and in his early manhood was a member of the State Militia.

WILLIAM BEIGHLE was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1790, spent his early life upon his father's farm, and received a good common school education. He was an apt scholar, and devoted himself assiduously to his studies, with the intention of becoming a teacher, in which ambition he suc- ceeded. Ile came to Muddy Creek township, Butler county, in ISH, and taught school for eleven years. Ile married Magdalena Myers, whose parents lived in Butler county, and soon after returned to his early home in Westmoreland county, where he resided about one year. He again came to Muddy Creek township, and settled upon his father-in-law's farm. following agriculture in summer and teaching school in winter. In 1825 he purchased a farm in Lan- caster township. now the property of his son, Cornelius S., and resided upon it until his removal to Middle Lancaster, where he served as postmaster for a num- ber of years, being the first incumbent of that office. His wife died in 1854, and in b>56 he removed to Adams county, Ohio, where he died in Is65, aged seventy- eight years. Ile was the father of eleven children, as follows : Joseph, deceased: Sarah, who married Samuel Moore, and subsequently Jacob Savage : Daniel : Rebecca, deceased wife of James Matthews; William : Conrad, deceased ; Jem- ima, wife of J. D. Baumgardner ; Cornelius S. ; Rosanna ; Miriam, and Lafay- ette, the last three of whom are dead. Mr. Beighle and wife were members of the Lutheran church. in which denomination he filled the office of deacon. Politically, he was first a Whig, and afterwards a Republican.

CORNELIUS S. BRIGHLE, Son of William and Magdalena Beighle. was born in Muddy Creek township, Butler county, in 1825, was reared upon his father's farm, and remained at home until 1511. when he went to Prospect to learn the wagon-maker's trade. with J. D. Baumgardner, and remained there until ISIS. He then located at Middle Lancaster. where he followed his trade until the spring of Is55, when he settled upon the homestead farm, of 116 acres, and for the past thirty-nine years has followed agriculture. In ISI9 he married Elizabeth Berkel, and they are the parents of the following children : Agnes, deceased ; Edmund L .: Mary L., wife of Lome Shaner: Clara C .. wife of Campfield

1195

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Shaner: John A. C. ; Austin C., and Willie B., deceased. Mrs. Beighle died May 17, 1878, and January 21, 1875, he married Mrs. Sarah Kirker. Mr. Beighle and family are members of the English Lutheran church. in which he has filled the offices of deacon and older, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty years. In politics, he is a Republican.

SAMUEL MYERS, Son of John Myers, was born in Virginia. in 1793, was reared upon his father's farm. and then came to Butler county, where he married Mary M. Bieghley. a daughter of John and Catherine Bieghley. of Conno- quenessing township. Hle resided for a time in Lancaster township, upon a farm of 100 acres of land given him by his father-in-law, and afterwards purchased 150 acres in Connoquenessing township. Here he engaged in farming to the time of his death. which occurred in 1882. His wife died in 1856, They reared a family of six children, as follows : Esther, deceased wife of Adam Rosebaugh ; Rebecca. deceased wife of Slemens Morrison: Conrad; Sarah; Rachel, and Luther. Mr. Myer- and wife were members of the Lutheran church, in which denomination he filled the offices of deacon and elder. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Politically, he was a Republican.

CONRAD MYERS was born in Lancaster township. Butler county, in 1820, son of Samuel and Mary M. Myers. He lived with his parents, engaged in the duties of the farm, until his marriage to Emeline Peffer, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Peffer. After his marriage he resided with his parents for one year, then settled on his present homestead of sixty acres in Lancaster town- ship, upon which he has since lived. lle is the father of three children, viz. : Anna L., deceased wife of William Reed ; Isaac Newton, and Samuel F. Mr. Myers and wife are members of the Lutheran church and he has served as deacon and elder for a number of years. Politically. he is a Republican.

WILLIAM BELLIS was born in Luzerne county. Pennsylvania. in 1790, was reared upon his father's farm in that county, and at the age of twenty-two came to Butler county, and settled upon a farm in Jackson township. He married Mary Waldron, and two years afterwards removed to Lancaster township. where he resided until his death. in 1>51. His wife survived him twenty.five years, and died in 1576. Hle cleared and improved his farm in Lancaster township, and at his death it became the property of his son Isaac. William and Mary Bellis were the parent- of seven children, as follows : Mary, widow of Philip Blinn : Sarah, deceased wife of George Shaffer; Rebecca, deceased wife of Jacob Burry : Isaac ; Magdalene. wife of Henry Rice ; Deborah, and Elizabeth. wife of Joseph Stauffer. The parents were members of the German Reformed church, in which body Mr. Bellis tilled the offices of deacon and trustee. He was one of the organizers of the old Economite church, at Harmony. Politically. he was a Democrat, and a stanch adherent to the principles of that party.

ISAAC BELLIS, only on of William and Mary Bellis, was born upon the homestead in Jackson township, Butler county. in 1 21. removed with his par- ents to Lancaster township, and lived with them down to his father's death, when the homestead of fifty acres was inherited by him. To this he has added fifty acres, and has resided upon this farm ever since. In 1850 he was married to Sarah Stauffer, a daughter of Henry and Susan Stauffer, to which union have

1196

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

been born the following children : Henry ; Calvin ; John ; Sarah ; Susan, (the last three of whom are dead) ; Maria, wife of Edward Moyer ; Isaac ; Edward : Zelia, and Nettie. Mr. Bellis and wife are members of the German Reformed church, in which he is a deacon. He is a Democrat. in politics, and ha- filled the offices of school director, assessor and supervisor in his township.

IlENRS D. ZIEGLER was born in Lancaster township. Butler county, in 1817, son of Andrew and Deborah ( Moyer) Ziegler. His father was born in Jackson township in 1827, learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed for ten years, and afterwards engaged at the carpenter s trade. Andrew Ziegler married Deborah Moyer, who became the mother of four children, viz : Henry D) .; John C., deceased ; Samuel, and Julia A., wife of Andrew Wier. The family were connected with the German Reformed church. The subject of this sketch learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and has followed that business the greater part of his life. In 1869 he married Louisa Moritz, and they are the parents of the following children : Harry 1., who is in the furniture and under- taking business at Portersville; Pierce W. ; Oliver W. ; Howard E., deceased ; Pearl L, ; Clarence L, and Blanche V., deceased. In ISSO he engaged in the undertaking business at Middle Lancaster, which he still carries on, and has also a similar establishment, with furniture, at Harmony. Politically. he is a Demo- crat, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, and the Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a deacon in the English Lutheran church, to which society his family also belong.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 153

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