History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 160

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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SIMON GROSSMAN came with his parents to Butler county, and spent the remaining years of his life in this section of the State. lle married a Miss Carothers, and reared the following children : Benjamin, born in 1801. and died in Brady township ; Alexander, who died in Missouri; Eliza, deceased wife of Henry Black ; Hugh C., who died in Brady township : John, who died in Frank- lin township ; Simon and James, both of whom died in Brady : Robert, who died in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Polly, wife of William Webber. The parents died in Franklin township. the mother in 1844, and the father in 1849.

IIUGH C. GROSSMAN, son of Simon Grossman, was born in Brady township. Butler county, April 3, 1810, was reared a farmer, and always followed that occupation. He married Mary A. Moore, October 13, 1842. to which union

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were born the following children : Elizabeth A., wife of John Carnahan, of Kan- -as: llugh 11., of Worth township; James M., of Cherry township; Sarah C., wife of James Dunn, of Brady ; Catherine S., deceased wife of Ezra Christie ; Mary E., wife of Robert Fowser, of Butler: Ashley W., of Slippery Rock ; Dora L., wife of James Stoughton, of Clay: Richard B., of Brady; Joseph G., of Worth : Lydia A., wife of Charles Hunt, of Lawrence county, and John S., a resident of Brady township. Mr. Grossman died on January 10, 1891, and his wife. April 12, 1892.

Hucit 11. Grosswy. son of Hugh C. and Mary A. Grossman, was born in Brady township, May 11, 1845. received a common school education, and was reared a farmer. When twenty years of age he commenced life for himself, working on a farm, subsequently had charge of a portion of the homestead, given him by his father, which he sold, and purchased from John Craig his present home of ninety acres, lying northeast of Jacksville, upon which he has resided since 1872. Mlr. Grossman was married April 16, 1872. to Rebecca AA. Wick, a daughter of Henry E. Wick. of Slippery Rock township. Six children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Araminta F. : Hugh Il .; Lewis A. ; William S. ; Perry G., and Irene. all of whom are living at home. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, Mr. Grossman is a Repub- lican.

JOHN MOORE. SR., was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1761, son of William Moore. a native of Ireland. After reaching his maturity, he went to Washington county, lived there a short time. and about 1800 came to Butler county and located about two miles south of the present Moore homestead, which he purchased two years later. He resided upon this farm until his death, in 1851. He married Elizabeth Mcclintock, who died in 1840. They were the parents of five children. all of whom are dead, viz. : William : James: Sarah ; John, and Mary.

WILLIAM MOORE was born in Chester county. and came with his parents to Butler county, where he was reared and spent the remaining years of his life. He followed farming upon the old homestead, where he died in 1868. He mar- ried Mary Mc Clymonds, a daughter of Thomas McClymonds. She died in 1870, the mother of the following children : John, deceased; Thomas ; Jane ; William, who was killedat Gaines Mill: James. of Worth township; Samuel, who was killed at Petersburg, and Elizabeth, who died in childhood.

THOMAS MOORE Was born on his present farm, in Worth township, in 1829, and his entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. After arriving at manhood he bought a farm two miles south of the homestead, which he sold two years later and purchased a place in Slippery Rock township. where he lived from 1856 to 1869. On the death of his father he returned home, and has since resided upon the homestead. Mr. Moore was married May 18, 1852, to Mary Glenn, a daughter of Robert Glenn, of Worth township, who has borne him the following children : Elizabeth, and Tressa. both of whom died in childhood ; William R., who lives on the homestead: James N., a member of the Butler bar: John G., a resident of Butler; Jennie, who died in childhood, and Olive. Mr. Moore is a stanch Republican, and filled the offices of collector and constable

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while living in Slippery Rock township, and has been road commissioner in Worth township. The family are adherents of the United Presbyterian church, and Mr. Moore is an elder and trustee in that society. He cultivates 165 acres of well improved land, and is one of the leading farmers and stock-growers in his township.

JOHN MOORE was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, eldest son of Samuel Moore, and came to Brady township, Butler county, with his parents. Ile grew to manhood in this county, receiving such an education as the schools of the period afforded. In IS29 be purchased the farm in Muddy Creek town- ship now owned by Samuel Jones, upon which he resided until his death, July 19, 1833. Mr. Moore was married on March 10. 1829, to Anna McClymonds, a daughter of Thomas McClymonds, to which union were born two children, viz. : Jane, who died unmarried, May 18, 1875, and Samuel II., of Worth township. The mother married for her second husband. James Moore, no connection of her first husband, and died June 1. 1889.

SAMUEL HI. MOORE, only son of John and Anna Moore, was born in Muddy Creek township. Butler county, November 21, 1529, was reared upon his step- father's farm in Worth township, and received a common school education. When he was twenty-three years of age. he settled upon the farm purchased by his father in Muddy Creek township, where he lived until 1866, in which year he bought his present homestead of 100 acres. Here he has erected buildings and made the necessary improvements, and possesses one of the best farms in his locality. Politically, he is a Republican, and has always taken a deep interest in the public schools of the county. All of his children have taught school, and he has served as a school director for many years. In ISSO he was elected a justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1855. On November 23. 1852, Mr. Moore mar- ried Katie J. Patterson, a daughter of John Patterson, and is the father of five children, viz. : Hannah C., wife of J. M. Hunt : Anna J., wife of J. W. Phil- lips : Martha V .. wife of Samuel Kildoo ; John M., and Edith. The family are connected with the United Presbyterian church of Harlansburg.

SAMUEL CORNELIU'S Was born in Worth township, Butler county, Penn- sylvania, in 1804. and received his education in one of the pioneer subscription schools. He grew to maturity upon his father's farm, and in 1827 he married Margaret. a daughter of Thomas McClymonds, of Muddy Creek township. Eleven children were the fruits of this union, nine of whom grew to maturity, as follow>: Col. James E., who died from wounds received in the Rebellion ; Samuel M. ; Lieut. Isaac W., killed at the battle of Cold Harbor ; Mary A., wife of George Kennedy, of Slippery Rock township : Thomas J., who was killed at the battle of Gaines Mill; John C., who was killed at Fredericksburg ; Alexander M. ; William M., and Jesse G. Mr. Cornelius was a member of the Seceder church, and died in 1868. His widow survived ten years, dying in 1878. Polit- ically. he was in early days a Whig, but upon the formation of the Republican party he joined that organization, and remained faithful to its principles down to his death.

ROBERT BARRON was born in Down county, Ireland, September 19, 1832, son of David and Margaret (Gibson) Barron, who were married in Ireland in

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

1831. His father was a son of John Barron, a native of Down county, Ireland. and grandson of John Barron. Sr., a farmer of the same county. The latter had a family of eight children: AArchie; John; William; David; Robert ; Mar- garet; James, and Samuel. The second son, John, was the grandfather of our subject, and died in Down county, aged eighty-five years. Ilis sons William ; Robert; John, and David, came to the United States. William, a school teacher, died in West Virginia ; Robert, a merchant, died in Ohio, and John, a weaver, worked in Pittsburg ten years, and then returned to Ireland and died there. David, the father of Robert, was a weaver, but followed farming until 1834, in which year he came to the United States, leaving his wife and child in Ireland, and died at Steubenville, Ohio. His widow and child made their home with her parents, James and Susan ( Hines) Gibson. Her maternal grandfather, Richard Hines, came to this country in 1800, with his wife and five children, viz. : Richard ; George ; Eleanor: Betty, and Jane, leaving behind Alexander and Susan. They afterwards settled in Brady township, Butler county. Alexander later came to this county. and died at the home of his parents. Their children. George, Eleanor, and Jane, also died at home. Richard located on a farm in Brady township, married Betsey Brandon, and two of his children, Eli and Mrs. Mary Gibson, reside on the old Hines homestead. The mother of our subject married George Dixon, and remained in Ireland. Robert came to the United States when seventeen years of age, worked for a short time on a railroad at Albany, New York, and then came to the home of his grandmother. Susan Gib- son, of Worth township, Butler county. Here he remained for two years, work - ing on a farm in summer and attending school in winter. He afterwards learned the plasterer's trade, and worked at it until 1872. In 1860 he bought 100 acres of land upon which he now resides, sent for his mother and her husband, and gave them a home during their declining years. He has added to his farm from time to time until he now owns 250 acres, and is one of the leading farmers of the township. Mr. Barron was married, September 28, 1854, to Mrs. Mary Craig, nee Shaffer, and has five children, viz. : Joseph, who married a daughter of Alex - ander Black, and lives on a part of the homestead ; Mary C., wife of A. V. Gross- man, of Brady township; Robert J., who died at the age of seven ; Elizabeth J., wife of W. P. Martin, of Venango township, and Alvirda, wife of Jacob Milleman, of Harmony. In 1572 Mr. Barron was elected, on the Republican ticket, to the office of county commissioner, and re-elected in 1875. During this time he purchased the Willard Hotel, conducted it for a short time, and subse- quently sold it. For many years he has been prominent in the local councils of his party, and has filled nearly all the township offices. In March, 1885, he served as foreman of the grand jury in the United States district court at Scranton. Mr. Barron is now vice-president of the Worth Mutual Fire Insurance Company, filled the office of president of the company for two years, and has also served on the board of directors. He was an elder in the Slippery Rock United Presby- terian church for twenty-five years, and for two years has filled the same office in the West Liberty United Presbyterian church.

JOHN CRAIG, a son of John Craig, was born in Ireland, in 1782. there grew to manhood and married Nancy Hind -. They reared five children. viz. : George,

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who came to Butler county in 1839, and was killed while working on the canal near Sharon. Mercer county ; William; James; Sarah, and John. In ISII Mr. Craig and family immigrated to Pennsylvania, and settled in Butler county. He rented the Wigton farm, celebrated as the home of the Wigton family murdered by the Indian, Mohawk, which he cultivated for three years. Later he and his son William bought a farm in Worth township, where Mr. Craig died in 1866. aged eighty-four years, and his wife, in 1872, aged ninety years. Their sons, William and James, also died on this farm, while Sarah, who married Samuel Gibson, is also dead.

JOHN CRAIG, JR., only living child of John and Nancy Craig, was born in Ireland, February 9. 1823, and was about eighteen years of age when the family settled in Butler county. He afterwards rented a farm for two years, and then purchased the H. H. Grossman farm, which he sold in 1873. He went to Vir- ginia, purchased a farm in that State, and lived there for three years, then sold it and returned to Worth township, bought his present homestead, and has since been engaged in farming upon it. Mr. Craig was married February 11, 1846, to Esther Clark, a daughter of James Clark, of Slippery Rock township. Both he and wife are members of the Baptist church, and in politics, he is a Democrat. Ilis homestead, containing seventy-four acres, is on the line of Lawrence county, the county line dividing it.

DAVID LOCKE was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1839, son of Thomas Locke, and grandson of William Locke. His father was a native of Lawrence county, married Sarah Fox, and reared a family of five chil- dren, viz. : Mary, wife of William MeCracken; John; David: William, deceased, and Maria A., wife of David McCracken, of New Castle. Thomas Locke died in 1846. When fifteen years old David began life for himself as a common laborer, and afterwards learned the shoemaker's trade, which he worked at for three years in Lawrence county. In 1861 he went to the oil country, and worked from Titusville to the river, drilling oil wells. After about six months he left the oil country, and on August 27, 1861, married Catherine Rodgers, a daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine Rodgers, of Lawrence county. She was born December 3, 1838, and is the mother of the following children : William E., of New Castle ; Jennie, deceased ; John, also a resident of New Castle ; Catherine E., wife of Edward Crocker; Earnest L. : Sarah D., wife of Harry Rodgers; David F. ; Anna C .; Alice T., deceased, and LeRoy N. AAfter hi- marriage Mr. Locke took up his residence in Mercer county, and for three years worked at his trade during the winter months, and for James Uber on a farm in summer, lle then moved to Slippery Rock township, Butler county, and worked on a farm for David Porter. At the expiration of five years he rented a farm from David Armstrong, on which he remained three years. He next rented a farm from Philip Fair and lived on it two years, after which he moved near Centreville and resided one year, when he bought the place upon which he now resides from William Crocker. Mr. Locke and wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

EDWARD CAMPBELL was born in Hickory township, Lawrence county, February 22, 1829, son of Robert Campbell. He received a common school edu-

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cation, learned the plasterer's trade, and followed that in connection with farm - ing. In 1849 he married Lavina Smart, of Lawrence county, to which union were born eight children, as follows: Robert M .: Joseph G .: William J. : Ammon I1. : James E; Mary E., wife of William Kildoo: Ruth E., wife of Frank Black, and Charles L. Mr. Campbell located in Worth township. Butler county, in 1866, upon the old Stoughton farm, and there died in 1889. and his wife in 1891. They were members of the Baptist church, and he was connected with Portersville Lodge, 1. O. O. F. In politics, he was a stanch Democrat.

Jony HOCKENBERRY, a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, came to But- ler county about 1803, and settled in Brady township. He resided there for several years, and then removed to Cherry township, where he died. He mar- ried Hannah Kelly, and was the father of eight children. viz. : John ; Casper ; Jonathan ; Elizabeth, who married James Buchanan ; Jane, who married Moses McCandles> : Annie, who married and died in Ohio : Ellen, who married Will- iam Graham, and Joseph, all of whom are dead.

CASPER HOCKENBERRY, SR .. second son of John and Hannah Hockenberry, was born in Perry county, in 1785, came with his parents to Butler county, and about 1810 located on Muddy creek, in Worth township. He purchased 200 acres of land, upon which he spent the remaining years of his life, and died on October 29, 1860. He married Margaret Shaffer, who bore him the following children : Annie, who married Jonathan Wimer: Joseph, a resident of Butler : Catherine, wife of J. J. Baker : Hannah. deceased wife of William Gallagher ; Effie, wife of Joseph Forrester : Mahala, wife of Shoplar Boston ; William, who died recently in Worth township, and Mary, wife of Elijah Rolls.

JOSEPH HOCKENBERRY, eldest son of Casper and Margaret Hockenberry, was born January 16. ISTh. After arriving at maturity he purchased a farm in Worth township, but subsequently removed to Franklin township. and followed agriculture until 1891. Hle then retired from active business life, and located in Butler, where he is spending his declining years. Mr. Hockenberry has been twice married. His first wife was Eliza Kennedy, a daughter of David Kennedy. She died in 1878. leaving six children, viz. : Casper : Euphemia, wife of Jacob Shields; Mary J., wife of J. S. Snyder; Margaret, who married William Ben- net, and after his death John Hunt : Mahala. wife of James Cratty, and J. Pierce. His second wife was Mrs. Mary J. Lepley, who died in [.

CASPER HOCKENBERRY, eldest son of Joseph and Eliza ( Kennedy ) Hock- enberry, was born on the Hockenberry homestead. in Worth township, Novem- ber 27. 1835. He obtained a common school education, and was reared a farmer. In 1864 he purchased seventy-five acres in Franklin township, to which he has since added the same amount, and has resided upon this farm up to the present. Hle is also the owner of 100 acres in Connoquenessing township. In 1991 oil was discovered upon his farm in Franklin township, which now contains ten producing wells, which bring him in a comfortable competence. Mr. Hocken- berry is one of the successful farmers of the county, and a man of enterprise and public spirit. In 1864 be married Priscilla Bryan. a daughter of Robert Steel Bryan, of Cherry township. Fourteen children have been born to this union, viz. : Wilbert E. ; Margaret C., wife of William Cooper ; Robert M. ; Joseph

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M .; Mary E .. wife of Lewis Double; Casper A. : William M .; Amelia : James C. : Ann Eliza : Blanche : David : Milton, and Ernest. Mr. Hockenberry is a stanch Democrat. and is a member of the Baptist church. He is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the community.

WILLIAM HOCKENBERRY. youngest son of Casper and Margaret Hocken- berry, was born in Worth township. Butler county. March 30, 1>27. and died upon his homestead. December 15, 1893. He was reared to farm life, and received a common school education. When twenty-three years of age, his father having died. William began life for himself. and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his death. On October 2. 1551, he married Mary Fisher, a daugh- ter of Jacob Fisher. of Worth township, who survives him. Ten children blessed this union, viz. : James N., a resident of Illinois: Nancy, wife of William Steckle, of Butler ; Hampson, of Brady township; Casper J., of New Castle : Lizzie, wife of William Shields, of Worth township: Clara, wife of Benjamin Lillie, of Coraopolis ; Iva J., wife of John Lemmon, of Jackson township: Marion F., who resides on the homestead, and Nettie R. wife of Edward Johnson, of Connoquenessing township. Mr. Hockenberry was a member of the Baptist church, and in politics, a Democrat.

JOHN THOMPSON. SR., a native of Antrim county, Ireland, immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1795, and in April. 1799, removed from Chartier- creek, Alle- gheny county, to what is now Brady township, Butler county. He was married in Ireland to Martha Humes, who became the mother of six sons and five daughters. as follows : William 11 .; John H. : Robert W. ; Thomas C. : Humes. and James. The daughters were. Jane, who married James AAllsworth ; Eliza- beth, who married Nathan F. WeCandless: Margaret, who married James W. Turk: Martha, who married John S. McCandles, whose father was the first sheriff of Butler county, and Mary, who became the wife of William Cooper. The sons were very large men, and were noted for their great physical strength. Mr. Thompson owned 1.000 acres of land, was one of the leading pioneers of the county, and died in 1816. aged ninety-six years. His wife survived him many years, and died on March 6. 1861. Both were pioneer members of Muddy Creek Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM II. THOMPSON was born in Allegheny county, December 1, 1796. eldest son of John and Martha Thompson. He came to Butler county with his parents, was reared on the old homestead in Brady township. and spent his entire life on the farm. He stood six feet five inches in height. and was recog- nized as the strongest man in the county. He married Jane MeCandless, a daughter of John MeCandless, and reared three children, viz. : John M .. of Butler : William G., of Marion, lowa, and Solomon R .. of Brady township. Mr. Thompson was a Republican. in politics, and both he and wife were mem- bers of Muddy Creek Presbyterian church. He died August 19, 1867. and his wife the following year. in the seventy- second year of her age.

JOHN H. THoursox. second son of John and Martha Thompson, was born on Chartier- creek, Allegheny county, December 1. 1798, and removed with his parents to Butler county the following April. where he was reared and edu- ated. Ile married Jane C. MeCandless, a daughter of William McCandless. a c

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

pioneer of Centre township, and settled on a part of the land purchased by his father. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: Martha A., deceased, who first married James W. Coulter, and for her second husband, David Stapleton ; Nancy J., wife of S. W. Pingrey, of Durango, Colorado ; Jemima, wife of Lewis Wigton, of California : Josiah M., of Brady township ; Mary E., who first married William Lytle, and is now the wife of Rev. William Lodge, of lowa City, Iowa ; Keziah H., wife of AAddison Miller, of Butler, and E. Julia, deceased wife of T. H. Lyon. Mr. Thompson and wife were members of Muddy Creek Presbyterian church, and in politics, he was a Republican. Ile died December 21, 1860. Hlis widow resides with her son, Josiah MI., at the ripe age of eighty-nine years.

ROBERT W. THOMPSON, third son of John and Martha Thompson, was born upon his father's farm in Brady township, Butler county, in 1803. He grew to manhood inured to the trials and hardships of pioneer life, and inherited the homestead from his parents. Ile married Frances Craig, to which union were born five children, viz. : Nelson II., who resides upon the old homestead in Brady township ; Martha B., wife of Benjamin Scott, of Venango county ; Jennie F. ; Maggie R., wife of Frank P. Critchlow, of Prospect, and Robert C. The parents spent their whole lives in Brady township.

SOLOMON R. THOMPSON, youngest son of William H. and Jane Thompson, was born on his grandfather's homestead, in Brady township, March 17, 1831. Ile was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools of his neighbor- hood. AAfter the death of his father he inherited the old Thompson homestead, where he has spent his life engaged in farming. He married Martha McCand- less, a daughter of Nathan McCandless, to which union have been born eight children, viz. : Nathan, of Smethport : William G., deceased ; Edna ; Edwin C. ; Mary E. ; Anna Loretta; William H., and Charles W. Mr. Thompson has been a life-long member of Muddy Creek Presbyterian church, and since the organization of the Republican party he has given it an unswerving support.

EDWIN C. THOMPSON, physician and surgeon, son of Solomon R. and Martha (McCandless) Thompson, was born July 14, 1861, in Brady township, Butler county. He was educated in the common schools, and at West Sunbury Academy and Grove City College. Ile read medicine with Dr. A. A. Kelty, of Rose Point, Lawrence county, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and subsequently spent two years in the medical department of the Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio, graduating from the latter institu- tion, February 28, 1885. His certificate of graduation was endorsed by the Medico Chirurgical College, January 13, 1892. In March, {885, he commenced practice at West Liberty, Butler county, where for the past ten years he has continued in the active duties of his profession. He is a member of the Butler County Medi- cal Society, and keeps well abreast of the improvements in medical science. Dr. Thompson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In politics, he is a Republican, but takes no active interest in public affairs. He was married March 31, 1885, to Berdena Stapleton, a daughter of David Stapleton, of lowa City, Iowa, and is the father of two daughters, Franc, deceased, and Mary.

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CONRAD SNYDER, SR., was born in Switzerland in 1735, there married, and fled with his wife from his native land to the Netherlands to escape con- scription into the French army. On reaching his destination he learned for the first time of America, and decided to come to this country. He sold his time for transportation for himself and wife, and it is believed that he served seven years in one of the eastern counties of this State to pay for his passage. He removed from Philadelphia county to Bedford county, thence to Westmoreland, and in 1800 accompanied his son Conrad and family to Butler county. They settled in Brady township, where he died on March 10, 1827, at the advanced age of ninety- two years. His wife, Nancy, died July 16, 1803, and both are buried in the grave- yard on the Snyder farm. They reared three children, viz. : Catherine, who mar- ried Frederick Dubbs ; Nancy, who married Daniel Carter, and Conrad.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 160

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