History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 166

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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GEORGE BOOK, a native of Germany, came to the United States after the Revolutionary war. and subsequently settled in what is now Worth township, Butler county, where he died, February 5, 1823. He married Isabella Vogan, who survived him until October 25, 1854. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, as follows: Ruth. who married Charles Brant ; Christine, who married Joseph Studebaker: John : George : William ; Samuel : James ; Polly. who mar- ried Harlan Vogan, and Isabella, who became the wife of Thomas Shannon. The family were among the early settlers of Worth township.

JAMES BOOK, son of George and Isabella Book, was born upon the home- stead in Worth township, Butler county, in 1812. He was reared in his native township and learned the trade- of stonemason and shoemaker, which he fol- lowed there and at New Castle. He subsequently purchased a farm in Cherry township. where his sons, Charles Il., and Uriah H. now live. After his settle- ment in Cherry township he worked at the stonemason's trade in connection with his farm until a few years preceding his death, which occurred April S. INGS. Mr. Book married Mary Studebaker. a daughter of David Studebaker,

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one of the first settlers of Butler county. She died in February, 1885, the mother of the following children : Isabella, deceased wife of Aquilla Miles; David P., who was captain of Company E, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers ; Elizabeth N., who died in early youth ; John G., who died in 1874; Charles II., and Uriah II. Mr. Book was one of the original members of Zion Baptist church, and in politics, he was a Democrat.

CHARLES HI. Book, son of James and Mary Book, was born in 1847, in Worth township, Butler county. He was reared upon a farm, received a com- mon school education, and settled upon a part of the homestead in Cherry town- ship, where he made the present improvements. Ile married Martha Wasson, a daughter of William Wasson. They are members of Pleasant Valley Presby- terian church, in which he holds the office of elder. Ile is an ardent Republican, bas filled the position of school director, etc., in his township, and was a candi- date for county treasurer in 1893.

URIAH H. Book, youngest son of James and Mary Book, was born October 8, 1850, in Worth township. Butler county, was reared on a farm and received a common school education. He learned the carriage-maker's trade, which he fol- lowed in Kentucky and Tennessee until 1880, when he embarked in the mercan- tile business at New Hope, Butler county, and subsequently removed to Kiester, where he continued the same business. In 1894 he engaged in oil producing, and is now operating in the Washington field. Politically, Mr. Book is a Democrat. and is one of the representative citizens of his township. He is a member of Pleasant Valley Presbyterian church.

JESSE HALL was born in Cecil county, Maryland, in 1799, son of Isaac Hall, a native of the same State, and of English extraction. Jesse followed farm- ing in his native county until 1837, in which year he traded his farm for 500 acres of land situated in what is now Cherry, Brady, Clay and Slippery Rock townships, the larger portion of which is yet owned by his descendants. Ile built his house upon the farm in Clay township now owned by Amos Ilall, where he spent the remaining years of his life, dying in 1869. He married Mary Alexander, of Cecil county, Maryland, who survived him about ten years, and both are buried in St. John's graveyard. Ten children were the fruits of this union, viz. : Isaac A. ; James W. ; Robert B. ; William P. ; Caroline, widow of William Scott : Jesse R. ; John N. ; Mrs. Rachel Brown ; Amos, and Isaiah. In politics, Mr. Hall was a Republican. Some fifteen years before his death he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was the leading spirit in the organization of St. John's church and the erection of the building.

ISAAC A. HALL, eldest son of John and Mary Hall, was born in Cecil county, Maryland, January 5, 1824, came with his parents to Butler county, and grew to manhood upon the homestead in Clay township. At the age of twenty- two he received thirty-seven acres of his father's farm, and commenced the work of making a home. clearing off the timber and otherwise improving it. Ile has since added to his original farm 113 acres, and has erected all of the improve- ments. Mr. Hall has devoted his entire life to agriculture, and is the owner of one of the best improved farms in the northern part of the county. Hle retired from active business life in 1892. leaving the management of the farm to his son

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Milton. Mr. Hall married Hannah Me Junkin, a daughter of James Mc Junkin, to which union were born four children, viz .: Mary A., and Nancy, both deceased ; Milton, who married Agnes Glenn, and Sarah, widow of James Boyard. Mrs. HIall died January 21. 1895. She was a member of West Sunbury Presbyterian church. Mr. Hall is a member of the same society, and in politics, he is a Republican. He has led a very busy life, and although taking no active interest in public affairs, he has filled the office of school director in his township, and done his full share in the social and material development of the community.

JOHN SPROUL, a native of Down county, Ireland, settled on Oil creek, Venango county, about 1811. In 1816 he came to Butler county and purchased a farm near Mt. Chestnut, which he cleared and improved, and spent the remain- ing years of his life there. He was a weaver, and left his native land in com- pany with a family named Robinson. On the voyage Mr. Robinson died, and our subject subsequently married the widow. Six children were born to this union, viz. : Andrew ; Robert ; Margaret, who married William Howe ; Sarah, who married Samuel Howe ; Fannie, who married John Weigley, and Ellen, who married Joseph Dodds, all of whom are dead. His second wife was Eleanor Kincaid, nec Pillow, who bore him four children : William, deceased ; James, of Marion township ; Susan, wife of Andrew Rose, and Hugh. Mr. Sproul died in 1837; his widow survived him until 1>54. They were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.

HUGH SPROUL, youngest child of John and Eleanor Sproul, was born on the homestead farm near Mt. Chestnut, Butler county, July 4, 1824. At the age of sixteen he commenced learning the carpenter's trade, and in 1848 he located in Cherry township, where he established himself in business, and was one of the leading carpenters and builders of that locality for thirty years. Ile also per- formed the duties of a millwright, and still continues to work at his trade in con- nection with farming. In 1851 he purchased and settled on his present farm of 160 acres, which he has since improved and cultivated. Mr. Sproul has been twice married ; first in 1848, to Elizabeth Smith, who died in 1850, leaving two children, who are still living, viz. : John P., a physician of Plain Grove, and Elizabeth, wife of C. S. Stoner, of Butler. In 1851 he married Sarah Glenn, a daughter of James Glenn, of Clay township. The children of this marriage are as follows : William, and Ellen, both of whom died in early youth ; James, who died in 1884; Andrew, a merchant at Gomersal; Addie, wife of Jacob Reinck ; Clara, wife of John Christy ; Rella, wife of Samuel Hindman; Minnie, wife of D. L. flockenberry ; Everett, and Ross. In politics, Mr. Sproul is a Republican, has filled the office of school director, and is at present collector and assessor of his township. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, of West Sun- bury. In 186f he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He and Edwin G. Sproul built the grist mill at Anandale, which is operated under the firm name of Hugh Sproul & Com- pany.

JAMES SPROUL, Son of John and Eleanor Sproul, was born in Franklin township, Butler county, November 15, 1820, and was reared in his native town- ship. Ile has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has resided in

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Marion township since 1880. In 1851 he married Elizabeth Scott, a daughter of Robert Scott, of Franklin township, and is the father of four children, viz. : Edwin G .; Francis, deceased ; James, and John. Mr. Sproul is the oldest living member of the family. In politics, he is a Republican, and a respected citizen of the township.

EDWIN G. SPROUL, eldest son of James and Elizabeth Sproul, was born in Butler township, Butler county, in October. 1852, where he was reared and edu- cated. After attaining his majority he engaged in lumbering and in operating saw mills in different parts of Butler county, and in partnership with his uncle, Hugh Sproul, erected the Anandale grist mill, at Anandale station, in Marion township, which has since been operated under his management, the firm name being Hugh Sproul & Company. The mill is equipped with modern improve- ments, including the roller process, and is one of the leading mills in this section, of the county. Mr. Sproul was married July 9, 1878, to Mary Croup, a daughter of Abraham and Harriet Croup, of Butler township. They have four children, viz. : Clara ; Ilugh ; Cora, and Cortie. Mr. Sproul is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

THOMAS BRYAN was born in Allegheny county. Pennsylvania, January 23, 1789, and was a son of Zephaniah and Elizabeth (De Vorce) Bryan. His father was a native of Maryland, and settled on the line of Allegheny and Westmore- land counties, Pennsylvania, where he died. Ile was a veteran of the Revolu- tion. His wife was Elizabeth De Vorce, and their children were as follows : John ; Mary, wuo married Conrad Snyder; Joseph ; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Spears ; Jennie, who married John Double ; Effie, who married John Wilson ; Thomas, and Prudence, who married John Abner. His second wife was a Miss McLane, and their children were : James; Zephaniah ; Zachariah : Phoebe ; Mrs. Margaret Wilson ; Nancy, who married James Wilson ; David. and Hamilton, all of whom are dead. In October, 1819, Thomas Bryan came to Butler county and purchased 300 acres of land in Brady township, where his son Thomas now resides. He was a manufacturer of spinning wheels, and worked at his trade in connection with farming. Ile died upon his farm in Brady township. January 23,1874, and his wife Margaret, in 1879. Hle married Margaret Steel, a daughter of Robert Steel, of Westmoreland county, to which union were born the following children : Eliza J., deceased wife of John T. McCandless ; Robert S. : Zephaniah, of California; Thomas J. D., deceased ; John, a resident of Beaver Falls ; Thomas, of Brady township, and Archie L., of Beaver Falls. Mr. Bryan was a Baptist, and Mrs. Bryan a Presbyterian. In politics, he was a Democrat.

ROBERT S. BRYAN, son of Thomas and Margaret Bryan, was born in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1818, and was reared in Brady township, Butler county. He worked with his father at the spinning wheel trade, at which he was engaged for many years. In 1841 he purchased sixty acres of the old home- stead farm, upon which he resided until 1864. In that year he bought 318 acres in Cherry township, which he has since improved, and now owns one of the best farms in the community. Mr. Bryan was married in 1814, to Margaret English, a daughter of James English, of Muddy Creek township. The following chil- dren are the fruits of this union : Priscilla, wife of Casper Hockenberry ; Mary

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A. ; Eliza J., deceased wife of Robert Hogg : Thomas J., of Concord township ; Margaret A. ; Archibald L., of Franklin township: Elizabeth A., deceased, and Marinda C. Mr. Bryan and wife are members of Pleasant Valley Presbyterian church. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat, and has filled many of the township offices. He is one of the most extensive farmers of his township, and gives a liberal support to every worthy enterprise.

THOMAS F. CHRISTLEY, son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Christley, was born in Slippery Rock township, Butler county, February 7, 1828. He received a common school education, and learned the plasterer's trade in early manhood. In 1858 he purchased his present farm in Cherry township, which consisted of 196 acres, a portion of which he has since sold. He now owns 100 acres of well improved land, where he has followed agricultural pursuits, in connection with his trade, up to within a few years. In July, 1857. he married Ann C. Hill, a daughter of Daniel K. 1lill, of Centreville, and has the following children : Clara M., wife of John F. McCoy; Alfred M., an attorney of Butler ; Samuel J., a lawyer residing in Chicago; Wilbur IJ., deceased : Emma, wife of Andrew Sproul: John and Herbert, both deceased; Laurell E .; De Witt, deceased: Blanche, and Maude. Mr. Christley was a Republican until 1884. when he became a Prohibitionist. Ile has filled the offices of school director and super- visor, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, etc. In early life he united with the Methodist Episcopal church of Centreville, and was one of the original members of the Anandale church. He is a member of Dickson Post. G. A. R., of West Sunbury, and one of the leading citizens of his township.

WILLIAM D. MCCUNE, physician and surgeon, is a son of Robert and Jane (Devin) McCune, and a grandson of Archibald MeCune, one of the early settlers of Lawrence county. He was born near Grove City, Mercer county, October 5, 1848, and was educated in the public schools and at Grove City Academy. He read medicine with Dr. M. P. Barker, of New Castle, and graduated at the Medical University, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1878. The following year he located at Bovard, Butler county, where he has continued in practice up to the present. Dr. McCune married Cary Cosgrove, a daughter of James Cosgrove, of Law- rence county, and has one son, Harry B. In politics, he is actively identified with the Democratic party. Ile is a member of New Hope Presbyterian church, and is connected with the I. O. O. F., and the Jr. O. U. A. M.

GEORGE K. McAnoo. M. D., son of W. F. and Maria ( Dumars) McAdoo, was born in Sugar Grove township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 21,1866. Ile was educated in the public schools of Greenville, Grove City College and at Thiel College, read medicine with Dr. L. HI. Henry, of Kennard, and graduated at West Penn Medical College, Pittsburg, in March, 1892. Ile began practice at Coraopolis, but in May, 1892, located at Anandale, Butler county, where he has since been engaged in the duties of his profession. Dr. McAdoo was mar- ried in June, 1891 to Ethyl Nelson, a daughter of J. J. Nelson, of Emlenton,

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and has one daughter, Dulce M. The Doctor is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of Pleasant Valley Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM BELL, SR., was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and came to Butler county about 1796. He entered a tract of about 500 acres of land in what is now Washington township, where he spent the remainder of his life. Ile was killed while assisting in the erection of a neighbor's house, and left a family of five sons and four daughters, all of whom are dead. The names of the sons are as follows: John ; William : Samuel : George, and Walter, all of whom were in the War of 1812. The daughters were : Polly, who married David Christie : Rosa, who married Thomas Taylor : Betsey, who married Robert Phillips, and Rebecca, who became the wife of John Campbell. Mr. Bell was a man of considerable prominence in his locality, and was widely known for his great antipathy to Indians, against whom he had seen much service. Ile had lost several of his brothers and ancestry during the Indian wars, consequently had little love for the red man.

WILLIAM BELL, son of William Bell, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county, April 11, 1785, and came to Butler county with his father when about eight years old. He grew to manhood in Washington township, served in the War of 1812, and was married to Catherine MeKimmons, May 3, 1814. They settled in this township, and lived and died upon the old homestead, now the property of their son Alexander. Mr. Bell was the father of the following children : Sam- uel ; John : Gabriel ; William: Alexander : Patton ; Polly ; Rebecca ; Eliza J., and Martha. His wife was a daughter of Gabriel McKimmons, a native of Ireland, and a pioneer of Butler county. Mr. Bell died January 30, 1850, and his wife, August 22, 1852. They were among the original members of the United Pres- byterian church, at Mt. Vernon.

ALEXANDER BELL, son of William and Catherine Bell. was born on his present homestead in Washington township, May 23. 1829. He inherited the property from his father, and has always been engaged in farming, and recently in oil producing. Ile was married September 12. 1854, to Ellen Stewart, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Stewart, the former a native of Butler county, and the latter of Ireland. Mrs. Bell was born June 28, 1835. and is the mother of ten children. all of whom are living, viz. : Ada A. ; Amanda J. ; Thomas P. ; Lizzie A. ; Emma C. ; Sarah L. : CharlesE .; Edwin E. ; Jessie M., and Harriet E. In August. 1864, Mr. Bell enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, being present at the sur- render of Lee's army. Politically, he has been a Democrat, but of late years has supported the Prohibition party. He and wife are members of the United Pres- byterian church.

SAMUEL BELL, third son of William Bell, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county, and grew to manhood in Butler county. The family located in Wash- ington township, Butler county, and later Samuel opened a store at North Wash- ington, being one of the early merchants of that place. He subsequently pur- chased 200 acres of land. which embraced the farms now owned by his sons, Nelson P. and Andrew 1. Bell. on the line of Washington and Concord town- ships. Here he resided until his death, September 15, 1846. Mr. Bell married

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Barbara Campbell, a daughter of Samuel Campbell, to which union were born the following children : James C. ; Rosanna, wife of Henry Shane ; Samuel S ; William and Archibald, both deceased ; Martha J., wife of Ira Campbell; An- drew Irvin, and Nelson P. Mrs. Bell died about 1879. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which denomination her husband also belonged. Ile was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in politics, he was a stanch Democrat.

ANDREW IRVIN BELL, fifth son of Samuel and Barbara Bell, was born on his present homestead farm in Washington township, December 9, 1837. Ile received a common school education, and was reared a farmer. After reaching his majority, he bought fifty acres of land from his mother, to which he has added fifty-one acres and made all of the improvements. In connection with farming, he is also interested in oil producing, having several wells upon his farm. Mr. Bell married Sadie Miller, who has borne him the following children : Eveline, wife of W. P. Hilliard; Albert S .; Minnie May ; Leroy ; Harry E., deceased ; Plummer E. ; Lester, and Lilly. Politically, Mr. Bell is a Republican. and in religion, is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church of North Washington.

SAMUEL MEALS was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, whither his parents immigrated from Germany prior to the Revolution. He grew to man- hood in his native county, whence he removed to Adams county, there married and reared the following children : George, who married Elizabeth Studebaker ; Peggy, who married George Daubenspeck ; William, who finally settled in Clar- ion county ; Samuel, who married Miss Hoover; Jacob. who married a Miss Varnum, and Daniel, who married Catherine Studebaker. In the spring of 1796 the eldest son, George, came to what is now Butler county, took up several hun- dred acres of land on the line of Washington and Concord townships, and made some improvements. The following year the father and balance of the family came and settled on this land. Mr. Meals was a blacksmith, as were also his sons George and Samuel, and built the first shop in the township, which he car- ried on in connection with farming. He was quite a prominent man in his neighborhood and filled many of the township offices at different periods. Ile and all his children attained a ripe old age, and their descendants are numerous in Butler county.

GEORGE MEALS, eldest son of Samuel Meals, Sr., was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, and there grew to maturity. In 1796 he came to this part of the State and took up the large tract of land referred to in his father's sketch, upon which the family settled the following year. George afterwards went to Westmoreland county and there married Elizabeth Studebaker. About ISI1 he returned to Butler county and settled at Mechanicsburg, in Worth township, where he carried on a blacksmith shop. In 1817 he removed to Concord town- ship, and later to Washington township, where he continued to follow his trade in connection with agriculture. To George and Elizabeth Meals were born seven children, as follows : Samuel G., who was born in Westmoreland county, July 4, 1809, and died on his farm in Washington township, September 21, 1877 ; Lydia, who married John Mahood ; Mollie ; Joseph G. : Peggy, who mar-

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ried Joseph Pisor ; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Pisor, and Susanna, who mar- ried Daniel Pisor. The parents and all of the children are deceased.

JOSEPH G. MEALS, second son of George Meals, was born in Worth town- ship. Butler county, June 6, 1813. He removed with his parents into Concord township when about four years old, and later to Washington township. He married Hannah Ililliard, a daughter of Isaac Hilliard, to whom were born ten children. Five of these grew to maturity, viz. : Isaac ; Samuel P. ; Naomi J., wife of E. E. Kidder ; Thomas J., and Sheridan T. Mr. Meals was a stone- mason. and followed his trade in connection with farming until his death, May 5, 1893. His widow resides with her daughter in Warren, Ohio. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, a Republican.

JOHN SHIRA was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, of German origin, and served in the Revolutionary war. After its close he married and settled in Westmoreland county, his wife being Maria Ann Frifugle. About 1798 he removed to Butler county, accompanied by his wife and five children, and set- tled on what is now known as the Fletcher farm, in Washington township. He soon afterwards purchased a large tract of land in the southern part of the town- ship. of which, however, he was afterwords dispossessed by fraud. He then bought a tract of 300 acres near the center of the township, which is now owned by his grandsons, Alfred L. and David H. Shira. He reared a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, as follows: Daniel; Susan, who mar- ried Adam Mooney ; Polly, who married Jacob IIilliard ; John, who served in the War of 1812 ; William ; Jacob ; Peter ; Lewis ; Elizabeth, who married Robert Hanna, and David, all of whom are dead. Mr. Shira was one of the original members of the Lutheran church at North Washington, was an exemplary man and a good citizen.

DAVID SHIRA, youngest son of John and Maria Ann Shira, was born March 4, 1805, in Washington township, Butler county, and grew to manhood in that locality. He married Maria Hutchison, whose parents were among the early sett- lers of the county. They reared seven children, whose names are as follows : William M. ; Samuel ; Robert O. ; Alfred L. ; David HI. ; Eliza J., and Anna. Mr. Shira and wife were pioneer members of the United Presbyterian church, at Mt. Vernon. He died April 9, 1885, and his wife, April 7. 1890.

WILLIAM M. SHIRA, eldest son of David and Maria Shira, was born June 23, 1833, upon the old homestead, grew to maturity in his native township, and received a common school education. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California, in pursuit of the riches stored in the gold mines of that state, and followed min- ing until 1858. In that year he returned home via the Isthmus of Panama, bringing with him the accumulations of the four years spent in the mines. In the meantime he had sent sufficient money here to purchase his present farm, upon which he settled and has since resided. Mr. Shira was married on June 29, 1850, to Elizabeth M. Christy, a daughter of William Christy, of Venango county, where her father served as justice of the peace for many years. Six children have been born to this union, viz. : Margaret L., wife of George W. Meals ; Maria E., wife of James B. Young; Leonidas, who married Edith Mitchell: Alvin L .; Jennie, and Adda M. The family are adherents of the

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 166

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