History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 88

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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he filled that position, with Butler as his place of residence. The act dividing the district named him as president judge ot Lawrence county, which position he occupied until January, 1895. Judge Hazen was married in 1865, to Amelia J. Watson, a daughter of William Watson, of New Castle. Three children were the fruits of this union, as follows : Mary W., who married Porter W. Lowry, of Butler : Aaron Lyle, and Henry William, all of whom are dead. After the death of her children, the affectionate mother also laid down the burden of life, leaving the kind husband and father to mourn his irreparable loss.

HON. JOHN MORGAN GREER, president judge of the Seventeenth judicia+ district, was born in what is now Jefferson township, Butler county, Pennsyl- vania, August 3, 1844. He is a son of Thomas and Margaret Jane (Morgan) Greer, and grandson of Matthew and Isabella ( Boise) Greer, natives of Tyrone county, Ireland. He was reared on the homestead, obtained a common school education, and subsequently attended Connoquenessing Academy, at Zelienople. He afterwards taught school in Winfield township, in the winter of 1861-62, and in Jefferson township in 1863-64. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until mustered out at the expiration of his term, participating in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In March, 1864, he re-enlisted, in Battery E, Second Pennsylvania Artillery, but the regiment having more than its quota, a new regiment was organized by the war department, known as the Provisional Second Artillery, in which he served as sergeant of Battery B , in Ledlie's Division, Ninth Army Corps, until the close of the war. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Mine Explosion, where he was shot through the left thigh by a minie-ball, while in command of his company. He was taken to the hospital, remained there until March, 1865, and was present at the surrender of Lee. He was mustered out with his regiment in February, 1866. Returning home he taught school for one term in Butler, completed his law studies with Judge McCandless, and was admitted to the bar September 23, 1867. He at once commenced practice alone, and, in 1868, was elected district attorney, filling that position three years. In 1878 he formed a partnership with Judge McCan- dless, which existed five years. In 1876 he was elected, on the Republican ticket. senator of the Forty-first district, composed of Butler and Armstrong counties, was re-elected in i880. and served in the Senate of Pennsylvania for eight years. Throughout his term of service he was a member of the judiciary committee. He is the author of a bill providing for an appeal to the Supreme Court where the lower court refused to open a judgment entered on a power of attorney on a note or bond ; also of a bill which provides that no deed, regular and absolute on its face, shall be treated as a mortgage, unless the defeasance is in writing, made at the time of the deed and placed on record within sixty days; also of another bill providing that judgment by default, against one of several defendants, shall not bar a recovery against other defendants in the same suit.

In 1882. while still a member of the Senate, he was nominated on the first ballot for secretary of internal affairs, and though the whole ticket was defeated that year, he led it by a respectable majority. In 1881 he was one of the two

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judicial candidates nominated by the Republican party in the Seventeenth dis- trict, composed of Butler and Lawrence counties, but the people of Lawrence cotinty gave their support to Judges Hazen and Me Michael, both citizens of that county, and he was defeated by less than 200 votes. In 1887 he formed a part- nership with Everett L. Ralston, which existed until his elevation to the bench. The same year he was appointed by Governor Beaver inspector and examiner of Soldiers' Orphan School-, and after serving in that capacity four years he re- signed. On the death of Judge McMichael, in 1892, he was the choice of Butler county for the vacancy, was nominated on the Republican ticket and elected. In 1893 the legislature of Pennsylvania passed a law dividing the Seventeenth district into two separate districts, with Lawrence county as a new district, and Judge Greer became president judge of the Seventeenth, embracing Butler county alone. Ile has always been a Republican, and is one of the strongest and most popular members of his party in western Pennsylvania. During his official career he has won many warm friends by his kind and courteous bearing and evident desire to be just and fair. He has made a good judge, being firm and unyielding in the cause of justice, yet ever ready to listen to the plea of mercy. Judge Greer was married on March 24, 1861, to Julia S. But- ler, a daughter of John B. and Harriet N. ( Stebbins) Butler. She is a native of Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of four children, as follows : Hattie, who died in 1876, aged nine years; Thomas II., who is connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Pittsburg; John B., an attorney of But- Ier, and Robert B. The Judge is a member of A. G. Reed Post, Number 105, G. A. R., and the family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church. He was one of the citizens of Butler county who were instrumental in establishing Slippery Rock State Normal School, and he has been one of the State trustees of that institution since the beginning.

COL. JOHN M. THOMPSON was born on the old homestead in Brady township, Butler county, January 4, 1830, and is the eldest son of William H. and Jane ( McCandless) Thompson. ITis primary education was obtained in the common schools, but he afterwards attended Witherspoon Institute, where he com- pleted hisstudies. He taught in the public schools for a short period, commenced reading law in 1852 with Samuel A. Purviance, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He entered into a law partnership with Purviance & Sullivan, and upon Mr. Purviance's election to Congress, he took charge of his entire practice. Since that time Colonel Thompson has built up a lucrative business in his profes- sion, and is one of the oldest and most successful members of the Butler county bar. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and was elected to the legislature in [$58, and in the session of 1559-60 he was speaker pro tem. In 1862 he was elected major of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in the battles of Antietam, South Mountain and Fredericksburg. He was wounded in the last mentioned battle, and then retired from the service and returned to Butler. Ile is a member of the Loyal Legion and the G. A. R. In 1868 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that nominated General Grant for the presidency, and was one of the electors of Penn- sylvania in 1872, and carried the State returns to Washington. In January,

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1875, he was elected to Congress to serve out the unexpired term of Hon. E. Mc Junkin, who had resigned his seat as the member from this district, after being elected judge. In 1876 Colonel Thompson was elected for a full term of two years. Ile was one of the promoters of the Shenango and Allegheny rail- road, filled many of the offices in that company, is the attorney of the road at the present time, and has been the local attorney for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany for twenty-two years. Colonel Thompson was married October 10, 1854, to Anna L., daughter of William Campbell, to which union have been born three children : O. D., attorney at law, Pittsburg ; William C., an attorney of Butler, and Anna Elora, wife of Charles Mitchell, of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

THOMAS ROBINSON one of the oldest members of the Butler bar, was born July 4, 1825, in Armagh county, Ireland. His parents, Thomas and Arabella (Riley) Robinson, were natives of the same county. The family immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1832, and settled on a farm east of Pittsburg. removing three years later to what is now Penn township, Butler county. Here his father pur- chased a farm. upon which the parents spent the remaining years of their lives. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the homestead, and his early educa- tional advantages were such as the pioneer schools of his neighborhood afforded. Being ambitious to obtain a better education, he entered the old Butler Academy in 1851, where he prosecuted his studies for a period. and later taught school for two years. In 1854 he was appointed clerk in the county commissioners office, and was one of the active spirits who agitated and brought about the re-or- ganization of township lines the same year. About this time he commenced reading law under George W. Smith, was admitted to the bar September 25, 1855, and soon built up a fair practice, which has grown with the passing years. He has always looked after the interests of his clients with zeal and fidelity, and his pleadings in the several courts of the county and State have met with more than ordinary success.

Before his admission to the bar he had entered politics, and was a delegate from Butler county to the first Republican convention, which met in Masonic Hall, at Pittsburg. February 22. 1855. In 1860 he was elected to the legislature. and some years later, served as a clerk in the House. During the war he was one of the earnest supporters of the Union. and did all in his power to uphold the flag in those dark days of civil strife. In 1863-64 he was chairman of the Repub- lican county committee : in 1876 was the choice of the county for State senator, and in 1880 was a Blaine delegate to the Republican National Convention, at Chicago, which, however, nominated Garfield for the presidency. Ife is now superintendent of public printing at Harrisburg. Mr. Robinson has been in active political life forty years, and has been recognized as one of the local Republican leaders during that period. Throughout his life he has been an unswerving advo- cate of the principles of his party, and one of the most stubborn and successful fighters within its ranks. His connection with the newspapers of Butler is fully spoken of in the Press chapter. During his journalistic career his literary abil- ity was apparent in the editorial columns of his paper. which bristled with the keenest and most vigorous invective against political opponents and their measures.

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Mr. Robinson has always taken a deep interest in the public schools of But- fer, and has served on the school board three years. Ile has also been connected with the prosperity of the Slippery Rock State Normal School, and is now serv- ing his second term as a trustee of that institution. The temperance cause, too, has in him one of its stanchest supporters, and much of its success in Butler county is due to his wise foresight and legal advice. He married Ann E., daughter of Dr. Eli G. De Wolf, to which union thirteen children were born, nine of whom are living, viz. : Eli D. ; Sallie A. ; Clara B. : Adelaide K. ; Arabella ; Lexie ; Charles C. ; George E , and Thomas. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.

HON. J DAVID AIcJUNKIN, attorney at law, was born upon the old home- stead in Centre township, Butler county, September 3, 1 39, and is the eldest son of William and Priscilla MeJunkin. His primary education was obtained in the common schools. He subsequently spent four years at the Butler Academy, the Witherspoon Institute and West Sunbury Academy, and taught school for several years. He read law with Judge Me Junkin, and was admitted to the bar June 8, 1863. In 1864 he went to Franklin, Venango county, where he prac- ticed his profession until 1873. During his residence in Franklin he was elected to the legislature, in 1869, and was re-elected in 1870 and 1871. Returning to Butler in 1873 he resumed the practice of the law. In IS79 he was connected with the Bald Ridge Oil Company, whose operations were the means of attract- ing the attention of oil men to the further developement of the Butler field. Politically, he is a Republican, and in 1850 and 1882. he carried Butler county for the congressional nomination. In 1862 he served in Company G, Four- teenth Pennsylvania Militia, which was called out to assist in repelling Lee's invasion of the State. Mr. Me Junkin married Margaret A. Campbell, a daugh- ter of the late Jame- Campbell, to whom have been born the following children : Clara Bell ; William David ; Mary Christie, wife of Lewis R. Schmertz : Charles Campbell ; John Welles, and Margaret Kathleen, who died in January, 1888. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has always contributed liberally towards that organization.

W. H. II. RIDDLE, attorney at law, was born in Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, December 11, 1840, and is a son of Samuel L. and Mary A. (Schroder) Riddle, natives of Pennsylvania. His father came to Butler county in 1854, and settled in Fairview township, where he was engaged in farming for twenty- five years. He then returned to Allegheny county, where he resided until his recent death. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, and at West Sunbury and Harrisville Academies, read law with Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in 1864. In 1865 he was elected district attorney, and since the expiration of his term in that office, he has continued in the active duties of his profession. Mr. Riddle was married February 18, 1862, to Angeline, daughter of Robert Walker, one of the early settlers in the northern part of Butler county. Three children are the fruits of this union: Edwin S., attorney at law and court stenographer; Matilda, and Lillian. Politically, Mr. Riddle is a stanch Republican, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1884. He is one of the founders

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of the Butler County Agricultural Association, also of the Farmers' Institute, and for the past seven years has been a member of the State Agricultural Society. He has always taken a deep interest in the growth and progress of agriculture, and has devoted much time to the encouragement of agricultural pursuits.

CAPT. GEORGE W. FLEEGER, attorney at law, is the third son of Peter and Mary (Rider) Fleeger, and was born March 13, 1839. in Centre town- ship, Butler county, Pennsylvania. He received a good education in the pub- lic schools, commenced teaching at the age of sixteen, and afterwards attended West Sunbury AAcademy. On the 10th of June, 1861, he enlisted in the Dickson Guards, an organization composed of the students of the Academy and young men of the same neighborhood. This company was finally mustered into the serv- ice as Company C, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve. Captain Fleeger participated in the following engagements : Great Falls, Drainsville, Mechanicsville, Gaines Hill, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Bristoe Station, Rappahannock Station, New Hope Church, Mine Run, and the Wilderness. He was captured at Gaines Hill and sent to Belle Isle prison, at Richmond, but after a month's imprisonment he was exchanged. He was also captured at the battle of the Wilderness, and imprisoned ten months at the following places : Macon, Savan- nah, Charleston and Columbia, and was exchanged at Wilmington, North Caro- lina, in March. 1865. In June, 1862, he was commissioned first lieutenant, and afterwards breveted captain. Returning home after the war, he commenced read- ing law in the office of Col. John M. Thompson, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He was associated in practice with George 1. Black until 1869, and from 1887 to 1889 was in partnership with James N. Moore. Since the latter year he has continued in practice alone. Politically, Captain Fleeger has always been a Republican, served in the legislature in 1871-72, was chairman of the county committee in 1874, has been a member of the State committee, and was a delegate to the State conventions of 1852 and 1890. He was also deputy revenue collec- tor of this district in 1869. In 1884 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and served in the Forty-ninth Congress. Captain Fleeger is a charter member of A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R., and a member of Connoque- nessing Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was one of the original stockholders of the Butler County National Bank, and was a director of the Bald Ridge Oil Company during its existence.

WASHINGTON D. BRANDON, attorney at law, is a son of John W. and Ruth A. (Beighley) Brandon, and was born November 1, 1847, upon the Brandon homestead, in Connoquenessing township. Butler county. After receiving a common school education, he attended Witherspoon Institute at Butler, and was graduated at Washington and Jefferson College in 1865. The following year he commenced reading law with Hon. E. McJunkin, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He continued to practice with Judge Mc Junkin for three years, was next in partnership with Clarence Walker, but since 1875 he has practiced alone and has built up a large and most gratifying legal business. Mr. Brandon is recognized as one of the leading members of the Butler county bar, as well as one of its most successful lawyers. In politics, he has always been a Republican, and was a delegate to the State convention in 1887. He is a director and attor-

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ney of the Butler Savings Bank ; is a director of the Butler Light, Ileat and Motor Company ; is president of the Butler Water Company, and attorney for the United Pipe Line and National Transit Companies. He was one of the promoters of the Bald Ridge Oil Company, and is yet interested in the development of the Butler oil fields. He is one of the most useful members of the Presbyterian church of Butler, is a ruling elder in that body, and is superintendent of the Sabbath school. In all matters pertaining to the prosperity of the church he gives his time willingly, and few members of the congregation have taken a deeper inter- est in its material progress. Mr. Brandon was married in 1875, to Clara B., daughter of James Campbell, for many years one of the well known citizens of Butler. Five children have blessed this union, as follows : Margaret : Elora ; John W. ; James C., and Howard Allan.

WILLIAM MCQUISTION, second son of John and Barbara McQuistion, was born in the old stone house on the homestead in Butler township, Butler county, in the year 1801. He learned the tanner's trade with his father, and subsequently established himself in that business in the borough, and carried on the same until within a few years of his death, which occurred March 28, 1872, at the age of seventy-one years. He married Mary A. Smith, a daughter of Major Smith, a native of Belfast, Ireland, who settled near Wheeling, West Virginia. Six children were born to this union, as follows ; Marshall, a resident of West Vir- ginia ; Wallace; Creasap, of Pittsburg ; Sarah E., widow of Dr. Sloan ; Living- ston, and Nannie J., wife of L. Beaumont, of New York. Mrs. M. Qui-tion died December 1, 1893, aged eighty-seven years.

LIVINGSTON MeQUISTION, fourth son of William and Mary Quistion, was born in the borough of Butler, May 16, 1849, and was educated at the public schools and at Witherspoon Institute. He read law in the office of L. Z. Mitchell, was admitted to the bar June 10, 1870, and for the past twenty-five years he has been engaged in the active practice of his profession. He is recognized as one of the leading members of the Butler bar, and has built up a large and lucra- tive legal business. In 1874 he was elected district attorney, and filled the office in an able and satisfactory manner. Mr. MeQuistion is one of the prominent Democrats of western Pennsylvania, and wields a wide influence in the councils of his party. He has been twice the choice of his party in Butler county for Congress, and once for president judge. In 1880 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, which nominated General Hancock for the presidency. In January, 1874, Mr. MeQuistion married Miss Sue Beam, a daughter of George Beam, of Harmony, one of the old substantial families of Butler county, and has one son. Crissie L. He is a member of the United Pres- byterian church of Butler, to which denomination his father and grandfather belonged. lle is connected with Butler Lodge, F. & A. M., is a member of the Chapter and Commandery, and is also a member of the K. of P., and the B. P. O. E. Mr. MeQuistion has always taken a leading interest in local affairs, and given his earnest support towards building up and developing his native town.

JOSEPH C. VANDERLIN, attorney at law, is the seventh son of Stephen and Eliza (Seaton) Vanderlin, grandson of John Vanderlin and great-grandson of Nicholas Vanderlin, who were among the first settlers of Venango township,

A.S. Bouiser

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Butler county, Pennsylvania. He was born April 16, 1837, upon the old Vanderlin homestead in Venango township, and was educated in the common schools, at Clintonville Academy and Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburg. He taught in the latter institution for some time, then returned to the home- stead farm, taught school for a while, and in 1870 commenced reading law with L. Z. Mitchell, of Butler, He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and, in partnership with Livingston McQuistion, has continued in active practice up to the present. In 1868 Mr. Vanderlin married Margaret J., daughter of John Kelly, of Venango township, Butler county, and has the following children : Horatio S., Samuel L., Gertie, Dessie, John, William, deceased, and Victor Paul. Politically, he is an ardent Democrat, is one of the well- known members of the Butler county bar, and in 1894 was the Democratic nominee for Congress in the Twenty-fifth congressional district.

NEWTON BLACK, son of James and Nancy A. (Russell) Black, was born November 2, 1844, near Black's mill, Marion township, Butler county, Pennsyl- vania. He received a common school education, and afterwards spent one term at Harrisville Academy. Ile subsequently taught in the schools of Marion town- ship, Butler county, and Clinton township, Venango county, from 1862 until 1864. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and continued in the service up to May, 1865. Ile participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and was wounded in the left index finger in the last named battle, June 17, 1864. He returned to his regiment August 2 follow - ing, and served in the battles of Weldon Railroad and Ream's Station ; was sub- sequently transferred from the Ninth to the Eighteenth Army Corps, and wa- in the engagement at Fort Harrison, September 29, 1864, where he was severely wounded in the head, and was confined in the hospital until the close of the war. Returning to Franklin, Pennsylvania, he spent eighteen months in the oil field- of Warren county, and then engaged in clerking. In 1867 he went to Illinois, taught school one year, and was afterwards employed as a traveling salesman for a wholesale notion house of Quincy, Illinois. In 1871 he returned to Pennsyl- vania and followed oil producing until 1871, when he commenced reading law with the late Judge Charles McCandless and John M. Greer. He was admitted to the bar in 1876, and has since won his way to a leading rank in his profession and built up a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Black is prominent in the coun- cils of the Republican party, has been chairman and secretary of the county com- mittee, and twice his party's choice in this county for Congress. He is a mem- ber of A. G. Reed Post, Number 105, G. A. R .; also of Butler Lodge, Number 272, F. & A. M. ; Butler Chapter, Number 273, and Allegheny Commandery, Number 35, of Allegheny. Mr. Black is one of the most popular members of the bar, and has hosts of friends in every section of his native county.

S. F. BOWSER, attorney at law, was born February 11, 1842, near Kittan - ning, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, son of Matthias and Margaret ( Williams ) Bowser. His father was a native of Armstrong county, of English and German extraction, and his mother a native of the same county, of Welsh and German descent. Our subject was reared upon a farm, and his early education was

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obtained in an old log country school house in his native place. Ilis preparatory education was received at Columbia University, Kittanning, from which he graduated in 1869. He subsequently attended Washington and Jefferson college, and was graduated from that institution with high honors in 1872. To get a college course he was compelled to earn the means for that purpose, and taught for a number of years in the graded schools of Armstrong and Clarion counties. While a student at Washington and Jefferson College he filled the Latin chair for a short period and prepared a number of the Seniors in Greek for graduation. After he graduated he was principal one year of the graded schools of East Brady. In 1872 be commenced to read law with Thompson & Scott, of Butler. and was admitted to the Butler county bar in 1871. Mr. Bowser at once com- meneed practice, in which he has since been actively engaged. and now ranks as one of the leading members of his profession in Butler county. In politics. he is a Republican, and while he has been active in the interests of his party. he has never filled any public office except that of director of the public schools of Butler. He has always been deeply interested in the prosperity of the schools and devotes a great deal of time to educational matters. Besides his legal duties, he is engaged in the production of oil with his brother, A. L. Bowser. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is connected with the I. O. O. F., the Encampment and the K. O. T. M. Mr. Bowser was married June 27, 1876, to Mary C., daughter of Col. Samuel Young, a resident of Clarion county. but later the well known editor of the Connoquenessing Valley News, of Zelienople Two children have blessed this union : Mary E., and George F.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 88

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