USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 90
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ELMER E. YOUNG was born in Summit township, Butler county, AApril 9. 1864, son of Simon P. and Eliza Young. He was educated in the common schools and at Witherspoon Institute, graduated from the latter institution in 1885, and then entered Washington and Jefferson College, where he spent two years. In 1887 he began the study of law in the office of the late Judge Mc- Candless, was admitted to the bar in June, 1890, and has since been engaged in active practice. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presby - terian church. Mr. Young was married June 28, 1894, to Miss Bella A. Moore, daughter of Mrs. Mary M. Moore, of Butler, Pennsylvania. 46
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
JOHN D. MARSHALL, eldest son of James M. and Ruth A. (Riddle) Mar- shall, was born June 20, 1860, at Prospect, Butler county. He received a good education, and taught in the public schools of the county for several years. Ile later read law with W. D. Brandon, of Butler, and was admitted to the bar in 1882. since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Marshall was married on December 25, 1880, to Margaret Leise, and has two daughters, Anna M. and Margaret. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Butler.
WILLIAM C. FINDLEY, attorney at law, was born in Clay township, Butler county, March 23, 1854. and is the eldest child of Samuel and Sarah Findley. He was educated in the common schools and at West Sunbury Academy and Grove City College, taught school for eight terms, and read law with George A. and A. T. Black of Butler. Ile was admitted to the bar June 3, 1878, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession at Butler. He has taken an active interest in politics, was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1888. and a delegate to the State Convention in 1889. The Findley family are Pres- byterians, and have always been liberal supporters of religious, benevolent and educational institutions.
DR. TENSARD ROBINSON DEWOLF was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1824. eldest son of Dr. Henry C. De Wolf, a native of Hartford, Con- necticut, and a pioneer physician of Butler. Ile obtained his primary education in the public schools, and at the Butler Academy, the latter institution being partly supported by the State. In ISI1 he became a student at Canonsburg College, and graduated from that institution in the fall of 1844. He then entered his father's office as a student of medicine. subsequently attended lectures at the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, during the winters of 1848-49 and 1850, graduating towards the close of the latter year's course. He then entered into partnership with his father in the practice of medicine, which continued until his father's death, July 24, 1854. He still prosecuted the duties of his profession until a short time before his death, which occurred August 24, 1859. from abscess of the lungs, leaving a widow and one son, Henry. Dr. De Wolf was married in June, 1852, to Maty A. McElvaine, a daughter of Rob- ert MeElvaine, one of the early settlers of Butler county. Her father was a man of some literary attainments, and belonged to a family well known in this part of the State. Mrs. De Wolf survived her husband many years. She and husband were members of the Presbyterian church. and lived and died in that faith.
HENRY DEWOLF, only son of Dr. Tensard Robinson De Wolf, was born in the borough of Butler, June 17, 1853, and was educated in the public schools and at Witherspoon Institute. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Butler Eagle, spending three years in that business. In November, 1872, he took a position on the Pennsylvania railroad as fireman, and in 1876 as brake- man. was promoted to the position of baggage master, and in 1886 to that of con- ductor. which he has filled up to the present In February, 1875, he married Sarab E. Cuthbert, of Butler, who bore him two children. Tensard and Eleanor. Mrs. De Wolf died in January, 1890, and in January. 1891, he was married to Anna B. Cupps, of Butler, to which union has been born one child. Henry
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Edwin. Mr. DeWolf is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he is a stanch Republican.
ABRAHAM M. NEYMAN, Second son of John and Mary Neyman, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1791, and came with his parents to Butler county during the War of ISI2. He remained with his father on the farm in Centre township for a time, but subsequently engaged in keeping tavern on the site of the Arlington Hotel, in Butler. He married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas McCleary, of Centre township, in October, 1823, and had two children : Thomas, and A. M. He and his son Thomas were killed. April 12. 1827, while visiting his parents in Centre township, by a falling tree that was blown down during a storm. Like his father he was an ardent Whig, and in religion, an adherent of the Presbyterian church.
DR. A. M. NEYMAN, only living child of Abraham M. and Eleanor Neyman, was born in the borough of Butler, February 6, 1826, and was a little more than one year old when his father was killed. He grew to manhood in Butler, and was educated at the old Butler Academy. At the age of sixteen he commenced teaching and taught in Cranberry, Centre and Butler townships, and later taught the English branches, under Dr. White, in the Butler Academy. In 1845 he went to Zanesville, Ohio, and commenced reading medicine with Dr. Washington Morehead, also clerked in his drug store for two years. In 1850 he entered the office of Dr. N. J. Randolph, of Butler, and attended lectures at the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, in the winter of 1850-51. In the latter year he commenced practice in partnership with Dr. Randolph, and for the past forty-four years he has continued in the active duties of his profer- sion. In the spring of 1853 he graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College, and then resumed practice alone. Being without means, James Camp- bell assisted him to buy a horse and sufficient drugs to use in his practice, while Samuel G. Purvis erected his office, and to these two men he feels indebted for his start in life. There is perhaps no member of the medical profession in Butler county with a wider reputation than Dr. Neyman, as his many years of practice have made him known in nearly every household. He has built up through the passing years a large and lucrative business. and is still one of the busiest men in the profession. In politics, he has been a Republican since the war, prior to which he was a Democrat. He has been a member of the United Presbyterian church since its organization, and a trustee for many years. Dr. Neyman mar- ried Emmeline, a daughter of Gen. John N. and Eliza J. (Potts) Purviance, She died December 31, 1887, leaving a family of five children, as follows : Eleanor, wife of Charles S. Haines, of Boston, Massachusetts; Eliza J .: George P. ; AAbraham M., and Alonzo H. The Doctor has been living on the site of his present home over sixty-six years, the lot and original residence having been pur- chased by his mother in January, 1829.
SAMUEL GRAHAM, physician and surgeon, was born January 31, 1836, in Butler, Pennsylvania, son of John B. and Sarah (Gilkey) Graham, and grandson of Robert Graham, one of the first settlers of the borough. He received his early education in the public schools of his native town, and subsequently attended Witherspoon Institute. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. L. R.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
MeCurdy, and at the age of twenty-three he entered the National Medical Col- lege at Washington, D. C., where he remained two years. In 1861 he answered the call of his country and enlisted in Company HI, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served three months. He then entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege from which he graduated in March, 1862. He again entered the service of the United States as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. with which he remained until [563. In 186 Fhe joined the United States Medical Staff of Emory Hospital. Washington, D. C., and was subsequently appointed surgeon of the Eighty first Pennsylvania Volunteers. with which regiment he remained until the close of the war. Returning to But- ler, he resumed the duties of his profession, and since that time has enjoyed a lucrative practice Dr. Graham is a member of the county and state medical societies. and has been a member of the United States pension board of this district for ten years, and is now its president. He has been connected with the school board of Butler for fifteen years and ranks as the senior member of that body. In politics, he was a Republican up to ISSI, but since that time he has affiliated with the Democratic party and is one of its never failing workers. He is a member of the A. G. Reed Post. Number 102, G. A. R., and also of the I. O. O. F .. K. of P .. and the A. O. C. W. Dr. Graham was married in 1867, to Eleanor, daughter of Robert and Eleanor Cunningham, and has two daughters, Mary and Eleanor. He and family are members of the Presbyterian church. Among his professional brethren. Dr. Graham takes a high rank, and, as a citi- zen, he commands the respect of the community in which his life has been spent.
DR. N. M. HOOVER was born in North Buffalo township. Armstrong county. March 4. 1886. son of David L. and Mary Hoover. He was educated in the common schools and at Freeport AAcademy, and taught in the public schools of the county for some year -. He began reading medicine under Dr. Thomas Magill, of Freeport, and attended lectures at the Western Reserve Medical Col- lege. Cleveland. Ohio, in the winter of 1860-61. Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion. he enlisted in the Sixty-first Ohio Volunteers, and was detailed in charge of the medical supplies of the Third Brigade, Third Division. Eleventh Army Corps, and served in that capacity for two years and a half. Returning home he resumed his medical studies, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, and graduated from that institution in March. 1565. He was then commissioned by Governor Curtin assistant surgeon of the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers,, and served until the close of the war. In the fall of 1-65 he located at North Washington. Butler county, where for more than twenty-two years he enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, and became one of the best known physicians in the county. In 1879 he took a post graduate course at Jefferson College, and has always kept well abreast of the improve- ments and discoveries in medical science. In ISSS Dr. Hoover removed to But- ler, where he has since continued in the active duties of his profession. On April 21, 1>66, he married Mr -. Susan Bates, nee Buffington, who died in 1881. He was again married. in 15$3. to Sarah Halderman, of North Washington. Dr. Hoover is an ardent Republican, is a member of the Masonic order, and the I. O. O. F., and is one of the charter members of the U. V. L., of Butler. He is a
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member of the State and county medical societies, and has filled all the offices in the latter. Outside of his profession he has devoted considerable attention to oil producing, and put down the first well on the McClelland farm, in Concord township, which came in at 550 barrels per day. He has been quite successful as an operator, and is the owner of considerable valuable oil property. Dr. Hoover is a director in the Butler County National Bank, and is recognized as one of the leading and progressive citizens of the community.
SYLVESTER D. BELL, physician and surgeon, was born in Perry township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1847, son of Samuel S. and Margaret (McClymonds) Bell, and grandson of Samuel Bell, a native of Westmoreland county, and an early settler of Washington township, Butler county. He was reared in this county, obtained a common school education, and afterwards attended West Sunbury Academy and Witherspoon Institute. Ile commenced reading medicine under Dr. T. M. McMillan, of Fairview township, and attended lectures at the medical department of the Western Reserve College, Cleveland. Ohio, in 1870-71 and 1878-74, graduating in March, 1874. Dr. Bell commenced practice at Millerstown, Butler county, where he continued in the active duties of his profession until May, 1890, when he removed to Butler, and has since built up a very large and lucrative practice. He is one of the surgeons for the Pitts- burg and Western Railroad Company, and his practice equals that of any other physician in his native county. He has been president of the Butler County Medical Society for one year, and has filled the office of secretary and treasurer of the same for three terms. He is a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association, and was vice-president of the former in 1891-92, and is also a member of the National Association of Railway Surgeon -. Dr. Bell was married December 21, 1871, to Mary E., a daughter of William Alexander, an early settler of Fairview township. Seven children are the fruits of this union, viz. : Harry A., Lana A., Charles E., Bessie. Gertrude. Margaret Helen and Sylvester D. He and family are connected with Grace Lutheran church. The Doctor is an active Republican, has served as chairman of the county committee, was elected to the legislature in Isst. and was one of the presidential electors in 1892.
JOHN E. BYERS, physician and surgeon, was born in Summit township. Butler county, June 15, 1848, was educated in the common schools, at Wither- spoon Institute and at Iron City College. He read medicine with Dr. A. M. Neyman, attended lectures at the Medical University, New York, and graduated in 1878. He commenced practice in Butler, and has since continued in the active duties of his profession, having built up a large and successful practice. He has been surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Butler for fifteen years. and is one of the well-known physicians of the county. He is a member of the Butler County Medical Society, also of the State Medical Society, and of the National Association of Railway Surgeons, and takes a decided interest in the growth and development of his profession. Dr. Byers was married, October 10. 1878, to Mary Katharine Stephenson, a daughter of James Stephenson, of Sum- mit township. They are members of the Presbyterian church of Butler, in which the Doctor fills the office of trustee. In politics, he is a Republican, and
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
has served in the borough council. He is a member of the K. of P. and the W. of W., and is a charter member and a director of the Citizens Natural Gas Company.
SAMUEL M. Birres, physician and surgeon, was born in Oakland township, Butler county, October 19, 1861, son of Capt. John G. and Rachel (Myers) Bippus, natives of Wurtemburg, Germany. He attended the common schools of his native township, and Sunbury Academy, and graduated at Waynesburg Col- lege in 1879. He studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Graham of Butler, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, and graduated from that institution in 1884. He at once commenced practice, but owing to a severe illness, gave up the duties of his profession until 1886, when he located in Butler, where he has since built up a lucrative business, and is recognized as one of the leading young physicians of the county. Dr. Bippus is a member of Butler County Medical Society, also of the State Medical Society. He is connected with Butler Council, Number 242, Jr. O. U. A. M., and in politics, he is a Republican. He married Nannie, daughter of John Mitchell of Butler, and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
LYSANDER BLACK, physician and surgeon, was born in Marion township, Butler county, May 16, 1854, son of Jamesand Nancy ( Russell ) Black, and grand- son of John Black, one of the first settlers of Marion township. Ile was reared on the homestead farm and attended the district school of his neighborhood until 1865, when his parents removed to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he completed his studies in the schools of that place. At the age of seventeen he engaged in the oil business, and subsequently operated in the oil and gas fields of Venango, McKean and Butler counties. In 1883 he was engaged in drilling gas wells in Allegheny, Westmoreland and Washington counties. He commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Walter and Benninghoff of Bradford, Pennsylvania, in 1881-82, but later engaged in the natural gas enterprise. In 1886 he entered the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1890. He at once located in Butler, and has since continued in the active duties of his profession. Dr. Black was married January 1, 1874, to Lizzie Emery, a daughter of Robert Emery of this county. She died June 5, 1885, leaving three children : Jessie M., Lois and AAlfred E. Ile is a member of the Masonic order, being connected with the Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and is also a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E. of Butler. Since beginning practice Dr. Black has built up a large professional business, and is one of the busiest as well as most popular physicians in the borough.
JOSEPH FORRESTER, physician and surgeon, was born in Peterboro, Prov- ince of Ontario, Canada, July 1. 1860, a son of Thomas and Catharine A. (Horton) Forrester, natives of England. In 1865 his parents settled in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and received a common school education. He subsequently attended Edinboro State Normal School, from which he graduated in 1881. He then taught for one year as principal of West Springfield Academy, in Erie county, and two years as principal of the public schools of Mt. Alton, MeKean county, and was afterwards general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. in Johnstown and Butler for two years. Ile commenced the study of medicine with
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Dr. John E. Byers, of Butler, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1891. Dr. Forrester at once located in Butler, practicing with Dr. Byers the first year, and has since built up a gratifying practice. He is sec- retary of the Butler County Medical Society, and a member of the State Medical Society, and is one of the well known young physician- of the borough. Dr. Forrester is a member of the Presbyterian church, and takes an active part in church work. IJe is also connected with the K. of P., and the K. O. T. M., of which he is tent physician. Politically, he is a Republican.
DR. MCCURDY BRICKER, son of John Bricker, was born on the home- stead in Buffalo township, Butler county, April 2, 1868. After receiving a common school education, he attended the academies at Slate Lick, Tarentum, and Freeport, and then taught school for six years. In the meantime he con- .cluded to enter the medical profession, and commenced his studies in the Medical Department of the Western University of Pennsylvania, and completed them at the Medical College of Indianapolis, where he graduated on March 26, 1894. 1Te soon afterwards became associated with Dr. N. M. Hoover, of Butler, and has continued in practice in this borough down to the present. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church ; is connected with the Jr. O. U. A. M., and in politics, is an adherent of the Republican party.
STEPHEN A. JOHNSTON, D. D. S., third son of Jesse and Sarah J. (Allen) Johnston, was born September 6, 1846, in Portersville, Pennsylvania. He received his primary education in the common schools, subsequently attended Witherspoon Institute, and graduated from Iron City College, Pittsburg, in 1868. He studied dentistry with Levere & Moore, of Butler, and in 1873 located in Downington, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he practiced his profession for over seven years. In 1881 he graduated from the College of Dental Surgery, Philadelphia, and in 1882 he located in Butler, where he has since built up a lucrative practice. Dr. Johnston was married in 1870, to Ocilla, a daughter of William Stoops, of Butler township, to which union nine children have been born : Frank A. ; Sarah E. ; Minnie O. ; Charles W. : Flora M. ; Wesley R .; Marion ; James C., and Irene C. Dr. Johnston has given considerable atten- tion to oil producing, in which he has been quite successful, and is president of the Producers Torpedo Company. Politically, he is an independent voter. and is recognized as one of the leading professional men in the community.
VOLNEY MCALPINE, dentist, was born in Crowland, Welland county, Ontario, Canada, May 27, 1830, son of Christopher and Sarah ( loux ) MeAlpine. the former a native of New York and the latter of Maryland. After receiving a good English education, he commenced the study of dentistry under Dr. Brown. of Niagara Falls, and later studied under Dr. Whitney, of Buffalo, and others. He commenced practice at Welland, Ontario, subsequently removed to London, Ontario, whence he returned to Welland, in 1861. In 1865 he located at Petroleum Centre, Venango county, Pennsylvania, removed to Rouseville, in 1871, to Petrolia, in 1874, and to Duke Centre, MeKean county, in 1880. The same year he settled at Cleveland, Ohio, where he practiced his profession until ISSS, and then went to Sitka, Alaska. He remained there in practice until the end of 1888, returned again at the end of 18 9, and remained until October, 1890,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
and then came direct to Butler, where he has since built up a lucrative business. For some years Dr. McAlpine was a member of the Erie Dental Association. He was married in 1853, to Lavina, daughter of William Chapman, of Pelham, Canada, and they are the parents of the following children : Archie, a dentist of Bradford; William, a physician of New York City ; Amos C., a dentist of War- ren ; Kenneth ; Victor II., and Jasmine, a physician of Wilkinsburg. He is an attendant of the Presbyterian church of Butler, and is connected with the K. of H., and the Royal Templars. In early life he was a Republican, but is at present an ardent supporter of the Prohibition party.
WILLIAM PURVIS, a native of Ireland, immigrated to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Westmoreland county, about 1812, and settled on a farm. Owing to financial losses, he sold his farm about 1821 and came to Middlesex township, Butler county, where he purchased 120 acres of land, upon which he spent the remaining years of his life. He married Isabel Dick- son, who died in January, 1860. Mr. Purvis died on December 25, 1550. Their children are as follows : Nancy, who married Andrew Fulton ; Isabel. who mar- ried Henry Sefton ; Oliver : Samnel G. ; Mary Ann, who married Robert White; Sarah ; William ; Robert ; Agnes, who married John Dodds, and Levi, all of whom are dead. Mr. Purvis and wife were members of the Covenanter church, and were buried in Glade Run United Presbyterian cemetery.
SAMUEL G. PURVIS was born May 28, 1808, in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, eldest son of William and Isabel Purvis. He resided on the farm with his parents until the age of twenty-three, and then went to Pittsburg to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1532 he came to Butler, where he continued to work at his trade for two years, a part of the time in the construction of the Presbyterian church. About 1534 he commenced contracting and building, and continued the same until 1867. in which year the firm of S. G. Purvis & Company was formed, his son. Joseph L., becoming a partner. In 1569 they embarked in the planing mill and lumber business, which they carried on in connection with contracting and building. They abandoned the latter line of trade in 1875, but continued the lumber and planing mill business, which has grown from small beginnings into one of the leading manufacturing institutions of Butler county. In 1876 Levi O, was taken into the business, which is still carried on, under the old firm name, by Joseph L. and Levi O. Purvis. Mr. Purvis was a stanch Democrat, served upon the school board, and filled the office of justice of the peace for six- teen years. Ile was a lifelong member of the United Presbyterian church of Butler, and an elder and trustee in that organization for many years. He was prominent in public matters and always took a commendable interest in the growth and progress of his adopted home. He was at one time the owner of the Democratic Herald, and one of the original stockholders in the Butler and Alle- gheny Plank Road Company. He was one of the projectors and first president of the Butler Water Company, and was also president of the Butler Mutual In- surance Company from its organization until his death. Mr. Purvis married Elizabeth Logan, a daughter of Joseph Logan, of Middlesex township, and their children are as follows : Joseph L. ; Isabel ; Samuel D; William I., deceased ;
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