History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 95

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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WILLIAM RICHEY was a son of Nathaniel Richey, a native of Wales, who settled in Armstrong county, where William was born in 1811. Ile grew to manhood in that county, and in 1830 came to Butler and was engaged in teaming between Butler and Pittsburg until 1869. He also conducted a store and bakery in the borough for many years. In early life he was a Whig, subse- quently a Republican, and later a Democrat, and filled the office of constable in the borough. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, but in later years he united with the Presbyterian church, and afterwards became a member of the l'rotes- tant Episcopal church, in which faith he died. Mr. Richey married Amy Brinker, August 4, 1840, to whom were born five children : Abraham B. : Louisa, wife of Joseph Henry : John A. ; Mary, wife of Edward Fleming, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Richey died in 1854, and he married for his second wife Mrs. Simon Mechling, nee Ziegler, and had two children : Charley, and Julia. Mr. Richey always manifested a deep interest in public matters up to his death, which occurred August 15, 1892.

JOHN A. RICHEY, second son of William and Amy ( Brinker) Richey,

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was born in the borough of Butler, June 13, 1848, received a public school education, and subsequently learned the baker's trade in Pittsburg. In 1869 he established a bakery at Butler, in partnership with his father, but in 1870 he removed to Greece City, Butler county, and remained there three years. In 1873 he was appointed county detective, which position he filled for five years, and in 1879 engaged in the hotel business at Karns City. Three years later he opened a hotel at Renfrew, which he carried on for five years, and then returned to Butler, where he established his present bakery and confectionery and also engaged in the ice business. Politically, he is a Democrat, and was a candidate for clerk of courts in 1874, but was defeated in the convention by only one vote. Mr. Richey was married December 28. 1873, to Lydia, daughter of Philip Burt- ner, of Saxonburg, and has had one child by this union, which died in youth. He is a member of the 1. (). O. F .. and K. of P., and is an adherent of the Protes- tant Episcopal church.

A. B. RICHEY was born in Summit township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1842, where he was reared and received a common school education. He learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked until his enlistment in Company H, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. His company went into camp at Kittanning, where he was mustered into the service, thence to Pittsburg, and down the Ohio to Kentucky. He served in the Greene river campaign under General Buell, thence to Alabama, and Tennessee, where he participated in the siege of Nashville. He next took part in the battle of Stone River, under General Rosecranz, where the Seventy-eighth made one of the grandest charges during the war. The regiment here became a part of the Fourteenth Army Corps, and Mr. Richey participated in the following battles in which that corps served: Dug Gap, Chickamauga, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, New Hope Church, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro. In the fall of 1863, at Decker Station, he served as provost guard of General Negley's head- quarters, and was in charge of the ambulance corps in the Fourteenth Army Corps. Under General Rosecranz order, dated at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Feb- ruary 14, 1863, establishing a roll of honor for the promotion of courage and efficiency in the army, Mr. Richey was chosen by his company for that honor. He never missed a roll call, march or battle in which his regiment was engaged during his term of service. When his term had expired he was sent back to Nashville, and volunteered to serve in a raid on General Forrest. Returning to Kittanning, he was honorably discharged, November 4, 1864, whence he came to Butler. Mr. Richey was married May 7, 1866, to Amanda, daughter of George Christley of Centreville, and has six children : Harry ; Clara, deceased ; Leah ; William, deceased; Amie, deceased, and Orrie. Mr. Richey worked at his trade after the war, but in 1880 he went into the coal business, which he has continued up to the present. Politically, he is a Republican, has served as assistant burgess of Butler, and was postmaster at Centerville from 1866 to 1868. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been a trustee in that organization. He is connected with the E. A. U., and is a charter member of A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R., of which organization he is now commandant.

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Mr. Richey has been elected three times a delegate to the State encampment, and in 1893 was a national delegate to the G. A. R. convention at Indianapolis.

CHARLES N. BOYD is a son of W. S. and Margaret ( Mccafferty ) Boyd, and was born at Sarversville, Butler county, Pennsylvania, May 27. 1852. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Abraham Boyd, was a native of Ireland, and came with his father, John Boyd, to Westmoreland county at an early date. Rev. Abraham Boyd was a graduate of Canonsburg College, and for many years was located in Allegheny county. He established the Westminster and Buffalo Presbyterian churches of Butler county, and was one of the well known ministers of pioneer days. He first wife was Eleanor Ilillis. Some time after her death, he married Mrs. Agnes Scott. W. S. Boyd, the father of our subject, was born in Allegheny county in 1818. In 1850 he located at Sarversville, Butler county, where he was engaged in general merchandising until 1854. In that year he settled upon a part of the old homestead, in Allegheny county, and spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. He was an elder in the Presby- terian church for many years, and died July 25, 1865. By his marriage to Mar- garet, daughter of James McCafferty, he was the father of three children, as fol- lows : James S. ; Mary E., deceased wife of J. S. Christie, and Charles N. The subject of this sketch was reared in Allegheny county, and learned the tinner's trade. In 1874 he formed a partnership with his brother, James S .. and estab- lished a drug business at Tarentum, removing to Connellsville in 1876, where he remained three years in the same business. He also carried on the drug business in Somerset county. In the spring of 1887 he established his present drug store in Butler, and has since built up one of the leading business houses of the borough. Mr. Boyd was married in 1880, to Della G., daughter of David Car- son, of Connellsville, who died in 1882. His second wife was Agnes, a daughter of the Rev. J. M. Barnett, of Washington, Pennsylvania, whom he married December 5, 1889. One daughter, Martha Eleanor, is the fruit of this marriage. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an elder in the Butler organization. He belongs to the Masonic order, and in politics, is a Republican. He is one of the public-spirited and enterprising business men of the borough.

JOSEPH KEMPER was born in Westphalia, Prussia, November 16, 1828. In 1844 he immigrated to the United States, and located at Pittsburg, Pennsylva- nia, where he learned the harnessmaker's trade. After serving his apprenticeship he located in business at Worthington, Armstrong county, in July, 1853, and in Oc- tober, 1851, purchased a farm in Clearfield township, Butler county, upon which he resided until September, 1865, when he moved to Butler, and established the har- ness store carried on by his son, Frank, up to 1895. He conducted this business suc- cessfully until 1889, when he retired from active life. Mr. Kemper married Eva, daughter of Andrew Korb of Clearfield township, which union was blessed with five children : Bernard; Frank ; Mary; Maggie, deceased wife of Michael Duffy, of Bradford, Pennsylvania, and Joseph, who is known as Father Peter, of the Capuchin Order. Mrs. Kemper died in 1865, and he married for his sec- ond wife Margaret Bruner, to which union have been born four children : Anna, wife of Joseph Jordan ; John ; Anthony, and Eva. The family are members of St. Peter's Catholic church, and in politics, Mr. Kemper is a Democrat.

6. 2. 2 30 yes.

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BERNARD KEMPER, eldest son of Joseph and Eva Kemper, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1854, and received his education in the public schools and at St. Peter's Parochial school of Butler, and subsequently attended Witherspoon Institute. In 1869 he commenced learning the shoe- maker's trade, worked at that business for several years in various places, then embarked in business under the firm name of Kemper & Shank, which lasted for two years. He then continued working at his trade until 1891, when he started a general repair shop, which he has since continued. Mr. Kemper was married in 1874, to Philomena, daughter of Joseph Weigand, of Butler, to which union have been born six children : Frank ; Mary; Wilbert ; Eleanor ; Aloysions J., and Raymond B. The family are members of St. Peter's Catholic church, and Mr. Kemper is connected with the C. M. B. A., and the B. P. O. E. In politics, he is a Democrat.

FRANK KEMPER, second son of Joseph and Eva Kemper, was born in Clear- field township, Butler county, February 15, 1856, and received his education in the common and parochial schools of Butler. He learned the harnessmaker's trade with his father, and in 1889 he bought out the latter and up to 1895 con- ducted business at the old stand. Mr. Kemper married Lena, daughter of Jos- eph Fisher of Butler, and they are the parents of three children, all of whom are living : Ernest F. ; Anna M., and George M. The family are members of St. Peter's Catholic church, and Mr. Kemper is connected with the C. M. B. A. Politically, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM J. AYRES was born in the borough of Butler, in March, 1811, son of Gen. William Ayres, one of the prominent, influential pioneers of the town. He was educated at a subscription school, and followed the manufacture of woolen goods, erecting what was long known as the Union Woolen Mills. In 1836 he married Harriet F. McCarns, a daughter of James McCarns, of Fayette county, and to this union were born five children, viz. : Jane E .. who married Dr. Thomas McMillan; Margaret A., who married William A. Jackson, of Shenango township, Mercer county ; Hugh A .; William II. H., deceased, and De Witt C. Mr. Ayres died April 9, 1867, and his wife, in October, 1886.

CAPT. H. A. AYRES was born in Butler borough, February 10, 1839, eldest son of William J. and Harriet F. Ayres. He received a common school educa- tion, and learned the jeweler's trade with W. W. Wilson of Pittsburg. On the breaking out of the Rebellion his was the first name enrolled in Company II, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the first company raised in Butler county. He enlisted April 17, 1861, and was mustered into the service at Harrisburg eight days later. His company was commanded by Capt. John N. Purviance, and served three months. When his term of service expired, he and William S. Jack recruited Company HI, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he was elected second lieutenant. While serving on Gen. John F. Miller's staff, he was promoted to captain, for meritorions services in the field and fidelity and judgment in the performance of his duty. He commanded his company until November 4, 1864, when his term of service having expired, he again became a member of General Miller's staff until the close of the war. Returning to Har- risville, Butler county, he engaged in merchandising, and afterwards went into

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the oil industry. In 1887 he was elected register and recorder of Butler county, on the Republican ticket, and served in that capacity for three years. Captain Ayres was married on October 17, 1861. to Elizabeth Kerr, a daughter of Judge James Kerr, of Harrisville, to which union have been born six children, as fol- lows : Priscilla, wife of Thomas H. Greer; Harriet L., wife of John C. Graham: Mary; James K., deceased ; John, and Paul, the last deceased. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.

GEORGE KETTERER is a son of Frederick and Dorothea ( Householder) Ketterer, natives of Germany, where his father was born in 1819. Frederick Ket- terer was a farmer, and both he and wife died in Germany, the former in 1882. and the latter in 1891. Their family consisted of the following children : Fred- erick, deceased : Jacob; Ilenry, deceased; Dorothea, who married Frederick Foell ; George ; Charles: Philip: Sarah, who married Philip Hoffner; Frederick, deceased, and one who died in infancy. The subject of this sketch was born in Alsace, Germany, September 14, 1854, and in 1870 emigrated to Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, where he learned the upholstering trade. He came to Butler in 1874. and in 1876 embarked in business for himself. He subsequently added the fur- niture business, which he is still engaged in. He erected the building which he now occupies, also the Western Union Telegraph building, and the City Hall. Mr. Ketterer was married September 30, 1878, to Sophia, daughter of Valentine Feigel of Butler. Seven children are the fruits of this union as follows: Fred- erick ; Albert G. ; Augusta K. ; Edward L. ; Clarence H. ; John W., and Doro- thea M. The family are adherents of the Reformed church, in which body Mr. Ketterer fills the office of deacon. He is a Democrat in politics ; is a member of the Masonic order, and is connected with the A. L. of H. He has also served as school director, and takes a commendable interest in the prosperity of his adopted home.

WILLIAM COOPER was born in Huntington, Huntingdonshire, England, February 6, 1846. His father, John Cooper, was born in the same shire Novem- ber 5, 1819, and was a merchant tailor and clothier. He was ordained a minister of the Baptist church in 1850, and in connection with his business devoted a por- tion of his time to preaching the gospel. He married Ann, daughter of John Watts of the same place, in March, 1843, to which union were born ten children : Mary A., wife of John Ward; Amelia, wife of Richard Palmer; William ; Ilenrietta, wife of Richard Watts; Emma, wife of Thomas Bridge; John ; George; Esther; Alfred, and Florence, deceased. The subject of this sketch learned merchant tailoring at Leeds, Yorkshire, England, commencing his trade at the age of thirteen years. He worked as a tailor for several years, and then went to London, where he took a course in the art of cutting, remaining there three years. He then emigrated to Cleveland, Ohio, where he entered the employ of Alfred Eyers, with whom he remained three years and a half, subse- quently spent two years and a half with Carson & Company, and three years with Henry Beckman & Company. These were the largest firms in Cleveland at that time. From Cleveland he went to Newburg, Ohio, and worked for George Small some two years. Returning to Cleveland he became designer and cutter for S. Mann-Austrian & Company, with whom he remained two years, and for

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the next eighteen months traveled through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, working at his trade. Again returning to Cleveland he filled the position of pattern designer for a wholesale house for eighteen months, and afterwards entered the service of the Cherry Valley Iron Company at Leetonia, Ohio, where for three years and a half he filled the position of manager of their merchant tailoring and clothing department. Coming to Butler he filled the position of cutter for Will- iam Aland until January 1. 1894, when he engaged in business as a member of the firm of Young & Cooper. The former retired January 1, 1895, and the firm then became Cooper & Company. Mr. Cooper was married November 27, 1867. to Harriet, daughter of Daniel Charles, of Cambridgeshire, England. They are the parents of seven children : Florence : Kate : William ; Nellie ; John ; Peter. and Paul.

JACOB S. YOUNG, merchant tailor and oil operator, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1856, son of John Young, and was reared on the homestead farm in Butler county. In 1883 he engaged in general mer- chandising at Brownsdale, which he continued for nearly three years, and was post- master at that point during this period. He afterwards carried on a store for three years at Dutchtown. Since 1883 he has been an oil producer, and quite successful in that line of business. In 1890 he purchased a residence in Butler, where he has since resided. He embarked in the merchant tailoring business January 10. 1894, as a member of the firm of Young & Cooper, which was dissolved Jannary 1, 1895, Mr. Young retiring. He then established the present store of J. S. & J. P. Young, on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets. Mr. Young was married February 15, 1891, to Nannie P., daughter of William Graham, of Forward township, and has three children : Florence M. ; Harry W., and Edna G. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and politically a Republican.

GEORGE MILLER was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1799, grew to manhood in his native county, and learned the cabinetmaker's trade. He removed from Virginia to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Butler, where he purchased property and engaged in the furniture business, which he followed for many years. In 1828 he married Eliza Maharg, a daugh- ter of John Maharg of Forward township, Butler county, to which union were born eleven children, as follows : Catherine, who married Dickson Barkley : John ; Joseph, deceased ; James H. : Presley, deceased : Newton, deceased: Eliza J., wife of George McBride of Butler: William A, deceased ; Mar- garet, wife of William Daubenspeck : Henry, and Sarah B., who married Clar- ence Bolton. Mr. Miller died January 31. 1873, and his wife in September, 1893. They were members of the United Presbyterian church, and among the pioneers of the Butler congregation, in which he held the office of elder. Politic- ally, he was a Republican, and served as county commissioner and treasurer of Butler county.

JAMES H. MILLER was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, April IS, 1833, wa- educated in the public schools of the borough, and learned the chairmaker's trade. He afterwards engaged in the furniture business, which he followed until the spring of 1890. In September, 1861. he enlisted in Company H. Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was mustered into the service at Kittanning,

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and served three years, being honorably discharged in August, 1864. In 1881 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, treasurer of Butler county, and served a full term, and in February, 1890, he was elected overseer of the poor of Butler borough. Mr Miller is a member of the United Presbyterian church, is a char- ter member of A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R., also of the Union Veteran Legion, and is connected with the K. of II. He has been twice married; first to Miss Mary A. Cunningham, in 1857, who died the following year. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Harriet Milligan, widow of Joseph Milligan, of Armstrong county, in 1867.

WILLIAM H. RITTER, son of Karl L. Ritter, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and Sarah J. (Gibson) Ritter, a daughter of William Gibson, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was born in Allegheny City, August 3, 1843, and obtained a common and select school education. He began life for himself as a salesman in Pittsburg, continuing until he enlisted in Company D, One Ilun- dred and Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which he served until the regiment was mustered out, when he returned home. In 1868 be purchased the general store of James R. Sampson, at Newport, Pennsylvania, which was car- ried on until 1870 under the name of Ritter & Ralston. The firm then sold out and located in Butler, where they began business September 20, 1871, and for many years carried on the largest dry goods and millinery business in the bor- ough. Mr. Ritter was married September 4, 1873, to Minnie II. Patterson, a daughter of Col. Joseph P. Patterson. of Butler, to which union six children have been born, as follows: Charles P. ; William H. ; Joseph L. ; Susan F. ; Sarah J., and Edna M. Himself and wife are members of the United Presby- terian church. In politics, he is an ardent Republican, has served as a member and secretary of the state central committee, has been a delegate to party con- ventions, and is recognized as one of the most active and successful workers in local politics. He is a member of A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R., and also of the Royal Arcanum:

WILLIAM S. GRAHAM was born in New Enterprise, Bedford county, Penn- sylvania, May 25, 1855, and is a son of James II. and Susan ( Snoeberger ) Graham of Penn township. He received a common school education and subsequently attended the State Normal School at Indiana, Pa., afterwards teaching for five years. He was a salesman for Berg & Cypher of Butler, and was next appointed agent for the United States Express Company, which position he filled for three years at Butler, and one year at Dunkirk, New York. In 1887 he embarked in the grocery business as junior member of the firm of Bellis & Gra- ham, and was also interested in the oil business. In 1891 he retired from the grocery business, and became agent for the United States Express Company in Allegheny City. In June, 1893, be again went into the grocery business at his former stand in Butler, and still continues the same. Mr. Graham was married September 4, 1881, to Esther, daughter of Israel Seaman of Penn township, and has five children : Charles ; Dora; Harry ; Nanny, and Ethel. In politics, he is a Republican, and in religious faith, a member of the Presbyterian church.

JOHN B. REED was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and grew to manhood in that county. He received a common school education, and

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devoted a portion of his life to teaching music. He was a boatman on the Penn- sylvania canal, and lived at Tarentum, Allegheny county. In 1864 he went into the general merchandising in that town, removed to Riddle's Cross Roads three years after, where he engaged in the same business, and was also postmaster at that point. He afterwards conducted a store at Flick, whence he returned to Taren- tum, where he continued merchandising until 1875, when he sold out and retired from business. Mr. Reed married Matilda, daughter of John Miller of Mt. Chestnut. Butler county, to whom were born six children : John M. ; Rachel B .; Adam W. ; Martha J .. who married W. T. MeCandless of Franklin township ; James H., and Carson N. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, a leader in the choir for many years, and also an elder in that organization. His wife died March 16, 1875; he survived her until June 10, 1890.

JOHN M. REED, eldest son of John B. Reed, was born in Buffalo township, Butler county, February 9, 1860, and received a common school education. In February, 1876, he engaged in clerking for Bellis & Gerlach of St. Joe, Butler county. The following June he took a similar position in the store of Ritter & Ralston, of Butler, with whom he remained until July, 1883. He then filled the position of salesman in B. C. Huselton's store until December, 1889, when he embarked in the grocery business, which he sold February 1, 1894, and purchased the agency for all the Pittsburg daily papers coming to Butler. Mr. Reed was married March 29. 1881, to Elizabeth, daughter of John McFall of Smith's Ferry, Beaver county, and has five children : Susan M. ; Bessie B. ; Nellie J. ; Endell N .. and Ralph E. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Butler, in which he is financial secretary of the official board, and has been secretary of the Sabbath school for seventeen years. He is a Republican in politics, and is connected with Connoquenessing Lodge, Number 272, I. O. O. F., also the P. H. C., and is secretary and accountant of the John S. Campbell Hose Company.

PETER BIEHL was born in Rolenburg, Germany, in 1820 grew to manhood in his native place, and there learned the trade of coppersmith. He immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1848 and located in Butler, where he went into the tin and cop- persmith business. In 1859 he purchased the present location of his son Henry, and in 1873 he bought a part of the Millard tract. in the borough of Butler. He married Martha Bodesheim, a native of Germany, and was the father of five chil- dren : Henry ; Conrad ; William G. ; George C., and one that died in infancy. Mr. Biehl died February 7, 1876 ; his widow resides in Butler. He was an adher- ent of the Reformed church.

HENRY BIEHL, eldest son of Peter Biehl, was born in the borough of Butler, July 30, 1850. After receiving a public school education, he took a course in book-keeping at Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburg, and afterwards learned the tinning and roofing trade with his father. In 1875 he obtained an interest in the business, and July 1, 1889, he purchased the interest of all others and has since been sole proprietor. Mr. Biehl was married May 5, 1855, to Ida B. May, a daughter of Rev. Josiah May, pastor of Sugar Creek Reformed church, Arm- strong county. She died November 23, 1887. He was again married, Septem- ber 3, 1891, to Joanna M., daughter of Eli Naly, of Greensburg. Pennsylvania. One child, Eleanor H., deceased, has been born to this union. Mr. Biehl is a

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 95

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