History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 99

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WILLIAM S. GREGG was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 3, 1531. son of Robert J. and Alice Gregg. He came to Butler county with his parents, and settled at Monroeville, where he kept hotel. and afterwards operated a hack line between Freeport and Butler. In 1886 he removed to But- ler. where he continued the hack business in connection with a livery stable. Mr. Gregg was married in 1 52, to Catherine Kuhn, of Butler county. Ten children have been born to this union. as follows: John : Ralph : Ellen. wife of John Waters : Harry : William, deceased ; Isabel, wife of Charles Breneman ; Annie M., wife of John Fullerton : Charles, and one that died in early youth. Mr. Gregg is a stanch Democrat, and is one of the industrious and energetic business men of the borough.

WARREN ALBERT, Son of Andrew and grandson of Adam Albert, was born in Centre township. Butler county. September 13. 1859, and was educated in the common schools and at Witherspoon Institute. In 1986 he went into the livery business, at Butler, as a member of the firm of MeCandless & Albert, afterwards changed to May & Albert, and in 1893 to Albert & Weigle, which firm is still carrying on the business. On April 12. 1856, Mr. Albert married Ada 1. Millinger, a daughter of Perry Smith. of Centre township, and has three, children, viz. : Floyd W. : Ralph C .. and Leora. He is a member of the Church of God. and in politics, a Republican.

Joux M. WEIGLE. of the firm of Albert & Weigle, was born in Prospect. Butler county. December 6, 1861. son of Samuel and Barbara Weigle. He attended the common schools of the borough. learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1892 removed to Butler, and the following year became a member of the present firm. In May. 1859, he married Nanny Alexander, a daughter of Robert Alex- ander, of Muddy Creek township, and has one child. Karl M. Mr. Weigle is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran church.

CONRAD ROESSING was born in Herchfeldt, Germany, October 5, 1804, and when fourteen years of age started in life for himself. Coming to the United States some years later. he commenced in business at Cobelskill, New York, with his brother Justus, but they were burned out and lost everything. After work- ing for a company in New York state for a period, they went to Ohio and estab- lished a large tannery. Here his brother died. and Conrad soll the business, and in 1$11 came to Butler. He erected a tannery on North Washington street, which he operated for forty-five years very successfully. In August. 1852, he established the business now carried on by his son, Barnhardt E., who became his partner on January 1. 1854, under the firm name of C. Roessing & Son. In May, 1886. Mr. Roessing retired from active business, and the following year

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went to Pittsburg, where he is now living with his daughter. He married Martha A. Hooker, who bore him a family of four children. as follows: Barn- hardt E. ; Dora, deceased ; Dietrick, who resides in California, and Anna E., wife of II. O. Stahley, of Pittsburg. Mrs. Roessing died on October 18, 1886.

BARNHARDT E. ROESSING was born in Butler October 23, 1552, eldest child of Conrad and Martha A. Roessing. When sixteen years of age he entered his father's tannery and worked at that business until he was thirty-two years old, when he engaged in his present business with his father on Jefferson street. I 1888 he purchased his present business place, on North Main street, where he manufactures harness and deals in all classes of buggies, carriages, wagons and sleighs. Mr. Roessing was married on December 17, 1885, to Anna J. Gibson, a daughter of Harvey S. Gibson, of Butler, and has two children : Edna M. and Harvey L. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and in poli- tics, he is a Republican. He is connected with the Legion of Ilonor, of which he has been commander and collector, and is now treasurer.

JACOB WALTER was a native of Germany, born in 1815, near Strasburg, con of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Keck ) Walter. He emigrated to the United States in 1835, and located in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was a blacksmith, and worked in Peter Baker's shop, which stood on the site of J. Q. A. Kennedy's residence, but subsequently removed to West Cunningham street, and built a shop on the site of Livington McQuistion's residence. He carried on the principal business in that line for several years, but in 1859 he purchased the mill now owned by his son George, and in partnership with John C. Grohman embarked in the milling bus- iness, which he followed until his death. Mr. Walter always took a deep interest in educational affairs, was a member of the school board, and connected with the borough council for twenty-five or thirty years. He was a Democrat in politics, and was quite active in local political circles. He was an elder in the Lutheran church for many years, and organized the first Sunday school connected with the German Lutheran church, which then stood upon the site of the oldl Opera House. Mr. Walter married Mary, a daughter of Jacob Lawall, to whom were born ten children, four of whom grew to maturity, as follows : Barbara, wife of Jacob Boos ; Maggie, wife of G. Wilson Miller : Mary, deceased wife of William Feigle, and George. Mr. Walter died September 11, 1865, and his wife, in the fall of 192.

GEORGE WALTER, miller, was born September 11, 1843, in Butler, Penn- sylvania, son of Jacob and Mary Walter. He attended the public schools of the borough in youth, and subsequently learned the miller's trade with his father, with whom he was afterwards associated, and at his father's death he succeeded to the business. In 1876 he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, sheriff of But- ler county, but was deprived of his office after a bitter legal fight. He ha- filled the office of councilman for seven terms and that of school director for three terms. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and is also connected with A. O. U. W. In 1866 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Troutman, of Penn township. She died in 1874, leaving four children : Jacob .1., a member of George Walter & Sons; Mary A., wife of E. O. Chambers ; Charles E., also a member of the firm, and G. Wilson, deceased. In 1876 Mr.

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Walter married Mary Troutman, a sister of his first wife, who is the mother of one daughter, Kitty. Mr. Walter is a member of the Christian church, and is one of the well-known citizens of Butler, where he has spent his entire life.

PETER SCHENCK. SR .. was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, born in 1805. He learned the harnessmaker's trade in his native land, and subsequently served in the Prussian army. In 1832 he immigrated to the United States and settled at Harper's Ferry. Virginia, where he worked at his trade for a short time and then came to Butler county and purchased a farm in Summit township. In 1850 he bought a farm of 135 acres in Butler township, upon which he located. He was one of the many who went from Butler county to California during the gold excitement, whence he returned to his son's home in Butler stricken with Panama fever, of which he died the day after his arrival. He was married in Germany, in 182%, to Christina Ripper, and had one son Adam. Both he and wife were members of the Lutheran church.

ADAM SCHENCK was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, June 30. 1527, and came to America with his parents when five years of age. He received a com- mon school education, learned the shoemaker's trade and subsequently engaged in farming. He was twice married. his first wife being Catherine, daughter of John Oesterling, of Summit township, whom he married in 1547. They were the parents of ten children : Christine, who married Adam Dambach of Summit township ; Leonard : Margaret. deceased : George : Peter : Adam ; Philip ; John; William A., deceased, and Catherine E., deceased. Mr -. Schenck died in 1866, and in 1870 he married Catherine, daughter of Samuel Kreps, of Beaver county, of which union, three children were born : Annie M., wife of George Desterling; Elizabeth, deceased. and David. Mr. Schenck went into the boot and shoe busi- ness in Butler, as a member of the firm of Bickel & Schenck, which he continued until 1856. and then moved to the homestead farm, where he resided until his death, in [SS1. . His widow lives in Centre township. Mr. Schenck was a member of the Lutheran church, and an elder in that body for over thirty years. In politics, he was originally a Whig and afterwards a Democrat, and filled the offices of school director and supervisor. He was also a member of the I. O. O. F .. and was at one time connected with the State Militia.

PETER SCHENCK, son of Adam and Catherine (Desterling) Schenck, was born in the borough of Butler, April 27. 1854, and received a common school education. Hle afterwards entered a draughting school in Allegheny City, where he also learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked five years and then returned to Butler. He was married May 7. 1875. to Julia A., daughter of Philip Gelbach, of Glade Run. to whom have been born three children : Ida L. : Erna S., deceased, and Florence K. Mr. Schenck is an architect. and a con- tractor and builder, and in connection with the firm of Schenck Brother -. built two churches at Harrisville, and one at Grove City: also the Diamond block, the Huselton and Anderson blocks, the Troutman and Armory buildings, in But- ler, and St. Fidelis' College at Herman station. He was one of the incorporators of the Citizens Natural Gas Company, and is now president of the same. Polit- ically, he is a Republican, and was a member of the town council and treasurer of the borough during the three years in which the paving and sewerage improve-

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ments were carried out, and took a very active part in these commendable improvements, which have made Butler one of the healthiest towns of its size in the State. Mr. Schenck and family are connected with the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE SCHENCK, son of Adam and Catherine Schenck, was born in the borough of Butler May 6, 1852, here grew to manhood, and learned the carpen- ter's trade with H. Bauer & Co., of Butler. He followed his trade for two years and then went into business for himself as a contractor and builder. Hle after- wards became a member of the firm of 11. Bauer & Company, at llerr's Island. Allegheny county, and two years later returned to Butler and became senior member of the firm of Schenck Brothers. They dissolved in [891, since which time Mr. Schenck has been carrying on business alone. He was married on June 1, 1876, to Mary L. Forcht, a daughter of John and Margaret Forcht, of Carbon Centre, to which union have been born six children, viz. : Charles G., deceased ; Alfred A .; George O. ; Margaret L. : Walter L., and Etta E. The family are connected with the Lutheran church, and he is a member of the church council. Mr. Schenck embarked in the oil business in 1890, and followed producing for one year. lle is one of the well-known contractors and builders of the county, and among the buildings erected by him are the following : Springdale school. St. Peter's Catholic school, St. Paul's Catholic school and convent, the postoffice, Diamond, Iluselton and Troutman blocks, the Stein, Aldinger, Baldauf, and Campbell & Templeton store building- : also the Armory building, and the Scien- tific Hall at New Wilmington.

J. GEORGE STAMM. manufacturer of brick, was born at Schaffhausen. Switzerland, November 10, 1845, son of J. George and Barbara ( Stamm ) Stamm. lle received a public school education in his native town, and emigrated to the United States in 1866. He learned the puddler's trade at Sharpsburg, Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, which he followed five years, and later acquired the brickmaker's trade, at which he worked until 1871. In that year he settled in the borough of Butler, where he was employed in the brickyard of Jesse Kinzer and others until 1880, when he established a plant on Penn street. This he oper- ated until 1882, and then opened his present yard in the western limits of the borough. In politics, he is a Democrat. and in February. 1891, was elected a member of the borough council. was re-elected in February. 1894, and is now president of that body. Mr. Stamin married Lucinda, a daughter of James Harvey, of Prospect, Butler county. and is the father of six children, as follows : Clara J. : Gertrude B. : Lucy : J. George : Frank, and Nellie. The family are connected with the Presbyterian church. He is a member of Butler Lodge, Number 272. F. & A. M., also of Butler Chapter. Number 273, and Pittsburg Commandery and Consistory ; also Connoquenessing Lodge, I. O. O. F., Butler Lodge. A. O. U. W., and Butler Lodge, Number 170, B. P. O. E.

GEORGE SCHAFFNER was born in Slippery Rock township, Butler county. Pennsylvania. December 17, 1841, and is a son of Jacob and Anna Maria ( Martin) Schaffner, natives of Bavaria, Germany. He received a common school education, and soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company H. Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered into service at Camp Orr, Kittanning, September 17. 1861. From there the regiment

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moved by railroad to Pittsburg, where it was presented with a flag by Governor Curtin, on the West Common, in Allegheny. It was assigned to General Neg- ley's brigade, was transported down the Ohio river to Louisville, Kentucky. and then marched to Bacon creek, and later to Greene river. The brigade was a part of General Sherman's command, who was there relieved by General Buell. The latter advanced on Nashville, and the Seventy-eighth guarded Buell's line of communication while he went to re-enforce Grant at Shiloh, and in the fall of 1862 fell back to Nashville, joined Negley's division and assisted in holding that city until the return of Rosecrans' army from Kentucky. in December, 1862. The army was then re-organized and the Seventy-eighth was placed in the Eighth division, General Negley commanding. On December 26, 1862, the army moved on the Stone River campaign, and in the battle of Stone River, the Seventy- eighth lost 196 in killed and wounded. The regiment captured the colors of the Twenty-sixth Tennessee, also a battery of four pieces that had been captured by Jackson from the English at the battle of New Orleans, in 1815, and the flag of the Seventy-eighth was the first to float over the court house at Murfreesboro. While the regiment lay in that city, Mr. Schaffner was detailed to guard the res- idence of Colonel Reedy, father-in-law of Gen. John Morgan, and captured the latter's sword, which is still in his possession. The regiment next went on the Tullahoma campaign, marched to the Tennessee river which it crossed on a pontoon bridge, thence acros- Lookout. Sand, and Raccoon mountains, flanking Chattanooga, the command hauling the artillery over the mountains when the horses gave out. The Seventy-eighth were the first troops to set foot on the soil of Georgia, September 8, 1863. Mr. Schaffner was one of the one hundred

men who at Dug Gap, Georgia. held the rebel army in check for four hours. (See Bates' History. ) They next participated at Chickamauga, September 19, and 20, 1863, then fell back on Chattanooga and assisted in holding that town until the arrival of re-enforcements. suffering the starvation of that siege, after which they started on the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Schaffner participated in all the battles of the Fourteenth Army Corps, and was shot through the right shoul- der and left hand at Pickett's Mills, Georgia, May 27, 1864. He was sent to Kingston, Georgia, thence to Nashville, Tennessee, and afterwards to Pittsburg Hospital, where he was honorably discharged, October 12, 1864, his term of sery - ice having expired. He afterwards took a course at Duff's Commercial College, and kept books for Schnelbach & Schott. of Pittsburg, in 1866, and the same year came to Butler. Hle sunk the first coal shaft in Butler county, located south of Butler, in Butler township, which is still operated by his brother Samuel, and which proved a successful venture. Since that time he has followed general con- tracting. Mr. Schaffner was married November 5, 1867, to Jane Tracy, a daugh- ter of James and Mary Tracy, of Butler township. Ten children are the fruits of this union, as follows : Mary Cresentia, wife of John McCune, Jr. ; James ; Anthony J .: Clarence .\ .: William J. : Estelle G. ; George ; Alice ; Charles. and Leroy. the last three of whom are dead. In INGS Mr. Schaffner was appointed United States ganger for the Twenty-third internal revenue district, and served nine year -. In 1879 he became employed by the government on Davis Island dam, upon which he worked four years, being superintendent of the works

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the last two years. He is a Republican, in politics, has served in the council for six years, and is a prominent member of Encampment, Number 45, U. V. L., of which he was elected colonel in 1893. In October of the same year he was appointed, at Cincinnati, Ohio, adjutant general of the U. V. L., for the United States. In June, 1894, he was appointed by Governor Pattison a member of the commission from Pennsylvania to locate the positions occupied by Pennsylvania troops at the battle- of Chickamauga. Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Wauhatchie Valley. Mr. Schaffner and family are members of St. Paul's Cath- olic church, and he is one of the well known citizens of his native county.

FREDERICK M. RENNO, manufacturer and dealer in monuments and man- tels, was born March 27, 1842, in Butler township. Butler county, son of John and Margaret Renno, the latter a daughter of Michael Eminger, a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, and afterwards learned the moulder's trade, which he followed for fifteen years. In 1875 he engaged in the manufacture of monuments, etc., under the firm name of Renno Brothers, which continued for fourteen years. He then purchased his brother's interest, and has since carried on the business alone. In 1862, he enlisted in Capt. C. E. Anderson's company, but being under age they would not accept him. He nevertheless remained with the company, and participated in all of the engagements in which his regiment served until the death of Adjut- ant Reed, when he was detailed to bring that officer's horse to his family in But- ler. Mr. Renno married Sarah, daughter of Peter Keil, and has four children : Cora, wife of Joseph MeCandless; Carrie ; Loretta C .. and Albert, Politically. he is a Republican, but takes no active part in public affairs.

GEORGE J. RENNO, youngest son of John and Margaret Renno, was born in Butler township, Butler county, June 19, 1852, and grew to maturity in this county. He was educated in the public schools, and subsequently went one term to Witherspoon Institute. He afterwards learned the marble cutter's trade, and in 1875 he became a member of the firm of Renno Brothers, which continued until December, 1888. At that time he sold his interest to his brother, and in August, 1889, went into business for himself, at 300 North Main street. On May 27, 1874. he married Louisa Rieger, a daughter of George Rieger, of Win- field township, and has seven children, viz. : Ida M. ; George N .; Margaret L. : Edward J. ; Frederick W. ; Emma G., and Alma A. The family are connected with the English Lutheran church, and in politics, Mr. Renno is a stanch Democrat.

J. W. MCKEE, president of the Butler Manufacturing Company, was born November 18, 1845, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Mary 1. (Crawford) KeKee. He received a common school education and afterwards learned the molder's trade, which he followed for five years. He then engaged in carpenter work, afterwards removed to the oil fields of Venango and Mckean counties, where he manufactured wooden wheels for oil wells until 1874, and then located at Freeport. He operated a planing mill at the last mentione 1 place for three years, when he went to Petrolia and entered the employ of his brother. In 1878 he returned to Bradford, Mckean county, and resumed the manufacture of wooden wheels. In 1885 he came to Butler and erected the plant now known

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as the Butler Manufacturing Company, purchased stock in the company, and took charge of the foundry. Since that time he has filled different positions in the works and is now general manager of the company. Mr. Mckee married Miss Nellie March of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and has one son, Vance F.

BENJAMIN MASSETH was born March 16, 1840, in Rochester, New York, son of Exavia and Mary A. Masseth, natives of Germany, who settled in Roches- ter in 1835. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of fifteen entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company. as bell boy, and later went to Ohio as an employee of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad Company, as fireman. He subsequently became an engineer on that road. which position he occupied until 1862, when he erected the Pavilion Hotel. at Plumer, Venango county, Pennsylvania, which he operated for a few months. He then went to Pithole. Venango county. and purchased the United States Hotel. which he carried on for one year. In the spring of 1866 he embarked in his present business at Pithole. where he remained until 1869, and then removed his works to Shamburg, and afterwards to Parker. Modoc, Karns City, and Butler, successively. Mr. Masseth has since built up a profitable busi- ness, and the firm of Masseth & Black is recognized as one of the representative manufacturing institutions of the borough.

WILLIAM KESSELMAN. manufacturer, was born in Saxony, Prussia, in 1982. son of Philip and Christina ( Landwhir ) Kesselman. He received his education in the public schools of his native land and there learned the machinist's trade. In 1856 he came to the United States and located in New Castle, Pennsylvania. where he was employed at his trade for seven year -. He then became a partner in the New Castle Manufacturing Company, and subsequently established a machine shop at Parker. Pennsylvania, which be removed later to St. Joe. h 1881 he established his present business in Butler, where he has since built up a prosperous trade. In 1963 he married Wiss Maggie Moser. of New Castle. Penn- sylvania, and their children are as follows . Edward ; William ; Lewis: Mintic, and Floyd. Mr. Kesselman is a Democrat, in politics, and in church affiliation, is connected with the English Lutheran congregation of Butler, in which body he fills the position of elder.

JOSEPH B. SIRMAN. son of Henry and Charlotte Sherman, was born at Crusoe Island. Cayuga county, New York. May 12. 1816. learned the machinist's trade in Auburn. New York, and went to Rochester in ISGS, where he worked for the New York Central Railway Company until 1875. He then found employ- ment as an engineer of a boat on Lake Ontario for one year. In 1876 he came to Butler county and located at Karns City. where he established a machine shop. and carried on business at that point down to 1890, when he removed to Butler and became a member of the firm of Sherman & Masseth. 1592 he sold his inter- est in that establishment and purchased a shop at Callery Junction, which he disposed of in 1898. He established his present machine shops at Butler, in the old Union Woolen Mill building, known as the Star Iron Works, in 1891. Mr. Sherman was married December 29, 1573, to Babel Williamson, a daughter of Thomas Williamson, of Rochester, New York. Six children have been born to this union. viz. : Olive M. : Iva B. : Clifford W., deceased ; Lulu M. ; Florence

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A., and Josephine B. Mr. Sherman is a Republican, was burgess of Karn- City for one term. and a school director for ten years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is connected with the K. of P .. and the A. O. U. W. During a residence of nearly twenty years in Butler county, Mr. Sherman has been closely identified with its manufacturing interests in the oil fields, and is a progressive and public-spirited citizen.

JAMES W. HUGHES, of the firm af Hughes Brothers. proprietors of the But- ler Boiler Works, was born in Meadville. Pennsylvania, April 23, 1864, son of Thomas and Bridget ( Henry ) Hughes, natives of Ireland. Our subject was reared in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and at the age of thirteen, commenced to learn the trade of boiler maker at the Franklin Boiler Works, and followed that busi- ness until 1501. in Buffalo. New York. He then located in Butler, and, in part- ner-hip with his brother John C .. purchased the Butler Boiler Works, which they have since carried on successfully, under the firm name of Hughes Brothers. Mr. Hughes was married March 30, 158%, to Blanche Stoneburner, of Indiana, and they have one child. Walter. He is connected with the Butler Lodge. K. of P., and in religious faith, is a member of St. Paul's Catholic church.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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