USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 11
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JAMES E. GILLAND, proprietor of one of the leading business es- tablishments of Greensburg, was born in Franklintown, York county. Penn- sylvania, August 12, 1861, a son of James and Mary Jane ( McDonald) Gilland, 2-5
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who had seven other children, as follows: Mary Etta, Lizzie, William, Cora, Charles, George, and Anna, deceased. James Gilland (father) was born east of the Alleghany Mountains in Pennsylvania, and later settled in Clarion county, same state, where he purchased a farm, cultivated and improved the same and resided thereon for the remainder of his life.
James E. Gilland received a practical education in the common schools of Canada, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and at the early age of twelve years left school in order to learn the trade of painter, which he has followed through- out his active career. At the present time ( 1905) he is the proprietor of a store located on West Otterman street, Greensburg, which is well stocked with all kinds of paints, brushes and oils, and he also contracts for the painting of houses, both inside and out. He is genial and pleasant in manner, attends promptly to the wants and wishes of his patrons, and therefore well merits the large patronage accorded him. His political views coincide with those of the Democratic party, to which organization he has given his allegiance since attaining his majority. Mr. Gilland married, July 2, 1885, Anna Horner, born in Berlin, Germany, June 31, 1866, a daughter of Henry and Amelia Horner, and their children are : Walter M., a painter by trade, employed by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company ; George R., a barber by trade, employed in Pitcairn ; Charles, Lena E., Margaret, Clarence, Mary, James, and Victor.
MARTIN NELSON McGEARY is a representative member of the bar of Westmoreland county, and is of the fourth generation of his family in this attractive division of the Keystone commonwealth, where his ancestors set- tled in the eighteenth century, while the name has ever since been honorably linked with the industrial and civic history of the county. Mr. McGeary was born on the homestead farm in Allegheny township, this county, September 10, 1860, and is a son of John E. and Sarah Jane (McLaughlin) McGeary, both of whom were born and reared in the same township, where they still maintain their home, the father having devoted his active career to agricultural pursuits and being one of the prominent and influential farmers of the county, where he has ever commanded the unequivocal confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. He is a Republican in his political proclivities, and both he and his wife have long been members of the United Presbyterian church. Of their seven chil- dren six are living, the subject of this review having been the eldest in order of birth. John E. McGeary is a son of James and Margaret (Elliott) McGeary, the former of whom was born in Allegheny township, this county, in 1801, while the latter was born near the city of Pittsburg.
Martin N. McGeary was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools entered the Pennsylvania State College, at State College, where he remained as a student for three years. Upon leaving school he began reading law in the office of the well known firm of Marchand & Gaithers, of Greensburg, and he devoted himself with all earn- estness and appreciative effort to his technical study until he realized his ambi- tion, being admitted to the bar of his native county April 17, 1887. Since that time he has pressed steadily forward to the mark of his calling, has gained recognition as one of the well equipped lawyers of the county, and has built up an excellent practice of representative character. He is known as a strong and spirited trial lawyer and ever gives careful preparation to every cause which he presents before court or jury, while in counsel he is discriminating and con- servative. In politics Mr. McGeary is found stanchly arrayed as a supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and in a fraternal way
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is identified with Westmoreland Lodge, No. 518, A. F. A. M. ; and Greensburg Lodge, No. 511, B. P. O. E. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. McGeary married, July 31, 1901, Agnes Huston, born and reared in Fairfield township, this county, daughter of John B. and Elizabeth Huston, the former of whom is one of the representative farmers of that locality, while he was formerly a successful school teacher.
FRANK R. ZAHNISER, D. D. S. Dentistry in its modern formn rep- resents both a science and a mechanic art, and he who would be successful in its practice must be equipped both through natural predilection and most careful and discriminating preliminary training. Among the leading members of the profession in the city of Greensburg is numbered Dr. Zahniser, whose skill in both the operative and laboratory department of his profession is of the highest order and who has naturally succeeded in building up a profitable practice of representative order, his finely equipped offices being located in the Welty building, at 130 North Main streeet.
Dr. Frank Robinson Zahniser is a native of the Keystone state, having been born in Mercer, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1865, and being a son of M. J. and Elizabeth (Hurst) Zahniser, the former a resident of Pittsburg, and the latter deceased. Both parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and represen- tative of old and honored families of this commonwealth, while the genealogy in the agnatic line is traced back to stanch German origin. The father of Dr. Zahniser was for many years engaged in the lumber business, but is now devot- ing his attention to the real estate business in Pittsburg. Of the five children in the family Dr. Zahniser was the second in order of birth, while of the number three are living at the time of this writing.
Dr. Zahniser secured his rudimentary educational discipline in the public schools of his native county, where he continued his studies until he had at- tained the age of fourteen years, after which he entered Mount Pleasant Acad- emy, at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, where he remained as a student for three years. In 1888 he matriculated in the Pennsylvania Dental College, in the city of Philadelphia, where he completed the prescribed technical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1889, simultaneously receiving his well earned degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery and coming forth admirably well equipped for the work of his chosen profession. That this statement is unequivocal needs no farther voucher than the success which has been his in his chosen field of endeavor, for through his devotion to his profession and his ability in the same he has built up a lucrative practice and attained to no uncer- tain precedence in the connection. He opened an office in Greensburg shortly after his graduation and here has ever since continued in active practice. He is a member of Western Pennsylvania Dental Society. Dr. Zahniser married, February 15, 1893, Jeanette Suydam, a daughter of J. L. aad Mary E. Suydam, of Greensburg, where she was reared and educated. Dr. and Mrs. Zahniser have two daughters, Elizabeth and Eleanor. He and his family are members of the First Presbyterian church.
LLOYD BURRELL HUFF. One of the representative young busi- ness men of Westmoreland county is Lloyd Burrell Huff, the oldest son of Hon. George F. and Henrietta Burrell Huff, of Greensburg, and grandson of the Hon. Jeremiah Murray Burrell, president judge of the tenth judicial district of Pennsylvania, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
He was born in Greenshurg on the eighth day of December, 1871, was edu-
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cated in the public schools, after which he entered Trinity Hall, a well equipped preparatory institution at Washington, Pennsylvania. In 1889 he matriculated in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York. In 1891 he left college to enter the coal and coke business with his father, taking charge of development work on a large coal and timber property near South Fork, in the Allegheny Mountains ; in 1893 he returned to Greensburg and became treasurer and manager of all the important mining properties in that section. When the Keystone Coal & Coke Company, one of the largest coal and coke producers in Pennsylvania, was organized he became treasurer and general manager, his father, Hon. George F. Huff, being the president. Mr. Huff has gained pres- tige in other fields as an able and progressive young business man, well fitted for handling affairs of scope and importance, being president of the Pittsburg, McKeesport & Greensburg Railway Company, a director of the First National Bank of Greensburg and other like enterprises ; also identified with both state and national horticultural and improvement associations. In his political pro- clivities Mr. Huff is a staunch Republican, for some years a member of the state central committee, and a loyal and efficient worker in his party. In 1895 he was appointed to the military staff of Governor Daniel H. Hastings with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he was promoted to assistant commissary general of the national guard of Pennsyl- vania, and was one of the first to be called into service by the governor. He received orders to assist in the commissary arrangements necessary to put the Pennsylvania soldiers into the field, which work was accomplished with com- mendable ability. He married, June 21, 1897, Eleanor Warren Moorhead, the second daughter of Hon. James S. Moorhead, one of the most prominent and leading members of the Westmoreland county bar. Mr. and Mrs. Huff have two children, Eleanor Moorhead and Elizabeth.
(For the genealogy of the Huff Family see sketch of Hon. George F. Huff.)
JAMES LAWRENCE KENNEDY, LL. M. Among the native sons of Westmoreland county who have here attained to success and worthy prestige in connection with the practice of law is Mr. Kennedy, who is one of the representative younger members of the bar of the county, being established in the practice of his profession in the city of Greensburg. He has worked his way to the front through earnest and well directed endeavor, and in his course has held no obstacle as insuperable, so that his advancement has been consec- ttive and well defined.
James Lawrence Kennedy was born at Penn's Station, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1866, and is a son of Denis and Ellen ( Keefe) Kennedy, both of whom were born in Ireland. The father immigrated from the Emerald Isle to America in 1849, and here began his active career as a day laborer, while he eventually accumulated a good property through his faithful efforts and provident methods, while his intrinsic integrity gained and retained to him the respect and confidence of his fellowmen. He died August 3. 1905. His widow resides in Penn Station. Both he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church. They became the parents of five sons and two daugh- ters, of whom James L. is the fifth in order of birth.
James L. Kennedy secured his early education in the public schools of the borough of Penn, and later continued his studies in the high school at Greens- burg, while he early formulated plans for his future career, determining to adopt the profession of law. After careful preliminary reading under able pre- ceptors he entered the law department of Catholic University of America in the
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
city of Washington, D. C., where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1896, in March, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, while in June, 1896, his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Laws, after he had taken special post-graduate work. He studied economics under Charles P. Neill and Carroll D. Wright, while other instructors were men of distinction in their assigned departments. As private legal preceptors Mr. Kennedy was favored in having Messrs. Vincent E. Wil- liams and William A. Griffith, prominent members of the Westmoreland county bar, and he was duly admitted to the bar of his native county in 1892, at which time he was incumbent of the office of court stenographer. This position he continued to retain until 1896, in which year he began the active practice of his profession, opening an office in Greensburg, where he has since maintained his headquarters and where he has proved significantly successful in the various departments of his professional work, having a clientage of distinctively repre- sentative character. Though he has never been ambitious for public office Mr. - Kennedy is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, in whose local ranks he has been more or less active in the various cam- paigns. He clings to his ancestral faith and is a communicant of the Catholic church, while in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the K. C. and the B. P. O. E. He is held in high regard in the professional and business circles of his home city and is well entitled to this recognition as one of the able and popular members of the bar of Westmoreland county.
EDWARD BARRY KENLY, a Union veteran of the civil war, book- keeper for the last eighteen years for Struble & Walthour, proprietors of the large Ludwick planing mill and lumber yard, also justice of the peace for sixth ward, Greensburg, formerly Ludwick borough, now serving his third term, was born near Harvey's Five Points, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1845.
His great-grandfather, William Kenly, a native of Hartford county, Mary- land, who later removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became very wealthy through investments in real estate. During the war of the revolution, by a colonial appointment, he assisted in raising funds to defray the expenses of the Continental army. In the archives of the revolutionary war are found notes, or scrip issued as Continental money bearing his signature. He was a brother-in -. law of General Josialı Harmar, a resident of Philadelphia, of revolutionary war fame, and subsequently commander-in-chief of the United States army, and personally in command of troops defending settlements in the northwest terri- tory. William Kenly was the father of one child, Dr. Charles Jenkins Kenly.
Dr. Charles Jenkins Kenly was for many years a practicing physician of Philadelphia. He left that city and came to Bell township, Westmoreland county, where he invested quite largely in real estate, and being wealthy lived a retired life. Ten years after his removal to Bell township he died, June 23. 1828, from injuries received from being thrown from a horse, and his remains were interred in the churchyard at Murraysville, Pennsylvania. He married Theresa Barry, born in Philadelphia, 1784, and died in Greensburg, 1863. Dr. and Mrs. Kenly were the parents of five children-three daughters and two sons-who grew to manhood and womanhood.
Richard Barry Kenly, one of the above named family, was born in Bell township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1821. About the time of his majority he engaged in the drug business in Greensburg, but shortly afterward left the drug trade and operated a general merchandise store for
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several years at Weavers Old Stand. After disposing of his store he pur- chased the Kern farm, which was situated one mile southeast of Greensburg : in 1855 he sold this farm to Robert Lowry. On April 1, 1856, Mr. Kenly re- moved to Ludwick, established a grocery and provision store, and at the sam. time opened the first retail lumber-yard in Westmoreland county, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death, March 9, 1886. In May, 1843, he married Lucinda C. Turney, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Singer) Turney, of Greensburg, and sister of Hon. Jacob Turney, Jr., nicm- ber of congress for two terms from the Westmoreland, Fayette and Greene district. Mrs. Kenly was born September 15, 1819, died June 13, 1895. She was a noble woman, fond mother, a devout Christian, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Kenly had eleven children: Edward B., Margaret T., Lucy C., Nannie S., wife of Robert Hughan, of Parnassus, Penn- sylvania ; Carrie L., wife of William Orr ; and Charles Harmar, a rural delivery mail carrier. Five children died from one to seven years of age. Richard B. Kenly, the father of the above named family, was a conscientious Christian ; an ardent temperance man and christian worker; an elder in the Presbyterian church ; a public-spirited citizen, always alert and working to the best interests of the town ; a school director for seven terms ; a justice of the peace for five years, and frequently a member of the borough council. He assisted in the laying out of the borough of Ludwick, and was appointed by the court to give notice of the first municipal election, June 6, 1859.
Edward Barry Kenly, eldest of the children of Richard B. and Lucinda (Turney) Kenly, was reared at the county seat, attended the public schools in the winter and select schools in the summer. Early in 1861 he graduated from Iron City College, and was taking a special course in civil engineering at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, when the Civil war broke out, he being then sixteen years. of age. He left his books and enlisted in the Federal Guards of Allegheny City under Captain J. C. Hull (who was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness, May, 1864,) which company was mustered into the United States service, July 4, 1861, as Company "A." Sixty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, commanded by Colonel Samuel Black, who was killed at Gaines' Miil, Virginia, June 26, 1862. Before embarking for Fortress Monroe, in March, 1862, Mr. Kenly was detailed as clerk at headquarters of General Silas Casey, who commanded the Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps during the Peninsular Campaign, famous for its malaria, muddy marches and hard fought battles, and was retained in the same position by Major-General John J. Peck, who succeeded General Casey in command of the division after the Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, and was with General Peck during all of his services in Virginia and North Carolina. In April, 1864. after the battle of Plymouth, North Carolina, General Peck was transferred to the Department of New York city, and Mr. Kenly was directed to report to E. M. Stanton, secretary of war .. Upon his arrival in Washington, D. C., he was assigned to duty as a clerk in room No. 54, war department, containing all the reports, returns and papers belonging or relating to the volunteers from the states of Ohio and Michigan, where he served until July 27, 1864, when he was honorably discharged on account of the expiration of his three years' term of enlistment. Adjutant- General Thomas offered him a civil appointment, but he refused it in order to return home and continue his studies at school. Several weeks after his return. whilst on a visit to the surviving members of his old company in Allegheny City. Captain J. W. Kirker, provost marshal of the Twenty-third congressional district of Pennsylvania, with headquarters in that city, prevailed upon him to
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
accept a clerkshio in his office, where he remained until it was discontinued several months after the war had ended. Mr. Kenly then went into the oil business in Western Virginia, continuing for about one year, after which he entered Dartmouth College, but on account of sickness and the severity of climate in New Hampshire he returned home before graduating. The two fol- lowing years he read law with his uncle, Hon. Jacob Turney, but the profes- sion of law not suiting him, he assisted his father in the lumber business, and since the death of the latter has continued along the same line. In politics he was an active Democrat until President Cleveland's second term, when on account of well known differences he joined in the rush and stampede of thous- ands of tariff-protection and Union-soldier Democrats to the Republican party. He is a member of the U. V. L., G. A. R., and K. and L. of H. Mr. Kenly mar- ried, January 30, 1890, Eleanor L. Crock, daughter of Emanuel and Mary (Thomas) Crock. They have two sons: Edward B., born January 25, 1901 ; and William C. W., born February 19, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Kenly are mem- bers of the Second Reformed Church of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM WESLEY ULERICH, present county superintendent of public schools for Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, has served in such edu- cational capacity for the past twelve years, during which time he has succeeded in raising high the standard of the public schools. He was born in Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1860, the son of John Nicholas and Mary Ann (Caylor) Ulerichi.
The grandfather, Samuel Ulerich, was the first member of this family to locate in Westmoreland county. He came from Germany about 1808, settling in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He was a tanner by trade. From family records it appears that he took little part in either politics or relig- ious work, but was an industrious, faithful citizen of his adopted country. His wife was Mary Elizabeth McDowell, of whose family history but little is known. Their children were: Julia Ann, Joseph, John Nicholas, and William.
John Nicholas Ulerich (father) was horn in Ligonier township, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Mary Ann Caylor, in Unity town- ship, same county. The former was born in 1834, and the latter in 1833. They followed farming for a livelihood. John Nicholas had a good common school education. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics was a Republican. For many years he served his district as school director. The mother was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Caylor. Her father was a justice of the peace in Unity township for many years.
William Wesley Ulerich, son of John N. and Ann (Caylor) Ulerich, was educated in the public schools of his native county, the Ligonier Classical Institute, and the Indiana State Normal, from which institution he graduated in 1884. He followed farm lahor until seventeen years of age, and then began to teach school, and has ever since been connected with educational institutions. He continued to teach until 1884 in rural schools, but in the summer of that year was elected to the assistant principalship of the Irwin public schools. He served in that capacity one year, and was then chosen as principal of the schools at Latrobe, where he remained eight years. In 1893 he was elected county superintendent of public schools for Westmoreland county, and has served twelve years and is still in office by reason of his efficiency. Politically Mr. Ulerich has always supported the Republican party. He is an active mem- ber of the Latrobe Methodist Episcopal church, and is a member of the board of trustees of that society ; is also chairman of the missionary and music com-
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mittees. He has been the Sunday school superintendent for the past sixteen years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; I. O. O. F., and the I. O. II. Mr. L'lerich was one of the founders of the Ridgeview Chautauqua, serving on its executive committees for six years. He was also a member of the Ridge view Park, and trustee of the committee for six years. His has been an active life. His efforts to build up good schools and advance the interests of his chosen church have been crowned with unusual success. Mr. Ulerich married. December 9, 1896, Nora B. Walter, at Markleton, Pennsylvania. She possessed a good public school education. She died February 28, 1903. Her parents were William and Mary Walter. Her father taught school and later became a merchant. Mr. Ulerich married ( second), August 17, 1905, Anna Susan Keener, daughter of Henry F. Keener, a minister of the German Reformed church, and his wife, Julia Elizabeth. Henry F. Keener is deceased, and his wife lives in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Anna Susan Keener was educated at the Indianan State Normal ; and at the Oswego State Normal, Oswego, New York. She is a teacher by profession, principal of the third ward primary school at Latrobe. She is a member of the Methodist church and superintendent of the primary department of the Sabbath school connected therewith.
HON. HENRY S. ACKERMAN, one of the leading and substantial business men of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and ex-member of the Pennsylvania house of representatives, was born April 9, 1845, in Unity town- ship, Westmoreland county, a son of Henry and Catherine (Smith) Ackerman. The progenitor of the Ackerman family in America was Philip Ackerman, the grandfather of Henry S., a native of Germany, who emigrated to this country. settling in Unity township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He married Christina Reed and had a son Henry.
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