USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 13
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Harry R. Breniser, son of Peter and Hulda J. ( Ramsey) Breniser, was born November 5, 1879, at the Breniser homestead, and was educated at the Iron City College, Pittsburg, from which institution he graduated. He is now the success- ful proprietor of the Hotel Breniser, which is in all respects the most modern establishment of the kind in the Ligonier valley. He is a Republican in politics, member of Ligonier Lodge, No. 331, A. F. and A. M., Greensburg Chapter, R. A. M., K. T., and Latrobe Lodge No. 907, B. P. O. E. Harry R. Breniser married, March 9, 1906, Mary I. Grove, a resident of Ligonier, and sister of Dr. W. W. Grove, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Dr. J. O. Grove, of Braden- ville, Pennsylvania.
JOHN NEVIN McCONNELL, for some years the enterprising representative of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, at Greensburg, Penn- sylvania, was born June 22, 1876, at Salina, Westmoreland county, the son of Yeakle Xenophon and Rachel ( Yockey) McConnell. This McConnell family came from the north of Ireland, but were of Scotch descent. The paternal an- cestor in this country married a pure Celt, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was a professor of Hebrew in an institute of learning that was active in the work of the Reformed church. Jacob Shearer, of Germany, was the maternal ancestor. His wife was Christina De Hoff, from Alsace, a French province. They settled in York county, Pennsylvania, near the Maryland' line.
Samuel McConnell, son of the paternal ancestor in the United States, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His wife was Catherine (Shearer) McConnell, the daughter of Jacob and Christina Shearer. She was a native of York county, Pennsylvania. Among their children was:
Rev. John McConnell, born in York county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1823, is still living, and is the grandfather of John Nevin McConnell. In March, 1847, as a volunteer member of Company "D," from the District of Columbia, Maryland, in the Mexican war service, he sailed from Baltimore for Vera Cruz in May, returning in August, 1848, when he was licensed to preach by the West- moreland classis of the Reformed church at Ligonier, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1853, and was ordained to the ministry by Miami classis at Day- ton, Ohio, July 25, 1855. He remained active in the work until a few years ago,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
since which time he has lived a retired life. Rachel ( Humberton) McCon- nell, wife of Rev. Jolin MeConnell, was born in Frostburg, Maryland, August, 1827. Her father was born in Maryland, but his father came from France, while the mother came from England. Her mother (nee Lohr) was born in Maryland, in 1795. The Lohrs came from Germany to Maryland.
Yeakle Xenophon McConnell, father of John Nevin McConnell, was born at Frostburg, Allegheny county, Maryland, June 4, 1853, coming to Westmore- land county in the early "seventies." He spent some time in the west, princi- pally at Corydon, Indiana. When about sixteen years of age he began teach- ing school. From 1890 to 1893 he served as deputy sheriff of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, under Lucian Clawson. At present he is employed by the Keystone Coal Company, at Salina, Pennsylvania. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and in religious faith an adherent to the creed of the Reformed church. Rachel ( Yockey ) McConnell, mother of John N. McConnell, was born at Salina, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1855. Her father, Simon Peter Yockey, was born at Perrysville, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February, 1820. His parents, Christopher and Mary ( Bash) Yockey, came direct from Germany to Westmoreland county. Mr. McCon- nell's maternal grandmother, Eliza K. Yockey, whose maiden name was Whitesell, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, about 1822. Her parents, John and Mary K. (Clawson) Whitesell, were born in the same county. Mary K. Clawson's parents came direct from Holland to Westmore- land county. Her ancestors played an important part in the early history of this county, fighting Indians, and fled from what is now Bell township to Hannastown for protection. Some were scalped and tortured in various ways. The family were of the German Reformed church.
J. Nevin McConnell received his education in the common schools of Westmoreland county, and in his youthful days was not a stranger to hard manual labor. Having an ambition to accomplish more in life's conflict than seemed possible in the role he was then following, he by hard study at night time in a few years became competent to fill a higher sphere, and in 1900 asso- ciated himself with the well known Equitable Life Assurance Company, whose business he managed at Greensburg up until 1906. In the early part of 1905 he became interested in coal lands and fire clay deposits, developing and market- ing the same. Like most of his ancestors he is a member of the Reformed church, and during 1904 was the superintendent of its Sunday school. He is a member of the F. and A. M., Shidle Lodge, No. 601, at Irwin, Pennsylvania. He married, October 26, 1898, Gertrude M. Wise, daughter of Simon and Amanda ( Blank ) Wise. She received her education from the Greensburg high schools and Greensburg Seminary. She passed from the scenes of earthi March 7. 1903. Her ancestors were prominently connected with Revolutionary and Civil war events. Among these are Major John I. Krebs ( Revolutionary) and Captain George A. Krebs ( Civil war). Her pateranl grandfather was William Wise, a native of Westmoreland county, born 1812. His wife, Lydia Wise, was born in the same county in 1813. Their parents settled in this county soon after coming from Germany. Her maternal grandfather was Henry Blank, born in Westmoreland county, in 1829, and now living at Greensburg, Penn- sylvania. His wife was Louise Krebs, (now spelled Cribbs) born in West- moreland county, about 1833, and still survives. The ancestors on both sides, with a few exceptions, came from Germany, and those who were not Germans came from France and Holland. To Mr. and Mrs. McConnell was born one son, Glenn Withrow, born at Irwin, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1900.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
HARRY FRANKLIN THOMAS, druggist at Greensburg, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, an enterprising and prudent business factor of the town, and whose place is located on Pennsylvania avenue, is the grandson of John Thomas and Catherine ( Weaver) Thomas. The date of his birth was December 18, 1859, in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania. The great-grandfather on the paternal side was Barnett Thomas, of the same township and county. He married and reared a family of nine chil- dren, including : John, George, Nathan, Henry, Barnett, Molly, Betsy, and Mary. Barnett Thomas, father of these children, was a lifelong farmer.
John Thomas, eldest son of Barnett Thomas, was a native of Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years. He married Catherine Weaver, a native of Westmoreland county, and died in Hempfield township, aged eighty-four years. Their chil- dren were : 1. Jemima ; 2. Nathaniel, who when less than twenty years of age enlisted in the Mexican war and died from sickness and an accident while on the march, having been in all the engagements encountered by his command, but the last one of the war. He died aged twenty-two years ; 3 and 4. Barnett and Cyrus (twins) ; 5. Sibella, now the widow of John Stark: 6. John, Jr .; 7. Jacob; 8. Abraham W. Three of these sons served in Pennsylvania regi- ments during the civil war-Cyrus, a major, died of pneumonia, aged sixty- eight years ; Abraham and Jacob, the latter died.
John Thomas, Jr., son of John Thomas, Sr., was born in Hempfield town- ship, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. February 9, 1834, and for nearly half a century has been a horse farrier and veterinary. He married Susan Henry, and their children were: Emma, deceased; Harry F .; Ida, deceased, wife of Richard Cribbs ; Alice, wife of James Gilliland; Mame, wife of George Kimmel : and Lizzie, single.
Harry F., son of John, Jr., after obtaining a good common school edu- cation, attended the Pharmacy College at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1884 and 1885. He then clerked for Will Brown, a Greensburg druggist for about thirteen years ( having been in his store prior to going to college) and then in 1895, engaged in the drug trade, which he still follows. Politically he is a Re- publican. He is a devout member and deacon of the Reformed church, and has been a financial secretary and trustee of the church cemetery association. He married Nannie A. Jones, daughter of Phebe Jones. The father is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born four sons: John E., born July 19, 1887: Paul L., born November 13, 1889; Henry F., Jr., born March 28, 1894; Howard J., born November 5, 1897, all still living at home.
JOHN FRANKLIN GOODLIN, a grocer, doing a prosperous retail trade at Nos. 213 and 215 West Newton avenue, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1870.
(I) His great-grandfather was James Goodlin, who married (first) Catharine Snyder. They located in Greensburg and conducted a hotel which stood where now stands the "Fisher House." Among the children born by their marriage was Henry A. Goodlin, the grandfather of John F. Goodlin. By James Goodlin's second marriage there was born to him among other chil- dren a son who was killed in the civil war.
(II) Ilenry A. Goodlin, son of pioneer James Goodlin and his wife Catharine, was born February 13, 1824. near Harrold's church, where he still resides, aged eighty-two years. He married Hannah Baker, daughter of George and Eve Baker. At an early day George Baker was a cabinet maker and 2-6
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
furnished all the coffins for the county home. Hannah ( Baker) Goodlin died in 1863. Henry A. Goodin married (second) Mary Harrold, daughter of George Harrold and wife. The children by the former marriage were: Will- iam George Washington, born February 22, 1851; Frank P., born 1852; Amanda, wife of Abraham Altman ; Mary A., wife of Henry A. Wentzel ; John H., and one daughter who died in infancy. By the second marriage Henry A. Goodlin was the father of Elmer .A., George H., Emma, wife of Arthur Keener.
(III) William G. W. Goodlin, father of John F. Goodlin, received a good common school education in Hempfield township, and farmed with his father until 1886, when he was appointed tip-staff in the Westmoreland district court, which place he still holds, making a continued service of twenty years. During 1896 he removed to Greensburg and in the spring of 1905 to hiis present liome at No. 219 West Third street. He is a Democrat, and a member of the First Reformed church. He married, March 24, 1870, Sevila T., daughter of Philip and Margaret ( Miller) Wentzel, of Millersdale, Pennsylvania. Their chil- dren were: John F., born September 29, 1870, of whom later : James H., born April 5, 1872; Sarah A., born May 12, 1874, married Frank O. Boggs ; Oliver P., born May 20, 1876; Margaret Jane, born August 18, 1878, married W. H. Sawash; William H., born June 9, 1880; Mary L., born October 20, 1882; Lilly A., born December 9, 1884, wife of Harry Schaff ; Laura Pearl, born March 25, 1888; Lucian W. Doty, born February 15, 1890, died December 9, 1902. The living children all reside in Greensburg, except Mrs. Boggs, who resides in Jeannette, a suburb town.
(IV) John Franklin Goodlin, after receiving a good education, taught for several years in the schools of Westmoreland county and then clerked for WV. F. Scheibler in his general store on "Bunker Hill" for three years. Sub- sequently he engaged in trade with his father-in-law and brother-in-law. H. R. and J. G. Myers, at Jeannette. He sold out there and embarked in the grocery trade in Greensburg with his brother, James H., and now operates at Nos. 213 and 215 West Newton avenue. Mr. Goodlin married, when about twenty-one years of age, Sarah Henry, of Middletown. They have two children: Clark Oliver, born May 1, 1894. and Olive Margaret, born December 29, 1896. Mr. Goodlin is a Republican in his political views, believing that party but serves the interests of the masses of American citizens. Both he and his wife are members of the First Reformed church. He is a member of Golden Eagle Lodge and the Protected Home Circle.
EDWARD JOHN PERRY. As incumbent of the office of burgess of Greensburg and as one of the representative citizens of Westmoreland county Mr. Perry is consistently accorded recognition in this compilation, while it may be stated that he is one of the leading undertakers and florists of the attractive capital city of the county.
Edward John Perry is a native of the old Keystone state, where the family was founded several generations ago. He was born in Lewisville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1864, and is a son of Samnel C. and Mary Ellen (Stern) Perry, of whose eight children six are living, namely : Lizzie, wife of Samuel McCauley, who resides in the northeastern part of Maryland ; William T., a successful druggist in Chester, Pennsylvania ; Ed- ward J., of whom later; Albert Cloud, engaged in the grocery business in the city of Philadelphia ; George Elliott, identified with the same line of en- terprise in the same city ; and Anna, wife of Albert McCauley, superintendent
Eg@my
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
of the Denver paper mills in the city of Denver, Colorado. Samuel C. Perry was born January 17, 1828, and the major part of his life was passed in Chester county. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, and his active career was devoted to contracting and building, in which he was fairly suc- cessful, being a man of integrity and reliability. He died August 31, 1883, at the age of fifty-four years. In politics he was a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife were prominent and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while for many years he was a member of the board of trustees of St. John's Church, in Lewisville. In a fraternal way he was identified with the I. O. O. F. and the K. P., while in all the relations of life he commanded the con- fidence and esteem of those with whom he came in contact. His wife is Mary Ellen Perry, nee Stern, of Denver, Colorado.
Edward J. Perry passed his boyhood days in his native town, in whose public schools he secured his early educational training, though his school work was of very irregular order after he had attained the age of ten years, since he then began to depend upon his own resources to a very large extent. He secured employment on a neighboring farm, remaining with the one employer for six years, within which time he attended school as opportunity presented, and he remained two years with another farmer of Cecil county, Maryland. At the age of eighteen years he secured a position in the estab- lishment of a leading undertaker and florist of Westgrove, Chester county, where he secured his initial experience in the line of enterprise with which he is now so successfully identified. He remained connected with this estab- lishment for a period of four and one-half years, within which time he had thoroughly familiarized himself with all details of the business. In 1887 he associated himself with Ellsworth Burtis and engaged in the undertaking business at Mount Holly, New Jersey, where the enterprise was conducted about two years, under the firm name of Burtis & Perry. He then disposed of his interests and shortly afterward removed to the city of Pittsburg, where he was employed about eighteen months, at the expiration of which, in 1890, he came to Greensburg, where he has ever since maintained his home and where he has become numbered among our representative business men. For four and one-half years he was here employed by Samuel N. Shields, under- taker, and June 17. 1895, he engaged in business for himself as a funeral director, while in 1901 he added to his undertaking business the florist de- partment, while his equipments and accessories are of the best and his estab- lishment one of the leading concerns of the sort in the county.
In politics Mr. Perry accords a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, and has been an active worker in its cause for a number of years past. He was a member of the Democratic county committee for several terms as a representative of the Fourth ward in the city of Greensburg, and in Feb- ruary, 1903. was signally honored in being elected to his present responsible poition as burgess for a term of three years, his election, furthermore, in- dicating the high regard in which he is held in the community. In a fraternal way Mr. Perry is affiliated with the following orders: Greensburg Lodge, No. 511, B. P. O. E .: Greensburg Castle, No. 366, K. G. E .; Greensburg Tent. No. 214, K. M .; Westmoreland Lodge, No. 840, I. O. O. F .; Aerie No. 577. F. O. E. : Westmoreland Camp, No. 18, W. of W. : the Grand Fra- ternity and the Homeless, No. 26. He is secretary of the Westmoreland County Funeral Directors' Association, and a member of the board of trustees of Thiel College. He has also been identified with the Greensburg fire de-
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
partment for fourteen years, in which time he has filled all of the various offices in the company, as well as being captain for six years; is a member of the Pennsylvania State Firemen's Association, and also served one term as president of the Western Pennsylvania Firemans' Association, which comprises thirty-six counties, as well as being on the executive board since 1898. Mr. Perry married, January 6, 1897, Margaret J. Horty, daughter of James Horty, of West Grove, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where she was born and reared, and seven children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The names of the surviving children are: Fred B., Paul R., Edward J., Jr., Richard M., Kenneth C. and Elizabeth C. He and his wife are prominent members of the First Lutheran church, he having filled the office of deacon for the past six years.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS WINEMAN, of the firm of Wineman & Getty, dealers in furniture and musical instruments, of Greensburg, Penn- sylvania, ranks among the thrifty business men of the city. He was born near the present site of Youngwood, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1871, the son of Andrew and Catherine C. (Rugh ) Wineman.
I. The American ancestor of this family was John George Wineman, a native of Germany, coming from Muenchingen, Wuertenberg, with his wife, Anna Catherine (Laundmesser) Wineman, and children: Barbara, Jacob, Regena, George, Andrew, mentioned hereafter. After coming to this country the children born were John and Mary. The family came from their German home across the sea in the ship "Columbia"; they sailed from Amsterdam July 14. 1831, and landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ancestor, John George, was born in 1790, and died, aged ninety-three years, in 1883. The wife of the paternal ancestor came from those of high official position in Germany. They were both strict, devout Lutherans. They settled near Greensburg. Pennsylvania, in Hempfield township, on land bought at eighteen dollars per acre. It is still in possession of the family, a spot sacred to every member of the generations descending from them.
II. Andrew Wineman, son of John George and Anna Catherine Wine- man, was born at Muenchingen, canton of Ledberg, in the kingdom of Wuertenberg. Germany, November 11, 1830. He was less than a year old at the date of his parents coming to America. He received a good common school education in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and followed the cabinet-making business for a few years at New Stanton, Pennsylvania, but subsequently settled on the old farm, tilled the soil, raised, bought and sold stock, especially horses for the eastern city markets. He was a strict Lu- theran, and early became a member of the old Harrolds church, of which he was for many years an officer and very active worker. He also founded the Youngwood Lutheran church in 1901. Politically he was a stanch Re- publican. Mr. Wineman married, when about twenty-nine years of age, Catherine Caroline Rugh, whose parents, Peter and Elizabeth Rugh, resided where "Hufftown" now stands, a part of Greensburg. She was born August 12, 1839. The children by that union are: Anna Margaret, married ; Eliza- beth Amanda, married ; Mary Jane, single; Jacob Ezra, married: Gustavus Adolphus, married ; Charlotte Agnes, married; William Henry, married; a college graduate : and George Franklin, single. Andrew Wineman, father of these children. died February 14, 1904, and his good wife, so long his life companion, still lives on the old Wineman homestead, beloved by all.
Of the Rugh family it may here be stated that their ancestor came to
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
this country about 1680, settling in eastern Pennsylvania. His name was Michael Rugh. A member of the family went over the Allegheny mountains, settling in what is now Westmoreland county. In the acts of the assembly, September 17, 1785, it is recorded: "Whereas, the Seat of Justice for the county of Westmoreland hath not been heretofore established by law, etc., etc., it was enacted by the freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that five trustees be appointed to purchase a piece of land in trust for use of the inhabitants of Westmoreland county. Provided: That said piece of land be not situated farther east than "nine mile run," nor farther west than "Brushy Run," or farther north than Loyalhanna, nor farther south than five miles south of the old Pennsylvania road, leading to Pittsburg, on which ground said courthouse and prison." The trustees appointed to act were: Benjamin Davis, Michael Rugh, John Shields, John Pomeroy, and Hugh Martin. Michael Rugh owned the land where now stands the steel works and the borough of Hufftown. Jacob Rugh was Michael Rugh's son, and the father of Peter Rugh, whose daughter Caroline intermarried with the Winemans.
III. Gustavus Adolphus Wineman, son of Andrew Wineman, received a good common school education in the schools of Hempfield township, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and then learned the carpenter's and build- ers' trade, following that and contracting until 1902, when he in company with H. M. Zundell purchased the furniture business of C. T. Barnhart, who had operated it a quarter of a century. Politically Mr. Wineman is a Republican, and in religious matters, like his forefathers, adheres to the Lutheran church. He first held membership in Harrolds church, but after his marriage united with the First Lutheran Church of Geensburg, of which his wife is also a member, though formerly a Presbyterian. Mr. Wineman was a member of the borough council for four years at South West Greens- burg, and for the past three years has been president of the school board. He was among the first to build in that borough, erecting several residences which materially aided in the growth and development of the place. In 1905 he in company with George S. Getty, purchased the Greensburg Trading Company business, wherein is carried a full line of furniture and household supplies and musical instruments, selling his interest in the furniture estab- lishment of Wineman & Zundel.
Mr. Wineman married, December 30, 1896, Mary J. Bierer, of Cedar- ville, Virginia, daughter of J. M. and Susan ( Painter) Bierer. She was born near Greensburg. November 23, 1871. Her father's family were prom- inent in the service of the Union army in Civil war days, volunteering as soldiers at Latrobe. Mr. and Mrs. Wineman are the parents of three chil- dren : Grace Virginia, John Bierer, and Mary Caroline.
In conclusion it should be stated that every old citizen around Greens- burg well remembers the eventful, though quiet and reserved life of John George Wineman, the grandfather of Gustavus A. Wineman, who built up both state and church by an honest, exemplary life. Also the late Andrew Wineman, father of Gustavus A. Wineman, who bore well his part in making the surroundings of Greensburg what they are in a number of ways. Gus- tavus A. Wineman is taking up the duties laid down by both father and grandfather.
FOIGHT FAMILY. John George Foight, the first ancestor of the family in America, was a son of George Jacob Foight, of Iwinsbaugh,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Brockenheim county, Wurtemberg kingdom, Germany. He was born No- vember 19, 1800. He served an apprenticeship with a boot and shoe maker in his native village and learned that trade. In the year 1823 he embarked on a sailing vessel bound for America. It is not known from what port in the Fatherland he sailed, but by reason of contrary winds his voyage lasted eighty days. He and his fellow wayfarers suffered some hardships from their long cruise, as the good ship's commissary was exhausted of every- thing but salt meats before reaching this side of the Atlantic. He settled in Pittsburg, where he began to work at his trade as a journeyman. Some- time later he married Eliza Berlin Wooster, widow of Charles Wooster. This Widow Wooster was before this time the widow of one Pinkerton, so that she had already outlived two husbands, and after her marriage with her third husband her maternal instincts went out to three lines of children. In 1832 John George Foight removed with his family to Murrysville, West- moreland county, where he purchased a tract of twenty acres of land, erected a log house and shop, set up as a master in his trade and followed it until a few years before his death. The military spirit ran high in him and he was a member of a volunteer militia company called the "Franklin Blues." He clied December 31, 1872.
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