History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: Boucher, John Newton, 1854-1933; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 14

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George Jacob, his father, according to a translation of some old German papers brought to this country and still in the possession of the family, was an attache of the Court at Wurtemberg. When a mere lad John George Foight saw Napoleon's army as it crossed Germany in the campaign against Russia. This pageant was stamped upon his youthful mind and he frequently related it to his family with much pride. It is quite probable that the spell- ing and pronunciation of the surname of John George Foight, either by ac- cident or design, was changed after he came to America. The German spell- ing of the name, as attested by Germans of his time and acquaintance, was "Voight" instead of "Foight," and the pronunciation accordingly. It was a rather common occurrence among people of the German nationality coming to this country in the early days to endeavor to Anglicise their names. This early custom is revealed by the old legal records of the county.

Eliza Berlin, wife of the American ancestor of the Foight family, was the daughter of Jacob Berlin. She was born at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1800. With her parents she crossed the mountains in 1810 and settled in Pittsburg. During the journey a night was spent at Fort Ligonier, where a guard had to be posted to keep wolves away from the horses and camp. The old Foight homestead was on the line of the northern turnpike, which before the building of the Pennsylvania railroad, was one of the main thor- oughfares between Pittsburg and Philadelphia. In her day Eliza Berlin Foight was famous for the cakes she made and for a beverage called "spruce beer," which she supplied to travelers on the pike. She and her husband first attended Denmark Manor Reformed church, where now repose their remains. This church was about five miles from where they lived, and before they possessed a horse they traveled to the church afoot. In the latter years of their lives a Methodist Episcopal church was established at Murrysville and they united with it. When a small girl Mrs. Foight was among the com- pany who welcomed Marquis LaFayette upon his visit from France to the United States. She many times spoke to her friends in later years of the warm welcome extended by the people to the famous general upon that oc- casion. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John George Foight were: Sam- uel Berlin, born in 1837, educated in the common schools, after which he was

John A fright

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

apprenticed as a compositor. After mastering the printer's trade he worked at the case on the Pittsburg Gasette (now Commercial Gazette) and became foreman of the composing room. He was married to Margaret Remaley. He died of a fever in December, 1871, leaving two sons, Harry S. and Frank A., to survive him. Lucinda, married Herman H. Beeson, and shortly after her marriage moved with her husband to Columbia City, Whitley county, Indiana. Lucinda is now a widow, her children all living near her in Indiana. Satiah, married (first) Oliver Purcell, who a short time afterwards died in Pittsburg, leaving one son, John. Satiah married (second) David Miller, and they lived for a time at Mckeesport, but now reside near Denmark Manor church. John George, of whom later.

John George Foight, named after his father, was born at Murrysville, November 28, 1842. He received a common school education, and by occu- pation is a farmer, fruit grower and dairyman. In August, 1864, he enliste- in the Two Hundred and Fourth Regiment. Fifth Light Artillery, United States Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out of the service July 4, 1865. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania legislature in 1888. He was instrumental in the organization of the First National Bank of Export, of which he is a director. John G. Foight, married, in 1867, Mary Emeline Brinker, a native of Penn township, born in 1847. They are both members of the Denmark Manor Reformed church, and polit- ically Mr. Foight has always been a Republican. Mary Emeline Brinker was a daughter of Josiah and Anna ( Kistler) Brinker. Jacob Brinker, her great- grandfather, is supposed to have been born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania. The earliest record of him is his will, recorded November 16, 1798, by which instrument it appears he was the father of a large family and that he was possessed of about fifteen hundred acres of land, much of it located in what was then styled the "Opost Settlement," Franklin township. His wife was named Susannah and his children were: George, Jacob, Abra- ham, Margaret, married one Larner : Katren, wife of John Seeley; Susannah, wife of Jacob Barleen, and one daughter (name unknown) who married a man named Shaver. Jacob Brinker, her grandfather, lived on the land in- herited from his father in Franklin township. It is not known to whom he was married. On January 12, 1805, he received a deed from one Coates, an attorney for John and Richard Penn, proprietors of Pennsylvania, for three hundred and thirty-six acres of land in the Manor of Denmark, which land his father had purchased from the heirs of Penn, and had given to him by his will, but for which the father had never received the deed. His children were: Colonel Paul Brinker, Josiah, above named; Esther, married John Lauffer, of Harrison City : Sarah, wife of Michael Byers, and Lydia, married (first) John Kistler, and later, one Fink. Josiah Brinker died in 1888. John Lauffer, mentioned herein, lived to the ripe old age of over a hundred years. The children of John G. and Mary E. Foight now living are : Samuel Berlin, Paul R., Mary Elizabeth, wife of J. Logan Kemerer ; John HI., Jesse Brinker (named after his grandfather), Annie E., unmarried, at home; Harry W., unmarried, at home ; and Charles Curtis, unmarried, at home.

CHARLES WESLEY BYERLY, who conducts a grocery and queensware store in Greensburg. Pennsylvania, is a native of Westmoreland county. He was born in East Huntingdon township, January 9, 1860, the son of John and Harriet (Suttle) Byerly, who farmed in Hempfield and other townships in Westmoreland county. The father died in Greensburg, in July,

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

1894, aged seventy-two years. Their children were Artlisa, died young ; William Irwin, died aged about forty-nine years; Viola, married Dempster Moore, who died in Philadelphia; she died December, 1903; Margaret, wife of Thomas E. Wible, of Greensburg, Pa .; Martha, died young; Charles W .; Phebe Ann, married A. O. Jones, of Greensburg, Pa .; Hattie M., married Milton Given, of Greensburg, Pa.

Charles W. Byerly attended the common schools of his native county, and when a young man operated his father's farm and a dairy for two years, after which he engaged in the grocery and crockery business, which he has followed the past eighteen years, commencing about 1887. His place of business, on Penn avenue, Greensburg, is one of the model business houses of the thriving city. He adheres to the political principles of the Repub- lican party. His own business affairs having fully absorbed his time, he has never held public office, except that of school director in Southwest Greens- burg borough. He was a member of Company I, Pennsylvania National Guard, for five years, holding the office of corporal. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Greensburg, and is connected with the Wood- men of the World, an insurance fraternal order. He married, April 30, 1885. Carrie E. Robinson, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Daniel and Hannah Robinson. Her father died in 1887. Their children were: Nellie, aged twenty years; Marjorie, aged eighteen years; Hannah, aged sixteen years ; Henrietta, aged fourteen years ; and Viola M., aged seven years.

JESSE CLARENCE WELTY is one of the well known and pros- perous farmers of Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He is also extensively engaged in dealing in live stock, and is one of the influential men of this district.

John Steiner Welty, father of Jesse Clarence Welty, was a wagon builder by trade and carried on a successful business in Frogtown, near Pleasant Unity. He was a member of the Reformed church, and a stanch Democrat. He married Nancy Kilgore, daughter of Jesse Kilgore, who was one of the leading farmers of Hempfield township, and they had eleven children : Eliza- beth, died in infancy ; Charles, died in infancy ; Mary, married Murray Zim- merman, son of Henry R. Zimmerman, farmer and thresher of Hempfield township; Lelah, married Samuel Gordon, of New Alexandria, and has three children : Bessie, Ada and Jane; Margaret, married Harvey Barclay, of Con- nellsville, and has two children: Harry and John; John Kilgore, died at the age of twenty ; Jesse Clarence, of whom later ; Richard Steiner, married Kate Smith, daughter of Francis Smith, who is one of the leading farmers of Unity township, and has two children, Harry and Mildred : William, died in infancy; Robert, died at the age of two years; Bessie, married Ezra W. Kepple, who is in the mantel business in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and has one child, Mabel.

Jesse Clarence Welty, third son and seventh child of John Steiner and Nancy (Kilgore) Welty, was born in Frogtown, near Pleasant Unity, Penn- sylvania, June 23, 1872. He received his education in the common schools of the district, and commenced at quite an early age to assist his father on the farm, thus gaining practical knowledge of the best means of cultivation. U'pon attaining manhood he commenced farming operations for himself, which has met with unvaried success. In connection with the cultivation of his farm, which is a model in its way, he commenced to deal in live stock, and now does an extensive business in this direction. He married, February 18,

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

1897, Mary Immel, daughter of John and Nancy (Rowe) Immel, of East Greensburg. Andrew Rowe, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Welty, came from Germany when a boy, settled in Pennsylvania, and married Peggie Hontz. Henry Immel, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Welty, was in the meat business for a livelihood. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Clarence Welty are : John Franklin, born August 18, 1899; Margaret Nancy, March 23, 1901 ; Jesse Kilgore, March 13, 1903.

ADAM KELLER BOWMAN, one of the leading business men of Westmoreland county and a man prominently and actively identified with com- munity affairs, was born in Bell township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1854, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hine) Bowman. Joseph Bowman was born in Bell township in 1825. He was reared on the home farm, and on reaching manhood acquired a portion of the old homestead, where he resided up to 1868, when he removed to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Here he was connected for a number of years with the mercantile business, which in 1894 was sold to the Greer Brothers, and since that time led a retired life. Mr. Bowman is a Democrat, and for several years held the office of councilman of Greensburg. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and was for many years an officer of that church. He married Elizabeth Hine, and their children are: Simon, of Greensburg ; Elizabeth, wife of Lucien Clawson, ex-sheriff and banker of Greensburg ; and Adam Keller, of whom later.

Adam Keller Bowman was reared at home, acquiring his education in the Greensburg public schools. In 1870 he entered his father's store, and some two or three years later was made a member of the firm, the firm name being changed from J. Bowman to J. Bowman & Sons, Simon Bowman also being made a member of the firm. From this time the management of the business was gradually assumed by Adam and his brother. Under their management the business prospered and grew to large proportions, becoming one of the leading dry goods and carpet establishments in Greensburg. In 1898 Adam K. Bowman retired from the firm, and engaged in the manufacture of garment hangers. One year later he perfected and patented a self-adjusting skirt hanger, the sales of which extend all over this and foreign countries. In 1902 the business had grown to such proportions that more commodious quarters were necessary, and Mr. Bowman accordingly erected a three-story factory building on Penn street, in Ludwick borough, where the business is now con- ducted on a large and paying scale. Mr. Bowman's life is an example that may well be followed by the rising generation ; an illustration of what those success- bringing qualities, industry, perseverance and strong will, can do in the way of attaining for a man a high place in the ranks of successful and prosperous people. Mr. Bowman affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served one term as a member of the borough council. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and takes a lasting interest in the welfare of that organization. In 1889 Mr. Bowman married Martha Elizabeth Berlin, of Greensburg, and of their seven children five are living : Romayne, Josephine, Margery, Joseph and Edward.

EDWARD HENRY BAIR, real estate dealer and member of the firm of Bair and Lane, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was born March 6, 1859. in the village of Congruity, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry Nicholas Hacke Bair and Elizabeth (Keener) Bair.

The grandfather, David Bair, emigrated from Lancaster county, Pennsyl-

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

vania, to Penn township, Westmoreland county, in the early years of the nine- teenth century, and died January 26, 1852, aged sixty years and twenty-four days. He married (first) Elizabeth Bowers, and ( second) Sarah Bender.

The father of Edward Henry Bair was born in Penn township about 1825 and died January 11, 1873. He married Elizabeth Eliza Keener, daughter of Henry and Susan Keener, and moved to Congruity about 1848. He, with his brothers Isaac and Sebastian, were the inventors of what was known as the tumbling-shaft threshing machines and was largely interested in the machine business at Congruity at the time of his death in 1873. He was prominently known throughout the country as a manufacturer of farm machinery, etc. He was among the earliest undertakers in the county, and was the first to manu- facture broadcloth-covered coffins. He was one of the founders of Trinity Re- formed church at New Salem, as was also his wife. In politics he was a Democrat. He took a very active part in the public school system, and for many years served as a member of the school board in Salem township, and was a candidate for county commissioner at the time of his death.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Keener) Bair traces her ancestry back to the Ubero and Frantzs and her great-grandfather, great-grandmother and their daughter were captured by the Indians about the time of the destruction of Hannahstown. The great-grandfather was murdered at the time, and the two women taken with the tribe of Indians to a point along the Monongahela river, near present Mckeesport, and after about six months of captivity escaped and stole their way back to their home just north of Greensburg. Mr. Bair's mother was born in 1824 and died in 1894 at Congruity, Pennsylvania.

Edward Henry Bair was educated in the public schools in Salem township and at the New Salem Academy. He relates that perhaps through acquaint- ance and sympathy, more than for any other reason, he was made a teacher at the age of sixteen years in Salem township. After teaching for three years he was elected principal of the New Salem schools and during three summers, in partnership with I. E. Lauffer, had charge of the New Salem Academy. He was elected in 1881, principal of the Scottdale public schools, and after two years resigned to locate in Greensburg for the purpose of reading law. Here he took charge of the Ludwick schools. Two years later he drifted into the real estate business. He passed the preliminary law examination and registered with Beacon and Newill (attorneys), but owing to the rapid growth of his real estate business, he abandoned further law studies and since then has been largely interested in Greensburg real estate.

For more than a dozen years he has been identified with many enterprises. having promoted the Westmoreland Electric Company ; the Westmoreland Light. Heat and Power Company ; the Greensburg Southern Street Railway Company ; the Westmoreland Realty Company : the Iron City Land Company ; the Atlantic Land Company, and many public enterprises. He is at present the senior member of the firm of Bair and Lane : vice-president of the Greens- burg Furnace Company : treasurer of the Greensburg and Cambridge Spring railway, and a director of the Merchants' Trust Company, besides being largely interested in numerous other enterprises in Westmoreland county.

In his religion he is identified with the Reformed church of Greensburg, and in politics is a Democrat. Mr. Bair is a member of Westmoreland Lodge, No. 518, F. and A. M. of Greensburg : Olivet Council Lodge, No. 13, Urania Chapter, Lodge No. 192: Kedron Commandery, Lodge No. 18, K. T., A. A. S. R. Valley of Pittsburg, and Syria Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., and the present secretary of the Greensburg Masonic fund. By a vote of the people in the sev-

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

eral boroughs, June, 1905, the first of these ambitions was realized, and the second one has since made great progress. He was married at Latrobe, Penn- sylvania, October 14, 1885, to Esther Mary Suydam, daughter of Joseph L. and Mary White Suydam. Her father until a very short time before his death, at Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was the superintendent of the Wilmington and Delaware railroad. Mrs. Bair was educated at the schools of Coatsville and Latrobe. Their children were: Paul Suydam, Kenneth Henry, Helen, Edward Hart, Esther, and Joseph Lawrence.

One of the ambitions of Mr. Bair, in a business sense and for general pub- lic good, is to bring about the consolidation of the numerous boroughs, sur- rounding the borough of Greensburg in order that the place may become a city and the leading one in western Pennsylvania, for ideal homes. Another mat- ter in which he is greatly interested is that the public school system shall rise to such a standard as to admit its graduates to any of the large colleges, without additional preparation. It is his sanguine belief that both of these, his worthy ambitions, will be fully realized, and within a short period.

J. R. SMITH, a successful attorney and enterprising coal operator and Imanufacturer of Scottdale, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born March 29, 1850, the son of Jesse P. and Sarah ( Robinson) Smith, and descends from German ancestry. His paternal grandfather came from Germany about 1790 and settled in Cass township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer of the sturdy type and prominent in the Methodist Episcopal church. He married a Miss Parnell, in Germany. They had six sons, of whom Mr. Smith's father was one. His name was Jesse, and he was next to the youngest son.

Jesse P. Smith, the father, was a soldier in the Civil war in the Union army under General George B. McClellan. He was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1812. He followed farming for a livelihood. In religion be was identified with the Methodist Protestant church, and was a Republican in his political affiliations. He married Sarah Robinson, daughter of Vincent and Susan ( Hess) Robinson, all of the same county. They were of Scotch parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse P. Smith's children were: Thomas G .; Samuel H .; Mary S. (Mrs. Cook) ; J. R., see forward; Eliza Jane : Isaac Newton.

J. R. Smith, son of Jesse P. Smith, received his education at the common schools, and later took an academic course. He was reared to farm labor in Todd township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and read law with the well known law firm of Brown and Bailey, of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar in the county of his native city in 1879, removing to West- moreland county in 1881. He was admitted to the practice in the supreme courts in 1887, and soon after the organization of the superior court, and also a member of the United States court. Aside from his professional career he is interested in coal mining operations and manufacturing industries in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, and in the state of West Virginia. He has a law office at Greensburg. Being a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, he has always cast his vote with this party. Aside from holding the office of school director, he has never sought or held public office. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Scottdale. Ile was married, October 2, 1884. near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, to Clara S. Clifford, who received a common school and academic education. Her father, C. Myers Clifford, and mother,

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

Susan ( McElroy) Clifford, are farmers. Their children are: Jessie Anna, Clifford M., Vincent Robinson, Marquis McElroy, all born in Scottdale, Penn- sylvania, all unmarried at this time.

WILLIAM THEODORE DOM, JR., an attorney practicing in the city of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was born at that place July 10, 1873, the son of William Theodore and Eliza Jane ( Mccullough) Dom.

(I) Philip Dom, the grandfather, was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Ger-' many. He came to America about 1821, locating at Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, and in his political views was first a Whig and upon the formation of the Republican party became identified with that organization. By occupation he was a contractor and builder. He aided in building iron furnaces at Wellersburg, Pennsylvania. He also helped to construct the National pike road in the Shenandoah valley, between Winchester and Romney, Virginia. He became a prominent citizen, both in Berlin and Wellersburg, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Gerhardt, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, a granddaughter of Sir John Jacob Hentz, who was the custodian of all the public records of the town of Beuern in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. The Hentzs were very prominent among the families of that section of Germany.

(II) William Theodore Dom, son of Philip Dom, was one of a family of six brothers and two sisters. He was born August 10. 1844, at Wellersburg. Pennsylvania. He was variously engaged as hotel keeper, merchant, coal and coke superintendent and banker. He now lives a retired life at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. His education was obtained in the public school. The church of his choice is the Presbyterian, and politically he affiliates with the Republican party, but has never sought office. He married Eliza Jane McCollogh, who bore him three sons-William Theodore, John McCollogh and Welty McCollogh Domn.

Of Mr. Dom's mother's family it may be said that tradition says that Hugh Brady (I) and Hannah McCormick, his wife, came from the forks of the Dela- ware and settled in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, about 1734. They were the parents of nine children.

(II) Hugh Brady, the fourth son of Hugh and Hannah ( McCormick) Brady, was born in 1740, and married Jane Young, by whom nine children were born, including one named James.

(III James Brady, born in 1764, died 1839. He married Rachel Speer, and they became the parents of six children, including Jane. James Brady removed from the Cumberland valley and settled in Ligonier valley, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, at an early day, but went to Greensburg to assume the duties of sheriff, to which office he was elected in 1794, and resided there until his death. He was elected to the house of representatives for a term of three years. He was also a member of the state senate, three terms of four years each. In 1806 he was speaker of the senate. He was called by Governor Heister as one of his cabinet and served as secretary of the land office. The Bradys were Presbyterians and James was the first elder of this church at Greensburg, of whom there appears to be any record. He appeared as elder in the presbytery in 1802. In 1808 he and his pastor were chosen delegates to the general assembly. He frequently represented the church in the meetings of the presbytery, and from the numbers of committees on which he served in that body he must have been an active and useful member. He was an elder nearly

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

forty years. He was a cousin of Captain Samuel Brady and General Hugh Brady.

(IV) Jane Brady, born 1794. died 1873. She married Jacob Welty, who was born in 1791, and died in 1864. They were the parents of seven children. The Weltys came from Switzerland.

I. John Jacob Welty, born in 1720, married Christina Broff, and they were the parents of six children.

II. Henry Welty, son of John Jacob, was born in 1764, died in 1841. He married Catherine Steiner, and they had nine children.

III. Jacob Welty, son of Henry Welty, was born 1791, died 1864. He married Jane Brady (IV), and they were the parents of seven children, in- cluding Eliza Catherine.

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History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: Boucher, John Newton, 1854-1933; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 Publication date: 1906 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 860

Author: Boucher, John Newton, 1854-1933; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 860