USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 48
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EDMUND M. KYLE. The father of Edmund M. Kyle, of Belle Vernon, was William Kyle, born in 1816, at Perryopolis, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. From 1845 and 1855 he was engaged in the manufacture of glass in Fayette City, and then went into the mercantile business with which he was identified until 1868. Under the administration of President Grant he was appointed by the collector of internal revenue storekeeper at Gibsonton, and the greater part of his service was ren- dered at that place. He held the appointment for sixteen years under the ad- ministrations of Presidents Grant, Haves, Garfield and Arthur. retiring from the service in 1884, and afterward leading a strictly private life. Mr. Kyle married Margaret M., born in 1826, daughter of James and Hester (Sisley) McCrory, both natives of Fayette county. The former belonged to a family which has been resident in Fayette county more than one hundred and fifty
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years. His father settled near Belle Vernon, where he took up a large tract of land from which he was thrice driven by the Indians and forced to take refuge in the forts. Mrs. Kyle's grandmother lived to the extraordinary age of one hundred and four years. Mr. and Mrs. Kyle were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living: James P'., a resident of Belle Vernon ; Lewis M., proprietor of the Kyle Hotel, at Belle Vernon ; Edmund M., men- tioned hereafter: William, lives at Belle Vernon; Samuel, a resident of the same place : Naomi, wife of Marion Roley, of Belle Vernon ; and Sarah, resides at home. The deceased members of the family are: Wilson M., Emma L., and Mary, who became the wife of Oliver Murphy and is survived by seven chil- dren : Mazie, Lewis, Emma, Clarence, German, John and Grace. William Kyle died October 27. 1894, in Belle Vernon, where he had resided since 1865. His widow is still living and is a resident of North Belle Vernon.
Edmund M. Kyle, son of William and Margaret MI. ( McCrory) Kyle, was born December 7, 1850, in Fayette City, and was educated in the common schools. As early as his twelfth year he began to work for wages, and until his seventeenth year labored at whatever offered to return him a dollar. At the age of seventeen he became a clerk in the store of Martin & Pearsol, in Belle Vernon, remaining there until 1873. On May 9 of that year he formed a part- nership with J. A. Pearsol, one of his former employers, under the firm name of E. M. Kyle & Company, and they embarked in business in Belle Vernon. When the partnership had lasted about four years, Mr. Kyle purchased the interest of Mr. Pearsol and has since carried on the business alone. In 1894 he built his present commodious business block in North Belle Vernon, where he now conducts one of the largest department stores in the borough. He has served at different times as a member of the school board in the old borough, member of the council in the borough of North Belle Vernon, and as county committeeman. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Belle Vernon, and to the Royal Arcanum. Politically be is a staunch Republi- can. Mr. Kyle married in 1874, Amanda C., daughter of James M. Springer, for many years a well known justice of the peace in Belle Vernon. They have two daughters: Hester E., at home ; and Fannie L., wife of Frank De Vinney, of Belle Vernon. Mrs. Kyle died April 6, 1904. at the age of fifty-four, having been born April 16. 1850. Mr. Kyle's daughter, Mrs. DeVinney, keeps house for her father.
JAMES FROST. Both by birth and parentage James Frost, of Belle Vernon, is an Englishman. He is a son of James and Eliza ( Weller) Frost, and was born August 24, 1841, in London, England, one of a family of seven children. Both his parents died when he was quite young, in conse- quence of which his educational advantages were very limited and he was early thrown upon his own resources.
In 186 James Frost, Jr., emigrated to the United States, settling in Pittsburg, where he was variously employed until the following year. He then went to Gibsonton and for two years was employed in the distillery, after which he went to Gray's Landing and entered the distillery of William Gray & Sons, where he thoroughly learned the business. After remaining there eight years he was offered and accepted the position of distiller at the Gib- sonton distillery, which he held for twenty-two consecutive years. In Novem- ber. 1902, he took charge of the Hotel Birmingham, the leading hostelry of Belle Vernon, of which he is still proprietor. He is a Republican in politics. He married in 1872, Mary Ann, daughter of Ellis and Mary J. (Barnhart)
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Johnson, the former a prominent farmer of Green county, Pennsynia. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are both remarkable for longevity, the former ng in his eighty-fifth year and the latter in her eighty-sixth. They have been i parents of ten children, of whom the following are now living: William ., who assists his father in the hotel; Harry W., proprietor of a hotel, and also engaged in the Moss distillery at Port Royal; James R., lives at home", and les for three years has been employed in the Dellinger distillery ; Ulysses S., res.
at home and is a telegraph operator ; John D., at home; and Flora R., at home.
S. HULBERT SMITH is now residing in the home of his grandson, Hulbert S. Herrington, of Latrobe, and while only a few years of his life have been passed in Westmoreland county he has been so prominently identi- fied with the business and civic affairs of the old Keystone state, that it is most consonant that a tribute be accorded him in this publication. In both the pater- nal and maternal lines Mr. Smith is a representative of staunch colonial ancestry, while he himself is a native of the old Empire state of the Union, having been born in the town of Exeter, Otsego county, New York, January 18, 1815, so that he is ninety years of age at the time of this writing. He is a son of Samttiel B. and Elizabeth (Baker) Smith, both of whom passed their entire lives in Otsego county, where the father followed the vocation of farming for many years, being an influential citizen of that section.
S. Hulbert Smith received excellent educational advantages in his youth, having continued his studies until he was eighteen years of age, and later he taught in a district school near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and also in the borough. He came to Pennsylvania and located in Holidaysburg, Blair county, in 1836, was a clerk there for about two years, and then went to Johnstown, where he also served as clerk at the junction of the Pennsylvania canal and the Portage Railroad, teaching, as above stated, in the winter time, and later permanently identified himself with the industrial interests of the town by purchasing an iron foundry, which he continued to operate successfully for a period of five years. Nearly a half century ago Mr. Smith founded the first banking institution in Johnstown, the same having been started under the firm name of Bell, Smith & Company, while the original quarters of the bank were in the lower western room of the old Cambria hotel or tavern, which had been erected by a man named Hamilton and which he long conducted. The bank owners rented the room mentioned, with cellar beneath, for the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, while the lease provided also for the installing of double windows, with all proper locks and bars. Later he sold to what is now the First National Bank. He continued to reside in Johnstown for many years, but subsequently lived in New York and other places. He moved to Latrobe in April, 1887. In the first year of the Pennsylvania Railroad con- struction Mr. Smith, who was engaged at the time in the iron business, erected the first iron railroad bridge at Johnstown, Pennsylvania ; also another a few miles distant, east of Johnstown, for the same road. Early in life Mr. Smith supported the Democratic party, but of late years has not given politics any attention. For many years he has been identified with the Presbyterian church and is a devout man.
He married in the spring of 1839, Susan Anderson, of Massachusetts, who was his life companion for fifty-eight years; she died April 16, 1879. Their children were: Frances J., married Hiram Herrington, of Latrobe, Pennsyl- vania ; William H., married and now resides in Kansas; Jessie, married Dr. Edward Breman, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, both are now deceased. Of his
J. At. Smith
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
four grandchildren, three are living. The deceased one was Hulbert-Smith Herrington, who left two sons: Francis H. and Arthur Smith Herrington.
M. A. LYTLE. The Lytle family is of Irish lineage and was founded in America by Frances Lytle, a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to America, accompanied by his wife. They settled in the Ligonier Valley in Pennsylvania, where he followed farming until his life's labors were ended in death. He was a very active man in the Presbyterian church, and influential in community affairs. In his family were five children : Nancy, wife of Thomas Smith ; Janc, wife of John Braden ; John, William, and Francis.
Francis Lytle, grandfather of M. A. Lytle, was born in the Ligonier Val- ley, about four miles east of Ligonier borough, upon a farm on which he spent his entire life, and he gave his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits. He, too, was a very active and helpful member of the Presbyterian church, and his benevolences were many. He died about 1860. His wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Hammill, and they were parents of four children: Francis, Hugh, John and Anna, wife of George Shaffer, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Hugh Lytle, the father, was born on the old family homestead in the Ligonier Valley, November 20, 1820, and in early manhood began farming on his own account on a tract of land which adjoined his father's farm, and which he continued to cultivate and improve until 1884, when on account of impaired health he retired from active business life and removed to Ligonier, where he died April 23, 1888. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church at Ligonier for many years. He married Mary J. Hammill. daughter of Allen and Jane ( Graham) Hammill, and a granddaughter of Robert Hammill, who emigrated from Ireland to America. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Lytle had nine children, of whom two died in infancy. the others being : Jane G., wife of William McElroy ; Frances W., deccased ; Anna, deceased wife of Dr. J. H. Nichol ; Mathew A. ; Ella N., a teacher of music in Loveland, Colorado; Lucy E., at home ; and Martha, wife of Rev. T. L. Jamieson, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania.
MI. A. Lytle, son of Hugh Lytle, was born on his father's farm in the Ligonier Valley, May 17, 1858, and after attending the common schools pur- sued a course in bookkeeping in Youngstown, Ohio. For a number of years thereafter he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, and was then called to public office. In politics he has always been a stanch Republican, and in 1894 was elected clerk of the courts of Westmoreland county for three years, and was also deputy prothonotary for three years. Like the family, he has always adhered to the faith of the Presbyterian church, and has fully sustained the ex- cellent reputation which the Lytles have always born in the valley. In April, 1905, he removed to Greensburg and purchased the bakery business of John McFall, which he is still conducting. Mr. Lytle wedded Ada J. Smith, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth (Boyd) Smith. The marriage was celebrated Sep- tember 25, 1879, and they have two children : Vesta Ann, born July 23, 1880, a graduate of Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pennsylvania ; and H. Arthur, born March 24, 1883, a bookkeeper for Armour & Company, at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania.
CHARLES A. LOWRY, one of the oldest business men in Ligonier, conducting a furniture and undertaking establishment, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 9, 1847. His father, William Lowry, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and for a number of years was one of the old stage drivers on the pike between Pittsburg and Philadelphia. Later
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he became proprietor of the hotel about a half mile from Jennerstown, Somer- set county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for several years. In 1856 he went to California, where he was driver of a mail stage for a considerable per- iod, and while in the west he also made his home in Salt Lake City for a time. In 1860 he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, and the following year enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company C, Fifty-fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he served for three years. He then re-enlisted and continued with the army until the close of the war, re- turning to his home with a creditable military record. He held membership in the Presbyterian church. He married Jane Richmier, and they had six children : Charles A., Abraham, William and John, all deceased ; Joshua, who is living in Downingtown, Pennsylvania; and Margaret, wife of Jeremiah Heckman.
Charles A. Lowry, having obtained his education in the public schools, be- gan learning the cabinet maker's trade when sixteen years of age, as an ap- prentice under Henry Hoffman, at Jenner's Crossroads, where he remained for four years. He then came to Ligonier, where he worked at his trade for Sam- uel Weiner for one year, on the expiration of which period he embarked in busi- ness for himself, forming a partnership with J. W. Ambrose, for the conduct of a furniture and undertaking business at Ligonier. They carried on this enter- prise for five years, when Mr. Lowry withdrew and started an independent business, which he has since successfully conducted, and he is to-day one of the oldest and most prominent merchants of the borough. He is also interested in public affairs relating to the welfare and improvement of the locality. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a charter member of Ligonier Lodge, No. 964, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs. He is like- wise a charter member of the Knights of Honor Lodge, No. 1244 in which he has filled all the offices, and he belongs to the J. O. A. M. at Ligonier. His political labors and ballot endorse Democratic principles, and he has held local office, serving as councilman for one term, as school director two terms, as judge of elections, assessor and in other positions. Mr. Lowry married Sarah Hicks, a daughter of William and Lydia Hicks, and granddaughter of Abram and Eve Hicks. They had eight children: Olive I., wife of Thomas Kuhn ; Lydia M., wife of James Tinkom: Annie, wife of John Dennis; Edward W. and Mathew B. S., at home ; and three who died in infancy.
SAMUEL S. DICE. The Dice family has for more than a century been represented in Westmoreland county. Ephraim Dice, the grandfather, was born in this county in 1808, and in early life learned the cabinet-making trade, which he followed throughout his business career in or near Mount Pleasant. He had four children : William : Elizabeth, wife of James Patterson : and Samuel and Alexander, both deceased. Ephraim Dice has outlived his children and is still quite active. He makes his home at Mount Pleasant.
William Dice, son of Ephraim Dice, was born in Mount Pleasant, West- moreland county, about 1844, and for a number of years was engaged in the furniture business with his father in his native town. About 1873 or 1874 he removed to Ligonier, where he opened a furniture store, which he conducted successfully until his death, which occurred in 1893. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat, active in the local work of the party, and he served as school director, councilman and in other offices. He married Margaret Henry, a daughter of George and Mary Henry, and to them were born two children : Samuel S. and Edith O.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
taken of wild parsnips under the impression that they were sweet myrrh. Mr. Bovard himself had also partaken of the vegetables, but having eaten but a small quantity he recovered from the effects. This happened after the removal of the family to South Huntingdon township, where Mr. Bovard died at the age of eighty-four.
Oliver Bovard, only surviving son of Oliver Bovard, mentioned above, was born on the Mount Pleasant farm, a portion of which now forms the site of the college, and on reaching manhood remained at home, becoming in course of time the owner of the estate on which he passed his entire life. In politics he was a staunch Republican and held several minor township offices, being possibly the only Republican ever elected in that strong Democratic district. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, being very active in anything that would further its interests. Mr. Bovard married Mathilda S. Farr, and eight of their eleven children are now living: James I., a resident of East Greensburg ; Robert Oliver, lives in South Huntingdon township ; Charles R., lives in South Huntingdon township : William F., resides in East Greensburg ; John R., of whom later ; Mary J., wife of Sherman Ross, of East Greensburg, Emma M. : Rosa F., who resides with her brother Charles R. Mr. Bovard died when he was in his eightieth year.
John R. Bovard, son of Oliver and Mathilda S. (Farr) Bovard, was born October 29, 1859, in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age. his edu- cation being acquired in the common schools, then attending the Mount Pleas- ant Institute for two years, and after that the Mount Union College for two years. In 1881 he commenced his career as a teacher, and for sixteen conse- cutive years he taught in the schools of Westmoreland, the last seven years of this time being principal of the North Belle Vernon school. In 1897 he turned his attention to commerce and entered into partnership with R. J. Mckean. Their line of business was that of general merchandise, and as they were both enterprising, wide-awake men, the firm soon had an enviable reputation for prosperity and sound business principles, a reputation which it has continued to hold. Mr. Bovard is a stanch Republican, and has served one term as tax collector, fourteen years as borough clerk of North Belle Vernon, and for the past seven years has been a member of the school board. He is secretary of the board at the present time, having held all the various offices in that body. He is a member of Gummert Lodge, No. 25, Free and Accepter Masons of Fayette City : of Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites : of Belle Vernon Lodge, No. 656, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; of Belle Vernon Lodge, No. 531, Royal Arcanum ; of Western Council, No. 79, Junior Order United American Mechanics. Mr. Bovard is a member and regular at- tendant of the Presbyterian church, and is a trustee of that institution. In 1887 he married Eliza J. McKean, daughter of Samuel and Jessie (Tweedie) McKean, of Fern Cliff, as their country home near Belle Vernon is called. Mr. and Mrs. Bovard are the parents of one child, Mary Margaret.
ROBERT JOHN McKEAN. Scotland was the original home of the ancestors of Robert John McKcan, of North Belle Vernon. His grand- father, William McKean, was the owner and operator of the Kelton Hill farm, an extensive property in Kirkcudbrightshire, near the town of East Galloway. He married Mary Brown, and among their children was a son, Samuel, men- tioned hereafter. Mr. McKean died on the farm on which he had passed his lifc.
IND (
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Samuel Mckean, son of William and Mary (Brown) Mckean, was born in 1833, in Scotland, where he was educated for the ministry. In 1853 he came to the United States and settled in Rutland, Vermont, where he remained one year, and after a sojourn of some six months in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, took up his abode in Washington county, same state. While there he abandon- ed his intention of entering the ministry and engaged in gardening and horticul- ture, in which he has been very successful. In 1877 he moved to Rostraver township, where he continued in the same line of business, his establishment being widely known as Fern Cliff Gardens. He is a Republican in politics, and while never an office seeker has served several years as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Mckean mar- lied, just before leaving his native land, Jessie, born in 1831, in Kirkcudbright- shire, Scotland, daughter of John and Jeannette ( Carter) Tweedie, the former a cabinet-maker by trade. Both he and his wife died in their native country. Mr. and Mrs. McKean were the parents of the following children : Mary, wife of Christopher Cribbs, of Greensburg; William A., resides at home ; Jennie. married C. B. Copeland, of Charleroi ; Margaret, wife of James P. Williams, of California, Pennsylvania ; Samuel M., lives at North Belle Vernon ; Eliza, mar- ried John R. Bovard, of Belle Vernon; Robert John, mentioned hereafter ; Martha Ann, wife of W. H. Calvert, of Charleroi ; Katherine, married R. K. Johnson, of Gibsonton ; and Charles J., resides at home.
Robert John McKean, son of Samuel and Jessie ( Tweedie) Mckean, was born October 30. 1867, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the common schools of Gibsonton. For two years after attaining his ma- jority he was employed in the recorder's office in Greensburg, and then re- turned to North Belle Vernon, where for three or four years he was employed in a clerical capacity in the department store of E. M. Kyle. He then accepted a position with the California Coal Company, in whose service he remained some two years, when he resigned in order to accept a position as store manager for the mercantile house of J. E. McCardle, of Charleroi. In 1897 he resigned this position and organized the mercantile firm of Mckean & Bovard, to which he devoted himself, bringing to the enterprise the aid of his many years of ex- perience in the mercantile field. The business has prospered and the partners now constitute one of the leading firms of North Belle Vernon. Mr. Mckean belongs to Belle Vernon Lodge, No. 656, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Monongahela Lodge, No. 362, Knights of Pythias ; Charleroi Lodge, No. 494. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and North Belle Vernon Council, No. 78, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of Belle Vernon. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, in which for a number of years he has served as president of the Young People's Society. He is unmarried and resides with his parents.
ELWOOD MILLER, contract traver township, is the grandson of John E. Miller was for several years a sailor it and later emigrated to America and settl where he was connected with canal transpo
and builder in Belle Vernon, Ros- Miller, a native of Germany. John ยท German merchant marine trade .. 'n Juniata county, Pennsylvania, ion.
John E. Miller, son of the above named ,um E. Miller, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1849. From his seventh year he was brought up by William Jones, then residing on a farm near Fells Church, Rostraver township, and who is now vice president of the Valley Deposit and Trust Company in
Lb. Thomas.
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. 327
Belle Vernon and who resides in North Belle Vernon. John E. Miller, when still quite a young man, located in Belle Vernon and worked some years in the mines. He then engaged in market gardening, which he followed for a num- ber of years, and late in the nineties he gave up gardening to accept a position with the Belle Vernon Water Company, by whom he is still employed. In politics he is a Republican. He has served several years as a member of the school board of Rostraver township. He is a member and regular attendant at the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Knights of Py- thias, and the Improved Order of Redmen. He is popular and highly respected by his fellow citizens of Belle Vernon. Upon reaching his twenty-first year John E. Miller married Eliza J. Thompson, of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Valentine and Mary A. Thompson. They had five children, all of whom are living : Evaline, wife of G. W. Johnson, in Charleroi ; William L., who holds a position with the People's Gas Company in Belle Vernon ; James A., employed by the American Window Glass Company in Belle Vernon : Edward K., a window glass gatherer in Belle Vernon ; and Elwood, of whom later.
Elwood Miller, the son of John E. and Eliza J. (Thompson) Miller, was born in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1874. He lived at home with his parents until about his sixteenth year, attending the common schools during that time. At the age of sixteen he apprenticed himself to a carpenter and learned that trade. He finished his apprenticeship within three years, and then for about six years worked as a journeyman carpenter. He was then offered and accepted the position of superintendent in the contracting firm of A. B. Kline, of Charleroi, which position he held for five years, and in September, 1904, he resigned from it to engage in business for himself. He commenced contracting and building on his own account, has been very successful and is fast becoming one of the leading contractors of Belle Vernon. Mr. Miller is steadfast in his adherence to the Republican party. He is a member of the present borough council of North Belle Vernon, is chief of the fire department, and a member of the Protective Home Circle. He is one of North Belle Ver- non's best known men. Mr. Miller married Alice Richards, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Barton) Richards, of Belle Vernon. Mrs. Miller and her parents are natives of England. To Mr. Miller and his wife were born four children : Lloyd A., Bessie Caryl, Robert A., and John E.
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