USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
General Alexander Craig, .second son of Samuel Craig, Sr., was born November 20, 1755. He entered the army at the age of nineteen, and later was a lieutenant in the company of Captain John Shields. He was with the army, under General Washington, that crossed the Delaware, and fought the battles of Trenton and Princeton. He endured the hardships of the campaign in the Jerseys, and finally returned home to contend with the Indians. When the war of 1812 came General Craig said, "I am growing old, but if my service can help my country, I am ready to go." He was not needed, however, and lived on along the lines of peace, amidst his kindred and neighbors till Octo- ber 29. 1832, when, at the age of seventy-seven, he died and his remains were buried in Congruity cemetery. General Craig married Jane Clark, a daughter of James Clark, Esq., who was one of the defenders of the fort at Hannas- town when that place was destroyed by the Indians. His family consisted of three sons and five daughters: James, died at forty years of age: Alexander, clied in infancy : Samuel, also died in infancy ; Elizabeth, married Major Moore- head, and died in early life : Sarah, Maria, Margaret C., who had entered her ninety-fifth year shortly before her death ; she had then been the last survivor of her family for more than forty-four years; Jane died in early womanhood.
Samuel Craig Jr., third son of Samuel Craig, Sr., was first lieutenant in the company of Captain Orr, who was the father of the late General Robert Orr, of Kittanning. Like his father he, too, was captured by the Indians, and while crossing the Miami river they attempted to drown him. He was thrown into the river and then they tried to keep his head under water by pushing him with their paddles. When he evaded them and grasped the canoc, they beat his hands off and thrust him down. This they did over and again until his strength was almost gone, and then one of them claimed him as his prisoner, helped him into the canoe, and took him under his protection. At an ther time Samuel Craig's remarkable nerve, readiness, and skill in sing- ing saved his life. He and five other captives were made to sit on a log and 1 ave their faces painted black to indicate their doom. At this moment Mr. Craig raised his voice in song and made the welkin to resound with melody. Ile sang on and on and while he sang some of the Indians came up behind and with one fell stroke buried their tomahawks in the heads of all the victims with the exception of Mr. Craig. Finally, after enduring great suffering and many hardships, he was sold to the English for a gallon of whiskey, was ex- changed as a prisoner of war, and joyfully returned to his family. Mr. Craig married a daughter of Captain John Shields, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. He died in 1808 from hemorrhage resulting from the extrac- tion of a tooth.
Among the descendants of Samuel, Sr., and Elizabeth ( MeDonald) Craig who are now living are : Rev. II. T. WeClelland. D. D., of Washington, Pen-
410
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
sylvania : Dr. George Craig, of Rock Island, Illinois; Mrs. Mary Griffin, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Jane E. Lightcap, of Unity, Pennsylvania : and Professor William C. McClelland, of Washington and Jefferson College. Among the living descendants of Samuel, Sr., and Jane ( Boyd) Craig are : T. D. Cunningham, of Blairsville, Pennsylvania ; Rev. Freeman Wallace, mis- sionary to Mexico; Rev. T. D. Wallace, of Chicago, Illinois ; Miss Mamie Craig, of Altoona, Pennsylvania ; and the Mooreheads, Hills and Ogdens, of Ligonier, Pennsylvania. There are now ( 1905) no surviving grandchildren of Samuel Craig, Sr. The last of these was Margaret C. Craig, whose pru- dent chronicling of family history has supplied much material for this sketch. She was born in 1805, and died in 1899, in the old home at New Alexandria. She was a true Daughter of the Revolution, and one of the cherished memen- toes left by her is the gold spoon presented her by that order. Mrs. Elizabeth Craig, a worthy representative of that sturdy race, born in 1825, died January 2, 1906. She lies in the private cemetery of the Craig family on the home farm. Jane Maria Craig, her daughter, was born in 1848. Only children, both, and daughter and granddaughter of Margaret C. Craig. Here, mid war memories of other days, these last survivors of their family viewed from their windows the victories of peace. The savage no longer lurks furtively about to do them harm, the wild things of stream and woodland are gone, the woods themselves are fled from before the fields, and out of the scarred and deep- pierced earth there comes a steady stream of coal, which, tumbled into cars, is whirled away to a busy world beyond, over gleaming rails that trench upon the very dooryard of the old home of the Craig family.
JOHN BUGHER KUHNS, deceased, familiarly known as "Bud," one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Greensburg, was a native of that city, born April 7, 1861, a son of the late Phillip S. and Ellen ( Bugher) Kuhns, pioneer residents of this vicinity. Phillip S. Kuhns was a substantial business man, and at his death, May 10, 1884, was regarded as a wealthy man for that time. He left an estate valued at about $100,000. The estate was left to his widow, Ellen (Bugher) Kuhns, who was noted for her aristocratic bearing and gentleness of demeanor, and at her death, December 18, 1893, the estate went in equal shares to her children. Phillip S. and Ellen ( Bugher) Kuhns were the parents of several children, among whom were: John Bugher, Mrs. Emma Shallenberger, of Edgewood Park ; Harriet A., Mrs. Goodman, of Indianapolis, Indiana ; Mrs. Rachel Bartholo- mew, of Butler county ; and Aaron H. Kuhns, of Tacoma, Washington.
John Bugher Kuhns received a common school education in Greensburg, and in 1884 graduated from the University of Indianapolis. Upon graduation he engaged actively in business. In 1891, having previously converted his share of the estate into cash, he with his brother-in-law. C. L. Goodwin, re- moved to Dunlo, in the Allegheny mountains, where they engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Kuhns devoted himself intelligently and industriously to the task he had fixed, and within a year after he had entered the mountian ranges he was esteemed one of the largest lumber men in the state. The mountains yielded rich returns for his energies, and ere he left the lumber fields he had harvested every available stick on his vast possessions. About 1904 Mr. Kuhns disposed of his Dunlo lumber interests, and with his wife returned to Greensburg. He was interested in lumber tracts in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and had other investments, especially in West Vir- ginia, and his time was principally spent in looking after these holdings. Mr. . Kuhns was a man of pleasing personality, scrupulously honest in all his trans-
41 ₺
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
actions, generous and always fair, and although frail physically, was sustained by a manhood that always seemed majestic.
Mr. Kuhns' death was due to Bright's disease, and the ailment dated back twenty years, his father and uncles on both sides of the family having died of the same disease. His life was undoubtedly prolonged by his open air occu- pation, this particular fiekl of industry being selected because of the advice of Dr. De Costa, of Philadelphia. Mr. Kuhns was a man of refined tastes and scholarly attainments. His reading was always along the lines of the classical. Burns was his favorite poet. He was a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln and Henry George, because they believed in the common man, and man's justice to his fellowman. Mr. Kuhns was always so kindly considerate for those in his employ. He believed that true philanthropy consisted in good wages for a fair day's work. He despised the modern methods of squeezing money out of people who earu their bread by the sweat of their brow. All those who had been in his employ from far and near that could possibly come, attended his funeral or sent messages of sympathy. In his younger days Mr. Kuhns was something of an athlete, and greatly encouraged through life all such healthy clean sports. He was one of the first to help build up an interest in baseball in Westmoreland county, and many an old timer will recall the. pitching and batting and running of Bud Kuhns. He was also a fine shot and fond of hunting.
In 1886 Mr. Kuhns married Miss Tade Hartsuff, a member of a promi- nent New Castle family. They had met while students in the same university. This union was not blessed with children.
Mr. Kuhns died at the Johns Hopkins hospital, Baltimore, January 2, 1906, and his remains were interred in the family plot in Greensburg. He enjoyed the acquaintance of a large circle of friends, not only in Greens- burg but many other places. He was of a quiet and retiring disposition, but when known was greatly beloved, so sweetly unselfish and kind was he, especially to those in need or trouble. His greatest ambition was attained. for he aspired to be like his father, Phillip Kuhns, whose fine character and good citizenship still live after twenty years in the memory of his friends and neighbors.
CYRUS F. KUNKLE, one of the well-known business men of Greensburg, is the great-great-grandson of Jacob Kunkle, who emigrated from Germany to the United States and for a time lived as a farmer in West- moreland county, spending his last years, however, in his former home in eastern Pennsylvania. He left a son who passed his life in Westmoreland county and was the father of Michael Kunkle, who was one of the leading farmers of the county, an influential Democrat, a member of the German Reformed church, and served as major in a Westmoreland county regiment. He married Mary Mechling, and of their eight chiklren two were sons: Dan- iel, a resident of Greensburg : and Amos, of whom later. Mr. Kunkle was accidentally killed by a threshing machine when he had reached the age of sixty-eight.
Amos Kunkle, son of Michael and Mary ( Mechling) Kunkle, was born July 11. 1838, in Hempfield township, and was educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he went to Greensburg, where for cleven vears he was engaged with his brother Daniel in the planing-mill business. He then returned to the home farm, which he cultivated on behalf of his mother during the remainder of her life. his father being then deceased. . After the death of his mother he bought the farm and resided there until 1goo,
412
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
when he sold the coal land, retaining a large portion of the estate, and moved to Greensburg, where he has since been engaged in building and selling houses. While living on the farm he served as a member of the school board in his dis- trict. He is a Republican in politics, and for several years filled the offices of deacon and elder in the First Reformed church, of which he is now one of the trustees. Mr. Kunkle married, October 5, 1861. Sarah, daughter of Jacob Kopple, of Stony Springs, Hempfield township, and eight children have been born to them: John E., an attorney in Greensburg : Mary M., wife of Joseph Robinson, of Greensburg : Cyrus F., a merchant in Ludwick borough; Elmer E., in business in Greensburg; William, an attorney in Greensburg, resides at home: Arthur, in business as a butcher in Ludwick borough; Albert, at- tending the College of Dentistry in Philadelphia; and George, deceased.
Cyrus F. Kunkle, son of Amos and Sarah (Kepple) Kunkle, was born September 18, 1866, in Greensburg, and was eight years of age when the family returned to the farm. It was there that he grew to manhood, assist- ing his father in the labors of the homestead. In 1896 or 1897 he engaged in the dairy business and followed the same four years, and in the spring of 1901 went to Ludwick. There he turned his attention to commerce, and has, for some time, been one of the leading merchants of the borough, having be- come so by close application to business and strict adherence to the principles of integrity. He is now serving on the school board. He belongs to Greens- burg Camp, No. 18, W. O. W., votes with the Republicans, and is a member of the First Reformed church. Mr. Kunkle married, March 10, 1897. Mar- garet, daughter of Jonas Langhner, of Manor Station, and they have four children: Robert, Elizabeth, Evelyn, and Cyrus F.
GEORGE A. HUNGER. By descent George A. Hunger, of Van- dergrift, is a German, by birth and education a loyal American citizen. His grandfather, Andrew Hunger, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and was an influential factor in the political life of the province, serving for years in a capacity somewhat analogous to that of governor in the United States. At the time of his death he was one hundred and three years old.
Martin Hunger, son of Andrew Hunger, was born in Wurtemberg, and grew up near the church in which the doctrines of the reformation had been preached by its greatest apostle, Martin Luther. He received a finished col- legiate education, and in 1855, when but twenty-two years of age, and when a bright future opened before him in his native country, he left home secretly and emigrated to the United States. He went directly to Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm near Springs Church, on which he lived until 1861. His liberal education and knowledge of the languages caused him to be frequently called into conference as an interpreter and ren- dered him a man of influence in the community. In 1861 he removed to the oil fields, settling in Oil City, and for some nine years was an operator in that newly discovered branch of industry. During the first few years he accu- mulated a fortune, but manipulation of the market, together with the action of some of his associates, practically threw him out of business. In 1870 he returned to Armstrong county, took up his abode at Elderton and once more became a farmer. He continued to devote himself to agricultural pursuits until three or four years ago, when he retired and is now living in Kittanning. He is a staunch Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Hun- ger married Catharine, daughter of George and Mary ( Knepshield) Ammond. and they had a son and a daughter : George A., mentioned hereinafter ; and Margaret, wife of Samuel Lucas, of Hite, Pennsylvania. The mother of
George. a. Bungen
413
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
these children died in 1891, and Mr. Hunger subsequently married Catharine Kauffman. By this marriage there were four children, three of whom survive.
George A. Hunger, son of Martin and Catharine (Ammond) Hunger, was born June 20. 1857, near Spring Church, Armstrong county, and at the age of twelve or thirteen went to live with William Crosby, a neighboring farmer, for whom he worked until he attained his majority. He then appren- ticed himself to the brickmaker's trade, and after the expiration of his time worked for two years as a journeyman, afterward engaging in brickmaking for himself. He was chosen by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to super- intend the manufacture of the brick for the Salina tunnel, and in this position was employed some fifteen months. He then went to Leechburg, purchased a brickyard, and engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 1895 he organized the Hyde Park Machine & Foundry Company, of which he was elected presi- dent and manager, remaining in office until the successful completion of the plant, when he sold his interest and retired from the firm. He next removed to what is now Vandergrift, where he had the contract for building the retain- ing wall around the steel plant, the neighboring stone quarries being of great advantage to him in the work. His present business building was the first structure ever erected on the site of Vandergrift, and in this he conducted' his transactions as a contractor and dealer in builders' supplies, being con- stantly employed in advancing the growth of the town. He was connected with the building, not only of many residences, but also with the erection of a number of the principal business and office blocks. He carries a full line of lumber and mill work, doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, shingles and lath, a dealer in sand, cement, sewer pipe, hollow building blocks, Cleveland sawed stone, glass, tile, fire, red pressed and all kinds of building brick and hard plaster, coal. hay and feed, also agent for white pearl lime.
During the entire period of his residence in Leechburg he was a member of the borough council and also of the school board. Soon after coming to Vandergrift he was appointed justice of the peace and has served continuously ever since, having been elected in 1899 and 1904 for five year terms. In 1898- 99 he was assessor for the borough of Vandergrift, and in the latter year was appointed burgess of the borough to fill the unexpired term of Oscar Lindquist,. who removed from the borough one month after taking his seat. After the expiration of his term in December. 1903, Mr. Hunger was elected to succeed himself for another three years' term. In 1903 he was elected state delegate hy his party. He has acted as deputy coroner for eight years. Mr. Hunger is a director in the Vandergrift Savings & Trust Company, the Vandergrift Casino Company and the Vandergrift Savings & Loan Company. He is also president of the Vandergrift Library Association, and the Vandergrift News Company. Fraternally he is connected with the following organizations : The F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., the P. S. of A., the K. P. and the R. A. He is a Republican in politics, and for many years has been an active worker in the organization. In religion he is a Lutheran.
Mr. Hunger married. December 29, 1880, Kate Kiestler, of Leechburg, Armstrong county, and their children are: Nellie E. A., wife of James Hamil- ton, of Tarentum, Pennsylvania : William C., assistant to his father : Samuel K., flagman on local freight, Pennsylvania railroad : Arthur D., at Gettysburg College : Edith B., John W., at home : Helen, at home ; George A., Jr., at home.
BENJAMIN F. SHAFFER, whose varied and extensive business interests make him one of the leading business men of Ligonier, was born in
414
AHISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Donegal township, Westmoreland county, December 26, 1857. It is definitely known that his great-grandparents were residents of that township and there occurred the birth of Ins grandfather, Adam Shaffer, who spent his entire life there devoting his attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. He married a Miss Bierly, and their children were: William ; John; Henry ; Susan, the wife of Joseph Faust ; Mary, wife of E. P. Fry ; Christinna, wife of Jacob Harr; Nancy, wife of Rev. John Welfly; and Julia, wife of Jona- than Hay.
William Shaffer, son of Adam Shaffer, was born in Donegal township, in 1833, was reared to farm life, and always followed agricultural pursuits. He married Susan Weimer and they had .eight children: B. F .; Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; Christinna, deceased wife of Michael Conroy : James ; Nelson W., a miller in Somerset county, Pennsylvania ; Edward B., who is engaged in partnership in the lumber and coal business with his brother in Ligonier ; Emerson, a farmer and dealer in lumber in Donegal township ; and John R., a farmer of Mount Pleasant township, Westmoreland county.
Benjamin F. Shaffer is indebted to the public schools of his native county for the educational privileges which equipped him for his business career. He was reared to farm life under the parental roof, and assisted in the opera- tion of the home farm until twenty-one years of age. He also carried the mail from Jones' Mill to Somerset, Pennsylvania, and on attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, in Donegal township, on land belonging to his father-in-law. This he continued to cultivate and improve for three years, at the end of which time he purchased a farm in Donegal township, located on the Four Mile Run and known as a part of the John Porch farm. There he remained for twenty years, and gave his attention to the tilling of the soil in connection with dealing in stock. Subsequently he removed to Ligonier and purchased an estate on which he has since built several houses and made extensive improvements. He also owns a farm near the borough line of Ligonier, which he is also engaged in operating. He is likewise en- gaged in the coal trade, which he is conducting under the name of the Smith Coal Company, and he is engaged in the manufacture of lumber, operating a portable saw mill. In July, 1904, he and his brother Edward purchased the lumber yard of J. W. Ambrose and have since carried on business there under the firm name of B. F. Shaffer & Brother. Mr. Shaffer has thus inaugurated and managed a number of successful business ventures, which not only con- tribute to his individual prosperity but also promote the general welfare, by advancing industrial and commercial activity in the borough. He is a very active member of the Lutheran church, and his labors and financial support have been an important factor in its upbuilding. He married Laura C. Craw- ford. a daughter of Alexander and Margaret Crawford, of Donegal township, and they became the parents of four children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are Ida C., the wife of Ralph Erwin, of Ligonier ; Norman L. and Margaret May, both at home.
EDWARD B. SHAFFER, born in Donegal township, March 2, 1872. acquired his education in the common schools of Westmoreland county, and in early life began work on the home farm, being thus employed until seventeen years of age, when he began delivering coal from Mckeesport Land- ing. He was thus engaged for about seven years, and for five years he was connected with the saw mill business. He then purchased a farm at Jones' Mill and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits for two years, on the ·expiration of which period he returned to Ligonier and joined his brother in
415
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
the lumber and coal business. They have acquired a good patronage and are now conducting a successful business. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ligonier. He married Nettie Ringler, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Ringler, of Donegal township, Westmoreland county. She died August 11. 1903, leaving a son, Loren W., born November 2, 1892.
JOHN P. KILGORE, a member of the Kilgore Bottling Company, of Greensburg, one of the leading industries of that section of Westmoreland county, traces his ancestry to James Kilgore, who was of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and came from his birthplace in Ireland to the Cumberland valley in Pennsylvania before 1740.
Captain David Kilgore, son of James Kilgore, the immigrant, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1745, removed to Westmoreland county before the revolutionary war and in 1776 was commissioned captain of a company in the Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Line. He sold a valua- ble mill property for money with which to clothe his company and never asked or received any compensation from the government. He served throughout the war, returned home, and was a justice of the peace for many years. He owned three large farms in Westmoreland and several more in Indiana county, He was a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Sarah Mickey, of Cumberland county, and they had seven sons and three daughters. He died July 11, 1814, and his widow died December 14, 1830, aged eighty-six years.
John Kilgore, son of Captain David and Sarah (Mickey) Kilgore, born in 1777, died November 22, 1847. He was a successful farmer, a staunch member of the Presbyterian church, and a loyal adherent of Democratic prin- ciples. He married Nancy Hunter, born in Ireland, February 2, 1772, died December 22, 1852, daughter of Alexander Hunter, and a descendant of a Scotch-Irish ancestry. Their children were: 1. Jesse, born September 9, 1808, deceased. He taught school three terms, next conducted a store for two years, and then turned his attention to farming in Hempfield township. He served as justice of the peace in 1845, was re-elected in 1887, and from 1858 to 1860 held the office of county treasurer. He was a member of the Presby- terian church for over sixty years, and a Democrat in politics. He married ( first ). February 12, 1835, Mary Poorman, and their children were: Nancy, dlied at the age of seventeen years ; Louisa C., married Joseph J. Johnston, de- ceased, who practiced law in Greensburg : John P., a merchant at George Sta- tion, married Margaret Long ; and Mary, wife of James Perry, of Pittsburg. Jesse Kilgore married ( second ) Mary Gilchrist. 2. David, born April 15, 1810, died September, 1851. He married Emily G. Kinkaid, April 8. 1845, and their children were: William Alexander, born January 18. 1846, mar- ried Annie Cope, and they were drowned with their three children in the Johnstown flood ; Anna Burrell, born July 24. 1847. married Frank Jack. of Papria, Illinois ; she died January 6, 1905 : David Hunter, born May to. 1849. died January 21, 1884, married Sarah M. Borlin, daughter of James Borlin, and they had two children, a son who died in infancy and David Kinkaid ; John Pressley, born November 10, 1851, met his death in November 1868, on the Pennsylvania railroad, while in the discharge of his duties as passenger brakeman. 3. John, born September 12. 18II, deceased. 4. Alexander, born August to, 1813, mentioned later. 5. Nancy, born January 9, 1816, deceased.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.