USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 69
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Johann Martin Keck married, June 20, 1858, Christina Hunker, and of this union no children were born. Mrs. Keck died in 1859. Mr. Keck married (second). December 11, 1860, Margaret Ann Overly, a daughter of George and Eliza Overly. To this union five children were born, three who died in infancy and William G. and H. Edward surviving, who are now associated with their father in business at Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Margaret Keck died November 6, 1900.
CHARLES T. WILLS. William Wills, grandfather of Charles T. Wills, of Parnassus, was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to the United States, settling on a tract of land in Indiana township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. On this farm he resided during the remainder of his life. He was a Whig and a member of the United Presbyterian church. His children were: William, McCrumm, Sarah, wife of John Boyd; Mary, wife of John Brown : Margaret, wife of John Hutchison; and Robert Hamilton, mentioned hereinafter.
Robert Hamilton Wills, son of William Wills, was born in 1817. in Alle- gheny county, and like his father always gave his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. For some years he was an elder in the United Presby- terian church. His wife was Sarah L. Lefevre, and their children were: Cyrus, killed on the battlefield in 1861 : Hiram, also died while in service in 1861: David, farmer in Westmoreland county ; John, deceased ; Joseph ()., also deceased ; Albert, deceased ; Elizabeth, deceased ; was wife of John Young ; Charles T., mentioned hereinafter; and Sarah B., widow of John Wachter. The death of the father of the family occurred in 1896.
Charles T. Wills, son of Robert Hamilton and Sarah L. (Lefevre) Wills, was born March 30, 1861, on the old homestead in Allegheny county, and re- ceived his education in the common schools. He remained at home on the farm until his twenty-fifth year, and then learned the carpenter's trade with
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Samuel Waltenbangh, of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, with whom he remained three years. At the end of that time he went to Pittsburg, where he worked at his trade until 1892, when he moved to Parnassus and there engaged in carriage building and blacksmith's work in connection with dealing in farm implements. In 1895 he purchased the hardware and implement business of Aller & Barter, which he conducted for three years under the firm name of Baxter & Wills. He then reorganized the business and for four years it was conducted by the firm of Wills & Rowan. Since 1902 the style of the firm has been Charles T. Wills & Company, their business being the most extensive of its kind in the Allegheny valley. From 1891 to 1893 he served on the council of Parnassus, and for some years on the county committee, being a staunch Republican. He and his family are members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Wills married Ella, daughter of David B. Carns, and five chil- dren have been born to them, two of whom died in infancy, the survivors being : Paul Wilson, Charles Eugene, and Robert Hamilton, all of whom are at home.
OSWALD HECKMANN. The parents of Oswald Heckmann, of New Kensington, were Herman and Elizabeth Heckmann, natives of Germany, where their son was born July 27, 1836. The boy grew to manhood in his native country, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1858 he emigrated to the United States, landing on July 4, and settled in Pittsburg, where until 1863 he was employed as a bartender. From that time until 1892 he was engaged in the saloon business for himself ; he then moved to New Kensington, where he built the Hotel Heckmann, of which he has since been the successful proprietor, and which is now the oldest hotel in the town, as he is the oldest hotel manager. Since October 13, 1863, he has been a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, affiliating with Lodge No. 206, of Car- negie, Pennsylvania, having passed all chairs. For the last twenty years he has been a member of the State Great Council, and during four years was a representative in the Great Council of the United States.
Mr. Heckmann married. April 11, 1863, Catharina Steinheuser, a native of Germany, and the children born to them were: Anna Catharina, wife of Andrew J. Larkin : Louise, wife of Philip K. Mathews ; Gustave, city plumber of Pittsburg, married Bessie Jones ; Charles O., student at Eastman College ; Lillie, at home ; Kate, also at home ; and four deceased.
WILLIAM B. SKELLY. One of the names mest prominently con- nected with the coal industry of Westmoreland county is that of William B. Skelly, of Irwin. Ile is a great-grandson of William Skelly, who came from county Cavan, Ireland, about 1790, settling in Westmoreland county, near Stewartsville, Pennsylvania. Their vessel was seventeen weeks in making the passage, and one son, James, died and was buried at sea. Three sons arrived at maturity : William, see forward : John and Robert.
William Skelly, son of William Skelly. the emigrant ancestor, was born about 1784. and was therefore six years old when brought to this country. He served with credit in the war of 1812. Subsequently he became the pro- prietor of a hotel and also engaged in farming. He resided at Stewartsville, Irwin (then Tinker's Run), Jacksonville, Grapeville, and Adamsburg, where he died in 1867. Hle married Elizabeth Byerly, daughter of Jacob and Eliz- abeth ( Harmon) Byerly, and their children were : Mary, married Joseph Cort: John, Joseph, see forward: William. Andrew. Sarah, married Michael Sarver : Jane, married Captain George A. Cribbs ; Elizabeth, married David Rankin : and Susanna, married (first) John Dry; married (second) A. L. Walker.
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Joanph Skelly, son of William and Elizabeth ( Byerly) Skelly, was born October 29, 1812, while his father was at the war. U'p to the time of attain- ing his majority he engaged in farming, and then became a teamster, hauling freight on the Pittsburg and Philadelphia pike. For twenty years he followed this calling, and in 1854 retired to a farm near Adamsburg. Thence he moved to Larimer and finally to Stewartsville, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was an active Democrat, holding many and various township offices. Mr. Skelly married in 1848, Jane Boyd, daughter of James and Margaret ( Kennedy) Boyd, of Somerest county, the family being of Virginia origin. Their children were: William B., see forward : Annie, born January 29, 1851. died at the age of fourteen . James P., born May 24, 1853, died when nineteen years of age: Joseph B., born April 15, 1855, died in infancy ; Margaret J., born May 18, 1857, became the wife of Dr. M. F. Sowash, of Irwin, and died at the age of forty-two ; Charles J., born August 14, 1859: Mary C., born May 23. 1861, died in infancy ; Sarah, born March 14, 1864. The mother of these children died November 2, 1890, aged sixty-four, and the death of Mr. Skelly occurred December 2. 1880, aged seventy-seven years.
William B. Skelly, son of Joseph and Jane ( Boyd) Skelly, was born February 13, 1849, in Somerset county, and the same year was brought by his parents to Youngstown, Westmoreland county. Ilis education was ob- tained in the common schools of the various places in which the family lived. At a comparatively carly age he abandoned farming and interested himself in coal mining, successfully filling many of the positions in and about the mines. In 1870 he associated himself with the Westmoreland Coal Company, remain- ing with them until 1878, when he went to Kansas, where for three years he conducted a cattle ranch. Prior to this he had been interested in real estate, particularly coal lands, and on his return to Pennsylvania made large pur- chases of coal lands for the Westmoreland Coal Company. In 1890 he went to Irwin, his present home. In 1900, having purchased for the company their lands at Export, he acquired property there in his own name and began min- ing independently, and in 1902 organized the W. B. Skelly Coal Company, which is now carrying on a flourishing business. In the conduct of his coal operations Mr. Skelly gives employment to a large number of men and distri- butes his output throughout the central states and Canada.
In his political affiliations Mr. Skelly is a staunch Democrat, and has wielded a strong influence in political circles. He is not a stickler along party lines, his patriotism taking precedence over every other feeling, and having the courage of his convictions casts his vote for the candidate who in his opin- ion is best qualified for office, irrespective of party affiliation. He has served as member of the borough council, filling the chair of president, and it was during his official term that many important improvements were made in Irwin, such as street paving, sewerage, &c. He is always ready and willing to further any movement tending to promote the welfare of the community. He is a man of broad and liberal views, a great reader and student of all the main issues of state and national importance, and his counsel is often sought and his opinions deferred to. Having a retentive memory he is often con- sulted on events of historical importance. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 511, of Greensburg.
Mr. Skelly married, October 26, 1897, Mrs. Elizabeth (Welty) New- myer, of Greensburg, and a great-great-granddaughter of John Jacob Welty. who was born in 1720 and in 1757 married Christina Braff. John Jacob Welty and wife had six children; Ann Elizabeth, born 1758; John, born 1760. mar-
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ried a Miss Weaver ; Christina, born 1762; Henry, see forward : Frederick, born 1767; and Margaret, born 1770.
Henry Welty, son of John Jacob and Christina ( Braff ) Welty, was born November 4, 1764, in Northampton county, and in 1788 went to Westmoreland county. He married Catherine Steiner, and their children were: Jacob, born September 16, 1791. married Jane Brady ; John, born March 22, 1793, married Rebecca Lose; Henry, born September 2, 1794, married (first) Elizabeth Mckinney ; (second) Nancy Herwick; (third) Hannah Brady; Lewis, see forward; Susan, born July 25. 1798, married John Kuhns ; Samuel, born Oc- tober 25, 1802, married Mary Lobengier ; Elizabeth, born June 25, 1804, mar- ried John Klingensmith ; and Daniel, born September 13, 1806, married Bar- bara Bierer.
Lewis Welty, son of Henry and Catherine ( Steiner) Welty, was born July 24, 1796, married Susan Wanamaker, and their children were: Daniel, married Margaret Beatty ; Henry K., see forward ; Matilda, married Reuben Shrum : Jacob, married E. Baer ; Susan, Maria, Samuel, John and William.
Henry K. Welty, son of Lewis and Susan ( Wanamaker) Welty, married Maria Sarver, and they were the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth, married James L. Newmyer, and after his death became the wife of William B. Skelly, as mentioned above. Mrs. Skelly has in her possession a valuable heirloom in the shape of an old chest, of ancient workmanship and quaint design, appar- ently the property and probably the work of one "Hanrey Walty," and bearing in the midst of crude but lasting designs in color the date 1790. This was undoubtedly the work of Henry Welty, mentioned above as the son of John Jacob Welty, the founder of the family, and himself the progenitor of the Westmoreland county branch of the race.
GUY BELL FLYTE, one of the most prominent and influential men of Ligonier, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, a man who has a variety of business interests, being a public accountant and auditor ; real estate broker, general business man, and a present member of the house of representatives, traces his descent from a family which was among the pioneer settlers of the United States.
Guy B. Flyte is a grandson of Abraham and Catherine (Shaffer) Flyte. both born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Abraham was a farmer of promi- nence and an ardent Democrat. He died in 1865, aged fifty-six. Catherine, his wife, died in 1889. Abraham Flyte and Catherine Shaffer were married in 1833. and they were the parents of five sons and four daughters: Sarah. Jacob C., George, Alfred, Peter, Nelson, Vesta, Fanny, and Elizabeth, the last named dying in infancy.
Jacob C. Flyte, eldest son of Abraham and Catherine (Shaffer) Flyte, was born in Hinsdale township, New York, January 20, 1837. All his early life was spent on a farm, and he received a good education for the time in the common schools of the district. At the age of twenty years he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, and after serving his apprenticeship, engaged in business for himself in Hinsdale, New York. Here he followed this calling until 1864. when he purchased a farm in the neighborhood, and devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits. In this he was successful, but in 1889 he gave it up in order to establish himself in business in Hinsdale, in the hardware line, which he continued for three years, and then retired from active business life. He mar- ried in 1858. Mary Ann Flagg, born February 14. 1837, in Farmersville, New York, daughter of William H. and Ann ( Minor) Flagg. She was a second cousin of Franklin Pierce, president of the United States, and was of the
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Vermont branch of the Minor family. Jacob C. and Mary Ann ( Flagg) Flyte were the parents of children, as follows: 1. Anna K., born October 13, 1862, married ( first) Jonas B. Conrad, and had one son-Harry G .- born Septem- ber II, 1886, was educated at the Hinsdale union free schools and Academy, where he graduated in June, 1905. He entered the employ of the Union Sup- ply Company, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and died November 26, 1905. Mr. Conrad died in 1887, and his widow married (second ) Warren G. Bryant, of Ellicottville, New York. 2. William H., born 1866, died at the age of twenty years. 3. Guy Bell, see forward. 4. Florence L., born February 6, 1877. Mrs. Flyte died August 9. 1902; she was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Flyte is a member of the F. and A. M., I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and in politics is a Republican.
Guy Bell Flyte, second son and third child of Jacob C. and Mary Ann ( Flagg) Flyte, was born in Hinsdale, New York, May 20, 1873. He was educated in the Hinsdale union free schools and Academy, from which he graduated in 1801, having had the advantage of a good educational training. His first business venture was as clerk in a store, in 1891-92. He was then employed by the Exchange National Bank of Olean, New York, 1893-4, and was bank accountant for the Pennsylvania Tanning Company, of Sheffield, Warren county, Pennsylvania, from 1895 to 1898. In 1899 he removed to Ligonier, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, having accepted a position as auditor of the Byers-Allen Lumber Company, and the Pittsburg, Westmore- land and Somerset Railroad Company. In addition to this employment he es- tablished an insurance and real estate business, which is in a flourishing con- (lition. He engaged in the lumber business for himself in October, 1905, and associated himself in partnership with William Mackey, January I, 1906, and they are conducting a lumber business under the firm name of Flyte & Mackey. Mr. Flyte is a staunch Republican, and has always taken an active and intelli- gent interest in the affairs of his country as well as his town. He was elected member of the house of representatives in 1904, and served in the regular and special sessions to the satisfaction and benefit of his party. He is a man of great energy and executive ability, keen observation, and a natural aptitude for seizing the opportunity at the proper moment. He married, May 19, 1897, Maud V. King, born in Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1876, daughter of Milton and Almina (Lewis) King. Mr. and Mrs. Guy B. Flyte are the parents of two children: Ardis Lucille, born April 21, 1898; Mary Almina. September 23, 1903. Mrs. Guy B. Flyte was the daughter of Milton King, a farmer in Tioga county. He was born in 1845, and when eighteen years old, volunteered as a soldier in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Penn- sylvania Regiment in the civil war. At the close of his term of enlistment he re-enlisted in the Two Hundred and Seventh Regiment and served till the close of the war. July 23. 1873, he was married to Almina Lewis, a daughter of George and Harriet ( White) Lewis, of Bellmont, New York. He died August 20, 1890 : his wife died November 3, 1882. Milton King was the son of James King, Jr., and Lavina ( Bowman) King. The original ancestor of the King family had come to America in the "Mayflower" in 1620. James King., Jr., lived in New York city and died at Westfield, Tioga county, Penn- sylvania. Lavina Bowman, the grandmother of Mrs. Flyte, was a daughter of Godfrey Bowman. He was born in Connecticut, and when sixteen years old settled in Luzerne connty, Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 in Captain Thomas's company. He was with Commodore Perry in his great victory on Lake Erie, and for bravery in that battle received a medal from the State of Pennsylvania with the following inscription: "Presented
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by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Godfrey Bowman in testimony of his patriotism and bravery in the naval action on Lake Erie, September 10. 1813." On the reverse side of the medal is a vignette of Commodore Perry with the famous words: "We have met the enemy and they are ours," etc. Godfrey Bowman married Susanna Joseph, and died October 6, 1851.
L. S. ASPEY, M. D. Christopher Aspey, father of Dr. L. S. Aspey, of Smithton, was born in South Huntingdon township, and was reared on a farm. Soon after his marriage he purchased the farm near Jacobs creek, on which he has since resided. In politics he is a staunch Democrat, but has never been an office secker. Mr. Aspey married Eliza, born in Fayette county, daughter of John Newcomer, and their children are: Albert A., of Califor- nia, Pennsylvania : Oliver E., at home : Walter A., also at home; and L. S., mentioned hereafter.
L. S. Aspey, son of Christopher and Eliza ( Newcomer) Aspey, was born December 29, 1870, in Fitz Henry, and was educated in the common schools. Greensburg Seminary, and Ada University, Ada, Ohio. At nineteen years of age he began teaching, and for four years was an instructor in the Westmore- land county schools. In 1894 he took up the study of medicine, and in 1895 entered the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania. Pittsburg. graduating therefrom in the spring of 1899, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately thereafter he settled in Hanoverton, Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, and for four years successfully practiced his profession, removing in June, 1903. to Smithton, where he has since built up a desirable practice. He is a member of Gummert Lodge, No. 252, F. and A. M .. of Fayette City, Pennsylvania, Smithton Lodge, No. 978, I. O. O. F, and Smith- ton Lodge, No. 328, K. P. His political affiliations are with the Democrats. Dr. Aspey married. June 25. 1896, Josephine, daughter of George and Amanda (Hough) Kelly, of the neighborhood of Scottdale. There is no issue of this marriage.
JACOB T. AMBROSE, M. D., an honored physician and citizen of Ligonier, where he has practiced the profession of medicine for the past thirty-six years, is a descendant of a family that has been prominent in the Ligonier valley for over one hundred years. He traces his descent back to Frederick Ambrose, his great-grandfather, and his wife, Margaret, whose maiden name has not been preserved.
Frederick.Ambrose was born May 4. 1738. He was a farmer of Bedford (now Fulton) county. He came to the Ligonier valley in 1790 with three of his sons-George, John and Henry-the latter being the grandfather of Dr. Jacob T. Ambrose. The homestead farm was located about two miles north of Ligonier, on Coal Pit Run. It came into the possession of Henry Ambrose in 1804 and is still owned by the family, one of the fifth generation now culti- vating it. Frederick Ambrose died June 29. 1821, and his wife Margaret, born 1742, died 1809.
Henry Ambrose, son of Frederick and Margaret Ambrose, was born in Fulton county, June 20. 1762, and came to Westmoreland county, with the family, in 1790. He was a farmer all his life, and a member of the Lutheran church. He died January 27, 1833. He married Susan Walker, who died No- vember 22, 1843, and they had five sons and seven daughters.
William Ambrose, son of Henry and Susan ( Walker) Ambrose, was born on the farm in the valley, October 14, 1806. He was a tiller of the soil and owned land in the valley. In politics he was a Whig, but when that party
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passed out of existence became a Democrat. He held several of the township offices, although not an office seeker. He was a member of the Lutheran church. William Ambrose married in 1828, Susan Bitner, born in 1803, daughter of Peter Bitner, of Dutch descent. She was the eldest of a family of fourteen children-four sons and ten daughters-all of whom reached maturity, mar- ried and raised families, and all lived in Ligonier township with one exception. The Bitner family settled in Ligonier valley in 1801 or 1802, on the farm now owned by James Graham. William and Susan ( Bitner) Ambrose had chil- dren: George W., born 1829, was a farmer in Ligonier Valley, died 1881 ; Matilda, married Henry Karns, she died October 27, 1892; Matthew, died in infancy : Henry P., remained on the homestead farm, which he purchased from the heirs, and his son Albert now cultivates it : Henry P., died January 1, 1904 : Jacob T., see forward ; Mary A., married William Koontz, she died December 24. 1900; Josiah W., born 1840, was a dealer in lumber, and is now living in Ligonier, retired from active business life ; Alexander, died in infancy ; Lucinda, twin, widow of John Ray ; Louisa, twin, died in infancy ; Amanda, died in in- fancy. Of these eleven children there are now living ( 1906) : Joseph W., Mrs. Luneinda Ray. at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania ; and Dr. Jacob T. William Am- brose, the father of these children, died January 29, 1868 ; his wife, Susan, died January 25, 1873.
Jacob T. Ambrose, fourth son and fifth child of William and Susan ( Bit- ner ) Ambrose, was born December 6, 1837, and was reared on the farm, where he remained until he was of age. He attended the township schools and the Ligonier Academy. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching, and taught in the township schools for twelve years. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Thirty-fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for a term of nine months. He was in the hard-fought and bloody battle of Chancellorsville and other minor engagements. He was discharged at the expiration of his term, and again enlisted, this time in the state troops for the defence of Pennsyl- vania against Lee. In 1867 he commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. A. Miller, of Ligonier, and in 1870 was graduated from the Long Island College of Medicine, in Brooklyn, New York. In the same year he began the practice of his profession in Stahlstown, where he remained for five years. In 1875 he removed to Ligonier, where he has since practiced, making a term of service in the valley of thirty-six years. He has attained success in his profession, and is the valued medical adviser of a large clientele in the valley and borough. He is a Democrat in politics, has served as school director and has been a member of the board of health for ten years. He is a member of the Lutheran church, of which he is an elder. He is also a member of the State and County Medical Association, and of the Ligonier Medical Association. Dr. Ambrose's residence is a handsome brick dwelling on Main street, Ligonier, which he built in 1889. His offices, which are well arranged and equipped, are in a separate building adjoining his home. He is as active and faithful in the performance of his duties now as when, thirty- six years ago, he entered upon his life work. His success has been hardly earned and well deserved. His large and well stocked library shows that he has kept abreast of the times. His life has not been lived for himself alone, but his skill as a physician, his time and his means, have been freely bestowed upon those less fortunately situated than he.
While yet a medical student and a teacher, Dr. Ambrose married, Decem- ber 26, 1867, Susan Elizabeth Boucher, daughter of Hiram and Abigail Boucher. (See Boucher family). The children of this marriage are: Luella M., a teacher in Westmoreland county ; Flora V., deceased ; Lillian, Nellie,
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deceased : Clara. Charles D., received his preparatory education in the Ligo- nier schools and in Rev. Dickinson's Classical Institute in Ligonier. lle studied medicine with his father, entered the Western University of Pennsyl- vania and graduated from the medical school connected with that institution in 1900. On leaving college he became the junior member of Ambrose and Barkley, medical practitioners, now Drs. J. T. and C. D. Ambrose. He is considered an able practitioner : Frederick, educated in the same preparatory schools as his brother, and attended the State College for one year. He is now taking a course in electrical engineering in the Western University of Pennsylvania ; George, a graduate of Ligonier high school, now attending Rev. Dickinson's Institute. The daughters were all educated in the Ligonier public and high schools and in Rev Dickinson's Institute.
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