History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 74

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 74

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HENRY REAMER ZIMMERMAN, proprietor of a large farm near Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is a representative of the third generation of his family in that county.

I. Jacob Zimmerman, grandfather of Henry Reamer Zimmerman, was a resident of Berks county, Pennsylvania, migrated to Westmoreland county in 1800, where he purchased a farm, settled on it, and passed the remainder of his life. At his death this farm fell into the possession of his son George.

II. George Zimmerman, son of Jacob Zimmerman, was born in 1798. and died in 1858. He lived on the farm of his father, which he had inherited, and which he cultivated very successfully. He married. in 1825, Elizabeth Reamer, who died in 1890. She was the daughter of Jacob Reamer, who lived on his own farm, on the present site of Hufftown. She was the grand-

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

daughter of Henry Reamer, who owned three hundred acres of land, which is now in the possession of the fourth generation. Henry Reamer was a farmer and a miller. George and Elizabeth (Reamer) Zimmerman had children : Jacob, who served in the civil war; Henry Reamer, of whom later ; John, who also took an active part in the civil war. He was first ser- geant in Company I, Eleventh Regiment, and participated in a number of the most important battles, notably the following: Gettysburg; Antietam; The Wilderness; Bull Run. He was wounded twice, and in the battle of Bull Run he had the tip of his nose shot off. Sophia. George Zimmerman, father of these children, died 1858. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Lutheran church and a deacon for many years.

III. Henry Reamer Zimmerman, second son and child of George and Elizabeth (Reamer) Zimmerman, was born in Hempfield township, on the farm which he now owns, November 4, 1837. He received his education at the Stouffer schoolhouse. He follows the occupation of farming, and for many years ran a thresher. His farm is a model of cultivation. He owns the old homestead, with the exception of sixty-nine acres, which are in the possession of his brother Jacob. He spends, not alone time and labor on his farm, but thought, and is ready to adopt any new methods of cultivation which have been tested and met with scientific approval. He is a staunch Republican and was Supervisor three years. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Greensburg, of which he was deacon for many years. He mar- ried, August 29, 1861, Rev. George W. Mechling performing the ceremony, Catherine Blank, daughter of Ephraim Blank, a farmer of Hempfield town- ship. Henry Reamer and Catherine' (Blank) Zimmerman have had thir- teen children : 1. Marion Louis, born August 8, 1862, married Mary Welty, daughter of John Steiner and Nancy ( Kilgore) Welty. 2. Melville Aaron, March 7, 1864. married Ellen Beistel, and they have children: Nancy Jane; Catherine Pearl; Henry ; Frank; Mary, and Simon. 3. Charles Baker, October 7, 1865: died June 19, 1885. 4. Elizabeth Kate, April 7, 1867, married Simon R. Sommers; has four children: Joseph, Caressa Grace, Charles, Oliver Howard. 5. George Henry, May 9, 1870. 6. Ephriam Blank, November 1, 1871 ; married Catherine Brinker. 7. John Isaac, May 16, 1873; married Elizabeth Pearl Brown; have one child: John Karl. 8. Lucinda Hannah, March 5, 1875; married Howard Wagner and has one child : Elma Romayne. 9. Minerva Anna, August 31, 1876; married Amos Hoffman, and has children: Lcona Grace, Josephine, and Wilmer Henry. 10. Ada Novella, June 4, 1879: married Charles Thomas Stouffer. II. Elsie Mabel. February 14. 1881 ; married Ira Wingert. 12. Jane Kil- gore, October 10, 1883. She is unmarried and lives at home. 13. Edward Joseph. November 10, 1884.

DANIEL R. BLOWER. The ancestors of Daniel R. Blower. of North Belle Vernon, were English. His grandfather was a miner, and his father. Joseph Blower, was put to work in the mines as early as his eighth vear. As he reached manhood he became a mine contractor in the building of shafts, in mine timbering and in general mining work. He acquired the skill of an expert in the business as well as a thorough knowledge of mining in all its departments. In 1882 he emigrated to the United States in company with his son Emanuel, his son Joseph having preceded him some years before. The remainder of the family followed him a year later. He settled at Old Eagle (now Elklone), Pennsylvania, and after remaining there a short time moved across the river to Buffalo Patch. One year later he went to River-

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view, where for five or six years he was connected with mining. His next migration was to Bunola, where he lived four years, going thence to Lucy- ville. He was there associated with mining for some eight years, and during his stay there broke up housekeeping, in view of the fact that his wife had died, the children, with the exception of three, being married and having homes of their own. Later he went to Webster, and then returned to Lucy- ville, moving thence to Brownsville and afterward to Brycedale, where he is now employed in mine timbering in mine No. 2 of the Pittsburg Coal Com- pany. He married Ann Wallet, and of their twelve children the following survive : Hannah, who is the wife of William Blower, of Belle Veronon, foreman of mine No. 4 of the Pittsburg Coal Campany; Joseph, who is a mine operator at Trimble, Ohio; Emma, who is married to Frank Ellis, of Traverse City, Michigan ; Emanuel, who lives at Lucyville ; Elizabeth, who is ried to Elias L. Morris, of Naomi, Pennsylvania; Mary, who is the wife of Charles Elliott, of Twilight, Pennsylvania; Enoch, who is mine foreman at Trimble, Ohio; and Daniel R., of whom later.

Daniel R. Blower, son of Joseph and Ann (Wallet) Blower, was born February 19, 1876, in Derbyshire, England, and received his education in the common schools of his birthplace and in the night schools of Bunola and Riverview. His educational advantages were not as great as had been those of the elder children, but he was ambitious and availed himself to the full of every opportunity. In his twelfth year he began to work in the mines as trapper boy and furnace-tender, afterward working in the pit at cave dig- ging. In his eighteenth year he began to operate a mining machine and con- tinued to do so for two years, after which he was employed for one year in timbering and track laying on the roads. He was then placed in the position of "hooking on slopes," and afterward in that of "spragging on trips," work- ing four months at each branch of the business. His next employment was running a dynamo engine for one year, and for eighteen months thereafter he was machine boss of mines. He was then made "bratticeing slope," in which capacity he served about three months, at the end of that time becom- ing fire boss of the Equitable mines, in Webster. He remained there some five months, and on April 1, 1902, was offered and accepted his present posi- tion of foreman of Somers mine No. 2 of the Pittsburg Coal Company, at Brycedale. He has served one year as a member of the town council in North Belle Vernon, where he resides. He belongs to Charleroi Lodge, No. 615, F. and A. M., Monongahela Chapter, No. 249. R. A. M and Mckean Commandery, No. 80, Knights Templar, of Charleroi. He affiliates with the Republican party and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, November 27, 1901, Christina Louise Harley, of Uniontown, and two children have been born to them, one of whom, John Harley, is now living.

WILLIAM E. ROPP. The grandfather of William E. Ropp, of West Newton, was in the service of President William Henry Harrison, hav- ing charge of his landed estate at Cleves, Ohio. He was John Ropp, and his son, John L. Ropp, was born at Culpeper Court House, Virginia, and when about seventeen years of age went West with his parents. He was subsequently employed in Indiana in the construction of the Big Four Rail- road, and on the completion of this work was made a conductor on the road running from Indianapolis to Lawrenceburg. He remained in this position fifteen years, and then resigned in order to accept the superintendency of the Collier Budd Coal Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this position he served until his death. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church and a man

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of influence. He married Mary Miller, and they were the parents of the following children: Benjamin, who lives in Cincinnati; George, who is a resident of the same city ; Jolm A., who is foreman of the Reduction Works at West Newton ; Ella, who is the wife of Frederick Michaels, of Cincinnati ; and William E., of whom later. The death of Mr. Ropp occurred about 1882, and his widow passed away about twelve years later.

William E. Ropp, son of John L. and Mary ( Miller) Ropp, was born March 31, 1876, in Cincinnati, and was but six years old at the time of the death of his father. It was owing to the heroic exertions of his mother that the fam- ily was kept together and successfully reared. He was educated in the public schools and at Bartlett Business College, Cincinnati. At the age of eighteen he was deprived by death of the mother who had done so much for him, and he then acepted a position with the I. & N. railroad as billing clerk in the Indianapolis office. Two years later he resigned this position and returned to Cincinnati where he entered the service of the Cincinnati Desiccating Com- pany. In 1898 he went to West Newton and entered upon the discharge of the duties of his present position, that of assistant superintendent of the West Newton plant of the American Reduction Company of Pittsburg. He is a member of West Newton Lodge, No. 440, I. (). O. F., Mckeesport Lodge, No. 136, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the I. O. O. F. Encamp- ment. In the sphere of politics he works with and for the Republican party. He married, April 16, 1905, Anna L. Dougherty, of Waynesburg, Ohio.

MICHAEL DAVID HOYMAN. Prominent among the younger generation of prosperous farmers, in Mount Pleasant township, is Michael David Hoyman, son of the late Henry Hoyman, of Donegal township, Penn- sylvania, and Catherine ( Hays) Hoyman.

Michael David Hoyman was born in Donegal, September 6, 1875. Reared upon a farm his opportunities for acquiring an education were confined to the public schools of his immediate neighborhood, and at the age of sixteen years he was thrown upon his own inherent resources by the death of his father. Experience in various available occupations having brought him to the conclusion that the independent life of a farmer was far more desirable than any other calling within his reach, he accordingly, in 1892, purchased the John Freeman farm, which was formerly known as the old Byerly farm, and possessing the spirit of energy necessary for the rapid acquirement of suc- cess he was in due time able to secure possession of the entire property. He is now the owner of one hundred acres of desirably located and exceedingly fertile land, which is well improved, and under his able direction its present high state of cultivation will never be allowed to deteriorate. Politically he acts with the Republican party. In his religious belief he is a Methodist. On July 18, 1897, Mr. Hoyman was united in marriage with Ethel Albert. who was born in Mount Pleasant, June 5. 1877, daughter of the late Abra- ham Albert, of this township; and they have four children: Phey, who was born September 15. 1898: Catherine, born June 17, 1899 (died July 17, 1901) ; Audrey, born June 2, 1902; and Helen, born May 4, 1904.

DANIEL WITT, one of the well known and respected citizens of Beatty, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born in Jenner township, February 23, 1839. a son of Joseph and Sarah (Stern) Witt, the former named having come to this country from Germany at an early day. He at- tended the common schools adjacent to his home, completing his studies at the age of thirteen years, and then learned the trade of stone mason which

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he has followed up to the present time (1905). July 27, 1862, he was united in marriage to Harriet Freeline, who was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, December 4, 1848, a daughter of David and Leah (Kay) Freeline. The following named children were the issue of this marriage: Eleanora, born January 26, 1863, wife of William Barren and mother of two children : Evans and F. B., they reside in West Latrobe. John, born March 11, 1864, deceased. David, born May 4, 1865, resides at home. Anna M., born August 17, 1866, died November 17, 1902; she was the wife of Herman Shaffer, of Union, and their children were as follows: Edward, James, Bes- sie, Paul, and Martha. Albert G., born February 27, 1868, resides at home. William Edgar, born August 1, 1869, resides at home. Minna, born Janu- ary 31, 1870, became the wife of Harry King and mother of one child, Cath- erine, they reside in Latrobe. Maria Agnes, born April 18, 1871, wife of Roy Greene, no issue ; they reside in Jeannette. Sarah Matilda, born August 29. 1872, wife of Fred Crator and mother of one child, Charles; they reside in Greensburg. James C., born February 20, 1874, married Lillie Abermathey, and they have one child, Hazel. Nancy J., born July 31, 1876, resides at home. Emma L., born July 31, 1877, resides at home. Caroline, born March 21, 1879, became the wife of Thomas Johnson, and they . re- side in Pittsburg. Ira M., born March 8, 1881, resides at home. Bessie Ethel, born January 25, 1883, resides at home. Ethel Pearl, born February 8, 1887, became the wife of Harris Wyble, a resident of Youngwood ; they are the parents of one child, Kenneth Albert, who mar- ried Maud Dunlap, who died October 17, 1904, leaving three children: Edna, Daniel and Gladys. Millie M., born August 8, 1888, resides at home.

JAMES McCUNE, of Hempfield township, is a son of John and Martha Jane ( Filbrook) McCune, and grandson of James McCune, of Eliz- abeth township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, born March 3, 1802, died December 28, 1847, married Rose Anna Graham, who was born in 1800. She survived her husband many years and her death oc- curred November 26, 1893. James and Rose Anna McCune were the parents of seven children: Gilbert, born July 18, 1825; Catherine, born January 14, 1828; Samuel, born February 10, 1831; Margaret, born September 28. 1834: Alvira, June 19, 1837; Robert, born July 20, 1840; and John, born October 13, 1821.

John McCune was a native of Elizabeth township, where his early years were spent upon a farm, and the active period of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. For nearly forty years he resided in Hempfield, and his death occurred in that township, April 24, 1899. He was married February 18, 1847, to Martha Jane Filbrook, who was born in Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, November 9, 1825. She became the mother of ten children : Anna Jane, born December 31, 1847; Emma, born October 20, 1849: Thomas Filbrook, born September 24, 1851; James, see forward; Nancy Thompson, born February 28, 1856; John, born June 25, 1859; Harry Lincoln, born February 1, 1861; Mathew Wilson, born February 12, 1863; Ida Belle, born May 17, 1865; and Samuel, born June 23, 1870. Mrs. Martha Jane McCune died August 15, 1894.

James McCune was born in Elizabeth township, March 10, 1854. His par- ents came to reside in Hempfield when he was eight years old, and during his boyhood and youth his time was interspersed between attending school and assisting his father upon the homestead farm. He has resided in Hemp- field continuously for more than forty years, and is well and favorably known

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in this locality. On March 6, 1879, Mr. McCune was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Gress, who was born in Adamsburg, this county, May 15. 1857, daughter of Daniel Gress, of that township. Mr. and Mrs. McCune have a family of seven children: John, born February 14, 1881 ; Mary Gress, August 2, 1883; Martha Jane, July 4, 1885; Cora Belle, March 20, 1887; Bessie, August 17, 1889; Daniel Gress, August 17, 1893 ; and Emma Miller McCune, December 30, 1897. All are living at home excepting Mary Gress, who is now the wife of Albert Whitehead, of Erwin, Pennsylvania, and is residing in East Mckeesport, this state.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN ADAIR, a resident of Salem township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born in Washington township, Feb- ruary 13, 1851, the son of James Adair, who was born about 1815, and grand- son of Archibald Adair, who was a native of Ireland and emigrated to this country.

November 7. 1878, Mr. Adair was married to Mary Elizabeth McCauley, the daughter of John McCauley, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to this country at the age of eighteen, about 1822, and died in 1875. The fol- lowing named children were the result of this marriage union: Cleo Edna, born November 15, 1879, and married, September 15, 1902, James M. Lin- hart, and one daughter, Helen Adair, was born April 25, 1903; Anna, born May 9, 1881, married Robert F. Steele, son of John Steele, June 4, 1902, and they have one child, Florence Eleanor, born March 15. 1903; Carrie Bell, born November 24, 1882; John Floyd, September 4, 1884; Laura Janet, Sep- tember 11, 1888, and Robert Calvin, September 8, 1890.

JOSIAH D. RUBRIGHT. The paternal grandfather of Josiah D. Rubright, of Weister, was a native of Northampton county, whence, about 1800, he migrated to Westmoreland. His children were: Barbara, John, Susan, Mary, Catharine, Nancy, George, Noah, Jacob, of whom later, and four who died early in life.

Jacob Rubright, son of the pioneer, was born in Franklin township, and was a farmer, owning and operating one hundred and twenty-two acres. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Walp, a soldier in the war of 1812, whose other children were: George, Reuben, Caroline, Sarah and Kate A. The family were natives of Franklin township. Mr. and Mrs. Rubright were the parents of: Andrew, deceased; James; Josiah D., of whom later ; George; Annie, deceased: Jane; Jacob, deceased ; an1 Mary, also deceased. Mrs. Ruhright died in 1882 and the death of Mr. Rubr ght occurred in 1895.

Josiah D. Rubright, son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Walp, Rubright, was born September 12, 1862, in Franklin township, and there received his education. He early turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and in Igor moved to Washington township, where he purchased the old J. C. Christy estate. This consists of one hundred and eighteen acres, which he devotes to general farming. Ife has been twice married. His first wife was Myrtle Stark, to . whom three children were born: Alfred, Homer and John. After the death of their mother Mr. Rubright married Mrs. Ramaley, nee Kunkle, who was the mother of two children by her former marriage: Frank and Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Rubright have one child : Mildred Rubright.

HENRY H. SMITH. Deming numbers among her old residents and worthy citizens Henry II. Smith. Mr. Smith was born in Virginia, De- cember 20, 1833, and is. the son of Joseph Smith. His education was obtained in the common schools, and he learned in early life the trade of a wagon-

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maker, but followed it for a few years only, preferring to devote himself to agricultural pursuits. In these he has passed nearly all his life. . In 1862 he enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. His poli- tical principles and opinions are those advocated and upheld by the Republican party. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. He married, in 1859, Caroline, a native of Westmoreland county, daughter of Samuel Stairs, and the following children were born to them: John, Susan, Joseph, Elizabeth, Isaac, George, Esther, Harry, Watson, David, who is deceased ; James, and Isah.

JOHN BEATTY, JR. Among the many beautiful and fertile farms which abound in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, which show the results, not alone of thrift, industry, and cultivation, but also that the most progressive and scientific methods have been called into play to render them the pride of their owners, we must not overlook that belonging to John Beatty, Jr., which ranks as a model farm in every respect. Mr. Beatty traces his descent to Irish and German ancestry, who nobly bore their share in defense of the country of their adoption.

Benjamin Beatty, grandfather of John Beatty, Jr., and founder of the family in this country, was born in the county of Derry, Ireland, in 1745. He was quite young when he emigrated from his native land, and upon his arrival here located in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. He was enthusiastic and patriotic, and when the colonies rose in revolt against the tyranny and oppres- sion of England he was one of the first to enlist in the Continental army in 1776. He was one of that brave band of patriots, who on the night of Decem- ber 25, 1776, crossed the Delaware amidst snow and ice, and under the per- sonal command of Washington fought and won the battle of Trenton, and were equally victorious in other engagements during that memorable struggle. His honorable discharge from the army is attested by papers still in the pos- session of some of his descendants. He resided on a farm in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1785, and in 1809 sold this and removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania. The following year he purchased from Marmaduke Wilson, his brother-in-law, the farm known as "Sportman," at Beatty Station, Pennsylvania railroad, in Unity township, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania. He immediately made his home on it, and built the first bank barn in the township the following spring. This farm had been patented May 7, 1790, by James Hunter, who had taken up six hundred acres of land prior to securing the patent, but sold part of the farm, retaining for himself two hundred and seventy-six acres. The portion sold was purchased by Rev. Theodore Brouwers, and is now the property of the Order of St. Benedict or St. Vincent Abbey. He lived to a hale and hearty old age, his death occurring at Beatty Station. Pennsylvania railroad, June 2, 1831. He married, 1785, Martha Chamberlain, of German descent, born in 1755, died September 6, 1845, in her ninety-first year. Their children were: Hamilton, of whom later ; John, Jami- son, Samuel, Ann, married O'Brien : Mary, married

Osborn : Elizabeth, married (first) Sloan ; married (second) John Lightcap : Martha, married William Cochrin; Marjora, married William Mc- Farland : Susan, married Jonathan Tittle.

Hamilton Beatty, son of Benjamin and Martha (Chamberlain) Beatty, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1786. Hamilton and his brother John purchased the farm of their father in 1824, and at their death this prop- erty passed into the hands of John Beatty, Jr. Hamilton Beatty served with honor in the War of 1812, and aided in building Fort Meigs. He was an in-

John Beatty , J.

NOTARY

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

dustrious farmer, a respected citizen, and served his town in various local offices. Politically he was a Democrat, and his church affiliations were with the Unity Presbyterian church, of which he was one of the most consistent members, and filled the office of elder for a period of fifty-six years. He died at his home at Beatty Station, July 10, 1871. Ile married, September 1, 1817, Sarah Anderson, born September 27, 1796, died May 25, 1879 daughter of Colonel William and Nancy (Tittle) Anderson. They had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who attained maturity were: Nancy Tittle, born August 1, 1818, widow of John George, resides at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania : John, Jr., born September 14. 1826, of whom later; Martha Chamberlain, born August 9. 1829, married Joseph Baldridge, died in 1903. Sarah Ann, born March 1, 1835, widow of Major Samuel Adams, resides in Beatty Station.

John Beatty, Jr., second child and only son of the surviving children of Hamilton and Sarah (Anderson) Beatty, was born and reared on the farm which he now owns. September 14, 1826. His education was acquired in the common schools of the township and at Elders Ridge Academy, Indiana county. After leaving school he began his active career as a farmer, an oc- cupation he has sucessfully followed all the busy years of his life. The old Beatty homestead, his home, contains two hundred acres in all, in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Beatty is a well read man on all subjects, especially in agriculture in all its branches, and conducts his farming operations in the most approved modern method. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served the township as school director for twenty years. He has always taken the deep- est interest in educational, religious and all matters pertaining to the welfare of the people. He is a member of the Unity Presbyterian church, in which in- stitution he served for many years as trustec. He took an active part in the erection of the new church edifice in 1874, devoting time and labor to the pre- paration of the ground, and the laying out of the beautiful cemetery at Unity. He is a member of Gravel Hill Grange, No. 849. P. of H., and of Latrobe Lodge, No. 30, A. O. of U. W. Mr. Beatty married. June 20, 1855. Eliza Jane Chambers, born June 22, 1832, only daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Leasure ) Chambers. (see sketch of William Chambers), and sister of Eli Chambers, former treasurer of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Her education was obtained at the public schools and at Sewickley Academy. She was a member of Unity Presbyterian church, and died September 19, 1891. The children of John and Eliza Jane (Chambers) Beatty were :

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History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 74

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