USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 77
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ERIC LUDWIG HOOFRING. The father of Eric Ludwig Hoof- ring, of Vandergrift, was Charles Hoofring, who was a cabinetmaker by trade, and married Bertha Watts, like himself a native of Sweden. Of the six children born to them four are living: Charles, of Montana : John, electrical engineer in France : Hedvig, resides in Sweden : and Eric Ludwig, mentioned hereinafter. The parents of these children both died in their native country.
Eric Ludwig Hoofring, son of Charles and Bertha ( Watts) Hoofring was born June 10, 1864. in Stockholm, Sweden, where he acquired his educa- tion in the elementary or preparatory schools. At the age of sixteen he ap- prenticed himself to the machinist's trade and also to the profession of elec- trical engineering. In 1887, after the expiration of his time, he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York city, where he was employed in the John Stevenson car shops as a machinist, remaining some nine months. In the summer of 1888 he went to Pittsburg and secured a position as tool- maker and electrician in the Lewis Foundry & Machine Company, retaining this position until 1895. He then accepted the position of master mechanic with the Lincoln Foundry Company of Pittsburg, and in the spring of 1902 was transferred to their Vandergrift plant, the United Engineering & Foun-
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dry Company, where he serves in the same capacity. He affiliates with Van- dergrift Lodge, No. 751, R. A., and supports with his vote and influence the men and measures advocated and endorsed by the Republican party. Nr. Hoofring married in 1884, Anna Larson, of Stockholm, Sweden, and of their seven children five are living: Bertha, wife of Charles Wineman, of \ander- grift ; Elizabeth, Charles, Mary and Eric. All of these, with the exception of Mrs. Wineman, are at home with their parents.
WILLIAM L. J. PRUGH. The great-grandfather of William L. J. Prugh came from Prussia and settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and Abner Prugh, the grandfather of William L. J. Prugh, came west and set- tled in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. The father of William L. J. Prugh, of Vandergrift, was William A. Prugh, who was born in Elderton, Armstrong county, where he received his preparatory education in the public schools, passing thence to Iron City College, Pittsburg. His first employment was in mercantile business in Allegheny City, but after some years he disposed of the business and was then employed for two years in a mercantile business in Pittsburg. In December, 1876, he moved to Armstrong county, where he has since been engaged in teaching in the public schools, and is now one of the best known educators in the county. He resides in the borough of Atwood on a farm owned by his sons. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and for years has served as elder in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Prugh married Mary L. Boggs, born in Kentucky, but grew up in Allegheny City, and of their five children four survive: Andrew P., heater in Leechburg mills ; William L. J., mentioned hereinafter; Lillian G., wife of A. W. Hunter, roller in Vander- grift mills ; and Nellie F., wife of Ezra Hoover, stock dealer of Kittanning, Pennsylvania. The mother of these children died in fall of 1876.
William L. J. Prugh, son of William A. and Mary L. ( Boggs) ) Prugh, was born October 21, 1868, in Allegheny City, receiving his education in the public schools of his birthplace and at Elderton Academy. In his fifteenth year he began to work for neighboring farmers, and prior to his eighteenth year became an instructor in the public schools, teaching four terms. On May 4, 1890, lie accepted a position in the galvanizing department of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company, but at the end of a year was transferred at his own request to the position of matcher. Although the change involved a great reduction in salary he felt that he should be compensated by a more congemal environment, and the result proved that he was not mistaken. Eighteen months later he was made pair heater, in which position he served until the strike of 1893, after which he was out of the mill for about one year. During this interval he went to Cambria county and there taught in the public schools, and in the spring of 1894 applied for the principalship of the Mox- ham schools, Stony Creek township. In consequence, however, of the large number of applicants, he returned to Appollo and made application for a position in the mills. One week later he went to work as pair heater, and the following day received notice that he had been elected principal of the Moxham schools. He showed the letter to the superintendent of the steel works, who promised him a better position if he would remain, and one month later he was given a sheet furnace. On the opening of the mills at Vander- grift he was transferred to that place and promoted to the position of roller, in which capacity he has since served continuously, being advanced from the small rolls to the largest in the mills. He belongs to Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 617. F. and A. M., of Vandergrift, and Vandergrift Lodge, No. 502, K. P. His political affiliations are with the Republicans, and he is a member and
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steward of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Prugh married, in the spring of 1894, Wyoming St. Clair, and they have two sons: John Alexander and Judson Lee. Mrs. Prugh is a daughter of John St. Clair, a veteran of the civil war, granddaughter of William St. Clair, and great-granddaughter of James St. Clair, who emigrated from the north of Ireland about 1760 and settled in York county, Pennsylvania. He served in the revolutionary army, and was a first cousin of Major General Arthur St. Clair.
LEVI G. STITT. The paternal ancestors of Levi G. Stitt, of Van- dergrift, in the male line were natives of Scotland, while those in the female line were born in Germany. John Stitt, when a young man, left the "land of brown heath and shaggy wood" to seek a home in the New World, and is supposed to have settled in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, about 1818. He is entitled to the distinction of having built on Carnahan's Run the first grist mill ever erected in this section of the country, the ruins of which still remain. He married, after settling in his new home. Esther Frantz, a native of the Fatherland.
John F. Stitt, son of John and Esther (Frantz) Stitt, was born in 1834, in Armstrong county, and was reared to a mill life. He was a natural me- chanic. and notwithstanding the fact that he never served an apprenticeship was one of the most skillful carpenters and builders in the county, where many of the substantial barns and residences were of his erection. He was one of those men whose versatility enables them to engage in almost any kind of work that presents itself. He is a Democrat, and attended the Lutheran church. Mr. Stitt married Anna Coffman, and seven of their eight children are now living: Harriet I., wife of G. W. Stitt, of Keister, Pennsylvania ; Levi G., mentioned hereinafter; Mary, wife of Newton Long, of Armstrong county : Thomas A., farmer of Armstrong county; Margaret, wife of Lec Shall, of Armstrong county : Edith A., wife of Charles Lenning, of the same county : Benjamin F., foreman for Berry Brothers, bolt and nut works, Colum- bus. Ohio: and Nancy F., wife of J. M. Van Deen, principal of schools and pastor of Presbyterian church. Mr. Stitt, the father of the family, continued to work as a mechanic until the close of his life, his death being the result of an accident. In 1894 he was struck by a train at Leechburg, being then sixty years of age.
Levi G. Stitt, son of John F. and Anna (Coffman) Stitt, was born Octo- ber 28, 1860, in Armstrong county, and received his education in the "Hills" country school. In his early years he worked in the summer on the farm and during the winter in the wagon shop with his father. In 1882 he ac- cepted a position as carpenter in the steel plant of Laufman & Company, who were erecting for themselves two heavy extra buildlings. Two months later he was made boss carpenter, having charge of the erection of the buildings. At the end of two years he was again promoted, being given entire charge of all the machinery. The plant was subsequently transferred, becoming known as the Volta Iron Company, and later as the Apollo Iron & Steel Com- pany. It was finally absorbed by the American Sheet Steel Company, Mr. Stitt retaining his position as master mechanic until March, 1904. when he was promoted to general superintendent. On the building of the enormous plant at Vandergrift he was called to that place to superintend its erection and when ground was broken threw the first shovelful of earth. While still retain- ing control of the Apollo plant, he superintended the erection of all the build- ings at Vandergrift as well as the foundation for machinery, placing the machinery and putting it in operation. After the building of the plant he was
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transferred to Vandergrift and made general superintendent of all the Valley plants, including those at Apollo, Vandergrift, Hyde Park and Leechburg. The one at Saltsburg is now added, the Apollo plant having been dismantled. To Mr. Stitt is due much of the credit for the successful building of the mills, and it is an acknowledged fact that these structures, so valuable to Van- dergrift, are largely the result of his brains and mechanical ingenuity. He is a born mechanical genius, as is abundantly evident in every department of the mills of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, and many of his inventions are now in use. For seventeen years he has been a master me- chanic. He is a member of Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 617, F. and A. M., of Vandergrift. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. Stitt married in 1882, Lida M. Hanna, of Armstrong county, and their children are: Herbert L., em- ployed in the mills at Vandergrift: Arthur P., with the United Engineering & Foundry Company, of Vandergrift; Nellie, at home ; Goldie, deceased : and Veryl P., at home.
GEORGE W. RUBRIGHT. The paternal great-grandfather of George W. Rubright, of Apollo, was a native of Germany, whence he emi- grated to the United States, settling in Northampton county, where he reared a family. Three of his sons moved to the west, two of them finding homes in Ohio.
Henry Rubright, another son of the emigrant ancestor, came to West- moreland county and settled at Hannastown, later removing to Murrysville, where he purchased a farm on which he lived for many years. His wife was a daughter of Jacob Saul, of Salem township, and they had children: John, George, mentioned hereinafter: Jacob, Noah, three daughters who married, respectively, Frederick Marsh, Michael Beamer and John Beamer ; Mary, married Michael Miller ; three daughters who married three brothers Rema- ley ; and one unmarried daughter. All these with one exception settled near the old homestead.
George Rubright, son of Henry Rubright, in 1843 moved to Washing- ton township, where he purchased a farm, and in 1845 bought one hundred and ten acres adjoining. This property is now owned and occupied by his son, George W. Rubright. Later he purchased another farm which is now occupied by his eldest son, John. Mr. Rubright married Catharine Burnhart, of Hempfield township, who died in 1852, leaving one child, John. Subse- quently Mr. Rubright married Elsiah, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Miller) Free, and five children were born to them, four of whom are living : George W., mentioned hereinafter : Henry T., David, and Elizabeth, wife of James Nealey, of Armstrong county. The mother of these children died in 1891, and Mr. Rubright expired in 1900, at the venerable age of ninety years. George W. Rubright, son of George and Elsiah (Free) Rubright, was born August 17. 1858, on the farm which is now his home and on which he has always lived. He attended the common schools, at the same time assisting his father in the labors of the homestead. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for a time in conjunction with farming. He has filled various township offices, and gives to the Democratic party the support of his vote and influence. He is an active member of the Reformed church. Mr. Rubright married, January 7. 1896, Daisy, daughter of P. K. and Dora ( Stewart) Gumbert, of Allegheny township, and they have been the parents of one child, who died in infancy.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
ALONZO L. ANDERSON. The father of Alonzo L. Anderson, of Leechburg, was David Anderson, a native of Westmoreland county and of Scotch-Irish extraction. He was a resident of Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, where he owned and cultivated a farm of eighty acres and was at the same time proprietor of a hotel. He was at one time a manufacturer of salt. Mr. An- derson married Mary Mealmen, who bore him seven children, three of whom are living : Permila, wife of David B. Ashbaugh ; Fidela, wife of James A. Bair; and Alonzo L., mentioned hereinafter.
Alonzo L. Anderson, son of David and Mary ( Mcalmen) Anderson, was born September 30, 1832, in Westmoreland county, where he has spent the greater part of his life. Though reared on a farm he yet turned his attention to mining and was for thirty years mine boss on territory adjacent to his own farm. He was also mine foreman at Keystone mines, Somerset county, for over three years. This farm he has owned since 1879. It formerly contained one hundred and fourteen acres and was owned by his father, who bought it in 1854 and erected the buildings in 1864. Its area is now seventy acres, on. which its present owner raises crops which command the highest market value. It is beautifully situated on the banks of the Kiskiminetas river and occupies the site of an Indian village. Mr. Anderson married in 1867 Sadie J. Lyons, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, and they have been the parents of three daughters- and one son: Ella M., of New Philadelphia, Ohio: Flossie E., wife of W. Reed : Laura, wife of William McCreary; and David, deceased. Alonzo L. Anderson served in the civil war.
ALBERT MILTON MCNUTT. The father of Albert Milton Mc- Nutt, of Vandergrift, was Thomas MeNutt, who was born in 1848, in In- diana county, and at the age of seventeen went to Apollo and there for a brief period worked on the railroad. He was afterward for a short time employed in the brick yards, and in 1867 entered the mills of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company. He rose from the lowest position to that of roller, which he reached in the late eighties. For thirty-eight years he has been continuously identified with the iron industry, and his record in the mills is longer than that of any other man there with but one exception. Since March, 1905, he has been off duty on account of illness. He belongs to the K. O. T. M., votes with the Democrats, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. McNutt married Sarah Buzzard, and of their seven children six survive : Robert W., roller in Vandergrift mills : Albert Milton, mentioned hereinafter ; Lillie May, wife of H. E. Grim, of Vandergrift Heights; Grace G., wife of C. F. Shaffer, roller in Vandergrift mills; Bertha, at home; and Anna P., bookkeeper in .A. J. Allison's dry goods store, Vandergrift.
Albert Milton MeNutt, son of Thomas and Sarah ( Buzzard ) MeNutt, was born January 6, 1873, in Clarion county, where he received his education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he entered the mills of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company in the capacity of doubler, from which position he rose to that of rougher, and early in 1898, after his transfer to the Vander- grift mills, was made roller, in which capacity he is still serving. Ile affiliates with Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 617. F. and A. M., the Royal Arcanum and the A. I. U. llis political principles are those endorsed by the Democratic party, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. MeNutt married, January 17, 1804. Lillian B., daughter of S. I .. Coover, of Verona, Pennsyl- vania, an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and a justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. MeNutt have four children: Viva E., Harok! W ... Albert M., and Roberta J.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
DAVID L. RIGGLE. One of the worthy citizens of Deming is David L. Riggle, grandson of John Riggle, whose son George was born April 27, 1818, and married Hannah Turney, who was born March 18, 1821. The following children were born to them: John A., Leah C., Anna M., Philip F., George W., deceased; Albert T., James F., David L., mentioned herein- after ; Daniel J., Jacob P., and Oliver.
David L. Riggle, son of George and Hannah ( Turney) Riggle, was born December 11. 1857, in Armstrong county, and received a common school education. The doctrines of the Democratic party have in him a steadfast supporter. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Riggle married Maria Jane Crowfard and the following children have been born to them: Hannah B., born June 3, 1882 ; Lula M., born August 27, 1883, died April 13. 1904: Anna B., born February 8, 1887; Jessie O., born April 26, 1890; Margaret P., born January 29, 1893; Howard C., born September 30, 1895; Hazel E., born August 2, 1807; and Martha H., born November 13. 1903. Mrs. Riggle is a daughter of John H. and Anna Crowfard, whose children are: George W., Anna, James P., Joanna, Levi K., Maria Jane, born April 25. 1862, and became the wife of David L. Riggle, as mentioned above; and Mary E.
JEREMIAH BAUGHMAN, who holds the responsible position of conductor on a freight train of the Pennsylvania railroad, is well and favorably known in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The founder of the family in America was John Baughman.
David Baughman, father of Jeremiah Baughman, was a native of West- moreland county, attended the common schools there, and acquired a reason- ably good education for the times in which he lived. He was a farmer and was respected by all who knew him. In politics he was a Republican, and was a member of the Protestant church. He married Hattie Fink, daughter of George and Mary (Erhart) Fink, and they had four children, among them being Jeremiah.
Jeremiah Baughman, son of David and Hattie (Fink) Baughman, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1854. He received his education in the public schools of his native town, and proved himself an apt pupil. He obtained employment with the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, November 21, 1871, and now holds the position of conductor of a freight train, to the entire satisfaction of his employers, as his faithful attention to his duties has become well known and appreciated. He pays the strictest attention to the minutest details of his work, and this contributes not a little to the successful performance of his duties. In politics he is a Republican, and although taking a lively interest in the affairs of the community has never found time to do any active work for his party or to hold office. He is a member of the Reformed church at Greensburg. He is also a member of the following named organizations: Lodge No. 840, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Greensburg ; Order of Railway Conductors, Divis- ion No. 433, Pitcairn, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Baughman mar- ried, December 24, 1873, Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of George and Mary Thomas. Mrs. Baughman was educated in the public schools.
LEWIS W. GONGAWARE, of Penn township, is a lineal descend- ant of John Gongaware, the pioneer of the American branch of the family, who emigrated from Germany in 1725. The line of descent is traced through his son, Michael Gongaware, whose birth occurred in Northampton county,
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Pennsylvania, in 1730. He was a clockmaker by trade and followed that line of work in Westmoreland county, whither he removed early in life, settling on what is known as the Gongaware farm, near Harrold Church. His death occurred on this farm, October 26, 1826, at the advanced age of ninety-six years, and his wife, Catherine, passed away March 22, 1829.
Philip G. Gongaware, son of Michael and Catherine Gongaware, was born in 1760. He was united in marriage to Margaretta Miller, daughter of John Peter and Catherine Miller, and their children were: Margaret, Jacob, John, Elizabeth, Catherine, Jonas, Hannah, Peter, Lydia and Sarah. The father of these children died January 18, 1829, and the mother died in 1823, aged fifty-seven years.
Jacob Gongaware, eldest son of Philip G. and Margaretta (Miller) Gonga ware, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, September, 1799. He removed to the Manor valley, near Harrison City. He married ( first) Elizabeth Whitehead, daughter of Stoffel and Susan Whitehead, by whom he had the following children: John, married Rebecca Ann Ridinger, and who died at Penlinger, Indiana, March 23, 1855. Margaret, became the wife of Solomon Altman. Eliza, who became the wife of Joseph Myers, of Irwin, Pennsylvania. Lewis W., mentioned hereinafter. Jonas, married Sarah Alshouse. Mr. Gongaware married (second) Annie Steiner ( nee Whitehead), a sister of his first wife. There were no children born of this union.
Lewis W. Gongaware, second son of Jacob and Elizabethi (Whitehead) Gongaware, was born in Penn township, Westmoreland county, June 3, 1837. he is a farmer by occupation, and is the owner of a very large farm, on which he has resided continuously for the long period of sixty-four years. He is prominent in the affairs of the township, and has served in the capacity of collector and supervisor, discharging the duties thereof in an efficient and capable manner. He holds membership in the Lutheran church, in which body he has held the offices of deacon and elder. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
Mr. Gongaware married, October 26, 1859, Mattie Alshouse, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Lydia Alshouse, who died Mav 21, 1870, leaving him the following children: Samuel Henry, born 1860, married Nance Ayers, of North Huntingdon township, eight children : Cyrus, Lewis, Amanda, Emma, Henry, Laura, Emery and Ida. Jacob William, born 1862, married Lilly Stump, daughter of Samuel Stump, of Greensburg, issue: One child, Lela. Emanuel N., born 1864, married Anna Fox, daughter of John C. Fox, if Sew- ickly township, and their children are: Florence, Carl, Refert and Hannah. Albert Lewis, born 1867, married Mary Rodabaugh, daughter of Samuel Roda- baugh, of North Huntingdon township, and their children are: Paul, George, Sarah Emma and Orvil. Mr. Gongaware married for his second wife Emma J. Aber, daughter of Eli and Ilannah Aber, and the follow- ing children were born to them: Elmer R., born September 28, 1871, died October 23. 1889 : Otis A., bern September 22, 1872: Oley, born July 9. 1874: Laura M., born November- 4, 1876: Oscar U., born June 27, 1878; Walter W., born January 28, 1880: Katie L., born December 30, 1886: John, born July 31, 1882: Grover C., born February 12, 1885: Verna D., born March 13. 1890; Daisy, born October 11, 1892. Three children died in infancy, making in all fourteen children. The three children that died were: Elizabeth, born Oc- tober 31, 1881. died September 13. 1886; Hannah E., born September 24. 1888. died December 17. 1888: Simon P., born May 20, 1804. died July 27. 1894.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
JOHN FRANK BEATTY, former justice of the peace in the bor- ough of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is regarded as one of the rising young men in that section of the country. He is the son of John M. and Elizabeth Beatty, both natives of New Geneva, Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, and was born in Dawson, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1870.
He received a good education in the common schools of his district, and attended a course in the commercial department of the Kentucky University, exington, Kentucky. His first venture in business life was in the office of A. C. Cochran, who was a large operator in coal and coke. He accepted a position as stenographer with Messrs. Moorhead & Head, attorneys-at-law in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1889. Here he remained for sev- eral years, and in 1896 was appointed court stenographer by Hon. Lucien W. Doty, president judge of the several courts of Westmoreland county. This office he filled very acceptably for a long time, and in 1903 was elected a justice of the peace of Greensburg borough. He is progressive and enter- prising, and a bright future is predicted for him. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, August 6, 1896, Bird L. Denman, daughter of D. N. and Emma Denman, and a graduate of the Greensburg high school. They have two children: Gertrude Elizabeth, born in Greens- burg, June 8, 1897; J. Frank, born in Greensburg. November 17, 1900.
ROBERT A. ARMSTRONG. The ancestors of Robert A. Arm- strong, of Leechburg, were among the pioneers of Allegheny township. They were of Scotch-Irish stock, the founder of the family in this country being Robert Armstrong, who in 1823 came hither from the north of Ireland and proceeded directly to Westmoreland county, settling in Allegheny township, where he purchased eighty acres of land which in due time he brought under subjection. His wife was Eleanor McKee, and their children, seven in num- ber, had all passed the period of childhood when the family left their native land. They were: John, mentioned hereinafter; Jane, married George Pat- terson ; Margaret, married John Boal; Elizabeth, married William Copeland ; Alexander, Thomas, and David.
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