USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 80
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Robert N. Alcorn, son of John and Keziah ( Nicholas) Alcorn, was born December 25, 1833, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. His farm, which consists of one hundred and fifty acres, he has owned since 1865 and has always maintained in the best possible condition, devoting it to the pur- poses of general farming. In 1875 he erected his fine dwelling and in 1883 his spacious and convenient barn. Like all the other members of the family he is a Democrat in politics and a Presbyterian in religious belief. Mr. Alcorn married in 1875. Jane Cook, born August, 1835, and three of their four children are now living : Belle ; Frank, a physician in Pittsburg; and Jo- seph, a farmer.
George A. Alcorn, son of John and Keziah (Nicholas) Alcorn, was born in 1847, and is one of the successful farmers of the township, owning an estate of one hundred and forty-one acres. In sight of the house is an Indian camp- ing-ground, where have been found several interesting Indian relics. True to the traditions of his family Mr. Alcorn supports the Democratic party, and adheres to the faith of the Presbyterian denomination. Mr. Alcorn is un- married and his two sisters, Hulda K. and Delilah, make their home with him.
JAMES WHITESELL. The family of which James Whitesell, of Salina, is a representative, was founded in Westmoreland county by an an- cestor of German extraction, whose birthplace had been the Fatherland, while his wife was a native of Holland. They came from "east of the mountains,"
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settling in Allegheny township, and their sons were: John, mentioned herein- after ; Jonathan and Philip.
John Whitesell, son of the pioneer ancestor, was born in 1788, in Alle- gheny tonwship, and was a farmer and also "a wagoner," hauling goods be- tween Pittsburg and Baltimore, while his sons attended to the duties of the farm, which consisted of one hundred and thirty acres. Mr. Whitesell mar- ried Catharine Clawson, of Bell township, born in 1782, and their children were: Isaac, Mary, James, mentioned hereinafter; Eliza, Ellen, Jonathan, Susan, Peter, and Alexander. Of this number Jonathan is the only survivor. The parents of these children both lived to very advanced ages, the father dying in 1875, at the age of eighty-seven, and the mother passing away in 1877, having lived to within five years of the century limit.
James Whitesell, son of John and Catharine (Clawson) Whitesell, was born December 12, 1817, in Washington township, and was a prosperous agriculturist, his farm consisting of one hundred and fourteen acres of valt- able land well underlaid with coal and gas. He built for himself a fine resi- dence which is now occupied by his son James, the present owner of the farm. Like all the Whitesells, he was a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. White- sell married Elizabeth Yockey, born December 2, 1817, in Bell township, and their children were: Abanna, Martha, John, Carpenter, Christopher, Susan, Mary, Jonathan, James, mentioned hereinafter ; and Samuel H. With the exception of James, John, Carpenter and Jonathan are the only survivors. Mr. Whitesell, the father, died July 2, 1899, and the death of his widow oc- curred July 17. 1904.
James Whitesell, son of James and Elizabeth (Yockey) Whitesell, was born in 1857, on the farm he now owns, in Bell township, where he received his education in the common schools, subsequently turning his attention to agri- cultural pursuits. His farm, which is in a high state of cultivation, consists of one hundred and sixty acres. He has held the offices of tax collector and school director. He married in 1885, Ellen R. McGeary, and their children are : Edith C., William J. F., Edna M., Paul C., Eleanor G., Arthur J., Helen G., and an unnamed infant. Mrs. Whitesell belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Allegheny township, where she was born in 1863, daughter of William and Maria McGeary.
CHARLES B. CARNAIIAN. The ancestors of Charles B. Carnahan, of Salina, were among the pioneers of Westmoreland county. Hither, in 1792, came David Carnahan, from "cast of the mountains." He was the son of Irish parents and settled in Bell township, where he patented six hundred acres of land from the government. His sons were: John, David, mentioned herein- after : and Joseph.
David Carnahan, son of David Carnahan, the pioneer, owned one hundred acres of the original six hundred taken up by his father, and was one of the prosperous farmers of his day. His wife was Mary Bash, and their children were: John, David, Marion, mentioned hereinafter : Adam, Samuel, Washing- ton, Mary and Elizabeth.
Marion Carnahan, son of David and Mary ( Bash) Carnahan, was born in 1819. in Bell township, and married Anna Alms, who bore him the following children :F. M., Samuel, mentioned hereinafter : M. L., George, and Maria.
Samuel Carnahan, son of Marion and Alma ( Als) Carnahan, was born and educated in Bell township. For some years he was engaged in mercan- tile business. He married Mattie Caldwell, also a native of Bell township, and their children were: William, Carl, Arthur, Harry, and Charles B., mentioned
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hereinafter. Mrs. Carnahan died in 1894, and the death of Mr. Carnahan occurred June, 1902.
Charles B. Carnahan, son of Samuel and Mattie ( Caldwell ) Carnahan, was born in 1874, in Bell township, where he was reared and cducated and during his youth was variously employed. He spent several years in the service of Wil- liam McCauley, who bequeathed to him his farm of one hundred and eighteen acres. Mr. Carnahan has been in possession of this valuable and productive property since 1897, and from that time to the present has led the life of an energetic and successful farmer. He has served his township as school direc- tor. Mr. Carnahan married, in 1895, Mary E. Welch, and three children have been born to them : Martha, Mary, and De Witt.
JAMES THOMAS DUNN, a tinsmith by trade, and a respected citi- zen of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, traces his ancestry to Ireland.
Patrick Dunn was born in Dublin, Ireland. He came to America about 1855, with his only brother. John. They went to Schuylkill county, Pennsylva- nia, and shortly after separated, and Patrick never heard of his brother again. Patrick obtained employment in the coal mines, and followed this occupation for fifty years. He was an adherent of the Democratic party, and a member of the Catholic church. He died September 17, 1897. He married Hester Saddler, daughter of Joseph Saddler, a stonecutter of Hempfield township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dunn were: Margaret, died in infancy ; Elizabeth, married Thomas Wallace, and had children; Thomas Augustine Francis, born June 22, 1884; Frances Agatha, October 7, 1885 ; Mary Seliscas, February 7, 1887 ; Rose Marie, July 1, 1888 ; Henrietta Elizabeth, May 8, 1890 ; Rabonnas Edward, October 3, 1892: John ; Adeline; Mary, married John Edenbo, and has children: John, Catherine, Emma, George, James, Elizabeth. Sophia. James Thomas, of whom later. Ellen. Sarah. Augustus. Mrs. Patrick Dunn died September 15, 1905.
James Thomas Dunn, second son and seventh child of Patrick and Hester (Saddler) Dunn, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1867. He was educated in Agnew's schoolhouse and at the Greensburg Academy. He was then apprenticed to the tinsmithing trade, with Henry B. Temple, of Greensburg, where he is still employed. He has been faithful and industrious in the discharge of his duties, and has made many friends both in business and social life. He married, October 5. 1888. Alice Elizabeth Kuhns, daughter of - --- and Lydia Kuhns, and their chil- dren are: Thomas Francis, born July 11, 1889. Josephine, born March 5, 1802. Patrick Lawrence, born November 27, 1893. Joseph Raymond, born December 29, 1895. Hester Marie, born January 27, 1900. Sarah Alice, born September 8, 1901. William Henry, born February 4, 1904. Mr. Dunn is a Democrat, and a member of the Catholic church.
GEORGE M. PAHEL, boss machinist in the railroad shops at Youngwood, was born near Duryea Station, April 1, 1864, and is a son of James and Jane Pahel. The father is now residing with his son Henry in Duryea, at the age of seventy-eight years. In his early life he followed the canal for a number of years. after which he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with which he was connected until his retirement from active business life. In politics lie is a staunch Democrat, and is a member of the Reformed church. in which he served as deacon for a number of years. He is also a veteran of the civil
Oscar Lindqvist
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
war, being one of six brothers who enlisted in defense of the Union cause, and two of the number were killed at the front. James Pahel is now a member of Henry Gibson Post, No. 384. G. A. R. His children, six in number, all yet survive : Henry ()., a locomotive engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad and resides at Duryea ; Robert L., a caller for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Duryea : Jacob W., conductor on the same road and lives at Duryea ; George MI. : Mary, wife of Abednigo Sylvester, of Duryea ; and Matilda, wife of John Eckman, at Duryea.
George M. Pahel acquired his education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, being engaged at repair work under Andrew MeCullough, track foreman of the Pittsburg division. For two years he was located at Duryea, at the end of which time he accepted a position in the paper mills at West Newton, where he was employed for five years. In 1887 he again entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, accepting a position under Mac McClel- lan, roundhouse foreman at Duryea, in the capacity of machinist. In the fall of 1900 he was promoted and sent to Youngwood to act as boss machinist in the shops of this place. He is an expert machinist, thoroughly conversant with the work of building a locomotive in every part, and is therefore well qualified for the additional responsibility given him. Mr. Pahel married, Jan- mary 9. 1884, Catherine E. Baer, daughter of Ephriam Baer, of West Newton, Pennsylvania, and they have four children: Harry M., William D., Mamie and Sadie. In his political views Mr. Pahel is a Democrat, and in 1903 was elected a member of the borough council of Youngwood. He belongs to Youngwood Lodge, No. 667. I. O. O. F. ; Duryea Tent, K. O. T. M., and the Voluntary Relief Association of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
OSCAR LINDQUIST. Sweden was the native land of the ances- tors of Oscar Lindquist, of Leechburg. It was there that his father, Hinning A. Lindquist, was born in 1842, entering the railroad service early in life and becoming a railroad promoter and a builder of docks. He is a skilled mechanic and engineer, and now holds the position of chief engineer of the government railroad in Sweden. All his sons have inherited his mechanical genius and all have served a mechanical apprenticeship in their native land. Mr. Lindquist married Elsa Nordberg, and five of their seven children are now living: Oscar, mentioned hereinafter : Otto B., master mechanic with Eastern Steel Company, Pottsville, Pennsylvania : Theodore S., foreman of machine shop, Pottsville ; Charles E., of Helsenberg, Sweden : and Hulda, at home.
Oscar Lindquist, son of Hinning A. and Elsa ( Nordberg) Lindquist, was born December 10, 1862, in Sweden, where he acquired a common school educa- tion. At the age of twelve he entered on an apprenticeship in the machine shops of Helsenberg, in which he was employed until 1881. In the spring of that year he emigrated to the United States, arriving April 24, at the home of his uncle in Irwin, Pennsylvania. A few days later he went to Mckeesport, where he secured employment in the National Tube works as a roller, in which capacity he served nearly ten years. In 1890 he went to Apollo, where he was given the position of millwright in the mills of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company and was not long after made night superintendent. In this latter position he served until 1900, being transferred to the Vandergrift mills on their opening in November, 1896. In IGoo he was made superintendent of the Kirkpatrick works at Leechburg, owned by the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, and in this position he is still serving. On the organization of the borough of Van- dergrift Mr. Lindquist was elected a member of the council, and some two
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months later was appointed by Judge Doty burgess of the borough to complete the unexpired term of H. W. Nichols, who resigned. At the end of the term Mr. Lindquist was elected to the office, which he resigned on his removel to Leechburg in 1900. He was an important factor in the development and up- building of the borough, more especially in the construction of the bridge. He belongs to Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 617, F. and A. M., of Vandergrift, and was a charter member of Vandergrift Lodge, I. O. O. F. He also affiliates with Orient Chapter, No. 247, R. A. M., of Kittanning, and with Tankard Comman- dery, No. 48, K. T., and Pennsylvania Consistory, A. A. S. R., both of Pittsburg. His political support is given to the Republican party. He was a charter mem- ber of the First Lutheran church of Vandergrift, serving as its treasurer until his removal to Leechburg. Mr. Lindquist married, January 13, 1884, Amanda Jane Rogers, daughter of a deceased civil war veteran of West Elizabeth, Penn- sylvania, and their children were : William B., in United States Navy ; Hilda May, deceased ; Edwin Rogers, also deceased; Eugene S., and Charlotte E., both of whom are at home.
JOHN ADDISON WILSON. The branch of the Wilson family represented in Larimer by John Addison Wilson, was founded by Robert Wil- son, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm a mile and a half northwest of Larimer. Agriculture was his life-long employment. He married Jane Irwin, and their children were: I. William, born 1819, married Nancy J. Long, born June 22, 1827, died October 19, 1889. His death occurred April 16, 1884, at the age of sixty-five. 2. John Irwin, born 1821, married Nancy Ritchie, and died 1896. His widow is a resident of Irwin. 3. James, born 1824, died May 12, 1847, aged twenty-three years. 4. Charles, mentioned hereinafter. 5. Eliza, born 1831, married Robert A. Hope. 6. Mary, became the wife of James Mason. 7. Samuel H., married Susan McGrew, and lives at Kittanning. Mr. Wilson, the father, died January 8, 1846, at the age of seventy, and his widow expired February 20, 1862, aged sixty-two years.
Charles Wilson, son of Robert and Jane (Irwin) Wilson, was born Jan- uary 23, 1827, on the farm near Larimer. He learned the brick-laying trade at Pittsburg and followed it all his life. He filled the offices of assessor and register, was a Republican in politics, and a member of the United Presbyterian church. He married, May 22, 1866, Elizabeth Jane Brown, granddaughter of Henry Brown, who was of Scotch-Irish descent and a native of Penn town- ship. He was a farmer, and moved to Jefferson county, where he died. His children were: Thomas, John, Andrew, Joseph, William, Henry, David, Mar- garet and Sarah. John Brown, son of Henry Brown, mentioned above, was born in 1817, and was a resident of North Huntingdon township. He married Margaret, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Mahaffey, and their children were: Addison, Elizabeth Jane, who became the wife of Charles Wilson, as mentioned above ; George, Joseph Mahaffey, Annie M., John and Ada T. Mr. Brown died in January, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of the following children: George Edward, born April 25, 1867, died at the age of five years ; John Addison, mentioned hereinafter, and Samuel Harry, born De- cember 16, 1874. Since ten or twelve years previous to his marriage Mr. Wilson was a continuous resident of Larimer. He never knew a day's illness with the exception of the brief indisposition preceding his death, which oc- curred September 25, 1884. He is survived by his widow, who is a resident of Irwin.
Jolin Addison Wilson, son of Charles and Elizabeth Jane (Brown) Wilson,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
was born February 14, 1872, at Larimer. He was educated in the common schools and learned the plumbing trade at Pitcairn, in that department of the Pennsylvania railroad where he is still employed. In November, 1904. he was appointed justice of the peace in Larimer, and at the February election was chosen to succeed himself. He votes with the Republican party. Mr. Wilson married, July 14. 1893. Lyda Jeannette, daughter of Squire William M. and Harriet ( Lenhart) Leffler, of Trafford City, Pennsylvania, formerly of Jacksonville. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have three sons: Murray Vaughn, burn July 21, 1896: Warren Dean, born May 26, 1899; and Kenton Leffler, born July 25. 1901.
ANDREW CRAIG is the representative in the present generation of a family which has been settled in Pennsylvania, and which has furnished many members who have bravely done their duty in the station of life to which they were called.
Andrew Craig, Sr., father of Andrew Craig, Jr., was reared in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. and spent the greater part of his life there. While he was still quite a youth, he commenced his business career by working on the boats which plied on the Allegheny river. He was industrious and thrifty, and rose, step by step, until he had attained the rank of captain. He was the master of a boat for many years, and as Captain Craig was well known throughout western Pennsylvania, as he was one of the pioneer river men. On the completion of the Allegheny Valley railroad from Pittsburg to Kittanning, Mr. Craig left the river in order to take charge of the first engine ever taken over the newly completed road from Pittsburg to Kittanning. For a short time he continued in this new occupation, but being then well advanced in years, retired from so active a life, and spent the remained of his days in Kittanning.
Andrew Craig. Jr., was born in Allegheny township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. January 3, 1852. He was reared on a farm near Leechburg. Pennsylvania, making his home with Captain Henry Truby, an intimate friend and associate of his father. Mr. Craig remained with his foster father until his twenty-second year, when he decided that farming was not the occupation he desired for his life work. He went to Leechburg and there secured em- ployment as a teamster for the mills of the Rodgers and Burchfield Iron & Steel Company, his work consisting of hauling coal for the use of the mills. He per- formed this duty conscientiously for two years, and was then advanced to a position in the mills, and from that time has made steady progress upward, rising from step to step, though his advance was gradual. In 1897. when the New Vandergrift Mills began operating, Mr. Craig was transferred to Van- dergrift, and late in 1899 was promoted to the position of sheet heater, in which capacity he has served up to the present time. When he received his appoint- ment at the Vandergrift mills, he removed his family to Vandergrift Heights, and purchased property there, in which he now resides. In politics Mr. Craig is a staunch Republican, and has served as a member of both Leechburg and Vandergrift Heights councils. Ile is burgess of the present borough. He served several years as a member of the school board, and is one of the pro- gressive and representative men of Vandergrift Heights. Mr. Craig married, September 17. 1874. Harriet Grinder, daughter of Peter Grinder, a prominent farmer of Armstrong county, who is now living in retirement at the age of eighty-four years, and is a well preserved man. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are the parents of the following named children: Harry, deceased: James, catcher in the mills at Vandergrift, he lives at Vandergrift Heights: (akie, wife of 2-35
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Thomas Hill, lives at Vandergrift Heights ; Calvin, bookkeeper in the mills and lives with his parents.
ADAM GOSSER. On both sides Adam Gosser, of Leechburg, is the descendant of German ancestors. His paternal grandfather, Adam Gos- ser, was a native of Northampton county, and carried on the business of a contractor at Greensburg and Stoystown pike.
William Gosser, son of Adam Gosser, was a blacksmith and followed his trade at Adamsburg and Leechburg, retiring from active labor twenty years prior to his death. He was a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Gosser married Susanna Kistler, a native, like himself, of the neighborhood of Adamsburg, and a member of a pioneer family of German origin. By this marriage he was the father of four children : Louise, wife of George Lininger ; Daniel; Albert M. : and Adam, mentioned hereinafter. The mother of these children died in Adamsburg in 1838, and Mr. Gosser sub- sequently married Lucy Punt, who bore him the following children : Jacob J., David, deceased ; Perry, Annie, wife of Albert Anderson ; Sarah ( Mrs. Coch- rain ), deceased : Harry, and Amanda, deceased. Mr. Gosser died at Leech- burg, in 1888, at the age of eighty-seven.
Adam Gosser, son of William and Susanna ( Kistler) Gosser, was born in 1836, in Adamsburg, being reared and educated at Greensburg. For eight years he operated a grist-mill, and in 1865 went to Venango county, and there speculated largely in oil. He was interested in thirty oil wells, and in his speculations, which were extensive, experienced both loss and gain. In 1883, after eighteen years, he abandoned the oil field for agricultural pursuits. In that year he took up his abode on a farm in Allegheny township, which he had purchased in 1871 from the Mcclellan estate, and on which he has since re- sided. It consists of one hundred and fifty acres and is one of the model farms of the township. He has held the office of school director, and while in Ven- ango county was road commissioner. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he serves as deacon. Mr. Gosser married in 1860, Zeruah Rodabach, of Rodabach Station, and they have two daughters : Susanna L. and Margaret A. The former is an accomplished teacher of twenty years' experience and also an artist of considerable merit, giving lessons to a large number of pupils in drawing and painting. The family residence was erected by Mr. Gosser in 1892.
GEORGE BURK, a native of Homer, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, a skillful and reliable engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, was born May 19, 1866, son of Andrew and Susan ( Tilford) Burk, and grandson of John Burk, born in Somerset county, by occupation a farmer. He was also in charge of the work on the old Portage canal.
Andrew Burk ( father) was born in 1837, a son of John and Julia Burk. He was by occupation a mill hand, and was employed by the Cambria Iron Company, of Johnstown, until his death, May 17, 1889. He enlisted in Com- pany I. Third United States Cavalry. He was at the first battle of Bull Run, and took an active part in the war. Andrew and Susan ( Tilford) Burk had children: Mary, Sophia, Flora B., Julia A., Elizabeth, John C., George, of whom later, Sylvester and Alexander.
George Burk, having made good use of the educational opportunities af- forded him in the public schools of his native township, enrolled himself in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at the age of twenty-three years, and after a long and exceedingly arduous experience of ten years, was
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
advanced to the position of a regular locomotive engineer, in which capacity he has served continuously from January 27, 1889, to the present time ( 1906). He is widely and favorably known in railroad circles, and is a member of the B. L. E., and Blairsville Lodge, No. 406, B. P. O. E. He resides in Derry. He married, September 29, 1885, Jennie Fry, born in New Derry, Westmore- land county, October 27, 1871, daughter of Jacob and Maria C. (Barnes) Fry. Their children are: George C., born January 17, 1889; Hettie G., born January 29, 1890: Pearl S., born November 12, 1891; Earl, born January 5, 1893 ; and Mary E., born January 12, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Burk attend the Lutheran church.
WILLIAM ARTHUR GROFT. The grandfather of William Arthur Groft. of East Huntingdon township, was John Groft, who was born "east of the mountains." but spent the greater part of his life in Fayette and Westmoreland counties. He was a tailor by trade, and served in the army during the War of 1812. Politically he was a Republican. John Groft mar- ried Mary Lint, a native of Somerset, Virginia, and their children were: John, served in the Mexican war and was present at the taking of the city of Mexico ; Katie Ann, married Samuel King: Eliza, married David King; Charles, was a farmer in California, and died there: Abraham, a farmer, died in Ohio; Samuel, a miller and distiller, died in Connellsville ; Larne, married William Peoples, a blacksmith ; Mary, married John L. Fritz, of Sewickley township; Jacob L .. a brickmaker, died in Scottdale: Margaret, married James Flem- ming: George L., mentioned hereafter: Jeremiah, died in childhood. The parents of these children are deceased.
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