USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 81
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George L. Groft, son of John and Mary (Lint) Groft, was born August 3. 1836, in Fayette county, where he was educated in the common schools. At twenty-one he became a farmer, and later worked as a brickmaker, a cooper and a carpenter. The greater part of his life has been spent in Sewickley and East Huntingdon townships. In July, 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Sixty- second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was subsequently transferred to Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Zouaves. He was wounded in the knee at Spottsylvania Court House, and at second Hatches Run, February 6, 1865, was struck in the left temple by a minie ball which broke the skull. After the close of the war he was mustered out in Pittsburg. October 1. 1903, he entered the postal service as one of the rural mail carriers of Scottdale, on route No. 1. Mr. Groft married Rebecca, daughter of Jacob Shank, of Bullskin township. Fayette county, and their children were : Charles L., a resident of Scottdale : J. Franklin, deceased ; Emza Anna, married J. V. Leaman, of Grafton, West Virginia; Jacob L., a roller in the mills in East Huntingdon township; Minetta M., married J. R. March, of Scottdale, West- moreland county : Ora M., deceased : William Arthur, mentioned hereinafter. Mrs. Groft is a member of the Presbyterian church.
William Arthur Groft, son of George L. and Rebecca (Shank) Groft, was born .April 3, 1876, on the old homestead, in East Huntingdon township, where he received his education in the White schoolhouse. He remained at home with his parents until he had attained his majority, and at the age of seventeen began working in the sheet mill. Until he was of age he gave his wages to his parents, reserving only what was necessary to defray the expense of his clothing. After his marriage he settled in his present home near the White schoolhouse, where he is very comfortably situated. Since entering the sheet mill he has been continuously employed there, and has steadily advanced until he now holds the position of ronghing and extra roller. He and his
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
family are members of the United Brethren church, in which he has served as an officer. He married, December 24. 1899. Bertha, born in Fayette county, daughter of Isaac and Manerva (Flack) White, and their children were: Boyd Eugene, Donald Arthur, and Harry Gilbert.
FRANCIS M. WILLIAMS, one of the well known and substantial residents of South Huntindon township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant on the paternal side of a Welsh ancestry. Daniel Williams, great-great-grandfather of Francis M. Williams, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. He was a German Lutheran in religion, and his oc- cupation was that of a farmer. He took up about five thousand acres of land near the site of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, by "tomahawk right," and a por- tion of the borough of Ludwig is built on this tract. Daniel Williams applied for patent No. 3660, entered 26th day of July, 1769. for 309 acres and ninety- six perches. Issued Dec. 31st, 1787. Six per cent. allowance for roads. Above tract was old original Williams homestead at Greensburg, called "Daniel's Fancy." Consideration, 40 pounds, eight shillings. (This was copied from patent). Among his children was a son, Daniel Williams, Jr., who was born near Greensburg, was a well-to-do farmer, and resided to a ripe old age on the farm acquired by his father. Among his children was a son, Thomas Williams, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1805 ; in early life he learned and worked at the trade of tanner, and after sev- eral years spent in this occupation located on a farm in South Huntingdon township, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying February 8, 1872. He was a strict member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, a Democrat in politics, and for several terms served his township as school director. By his marriage to Margaret Hough, daughter of David Hough, a family of four sons and four daughters were born, one of whom was David H. Williams, mentioned hereafter.
David H. Williams, father of Francis M. Williams, was born on the paternal farm in South Huntingdon township. Westmoreland county, and a portion of his boyhood days were spent in the home of his grandfather in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he attended school and acquired a good ed- ucation. On attaining manhood he engaged in farming on his father's farm, and some three or four years after marriage located on the farm now owned by his son, Joseph S. Williams, where he resided up to his death, December 3, 1904. at the age of seventy-one years. He was successful in his undertakings, which were conducted on an extensive scale, and thereby secured a competence for his declining years. He was a Democrat in politics, and while never seek- ing political preferment held many of the township offices, and was univer- sally esteemed and honored by a wide circle of friends. He married Catherine Rhoades, who bore him five children, namely : Francis M., mentioned here- after : John U., Joseph S., Jacob C., and Thomas P .. all of whom are living at the present time ( 1905) and reside in South Huntingdon township.
Francis M. Williams was born in South Huntingdon township. November 24, 1858. He was reared at home, educated in the common schools, and on reaching man's estate adopted farming as a means of livelihood. After his marriage he located on his present farm and by practical and progressive methods has achieved a large degree of financial success in the management thereof. Since the death of his father Mr. Williams has served in the capacity of president of the First National Bank of Smithton, of which his father was one of the organizers and the president up to his demise. Mr. Williams has also served as township auditor, in which office he gave universal satisfaction.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Ile is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and an Independent in politics. In 1886 Mr. Williams married Josephine M. Hanna, daughter of Henry T. and Mary J. Hanna, of South Huntingdon township. Their chil- dren are : David H., Hettie C., Mary E., and John T. Williams.
JERRY LAUFFER. The parents of Jerry Lauffer, of Harrison City, were Jacob B. and Susan ( Berlin ) Lauffer, and their family consisted of the following children: Martha, who died in infancy ; Elijah, married ( first ) Lizzie Clark, (second) MI. Ferree ; John, died in 1890; Frank, now deceased. married Dot Mull ; William, Annie, Bella, Jerry, mentioned hereinafter ; Emma May. Harry, Erbanna, and one who died in infancy.
Jerry Lauffer, son of Jacob B. and Susan ( Berlin) Lauffer, was born March II. 1868, at Harrison City, and found his employment in the mines at Manor. Claridge and Pleasant Valley. For the last six years he has been engaged in the general grocery business in Harrison City. He belongs to the National Life Insurance Company. His political affiliations are with the Dem- ocrats, and he is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Lauffer married, August 13. 1891, Anna Ferguson, and they have children: Wilber H., born May 4. 1895 : Clarence .A., born April 2, 1902, and Florence, born December 14. 1905. Mrs. Lauffer is a daughter of James Ferguson, of Harrison City. He and his wife are the parents of the following children : Archie, Samuel, William. James, Frederick, Hayes, Anna, married Jerry Lauffer, as mentioned above : and Theresa. This family of six sons and two daughters, together with the numerous race of the Lauffers, has largely recruited the ranks of the good citizens of the county. Mrs. Lauffer died December 22, 1905.
DAVID D. WAGNER. David D. Wagner, a representative citizen of Penn township, was born in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1860, a son of Abia and Sarah (Shrader) Wagner.
Abia Wagner (father) was a native of Sewickley township, Westmore- land county, an active and enterprising merchant, conducting this line of busi- ness successfully for thirty years at Belle Mill, Circleville and Madison, Penn- sylvania, and during this period was in the habit of driving a wagon along the pike to Pittsburg every other week, and in this way became well known along the old stage road. and by honorable transactions won for himself an enviable reputation. He was also engaged in the poultry business for a number of years, this proving highly remunerative. Mr. Wagner was drafted at Greens- burg. Pennsylvania, for a three months term during the Civil war, but on his return home from that town was kicked in the leg by his horse, and in conse- quence of that member having been broken by the accident he was prevented from active participation in the conflict. He was a member of the United Brethren church. By his marriage to Sarah Shrader the following children were born: Margaret, William, Elizabeth, Louise, David D., Ella and Sarah (twins ). Josiah. Jennie, John and a child who died in infancy.
David D. Wagner was reared and educated in the vicinity of his birth- place. He is now and has been for a number of years an employee in the Westinghouse Electric Company, at East Pittsburg, performing his duties to the satisfaction of all concerned and with credit to himself. He holds member- ship in the Reformed church, casts his vote for the candidates of the Demo- cratie party, and in all respects is a worthy and respected citizen of the great commenwealth of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Wagner married Sarah S. Kifer, who bore him two children : Michael
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
K., born June 12, 1892; and Elizabeth G., born July 14, 1894. Henry Kifer, great-grandfather of Mrs. Wagner, was by occupation a farmer, merchant, and also drove a merchant wagon on the stage road to Pittsburg. He served in the War of 1812 as a teamster. He married Sarah Turner, and among their children was a son, Henry Kifer, grandfather of Mrs. Wagner, who was by occupation a farmer and was the owner of a tract of land consisting of three hundred acres in and about Jeannette, Pennsylvania. He married Sus- anna Painter, who bore him the following children : Maria, became the wife of S. Wanamaker : Lamanda, became the wife of J. Holtzer ; Matilda, unmarried ; Joseph, married Elizabeth Miller ; Michael, mentioned hereinafter; Henry, married Anna Whitehead; and Albert, married Sarah Gongaware. Henry Kifer (grandfather) died at the age of eighty-nine years. Michael Kifer, father of Mrs. Wagner, was by occupation a farmer, and died at the age of seventy-one years. By his marriage to Elizabeth Kunkle the following chil- dren were born: Henry, married Rachel Altman; William, married Emma Loughner ; John, married Elizabeth Loughner : Joseph, married Anna Klingin- smith and Ida Ramatta ; Michael, married Lizzie Rose; Sarah S., became the wife of David D. Wagner ; Tobias, married Lenora Altman ; and Simon, mar- ried Ida Altman.
HARRY CLIFTON BORLAND. The grandparents of Harry Clifton Borland, of Vandergrift Heights, were John and Mary ( Hazlett) Bor- land, the former a farmer near New Kensington, Allegheny county. He and his wife were the parents of a son, James G. Borland, who was born May 31, 1848, on the homestead, and received his education in the common schools. He learned the carpenter's trade, serving his apprenticeship under Henry Yet- ter, of Lower Burrell township, and thereafter always worked as a carpenter and builder. After his marriage he settled in Upper Burrell township, where he lived until 1893, and then removed to Apollo. There for seven years he was employed in the carpenter shops of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company. His transfer to the Vandergrift plant in 1898 necessitated his removal, and he then erected his present residence on Vandergrift Heights. He has since severed his connection with the mills and has thus been enabled to devote more time to building and general carpentry. He is a Democrat and a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church. Mr. Borland married Maria Younkins, and of their six children four survive : Harry Clifton, mentioned hereinafter ; Maud, wife of H. T. Morrison, shearman in Vandergrift mills ; Samuel Bertman, of Apollo ; and Edward, at home.
Harry Clifton Borland, son of James G. and Maria (Younkins) Borland, was born September 16, 1871, in Upper Burrell township, and received a com- mon school education. At the age of seventeen he began the study of teleg- raphy in Parnassus, but after one year, finding the work too confining, re- turned home and for another year worked on his father's farm. He then went to Pittsburg and for one winter was employed in the Crescent steel works. In the spring of 1893 he moved to Apollo, securing a position in the mills of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company as an opener in the sheet mills. From this beginning he was advanced successively to the positions of matcher. doubler and catcher, and in 1900 was made roller, in which capacity he is now serving. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as a member of the school board. He affiliates with Brotherhood Castle, No. 161, K. G. E., and Vandergrift Aerie, 1058, F. O. E. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Borland married, December 24, 1895, Myrta A., daughter of Charles E. and Clara A. (Bennett) Reynolds, then of Apollo. Mr. Reynolds now resides in Tillamook,
Marry C. Borland
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Oregon, where he is engaged in the furnishing and undertaking business. Mrs. Reynolds is deceased. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bor- land two survive : Charles Clifton, and James Leroy.
E. P. HUFFMAN. The family of which E. P. Huffman, of Hos- teller, is a representative, are a race of farmers, having for generations culti- vated the same lands. They trace their descent from German ancestors. Dan- iel W. Huffman was born November 28, 1826, and married Elizabeth Harmon, who was born February 16, 1828. The following children were born to them : Malinda, Jacob. Eliah, E. O., mentioned hereinafter ; Amos, and Bell. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman, the parents of these children, are still living, in the enjoy- ment of a vigorous old age.
E. P. Huffman, son of Daniel W. and Elizabeth ( Harmon) Huffman, was educated in the common schools of Westmoreland county. After leaving school he settled on the homestead with his father, and has ever since devoted himself to the tillage of the acres which have descended to him from his forefathers. He is an energetic, industrious farmer and an active, useful citizen. Mr. Huffman married Emma Summers, daughter of Lehman and Margaret Blystone, and they have one child : Daniel Leroy, born April 3. 1883.
SAMUEL C. LOOP. The grandparents of Samuel C. Loop, of Sewickley township, emigrated from Germany about 1818, and settled near Greensburg, where a few years later the father of the family died and the children were reared by their widowed mother.
Henry Loop, one of the sons of the emigrant ancestors, was born February 10, 1820, in the vicinity of Greensburg, and at an early age entered the paper mills of C. P. Markle & Sons, in Mill Grove. He remained with the firm many years. continuing in their service after their removal to West Newton. After leaving them he engaged in farming, and in 1877 purchased the William Shaner farm. in North Huntingdon township, where he resided for some fifteen years, and then, his wife having died a few years before, he retired from active labor and took up his abode with his children. He was a staunch Republican, and for many years a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Loop married Martha E. Couchenour, and of the thirteen children born to them only three survive: Margaret B., widow of Presley Wilson, of Sewickley township; Martha E., wife of T. C. Wilson, of Shaners Station : and Samuel C., mentioned hereinafter. The death of Mr. Loop occurred October 24. 1899.
Samuel C. Loop, son of Henry and Martha E. (Couchenour) Loop, was born January 30. 1857. in Sewickley township, and received a common school olucation. In 1876 he began working as a farm hand, and after his marriage settled in Sewickley township and has since resided there. In 1888 he bought and built on a portion of the B. R. Newlin farm, now owned by J. A. Dewees. remaining there about eleven years, when he rented his small place and removed to the farm which is now his home. This property forms part of the James Hays Heiss estate, known as the "old Blackball coal farm." For the last five years Mr. Loop has been extensively engaged in the dairy business in connec- tion with his farming, and for twenty or twenty-five years has been one of the best-known live stock dealers in this part of the country. He has the reputa- tion of being the best corn-husker in Sewickley, having. November 7, 1887. on the William Robbins farm. husked one hundred and forty-five bushels in nine hours and forty minutes, that being the first corn he had husked that season. Although never an office seeker, Mr. Loop has served as township auditor and for nine successive years was a member of the Sulphur Springs school board.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
He is now serving his second year on the Youghiogheny independent school board, having been elected by an overwhelming vote. He belongs to Smithton Lodge. No. 328. Knights of Pythias, Uniformed Rank, No. 39, Knights of Pythias. Knights of Malta, Golden Gate Commandery, No. 340, of Smithton. His influence is widely felt in the councils of the Republican party, and he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Loop married, March 11, 1880, Emily H., daughter of William and Mary (Cunningham) Eicher, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and their children were: Willis W., at home, was for fourteen months a member of the signal corps of the United States army ; James F., at home ; and Alice, lives at Mckeesport. Mrs. Loop died April 21, 1886. Mr. Loop married (second) December 2, 1886, Edith S., daughter of Abner McLain, of Rostraver town- ship, and of their five children two survive: Albert C. and Barbara E. In June, 1902, Mr. Loop adopted a boy from the Mckeesport police station as a legal heir. he having been left there with no one to care for him. The boy, whose name is Norman H. Loop, is now ( 1906) past eight years, and is greatly attached to his home.
SAMUEL G. GLASSBURN. No definite history is at hand con- cerning the establishment of the Glassburn family in Westmoreland county, but it is known that David and Elizabeth (Long) Glassburn resided within its borders. The family name was originally spelled Glassbrenner, but in later times was corrupted to its present form. David Glassburn was a nephew of Bishop Glassbrenner, a noted divine.
Joseph L. Glassburn, a son of David and Elizabeth (Long) Glassburn, was born in Westmoreland county, near Mendon, December 21, 1831, and was reared to farm life. Since attaining his majority he has resided on a farm which is yet his home, and his agricultural labors have been interrupted only by his services in the civil war. He served for three years as a member of the Six- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He is an earnest christian gentleman, a man respected by all with whom he is brought in contact, and politically an ardent Republican. He married Caroline Schweitzer, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom seven are living: Lydia, wife of Samuel Adams, of Fayette county ; Elizabeth, wife of J. B. Stonecker, of Connellsville ; Mary, at home : Samuel G. : Carrie, wife of C. N. Snyder, of Youngwood ; George W .. assistant cashier of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, at Pittsburg ; and Flora E., at home.
Samuel G. Glassburn, son of Joseph L. and Caroline Glassburn was reared on his father's farm, attended the public schools in his youth and when twenty- one years of age began teaching in the district schools, which profession he fol- lowed for three terms. He then accepted the management of the mercantile bus- iness of his brother, D. W. Glassburn, at Wooddale, Pennsylvania, his brother having been injured and thus incapacitated for active business. He was thus engaged for a short time and later was associated with other mercantile enter- prises until January 28, 1893, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the capacity of fireman and thus served until October 28, 1901, when he was promoted to the position of engineer. He is a member of Wide Awake Lodge, No. 601, B. L. F. and for seven years served as a member of the Joint Protective Board of Locomotive Firemen, while for the past five years he has been general chairman of the board. In this connection he has done important service for the organization which he represents, his efforts being given in every movement for the welfare of all. He modestly disclaims any great credit for what he has done, but those whom he has thus
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
represented speak of his work in high terms of praise and commendation. lle possesses much influence among the firemen and engineers and well merits their entire confidence. He also belongs to Scottdale Council of the Royal Arcanum, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his polit- ical allegiance is given to the Republican party. Mr. Glassburn married. Sep- tember 4. 1894, Daisy Kain, of Scottdale, Westmoreland county, and to them was born a son, Eugene, now deceased.
THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN TAYLOR, of Irwin, who was born on the homestead farm, near Stewartsville, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1844, is a son of Samuel and Sarah ( Black) Taylor, and grandson of Robert Taylor, who was born, reared and married in Ireland, and with his wife, and possibly some of his children, emigrated to the United States and settled in Westmore- land county. Pennsylvania. While traveling by wagon through the county in a search for a good location, he fell sick at what is now Stewartsville and laid by there for some time. It is not known whether his plans had originally been to go further west or to settle in this section, but while at this place two brothers by the name of Neal, who had taken up a tract of two hundred and sixty-seven acres on what is now the Mckeesport road, were shot by Indians, and their farm was put up later at public sale. The Neal brothers were buried on the place. Robert Taylor, concluding that the time was advantageous, pur- chased the property and settled thereon. He was the father of six sons, as fol- lows: Isaac, married (first) a Miss Larimer, and (second) a Miss Bosler ; James, went to Xenia, Ohio : Joseph, removed to Baltimore, Maryland ; Samuel, mentioned hereinafter ; John and Robert, who also went to Baltimore, Maryland.
Samuel Taylor, fourth son of Robert Taylor, was born on the Taylor farm. He inherited the homestead and farmed it all his life. He was highly esteemed in the community. held membership in the Presbyterian church, and was a Whig and Republican in politics. He married Sarah Black, daughter of John Black, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Adeline, widow of Dr. James Gibson, resides in Johnson county, Iowa. Sarah, died about 1865, was the wife of Phineas Gray, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Hetty, un- married, died in Nebraska. Annie E., wife of D. N. Shaw, of Irwin, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Theodore F., mentioned hereinafter. Mary, unmarried, resides in North Irwin with her brother-in-law, D. N. Shaw. Robert, married Addie Waldron, resides near Iowa City, Iowa. Frances Jane, wife of Matthew Slemmens, resides in Oklahoma. Samuel, Jr., married Annie Crooks, resides in Nebraska. Samuel Taylor, father of these children, died at his home in Westmoreland county, 1864, aged about seventy years.
Theodore F. Taylor, eldlest son of Samuel and Sarah ( Black) Taylor, attended the common schools in the vicinity of his home and worked with his father on the farm until the death of the latter. Theodore being then about twenty years of age. He remained and worked the place for his mother until he attained the age of thirty-seven, when he abandoned this occupation and secured employment with the Penn Gas Coal Company, with whom he has re- mained up to the present time ( 1905), being located now at the Yough shaft, just outside Irwin. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and an advo- cate of the principles of Republicanism. Mr. Taylor married, December 7. 1876, Mary J. Longhead, daughter of William and Hetty ( Bankert ) Loughead, of North Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, the former named being a son of John Loughead, who came to this country from Scotland, set- iling first in Maryland, from whence he came to Westmoreland county, Penn-
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sylvania, when his son Willam was a small baby. Their children are: Oliver Brown, born December 4, 1877, died January 6, 1898; Sarah Edna, born Feb- ruary 23, 1880 ; Clara Gertrude, born August 8, 1882, died September 14, 1897 ; Harry Samuel, born May 20, 1887; John Theodore, born July 8, 1800; and Phineas Mckinley, born October 3, 1897. Sarah Edna Taylor is the wife of Frank Leonard Bolton, issue, Ethel Taylor Bolton, and they reside in East McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
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