USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 93
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and held religious services in the German language. The children of Jona- than (2) and Susanna ( Klingensmith ) Sarver were: John, Sarah, Mariah, and Jonathan (see forward ).
Jonathan Sarver, second son and fourth and youngest child of Jonathan and Susanna ( Klingensmith ) Sarver, was born in Salem township, near Geary, on the homestead farm, July 12, 1825, and died October 2, 1905. His early years were spent on the farm of his father, and his education was ac- quired in the common schools of the district. Upon the completion of his education he commenced to teach school during the winter months, assisting his father on the farm during the summer, and continued this until he had attained the age of twenty-five years. At this period he married, and built for himself a log house on a part of his father's farm, and farmed for himself. There he lived for twelve years and then removed to Greensburg, where, soon afterward, he lost the entire savings of his life in the oil fields, and found him- self at the age of forty years, with a delicate wife, a family of small children, and without fortune. He immediately set to work with unabated energy to make a comfortable living for those dear to him. He rented and tilled fields on the present site of Greensburg in the summer, and during the winter acted as teamster, until, at the age of sixty years, he had bought the property on Mill street, where he lived the remainder of his days. He purchased eight acres of land one mile out of town, and this he cultivated as a garden. He was a man of remarkable physical strength, and although over eighty years of age at the time of his death, retained complete possession of all his faculties, his eyesight being scarcely dimmed, and his body active and strong. During the last summer of his life he tilled six acres of ground himself. He was a man of intelligence and advanced ideas on all topics of the day, and was well read in politics and religion. He had been educated in the doctrines of the Lutheran church, but abandoned them in favor of those of the Presbyterian church. In politics he was a Democrat for a number of years, but was strongly opposed to slavery and cast his vote for Lincoln, and from that time affiliated with the Republican party. He married. in 1850, Jane Anne Ram- sey, who died in 1887. Their children were: John W., Charles R., Enoch T., James W., Jonathan E., Mrs. Anna M. Dunn, Mrs. S. A. Sheffler, and Hettie C., the last named residing at home.
JOHN M. WALTHOUR. No citizen of Greensburg is more popu- lar or more deservedly so than John M. Walthour. His father. Philip Wal- thour, was born at Manor Station, and at the age of eighteen went to Greens- burg where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with the building business during the remainder of his life. He married Eliz- abeth McCormick, and of their six children four are now living: Samuel, who lives in Greensburg: John M. (see forward). Mary E., wife of C. T. Barnhart, of Greensburg : and Richard, a resident of Mckeesport. Mr. Wal- thour died at an early age, his death being the result of a cold contracted while assisting to extinguish a fire in the city of Greensburg.
John M. Walthour, son of Philip and Elizabeth ( McCormick) Walthour. was born April 23. 1851. in Greensburg, and was but eight or nine years of age at the time of his father's death, after which event the noble exertions of his mother were the maintenance of the family. He obtained his education in the common schools, and in his seventeenth year apprenticed himself to C. H. Stark in order to learn the blacksmith's trade. He found it, however, not to his liking, and after finishing his apprenticeship he took up the trade of a carpenter with R. M. Reed & Company. He served his time and has ever since
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
been connected with planing-mill work. For the last fourteen years he has had charge of the planing mill of J. Covode Reed.
Mr. Walthour has been for a long period identified with the fire depart- ment of Ludwick. Prior to the organization of that body he served for many years as a member of the Greensburg fire company, of which he is now a veteran. When the fire department of Ludwick was organized Mr. Walthour was elected chief, and has now held the office seven years. In 1904 he won the Tribune contest for the most popular fireman, and was sent to the St. Louis exposition. In 1902 he was elected burgess of the borough of Ludwick and served three years. Since 1903 he has been a member of the borough council. He belongs to Americus Lodge and to the Carpenters' Union. Politically he
is a Democrat. He married, at the age of nineteen, Elizabeth Keifer, by whom he had one child ; Catherine, wife of Philip Baldrich, of Mckeesport. After the death of his wife he married Clara Conner, by whom he had three children, two of whom are living: James Richard, attending high school; and John Covode, who is a pupil in the public school. On being left for the second time a widower Mr. Walthour married Elizabeth Caldwell and they have two children ; Laura and Mary.
ELIAS HACKEY SILVIS. Among the substantial farmers of Hempfield township must be numbered Elias Hackey Silvis. Mr. Silvis comes of English and German ancestry. His grandfather, Adam Silvis, was a wagonmaker and followed his trade at Delmont for many years. His wife was Elizabeth Long.
Hezekiah J. Silvis, son of Adam and Elizabeth (Long) Silvis, was born in Westmoreland county and learned the trade of a cabinetmaker and painter which he followed all his life, being a resident of Murrysville and Export, Franklin township. He married Lucinda Amment, and they were the parents of six children, four of whom survive: Elizabeth, widow of August Gockel, late of Hufftown; Margaret A., wife of William Wallace, of Apollo; Elias Hackey (see forward) ; and Mary J., wife of Jacob Amment, of Export. Mr. Silvis died at the age of sixty-seven.
Elias Hackey Silvis, son of Hezekiah J. and Lucinda ( Amment) Silvis, was born February 27, 1849, in Franklin township, and obtained his education in the common schools of Export. On reaching manhood he decided to devote himself to agricultural pursuits, and for some years lived as a renter in Franklin. He then moved to Penn township where he was a renter for four years, and at the end of that time went to Hempfield where he rented the farm adjoining the one on which he now lies. This farm he cultivated for sixteen years, and about 1893 purchased a portion of his present property to which he removed in 1899. Three years after he bought the adjoining piece of land. thus giving himself a farm of sixty-two acres. In 1904 he built a substantial farm residence with modern improvements, and now has one of the most attractive homes in the township. Mr. Silvis is a good citizen and has fre- quently served on the election board, but has always steadily refused to be a candidate for office. He and his sons are all staunch Democrats, and the whole family are members of the First Reformed church, of Greensburg. He married, in 1873. Jeannette S., daughter of John P. Kemerer, a prominent farmer of Export, Franklin township, and the following children have been born to them: Alice M., wife of Murray Walthour, of Hempfield township; William Wilbur, lives at home ; Lemuel Offut, a resident of Hempfield town- ship : John Hezeikah : Isaac Ralph ; Lucinda Lydia ; and Frank Clopper. The four last-named members of the family are at home with their parents.
633
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
JACOB HENRY SILVIS, a prosperous farmer of Greensburg. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born August 18, 1875. the son of John and Lucy (Long) Silvis. John Silvis was born March 20, 1843, and has long been a resident of Hempfield township. He married Lucy Long. daughter of H. J. Long, born in 1853; died February 10. 1885. Their chil- dren were: Annie, born May 8, 1873: married. December, 1896, Oscar J. Fink : Jacob Henry ( see forward ), and Ada E., born November 2, 1883.
Jacob H. Silvis was born on his father's farm. He purchased the farm on which he now resides in 1899, which comprises seventy-one acres of excel- lent fertile land. and which is highly cultivated. He makes a specialty of butter-making, and has met with excellent success in this line. He always keeps ten cows-sometimes more-and uses a cream separator of the most approved construction. He is a public-spirited citizen, and has served his town- ship as tax collector, and is now acting as town clerk, his term of office being two years. February 4. 1897, Mr. Silvis was married to Anna M. Mellvaine, born March 19, 1874, daughter of John P. and Alida ( Marshall) MeIlvaine, the latter the daughter of Samuel Marshall. Children were: Mabel L., born December 19, 1897; John Marshall, born April 10, 1899: Elsie V., February 23, 1901 : Anna MI., July 9, 1902; and Charlie L., January 9, 1904.
Jacob Silvis's unele, George Decker, served in the United States army .during the war with Mexico, and it is said that he was a member of the Sec- ond Pennsylvania Regiment.
PAUL HENRY, a farmer of Salem township, Westmoreland coun- ty, Pennsylvania, was born March 22, 1845, son of Henry and Lavina (Smith) Henry, and grandson of Henry Henry, who was born in 1809, and died De- cember. 1889. Henry Henry, father of Paul Henry, married Lavina, daughter of David Smith, and their children are: Caroline, born May 12, 1839; mar- ried September, 1865, to S. M. Fink, of Beaver Run, Pennsylvania; Kate, married C. Amalong ; and Paul (see forward).
Paul Henry was reared on his father's farm. He married Sue C., daughter of John Michael Fink. Children are: I. John B. F., born September 16, 1868: married September 3, 1895. 2. William F., born April 15. 1870. 3. Rebecca A., born September 23, 1872 : died February 9. 1873. 4. Clara May, born December 4, 1874; died December 19, 1877. 5. Elizabeth L., born Feb- ruary 28, 1876; married M. Mckeown. 6. Joseph R., born August 26, 1878; died February 2, 1889. 7. Margaret E., born November 26, 1881 ; married Elmer Steel.
THOMAS FRANKLIN WOLF. On the maternal side the family of Wolf trace their ancestry back to the year 1550. the earliest known ances- tor having been Jan de Voss, a burgomaster at Handshooten, in Flandern, who married Prientje Batten.
Peter de Voss, fourth son of Jan and Prientje (Batten) de Voss, married Jannsick Van der Mers, and shortly afterward they had to flee to Colchester. England, on account of religious troubles. Here he and his wife forsook Catholicism and joined the Reformed church. Later they removed to Ams- terdam. Holland, and joined the Mennonite church there. The date of birth of their second child ( the only date obtainable) was August 23, 1622. . 1 daughter, Sarah de Voss, became the wife of Pieter Van Sintern in 1655. The fifth child of this marriage. Isaac Van Sintern, born September 4. 1660, mar- ried, at Amsterdam, Neeltje Classen. They left Hamburg, Altona, in 1707,
634
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
for Pennsylvania, and settled at Germantown, where the oldest daughter, Magdalena, became the wife of Martin Kolb in 1709.
Martin Kolb, before mentioned, was a son of Dielman Kolb, of Wolf- sheim, in Baden, Germany, whose widow, a daughter of Peter Schumacher, came to this country with her father in 1685, landing at Philadelphia and pro- ceeding to Germantown. The original "Copia Naturalisationis" given by William Penn, by which Peter Schumacher and sixty-one others were made "freemen," and accorded all the rights and privileges thereof, is still extant, preserevd by one of the descendants. Martin Kolb came to America and set- tled at Germantown in 1707, and two years later removed to Skippack and was there ordained a minister in the Mennonite church.
Dilman Kolb, son of Martin and Magdalena (Van Sintern) Kolb, was born March 2, 1719, died October 19, 1799. He married Wilhelmina Ritten- house, daughter of Henry Rittenhouse, of Worcester, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and great-granddaughter of Willem Rittenhouse, the first minister and bishop of the Mennonite Church in America. Esther Kolb, daughter of Dillman and Wilhelmina ( Rittenhouse) Kolb, became the wife of Samuel Funk, son of the Rev. Jacob Funk, a Mennonite preacher of German- town, the ceremony being performed April 29, 1788. Their daughter, Elea- nor Funk, born about 1807, became the wife of John G. Wolf, a resident of Philadelphia. She died in 1887.
John G. Wolf, before mentioned, married Eleanor Funk. Children were: I. Daniel Funk, born July 1, 1831; married Margaret Seelig; resides in Philadelphia. 2. Theodore William, born September 7, 1833; married Eliz- abeth Justice, who died in 1881. In 1886 he married Laura Curran, and they reside in Philadelphia. 3. Eleanora Louisa, born February 21, 1835, became the wife of William Ayers, of Philadelphia. 4. John Franklin, born Jannary 23, 1837 (see forward). 5. Davis Paul, born January 26, 1839: died December 26, 1886. 6. Elizabeth Catherine, born February, 1842, became the wife of James W. Mellhenny. 7. Jacob Henry, born July 12, 1845, married Ellen E. Wallace, resides in Philadelphia. 8. Sarah Cecelia, born December 19, 1847. 9. George Washington, born March, 1849.
John Franklin Wolf, born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1837 ; married September 24, 1857, Jane Martin. Children were: I. Thomas Franklin, born July 14, 1858. 2. Agnes Virginia, born February 3. 1861. 3. John Martin Vicksburg, born July 4, 1863; died December 12, 1881. 4. Margaret James ; died February 22, 1867. Jane (Martin) Wolf, the mother of these children, died February 22, 1867. Mr. Wolf married, September 18, 1873. Priscilla Murry Irwin, who died March 10, 1883, withont issue. He married. November 8. 1884, Elizabeth Kooser, issue: Emeline Kooser, born August 25 1885.
J. MICHAEL MATHIAS, a foreman in the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, was born near Madison, Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1852, a son of Michael and Elizabeth ( Kunkle) Mathias.
Michael Mathias (grandfather), was also a native of Westmoreland county, born about 1779. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Hempfield township, where he cleared and cultivated a farm. His children were: Jacob ; George : Michael (see forward) : Susan, wife of Jacob Albright ; Hannah, wife of John Long ; Sarah, wife of John Colter ; and Maria, wife of Leonard Beck.
Michael Mathias ( father) was born in Hempfield township, near Madi-
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
son, in 1822. He lived there all his life, giving his attention to farming and distilling. Later he gave up distilling and gave his entire attention to agricult- ural pursuits. In politics he was a staunch Democrat, and in religious faith a member of the Lutheran church. He married Elizabeth Kunkle, and seven children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. The living are : Urias, a carpenter, of West Newton; Mary Rebecca, wife of John Lostetter ; J. Michael ( see forward) ; Catherine, wife of Eli Weaver ; William, died in childhood. Michael. the father, died in 1863.
J. Michael Mathias acquired a good common school education, and at the age of sixteen commenced to earn his own living, engaging in farm work. Two years later he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad as a laborer, and his faithful and efficient work won for him a promotion in 1880 to fore- man, a position which he has since retained, and in which he renders highly acceptable services. Politically he accords with the principles advanced by the Democratic party, and served for six years as a school director. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 885, of Scottdale, in which he has passed all the chairs. He married Jane Kelly. daughter of James and Christina Kelly. Of this union one child was born: Katie May, born January 25, 1875, wife of Frederick Moser, of Scottdale, and has one child, Goldie M., born October 14, 1898.
ALBERT J. CARSON, a well known and highly respected citizen of Vandergrift, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, is a roller in the Van- dergrift mills of the American Sheet Steel and Tin Plate Company. The Carson family has been resident in Pennsylvania for many generations.
(I) John Carson, grandfather of Albert J. Carson, lived on a farm near Homer City, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was a cooper by trade and he followed this occupation during the active years of his life. He married Eliz- abeth Steele and they were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living. John Carson died at the age of seventy ; his wife died at the age of ninety-three years. The names of the children are as follows: Mary, John. James, William, Letitia, Robert. Thomas, Of these John, Robert and William are now living.
(II) Robert P. Carson, fourth son and sixth child of John and Eliza- beth (Steele) Carson, was born on the farm of his father near Homer City, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1832, and brought up at home. He was apprenticed to the trade of shoemaking, and after finishing his apprentice- ship located himself in Homer City where he has since devoted himself to the trade he had learned. He is a staunch adherent to the Republican party, and a man highly respected by the entire community. He married Mary C. Foust, born in Brush Valley, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, daughter of Jesse and Maria (Grumling) Foust. When Mrs. Carson was but thirteen months old. her father, Jesse Foust, died, and Mrs. Carson was taken in charge and reared by an aunt, Mrs. Catherine Myers, of Homer City. The children of Robert P. and Mary C. (Foust) Carson are as follows: Albert . J., see forward. Catherine E., wife of R. E. Roberts, of Homer City, Pennsyl- vania ; John M., superintendent of the Incubator works at Homer City, Penn- sylvania : Loie E., wife of Perry Phillips, of Vandergrift, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania ; Anna .A., wife of John F. Barclay, of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania : Edgar D., resides in Wellsville, Ohio; Gertrude, married Bruce Cramer. of Cramer. Pennsylvania ; George H., resides in Vandergrift. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania : Stella, wife of Harry Truzell, resident in Ilomer City, Indiana county, Pennsylvania.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
(III) Albert J. Carson, eldest child of Robert P. and Mary C. (Foust) Carson, was born in Homer City, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1861. He spent the early years of his life at home with his parents, acquir- ing a good education in the public schools of the neighborhood. Upon attain- ing the years of manhood he went to Apollo, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1881, and secured a position in the mills of the Apollo Iron and Steel Company in the capacity of doubler. Here he remained for some time and was then advanced to the position of pair heater. He was very attentive to all the details of his work, and his ambition met with the reward it deserved, for he was again advanced, this time to the position of sheet heater, and in 1896 was made sheet roller. This position he has retained up to the present time ( 1906), and upon the opening of the new mills at Vandergrift was transferred to that place and was one of the first rollers to assist in the opera- tion of the new mills. His services are highly appreciated and valued by the ·company as they know they can rely implicitly upon his faithful attention to all the duties which his position entails. Mr. Carson is a man of much local influence. His well known integrity and the uprightness and straightforward- ness of his character make his opinion sought and valued by all the community in which he lives. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican party and has held a number of public offices. He has been county committeeman and served three years as a member of the Apollo borough council, and two years ·on the borough council of Vandergrift. He and his family are members of and regular attendants at the Presbyterian church. He is also a member of the following organizations: Kiskiminetas Lodge, No. 617, Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Duquesne Chapter, No. 193, Royal Arch Masons; and Van- dergrift Lodge, No. 502, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Carson married, November 4, 1884, Nora W. Young, of Apollo, daughter of Lucian H. and Mathilda A. ( Mahaffee) Young. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have two children: Mary Corinne and Naomi Maxinne.
JOHN R. ANDERSON, a machinist in the employ of the Scottdale Foundry & Machine Company, Scottdale, Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, was born at Pollockshaws, Scotland, February 3, 1871, the son of John and Agnes Anderson.
Mr. Anderson emigrated to this country in 1892, settling in New Haven, Connecticut, where he remained but a short time, being engaged at his trade of machinist. He then removed to Scottdale and there identified himself as machinist with the firm of T. C. Kenney & Company. The firm name was subsequently changed to the Scottdale Foundry & Machine Company. Mr. Anderson still retains his connection with this company, and being a very proficient and skillful workman renders them valuable services. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of Scottdale, in which he has passed all the chairs ; and is also a charter member of the K. of M., No. 121, of Scottdale. Mr. Anderson married Charlotte Thomas, daughter of John W. and Mary Thomas, and their children were: Mary Agnes, born February 12, 1895; Grace Irene, April 1. 1896; John George, October, 1897, and Eugene Lyle, February 26, 1901. Mr. Anderson and his family are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church of Scottdale.
WOSLEY MOSER, train dispatcher for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, residing at Youngwood, is of Swiss lineage, the family having been established in America by his grandfather, John Moser, a native of Switzer- land, who with his family came to the United States, settling on a farm near
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Hannibal, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days. His son, John Moser, Jr., was also born in Switzerland and was about twelve or fifteen years of age- when he came with his parents to the new world. He was reared upon the Ohio farm until seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in the Union army. Just before the outbreak of hostilities he went to West Virginia and joined. a regiment of that locality, serving for three years. At the end of that time. he was discharged on account of disability, being ill with fever from which he suffered for six months. After being mustered out of the service he re- turned to West Virginia, where he has since been connected with the sawmill and lumber business, his home being now at New Martinsville. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary Van Camp, and they have five children : Lydia, at home; Mary L., a teacher in the business college at Johnstown, Pennsylvania ; Frederick O., yardmaster for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Scottdale, Westmoreland county ; John at home; and. Wosley, see forward.
Wosley Moser was born in Wetzel county, West Virginia, June 5, 1868,. and was educated in the public schools, completing his studies in the Magnolia high school at New Martinsville, West Virginia. In 1888 he began the study of telegraphy and in July, 1889, was given an office on the Ohio River rail- road, at Clifton, West Virginia. On February 4, 1890, he went to Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for seven years; he then removed to Pittsburg, where he served the same corporation for a year and a half. He was promoted to train dispatcher in July, 1900, and was located at Everson, but in the following February the offices were removed to Youngwood, where he has since been stationed. Mr. Moser married, November 24. 1889, Mary Pickens, of Williamstown, West Virginia. and they have two children, Floyd and Leslie. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Youngwood, and Mr. Moser belongs to Youngwood Lodge, No. 667, I. O. O. F; and Woodland Lodge, No. 210, K. P., of Youngwood. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations and is now serving on the school board in Youngwood, while in community affairs he manifests a public-spirited interest.
HARRY T. HENRY. The grandparents of Harry T. Henry, of Vandergrift, were Alexander and Mary Henry, whose son, William Henry, was born June 8, 1841, in Apollo, where he learned the trade of a stone and brick mason. Subsequently he was employed in the shops of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company, in Apollo, and six years prior to his death moved to Leechburg, where he worked in the mills during the remainder of his life. During the civil war he served three years in Company I. Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward a member of the G. A. R. He was of high standing in the Masonic fraternity, was a Republican in politics, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the highly esteemed and influential citizens of Armstrong county. Mr. Henry married Mary Truby, and of their four children three survive: Bertha, wife of Charles Morford, of Windber, Pennsylvania; Ada, wife of William Fennell, of Salina, Pennsylvania ; and Harry T., see forward. Mr. Henry died in 1882 and his widow is a resident of Vandergrift.
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