History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 147

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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Jan. 25, 1865, he married Mary J. Fredd, of Chat- ham, Chester Co., Pa. They have four children, namely, Elizabeth, Morris H., Anna R., and Catha- rine H.

In 1869 he located in Latrobe, and became associ- ated with his brother, S. H. Baker, as a partner in different pursuits. He is the manager of their ex- tensive car-works, in which they annually do a busi- ness of more than half a million dollars. Their cars are used upon roads in all parts of the country, but their trade of late years has been chiefly in the West and South.

Their largest business, however, is their lumber trade in the forests of West Virginia, in which they yearly employ a million of capital. They are at present furnishing most of the railroad ties used by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The other principal industries with which Mr. Baker is identified are the Ligonier Valley Railroad, of which he was one of the projectors and is a large stockholder, and the Citizens' Banking Company, of Latrobe, which was organized in 1873. He and his brother, in connection with Pittsburgh capitalists, organized the Loyalhanna Coal and Coke Company, but have severed their connection with that. His possessions, aside from his business, are chiefly lands. He had no pecuniary start, and his success in business is due largely to his energy, tact, and good sense. He is modest and unassuming in manner, and has the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact. He is a liberal contributor to all worthy causes, and has added largely to the wealth of the community in which he resides. He is a useful citi- zen, a gentleman of real worth, and richly deserves the admiration with which his friends delight to speak of him.

JOHN RANDOLPH MCGONIGAL.

Hon. John Randolph McGonigal, long a prominent man in Westmoreland County, was born near Con- gruity Church, Dec. 5, 1812. His father was Thomas McGonigal, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America, and married Nancy Craig. His mother dying when he was quite young, John was placed in charge of a maternal sunt, with whom he remained until about four years of age. He was then intrusted to the care of Mrs. John Tittle, with whom he re- mained until twelve years of age, when he was ap- prenticed to a Mr. Blythe to learn the trade of chair- making. Not liking his trade he had resolved to act on the advice and "go West," when he was offered the position of clerk in the store of Mr. Joseph Coulter, of Youngstown. This he accepted, and re- mained a sufficient time to learn the business thor- oughly. He continued in the merchandising business in different parts of the county until about 1871, when having by his untiring industry and unswerving honesty acquired a competency, and being somewhat afflicted physically, he spent the remaining years of his life in retirement in the town of Latrobe, Pa. Sept. 10, 1850, he married Ellen Sibbet Vance, youngest daughter of John Vance, Esq., of Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co. They had two children, -James C., who was born Sept. 8, 1852, and died Jung 20, 1860, and Charles Howard, who was born Sept. 24, 1856, and died June 17, 1860.

Mr. McGonigal always took an active part in poli- tics. He was a stanch Republican, and served two terms as one of the representatives from this district (then composed of the counties of Armstrong and Westmoreland) in the Legislature of Pennsylvania. He was first elected in 1859, and re-elected the follow- ing year.

John R. McGonigal was an honest and upright man from principle. Under all circumstances he en- joyed the confidence and respect of those who knew him, and was always amiable in disposition and gen- tlemanly in his manner. His sincerity and genial ways won for him many warm friends. He was an active promoter of morality in the communities in which he lived. He was an exemplar of the lovely traits of Christianity. He was a prominent officer in the Sunday-school for many years, and was always interested in whatever tended to promote his Master's cause. Although his last illness was protracted he bore his affliction with Christian fortitude, under the lively hope that the end of life here would be to him but the beginning of infinite happiness. He died Feb. 15, 1881, and his remains were interred in Unity cemetery. He was ministered unto during his last illness by his devoted wife, who mourns not as they who have no hope.

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GEO BRINKER.

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DERRY TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM CHAMBERS.

The Chambers family has long been prominent in Westmoreland County. The first of the name to set- tle here was one John Chambers, who was born in York, Pa. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and set- tled at Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland Co., in 1793. Here he built a mill and engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. He married Leah Hartzell, of his native town. They had seven children, all of whom (except Joseph who was a Presbyterian minister, and resided and died at Wooster, Ohio) spent their lives in Westmoreland County. The children were as fol- lows: William, John, Elizabeth, George, Joseph, Daniel, and Mary.

The subject of this sketch, William Chambers, was the eldest of the family, and was born in York, Pa., a short time before his father's removal. He worked in his father's mill learning the trade of carding and finishing cloth. He followed his trade until 1887, when he engaged in farming, which he followed for two years. He then purchased what is known as Findley's Flouring-Mill, on the Loyalhanna. Here the remainder of his life was spent.

He married Elizabeth Leasure, second daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Ryan Leasure, of Sewickley, Westmoreland Co. Elizabeth Ryan Leasure's father, Daniel, was the youngest son of Abraham Leasure, a native of Germany. His ancestors were natives of Navarre, and fled during the persecution of the Hugue- nots to a province on the Rhine in Germany. Here Abraham was born in 1785, and marriod a French wife. They emigrated to the colony of Pennsylva- nia, and settled near Chambersburg, some years pre- vious to the war of Independence. He afterwards settled on the "old Virginia road," leading from Baltimore to Fort Pitt. During the war of Indepen- dence be removed to the valley of the Kiskiminetas, where he was engaged as an Indian scout. When there were no Indians to encounter, he kept a train of pack-horses carrying merchandise from the Cone- cocheague to the Allegheny and its tributaries.

After the close of the war he removed with his family to a farm near the present site of Pleasant Unity, where he located a large tract of land for which he obtained a deed from the heirs of Penn. It was then known as "Manor Land," now the David Pollins' farm, the " garden spot" of Westmoreland County. Here he remained till his death in 1805. His wife survived him fifteen years. They were both buried in the old family burial-ground upon the old homestead.

Daniel Leasure was the youngest son of Abraham Leasure. He lived upon a part of the tract located by his father, what is now known as the Andrew Gifin farm. He was born in 1767. Before he was of age he was made captain of a company, and con- tinued in that position until fifty years of age. He served as captain of a company in the Indian war of 1790. He enlisted and reported for service at Pitts-

burgh as a lieutenant.in a light-borse company in 1812, but was discharged.

He married Elizabeth Ryan, of French-Irish de- scent, and raised a family of seven children, namely, Mary, Abraham, George, John, William, Elizabeth, and Jesse.

Elizabeth was in Hannastown Fort at the time it was burned, and fled with the garrison to Leasure's Fort on the Pollins' farm.

The original spelling of the name, as obtained from some very old foreign authorities, is Le Sueur. How- ever spelled, it has always been respectable.

William and Elizabeth Leasure Chambers had five children, all of whom are living in or near Latrobe. They are John L., married to Eliza Glessner; Daniel L., married to Mary Smith ; Jesse, married to Kezzia Geiger; Eliza, married to John Beatty; and Eli, mar- ried to Lydia Harvey.

William Chambers was early instructed in the doc- trines of the Presbyterian Church, and for many years was a devoted and zealous member of that commun- ion. He never held political office, his active life being devoted entirely to his own business. By un- tiring industry and economy he was able to leave to each of his children a good pecuniary start in life, to which each of them has added largely since his de- cease.

He died in 1851, and was buried in Unity Cemetery beside his wife, who died in 1840.

GEORGE BRINKER.

The subject of this sketch, George Brinker, was born in Sewickley, Westmoreland County, Pa., June 22, 1801. He was the youngest son of George and Catharine Brinker, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His early life was spent upon his father's farm. His opportunities for an education were such as the dis- trict schools of that period afforded. He was mar- ried to Anna Thompson, who was of Scotch descent, and a native of Sewickley, November 12, 1822. Their children were as follows: Catharine, who married James Hill; Robert, who first married Elizabeth Mansfield, and after her death married Martha Rob- erts; Elizabeth, who married H. Cummings; Cy- rus, who married Jennie Hughes; Richard, who married Rebecca Griffith ; Malinda and Jeremiah, unmarried, and two who died in infancy.

Mr. Brinker's home was near his birthplace till 1846, when he moved to a farm now occupied by a part of the borough of Latrobe. His entire active business life was spent in farming and stock-raising. He was noted for his industry and correct business habits. By economy and good management he accu- mulated enough property to enable him to retire from active business, and live at ease during the latter years of his life. His life was one of usefulness to the communities in which he lived. He left to his family valuable possessions, consisting chiefly in

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lands. He died March 10, 1874, and his remains lie buried in Unity cemetery. His wife, Anna, died September 18, 1880.

HON. WILLIAM DONNELLY.

John Donnelly, a gentleman of fine scholarship and culture, emigrated from County Armagh, Ireland, in 1798, and settled in York County, Pa. He remained here but a short time, and then removed to Berlin, Somerset Co., Pa., where he married Margaret Atchi- son. They remained in Somerset County until 1816, when they removed to a farm in Derry township, Westmoreland Co., where they spent the remainder of their lives. John died Dec. 29, 1826, and Marga- ret died in September, 1858. They had seven chil- dron, viz., John, Thomas, Mary, James, Isabella, Sarah, and William, who was born Aug. 5, 1817. He received his early education in the subscription schools of the neighborhood, and afterwards attended select schools, in which he studied land surveying and kindred subjects.

He learned the carpentry trade, but never followed it, and has since been engaged in the various callings of school-teaching, boating, farming, salt-making, hotel-keeping, oil-producing, and milling. Money getting or keeping has not been the sole object in life with him, and he has been satisfied with a comfort- able living, honestly earned. His private life has been one of industry, integrity, and economy. These admirable qualities have characterized his public life.

He has served six years as secretary of the school board of Derry township, and the intelligent manner in which he has discharged his duties has convinced his neighbors that they and the great cause which is so dear to them have in Hon. William Donnelly a true friend. He was elected to the State Legislature by the Democratic party, and served in the sessions of 1877 and 1878. True to the primitive doctrines of his party as expounded by Jefferson, and his own convictions, his constituents found in him a faithful representative, who voted intelligently and for their best interests upon every act brought before the body, of which he was one of the most honored and useful members. The bill "extending the jurisdiction of jus- tices of the peace" received his earnest support. He introduced two important bills, one, and the first of the kind ever introduced in a Pennsylvania Legisla- ture, was "to equalize freight and passenger rates, and forbade free passes on railroads." Corporation influences were too strong, and it was defeated in committee. The other was " to pay county officers a salary instead of the fees then charged, etc." It met a like fate in committee. Public-spirited, he is ever ready to favor with voice and pen whatever his judg- ment approves, or oppose what he deems incompati- ble with the public weal.

He was married to Susan, daughter of Daniel H. and Mary Barr, of Blairsville, Sept. 27, 1853. To them were born seven children, viz., Mary G., John H., Margaret I., William A., Pauline F., Daniel B., and Hugh J.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION, ETC.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP was legally organized in 1789. The erection resulted from the following peti- tion :

" Upon the petition of Sundry of the inhabitants of Salem township to the court, praying that a division of the mud township might be made by their worships in such manner as they should judge most convenient and proper, as the extent of the said township is at present so great as to put it out of the power of a constable to do his duty therein. And the distance is too great to attend elections from the extremities of the town- ship, as in some measure to deprive them from attending the same."

The above petition was read and continued at a prior meeting of the court, for the minutes read :

"Petition read and continued, and now at the July session, 1789. The court, considering the large extent of Salem township, order that thắt part of maid township, beginning at the line between Salem and Frank- lin townships; thence by an easterly course to the head of a branch of Beaver Bun that runs through the lands of William Hall and Joseph Thorn; thence down mid branch to where it empties into the main

branch ; thence an easterly course to where it utrikes the Kiskiminetas or Loyalhanna,-which said division or boundary is to be hereafter known by the name of Washington township."

The only villages in this township are North Wash- ington and Oakland Cross-Roads. The principal stream is Beaver Run, which forms the eastern boundary of the township; Pike and Poke Runs are streams of minor importance, although of vast benefit to the farms through which they pass. In the centre, as also in the southern part, extensive veins of coal exist. These are largely developed, but in the other por- tions of the township there is coal, but it is not mined to a very great extent. The principal industry is agriculture, and the prosperous and tidy aspect of the farms and residences attests to the attention paid by their thrifty owners. Its inhabitants number some of the best families of the county, and the appear-

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ance of the township shows its wide-spread prosperity. It was named in honor of President Washington.

PIONEERS.

Among the carly settlers were the Walters, Sloans, Mckowns, Kerns, Branthoovers, McKillips, Cham- bers, Hills, Rughs, Calhouns, Steels, Georges, Bairs, Yockeys, Thompsons, Brineys, McQuilkins, Mc- Quaids, Halls, and McCutheons.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was organized in 1808, on the farm now owned by Daniel Hilty. It was taught by an Irishman named Timothy Collins. The house was built of logs, lighted by strips of greased paper pasted on the crevices between the logs, and heated by an old-fashioned fireplace. These were the days when corporal punishment was administered with & ven- geance. About the same time Charles Foster kept a school in an old deserted log building on the farm now owned by Joseph Neely. Not long after this Joseph Muffly taught several sessions in the town- ship. His teaching was an improvement on the age in which he taught. The township adopted the free- school system about 1836, at a sharply-contested elec- tion. Among the first directors were Alexander Thompson, John Reed, and Adam Bowman. The first teachers were John McCormick, John Duff, S. McCormick, and others. The first examiner was John Craig, who had also been a teacher, and was followed by several others up to the time of the county superintendency. In the fall of 1853, a teachers' institute was organized by the teachers at their own expense, which is said to have been among the first district institutes ever held in the State. Among the teachers were W. H. Townsend, J. H. Gill, A. J. Thompson, and S. G. Thompson.

POKE RUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND CEME- TERY.

side of the Allegheny River. During the few first years of his pastorate some of his congregation were obliged to carry their rifles with them to the house of worship. His pastoral relations continued until April 11, 1798, when he resigned so as to devote his entire time to the Congruity congregation, which with Poke Run had before been his charge. There was then no regular preaching until 1799 or 1800, when Rev. Francis Laird came over the mountains from the East, and began preaching to Poke Run and Plum Creek congregations united. He was installed as pastor in Conrad Ludwig's meadow, June 22, 1800, that being a middle position between the two congregations. This was in 1800. He was pastor for twenty-nine years and six months, and then accepted a call from the church at Murrys- ville. The next two years there was supply preach- ing by Revs. Alexander and Martin,-the latter a Welshman, who turned out to be an impostor and deceived the church officers, - William McGeary, Samuel Hill, Alexander Thompson, John Townsend, Joseph Young, and James Christy, members of ses- sion. This was in June, 1881.

In 1883 (May 1) Rev. James Campbell, of Arm- strong County, was installed as pastor and continued until he resigned April 1, 1834, when Rev. David Kirkpatrick began stated supply preaching to this congregation and the one at Elder's Ridge. May 9, 1838, he was installed as pastor, and commenced his regular ministrations, and preached in the old log church and in the woods near John Miller's until the brick edifice was built and finished in 1836, when the church called him for the whole of his time at a salary of six hundred dollars per year. Mr. Kirkpatrick continued as pastor near until his death, Jan. 5, 1869 (having resigned June 23, 1868), a period of thirty years.1 In 1812, the members of the session were John Hamilton, James Paul, William Hill, John Given, Joseph Thorn, Samuel Paul, and William

In 1783 or 1784, Joseph Thorn, William Hill, John ! Guthrie. After them were John Townsend, Samuel Hamilton, James Paul, David Carnahan, and others Hill, James Christy, Alexander Thompson, William McGeary, and Joseph Young ; then followed Alexan- der Cowan, Obadiah McCowan, Andrew McCutheon, William Stewart, and Robert McQuilkin, after whom were John Ralston, James Thompson, James Sloan, applied to the Presbytery to have preaching at Poke Run, the name of the stream running along past the base of the hill on which this ancient church now stands. Its site was then thickly covered with poke, and the first house erected there stood not far from a spring in John Miller's field, and was part of the 1 The Rev. David Kirkpatrick, D.D., died at his residence at Oakland, Westmoreland County, on Wednesday the 5th of January, 1869. He was one of the leading divines connected with the Presbyterian denom- ination, was a remarkably fine scholar and theologian. He was born in Ireland, and was a graduate of the University of Belfast. For some years he occupied the position of principal of the academy at Milton, Pa., an institution which numbers among its graduates such men as Ex-Governor Curtin, Rev. D. X. Junkin, D.D., Rev. G. Marshall, D.D., and many others who have become prominent. For many years rubee- quent he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Poke Bun, in this county, one of the largest congregations in Western Pennsylvania, and during his pastorate won the love and esteem not only of the members of his own charge but of all with whom he became associated. He had reached the advanced age of seventy-four years, and although his death was not entirely unexpected, it will cause sincere regret among his numerous friends and acquaintances. He was the father of Judge John M. Kirkpatrick and William II. Kirkpatrick, Esq, of Pittsburgh, Pa. time used for a school-house, in which the two first teachers were Messrs. Findley and Critchalow. In 1789 the Poke Run congregation erected a large log church edifice seventy by thirty feet, on the same site where the present brick building stands, and applied to the Presbytery for preaching. On Sept. 22, 1790, Rev. Samuel Porter was installed as its pastor. He was ordained with Rev. John McPherrin on James McKee's farm in Congruity. Poke Run .was then a frontier settlement exposed to the incur- sions of the Indians, who frequently committed ter- rible depredations in that vicinity and on the other

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William McQuilkin, John Dickey, and Henry Weis- ter. When Mr. Kirkpatrick was installed in 1885, they were Samuel Hill, John Townsend, Alexander Thompson, William McGeary, James Christy, Jo- seph Young, and William Guthrie. In 1875 they were Henry Rose and James Paul. Rev. Henry Bain, from Ohio, succeeded Mr. Kirkpatrick in 1869, and is the present learned and popular pastor. Under his pastorate the congregation has largely increased in membership, and through earnest labors a new church edifice, built of brick and in modern style, was erected and dedicated in 1881. This church re- ceived Rev. John McMillan as its first supply Oct. 18, 1785, under the designation "Head of Turtle Creek ;" and April 9, 1780, Rev. James Power, under the name of "Poke Run." When Mr. Porter, the first pastor, came with his family, he encamped by a large fallen tree, set up two forks twelve feet from it, laid a pole between them, and others as rafters from it to the log, from which he stripped bark enough to cover it, as a shed under which to sleep and study, while the part outside of the post was a durable back-log for their fire; and thus they lived until a house could be erected. The present pastor, Rev. Henry Bain, having graduated at the Western Theological Seminary in April, 1869, was called immediately to Poke Run, and on the first Sab- bath in May began to preach here, and was or- dained and installed June 22d of that year. Rev. T. R. Ewing preached at this installation, Dr. McFarren presided and made the ordaining prayer, A. Torrance charged the pastor, and J. A. Marshall the people. Though of good Seceder and Associate Reform stock, he joined the Presbyterian Church at a great revival at Hayaville, Ohio. He has entirely remodeled the style of worship at Poke Run. The use of tokens, table- seats, and the Scotch version of psalms, all in vogue when he came, has given away to the usages of sur- rounding Presbyterian Churches. The right-hand elders of Rev. Kirkpatrick in his long pastorate were Hon. Samuel Hill, Joseph Thompson, and John Townsend, Sr. This church is by far the most wealthy, harmonious, and unchanging of all the country churches in the Blairsville Presbytery, and was made such by the labors and prayers of two stated supplies and five pastors during a period of ninety-seven years. It has produced from its congregation one able and eloquent minister, Rev. Daniel W. Town- send.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was erected at Oakland Cross-Roads in 1875, and dedicated in the fall. When built there were but few Methodists in the neighborhood. It is a neat frame structure, and was erected mainly through the means and exertions of James Mehaffey, aided by Moses Miller and his two sons, James and John, and John Walter. It belongs to the Sardis Circuit, and the present pastor is Rev. W. S. Cummings.

PINE RUN REFORMED CHURCH.

This congregation, near North Washington, was organized conditionally April, 1861, with twenty- seven members. These members belonged previously to the St. James congregation, near Salina, but the distance being too great to attend divine worship regularly at that church, they were dismissed for the purpose of forming a new congregation. The names of those thus dismissed were John Yockey, Jacob Weister, John Gumbert, Sr., Simon Kunkle, Libby Kunkle, William W. Weister, Elizabeth Weister, Ja- cob H: Yockey, Dorcas Yockey, Conrad Beighley, Catharine Beighley, Susanna Gumbert, Daniel Gum- bert, Christiana Gumbert, Leah Kunkle, Elizabeth Muffley, Samuel Fry, Margaret Fry, Joseph Knap- penberger, Anna Knappenberger, Jacob Waugaman, Mary Waugaman, John Waugaman, Mary Lauffer, Franklin Kunkle, Israel Muffley, and Susanna Auk. The congregation was attached to the Salem charge, of which Rev. R. P. Thomas was then pastor, and consequently he continued to minister to this people, as he had done while they yet belonged to the St. James congregation, which was also a part of the Salem charge. Services were held every other Lord's day, in the afternoon, at the " Yockey school-house." John Yockey generously donated one acre of ground as a site for a church and graveyard; a subscription was taken, and a building committee appointed to carry out the project of erecting a church. This committee consisted of Conrad Beighley, Daniel Gumbert, and Elder John Yockey. The corner- stone of the proposed edifice was laid June 5, 1862, the pastor being assisted in the ceremonies by Rev. C. C. Russell. The same day John Yockey and Ja- cob Weister were elected elders, and Simon Kunkle and Jacob H. Yockey deacons. The building was dedicated August 30th following with dedicatory ser- mon by Rev. G. B. Russell, of Pittsburgh. The next day eleven new members were added to the congrega- tion,-nine by the rite of confirmation, and two by renewal of profession. Those entering into the con- gregation at first contributed towards building the church as follows: John Yockey, one acre of land and $100; John Gumbert, Sr., $100; Simon Kunkle, Leah Kunkle, Jacob Weister, William W. Weister, Conrad Beighley, J. H. Yockey, Daniel Gumbert, each $50; Israel Muffley, $25; Susanna Gumbert, $10; Joseph Knappenberger and John Waugaman, each $5. The balance to pay the contractor was con- tributed by persons who became members afterwards, and by persons in the neighborhood who were friendly to the enterprise. Rev. R. P. Thomas continued the pastor until the spring of 1863, and added fifteen members during his pastorate of two years. His suc- cessor was Rev. Thomas J. Barklay, in April, 1863, who remained in charge to the end of 1866, when the St. James and Pine Run congregations were consti- tuted a new charge, called the St. James. During his ministry nineteen were added to the communi-

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 147

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: