Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 115

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 115

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JAMES A. LOUGHRY was born Jan. 4, 1854, in White township, Indiana county, the eighth in his parents' family. He received a common school education there, and began work in 1867, entering the employ of Loughry & St. Clair, who carried on the business from

On March 22, 1887, Mr. Loughry married Nina Van Voorhis, of North Dakota, who sur- vived him, passing away Jan. 24, 1912. They had a family of four children: James Van Voorhis, born Oct. 5, 1889, who is clerking for his uncle, W. R. Loughry, of Indiana; Herbert L., born in 1890, who died in 1910; William R., born Dec. 15, 1892, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Pittsburg; and Margaret W., born April 4, 1893.

SAMUEL LUCAS LOUGHRY, best known which the present establishment of W. R. as "Luke" Loughry, the youngest but one of Loughry & Co. originated. After Mr. St. Clair withdrew from the business James A. Loughry continued with his brother, William R. Loughry, until 1880, when he had the offer of a position in a Philadelphia dry goods house. After five years of business experience in that city he returned to Indiana and be- came associated in the grocery and queensware business with John F. Clements, doing busi- ness in the old Weamer building, at Sixth and Water streets. At the end of a year Mr. Clements retired, leaving Mr. Loughry to con- duct the business ,as sole proprietor, and he continued at their old location until the spring of 1896, when he moved to commodious and handsome quarters, his storeroom being the same formerly occupied by the First National the family of ten children born to William and Margaret (Lucas) Loughry, was born March 1, 1856, in White township, this county, two miles east of Indiana borough, whither he removed with his mother in February, 1860. In his early boyhood he attended common school, but he commenced work when only eleven years old, his first employer being Henry Hall, who was then in business on Philadelphia street, having a little store on the Douglass property. He carried the papers and did such other work as a boy of his years could perform, and remained with Mr. Hall nearly three years, and then entered the gro- cery and queensware store of A. M. Stewart, in the building afterward occupied by Thomas Wheeler, next door to the Gazette building.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

There he was employed until early in 1874, of manner, generous, unselfish, kind, of a when he found employment in the drug store genial and happy disposition, he carried sun- of Dr. George R. Lewis, learning the drug shine into every walk of life. He never wearied in any labor that advanced the wel- fare of his fellow men and the prosperity and happiness of his community. He was public- spirited, and his capacious and broad mind very largely directed the municipal govern- ment of our town. * * business thoroughly during the six years he was with him, until March, 1880. He then entered business with his elder brother, W. R. Loughry, becoming the junior member of the firm, which has ever since been known as W. R. Loughry & Co. His connection with * Ever honorable as a man, and genial as a friend, his integrity and generosity endeared him to the people of the county and all who had any intercourse with him. * * the business continued until his death, which occurred the day after Thanksgiving, 1895, when he was in his fortieth year. He had been on the streets and at the club the day * From the rivalries of life and frictions of interest he retained no bitterness, but where faults existed, with a gracious readiness acknowledged his own and sought to cover those of others with the gentle shield of charity." before, apparently in his usual health, had attended the football game at the normal school and enjoyed his dinner with the fam- ily at his home, and retired at his usual hour, never to rise again, life having been extinct for some time when members of his family went to rouse him the next morning. For some time before he had suffered at intervals from heart disease, to which his sudden tak- ing away was ascribed.

There were few citizens of Indiana bor- ough more respected than Mr. Loughry. His success in the management of his private in- terests, and a public-spirited desire to see his community with the best possible advantages, led his fellow citizens to call upon him for public service, and though he cared nothing for the honors of office he discharged his re- sponsibilities with the utmost regard for the interests of those whose confidence had been shown in selecting him. In 1893, against his personal desire, he was elected a member of the town council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of M. F. Jamison, and at the expiration of his term, in 1895, he was re- elected for three years' service. The duties of this position, which he had accepted at the earnest solicitation of his friends, he per- formed with honor and credit, proving him- self highly useful. In the spring of 1895 he was elected a trustee of the State normal school at Indiana, to represent the stockhold- ers, and the choice was highly pleasing to all interested in the success of the institution. but he had barely undertaken its duties when death took him. The board of trustees passed resolutions of regret and sympathy, from which we quote the following: "Although but a short time a member of our board of trustees his tireless energy and activity in be- half of the normal school had already mani- fested itself. He was wont to give any mat- ter left to his care that same generous over- sight and earnest attention that so strongly marked his own private business life. Timid

From the resolutions of sympathy passed by the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana, of which he was a charter member, and in which he had held numerous offices, we extract the fol- lowing: "His long connection with the club for which he cared so well makes it peculiarly fitting that we pay this tribute of respect to his memory. He was one of the original charter members and his interest in its pros- perity and success never once abated. Al- though he took no special part in the social entertainments of club life, none knew better than he of what the life should consist and so directed the internal management of the club with that broad-minded and unselfish spirit that so characterized his whole business and social life. His modest demeanor and kind and genial disposition endeared him to every one of us. He was public-spirited; he loved his town and spent his substance freely in promoting its prosperity. His unselfish en- ergy and activity have given us our own In- diana united and bound together with the cords of his weaving. * tegrity marked his every transaction. Pains- * * Sterling in- taking and accommodating, he contributed much to the standard of merit which dis- tinguishes the business interests of the county."

Such comments, coming from those who had known him from boyhood, and with whom his associations had been close and continu- ons, throw light on a character notable for kindliness, unselfishness and broad-minded philanthropy, and though he died at a com- paratively early age his influence had been felt in many avenues of usefulness. He be- came a Mason in 1877, and joined the Knights of Honor in 1878.

Mr. Loughry was buried in Oakland ceme-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tery. The members of the Cosmopolitan Club, ing at Blacklick, was one of the first elders of forty in number, attended in a body, and the board of trustees of the normal school also attended. The services were conducted by Dr. Hall, of the Presbyterian Church, a close friend of Mr. Loughry and the family.

JAMES FAIR, late of Blacklick, where he had made his home for many years, was one of the most influential residents of that part of Indiana county in his day. A man of high ideals and lofty character, he entered into the interests of his community with an earn- est desire for its betterment which found ex- pression in his encouragement and support of various beneficial movements. In short, he was a broad-minded and farseeing citizen whose ambitions extended beyond his personal and material welfare, whose usefulness was felt in every activity in the locality where his lot was cast. He was born June 14, 1819, near New Alexandria, Westmoreland Co., Pa., eldest son of Samuel Fair, who was born about 1790 in Path Valley, Franklin Co., Pa. The family has long been settled in this State. When but a boy Samuel Fair left his home and came to western Pennsylvania, and was thereafter dependent mainly upon himself. He settled near New Alexandria, in West- moreland county, and about 1816 married Anne Campbell. They became the parents of sixteen children, all of whom lived to matur- ity, James being the second child. Mr. and Mrs. Fair were members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Democrat.

that church, and, later, superintendent of its Sunday school. A few years before his death, on account of failing health, he removed from his farm in Blacklick township to the village of Blacklick, where he died Dec. 21, 1900. His death was regarded as a public loss.

In 1841 Mr. Fair was married to Harriet Smith, who was born Sept. 25, 1818, daughter of Daniel and Jane (Copley) Smith, of Black- lick, the former one of the most prominent of the pioneer settlers of Indiana county, and a well-known farmer and stock dealer. Mrs. Fair was well educated, having studied at a young ladies' school at Hollidaysburg, Pa., after attending public school. She died July 19, 1878. We have the following record of the children of this union: (1) Jane Eliza- beth died June 6, 1864. (2) Samuel died Aug. 25, 1860. (3) Daniel McClure, born Sept. 25, 1846, enlisted Aug. 25, 1864, in Company D, 206th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, un- der Col. Hugh J. Brady, and served until the close of the war; his was the first infantry regiment in Richmond after the surrender and evacuation of that city. After the war he learned the trade of builder and went out to Kansas, where he lived for four years. Re- turning to Pennsylvania he located first at Blairsville, later moving to Pittsburg, where he still resides, he and his two sons having a large business as builders and contractors. In Kansas he married Adelaide M. Phillips, of that State, and they have had the following children : Harriet; Howard McClure; Wal-

James Fair obtained his education in the lace, deceased; Paul William and Mary Louise, district schools near his early home. When wife of Roy Hoover, of Spokane, Wash. (4) R. Willis is mentioned below. (5) James Campbell died Sept. 1, 1860. (6) Alice died Aug. 25, 1860. (7) Harriet Smith, born in 1856, married John M. Connor, of Blairsville, and has had six children: James, who lives at home; Eva May, wife of Carl Orr, of Apollo, Armstrong Co., Pa .; Cora; Dora; Beulah, deceased; and Harriet. (8) George Hill, born Feb. 6, 1861, was educated for the legal profession and practiced for a time in Dakota county, Nebr., where he became county attorney. He is now connected with the rail- way mail service, and resides at Topeka, Kans. He married Marthetta Stephens, of Indiana twelve years old he came to Indiana county, where the rest of his life was spent. He was a farmer throughout his active years, and by his intelligence and industry made a success of that calling, as he did of everything else he undertook. He was active in local politics and church work, and though not a seeker after office or public honors of any kind ac- cepted the responsibilities to which he was called and faithfully discharged the duties of any position in which he was placed. He was elected to several township offices, serving as school director, supervisor and auditor. A Democrat in his earlier manhood, he became a Republican upon the formation of the county, Pa., and they have two children, party, and was in sympathy with its policies Helen Faye and Florence. (9) May C., born Dec. 24, 1862, resides in Blacklick. during the war of the Rebellion. In religion he was a Presbyterian, he and his family be- R. WILLIS FAIR, M. S., PH. D., son of James and Harriet (Smith) Fair, is one of the owners and principals of the Kiskiminetas Springs School, at Saltsburg, Indiana Co., Pa., longing at first to the Blairsville Church, which he served as elder for many years. In 1866 he joined the congregation then form-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a school for boys established almost a quarter ers and pupils hardly possible where the at- of a century ago and now ranking among the tendance is unrestricted. In 1911-1912 there were 180 students, mainly from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the graduating class numbered twenty, and there were three doing post-graduate work-one of the supreme tests of excellence in a school. There are now three principals, Mr. W. H. MacColl, A. B., having become associated with the founders of the school. Mr. Wilson is the instructor in Greek, Mr. Fair in mathematics and English, Mr. MacColl in mathematics, and the faculty he- sides consists of nine members. Besides the preliminary work four courses are offered, Classical, Latin Scientific, Scientific and Eng- lish, the latter being intended as a prepara- tion for business, the others for entrance to colleges, universities, and scientific or tech- nical schools.

notably efficient preparatory schools in this part of the country. Mr. Fair was born in Blacklick, Indiana county, March 20, 1851. He first attended the public schools of that locality, and later became a student at Millers- ville State normal school, from which he was graduated in 1875. He taught in that institu- tion the next year, during which the State normal school at Indiana, Pa., was opened, and he was elected to the chair of mathematics. He filled that position for the twelve years following, meantime continuing his studies to fit himself for higher usefulness in the educa- tional field. His experience there, and obser- vations made wherever and whenever oppor- tunity afforded, impressed upon him the need for a high-class preparatory school for boys in this part of Pennsylvania, and when he re- signed from the faculty of the Indiana normal school his plans for founding such a school were already matured, and the practical de- tails, business arrangements, etc., had been completed. In 1888, in association with A. W. Wilson, Jr., A. M., Ph. D., son of A. W. Wil- son, a merchant of Indiana borough, he opened what has since been known as the Kiskimine- tas Springs School, at Saltsburg. The up- building and development of this school has been practically his life work. His success as an educator has been acknowledged by the profession as well as by those who have come under his training, and in recognition thereof he was awarded the degree of Ph. D. in 1892 by the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburg) at Pitts- burg.

Mr. Wilson and Mr. Fair had purchased the hotel property then known as Kiskiminetas Springs, in Loyalhanna township, Westmore- land county, opposite the town of Saltsburg, a picturesque natural park of forty acres, lo- cated on a beautiful wooded plateau a hundred and fifty feet above the water on the palisades, overlooking the town of Saltsburg and the headwaters of the "Kiski," directly above the junction of the Conemaugli and the Loyal- hanna, which form the Kiskiminetas river. Suitable buildings were erected and equipped, and the project was launched upon what has " proved to be a career of continuous success. The school has grown steadily, in size as well as importance, though there has never been any idea of making it a very large institution, one of the prime objects of the principals being to maintain homelike surroundings and to insure the personal relations between teach-

No expense has been spared to make the buildings and equipment as nearly complete and perfect as possible. The original school building, and old hotel, standing one hundred feet from the river and centrally located, con- tains a beautiful dining room, kitchen, read- ing room, boys' reception room, the school of- fices and fifty bedrooms. A three-story brick building, one hundred feet south, built about 1890, contains the school chapel and assembly room, the chemical and physical laboratory, recitation rooms, and a third-floor dormitory for twenty boys. The new gymnasium, com- pleted three years ago, is of buff brick and adds materially to the beauty of the campus. All the buildings are steam heated and lighted by electricity from a central power house ; there is hot and cold water on every floor, and modern plumbing throughout.

Mr. Fair's devotion to his school work, though that is his main interest in life, has not precluded his activity in other fields. He has proved his business ability in various as- sociations, and is at present one of the direct- ors of the First National Bank of Saltsburg, a relation he has sustained for a number of years. He was formerly connected with the Flint Glass Bottle Company, of which he was a director. He has taken an active part in politics, as a member of the Republican party, and has held public office when he felt he could best serve his fellow citizens by accept- ing the responsibility. His long experience as an educator made him particularly desirable as a member of the school board of the town- ship in which he lives, on which he served for many years; and he represented his district in the State Legislature in the sessions of 1907 and 1909. He was not a candidate for re-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

election in 1910. He participated in some of street, on what afterward was the site of Wil- the most important work done by that body son's mercantile establishment. during that time, in 1907 being a member of Thomas Sutton, son of Peter, was engaged for many years in the mercantile business at Indiana, and was a prominent man in the early days of the county, being twice appointed sheriff, which office he held from 1809 to 1812 and from 1815 to 1818. He died in 1833, at the age of forty-nine. He married Rebecca Loughry and they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. the Capitol Investigation Commission, of which he was vice chairman. Senator Fisher, of Indiana, Pa., was chairman of the commis- sion. Mr. Fair was the author of the Local Option bill introduced in the House in 1909. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church of Saltsburg and of its session, and has served for twenty years as president of the board of trustees of that congregation.

John Sutton, son of Thomas, was born May 20, 1814, at Indiana, and like his father was a prominent man in his time. He was one of the leading business men of his day, being a successful general merchant for over forty years, and during that time also dealing in real estate. He had many other interests, being president for several years before his death of the First National Bank and a part- ner in the firm of McCartney & Sutton, which operated the strawboard mill during his life- time. It was not only in business, however, that he was active and enterprising. Every- thing that affected the welfare of his fellow citizens had his hearty encouragement and support. In fact, he was a leader in many of the most progressive movements of his genera-

On Dec. 26, 1878, Mr. Fair married Marga- retta A. Means, who was born Nov. 17, 1858, daughter of James R. and Susan S. (McClel- land) Means, of Carlisle, Pa., the former of whom died in 1901; he was a farmer. Mrs. Fair acquired her early education in the com- mon schools, later taking a course at the Mil- lersville normal school, from which she was graduated. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fair: (1) Ethel Marian, born Nov. 15, 1884, received her preliminary educa- tion at the Kiskiminetas Springs Preparatory School and then entered Vassar College, grad- uating in 1906. She is now at home. (2) James Means, born Sept. 21, 1886, took the civil engineering course at Lehigh University, tion. He was the most prominent spirit among from which institution he was graduated in 1908, and is now in the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, in the engineer- ing department. On July 25, 1912, he mar- ried Mary E. Askew, of Altoona, Pa., daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth Askew, and they re- side at Harrisburg, Pa. (3) Helen McClel- land, born April 8, 1891, is now a student in the New England Conservatory of Music, at Boston, Mass. (4) Lois Margaret, born Jan. 26, 1897, is at home.

the founders of the State Normal School at Indiana, and one of the two largest contribu- tors toward its establishment and support. He was president of the board of trustees of that school from its organization until his death. All public educational projects that seemed worthy had his interest and support. His charities and zeal in religious work were un- bounded. He was a member and elder of the Indiana Presbyterian Church, and for over a quarter of a century the esteemed and hon- THOMAS SUTTON, for many years one of the foremost business men of Indiana bor- ough, lawyer, and at one time prominently identified with banking interests, was born there May 3, 1854, son of John and Mary Ag- ored superintendent of its Sunday school, laboring faithfully for its upbuilding and maintenance. In fact, the work which he loved best throughout life was that connected with the church and Sunday school. He was useful in every relation of life, helpful to nes (Walker) Sutton. He is a member of the every cause with which he allied himself, faith- fourth generation of his family to live in In- ful to every trust, generous to the poor, using diana county.

Peter and Phebe Sutton, Mr. Sutton's great- grandparents, left the strong Presbyterian settlement of Basking Ridge, in New Jersey, one hundred and twenty years ago, and came to the vicinity of Newport on Blacklick, in In- diana county, Pa. Some time between 1790 and 1806 he became one of the pioneer settlers at what is now Indiana borough, in the year ried Mary Agnes Walker, a native of Canons- last named having a log hotel on Philadelphia burg, Pa., who died in 1898. Like her hus-

his great abilities as much in the advance- ment of causes that would serve his fellow men as he did in the promotion of his personal in- terests. He was a Democrat in politics, but during the Civil war, though he supported the Democratic ticket in State affairs, he voted the Republican ticket on national issues. He died June 9, 1877. In 1847 Mr. Sutton mar-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

band she was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Thomas Sutton, son of John, was reared in the borough of Indiana and obtained his early education in the public schools there. In 1870 he entered the sophomore class of the univer- sity at Princeton, where he took the full three years' course, graduating in 1873. Returning home, he then took up the study of law with John P. Blair, afterward president judge, and was admitted to the bar of Indiana county at the spring term of 1876. In the fall of that year he entered Columbia Law School, New York City, to take a special course of studies, from which he was called home a year later by his father's last illness. Shortly after his father's death he began the practice of law, in which he has since been engaged, spending about one year in the office of Silas M. Clark, afterward a member of the State Supreme court, making a specialty of collections and the settlement of estates, in which lines he has had a very large patronage. However, he has been very progressive in his connection with the business interests of this section. In 1878 he became a member of the Chilled Car Wheel Manufacturing Company, which changed its name in 1883, becoming Sutton Bros. & Bell, and later again changed to Indiana Foundry Company, Limited, of which he has since been the president. In company with his brother Jolin W. Sutton he owned the strawboard mill, the one in which his father was formerly in- terested, the partnership being known as John W. Sutton & Bro. He was a member of the Indiana Chemical Company, Limited, organ- ized in 1887, and was secretary of that con- cern, whose works were located on the Indi- ana branch railroad until it went out of busi- ness. Fifteen men were employed in the manufacture of wood alcohol, acetate of lime and charcoal in large quantities. Mr. Sutton is also a stockholder in the First National Bank, was a director of that institution from 1881 to 1887, president from 1886 to 1887, served as its attorney from 1884 to 1888, and elected again as director in 1911. He is also president of the Keystone Printing Company of Pittsburg, incorporated in 1911, and vice president of the Roanoke Valley Orchards, Inc., of Salem, Va. Mr. Sutton's property holdings include valuable real estate centrally located in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota.

In spite of his numerous personal interests, Mr. Sutton has found time to interest himself in local affairs, has served his borough faith- fully as member of the council and auditor, and has taken a deep interest in the progress

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 115

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930