Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 116

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 116

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and welfare of the normal school, of which he was treasurer from 1878 to 1883, when he was elected a trustee, and served as secretary of the board of trustees till 1899, at that time succeeding A. W. Wilson as president of the board and still retaining that position. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and one of its most effective workers, also taking an active interest in the Sunday school. He was ruling elder of the church from 1879 to 1890. Mr. Sutton's standing in all circles is high, and his strong influence has always been exerted for the best interests of this section. He was one of the organizers in 1879 of the Shakespeare Club, one of the leading social and literary societies of the town, and has been its permanent president for many years.

On Oct. 22, 1878, Mr. Sutton married Ella P. Hildebrand, daughter of Edward P. Hilde- brand, of Indiana, and they had two chil- dren : Edward H. and John S. The family residence is one of the most beautiful in the borough of Indiana.

STEPHEN J. TELFORD, of Indiana, President Judge of Indiana county, has been practicing at the Indiana county bar for over thirty years. Born Dec. 24, 1853, in South Mahoning township, this county, he is a son of Rev. John C. Telford, a United Presby- terian minister whose long and useful career included many years of service in this region.

Rev. John C. Telford, D. D., was born Aug. 7, 1821, at East Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y., son of Stephen and Mary (Cree) Tel- ford. In 1843 he was graduated from the academy at Cambridge, in Washington county, N. Y., and then entered Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, Pa., as a junior, graduating from that institution in 1844. He prepared for the ministry at the Associate Theological School, Canonsburg, graduating in 1848. Meantime, however, he had commenced the active work of the ministry, having come to South Mahoning township in 1846 to take up church work, was licensed to preach June 20, 1848, and on Jan. 1, 1850, was ordained as minister of the Mahoning United Presby- terian Church. That year he was also in- stalled as pastor of the Beracha Church, at Plumville, this county, and of the church at Lumber City, forty miles away in Clearfield county. He resigned the latter after a few years' service, but continued in charge of the Mahoning and Beracha Churches until 1867, when he took a charge at West Lebanon which included two churches, Olivet and West Union.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

He was thus engaged for ten years, after which he devoted all his time to the West Union Church. For years Dr. Telford was recognized as one of the most zealous and in- defatigable workers in his denomination, achieving results which fall to the lot of few, and in 1888 he was honored by having the degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon him by Westminster College. He was one of the leading United Presbyterian ministers in Pennsylvania. In 1850 Dr. Telford married Martha Oram, who was born in 1828 in Can- onsburg, Pa., and they became the parents of one son and four daughters, namely : Jen- nie P., Mary A., Margaret B., Sarah E. and Stephen J.

Stephen J. Telford received his early edu- cation in the public schools of South Mahon- ing township, this county, where he spent his boyhood and youth. After a course at Westminster College he entered the Allegheny Theological Seminary, where he studied for one year. He then left school and took up teaching, at which he was engaged for five years, the last two years as principal of the Purchase Line Academy. During this time he had become interested in the legal profession, upon which he eventually settled for his life work, passed the preliminary examination in 1878, and pursued his course of reading un- der Hon. George W. Hood. After his admis- sion to the bar of Indiana county, March 15, 1880, he settled at Blairsville, remaining there for five years, in 1885 removing to the bor- ough of Indiana. He formed a professional partnership with M. C. Watson, under the name of Watson & Telford, and the firm soon attained a prominent place among the mem- bers of the profession in this locality. The association lasted until 1890. Since Jan. 1, 1905, Mr. Telford has occupied the position of judge of the Fortieth Judicial district (In- diana county), having been elected for a term of ten years. A man of high standards and marked ability, the cases intrusted to his care have always received the most conscien- tious attention. He is a Republican in his po- litical views, and in religion adheres to the faith of his father, belonging to the United Presbyterian Church of Indiana.

In 1882 Mr. Telford married Mabel White, daughter of Col. Richard White, of Indiana.

shortly afterward. Robert McFarland mar- ried Nancy Donnely.

When Irvin McFarland was ten years of age he removed with his parents, one brother and three sisters to a farm in Jefferson county, Pa., and he was still quite young when he began to clerk in a general store. Later on he formed a partnership with his brother Rob- ert, having a store in Ringgold, Jefferson county. After a few years he sold out to his brother, and opened a store at Maysville, where he married Abigail Smith, daughter of Hulette and Eunice (Wheeler) Smith, farm- ing people. In 1860 a tornado which swept over that section of the country completely wrecked his house and store. His wife was killed in the storm, and two children badly injured. He then removed to the oil fields of Venango county and invested money, being very successful, one well producing four hun- dred barrels of oil a day. After selling his oil interests he moved to Brookville, Pa., where he became a dealer in lumber (opening the Pekin Mills) and conducted a general store. In 1868 he came to Indiana, where he built the courthouse, being bondsman for the for- mer contractor, who failed in business, and taking the contract in order to save himself. He was a member of the firm of McFarland & Turner, who owned and conducted the foundry on West Philadelphia street for twenty-five years. Major McFarland was a member of the Methodist Church for sixty years, and served the congregation as steward and trustee for twenty-eight years. He was a thirty-second-degree Mason, a deputy grand master in that order for twenty-five years, and was a past grand of the local Odd Fellows Lodge. A member of the first board of trus- tees of Indiana State normal school, he served for some years, when he resigned ; he was also a member of the State College board of trus- tees some years before his death, and vice president of the board of trade.

In 1868 Major McFarland married Sarah A. Sheppard, who survives him, together with four daughters by his first wife: Misses Car- rie, Clara and Nan, of California, and Ida, Mrs. Alfred L. Smith, of Indiana.

Sympathetic by nature, Major McFarland was ever ready by word or deed to minister to the unfortunate or distressed. He endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. He died Nov. 17, 1898.

MAJ. IRVIN MCFARLAND was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., Dec. 21, 1823, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His father, Robert McFarland, and uncle came from Scotland in WILLIAM R. LOUGHRY, head of the firm 1810, the uncle going to California and dying of W. R. Loughry & Co., which has the lead-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ing department store in the borough of In- name of Loughry & Christy. At the end of diana, has been doing business continuously one year this association was dissolved, and for a longer period than any other merchant Mr. Loughry became senior member of the of the county. Outside of the great cities, his establishment is perhaps second to none in western Pennsylvania, and it is noted not only for the completeness of its stock but for the high standards which characterize the treat- ment accorded to patrons.

Mr. Loughry was born in Indiana county in 1841, and belongs to the fourth generation of his family in this country. His great- grandfather, William Loughry, was born in the North of Ireland and came to the United States when a young man. He was a farmer by occupation. He was a member of the famous Boston Tea Party, and served as a soldier during the Revolution.

James Loughry, son of William, was born in Indiana county, Pa., in the early days of the settlement of this section, and became a farmer. He died at the age of about seventy. He married Anna Wilson.

William Loughry, son of James and Anna ( Wilson), was for many years a school teacher in Indiana county, becoming very well known in that connection. He was endowed with high musical talents and was quite noted as a singer. For many years he was prominently identified with the Indiana Presbyterian Church, which he served for several years in the capacity of deacon. He died in 1859. Mr. Loughry married Margaret Lucas, and to them was born a family of ten children, namely : Susanna, who died in infancy; William R .; Matilda A., who died young; Elnora, de- ceased ; John E., who died at Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1863, when only sixteen years old, while serving as a Union soldier in the Civil war (his death was due to hard service and exposure) ; Rodha J., deceased; Mary E .; James A .; Samuel Lucas, deceased in 1895, who was a merchant in partnership with his brother William; and Clara L., deceased.

William R. Loughry began his education in the common schools and later was a student at the Saltsburg Academy and then at the In- diana Academy. Subsequently he taught school for three or four terms, and in the spring of 1861 became clerk in a general store in the city of Indiana, being thus engaged un- til his enlistment in the Union army in the summer of 1862. He became a member of Company I, 135th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for nine months. In 1866 Mr. Loughry formed a partnership with Mr. G. S. Christy and engaged in the clothing and ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served furniture business in Indiana under the firm

firm of Loughry & St. Clair. Two years later he again changed partners, the firm becoming Loughry & Sutton, who carried on a general department store, doing an extensive business for about ten years. When this partnership was dissolved Mr. Loughry became associated in business with his brother Samuel L. Loughry under the firm name of W. R. Loughry & Co., the firm consisting of the two brothers and so continuing until the death of Samuel L. Loughry, in 1895. At that time Mr. Loughry's sister, Mary E. Loughry, ac- quired a part ownership of the business, with which she has since been connected. The es- tablishment of this firm is commodious and well equipped, filled with a large stock of up-to-date goods, and conducted according to modern ideas which draw patronage from a large territory. Mr. Loughry is looked upon as one of the most substantial business men of Indiana county, and throughout his long career has maintained a most enviable repu- tation for honorable dealing and uprightness of character which can be relied upon in any . transaction. He is well known throughout this section of the State in various connections. He is a trustee of the Indiana State normal school.

In 1872 Mr. Loughry married Clara Si- mons, daughter of David Simons, of Indiana, and they have had three children: David, who died young; Edgar, who died in 1905, and who was in partnership with his father for several years ; and Ralph.

JOHN N. BANKS was born in Juniata county, Pa., near Mifflintown. His father, David Banks, owned a large farm, and his early days were spent on that place, where he did all kinds of work necessary on a well- kept and productive farm. At the age of six- teen, he left home to attend school at Airy View Academy, in Juniata county, then owned by and under the control of Prof. David Wil- son, at that time one of the best and most ex- perienced educators in eastern Pennsylvania. After having acquired sufficient preliminary education he entered the Pennsylvania Agri- cultural College, where he graduated in De- cember, 1861. After leaving college he began the study of law at Mifflintown in the law office of Andrew Parker, Esq. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 126th Regi-

until the expiration of his term of enlistment

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in the Army of the Potomac, taking part with born July 18, 1852, at Summersville, Jeffer- that army in General Mcclellan's Maryland son Co., Pa., and is a son of Lowry and Cor- campaign, which ended with the battle of An- nelia (Baldwin) Jack, and a grandson of tietam; served under General Burnside and Jacob and Sarah (Collins) Jack, the former took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and of whom was born in the north of Ireland and in Burnside's "mud march"; served under the latter in Center county, Pennsylvania.

General Hooker and took part under him in the battle of Chancellorsville. After the ex- piration of his term of enlistment he returned home and again entered upon the study of law, attended Harvard law school one year and completed his legal studies, preparatory to admission to the bar, in the law office of Edmund S. Doty, Esq., Andrew Parker hav- ing died. He was admitted to practice law in the several courts of Juniata county in February, 1866. In March, 1866, he came to Indiana county, was admitted to the bar of that county, and began the practice of law with his uncle, William Banks, Esq., the busi- ness being conducted under the firm name of William and J. N. Banks. This partnership continued until the death of William Banks, in August, 1871. After that John N. Banks carried on the practice of law at Indiana and soon acquired a good and remunerative pat- ronage. In 1896 he was appointed solicitor of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for Lowry Jack was born July 18, 1830, in Clarion county, Pa., and died at Chicago, Ill., Jan. 9, 1893. With hundreds of other skilled artisans he had moved to the great city by Lake Michigan in September, 1892, to assist in preparing for the pleasure of the whole world those wonderful structures which ex- cited universal admiration during the World's Columbian Exposition. He was a carpenter and painter by trade, and previous to his re- moval to Chicago had been engaged in the lumber business at Summersville. He was a man of sterling character, frequently held public offices in Jefferson county, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Cornelia Baldwin, who was born at Summersville, which place had been named in honor of her uncle, Summers Baldwin. The Baldwins came to Pennsyl- vania from Connecticut and possessed the thrift and enterprise of New England people. John Baldwin, the founder of the family in the district composed of Indiana county. His this country, came over from England with the New Haven colony and settled at Milford, Conn., in 1639.

time and attention have been devoted to the practice of law, and whatever success has followed is due to his close attention to the

Summers M. Jack was given the best edu- duties incident to his professional work. He cational advantages his father could provide is a life member of the Harvard Law School Association ; a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and of the American Bar Association; a charter and life member of the Law Association of Indiana County, and chancellor of the association, and is presi- dent of the Board of Law Examiners of In- diana County. He was for a number of years a member of the board of trustees of the Penn- for him in common and private schools, and later attended the State normal school at In- diana, Pa. He taught school for six years, during this period being for several years vice principal of the Indiana high school. He then entered the office of Hon. Silas M. Clark and prepared for the bar, to which he was admitted in 1879, immediately afterward opening his office at Indiana, where he has sylvania State College; is a member of the maintained his home ever since. In the fall American Academy of Political and Social Science and a member of the Pennsylvania Arbitration and Peace Society; he is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and served for a number of years as commander of his post, has served as judge advocate of the Department of Pennsylvania, and as sen- ior vice commander of the department. of 1883 he was elected district attorney for Indiana county, and through reelection served six years in that office. A Republican by con- viction, he early became interested in party and public affairs, and has long been an im- portant political factor in Indiana county. In 1886 he was appointed by the State super- intendent of public instruction to represent the State as a member of the board of trustees of the Indiana State normal school, and by reappointment has served continuously on that board for twenty-seven years. In 1898

HON. SUMMERS M. JACK, formerly a member of the United States Congress, and also district attorney for Indiana county, Pa., has long been among the foremost members he was elected to Congress from the Twenty- of the Indiana bar and is associated with large seventh Congressional district, and was re- financial interests in this section. He was elected in 1900, serving with honor and use-

S.M. Jack

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

fulness for four years. During this time he who lived in Washington county, Pa. ; Robert, was one of the party made up of members of who died in childhood; Rachel, who died in childhood; Eliza, who died at the age of seven years; Saralı, who married John Moyen; Fanny, who married Baptist Scott, and her twin brother Samuel Willison. The mother of the above named children survived the father some years, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. They were of the sturdy type of pioneers who were able to endure many hardships, and not afraid to go into new terri- tory, content with the promise of betterment for their children. It was such as these that made possible the transformation of a wilder- ness into its present highly civilized condition. Congress sent to the Philippine Islands at the request of Secretary Root, to inquire into and report on the question of establishing civil government there. With the commis- sion he made a circuit of the globe, visiting Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Arabia, Ceylon, Sin- gapore, China and Japan, besides stopping at Manila, on Luzon, and at all the other prin- cipal islands of the Philippine group. In 1903, with a party of friends, Mr. Jack and his wife sailed from New York to visit the West Indies and Mexico, stopping at Nassau, Santiago, Cienfuegos, Havana, Progreso, Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico.

In addition to attending to a large and lucrative law practice, Mr. Jack has other in- terests, and is vice president of the Indiana Savings & Trust Company.

In November, 1881, Mr. Jack was married to Miss Margaret F. Mitchell, a daughter of the late W. J. and Sarah E. (Adair) Mitchell, the former of whom was for many years presi- dent of the First National Bank of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Jack have two sons: William J., a teacher in the State normal school at In- diana, Pa., and James L., a student at law in his father's office. Both attended the In- diana State normal school of Pennsylvania, graduated at Phillips Exeter Academy, N. H., and from Yale College, honor men. With his wife Mr. Jack is a member of the United Pres- byterian Church. He is numbered with In- diana's most representative men.

DOUDS. The Douds family is an old-es- tablished one in Pennsylvania, where its rep- resentatives have been numbered among the ablest men of their times.

Samuel Willison Douds, son of Robert Douds, and father of James B. Douds, was born at Carlisle, Pa., March 21, 1819. He was brought by his parents into western Pennsyl- vania, where as he grew to manhood's estate he found employment for his energies in farm- ing. At the same time he acquired a limited education in the local schools, to which he added until he became a very well-informed man for his day, so much so that he taught school for several years, giving his pupils the advantage of the knowledge he had acquired. Later on, however, he confined his attention to farming, first in Washington township, In- diana county, and later in South Mahoning township, to which he came in 1832. Here he bought 135 acres of land, the George Tucker farm, on which there was a small log house and log barn. Into this primitive home he moved his family, and it sufficed until he replaced it with one of better comfort and larger propor- tions. Mr. Douds began improving his prop- erty immediately, and took a pride in adding to the value of his land in this way, engaging in general farming and stock raising. He was a man of considerable means when he died upon his property, April 17, 1899. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. First a Whig, he became a strong Republican, and served his fellow citizens as a school di- rector and also as justice of the peace. Fond of reading, he kept himself well informed upon current events, and his opinion was asked and acted npon by his associates, who recognized his mental superiority. A man devoted to his home and family, he took his pleasure in the midst of his loved ones, and his example of high moral living and true rectitude is re- flected in the lives of his children.

Robert Douds was born in Carlisle, Pa., where he was united in marriage with Rachel Mickie. Later in life he came to western Pennsylvania with his family, locating first in Allegheny county, where he farmed for some years. Still later he moved to Indiana county, where he spent the remainder of his days. dying on the farm he had acquired. His re- mains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Olivet, Armstrong Co., Pa. Until the forma- tion of the Republican party he was a Whig, and the principles of the former organization appealing to him he gave it his hearty support. Early uniting with the United Presbyterian Church, he held to its faith the remainder of Samuel W. Douds was married in Arm- strong township, Indiana county, to Jane Bothel, who was born March 22, 1819, his life, and died firm in its creed. The chil- dren born to Robert Douds and wife were: James, who lived in Saltsburg. Pa .; Joseph, daughter of James Bothel, of Bothel Mills,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Armstrong township. Mrs. Douds died modious new barn in 1912, the latter being the in 1879, in her sixty-first year, and was exponent of all modern sanitary ideas. He buried in the same cemetery as her has effected other important improvements husband. From girlhood she had been a and carries on his farming scientifically. In consistent member of the Methodist Church, addition to following a general line of farm- ing, Mr. Douds raises a considerable amount of stock, and has been eminently successful in all his operations, for he has known exactly how to go about his work, owing to his long experience and thorough and intimate knowl- edge of the subject in hand. and active in the work of that denomination. The following children were born to Samuel W. Douds and his wife: Martha Jane, now de- ceased, who was the wife of Dennis Andrews, a veteran of the Civil war, now a popular dentist at Plumville, Pa .; Joseph, who died at the age of twelve years; James B .; Rachel Ann, who died at the age of fourteen years; David, who died at the age of ten years; Sarah, who died at the age of eight years, of diphtheria; and Josephine, who died in young womanhood.

Many years have passed since Samuel W. Douds went to his last reward, and yet no man can say that his influence is dead. Dur- ing his upright life he stood firm for what he believed was right, and never allowed per- sonal consideration to stand in the way of his doing his full duty to his community. His family loved and respected him and his asso- ciates recognized his leadership, and gladly followed his advice and profited by his sage counsel. It would be difficult to give a proper account of his life and work in so restricted a space, but many of the conditions of to-day which are of benefit to the community in which he lived for so long are the outcome of his public-spirited efforts.

JAMES B. DOUDS, son of Samuel W. Douds, and one of the most progressive citizens of South Mahoning township, is acknowledged as a leading agriculturist of his section of Indi- ana county. He was born in Washington township, this county, Oct. 5, 1847. Growing up on his father's farm, he was early taught to labor with his hands and direct his work with his brains, so that when he came to en- gage in business for himself he was able to do so intelligently and profitably. It has been truly said that in the measure that a man proves the broadness of his character and his sense of responsibilities, so does he deserve and achieve success, and James B. Douds has proved this convincingly in his career. After completing a course in the local public schools he turned his undivided attention to agricul- ture, and assuming charge of the homestead conducted it ably and gave his parents com- mendable filial care in their declining years. This farm has been in the family for over half a century, and is one of the best in South Mahoning township. On it Mr. Douds erected the present residence in 1908, and his com-

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 116

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