Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 125

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 125

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EDWARD DWYER, of Clymer, Indiana and Rev. Dr. Donaldson, and later G. W. county, is master mechanic of the Russell Gilbert. Following his student days Mr. Coal Company, proprietor of the "Hotel Hood taught for six years, being assigned to Clymer" and present member of the bor- districts in both East and West Wheatfield ough council, and his activities and intelli- townships, and became one of the popular educators of his day and locality.

At the expiration of his six years as a teacher Mr. Hood followed the example of his forebears, and began to farm and handle lum- ber. Later, as the demand increased for pure dairy products, he entered extensively into dairying, and has found his investment

gent interest in the general welfare make him one of the most valuable citizens of that place. He was born Oct. 22, 1868, in Albany, N. Y., where his parents, William and Mary (Carey) Dwyer, lived for some time after coming to this country from Ireland. They were born and reared in that country, but after their marriage decided to try life in to Trout Run, Lycoming Co., Pa., where Mr. Dwyer was engaged in mining, and there they resided for seven years, moving thence to Mc- Intyre, same county. After some time spent at that place they removed to Peale, Clear- field Co., Pa., where Mr. Dwyer passed the remainder of his life, dying there in 1892. His widow now lives at Covington, Pa. They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter: Edward; John, who lives at Windber, Pa .; James, of Keystone, W. Va .; William, who resides at Berlin, Somerset Co., Pa .; and Kate, wife of R. M. Sutton, of Covington, Pennsylvania.

along this line very profitable. He also raises the New World. From Albany they removed large quantities of sheep and other stock, which he ships. In addition to these inter- ests Mr. Hood is president of the New Flor- ence & Gamble's Mills Telephone Company in which he is a heavy stockholder. His con- nection with this company is an assurance of the stability of the concern, and he takes a personal pride in aiding to make the service excellent. A strong Republican, Mr. Hood has given his party yeoman service both as a private citizen and faithful official, having been township auditor six years, and now serv- ing his second term as auditor of Indiana county. His popularity may be judged from the fact that when he was reelected county Edward Dwyer began his education at Me- Intyre, Lycoming Co., Pa., and later attended school in Peale, Clearfield county. At an early age he began mine work, which he fol- lowed until he was seventeen, at that time beginning to learn the trade of blacksmith at Peale. Later he went to Pittsburg, where auditor, in 1911, he carried every district, having the honor of being the only candidate out of forty-four to be so signally successful. He has also been a school director of his town- ship, his experience as a teacher being valu- able, as he understands the requirements and necessities of a district as no one who had he learned the trade of machinist, remaining not taught could. For a period of fifteen there for three years. Thence he returned to years, Mr. Hood has been a justice of the Peale, and eventually became connected with peace, and is still filling that office. The the Russell Coal Company, of Clymer, to United Presbyterian Church has in him a which, in the capacity of master mechanic and faithful member, and he has served it as electrician, and as general superintendent, he trustee, and always contributes liberally to- devotes the greater part of his time. This is one of the important local industries, and its prosperity is a vital factor in the pros- perity of the town. Mr. Dwyer moved to Clymer in February, 1906, before the town was organized, and he assisted in the organiza- wards religious work. Although he was elected elder he refused the honor. For years he has taught in the Sunday school con- nected with the church at New Florence. While a busy man, with many outside in-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tion; he was elected to the borough council the Reformed Presbyterian Church, was a at the last election, and is now serving as a hard worker, temperate in his habits and in member of that body.

On July 26, 1899, Mr. Dwyer was married at Glen Richey, Clearfield Co., Pa., to Maria McDowell, who was born Feb. 28, 1865, in Tioga county, Pa., daughter of James Pat- terson and Jessie McDowell, natives of Scot- land who early settled in Clearfield county. The father died in Reynoldsville, Ill .; the mother is now living at Glen Richey. Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer have had one child, Avon- elle.

P. O. Elks; of McIntire Lodge, No. 798, I. O. O. F., of Peale, Pa .; and of Callahan

every way a good citizen. His wife, who also died on the farm, was also a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of nine children, viz .: Samuel Alexander, born Sept. 21, 1821; Elizabeth, March 24, 1824 (who married June 10, 1869, Samuel McYeal) ; John Cannon, Oct. 21, 1826 (married Dec. 5, 1850, Elizabeth Cannon) ; Mary Ann, Oct. 29, 1828 (married Oct. 26, 1848, Samuel Mellon, and died Feb. 11, 1887) ; Martha Jane, Jan. 5, 1831 (married

Mr. Dwyer is well known in fraternal cir- John Shaw) ; Matthew McLeod, Feb. 20, 1833 cles, being a member of Indiana Lodge, B. (married Oct. 24, 1861, Martha Steele) ;

James Hindman, Jan. 8, 1836 (married Jan. 9, 1862, Martha Lowry) ; Andrew Morrison, Lodge, K. of P., of Peale. He has held all July 14, 1838 (married Dec. 25, 1867, Sallie the offices in the Odd Fellows and Knights of Steele) ; Joseph Wilson, Nov. 20, 1841 (mar- Pythias lodges.

ried May 18, 1864, Margaret Loury).

SAMUEL CANNON STEELE, of Homer City, Indiana county, cashier of the Homer City National Bank, has held that responsible position since the bank was established. His important business relations, and the fact that he is president of the borough council, indicate sufficiently the high standing he has

Samuel Alexander Steele, eldest son of An- drew, was born in Ireland Sept. 21, 1821, and was an infant when his parents crossed the Atlantic to the New World. His early years were passed in Salem township, Westmore- Iand county, where he became engaged in farming and stock raising. He died while still in the prime of life, Jan. 20, 1860. He attained in the city of his adoption. Mr. was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Steele was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Church. at New Alexandria, May 7, 1879, son of Sam- uel Alexander McLeod and Sarah Jane (Can- non) Steele.

Mr. Steele was twice married. On Nov. 7, 1847, he wedded Nancy J. Paterson, and to this union five children were born, two of The founder of the Steele family in west- ern Pennsylvania was Andrew Steele, who was the pioneer settler of the name in West- moreland county. He was a native of Ire- land, born in County Londonderry, Province of Ulster, in 1797, one of the eight children of whom died in infancy, the others being : Catharine Rosanna, who married Sept. 21, 1876, J. C. Calhoun; Samuel Alexander Mc- Leod; and Mary Jane, who married Aug. 26, 1875, Henry Loughrey, of Greensburg. Mrs. Nancy J. Steele died Jan. 17, 1857, and Mr. Joseph and Elizabeth (Morrison) Steele. He Steele married (second) in 1858 Elizabeth grew to manhood in his native home and Steele, who survived him, dying Jan. 1, 1893. there married, Sept. 10, 1820, Rosanna Mc- She was the mother of one child, John Ren-

wick, who married Sept. 18, 1888, Tirzah

Elhatten, who was born in 1799. Early in 1822 the young couple with their infant son Mary Elder. left for the New World. Crossing the At- lantic they landed on American soil and came out to western Pennsylvania, settling on what was known as the James Dickie farm, in Sa- lem township, Westmoreland county, where they spent four years. From there they moved to the farm known as the Rev. John Cannon farm, where they lived and farmed for eight years, at the end of that time buy- ing a tract of land in the township now known

Samuel Alexander McLeod Steele, son of Samuel Alexander Steele, was born Aug. 4, 1852, in Salem township, Westmoreland county, where he grew to manhood and ob- tained his education. When he commenced work he took up farming, and later, when he located in New Alexandria, became interested in the mercantile business. Some time later he resumed farming, in Derry township, same county, in the section known as the Rich- as the Steele homestead. There Andrew lands, and he followed stock raising as well Steele spent the remainder of his life, en- as general agricultural pursuits, also dealing gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a to some extent in stock. Mr. Steele contin- God-fearing man, a conscientious member of ued on the farm until 1905, when he retired

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

from farm work and removed to New Alex- Pilgrims who came over in the "Mayflower." andria, now living retired at that place. He Her ancestor, Edward Doten, the founder of is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian the name in this country, was one of the pas- Church, and is an elder in his church. On sengers who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and the family has been one of sub- stance and standing in New England down to the present day, its representatives in every generation being a credit to the name.

Oct. 11, 1877, he married in Derry township Sarah Jane Cannon, daughter of John Can- non. She, too, is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steele: Samuel Cannon and James Elder, the latter resid- ing on the homestead farm; he married Dessa Long.

The name was formerly spelled Dotey, Doty, Dote and Doten. (I) Edward Doten or Doty, a native of England, was a youth when he came to America with the little band of Pilgrims which crossed the Atlantic in the "Mayflower" in 1620, landing on Plymouth Rock, in what is now the harbor of Plymouth, Mass. He was in the service of Stephen Hop-

Samuel Cannon Steele attended public school in Derry township and went to the Greensburg Academy, acquiring an excellent education in the common branches. In 1898 he began to teach school, in which work he kins, and he was one of the signers of the was engaged until 1904, in several townships solemn compact made in Cape Cod harbor in his native county. He then took the full Nov. 11, 1620, on board the "Mayflower." He married Jan. 6, 1634-35, Faith Clarke, course in bookkeeping and banking in the Iron City College, at Pittsburg, and in De- born in 1619, daughter of Thurston and Faith cember, 1904, entered his new field of work Clarke. In 1652 Mr. Doty was one of the as cashier of the Madera (Pa.) National Bank, purchasers of Dartmouth, Mass., but later with which institution he was connected in removed to Cape Cod, locating in the town that capacity until the Homer City National of Yarmouth, where he spent the remainder Bank was established, in 1907. He was of his life. He died there Aug. 23, 1655. elected cashier at the beginning, and has His widow married (second) John Phillips, of Duxbury. Children : Edward, John, Thomas, Samuel, Desire, Elizabeth, Isaac, Jo- seph and Mary.

continued to perform the duties of that po- sition of trust and responsibility for the last five years. Mr. Steele has proved himself a man of keen perceptions, and he is faithful to every detail of his work. He has become a respected figure in local business circles. His public spirit has led him to active par- ticipation in various movements for the good of the community. He has been an influen- tial advocate of good roads, and as an auto- mobilist has done his share toward obtain- ing them. In 1911 he was elected to the bor- ough council, of which he is now president, and is proving himself worthy of the honor. In politics he is a Republican.

On Sept. 19, 1906, Mr. Steele was married at New Alexandria to Margaret Guthrie, a native of Westmoreland county, daughter of Doty Guthrie, and member of one of the oldest and best-known families of that section of the State. They have had two children,

(III) Jonathan Doty, son of Samuel and Jeane (Harman) Doty, was born in Piscata- way, N. J., Feb. 24, 1687-88. About 1717 he married Mary, and they became the parents Samuel Guthrie and Robert Cannon. The of eight children: William, born Sept. 11, fine brick residence on Church street occu- 1719; Jonathan, born about 1724; Daniel, pied by the family was built by Mr. Steele born about 1727; Joshua, born about 1730; in 1908, and is of modern construction and appointments. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and she is a member of its local missionary so- ciety. He is a member of the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana.

(II) Samuel Doty, son of Edward and Faith (Clarke) Doty, born in Plymouth in 1643, became quite prominent in the affairs of Plymouth and Cape Cod. Later he re- moved to New Jersey, locating at Piscataway, Middlesex county, where he was well known. In 1675 he was commissioned lieutenant of the military company of New Piscataway, of which Francis Drake was captain; this com- mission was received in 1678. He became a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, which was formed in 1700. He died about October, 1715. In Piscataway, N. J., he mar- ried Jeane Harman, of that town.

Joseph, born about 1735; Mary; Jane, who married Oct. 21, 1747, John Johnson; and Elizabeth.

(IV) Jonathan Doty (2), son of Jonathan and Mary Doty, born about 1724, in Pisca- taway, N. J., removed with his parents to

Mrs. Steele is a descendant of one of the Basking Ridge, N. J., where he was a farmer

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and where he died. He married Patience March 26, 1844, John Guthrie, who was born Sutton, and their children were: Jonathan, Jan. 21, 1813, son of Robert and Margaret born about 1754; Zebulon, born about 1758; (Lover) Guthrie. She died June 30, 1845. Nathaniel, born Oct. 19, 1761; Joseph, born They had one child, Doty. Ang. 31, 1764; William, born Oct. 8, 1767; and Rebecca, who married and settled in Pennsylvania.

(V) Jonathan Doty (3), son of Jonathan (2) and Patience (Sutton) Doty, born at Basking Ridge, N. J., about 1754, there grew to manhood. It is supposed he served in the Revolutionary war as teamster, in Capt. Asahel Hinman's Team Brigade of New Jer- sey, as a Jonathan Doty was on the list of teamsters; it must have been this Jonathan

(VIII) Doty Guthrie, born in New Derry June 16, 1845, makes his home in New Alex- andria, Westmoreland county, where he is quite a prominent citizen. On June 5, 1874, he married Hannah Rachel Peoples, born in Ligonier, Pa., Aug. 22, 1853, daughter of Joseph and Jemima (Bigelow) Peoples, and they had three children: John M., born Aug. 7, 1875; Margaret Ella, Aug. 28, 1879; and Abigail Jane, April 26, 1884.

(IX) Margaret Ella Guthrie, daughter of or his father. Mr. Doty about 1784, at the Doty and Hannah R. (Peoples) Guthrie, born close of the Revolution, came West with his at New Alexandria, Westmoreland county, wife and children, locating in Derry town- Aug. 28, 1879, married Samuel C. Steele and ship, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he farmed has two children, Samuel Guthrie and Robert and also kept a tavern. He met with fair Cannon. success, and was a man well known and re- spected there in his day. Subsequently he

removed to Blairsville, Indiana county, where chant, whose home is in the borough of In- he spent the remainder of his life, dying at diana, was born there in February, 1836, son the ripe age of ninety-six years, in 1850. of Dr. Robert Mitchell. He was a member of the M. E. Church, in which he was quite active, being a local preacher and exhorter of that denomination. His first wife, Abigail (McPherson), died at Blairsville, Pa., about 1815, and he married (second) Mrs. Nancy (Simpson) Dixon, widow of Samuel Dixon. His children, all born to the first marriage, were: Jonathan, born about 1780; John, born about 1783; Robert, born in Derry township, Westmore- land county, about 1785; Betsey, born about 1787; Nathaniel, born about 1789; and Gillis, born about 1790.

(VI) Nathaniel Doty, son of Jonathan and Abigail (McPherson) Doty, born in Derry township, Westmoreland county, in 1789, made his home in Westmoreland county, where he died Feb. 13, 1844. , He married Feb. 10, 1814, Margaret Reed, who was born July 16, 1793, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Charlton) Reed, and died Nov. 26, 1867. Children : Betsy, born Nov. 18, 1814, died Nov. 7, 1834, who married Robert Gil- son ; Abigail, born Oct. 10, 1816; William, born Jan. 22, 1819; Jonathan, born March 27, 1821; Nancy, born Nov. 29, 1823, who

JAMES MITCHELL, retired lumber mer-

James Mitchell, the grandfather of James Mitchell, came from the Cumberland valley and Cumberland county among the pioneer settlers into this part of western Pennsyl- vania. He selected, purchased, cleared and improved a tract of land in Armstrong county, on which he resided until his death, in 1845, at the age of seventy. He married Mrs. Agnes (Sharp) Ralston, who was born Feb. 21, 1785, the first white child born west of Crooked creek, in Indiana county. She died Aug. 2, 1862. She was the second daughter of Capt. Andrew Sharp, who served as an officer in the Revolutionary war under Wash- ington, and who died at Pittsburg, July 8, 1794, of wounds received in an Indian attack.

Dr. Robert Mitchell, son of James and Agnes (Sharp) Mitchell, was the second physician to settle in Indiana county. He was born near Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., and was ten years old when his parents brought him and his two brothers to what is now Ohio county, W. Va., the family settling on Short creek. He read medicine with Dr. McGhegan, in Washington county, Pa., and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, under prepared for practice for his day. In 1810

married in 1844, Daniel Simmons, and died Dr. Benjamin Rush, heing exceptionally well July 8, 1863; Mary, born May 10, 1826, who died Nov. 2, 1854; McQuade, born March 18, he settled in Indiana, Indiana Co., Pa., where 1831 ; Martha Jane, born June 20, 1834.

he passed the remainder of his long and use-

(VII) Abigail Doty, daughter of Nathaniel ful life. Dr. Mitchell was not only a suc- and Margaret (Reed) Doty, born Oct. 10, cessful physician, but he took an active part 1816, in Westmoreland county, married there in the advanced movements of his time, was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a Whig in politics, and was elected for five in which he serves as deacon. In politics he successive years to represent his district in has always been a Republican. the State Legislature. From early manhood he was an ardent Abolitionist and well known

On Sept. 5, 1859, Mr. Mitchell married, in Indiana, Martha Louisa Thompson, who was as a defender of his principles, and he was the born Nov. 19, 1836, near Lewisville, Indiana only man ever prosecuted in Pennsylvania Co., Pa., and attended Eldersridge Academy. under the Fugitive Slave Act passed by Con- gress in 1793. The Doctor fought the case in Pittsburg, before a packed Democratie jury, and was convicted, the affair costing him

She was a daughter of Squire John G. Thomp- son, who married Jane E. Jamison. Mrs. Mitchell died in White township June 23, 1884, aged forty-seven years. She was the $10,000. But he continued to support the mother of ten children : Jennie, born in July, cause, and he always stood high in the esti- 1861, died in March, 1862; Robert Thompson, mation of his fellow citizens, not only in his born Jan. 18, 1863, near Indiana, learned the own county but throughout the State, and he printer's trade on the Indiana Times and has been employed at same in Mckeesport, Pitts- burg, New York City and Philadelphia, hav- ing been on the Philadelphia Inquirer force lived to see his views triumph, dying April 14, 1862, just a few months before the Eman- cipation Proclamation was issued. Originally a Presbyterian in religious connection, he since December, 1891 (on Dec. 31, 1896, he united later with the United Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Mitchell was married in Pittsburg to Jane Clark, who came from Coleraine, Ire- land. Her father, Matthew Clark, was driven from Ireland on account of his religious views, and landed at Baltimore with his family in 1811 ; his wife was Mary Moore. Mrs. Mitchell survived her husband for many years, dying in Indiana in 1889. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary A. died when young; Robert and Martha were twins, the latter dying when twenty-three years old, the former still living in Indiana; Isabelle mar- ried Simeon Mitchell, and they settled in Fond du Lac, Wis., where they died; Anna Mary, Jane and James all live in the borough of Indiana; John died in Kansas (he was with John Brown) ; Benjamin is deceased; Caro- line is deceased; William is a resident of Indiana.

married Sarah J. Freeze, of Greensburg, Pa., and they have a son, Herbert F., born Feb. 22, 1900) ; Mary, born in March, 1865, died June 29, 1865; Ella, born June 15, 1866, is married to William J. Houston, of Indiana, and has four children, Edna, Florence Belle, Stella Marie and John Mitchell; Jesse J., born May 1, 1869, now postmaster at Spangler, Pa., married Eliza Patrick; William Clark, born Jan. 10, 1872, married Catherine Jordan, of Millvale, Pa., and has two children, Lucille and Louise; Emma May, born May 15, 1874, married Rev. L. B. Fasick (now stationed at Hopewell, Pa.), and has one child, Florence M., born March 24, 1900; Clyde Lorne, born Dec. 18, 1877, died March 16, 1899, in Alle- gheny, Pa .; John Bruce, born Oct. 12, 1880, married Maud Widdowson, and resides in In- diana; Martha Louise, born July 19, 1883, is at home.

JONATHAN NICHOLAS LANGHAM, the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 4, 1861, in Grant township, Indiana Co., Pa., one of a family of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, and is the son of Jonathan and Eliza (Barr) Langham.

James Mitchell passed his boyhood and early manhood in Indiana, obtaining his edu- cation in the public schools and at the academy taught by Cyrus M. Clarke. When seventeen years old he taught school in Indiana county. After commencing business he was employed in the lumber business by his brother Robert, The lineage of the Langham family in the mother country, England, is a long one, as it can be traced back several centuries. Repre- sentatives of this family came to America in the early days, and settled in eastern Penn- sylvania. Joseph Langham, grandfather of Jonathan N. Langham, was born in Pennsyl- vania about the year 1789, and died in In- who had a sawmill at the site of Mitchell's Mills, Indiana county, working both in the woods and at the mill, which he ran for about fifteen years, being thus engaged until his retirement. He has owned his present home on Philadelphia street, Indiana, for over thirty years. He lived at Mitchells Mills while engaged in the lumber business. Mr. diana county in August, 1864. Jonathan Mitchell was a highly capable business man,

Langham, the father, was born in Bedford and has always commanded the respect of his county, Pa., Aug. 28, 1824, and lived in In- associates in all the relations of life. He is a diana county from the time he was ten years prominent member of the Christian Church, old. He was a lifelong farmer, and was also

I. M. Langham. 1

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IIISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

year. He was a member of the United Pres- of the board; and is a prominent member of byterian Church. In politics he was first a the Presbyterian Church, being quite active Whig, later a Republican, and took an active in church and Sunday school work. He is part in public affairs, serving as school di- an honored member of Finley Patch Post, rector, supervisor, and in, other local offices. No. 137, G. A. R., of which he has been com- On Dec. 24, 1839, he married Rebecca P. Wil- mander, and was adjutant for many years. son, who was a native of Allegheny county, In politics he is a stanch Republican. Pa., born in 1815, daughter of Maj. Hugh M.

On Sept. 18, 1872, Mr. Watson married Wilson, an officer in the war of 1812. Mrs. Margaret Harbison, who was born in Young Watson lived to the ripe age of ninety-two township, Indiana county, daughter of Mat- years, dying in Saltsburg Jan. 17, 1908, and thew Harbison. Mrs. Watson died Nov. 27, is buried beside her husband. She was also 1907, and is buried at Blairsville. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. an active member of the Presbyterian Church, Eight children, five sons and three daughters, member of the local and foreign missionary were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson : John M., societies, and deeply interested in their suc- cess. Mr. and Mrs. Watson had no children. who lives in Kansas; Thomas C., of Blairs- ville; Mary, wife of Rev. A. T. Bell, of Blairs- ville; Harry, who resides at Greenville, Pa .; Martha, wife of G. P. McCartney, of Indiana ; Emma, wife of George W. Crayton, general superintendent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona; William, who died when nine years old ; and James P.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 125

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