Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 131

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 131

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Mr. Davis's paternal great-grandparents had seven children, born as follows: Betsy, April 5, 1776; Thomas, Feb. 15, 1778; Sarah, Feb. 5, 1780; William, May 20, 1782; Sam- uel, June 7, 1785; Joshua, Oct. 20, 1787; Reason, May 24, 1790.

Joshua Davis, born in Ireland Oct. 20, 1787, was the grandfather of Wilson C. Davis. Coming to this country he settled in Wash- ington county, Pa., where he purchased a farm and resided until his death. His wife was also Scotch-Irish, and they had the fol- lowing children : William, born Oct. 16, . 1810; Lucinda, Feb. 2, 1812; George, July 23, 1815; Eliza Jane, Aug. 25, 1822; Margaret Anne, July 28, 1825.

George Davis, son of Joshua, was born

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

July 23, 1815, in Washington county, Pa., and L. Douglas, of Allegheny county, daughter died Dee. 14, 1870, in Peters township, that of Thomas and Mary (Wright) Douglas, farming people of Washington county, Pa., both of whom were natives of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Davis attend the United Pres- byterian Church.

county. During the early part of his life he ran a boat on the Ohio river, plying between Pittsburg and Cincinnati. Leaving the river he purchased a farm and followed agricul- tural pursuits until his death. In 1838 he married, in Allegheny city, Martha Crawford, a native of Kentucky, who died April 8, 1872, aged fifty-four years, in Peters township. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were members of the United Presbyterian Church, and in politics he was a Republican. They had a family of six chil- dren: Mary Jane married Dunning Hart, of Washington county, and died April 20, 1911; they had six children, five sons and one daugh- ter. Margaret Anna married J. F. Scott, of Washington county, and had six children. William H., who died March 19, 1901, in Washington, Pa., married Lucy Fife, of Al- son C. is mentioned below. Martha Wilson married A. M. Wilson and (second) J. W. Pollock, and had six children by her first marriage. George B., born June 10, 1856, formerly in partnership with his brother Wil- son C., is now a contractor and builder of Twin Falls, Idaho; he married Anna M. Wright, and had three children.

legheny county, and had five children. Wil- died in 1865, at the age of eighty-eight years.

Wilson C. Davis passed his early life at the family home in Washington county, Pa., working on the farm, and then for some years was engaged in building, until he became in- terested in the lumber business. In 1886, in company with his brother George B. Davis and O. R. Lake, he started the lumber busi- ness at Saltsburg with which he has since been associated, and which has been his prin- cipal interest in life. The firm of Davis Brothers & Co. was organized in the spring of 1886, but George B. Davis is now in business in Idaho and Wilson C. Davis is the only member of the original firm retaining a share in the business, which is still conducted under the firm name of Davis Brothers & Co. The

Robert Nelson Ray began his education in the public schools of Indiana county, and planing mill and shops occupy a favorable lo- later attended Eldersridge Academy. After cation, and the product consists of lumber, doors, sash and moldings. This firm has a high reputation for high-class work, and the business has shown a continuous increase from the very beginning, occupying a leading place among the important industries of the local- ity. Mr. Davis's ability, no less than his high character and intelligent interest in the gen- eral welfare, make him one of the valuable citizens of the borough. He has been school director for twelve years.

ROBERT NELSON RAY has been associ- ated with the produce and cold storage busi- ness throughout his residence in the borough of Indiana, where he settled in 1893. He is now president of the Indiana Wholesale Com- pany, who handle groceries and produce. Mr. Ray is a native of Indiana county, born Dec. 28. 1854, in Rayne township. His grand- father, John Ray, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when about forty years of age, and settling in Indiana county, Pa., became engaged as a cattle dealer and drover, also following farming to some extent. He His wife, whose maiden name was Moore, died in 1854. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.

Robert R. Ray, father of Robert Nelson Ray, was born in Ireland, and was an infant when brought to this country by his parents. He obtained his education in the public schools of Indiana county, and taught school for a few terms, after which he took to farm work. He also learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for many years. He mar- ried Agnes Dick, and the following children were born to them: William D .; John M .; Mathew; Sadie B., wife of Thomas Dick: Minnie A., wife of J. A. Creps ; Elizabeth, wife of William Borland; Maggie B., wife of Charles Zehner; Robert Nelson; and one that died in infancy.

The parents were members of the Presby- terian Church, which Mr. Ray served for sev- eral years as elder. He died in 1889, sur- viving his wife, whose death occurred in 1884.

teaching school in Indiana county for six years he went West, and taught for five years. He then became interested in live stock deal- ing, also buying and selling grain, and sub- sequently engaged in the mercantile business for about one year at Lawrence, Kans. Af- ter that he was in Nebraska for a time, and later in Iowa, where he was in the produce business, there learning the details of that line of trade, which he has since so success- fully followed. Coming back East, he settled

On Nov. 27, 1872, Mr. Davis married Maria in the borough of Indiana in 1893, and form-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ing a partnership with C. A. Buchanan started the first cold storage business ever at- tempted in Indiana county. This association lasted for two years, at the end of which time Mr. Ray bought out his partner and continued the business alone for ahout ten years. In

GEORGE J. NEW, hardware merchant of Blairsville, was born in Baldwin township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Oct. 10, 1846, son of Cas- 1905 he organized a company which was in- per and Eva (Snyder) New.

corporated under the name of the Indiana Cold Storage & Ice Company, capital stock $50,000. The Indiana Electric Company merged into the Indiana Cold Storage & Ice Company under the name of the Indiana Pro- vision Company, continuing thus for six years, when it was again incorporated, with a capital stock of $175,000. In 1912 the last named concern sold out to a New York or- ganization, now known as the Penn Public Service. Mr. Ray was president and manager of the cold storage plant for four years, and it prospered greatly under his direction. In 1911 he formed a partnership with James N. Elder, under the name of Ray & Elder, deal- ers in produce, and they did a thriving busi- ness in the produce line until 1912, when the association was dissolved. Then, in connec- tion with John Bennett, Mr. Ray established the Indiana Wholesale Company, which was incorporated May 29, 1912, with $100,000 capital. Mr. Ray became president of the company and Mr. Bennett secretary and treasurer, and they have had a notably suc- cessful start, now employing from ten to fif- teen men. They have a fine new plant, the business being located in a fireproof building principally of steel construction, 50 by 200 feet in dimensions and three stories in height. The walls are of hollow tile and buff brick, the roof steel-trussed with asbestos and slate covering, the floors of reinforced concrete, and the structure is a credit to the borough and to its owners. In connection with groceries the Indiana Wholesale Company handles large quantities of produce.

Mr. Ray has shown his business ability in the management of every enterprise with which he has been associated, and he is not only one of those who keep abreast of the times, but a leader in adopting new methods that promise good results, and elever at de- vising means of gaining and holding trade. He is a director of the Y. M. C. A. at Indi- ana and a member of its building committee. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1889 Mr. Ray married Isabella Hastie, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hastie, of Indiana county. They have had five children :

Robert H., Nelson De Witt, Belle Dwight, and two who died in infancy.

Casper New was born in Germany, as was his wife. They were married at Pittsburg, Pa., and began farming there in the South Side Bottoms, thus continuing the remainder of their lives, he dying in Forward township, Allegheny Co., Pa., at the age of seventy-two years. His wife passed away when George J. New was only thirteen years old, being then forty-three years of age. There were two sons and six daughters born to Casper New and his wife, all of whom survive.

George J. New was brought up on his father's farm, where he attended school, re- maining at home until he was twenty-three years old. At that time he went into a brew- ing business and continued it for five years, when he sold and removed to Elizabethtown, Pa., there conducting a general store for three years. Leaving that place he went to East Elizabeth and operated a grocery at Lock No. 3 and also a meat shop and hotel, being thus engaged for three years. Selling, he went to Homestead, Pa., and rented a farm which he operated for nine years, at the end of that time embarking in the milk business, and also becoming interested in contracting. In 1890 he located at Blairsville, on the Westmore- land county side, and bought the Jacob Graff farm of 300 acres known as the Baird place. Until 1905 he operated it, and then began handling farm supplies and feed, and later hardware, in conjunction with his implement business, which he had started in 1896. In 1897 he bought the Moorhouse property and continned to operate successfully at the old mill until 1906, when he came to his present location. He is assisted in his business by his four sons, John G., Charles, Frank and Ed- ward, who have been associated with him since 1897.

In addition to his business interests, Mr. New owns 112 acres of valuable farm land in Crawford county, Pennsylvania.

In 1867 Mr. New was married to Catherine Miller, daughter of Jacob R. Miller, of Mifflin township, Allegheny Co., Pa. Thirteen chil- dren have been born of this marriage: Jacob and Harry (twins), Edward, Joseph, William Harmon, John G., Charles, Matilda, Frank, Margaret, Gertrude, Egbert and Catherine. Jacob died at the age of thirty-three years,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Egbert at the age of nineteen years, and plement business; and Lottie, residing at Catherine at the age of twenty-two years. home with her mother. Mr. New has twenty-six living grandchildren; three are deceased. The family all belong to the Catholic Church, of which Mr. New has been a member all his life.

Mr. New has reached his present enviable position in the business world through hard work and wise saving. When he started out in life he had to borrow five dollars to go to housekeeping and his present comfortable circumstances have been attained through his own efforts.

MICHAEL L. CARNAHAN, contractor and builder, for over thirty years a resident of Creekside, was born in Washington town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., March 9, 1855, son of Adam and Elizabeth (Kunkle) Carnahan.

Matthew Carnahan, paternal grandfather of Michael L., was originally a farmer of Westmoreland county, removed with his fam- ily to Indiana county at a very early date, and settled in Washington township, where he continued to farm throughout his life, also engaging in rafting on the Susquehanna river. He was buried in Center Church cemetery, as is also his wife, who bore the maiden name of Lillie Laughland and was a native of Ire- land.

Adam Carnahan, father of Michael L. Car- nahan, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and accompanied his parents to Washing- ton township, where the rest of his life was spent in tilling the soil, and where his death occurred; he is buried in the family plot in the Center Church cemetery. His widow still survives, and is now eighty-four years old. They had a family of eight sons and four daughters, as follows: J. C., who passed away in August, 1911, for several years a prominent resident of Creekside, and one of the first justices of the peace elected after the place was incorporated as a borough; Michael L .; Matthew, deceased, who was the first of the brothers to die; Inez, wife of Scott Coch- ran, of Turtle Creek ; a child who died in in- fancy; George B., traveling salesman, a resi- dent of Creekside; John, engaged in the gen- eral hardware business at Marion Center; Ad- dis, wife of Anthony Stutchel, of Washing- ton township; Madison, also a resident of Washington township, engaged in farming; Dudley, living near Saltsburg, in Westmore- land county, where he is engaged in selling farming machinery ; Frank, operating the old homestead, and also engaged in the farm im-

Michael L. Carnahan was educated in the district schools of Washington township, at first attending an old log schoolhouse. He worked on the home farm until he was six- teen years of age, at which time he started to learn the carpenter's trade, with his uncle David Carnahan. In addition to mastering that trade he also learned that of stone- cutter, which he has followed ever since, and has worked at contracting and building throughout western Pennsylvania, building schools, residences, churches and business structures, and at all times enjoying an en- viable reputation for integrity and fair deal- ing. He has been a resident of Creekside for more than thirty years, and long before the incorporation of that place as a borough served in the capacity of councilman of the town. He helped to draft its by-laws, and in 1906 was elected constable, subsequently be- ing reelected to the position on two different occasions. He has been the incumbent of the office for more than six years, and has given the greatest satisfaction in his official ca- pacity. In 1873 Mr. Carnahan joined the Na- tional Guard of the State of Pennsylvania, serving with that organization until 1877. During the great Pittsburg strike he was un- der the command of Gen. Harry White and Capt. T. C. Laugherty.

On June 16, 1877, Mr. Carnahan was united in marriage with Nannie J. Stutchel, who was born in the town of Plumville, in East Ma- honing township, Indiana Co., Pa., June 13, 1860, daughter of Christopher and Nancy (Mahon) Stutchel. Her grandfather, Chris- topher Stutchel, founded the family in Amer- ica, coming to the Stutchel settlement in In- diana county from Germany, at a very early day. His son, Christopher, was born in South Mahoning township, whence he enlisted in a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers for ser- vice in the Union army during the Civil war, and died in battle. He married Nancy Ma- hon, a member of a family which originated in Ireland, and nine children were born to them : Rebecca, who is deceased; William, a veteran of the Civil war, now residing in Texas; Angeline, wife of Joseph Pierce, of Indiana; Matthias, deceased; Calvin, of Pitts- burg; Henry, deceased; Mrs. Carnahan; and two who died in infancy.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan have been born eight children: J. L., a fireman, living at Creekside; Lorna E., wife of Torrance Greer, of Latrobe, Pa .; Vernie Mabel, wife of Ern-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

est Myers, of Dixonville, Pa .; Addie B., wife long, and built of Cleveland grey stone and of William Nofsker, a locomotive fireman, of brick, finished in Italian marble and solid DuBois, Pa .; Jesse McCrea, living in Creek- side; Benjamin R., engaged in railroad work at Creekside; Sophia M., at home; and Thelma Charlotte.

Mr. Carnahan is a member of the Royal Arcanum at Creekside, and with his wife and family attends the Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS H. LONG is one of the leading citizens of Blairsville, Indiana county, where as president of the Blairsville National Bank he has attained a position of acknowledged in- fluence in the business world. He has been as- sociated with banking interests throughout his business life, and has been with the Blairsville National Bank ever since it was organized.

Mr. Long is a native son of Blairsville, born May 6, 1856, son of John G. and Margaret Ann (Hotham) Long. His father was born in 1828 at Pleasant Unity, in Westmoreland county, Pa., the family moving to this region from the eastern part of the State. He came to Blairsville in 1851 and was a merchant there for fifty years, and prominent in other local activities, well known in Masonic circles, and a member and officer of the M. E. Church. He is now (1912) living in Blairsville, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, Mar- garet Ann (Hotham), was of English extrac- tion, her family coming from England and set- tling in western Pennsylvania about 1824. She died in 1889, at the age of fifty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Long had three children : Thomas H .; Mary Frances, of Blairsville ; and Charles Wesley, deceased.

Thomas H. Long was reared and educated in Blairsville and spent the early years of his life in the mercantile business with his father. On Nov. 1 1893, when the Blairs- ville National Bank was organized, he was one of the incorporators, and he was a member of the original board of directors, his associ- ates being John H. Devers, president, and Robert M. Wilson, cashier ; Thomas H. Long, George Wilkinson, Dr. M. L. Miller, Dr. Wil- liam Hunter, W. C. Richey, L. S. W. Ray and John H. Devers, directors. The capital is $50,000. In 1896 Mr. Long was elected presi- dent, and Harry P. Rhoads has been cashier since 1905. The board of directors at present consists of Robert M. Wilson, L. S. W. Ray (vice president ), John H. Devers, G. M. Doty and Thomas H. Long. The bank's statement of 1912 shows deposits of over five hundred thousand dollars. The new bank building, which is modern in all its details, is 85 feet

mahogany. It contains a "Tisco" manganese mob and burglar proof steel vault weighing fifty tons, with six and one-half foot circular door 16 inches thick and weighing ten tons.

Mr. Long's interest in the public affairs of the borough has brought him into notice as a thoroughly public-spirited citizen, one whose intelligent comprehension of the needs of the community makes his opinion of value. He is a member of the M. E. Church.

HARRY P. RHOADS, cashier of the Blairsville National Bank, of Blairsville, In- diana county, entered that institution as clerk in May, 1903, and has been connected with the bank continuously since. His grandfather, Jeremiah Rhoads, came to this part of Penn- sylvania from Berks county, his father, John W. Rhoads, living here from 1858 until his death.

John W. Rhoads was born in Berks county June 24, 1840. He was engaged in the mer- cantile business for some time at Indiana, Indiana county, and Livermore, Westmore- land county, and then became station agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Blairsville Intersection, Westmoreland coun- ty, holding that position the rest of his life -a period of twenty-eight years. His death, which was accidental, occurred in 1899. He married Amanda Bell, and they had children : Maggie N. (died in childhood), Harry P. and Charles B.

Harry P. Rhoads was born at Indiana Oct. 4, 1867, and there received his education. For several years during his early manhood he was engaged as a music teacher. He then became a telegraph operator, and upon his father's death succeeded him as agent at Blairsville Intersection. In May, 1903, he took a position as clerk in the Blairsville Na- tional Bank, and in 1905 was made cashier, which position he still holds. Mr. Rhoads has won deserved recognition among his fellow citizens of Blairsville as a responsible and thoroughly reliable man, and the position he has gained by his efficiency and integrity is the best part of his success. He is a Mason (Blue Lodge) and a member of the M. E. Church, in the work of which he has been quite prominent, at present serving as stew- ard and treasurer.

On Sept. 25, 1890, Mr. Rhoads married Elizabeth Hill, daughter of Christopher and Jemima Hill, and they had three children: Ina Bell, now Mrs. George Skinner, whose

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IIISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

husband is a machinist of Blairsville; Stella diana, and his religious association is with Celia, a graduate of the Indiana State nor- the Presbyterian Church. mal school; and Mabel Edna, a graduate of On June 7, 1892, Mr. Sloan was united in marriage with Emma L. Prothero, of Indiana, Pa., and they have one child, Cynthia. Blairsville high school. The mother of these died May 16, 1899, at Blairsville Intersection, and on June 5, 1901, Mr. Rhoads married (second) Elizabeth Allison, daughter of Rob- ert O. and Catherine Allison, of Center town- ship. To this union also have been born three children: Eva Gladys, Myra Elizabeth and John Robert.

BARCLAY S. SLOAN, cashier of the Citi- zens' National Bank of Indiana, has been as- sociated with that institution since 1906, and before that was engaged as teller in the First National Bank. On both paternal and mater- nal sides he belongs to families which have long been identified with this portion of Penn- sylvania. His grandfather, William Sloan, and distress. was born and reared in Armstrong county, and was a farmer by occupation.

JOHN W. CLARK. With the death of John W. Clark on April 30, 1905, Indiana county lost one of its most useful and suc- cessful citizens. Mr. Clark's business life was a strenuous one. In his path to success many difficulties apparently insurmountable were met and through untiring energy and the exercise of good business judgment his efforts were finally crowned with success. In his private life there was no flaw. He was a kindly gentleman, whose charm of person- ality won him a host of friends, many of whom sought his wise counsel in hours of perplexity

Rev. Barclay S. Sloan, father of Barclay S. Sloan, was a Presbyterian minister for more than forty years. He graduated at Washington and Jefferson College, Washing- ton, Pa., in the class of 1860, and had a long and useful career. He married Cynthia Mc- Comb, whose father, George McComb, was a soldier in the war of 1812; after the war he devoted himself to his trade of tanner and to farming. Her grandfather, Gen. James Mc- Comb, was a soldier in the Revolution, serv- ing as an officer in the American army, and was the first member of the Pennsylvania Legislature elected from Indiana county. Samuel Grove, of that place. At Lewisberry Mrs. Barclay S. Sloan died Sept. 17. 1902, Mr. Sloan on Feb. 2, 1904. They were the par- ents of three children: James H., Grace H. 1829; James, Oct. 20, 1830; Hannah, Jan. (wife of Dr. J. A. Weamer) and Barclay S.

Born on Christmas day, Dec. 25, 1845, on a farm in Montgomery township, Indiana Co., Pa., he was a son of Virtue and Cath- erine (Grove) Clark, who were among the early settlers and pioneers of northeastern Indiana county, moving to this region by wagon from York county. Virtue Clark was born May 17, 1799, at New Haven, Conn., and died Feb. 7, 1863. He served an appren- ticeship and engaged in the business of sil- versmith, making clocks, etc., and made vari- ous trips over the country selling clocks. On one of these selling trips he met and mar- ried, on June 10, 1827, Catherine Grove, of Lewisberry, York Co., Pa., a daughter of the following children were born to them: Samuel, on March 30, 1828; Jane, Aug. 9, 7, 1832; Susan, June 13, 1834; Sylvester, Dec. 19. 1835; Luther M., July 1, 1837; Al- pheus B., Oct. 9, 1839.

Barclay S. Sloan was born at Rock Island, Ill., Dec. 31, 1865, and grew to manhood in Indiana county, Pa., attending the public In the spring of 1841 Mr. Clark moved with his family to Montgomery township, Indiana Co., Pa., where he continued to fol- low his trade of silversmith. He was of a jovial disposition, very popular with his neighbors and associates, very entertaining with a fund of anecdote and experiences gathered while on his many trips over the country from New Haven. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and a devont Chris- tian. In Montgomery township one daughter and two sons were born: Mary Catherine, May 5, 1842, still living, unmarried ; John W., schools and Greenville Academy. Commenc- ing his business career, he engaged in the hardware business in the employ of J. M. Stewart & Co., of Indiana, with whom he re- mained for a period of twenty years. He then accepted the position of teller in the First National Bank of Indiana, holding same for three years, at the end of which time, in 1906, he became teller in the Citizens' Na- tional Bank. He was subsequently elected cashier, which responsibility he still holds. Mr. Sloan is a man of high personal char- acteristics, efficient and faithful, and dis- Dec. 25, 1845; and George Washington, who charges his duties with punctilions care. He died in early life. is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at In-

Mrs. Catherine (Grove) Clark was born in

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 131

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