Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 134

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 134

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Mr. Seanor and his family are members of the M. E. Church. Politically he has always been associated with the Republican party.

Dr. William Alexander McChesney was born in the borough of Shelocta Oct. 27, 1851, and for many years was a physician and surgeon of Indiana county, but is now retired from active practice. He attended the local schools and Eldersridge academy, after which he took a collegiate course at Westminster. Having decided upon a medical career, he took a course at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, Cincinnati, Ohio (which is now incor- porated in the University of Cincinnati), and following his graduation he took up the prac- tice of medicine with his father in Shelocta, and continued in the same until his retire- ment. For many years he has been a censor of the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadel- phia. Dr. McChesney is now interested in the conduct of a fine 225-acre farm.

ROBERT McCHESNEY, M. D., deceased, who for many years was a leading physician of Shelocta, Indiana county, was born in Mer- cer county, Pa., son of John McChesney.

John McChesney was born and reared in ('rawford county, Pa. He married Margaret Mahen, and they had the following children : John, who became a physician in Ohio; Dr. McChesney married Carrie Curtis Peelor, who died leaving no issue. For many years Dr. McChesney has been very active in the Presbyterian Church, of which he is now an elder. He has served as a school director and burgess of Shelocta. and bore his part in the general advancement of his community. Nathan, who became a farmer in Mercer county, Pa .; William, who became a physi- cian in Canton, Ohio; Addison, who became a physician in Canton, Ohio; Anderson, who died while in service during the Civil war; Robert, who is mentioned at length below ; Eliza, who married Jackson Williams; and Dr. McChesney belongs to the medical so- Margaret, who married a Mr. Edwards and cieties of the county and State, and has an died in Jamestown, Pennsylvania.

unsullied record as a skillful and conscien- tious medical man.

Robert McChesney attended the Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa., and afterward took his medical course at the Ohio Medical Col- JAMES C. MCGREGOR, who served as postmaster at the borough of Indiana from 1904 to 1913, is also one of the prominent business men of that place, interested in va- rious local enterprises which are factors in the prosperity of the community. He has con- ducted his livery business there for almost twenty-five years and has one of the leading lege, Cincinnati, some years later taking a post-graduate course at Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago. In 1843 he moved to Shelocta, Armstrong township, Indiana Co., Pa., where he commenced the practice of his profession. His circle of patients was scattered over an area of twenty miles radius, and he rode horse- back over his territory. Dr. McChesney be- establishments of the kind in this section. Mr. came a well-known figure in his locality, and McGregor was born in Marion Center, this

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

county, Jan. 2, 1865, son of James and Cather- 1884 he was honored with election to the office ine (Pounds) McGregor.

The MeGregor family is of Scottish origin. years' term Jan. 1, 1885. In 1889 he was Its first representative in America, Alexander McGregor, was born in Scotland, and on arriv- ing in this country settled in Pennsylvania, near Bedford, in Bedford county. He was a millwright by trade, but his principal busi- ness after settling in his new home was farm- ing, he having purchased a place which he cul- tivated until his death.

elected county register and recorder, taking office on the first Monday in January, 1890, and being reelected at the close of the term served another, having six years of continuous service in that office. He has also held local offices, having been school director of the borough of Marion Center for a long period and justice of the peace five years. In 1899 Daniel McGregor, son of Alexander, was born in Bedford county, where he grew to manhood, meantime learning the carpenter's trade. Coming to Indiana county, Pa., he lived in Washington township for four years, at the end of that time moving to Porter town- ship, Jefferson county, where he made a per- manent home, remaining there until his death, which occurred in April, 1880, in his eighty- ninth year. He followed farming. In relig- ious connection he was a Baptist. he was appointed one of the pure food commis- sioners, serving continuously until now. In every position to which he has been chosen he has justified the confidence of his fellow citi- zens, his ability and integrity having been demonstrated in a long career of successful business and official activity. His courtesy and invariable fairness in dealing with all made him exceedingly well liked in his various public capacities. He has always been a stanch Republican. For over forty years he has been a member of the Methodist church, and he has been one of the most effective workers in the congregations with which he of the board of trustees of the church at Marion Center, and a member of the building nock township, Armstrong county, passing the committee which erected the present church there. After removing to the borough of In- diana, in 1884, he was elected to the same position he had held at Marion Center and was one of the committee which had charge of the building of the handsome Methodist par- sonage there, in 1888. He has lived at In- diana since 1884.

Mahlon McGregor, one of the sons of Daniel, was born in 1810 in Bedford county, Pa., and when in his twenty-first year moved to Jeffer- son county, settling in Porter township. He has been affiliated, having served as president was there engaged in farming and stock rais- ing until 1869, when he moved to Cowanshan- remainder of his life there, engaged in the same line of work. His death occurred July 12, 1873. He was an enterprising and capable business man, and gave all his attention to his private affairs, taking no part in public mat- ters. He was a Republican in politics. His wife, Margaret ( Chambers), was born in Perry township, Jefferson Co., Pa., daughter of James Chambers, a wealthy farmer of Jeffer- son and Indiana counties, who also carried on the general mercantile business. Mrs. Mc- Gregor died Feb. 4, 1845, in her twenty-sixth year. She was baptized and married by the same minister, Rev. John Carothers, who also preached her funeral sermon. Mr. and Mrs. McGregor were members of the Presbyterian Church.

James McGregor was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools of the neighborhood. When thirteen years old he went to work in a brickyard, where he was employed for one year, and he also continued his studies, three years later commencing to teach. He was thus engaged for one year, and then became clerk in a store. After seven years' experience in that capacity he embarked in the mercantile business on his own account and in connection therewith also dealt in live stock, at Marion Center, Indiana county. In

of sheriff of the county, beginning his three

On Sept. 20, 1860, Mr. MeGregor was mar- ried to Catherine Pounds, daughter of John Pounds,' of East Mahoning township, this county. Mrs. McGregor died March 11, 1880, leaving a family of eight children: Daniel E., William H., James C., Mary O., Clara L., Alice C., Anna I. and Harvey M. On March 14, 1883, Mr. McGregor married (second) Mrs. Agnes A. (Duncan) Sutton, and of the children born to this marriage three survived, two sons and one daughter, viz .: John, Frank and Ola A.

James C. McGregor obtained his education in the public schools of Indiana county. When a young man he clerked in his father's store for several years. Though only nineteen when his father became sheriff he was appointed deputy, and served acceptably the full term of three years. At the end of that period he engaged in the livery business. which he has since conducted with a profitable patron- age, also dealing in vehicles. The establish- ment is up to date in every particular. Mr.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

McGregor has other business interests in In- allow him to build a log cabin of poplar wood, diana, being a director of the Farmers' Bank, of the Collar & Leather Company, and finan- cially interested in other concerns.

Like his father, Mr. McGregor has been called upon to fill varions publie positions of trust. In 1893 he was elected chairman of the Republican county committee, serving two years; served as member of the council of the work of which he was always active. Indiana borough ; and in 1898 was appointed Widely known, he was highly esteemed by all revenue collector, serving for five years. In who knew him, and no man of his day and 1904 he was appointed postmaster at Indiana, locality had a wider circle of sincere friends.

to fill a vacancy, and was twice reappointed, having filled the office continuously from the time he assumed its duties. Needless to say, in view of the various honors which have been conferred upon him, he is regarded as one of the most useful citizens of the community. He is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, and of the Americus Club of Pittsburg.

which stood until 1866, and later he erected a frame house. He continued to clear his land, and converted the place into a comfortable and valuable property. Ile was a lieutenant in the State militia, was an old-line Whig and later a Republican in polities, and was one of the founders of the Lutheran Church, in

His death occurred in 1868, when he was sixty- eight years of age, while his widow survived until 1891 and was eighty-three years old at the time of her death. They had a family of ten children, as follows: Catherine, deceased, married George Stear, and lived at Smieks- burg; Christina, deceased, married Henry Walter, and lived in Cambria county, Pa .;

In 1885 Mr. MeGregor married Kate C. Angeline, who married Jason D. Daugherty; Derr, daughter of Charles Derr, and they have lived in West Mahoning township; Daniel, a had two children, Clark W. (now chemist for the Penn-Mary Coal Company, at Heilwood, Pa.) and Nellie V.

ADAM BLACK, ex-county commissioner of Indiana county, is a resident of West Mahon- ing township. He is a veteran of the Civil war, and for many years has been engaged in in Smicksburg, Pa .; Magdalena taught school agricultural pursuits in Indiana county. He in West Mahoning township until forty years was born on the old Black homestead in West Mahoning township June 13, 1842, son of Joseph F. and Catherine ( Crissman ) Black. of age, when she married Rev. R. B. Starks, and went to Mississippi, where she died; Adam is mentioned below; Martin Luther died at the age of eight years; Hannah married Au- gust Shaffer, of Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania.

Adam Black, the paternal grandfather of Adam Black, and the first of the family to come to the United States, was born in Ger- many, and accompanied his parents to this country, settling first at Hagerstown, Md., where he was engaged in farming and also owned a gristmill near Claysburg, Pa. He

Adam Black, son of Joseph F. Black, re- ceived only an ordinary education in the dis- and subsequently moving to Blair county, Pa., triet schools, and remained on the home farm until enlisting in the Civil war, his first enlist- ment, for nine months, taking place Aug. 12, and his wife were the parents of eight chil- 1862, when he became a member of Company dren : Michael, Adam, Henry, Samuel, Jacob, Joseph F., Catherine and Hannah, all of whom lived in Blair county with the exception of Joseph F. Black.

Joseph F. Black, son of Adam Black, was born in 1801 in Blair county, Pa., and re- ceived his education in the home schools and those of Hagerstown, Md. He grew up on the homestead, being reared to agricultural pursuits, and was there married, in 1824 com- ing by wagon to Indiana county, and locating in West Mahoning township, where he pur- chased 250 acres of heavy timber land, not a foot of which had been cleared. Selecting a spot around a spring, he cleared enough to dier, he was respected by his officers and ad-

farmer of Cambria county, who died at the age of twenty-eight years, married Elizabeth Settlemire; Jemima, who married Thomas Garrett, lived in West Mahoning township until 1867, in which year they went to Kan- sas, and there died: Keziah, of Jefferson county, Pa., married David Stoeffer, and died

I, 135th Regiment, P. V. I. This organiza- tion was connected with the Army of the Potomac, and Mr. Black participated in nu- merous engagements, including the battle of Chancellorsville. He received his first dis- charge in May, 1863, and in August, 1864, enlisted in Company B, 1st Battalion, to serve four months, the greater part of his service being in West Virginia. He was discharged in November, 1864, and March 2, 1865, again enlisted, this time for one year or until the close of the war, becoming a member of Com- pany B. 74th P. V. 1., as sergeant, and as such receiving his final honorable discharge in September, 1865. A brave and gallant sol-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

mired by his comrades, and in his later years Cora Rowley, and has four children, Bertha, became a popular member of Indiana Post, Gertrude, Mildred and Alfred; Vernie L. No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he held a number of offices. married George A. Robison, who is connected with Eberhart's department store, at Punxsu- tawney, Pa., and has four children, Dorothy, LaRue, Florence and Josephine; Dollie died when six months old; Merle L., for some years a school teacher, and now rural free delivery carrier, married Mae Neal, and has two chil- dren, Margaret J. and Paul M.

At the close of the war he returned to the old homestead, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1894, in that year being elected county commissioner, an office to which he gave all of his time and attention for three years. In 1897 he returned to the farm for six months, since which time he has lived more or less of a retired life at Smicksburg. An in- dustrious, hard-working man, he was able to improve the home place until it became a valuable property, with a handsome residence and modern conveniences. Mr. Black has al- ways been a Republican, and in addition to being county commissioner has served as con- stable of West Mahoning township, and as school director, overseer of the poor and 'assessor. Fraternally he is connected with I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 891, of Smicksburg, and with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and in former years was a member of the Grange. At the age of eighteen years he joined the Luth- eran Church, in the work of which he has always been active, and for more than twenty years he has acted in the capacity of deacon. He is widely and favorably known throughout this part of the county, where his friends are only limited by his acquaintances.

JAMES M. WAKEFIELD took up his residence recently in the borough of Indiana, when he entered upon his duties as commis- sioner of Indiana county, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1911. He is a native of West Wheatfield township, this county, and belongs to one of the early families of that section, his great-grandfather, David Wake- field, who was a native of Ireland, having set- tled in what is now West Wheatfield township when it was included in Westmoreland county.

David Wakefield was born on the family estate in County Galway, Ireland, and emi- grated to America between 1768 and 1773. His first settlement was in Path Valley, Perry (then Cumberland) Co., Pa., where some of his younger children were born. Removing thence after a residence of fifteen or sixteen years he settled on the north side of the Cone- maugh river, opposite Squirrel Hill, then in Cumberland (later Westmoreland) county, but now in Indiana county, where the village of Centerville is now located. The family

On July 4, 1866, Mr. Black was married to Nannie J. Brown, of North Mahoning town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., daughter of Charles Brown, of County Donegal, Ireland. Mr. lived there about two years, but finding his Brown was twice married, and by his second title to his land was defective Mr. Wakefield removed five miles northwest, to near the head of the west branch of Richards run, in what was then Wheatfield (now West Wheatfield) township. This was sometime between 1788 and 1794, and there they remained, David Wakefield dying there. He was interred in a private burial ground on the farm. He took up about six hundred acres of land then in its primitive state and entirely covered with woods, built a cabin on his tract, and there spent the remainder of his life. wife, Elizabeth Thomas, had two children, Nannie J. and Susan, the latter of whom mar- ried J. L. Stear, of West Mahoning township. On coming to the United States, in young manhood, Mr. Brown first settled in Clarion county, Pa., but later came to Indiana county and located in West Mahoning township, where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Mr. and Mrs. Black have had the fol- lowing children: Mary Elizabeth, educated in the home schools of Smicksburg, married O. S. Ghaagan, postmaster and justice of the David Wakefield, son of David, was born Oct. 11, 1778, in Path Valley, Cumberland (now Perry) county, learned wagonmaking, peace at Mount Jewett, Pa., and has three children, Olive, Marie and Adam; Olive is the wife of Jack Tighe, and has two children, and followed his trade in connection with Brenard and Margaret; Cora, who taught five farming. He became the owner of his father's farm of about six hundred acres, where he spent all the rest of his life, dying there Sept. 16, 1844, when sixty-six years old. After his death the farm was divided into five different tracts, his son James buying the one now owned by his son, James M. His wife, whose winter and three summer terms in West Ma- honing township, and eight terms in Homer City and Smicksburg borough, married T. A. Lukehart, a real estate dealer, and died April 19, 1912, leaving one son, Max; Walter D., farming on the old Black homestead, married

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

maiden name was Jane Carnahan, also died he was further honored with election to the there, at the age of sixty, Oet. 12, 1844, and office of county commissioner, in which capac- ity most of his time will have to be spent at the courthouse. He is well and favorably known, and has a high reputation for ability and good citizenship. In politics he is a Democrat. they are buried in the family plot on the farm. The property is now divided, being owned by James M. Wakefield (whose name introduces this article), R. R. Hoskinson, the William Hoskinson heirs, the R. D. Mack heirs and I. C. Lichtenfels. Mr. and Mrs. David Wakefield On Sept. 30, 1874, Mr. Wakefield was mar- had the following children: John, James, ried to Sarah Elizabeth St. Clair, who was Jeremiah, Thomas P., Elizabeth, Mary, Jane and Caroline.

James Wakefield, son of David and Jane (Carnahan) Wakefield, was born June 18, 1814, on the old homestead and was reared there. He taught school for twenty-five years, became a civil engineer, and followed survey- ing in Indiana county, becoming very well known in the pursuit of his profession. He also owned a farm and followed agricultural pursuits. For about forty years he served as justice of the peace in West Wheatfield town- ship, being commonly known as "Squire" Wakefield, and he also served as school direc- tor of that township. In politics he was asso- ciated with the Democratic party. In 1839 Mr. Wakefield married Cynthia Palmer, who was born in West Wheatfield township, Oct. 12, 1818, daughter of Peter and Frances (Gauphany) Palmer, and of the ten children born to them four died young, the others be- ing: John C .; Thomas J. : James M. ; Cather- ine J., who married Jesse Fee ; Mary E., who married Daniel Woods; and Emma L., who married John Woods, brother of Daniel Woods. The parents were active members of the M. E. Church at Germany. Mr. Wakefield died on his farm Feb. 18. 1888, at the age of seventy-three years, and is buried in the fam- ily plot on the farm. Mrs. Wakefield died Oct. 23, 1901.

James M. Wakefield was educated in the public schools of his native township, West Wheatfield, having been born on the old Wake- field homestead March 25, 1852. He assisted his father with the farm work until his mar- riage. when he engaged in farming on his own account on another tract in West Wheat- field township, purchasing the home place after his father's death. The property con- sists of 128 acres, and there he remained, de- voting all his time to its cultivation and im- provement, until his recent removal to In- diana, where he resides at No. 713 Chestnut street. Mr. Wakefield was a trusted and popular public official in West Wheatfield township, having served eighteen years as a member of the board of school directors and one year as supervisor, and in the fall of 1912

born March 6, 1857, in West Wheatfield town- ship, daughter of Hugh and Julia Ann (Rut- ter) St. Clair, and they have the following family: Hugh Clinton, who married Mina Lichtenfels and resides at Youngwood, Pa .; Viola Emma, wife of Simeon Lynn, who is farming her father's homestead in West Wheatfield township; Julia Clara, wife of Oren Cribbs, of Dunbar, Pa .; James Elmer, who married Martha Dietz and resides at Gar- field, Pa .; Jacob Clair, who married Frances Clifford and resides in South Dakota ; Cynthia Rebecca, who married Edward Bowser and resides at Pitcairn, Pa .; Laura Frances, wife of Oscar Hewitt, living at Pitcairn. Pa. ; Sarah Jane, wife of William Altimus. of Garfield, Pa .; Anna Gertrude, Della Susan and Grace Wilda, all at home. Mr. Wakefield is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church.

CAPT. GAWIN A. McLAIN, a veteran of the Civil war, living in the borough of In- diana, has been a resident of Indiana county all his life. He was born Dec. 15, 1838, on Philadelphia street, Indiana, and is the son of Charles C. and Penelope (Adams) Mc- Lain, both of whom were born near In- diana. They spent all their lives in this locality. Mr. MeLain was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade during the daytime, giv- ing his evenings to the conduct of a small mercantile business which he owned. In those days the population was small, but he man- aged to make a good living by thrift and in- dustry. He and his wife had but one child, Gawin A., who was only a year and a half old when his mother died.

Gawin A. MeLain was educated at the vil- lage school and academy, the latter being then conducted by Silas M. Clark (afterward judge). He began work as clerk in his father's store, and also clerked in the com- pany store at Indiana, continuing thus until he entered the Union army for service in the Civil war. On the night Colonel Ellsworth was killed he started to form a company, and they were held as reserves until sworn into the United States service June 10, 1861, serv- ing from that time to the close of the war.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The command was known as Company B, 11th ure family is both ancient and honorable, and Pennsylvania Reserves, under Capt. James S. was originally seated in the Province of Porter and Col. Thomas Gallagher. Mr. Mc- Navarre, France. At the Revocation a branch Lain was in all the campaigns of the Army of this family was compelled to flee to Switzer- of the Potomac, and was wounded twice, at land for safety, and from whence came the second battle of Bull Run and again at Abraham Leasure, who arrived in America in 1754, and located in upper Dauphin county, Pa., where the family name is still extant. A son of the immigrant located in Westmore- land county, Pa., where his descendants became prominent, notably Gen. Daniel Leas- ure, a distinguished officer of the Civil war."

Fredericksburg. He was promoted to corporal and later to sergeant, and made a highly hon- orable record. Returning home at the close of the war, he engaged in farming on his prop- erty in White township, a tract of 275 acres of valuable land which he still owns. There he followed general agricultural pursuits un- til 1885, when he retired from such work and

home is at No. 500 Philadelphia street. Cap- tain MeLain has been very successful in all his enterprises, and in addition to the valu- able farm previously mentioned owned con- siderable real estate. He has performed his vies as a citizen faithfully, and has served the borough in various capacities, having been councilman, and later assessor from the Sec- . 1 ward for two years. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He is a prominent mem- ber of G. A. R. Post No. 28, being at present senior vice commander, and is colonel. He

Captain MeLain has in his possession a commission issued to his maternal grand- father, Gawin Adams, appointing him first lieutenant of the 3d Company, 1st Battalion of the 99th Regiment of the militia of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania. It is dated May 2, 1825.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 134

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