Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 135

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 135

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In February, 1866, Captain MeLain mar- ried Malinda Ann Mitchell, of Indiana county, student at Cookport, this county. He was daughter of John and Mary (Smitten) Mit- chell, and they have had a family of five after giving up the profession engaged in children, namely: Charles C., who lives in farming and lumbering for several years, in Indiana; Howard, now of Wilkinsburg, Pa .; Green township. Meantime he took an active John J., also at Wilkinsburg; Martha D., who lives with her parents; and George P., who is engaged in the cultivation of the home farm.

JOHN C. LEASURE, who has recently completed a term as treasurer of Indiana county, is a well-known official of his home township as well, and a citizen who has done his full share of work in the various positions and duties to which he has been called. He was born July 16, 1850, in Green township, this county, son of Peter and Margaret A. (Miller) Leasure.

Rev. A. Stapleton, in his memorials of the Huguenots in America, gives the following concerning the Leasure family : "The Leas-

The Leasure family was founded in this section by John Leasure, great-grandfather removed to the borough of Indiana, which of John C. Leasure, who was of French par- has since been his place of residence. His entage and came to western Pennsylvania at an early day. Game was still plentiful here at that time, and he was a great hunter and bear trapper, trapping proving quite profit- able as an occupation. His son, John Leas- ure, engaged in farming in Indiana county.

Peter Leasure, son of John . Leasure and grandson of the John Leasure who established the family here, was a farmer and lumberman in Indiana county during the greater part of his life. He married Margaret A. Miller, daughter of Samuel Miller, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and they became the par- was a charter member of the Legion, No. 11. ents of five children: John C .; Bruce;

Samantha, wife of Frank Oatman; Ida, de- ceased, and Miranda, deceased. The father of this family died in 1905. The mother is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

John C. Leasure began his education in the public schools of the home locality in this county. He also attended several terms of summer school, and for four terms was a engaged in teaching for thirteen terms, and

part in public affairs, serving eleven years as auditor of Green township and for ten years as member of its board of school directors. He made an excellent record as a public ser- vant, so much so that when nominated for the office of county treasurer, in 1908, he was elected by a large majority, receiving 6,016 votes as against 1,586 cast for his opponent. He held the office for three years, his services giving the highest satisfaction to all con- cerned. Mr. Leasure has also served as mer- cantile appraiser of Indiana county. He is a director and vice president of the First National Bank of Cherrytree, and holds a substantial place among his fellow citizens. Few men in the community stand so well

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

among all classes. Mr. Leasure has interested proud, for he was a leader in all matters of himself in the various activities of his neigh- civil and religious concern. He was widely borhood, is a faithful member of the Presby- known as "Maj." James Stewart, having held terian Church, which he has served several the office of major, etc., in the militia over years as Sunday school teacher, and gives his encouragement and support to all worthy en- terprises which promise to promote the general welfare. He is a Republican in political connection.

forty years. He took an active part in the affairs of the township, having served in the capacities of school director, tax collector, as- sessor, overseer of the poor, justice of the peace, etc. He was justice of the peace fif- In 1875 Mr. Leasure married Lucy C. Gra- ham, daughter of James Graham. teen years and had a wide and extensive prac- tice. It was said that he was as well versed in the law as the attorneys of his time. Young STEWART. The Stewarts of Buffington and old came from far and near to be mar- township were among the first and most re- ried by him. His marriage ceremony was nnique, and delivered by him with ease and dignity. He took an active part in advancing the schools and was a leader in the church, being a member of the first Session of the East Union United Presbyterian Church and re- maining a member of that church and ses- spected citizens of the southeastern part of Indiana county. The pioneers were natives of Scotland and came to this country shortly after the Revolutionary war. Two brothers, John and Charles, came here about the same time. Charles was a soldier in Lord Corn- wallis's army; John served in the Indian sion until his death, which occurred Aug. wars and was severely wounded in the breast. 11, 1879. For many years he was the super- They settled in what is now known as Buff- intendent of the Sabbath school of his church. ington township. Their farms joined, Charles Being a firm believer in the Psalms as the owning what is now known as the Mardis and only music that should be sung in worship, he would not permit the singing of a hymn in the home on the Sabbath day. He had great reverence for the Sabbath and would not al- low anyone, whether a member of the home Auker farms, and John the Rodkey and Stahl farms. The latter tract was called "Corn- field." The warrant of the farm was dated February 13, 1797, and the patent, March 28, 1799. There were mounds on these farms, or a visitor, to whistle on that day. which the old settlers pointed out as Indian To his first marriage two sons were born: graves. Charles Stewart afterwards located on John, Sept. 7, 1821, and James, Oct. 5, 1824. the McClain farm in White township, which John was married to Sarah Grow and they reared a family of fifteen children. farm he owned until his death. He was buried in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

John Stewart was married to Margaret Mc- Farland. To this union two children were born : Mary, married to William Wilson, and James (Maj. James Stewart), married first to Mary Graham, who lived but eleven years after their marriage, and second to Elizabeth Galbreath.

James Stewart, son of Maj. James Stewart, was a large, muscular man, in disposition and build very much like his father. His occupa- tion was farming, in which he took special de- light. He did his work on the farm with care, and taught his sons the importance of good farming. He believed that "whatever was worth doing was worth doing well." He ad- mired good horses, and always had the very

Maj. James Stewart was born on the old homestead Sept. 25, 1796. He grew to be a best. He took an interest in the affairs of the

township, serving as assessor, auditor, over-

large, robust man, being six feet tall and weighing almost two hundred pounds. He seer of the poor, justice of the peace, etc., like was recognized as the strongest man in all his father serving as justice of the peace for that section of country, and was known to fifteen years. He never had a case taken be an expert wrestler. In those days much from his docket to the county courts. He was very slow to give law and always advised parties to settle their difficulties without tak- ing the course of the law. He did not hold the office for the money it might bring him, but for the good he might do his neighbors- chopping was done, and he was very skill- ful with the axe and took great delight in using it. Even at the advanced age of eighty he in- sisted upon cutting the wood for the old fire- place-especially the huge backlogs which only a strong man could carry. He could advising that peace was always better than take the butt eut of a tree in chopping with strife. That he gave universal satisfaction as an officer is shown by his receiving every others and always let it down. He was a man of whom his descendants can feel justly vote in the township, when he was a candi-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

date for the office of justice of the peace. He ties went to Greeley, Colo., where he grad- was a faithful member of the East Union uated from the State normal school. He then United Presbyterian Church and gave liber- came East and on June 27, 1906, married ally to the support of his church. Sara E. Stephens, of Cherryhill township, and returned to Colorado, where he is now principal of the township high school at Akron. Their children are Mary and Eugene. (3) Wilbert Joshua, born June 29, 1883, grad- uated from the business college at Denver, Colo., after which he was elected bookkeeper in a bank at Fort Morgan, Colo., where he married Emma L. Kimball July 5, 1906. At present he is a banker in Los Angeles, Cal.

On Aug. 30, 1848, James Stewart was mar- ried to Elizabeth Jane Cole, of Ligonier, Pa., who was born Jan. 8, 1828. She was a niece of the second wife of Maj. James Stewart and related many times how they made the trip on horseback from the old homestead to Lig- onier, her husband swimming the horses across the Conemaugh river at Centerville and she crossing in the boat. On several occasions she thought that her husband would be They have had three children, Wilbert (de- drowned, for horse and rider almost passed ceased), James and Rebecca. (4) James Alli- son, born June 22, 1886, died April 1, 1904. (5) Nannie Pearl, born March 4, 1889, died out of ber sight. She was a most faithful devoted wife and mother, very hospitable, and had a host of friends. To this Nov. 14, 1890. (6) Margaret Elizabeth, born union the following children were born: Oct. 29, 1891, graduated from the Indiana Mary Ann, Jan. 8, 1850; James Cole, Feb. State normal school in 1912 and is now a 26, 1853; John Galbreath, Sept. 4, 1855; Wil- teacher in the public schools of Indiana liam Graham, Oct. 14, 1857; Rachel Elizabeth,

county. James C. Stewart died March 10, Dec. 1, 1859; Joshua Thompson, Aug. 22, 1896, and his wife, Clara B., died Jan. 17, 1862; and Charles Clark, Sept. 9, 1865. 1895. They are buried in the East Union cemetery.

MARY ANN STEWART was married to Samuel Bracken, May 21, 1874. They had children JOHN G. STEWART was married to Mary McKee Sept. 11, 1877. Their children are as follows : (1) Robert McKee, born July 3, 1878, is now employed by the Pernsyl- vania Railroad Company and lives at Turtle Creek, Pa. He married Carrie Davis, March 14, 1900, and their children are Robert, May, Mary, Arthur, Beatrice and Vivian. (2) James Allen was born Sept. 9, 1880. (3) as follows : (1) Thomas Stewart, born May 22, 1875, graduated at the Indiana State Nor- mal school in 1900, and after serving as prin- cipal of the Derry schools for two years en- tered the University of Bucknell, from which he graduated. He is now the principal of the township high school at Perryopolis, Fay- ette Co., Pa. (2) Rose E., born Sept. 30, 1877, married Howard Schmucker, June 25, Clara, deceased, was born April 15, 1882. 1907, and lives in Johnstown, Pa. Their chil-

(4) Mary Agnes, born Sept. 10, 1884, mar- dren are Ethel and Mary. (3) William Price, ried Harry Spiker Aug. 22, 1905. TI ir born April 11, 1880, was employed by the children are Harold and Ray. (5) John Gal- breath, born May 22, 1887, was married Sept. 12, 1910, and has one child, Mary. (6) Thomas Russell, born Dec. 24, 1889, has had two children, Violet (deceased) and an in- fant. (7) Annie Bell, deceased, was born Jan. 15, 1894. John G. Stewart died Nov. 22, 1894, at the age of thirty-nine, and is buried in the East Union cemetery. His wife is living at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Railroad Company for a num- ber of years. (4) Rachel Elizabeth, born Oct. 23, 1884, taught for a number of years in the public schools of Indiana and Cambria coun- ties. (5) Charles, born Jan. 14, 1888, is in the employ of the Hupp Automobile Com- pany in Detroit. He was married to Ethel Ferman, of Milan, Mich., March 9, 1913. (6) Carrie, born Jan. 18, 1891, graduated from the Greeley (Colo.) State Teachers" College, March 6, 1913. The father, Samuel Bracken, died Dec. 16, 1896, and the mother, Mary Ann, died March 18, 1900. Both are buried in the East Union cemetery.

WILLIAM G. STEWART was educated in the public schools of Buffington township and selected farming as his occupation. At the age of eighteen he conceived the idea that the West was a good place for a young man and spent the summer of 1876 in Missouri, where he worked on a farm. He returned in his parents for several years, during which time he married Matilda C. Altemus, a

JAMES C. STEWART was married to Clara Bell Allison, and their children were as fol- lows: (1) Elmer Clark, born Feb. 7, 1878, the fall and remained on the home farm with died Dec. 1, 1896. (2) Charles Edmund, born Nov. 2, 1880, after teaching a number of terms of school in Indiana and Cambria coun- daughter of Adam and Catharine Altemus,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of Brushvalley township. To this union the farms and discharging his duties as road following children were born: (1) Frank- supervisor and tax collector and treasurer. lin A., born Dec. 9, 1878, married Nellie Dias July 5, 1905. Their children are Ethel, Elzie, Mary and Mabel. Franklin is a farmer of Buffington township. (2) Alice Gertrude, born Sept. 22, 1881, died March 1, 1906. (3) Mary Ann, born May 10, 1883, married May 9, 1906, D. W. Duncan, a farmer of Buffington township. Their children are Helen, Hulda, and Chester. (4) Catharine schools of Cambria county. The mother died

Elizabeth, born Sept. 21, 1884, taught several terms of school in Buffington and East Wheatfield townships and is now a member of the senior class of the Indiana State normal 1888, at the age of eighteen went to Fort Morgan, Colo., for his health. Not contented there he went to Montana, where he stayed for several years. After traveling through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Ore- gon, Nevada and California he returned home during the winter of 1911, having spent six years in the Western States. He is now farming for his father. (6) Alma Edna, born Aug. 17, 1898, died Nov. 3, 1903.

W. G. Stewart first went to housekeeping near the old homestead and farmed for his father. In a few years he purchased a farm one mile east of Dilltown on the Armagh and Strongstown road, and he and his wife, by their industrious habits, made the money that paid for the farm. His wife died April 27, 1904, and is buried in the Armagh cemetery.

Mr. Stewart is a Republican and has al- ways taken an interest in the politics of the township, having served in the offices of school director, road supervisor, auditor, tax col- lector and treasurer, and as an officer of the election board seventeen terms. He has been tax collector and treasurer of Buffington township for the last sixteen years. He owns two good farms in Buffington township and one in Brushvalley township. He and his brother, J. T., own the old homestead and the Mahan farm in Buffington township; he also owns two dwellings in Dilltown, Pa. The dwelling in which he lives is modern in every respect. He has always taken a special in- terest in good horses and has encouraged the breeding of blooded horses and cattle in his community. He is a member of the East Union United Presbyterian Church.

RACHEL E. STEWART was married to Prof. John H. Wachob April 24, 1883. Professor Wachob is a graduate of the Indiana State normal school and has been prominently iden- tified with the public schools of Indiana and Cambria counties. To this union one child was born March 24, 1884, Rachel Elizabeth, who taught for a number of years in the July 24, 1885, and is buried in the East Union cemetery.

JOSHUA T. STEWART was educated in the public schools of Buffington township, the Greenville, Millersville State normal school, Ada (Ohio) Normal University, and Indiana State normal school. He was reared on a farm in Buffington township. He became a member of the East Union United Presby- terian Church at the age of sixteen and was elected superintendent of the Sabbath school of the same church at the age of seventeen. At the age of eighteen he entered the profes- sion of teaching in his native township, where he taught three terms of school; also taught two terms of school in West Wheatfield town- ship. After having taught five terms in the public schools and attending school three or four months in the summer, besides assisting his parents on the farm, he decided to enter the Indiana State normal school, from which he graduated in 1888. After graduating he taught one term as assistant principal of the public schools of Indiana borough. The fol- lowing summer he conducted a select school at Smithport, Banks township, Indiana county.

On Jan. 1, 1889, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Emma Mack, a daughter of Hugh and Mary Ann (McCrorey) Mack, of West Wheat- field township, and they went to housekeep- ing in Mechanicsburg borough, where he taught the two winters and three summers fol- lowing. His select schools in this place were very largely attended and many young men and women were prepared to enter the teach- ing profession. He then purchased the store of William Goffe, in Centerville, Pa., and hav- ing been elected as principal of the public schools of New Florence, Pa., decided to locate at Centerville. With the help of his wife and clerks he managed the store and taught two winters and one summer at New Florence and one summer at Armagh, Pa. These two sum- mer terms were conducted jointly by Prof. C.

On Oct. 20, 1906, Mr. Stewart married Lizzie R. Dill, a daughter of James C. and Rebecca Dill, deceased, of Dilltown, Pa. At A. Campbell and J. T. Stewart .. There were present he spends his time overseeing his one hundred and twenty-five students en- 45

school. (5) Joshua Harrison, born Nov. 24, select schools at Strongstown, Armagh and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

rolled in the school at Armagh, ninety of Miners' Deposit Bank of Portage, Pa., at a whom were in the teachers' grade. The joint salary of $1,500. On Oct. 28, 1911, he was school held the following year at Armagh and married to Emma Sacks. They have one New Florence enrolled two hundred students, child, Joseph Mack Stewart, Jr., born Dec. 13, the majority of whom were teachers. The two 1912. (2) Elizabeth Mary Edna, born in Centerville, Feb. 10, 1894, graduated from the following summers J. T. Stewart taught at Grisemore, Pa., a country place where two public schools of Indiana borough in 1910, very successful terms of school were held. In and is now a senior in the Indiana State nor- these schools, teachers from Indiana, Cam- mal school. The son and daughter are both bria and Westmoreland counties were enrolled. members of the First United Presbyterian

He then decided to be a candidate for the Church of Indiana, Pa. (3) A third child, superintendency of the schools of Indiana Irene, was born Feb. 4, 1897, and died May county and moved in 1895 to Indiana, Pa., 8, 1897. While living in Mechanicsburg, J. T. make a canvass for the office. He was de- Stewart was elected and ordained as elder of the United Presbyterian Church of that place, and served in the same capacity in the New Florence United Presbyterian .Church, and at present is the clerk of the session of the First United Presbyterian Church at Indiana, Pa. He is a director of the Citizens' National Bank and secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at In- diana, Pennsylvania.

that he might be in a convenient place to feated for the office in 1896 and engaged to teach school at Greenville (Penn Run), Pa., where he taught two summers and one winter term. The attendance at his summer terms was very large, the enrollment being one hundred each time. The schools were a de- cided success and the work was highly appre- ciated by the pupils and citizens.

In 1899 he was elected on first ballot by a handsome majority over three other candi- dates, as the superintendent of the schools of Indiana connty, which position he held for nine years. During his term the schools in- creased in number and efficiency and the township, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.

On June 4, 1913, he married Genevieve Morrison, a graduate of the Indiana State normal school and a teacher of successful experience. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, of East Mahoning

Teachers' County Institute and Directors' As- CHARLES C. STEWART, now a farmer of sociation were a pronounced success. At the Brushvalley township, received his education close of his three terms as superintendent of in the schools of Buffington township and the schools he with his family went to Greeley, spent the early years of his manhood working

Colo., where they spent the winter, returning on his father's farm, except one summer when in the spring to their home on Philadelphia he was engaged in clerking in the store at street, Indiana, Pennsylvania. Centerville for his brother, J. T. On March

Emma, the wife of J. T. Stewart, died Nov. 15, 1894, he married Annie Davis, a daughter

of William Davis, of Mechanicsburg borough. She was a teacher in the schools of Indiana and Cambria counties. To this union the fol- lowing children were born: (1) Carrie May, born Dec. 23, 1894, taught in Blacklick town- ship, Cambria county, last year. (2) Mary Elizabeth, born Feb. 23, 1897, died March 19, 1898. (3) Charles Davis was born Nov. 25, 1899. (4) James Joshua was born June 14, 1905. (5) Esther Agnes was born Oct. 22, 1912.

15, 1910. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Pa. She was a loving wife and devoted mother, and would bear suffering without a complaint that others might be comforted. She is buried in the Greenwood cemetery at Indiana, Pa. Their children are: (1) Joseph Mack, born in Mechanicsburg, Jan. 9, 1890, was educated in the public schools of Indiana borough, Greeley normal school and the Indiana State normal school. At the age of seventeen he taught the Ferguson school in White town- The old farm in Buffington township where James and Elizabeth Stewart reared this fam- ily of five sons and two daughters was bought by Maj. James Stewart of Henry Nixon, the executor of John Nixon, of Philadelphia, Pa., for $532. The farm contained 2661/2 acres and allowances, and was purchased June 1, ship, Indiana county, with marked success. He was employed for two years surveying for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company, and resigned to accept a position as bookkeeper in the Citizens' National Bank of Indiana, Pa., which position he held for one year, when he was elected as the cashier 1827. Maj. James Stewart walked to Phila- of the Bolivar National Bank, and in May, delphia at the rate of four miles an hour 1913, was elected cashier of the Merchants' & when he made the purchase. It was a good

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

farm upon which to rear so large a family, maining there until 1862, when he again and the Christian influence in that home was

moved, settling near Carlton, at what was always strong. Maj. James Stewart remained known as Baker's cross road. There he kept in this home until his death. He and his two hotel and also followed his trade, doing gen- wives, his son James, and his wife, Elizabeth, are all buried in the East Union cemetery.

ANDREW PHILIP BAKER, resident of Burrell township, Indiana county, has such a diversity of interests that the mere enumera- tion would give considerable idea of his ener- getic character and versatile ability. He is the best-known horseman in western Pennsyl- vania, having long been famous for the fine horses he raises, is engaged in the milling busi- ness and farming, lumber manufacturing and contracting, in all which he has been no- tably successful. With few advantages in his early life, he has attained his present position entirely through his own efforts, and deserves much credit for overcoming obstacles which would have seemed insurmountable to one less courageous.

Mr. Baker is a native of Cambria county. Pa., born Dec. 15, 1851, at Glen Conell, and comes of a family of German origin founded in this country by his grandfather, Joseph Baker. Joseph Baker was born in Germany, on the river Rhine, and came to America early in the nineteenth century, crossing the Atlan-

tie in a sailing vessel. Coming west of the lie Church to which Mr. Baker also belonged. mountains he settled at Glen Conell (now St. Lawrence), Cambria Co., Pa., where he ac- quired ownership of a tract of four hundred acres, hewing a home out of the wilderness. He erected a log cabin, set to work to clear his land, and began farming as soon as pos- sible, spending the remainder of his life at that place, where he died. He was a member of the Catholic Church.

Andrew Philip Baker, son of Joseph and father of Andrew Philip, was an infant in arms when his parents came to the United States. He grew to manhood at the primitive home on the mountainside, and had but lim- ited educational opportunities. When a

young man he moved to the Juniata valley. and locating at Lewistown found employment in the Manns axe factory, where he worked for a short time. Returning to the homestead he took charge of the place, also caring for his widowed mother for some time. Later he followed his trade, that of blacksmith, in the shops at Altoona, was subsequently at Holli- daysburg for two years, and from there went to Sinking Valley, where he continued to work at his trade until 1855. In that year he re- moved to Glen Hope, Clearfield Co., Pa., re-

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 135

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