Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 137

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 137

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Henry Graff, the eldest son, was quite young when his parents moved to Blairsville, and there he grew to manhood and received his education. With his father he acquired a thorough knowledge of the mercantile busi- ness and in time became a member of the firm of John Graff & Sons, with which he was con- nected until 1854. That year he went West, settling in Holmes county, Ohio, where he bought a farm and carried on agricultural work for over twenty years, living there until 1868. Selling out, he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, and buying the Ben- nett farm near Hillside, Westmoreland county, devoted himself to the cultivation and improvement of that property for some time. When he sold it he moved to Blacklick town- ship, Indiana county, where he bought another farm, upon which place he made extensive improvements during the years he was en- gaged in its cultivation. It is now owned by George Smith. Later he bought another farm, the place upon which he spent the remainder of his life, carrying on general farming and stock raising. He died there March 10, 1899, and was interred in the Blairsville cemetery.

Mr. Graff was a prominent member of the M. E. Church at Blacklick. He joined that denomination in 1856, while living in Holmes county, Ohio, and for forty-three years he "fought the fight and kept the faith," being a devoted worker all his life. He served as class leader, steward and trustee, and in other church positions, and was faithful in 'the dis- charge of every responsibility which he as- sumed, taking great delight and interest in religious activities. He was a stanch Republi- can in politics.

Hacke, daughter of Nicholas Hacke, of Balti- her daughter, Miss Lncy L. Graff, until her

On Oct. 30, 1848, Mr. Graff married Mar- garet Wilkinson, who survived him, making her home in Blacklick, Burrell township, with death, June 23, 1912. She was buried in Blairsville cemetery. Like her husband, Mrs. Graff was a faithful member of the M. E. Church. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Graff: George K., born Sept. 18, 1849 (died Oct. 10, 1851) ; Incy L., April 15, 1851; Harry K., Oct. 30, 1852 ; John E., June 16, 1854 (died May 6, 1856) ; Charles L., Feb. 12, 1856; Mary Jane, Oct. 2, 1857 (married Robert L. Mabon and resides at Aurora,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Nebr.) ; James G., March 14, 1860; Joseph, assistant superintendent of the Sunday school Feb. 21, 1862 (died Aug. 25, 1862) ; Caroline and takes part in all the church activities. A A., July 28, 1863 (died Nov. 14, 1864) ; Sum- firm believer in temperance, he is a stanchi supporter of the Prohibition party and its principles. ner. Sept. 6, 1865 : Gertrude M., Oct. 28, 1869 (married Rev. J. Kurtz Shields, a minister of the M. E. Church and president of the Anti- saloon League, appointed by President Taft as a delegate to the Temperance Conference in Holland; Mrs. Shields died Feb. 25. 1899, in Chicago, and was buried in Blairsville, Pa.) ; Albert P., Oct. 28, 1873 (died Dec. 8, 1873).

SUMNER GRAFF, youngest surviving son of the late Henry Graff, was born Sept. 6, 1865, near Hillside, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and re- ceived excellent public school advantages. He learned farm work at home with his father and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until 1901, when he settled in the village of Black- liek and took up mercantile business. He has since followed general merchandising and has also become interested in the meat business, having erected a slaughter house, so that he can do his own butchering, also buying the cattle. Though not now actively engaged in farming he still has agricultural interests, having bought the Andrew Simpson place of 132 acres, the cultivation of which he manages. He still owns and resides on the farm, and has all modern improvements on the place. In 1907 he cut up part of his farm (thirty-two acres of the Andrew Simpson place) into building lots, having two hundred, on which fifty houses, two stores and a public school have since been built. The little town is known as Grafton, and his successful man- agement of this real estate project has made Mr. Graff known as one of the enterprising real estate men of his locality. The village and all its institutions and interests have had the benefit of his best efforts as an aid to progress, and the entire place is a credit to his executive ability and acumen. Mr. Graff was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Blacklick, which he served as vice president and member of the board of directors.

JAMES G. GRAFF, fifth son of Henry Graff, was born March 14, 1860, near Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and received his edu- cation in the schools of Indiana county, whither he removed with his parents when quite young. Working on the farm during his early years, he later took up the study of civil engineering, attending Allegheny Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1888. Going West, he located in Chicago, where he found his life work. Ile was the engineer in charge of the construction of the Madison street cable line, made the topographical sur- veys of Jackson park for the national commis- sion preliminary to the selection of the site for the Columbian Exposition, made the sur- veys for the Cicero & Proviso electric railway, and in 1890 was elected county surveyor of Cook county, Ill. He was reelected in 1904, filling the office with general satisfaction to all concerned, no appeal ever being taken from his office to the courts. His professional stand- ing was of the highest. Mr. Graff died Jan. 20, 1906, at St. Joseph, Mo. He had married in 1892 Frances F. Bell, and they had a son, Ernest A. Mr. Graff was a member of the Adams Street M. E. Church, which he served as trustee and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school.

CHARLES ROCHESTER GRIFFITH, editor and proprietor of the Marion Center Independent and vice president of the Marion Center National Bank, was born in that borough July 2, 1862.

The Griffith family is of Welsh extraction and possesses many of the sterling characteris- ties of that hardy people. William Griffith, born in Wales, left his native land for America and located in York county, Pa., but later went to Bedford county, this State, where he farmed, owning what is now the Bedford Springs property. After spending some years in that locality he moved to Somerset county, continuing farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred in Jenner township. He was a member of the Society of Friends, as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Owens. She died in the same township as her husband, and both were laid to rest in

On Dec. 24, 1891, Mr. Graff married Sarah E. Geary, daughter of Robert Geary, of Black- lick, and they have had a family of six chil- dren, namely : Robert Stanley, Margaret A., Raymond G., Sarah E., Emma Lucile and Martha Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Graff are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. Mr. Graff ac- cepted religion and joined the church in 1885, at the age of twenty years, and like his father the Friends' cemetery in that neighborhood. he has been active and zealous in its work, giv- Their children were: Mary (Polly), who ing liberally of his time and efforts. He is married David Richards; John, who located

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in Somerset county ; Ann, who married Joseph' tions. In 1872 he took the daily mail route Cooper ; William ; Lydia, who married Thomas from Indiana to Brookville, running four to McKee ; Rebecca, twin of Lydia, who married eight horse coaches, and thus continuing for Peter Berkey; and Hiram, who located in five years. He also conducted a thriving liv- Somerset county, and married Rebecca Hair. ery for fifty years, but has sold this. A Re-

William Griffith, son of William Griffith, publican, Mr. Griffith has confined himself to was born at Bedford Springs and was still a casting his vote for the candidates of his party, not desiring office. The Methodist Church has in him one of its most active mem- bers and he serves it as trustee. He was formerly a member of the local lodge of the Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and formerly a member of the grand lodge of the State. child when taken to Somerset county. He grew to manhood in Jenner township, and there followed farming and stock raising, own- ing 200 acres of land, which had been a por- tion of his father's estate. He passed his life on this property, dying there, and his remains are laid to rest in the cemetery of the German Baptist Church, although he and his wife were

On Oct. 13, 1859, Mr. Griffith was married members of the Methodist Church. First a to Mary L. Park, who was born in Marion Whig in politics, he later became a Republi- can. William Griffith married Isabelle Hair, a daughter of Edward Hair, and they lived and died in the house where they commeneed their married life, and celebrated the sixtieth

Center, daughter of Robert Park and grand- daughter of John Park, a full history of which prominent family appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Griffith died June 2, 1908, after forty-nine years of happy married life, and anniversary of their marriage there. She is is buried in the Marion Center cemetery. She

buried by the side of her husband. Their children were: Stephen, who resides at Johnstown, Pa,; William Henry Harrison, who died in infancy; Edward Hair; Mary Ann, who married Benjamin Fleck and lives in Somerset county; Rebecca Jane, who mar- ried William D. Morgan and resides in Somer- set county ; Norman Bruce, residing in Johns- town, Pa .; Sarah L., who married Gideon at Jeannette. Walters and resides in Somerset county; and Priscilla, who died young.

was a member of the Methodist Church, and possessed a lovely Christian character. The children born to this couple were: Harry P., who is a dental surgeon of Indiana, Pa .; Charles Rochester; Frank Park, who is a mer- chant of Greensburg; Mabel, who married Dr. William Dodson and is deceased; William C .; and Clarence, who is in the printing business

Charles Rochester Griffith, son of Edward H. Griffith, was educated in the public schools Edward Hair Griffith, son of William Grif- fith and father of Charles R. Griffith, was born in Somerset county Oct. 30, 1837, and at- tended public school in Jenner township, of Marion Center and the summer normal at this place, later taking a course under Pro- fessor Wolf at the institute here. When still a boy he began working as a printer, and when where he was reared on his father's farm. He only fifteen years old, in 1877, with his remained at home until seventeen years old, brother, Harry P., conducted a job printing and then went to Mount Pleasant, where he office at Marion Center, thus continuing until

learned the harnessmaking and saddlery busi- ness, following it there as a journeyman. In 1858 he came to Marion Center and embarked in business in his chosen line, and for over fifty-four years has carried on harnessmaking and manufacturing, also handling rugs and 1882, when he began publishing the Independ- ent, the only weekly newspaper in the county north of Indiana, which he has developed into a powerful and popular organ. In connection with it he conducts a first-class job printing office. Mr. Griffith is the oldest newspaper similar merchandise. Mr. Griffith built his man in the county with regard to the length present shop, equipped with modern improve- of time he has been in the business. In 1894 ments to facilitate his work. He has besides he issued a history of Marion Center and its been engaged in the manufacture of an im- notable men which had a wide sale. His print-

proved ventilating window blind, as a mem- ber of the firm of Work, Griffith & Richards, who built and operated a large sawmill and cabinet factory, the plant having been one of the leading establishments of the borough, giving employment to many, while the product was distributed over a wide territory.

Mr. Griffith has been active in other direc-

ing plant is thoroughly modern. He is a live newspaper man, fearless in expressing his opinions and supporting those measures he knows are for the public welfare. He also owns'considerable realty in Marion Center and East Mahoning township, and was one of the organizers of the Marion Center National Bank, which he has served for seven years as

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

vice president. A Republican of influence, tion of the structures he undertook and he has reserved the right to deal with loeal brought to completion would be sufficient to issues independently, and has been a member show his ability and versatility. His skill and trustworthiness were up to the highest stand- ards in his line and were so recognized. Mr. McGovern was born Dee. 25, 1866, on a farm near Tyrone, in Blair county, Pa., son of James and Mary (MeCaffery ) McGovern, and grandson of John MeGovern, and he un- doubtedly inherited his talents in the line of construction. of the borough couneil for some years, was a school director for twelve years (acting as secretary of the board during that period) and has also been auditor of Marion Center. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and a past grand of the lodge at Marion Center, as well as a member of the grand lodge of the State. He also belongs to the Rebekahs and the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Griffith has been superintendent of the M. E. Sunday school for twenty-seven years. He was one of the organizers of the Bible elass for young men, which he now teaches, and his influenee over them is powerful. It would be difficult to estimate just how much good he has done in this single line, let alone what he has aceom- plished in other directions. For seven years he was trustee and treasurer, while for twenty- seven years he has been steward of the church.

In 1882 Mr. Griffith married Ella Holt, an adopted daughter of A. J. Holt, and they have had four children : Mary, who married Homer N. Work. a son of William Alexander S. Work. of East Mahoning township, and resides at Albany, N. Y., where Mr. Work is connected with the Western Union Telegraph Company; Mona, who was formerly a teacher in the local public schools. now teaching at New Kensington. Pa .; and Lena and Joyee. who are at home.

WILLIAM C. GRIFFITH, brother of Charles Rochester Griffith, was born Aug. 31, 1871, and in '1890 entered the drug store of Dr. L. N. Park, where he studied pharmacy. During 1893 and 1894 he attended the Pittsburg Col- lege of Pharmacy, from which he was gradu- ated in March, 1894. Returning to Marion Center he managed the drug business of his former employer until 1909, when he bought it, and has conducted it successfully ever since.

William C. Griffith married Elizabeth Neal. a daughter of John L. Neal, of East Mahoning township, and she died in 1903. leaving two children, Edward Clark and J. Neal. Mr. Griffith was afterward married (seeond ) to Alice Craig, a daughter of Thomas Craig. There are no children by this union.

James MeGovern was born in Ireland, and came to the United States when twenty-two years old. Loeating in New York, he became a contraetor on the Erie canal, and after its completion settled in Blair county, Pa., where he did contract work on the Pennsylvania Central railroad. In fact, he was engaged as a contractor continuously from the time of his arrival in this country until his retirement, in 1886, and was highly successful in every- thing he undertook. He died about 1894. IIe married Mary MeCaffery, a native of Ireland, born in the same county as himself, who eame to this country when thirteen years of age and settled in New York City, where she lived until her marriage. She died in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. MeGovern were members of the Catholic Church. They were the parents of six children, John, Annie (wife of Daniel Donley), Thomas. Frank. Patrick E. (of Punxsutawney, Pa.) and Peter J.

Peter J. McGovern attended public and parochial school at Tyrone, Pa .. and later went to the Gregory business college at Al- toona, Pa., graduating from the latter insti- tution in 1881. He began business life when a mere boy. being employed by his father, who was in the contraeting business, with the details of which he was familiar practically all his life. When his father retired he was well prepared to continue the business on his own account, and he had been a successful contractor for twenty-two years at the time of his death. He and his brothers were in partnership for a time under the firm name of MeGovern Brothers, he and his brother P. E. MeGovern of Punxsutawney being associated for some time. Subsequently Mr. McGovern did business entirely on his own account. For several years he was located at Tyrone, Pa., in 1902 moving to the borough of Indi- ana. He built five miles of the Buffalo, Roch- ester & Pittsburg railroad, construeted the In- diana reservoir, most of the town of Ernest, Pa., and then went to Marion Center. Indi- ana county, where (in 1904) he put in the

PETER J. McGOVERN was for a number of years one of the leading contraetors of In- diana and that seetion of Pennsylvania, and had had his home and business headquarters in the borough sinee 1902. He had so many important contracts intrusted to him, and such a variety of work. that a mere enumera- present waterworks of the town, and the foun-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

dation for the Marion Center National Bank hundreds of friends in the borough where he Building. He also constructed several im- had made his home during his last years. Since his death his son Glenn R. has been carrying on the large business, of which he had acquired a familiar knowledge during Mr. McGovern's life. portant sewers. Then he did important con- tract work at Josephine, Indiana county, prac- tically building that town, his construction work including the foundations for the fur- naces. He built the Indiana street railway from Homer City to Blairsville, as well as the GILBERT T. McCREA, one of the leading surveyors and civil engineers of Indiana county, is a native of the borough of Indiana, born March 28, 1856. extension and branch road for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad. Prior to this he erected the Indiana public school build- ing and did the concrete and stone work on The McCrea family is of Scotch origin, and its early members in this county were among the first settlers in Blacklick township. The first of the name in Indiana county was John McCrea, who located in 1774 on a tract of land near what is now Rugh station, in Bur- rell township, which was included in West- moreland county. He settled there when it was a wilderness. He married Jane Porter. In the early part of 1777 they were forced to flee to Wallace's fort, in Westmoreland county, on account of the Indians, Mrs. Mc- Crea carrying her only child, John. She pre- ceded her husband to the fort, he waiting be- hind to hide the household effects. He was closely pursued by the Indians as he hurried to the fort, and died the next day as the re- sult of the overexertion. His widow returned to Franklin county, where she married (sec- ond) William McCrea, by which union she had one child, Samuel Alexander. The fam- ily later moved to Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. the girls' new dormitory at the State normal school in Indiana. Another of his notable works in the county was the extension of the Jacksonville Branch railroad, and the con- crete bridge erected by order of the county commissioners at Jacksonville-the first con- crete bridge built in the county. He also put in the waterworks at Clymer, and in the town of Lucerne, Indiana county, built the Prairie State Incubator Works at Homer City, and the lining of the tunnel on the Indiana branch of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad. Mr. McGovern had many other creditable pieces of work in his long record as a contractor. The magnitude of his un- dertakings, and the high satisfaction his com- pleted contracts gave, placed him in the front rank among the builders of Indiana county who have kept this section abreast of the times in the solution of modern construction prob- lems. He employed a large number of men, from one hundred to five hundred as occa- sion demanded, in this respect also being an appreciable factor in the local prosperity. He was a stockholder in several industries in the county promoted by her most progressive busi- ness men, and was named as a member of the executive committee for the proposed Indi- ana hospital, in the success of which he was deeply interested.

On Oct. 1, 1902, Mr. McGovern married Mrs. Luesta K. Work, widow of Lester Work, and daughter of Joel Richardson, grand- daughter of George Richardson. By her first marriage Mrs. McGovern had three children : Glenn R., who is a civil engineer; A. Gaynell and Valjean L., both now students at the In- diana State normal school. Mrs. McGovern and her children hold membership in the Pres- byterian Church. Mr. McGovern was a mem- ber of the Catholic Church. He died Oct. 10, 1912, at the Punxsutawney hospital, in the prime of life, and his funeral was held at St. Bernard's Church. IIe is buried at Indiana. His high standards of conduct, in both his business and personal relations, had won him was born May 28, 1776, in Conemaugh town-

John McCrea, son of John and Jane (Por- ter) MeCrea, was born in what is now Bur- rell township Sept. 16, 1776, and was but six months old when his parents had to leave their log home in the wilderness to take refuge in Wallace's fort, to escape the Indians. He lived with his mother and stepfather until 1800, when he returned to the place of his birth, Blacklick township, and settled down to farming, erecting a log cabin. He contin- ued to make his home in the township the rest of his life, extensively engaged in farm- ing, being a large land holder, the owner of over 350 acres. He died on his farm, near Smith station, while living with his son Sam- nel, in 1861, aged eighty-four years, seven months, four days, and was buried in Blairs- ville cemetery. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Democrat. He was a strong, rugged man, active and hard-working, and respected by all for his industrious nature and high moral character. He married Elizabeth Reed, who

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship, Indiana Co., Pa., and died April 26, 'Alexander, who died young; Nancy, who mar- 1847, at the ripe age of seventy years, ten ried Shadrach Swartz; Elizabeth; Marinda; months, twenty-eight days. Mrs. McCrea was Chalmers S., M. D., who married Matilda buried in Blairsville cemetery. She was a Couch and died at Creekside, Pa .; Nettie; member of the United Presbyterian Church. Gilbert T. and Albert L., twins; Harry; and To this union the following children were one that died in infancy. born : (1) Robert Reed, born Feb. 2, 1802, was a farmer in Conemaugh township and later in Saltsburg. (2) William Clark was born Sept. 18, 1803, and died March 1, 1874. (3) John J., born April 2, 1805, located in Armstrong county, and died April 4, 1865. (4) Thompson, born in 1807, died Nov. 30, 1884. (5) Jane, horn Nov. 20, 1809, mar- ried David Lintner, of Burrell township. (6) Rachel, born April 23, 1812, married Samuel Hosack, and died in Blairsville. (7) Eliza- beth, born April 13, 1814, died in December, 1841. (8) Achsah, born May 8, 1816, mar- ried John Hart, of Conemaugh township. (9) Matilda, born Jan. 2, 1820, married J. Taylor, of Collinsville, Pa. (10) Samuel, born in 1822, died April 16, 1864.

Thompson McCrea, son of John and Eliza- beth (Reed) McCrea, was born in Burrell township in 1807, on the farm now occupied by Peter Barroon. There he remained until his marriage, when he removed to West Leb- anon, Indiana county. He learned survey- ing with Mr. Elliott, who was a noted sur- veyor of his day, beginning this work in 1836, and later served as county surveyor, for a period of eighteen years, during which time he laid out the towns of Shelocta and West Lebanon. After leaving West Lebanon he was engaged in the grain business at Saltsburg, also owned boats for the transportation of

Mr. McCrea is independent in politics and buying and selling to the canal trade, and he liberal in his religious views. Enterprising and progressive, he has attained high stand- grain. In 1852 he settled in Indiana and ing in his own line and is the kind of citizen lived there until 1857, when he removed to whose intelligent outlook and broad views make him valuable to any community. Mechanicsburg, at which place he passed the remainder of his lifetime. He became a prominent citizen there, serving as justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and enjoyed the universal confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. He died Nov. 30, 1884, aged seventy-seven years, twelve days, and was bur- ied in Fry cemetery, in Brushvalley. He was active in the United Presbyterian Church, and a Republican in politics.

Mr. McCrea married Anna MeKesson, who died Feb. 6, 1876, in Mechanicsburg, and was buried in Fry cemetery. She, too, was a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian Church. They had a family of fourteen children, viz. : John, who married Jane Skiles; James M., who died in young manhood; Robert E., who died in young manhood ; William, who died young ;

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 137

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