Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 138

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 138

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Gilbert T. McCrea was one year old when he came with his parents to Brushvalley. He received his more advanced schooling in the academy at Mechanicsburg, and after leaving school took up surveying, which he followed in the home locality for some time. Then he removed to Pittsburg, where he lived until 1884. He has given his whole life to his pro- fession, in which he has made a wide repu- tation, having been called to do work in Ken- tucky, Virginia and other States outside of his own. He now makes his home on the old Stewart place in Brushvalley township, where he first came to live in 1876, returning in 1997.

On March 8, 1876, Mr. MeCrea married Jettie M. Stewart, daughter of Luther and Sarah (Hileman) Stewart, and they are the parents of eight children: Frank, who re- sides in Pittsburg, married Miss C. Daring ; Annie married Samuel T. Rugh, of Mechan- iesburg ; Merrell married Blanche Lucas and resides in San Francisco, Cal .; Mollie B., who married Lewis Cameron, resides near Martins- dale, Mont .; Nettie died at the age of eight years : Harry, a civil engineer, resides at Mar- ion, Ohio; Clyde, a plasterer, living in Pitts- burg, married Hazel Mack; Ethel is a school teacher and resides at home.

ROBERT E. McCREA, brother of Gilbert T. McCrea, was born in Saltsburg and was the first man in Indiana county to answer the call of Abraham Lincoln for troops in 1861. He came back after serving three months and organized Company F, 55th Regiment, of which he was sergeant. He was taken sick at Beaufort, S. C., and was removed to Mech- aniesburg, Indiana Co., Pa., where he died ten days later. He was buried in the Fry graveyard, in Brushvalley.

DR. CHALMERS S. MCCREA, born March 29, 1848, another brother of Gilbert T. McCrea, was the youngest man to enlist for the Union service from Indiana county, being only thirteen years of age at the time. He entered the army as a drummer boy. Subse-

718

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

quently he was graduated from Jefferson of the Pennsylvania railroad within the Medical College, and began the practice of county, including the towns of Graceton and medicine at Creekside, Indiana county, where Coral, and purchased all the coal on both sides he resided until his death in February, 1890, of the Indiana branch from a point just south when forty-two years old. of Homer City to Blairsville, making him probably the most extensive individual coke

ALAN ORBISON SOMMERVILLE, of operator and dealer in coal lands operating Arcadia, Indiana county, superintendent of in Indiana county. He is prominently identi- the Arcadia and Winburne divisions of the fied in other connections with the life of his Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company, has been community and, indeed, with interests which connected with coal operations throughout his extend beyond its confines. business career. Mr. Sommerville was born

Mr. McCreary was born Oct. 30, 1863, at near Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pa., Feb. 9, 1869, Leechburg, Armstrong Co., Pa., son of Hiram son of James L. and Jane ( Harris) Sommer- and Ruey (Orris) McCreary. His grand- ville, and comes of Scotch ancestors on both father, George McCreary, was born in 1808 paternal and maternal sides. His father, in Westmoreland county, Pa., where the city James L. Sommerville, was a civil engineer, of Vandergrift now stands, and devoted his and became a coal operator in the early days active years to farming. He died in 1877. He of the industry in the central Pennsylvania married Sarah Cline, and they reared a large field, and was prominently connected with family. All were members of the Lutheran the production of coal until his death, in 1912. Church.

Alan O. Sommerville was educated at Belle- Hiram McCreary was born on the old home- fonte, attending the Bellefonte Academy, stead, where Vandergrift now stands. He from which he was graduated in 1884. He resided there during the early years of his then entered business in association with his life, but subsequently buying a canal boat he father, and upon the organization of the Beech followed boating on the old Pennsylvania Creek Coal & Coke Company, he became as- canal, which he found quite profitable. Canal sistant superintendent of the mines at Win- boating in his time was an important factor burne, Clearfield Co., Pa. In 1906 he came to in the transportation business, and the owner Arcadia, Indiana Co., Pa., as division super- of a boat occupied rather a prominent posi- intendent for the same company, and in 1908 tion in the affairs of those days. In his later was given charge as division superintendent life Mr. McCreary did an extensive contract- of the Arcadia and Winburne districts, which ing business in Pittsburg and elsewhere. He now are included in the holdings of the Penn- was a man of ability and resource and suc- sylvania Coal & Coke Corporation. Though cessful in whatever he undertook, and was he is particularly well known in the coal in- counted one of the substantial citizens of his dustry Mr. Sommerville has acquired other locality. To him and his wife Ruey (Orris) important interests, and has from time to time were born eight children, two of whom died in become associated with local enterprises of the infancy, the others being: Harry; Charles utmost value in the development of the com- K., an attorney, of Greensburg, Pa .; John E. munities in which he has been located. His and Robert H., twins, who are successfully high reputation and solid achievements in the engaged in the oil business in California; business world, and the ability which has en- Zelia May, wife of Rev. W. A. Sadtler, Ph. D., abled him to attain both, make him one professor in the Lutheran College at Atchi- of the most esteemed citizens of his section of son, Kans .; and Emma Florence, wife of Rev. Indiana county.

P. G. Sieger, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran On Oct. 20, 1910, Mr. Sommerville was mar- Church at Lancaster, Pa. The parents were ried to Elizabeth L. Snedden, of Heilwood, devout members of the Lutheran Church. The Pa., daughter of George and Janet (Laird) father died Aug. 1, 1898, and the mother con- Snedden. Mr. and Mrs. Sommerville have tinues to live in the old homestead at Leech- one child, Janet Laird. They attend the burg. Presbyterian Church, of which they are mem-

Harry McCreary attended public school at bers. Mr. Sommerville is a Republican in Leechburg during his early boyhood and political sentiment.

youth, and subsequently became a student in the Utica Business College at Utica, N. Y.,

HARRY McCREARY was a pioneer in the graduating from that institution in the year coal development of Indiana county. He has 1880. He was at once employed as an in- built all the coke ovens on the Indiana branch structor in the same institution, where he re-

Many miluary

719

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

mained until the spring of 1883, when he ing given to all church work and similar in- entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- stitutions. He is a director of the Lutheran road Company at Huff's Scales, near Greens- Theological Seminaries at Chicago, Ill., and at Gettysburg, Pa., and of the Tressler Or- phans' Home at Loysville, Pa. His en- thusiasm and energetic disposition have proved valuable in the advancement of many worthy causes. He is president of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association at Indiana, and from the very inception of the movement to have a branch of the Association established there, has taken burg, Pa. Leaving the Pennsylvania Railroad Company after a few months, he entered the employ of J. W. Moore, of Greensburg, an extensive operator in the Connellsville coke region of western Pennsylvania engaged in the manufacture of coke, and at that time operating the Redstone Coke Works, Brown- field station, near Uniontown. After the sale of this plant he built for Moore the two large 2, near Mount Pleasant, Pa. Again after the

coke plants known as Mammoth No. 1 and No. a leading part in pushing the work of the building to successful completion, being the sale of these plants he built for Moore the most liberal subscriber toward its erection. coke plants known as Graceton No. 1 and No. On May 16, 1894, Mr. McCreary married 2, at Graceton, Pa. Here he developed a Miss M. Zetta Work, daughter of William M. process of washing coal that to this day has Work, of East Mahoning township, Indiana county. They have had three children, one of whom died in infancy, the survivors being Ralph W. and Harry C. not been excelled in the United States, and its success was one of the chief reasons for the prompt purchasing of the coal in that whole section of the county.

Mr. Moore died in 1893, but Mr. McCreary's faithful services were recognized by the widow, for whom he continued the manage-

THOMAS D. CUNNINGHAM, banker, was born in Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa., Ang. 17, 1839, son of John and Rachel (Wallace) ment of the coke business until 1900, when he Cunningham. His ancestors were among the purchased the plant from her and sold it first settlers of the western part of the State, and took a prominent part in its public affairs. On the maternal side, his great-grandfather Richard Wallace's voice was heard in the hall of the Provincial Legislature, and his grand- father Peter Wallace represented his county, Westmoreland, for twelve years in the State Legislature. His father, John Cunningham, attended the first sale of lots in Blairsville and the lot he purchased still remains in his un- divided estate. Piety, benevolence and jus- tice were marked traits of his character and in such esteem was he held by his fellow citi- zens that he was elected associate judge of the county, largely Whig, though he was a Democrat. In religious faith he was a Pres- byterian. together with four thousand acres of adjoin- ing coal to the Youngstown Steel Company, of Youngstown, Ohio. He then purchased the property of the Indiana Coal & Coke Com- pany, and sold it together with five thousand additional acres of coal to Joseph Wharton, Philadelphia, Pa., remaining long enough to build for Mr. Wharton the present Coral plant. He then sold another five thousand- acre coal field to Corrigan, Mckinney & Co., Cleveland, Ohio, on which is now located their Josephine Furnace plant. Later he sold to the Jamison Coal & Coke Company, of Greens- burg, Pa., a large tract that has not yet been developed. A better or more desirable lot of operators could not be found than those Mr. McCreary succeeded in interesting in Indiana county's coal.

Mr. McCreary's experience and responsi- bilities in the coke business have proved very valuable to him in developing his business ability and in increasing his familiarity with an industry which now forms the basis of the county's prosperity. It was undoubtedly the stepping stone to his present interests. He has been active in the work of the Lutheran Church, a member of the congregation at Indiana borough, secretary of the church council, teacher of the men's Bible class in the Sunday school and liberal in his financial contributions as well, his encouragement be-

Mr. Cunningham was a student at Jeffer- son College when the Civil war broke out. He left his studies and joined the Army of the Potomac, enlisting in Company B, 56th Reg- iment, P. V., in October, 1861, and partici- pated in all the battles of that army from the time of his enlistment (save Antietam) till the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863. He was wounded in the first day's engagement in this battle and discharged from the service in November, 1863, on "account of wound re- ceived in action," as first lieutenant. In 1864 he was graduated from Jefferson Col- lege with the degree of A. B., and later had conferred on him the degree of A. M. After

720

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

his graduation he spent one year in the mer- cantile business with his three brothers and then entered the First National Bank as elerk. After one year's service he was made cashier, which position he held until the death of Mr. Panl Graff, whom he succeeded as president, which position he now holds. Mr. Cunning- ham has always been loyal to his native town, and has contributed of both service and money for its betterment. He has served as conneil- man, school director, treasurer for its Build- ing & Loan Associations and Electric Light Plant, and for many years was one of the trustees of Blairsville College. He has always been a Republican in politics and a Presby- terian in religion. [Mr. Cunningham died Oct. 9, 1913 .- Ed.]

HARRY W. WILSON. Over one hundred years ago Joseph Wilson, the great-grand- father of Harry W. Wilson, came from County Antrim, in the North of Ireland, and settled in Indiana county. He was a man of great tenacity of purpose, and lived to the remarkable age of 103. His son, Samuel Wil- son, was a farmer, took a lively interest in public affairs, and served as justice of the peace and school director, and for years was an elder in the United Presbyterian Church. He was born Oct. 8, 1800, and married Eliza- beth Wilkins in September, 1822. Her father, Andrew Wilkins, was among the first white children born in Indiana county.

Andrew W. Wilson, the son of Samuel Wil- son, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Brushvalley township, Indiana Co., Pa., July 12, 1826. He received a com- mon school education and when fourteen years of age commenced to teach school. When seventeen years old he went into the store of Sutton & Moore, in Indiana, as clerk. After a faithful service of three years they gave him a small stock of goods to sell in partnership, and he began his business career in Brushvalley township at Mechanicsburg. Five years thus passed. When the railroad was opened to Indiana, Mr. Sutton invited him to take a half interest in his store in In- diana, Mr. Moore having died. For twenty- one years this firm of Sutton & Wilson was known throughout Indiana and adjoining counties.

On July 7, 1853, Andrew W. Wilson mar- ried Anna G. Dick, danghter of James and Annie (Graham) Diek, of Armagh, Indiana county, the former a native of Belfast, Ire- land, and a member of one of the numerous families of Dicks who emigrated from Ireland

abont the time of the war of 1812 and settled in Wheatfield township, Indiana Co., Pa. Ten children, six sons and four daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely : (1) Harry W., born Aug. 26, 1854, was named after Mr. Moore, Mr. Wilson's early partner. (2) Robert Dick, born Feb. 4, 1856, started to school when but four years old, and pre- pared to enter the sophomore class at Prince- ton College. He graduated from Princeton College in 1876; and in 1880 at the Western Theological Seminary-at the head of his class. He is at present the professor of Old Testament Languages and Literature in Princeton Theological Seminary. He has the degrees Ph. D. and D. D. (3) Samuel Graham, born Feb. 11, 1858, was ready for the sophomore class at Princeton when fifteen years old, and graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1879. He afterward took post-graduate work at Princeton, during which time he offered himself to the Board of Foreign Missions and was assigned to Persia, in which field he has since labored, being located at Tabriz. He has the degree of D. D. (4) John Loughry, born March 26, 1861, became interested with his father in business, acting as cashier in the store. (5) Andrew Wilkins, Jr., born June 29, 1863, graduated from Princeton College in 1883. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar after graduating in 1886 from the law department of the University of Pennsyl- vania. He was captain of the baseball team at the University two years. He received the degree of Ph. D. from Washington & Jeffer- son College. He entered into partnership with R. W. Fair and purchasing a property at Kiskiminetas Springs, opposite Saltsburg, opened the Preparatory School for boys which has been continued to this day with great suc- eess. (6) Ella M. was prepared in the Indiana high school and was graduated from Vassar College in 1887. She taught Greek in the Kiskiminetas Springs School until her marriage with George R. Steward. She lives at Pasadena, Cal. (7) Annie Elizabeth attended the Indiana Normal School and Vassar College. She is the wife of Rev. Alfred H. Barr, D. D., of Baltimore, Md. (S) James Diek received his education at the Indiana State Normal and Kiskiminetas Springs School. He is now located in California. (9) Jennie Pearson lives at home. She at- tended Wellesley College, Mass. (10) Máry Agnes was graduated from the State Normal School and afterward attended Vassar Col-

721

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

lege. She is the wife of Stacy H. Smith, of railroad towns to Indiana. The local com- Indiana, Pennsylvania.

From his boyhood up Mr. A. W. Wilson was deeply impressed with an appreciation of the priceless value of education. He was one of the gentlemen who established a graded school in Indiana at a very early day. This insti- tution met with great success, fitting boys for the sophomore classes of Princeton and Yale. He was one of the first promoters of the Normal School and on the death of Judge Clark became his successor in the presidency of the board. He was not only a believer, but a doer, in an educational way, and it is said that he expended $30,000 in the education of his children. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church at an early age and served his church as trustee, treasurer, elder, and for eighteen years as superintendent of the Sabbath School. For nearly a score of years before his death he was a trustee of the Presbyterian Western Theological Semi- nary at Allegheny, Pa. It can be truly said that he did as much for the mental, moral and religious life of the community in which he lived as any man who has ever lived in it, and the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors and by those who knew him best was evidenced by the fact that on the day of his funeral the business houses of the town were closed and the large church in which the services were held was crowded with his friends. He reared a remarkable family and taught them the habits of industry and hon- esty, and while he gave much attention to their education, he taught them the principles of business and economy.

Harry W. Wilson, eldest in the family of Andrew W. Wilson, was born Aug. 26, 1854, and was baptized in the Presbyterian Church to which his parents belonged. He received his early education in the public schools of Indiana, Pa., and in the fall of 1870 from these schools he entered Princeton College, as a member of the sophomore class, graduating in 1873. Returning to Indiana he engaged in the mercantile business with his father. About 1878-79 he became a member of the firm of Wilson, Sutton & Co., and in 1883 bought the share of John W. Sutton, the firm becom- ing A. W. Wilson & Son, under which name the business was operated from that time until the senior Mr. Wilson's death.

Before his father's death Mr. Wilson had become interested in the exploitation of nat- ural gas, the Saltsburg Natural Gas Company being persuaded through his efforts to extend its lines through Blairsville and the Branch

pany, known as the Indiana County Gas Com- pany, was organized in 1890, and opened the well-known Willet gas fields in Washington township. It had a capital of $450,000, and he and his father were largely interested. The plant established met the highest expec- tations of all concerned, and the manufactur- ers and others who could make use of the gas patronized the company freely, so that it was a success from the start. After his father's death and his withdrawal from mer- cantile business, Mr. Wilson gave most of his time to the interest of this concern, with which he continued his association until it was sold to the American Gas Company, in 1909. He is extensively interested in oil, having large investments in the Oklahoma oil fields, where he has operated on a large scale. He is at present operating in the oil fields of West Virginia. Mr. Wilson is also connected with one of the leading financial institutions of Indiana, the Farmers' Bank, of which he was elected president in 1905, holding that office continuously to the pres- ent. His successful conduct of various im- portant enterprises has placed him among the foremost business men of the county. He is a trustee of the State Normal School, at Indiana, Pa., and of Grove City College, Grove City, Pa. He acted as chairman of the Democratie connty committee, in 1882-83, and was also a member of the Pennsylvania Demo- cratic State committee. He was a presidential elector on the Hancock ticket.

On Jan. 9, 1883, Mr. Wilson was married in Kittanning. Pa., to Margaret Patton, daughter of Matthew D. and Margaret (Mech- ling) Patton, and granddaughter of Philip Mechling, at whose house the ceremony took place. She was a sister of the late Judge Patton, of Kittanning. In 1882 Mr. Wilson had bought the Stannard mansion on Water street, and there resided until Mrs. Wilson's death, which occurred Sept. 28, 1889. Two children survived Mrs. Wilson, namely : Harry W., Jr., now of California, and Mar- garet Patton, living at home.

REV. LEWIS HAY, D. D., pastor of the Lutheran Church in Indiana borough, Indiana county, has had his present charge continu- ously since 1885, and deserves much credit for the thriving condition which the congre- gation has maintained for so many years. He is an honored citizen of this place and highly esteemed in all circles. Dr. Hay was born in 1840 at Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., son of

722

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Robert and Jane (Buhl) Hay and grandson who is in the realty business at Pittsburg; of Robert Hay.

Robert Hay, the grandfather, was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish parentage. He came to the United States when quite young, and in his early manhood engaged in the fishing · business along the New England coast for a short time. He then came to Pennsylvania, settling near Pittsburg, in MeCandless town- ship, Allegheny county, where he took up large tracts of land. It was then heavily cov- ered with timber, but he succeeded in clearing a large acreage, and he was not only one of the most prosperous farmers of the county in his day, but a man highly esteemed for his sterling qualities and value as a citizen. He was one of the charter members of the First United Presbyterian Church in the city of Al- legheny, to which he belonged for thirty-nine years, and for many years one of its influen- tial officials. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven.

Robert Hay, son of Robert, was born at Pittsburg. When a young man he did farm work, subsequently learning shoemaking, which trade took him into the business which proved to be his life work. After following his trade as a journeyman a few years he set- tled at Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., where he remained, engaged in the shoe business, for a period of thirty-five years, at the end of that time selling out and going to Pittsburg. There he again established himself, in the same line, on the north side, continuing in business as a manufacturer and dealer for several years more, and he was very successful, being one of the most extensively interested in that field in his day. He was a man who interested himself in public affairs, particularly the sub- ject of free education, and he served on the school board of Allegheny county. His relig- ious connection was with the Lutheran Church. He married Jane Buhl, daughter of Christian Buhl, one of the pioneer settlers at Zelienople, a successful business man and a citizen highly respected for his high char- acter and worth as a man. Mr. Buhl was a hatter, a trade very important at that time, and followed that business for several years. He also dealt in real estate, being himself the owner of extensive tracts of land. He was for many years a member of the German Lutheran Church at Zelienople. Mr. Hay died in 1887, his wife in December, 1909. They were the parents of six children, namely : confined to his parishioners.

and R. H., who is a retired lawyer and re- sides at Pittsburg.

Lewis Hay attended public school and the academy at Zelienople, and when he began the serious work of life was associated in business with his father at Pittsburg for a time. His next occupation was as traveling salesman for a New England leather and shoe manufacturing concern, with which he was connected in that capacity until 1873, at which time he put his determination to pre- pare for the ministry into practical execution. He took up a course of theological reading for one year, and then entered the Western Pres- byterian Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in 1877. His first call was to the Church of the Reformation at Washington, D. C. From there he went to Brookville, Jefferson Co., Pa., where he was pastor for two years, at the end of that time changing to Leechburg, Arm- strong Co., Pa., where he was stationed from 1881 to 1885. In 1885 he came to Indiana as pastor of the Lutheran Church, which at that time was quite weak, the congregation numbering only about 165 members, and the church activities without enthusiastic support. Under Dr. Hay's pastorate the church has grown until there are 475 members, with a Sunday school of 450 members, including a male Bible class of nearly one hundred, a mother's Bible class of about fifty and an in- fant department of nearly one hundred. This church has the largest missionary society in the Pittsburg Synod. Over thirty thousand dollars has been expended upon the church building and the parsonage property is a very creditable holding, worth over ten thousand dollars. The congregation is entirely free from debt. This condition of spiritual and material prosperity has only been attained through the most unremitting labors on the part of the pastor cooperating with his peo- ple, and the efforts Dr. Hay has put forth have been recognized and appreciated by his faithful supporters, who give him the prin- cipal share of credit for the flourishing con- dition of affairs in the church at the present time. His enthusiasm and interest have never waned, his courage and energy have never relaxed, and his devotion has been un- questioned throughout his long pastorate. The respect in which he is held is by no means

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 138

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