Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 150

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 150

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Hugh Maek, son of Robert and Margaret (MeDonald) Mack, was born April 24, 1824, in what is now West Wheatfield township, and there attended subscription school, When R. C. Leggett, being thus engaged for three thirteen years old he began to work on the years, at the end of which time he started as Pennsylvania canal, being a mule driver on the towpath between Pittsburg and Johns- town, was later bowsman and also steersman, being thus engaged for thirteen years. He afterward became captain of a paeket plying between Johnstown and Pittsburg; holding this position four years. After giving up known as Summit Hill, overlooking the Cone- canal work he settled down to farming in maugh river and the borough of Seward. It

Clyde, where he owned a traet of 100 acres. He erected a log dwelling and barn and made many other improvements there, farming that place until 1865, when he moved to the farm now owned by his youngest son, near Center- ville, in the same township. This was known as the Hiee farm, a tract of 100 aeres, and he cultivated that place all his active years, dying there at the age of sixty-five years; he is buried in Bethel -Church cemetery in West Wheatfield township. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was a man who lived up to high standards in every relation of life. IIe was married in West Wheatfield township to Mary Ann MeCrory, of Wheatfield township, daughter of John Mc-

Robert H. Mack, son of Hugh and Mary Ann (McCrory ) Maek. attended school in West Wheatfield township. He was twelve years old when his father moved to the Hiee farm near Centerville, and there he assisted with the farm work until he reached his majority and started out for himself. His first employ- ment away from home was in the stone quarries of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Blairsville, where he received $1.80 a day. After a year there he became a hand on the ballast train at New Florence under fireman on the Pennsylvania road, between Derry and Altoona, on both passenger and freight trains. After four years at this work he gave up railroad life and returned to agri- cultural work, in 1880 buying 123 acres in East Wheatfield township, on an elevation

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was owned by Alexander Butler. Mr. Mack started to farm on his own account. His first cleared up much of this tract, and cultivated employment other than farming was with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as tele- graphier, but after two years at that he settled down to agricultural pursuits, near Center- ville, in West Wheatfield township, farming a and improved it, by hard work and thrifty methods winning success and a place among the substantial citizens of his township. His enterprise and progressive disposition, and his public-spirited interest in the general wel- tract of fifty-three acres there for twenty fare, have been recognized by his fellow citi- zens, who have honored him with election to various local positions of trust. He has served six years as township assessor, four terms as member of the board of school directors, and as member of the board of elections, being also inspector and clerk of elections. In political

years. Then he bought his present 80 acres in West Wheatfield township, where he carries on general farming. At one time he was in the lumber business, operating a sawmill, and when he suffered the loss of his left hand, which was cut off by a saw in 1886, he bore his affliction with a fortitude characteristic of matters he has always supported the Republi- the man under all circumstances. In spite can party and its principles. He is a leading member of the Presbyterian Church at Sew- ard, of which he has been steward and trustee, and served as a member of the building com- mittee. Fraternally he unites with the Royal Arcanum. of this, however, he has made a success of his work and is one of the prosperous men of his locality. In 1890 Mr. Mack married Florence Kline, who was born in West Wheatfield township, daughter of Samuel Kline, and they have had the following children: Beulah was educated in the public schools and at summer normal under Professors Weaver and Camp- bell, and she has taught school in Buffington and East Wheatfield townships; Edith, edu- cated in the public schools and the Johnstown Conservatory of Music, is now engaged in teaching music; Emma died when eight years old. Mr. Mack is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at New Florence, which he has served efficiently as trustee and treas- urer. He is a Republican and has been active in local politics, serving as judge and clerk of the election board.

On March 29, 1877, Mr. Mack was married, at New Florence, Pa., to Josephine McBurney, of Centerville, Pa., daughter of Cadwallader and Rosenna (Freeman) McBurney, of West Wheatfield township. She is also a member of the Presbyterian Church. Children as fol- lows have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mack : (1) Alpha May (Allie), born May 28, 1878, was educated in the public schools and at sum- mer normal under Prof. J. T. Stewart and Prof. C. A. Campbell. She married Armore P. Clark, and died April 7, 1905, the mother of four children, Virginia, Robert Paul, Sam- uel Earl (who died in infancy ) and Emogene. (2) Mabel Satardo, born Feb. 25, 1880, was NICHOLAS DANIEL ALTIMUS is living on his father's old farm in Buffington town- ship, Indiana county, where he was born Dec. 27, 1860, son of David and Susan (Dick) Altimus. educated in the public schools and at summer normal under Professors Stewart and Camp- bell, and taught school for three terms before her marriage to David Miller Campbell, of Blairsville, Pa. (3) Mary Bertha, born Oct. The Altimus family, particularly well 24, 1882, was educated in the public schools known in Brushvalley township, is one of the and at summer normal under the same in- structors as her sisters had, and is now the wife of Ransom E. Tomb, of East Wheatfield township. (4) Virginia J., born July 23, 1884, was educated in the public schools and at summer normal under Professors Stewart and Campbell, and is now married to Mack Hood ; they have three children, Mildred Vir- ginia, Warren Mack and Ethel Frances. (5) Julia Rea, born Feb. 3, 1893, is a music teacher and lives at home.

JOSEPH MACK, son of Hugh and Mary Ann (McCrory) Mack, received his education in the public schools of West Wheatfield town- ship. He worked with his father from boy- hood until he attained his majority, when he

oldest and most respected in this portion of Indiana county. The first of the name in Brushvalley was Adam Altimus (Altemus, as the name is also spelled), who was of Holland (Dutch) extraction and a native of Northamp- ton county, Pa. Coming to Indiana county about 1798 he located in Center township, near the line of what is now Brushvalley township, on what is now known as the Robert McPhetris farm, and here he settled down to farming, having a tract of 200 acres, which he improved very materially. He built a fine brick dwell- ing house on the farm, the first of its kind in that section, the brick being made on his place. He spent his active life on the farm, and when he retired from active labor moved to Me-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

chanicsburg, where he owned a home and spent the remainder of his life, dying there in Sep- tember, 1863; he was buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery. He was blind some years before his death. Mr. Altimus was a member of the Lutheran Church, was a Whig and Re- publican in politics, and was known to all as a man who did his duty faithfully in his walk of life. He married Evaline (Eve) Shaffer, a native also of Northampton county, and she is buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery near Graceton, in Center township. Children as follows were born to this pioneer couple : Nicholas; Margaret, who married Peter Steffy ; Daniel, who married Elizabeth Hendrickson ; John, who married Mary A. Drennen ; Thomas, who was killed, with the horse he was riding, by a falling tree, while returning from Wake- field's mill; William, who married Prudence Peddicord; Susanna, who married Samuel Wolf; and David, who married Sarah Peddi- cord.

there grew to manhood. What education he received was obtained in the subscription schools of the day. He worked at home with his father until of age, when in 1823 he settled on Brushcreek run, in Brushvalley township, and with his father's help built the first grist and sawmill in Brushvalley township (then a part of Wheatfield township), which he oper- ated. In 1853 the old mill was replaced by the present structure, and operations have been carried on there ever since. In 1848 he built the frame dwelling house which is now the home of his son William Wolf Altimus. Besides attending to the mill work he farmed a tract of 128 acres near the mill, and was a successful business man, acquiring the owner- ship of over five hundred acres before his death; most of it is still in the possession of

his sons and grandchildren. On Feb. 23, born May 19, 1834, in Brushvalley township, 1872, while leaving his home to attend a sale, daughter of Daniel and Susan (Lightner) the horse he was riding slipped on the ice and fell, and Mr. Altimus fell from the horse, his head striking on the hard ground. IIe died from the effects of his injuries in a few days, and was buried in the Lutheran Church ceme- tery in Brushvalley township. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church and active in its work. In politics he was a stanch Whig and Republican. He was prominent in local af- fairs, serving as assessor, tax collector and school director of the township, as well as in other public offices. Dick, and she survives him, now residing with her son Nicholas. Nine children were born to this union, as follows: Sarah C. married James U. Duncan, now a retired farmer, of Sioux City, Iowa; Robert Thomas married; Nicholas Daniel is mentioned below ; William Harry, born July 14, 1863, died in December, 1908, and is buried at Strongstown, this county, where he had served as postmaster (he married Jennie Gillespie) ; Lorenzo Dick, un- married, lives at Sioux City, Iowa ; Katie Belle married Charter Meeks and lives in Sioux City, Iowa; Mary Susan married Edward Burns, who is a farmer and merchant at

In 1821 Nicholas Altimus married Mary Wolf, who was born in Brushvalley township

in 1802, daughter of John Wolf, and died in that township. She is buried in the cemetery of the Lutheran Church, of which she was a member. Fourteen children were born to this marriage : Martha II. married Alexander Noble, and both are deceased; Margaret mar- ried Frank Hurlinger and both are deceased ; Adam married Catharine Conrad; Elizabeth married C. R. Weaver and died in Brush- valley ; Susanna died in young womanhood ; David, born April 19, 1831, married Susan Diek, and resided in Buffington township, this county ; James, born Dec. 27, 1832, married Mary E. Dorney, and died in Buffington town- ship; Evaline married Robert Pringle; Sarah married Amos Knabb and both are deceased ; Mary married George Paul; Charlotte mar- ried John Shaffer ; William Wolf and Mathias S. are residents of Brushvalley township and fully mentioned elsewhere ; John A. died when four and a half years old.

David Altimus was born April 19, 1831, in Nicholas Altimus, eldest son of Adam Alti- Brushvalley township, there attending sub- mus, was born in 1800 in Center township and scription school. Later he bought part of his father's farm, a tract of 100 acres located in what is now Buffington (then a part of Brush- valley) township, to which he afterward added 500 acres, and he engaged in the clearing and cultivation of this place with great success, becoming a prosperous general farmer. He also raised a large amount of stock, and ran a sawmill located on Blacklick creek, near the old red mill, he and his brother James build- ing and operating this mill in partnership. Mr. Altimus built a large and substantial house and barn on his farm. He was one of the prominent men of the locality in his day, serving many years as township assessor and auditor, was a Republican in political connec- tion, and a member of the Lutheran Church. He died April 16, 1887.

Mr. Altimus married Susan Dick, who was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Ebensburg, Pa .; John died young; David Ireland, and he located near the site of Hays, unmarried, lives with his mother.

Nicholas Daniel Altimus attended common school in Buffington township. He has passed all his life there except one year, when he was in Sioux City, Iowa, upon his return from the West purchasing the home place from the other heirs. He owns and operates 240 acres, Presbyterian. and has followed farming and lumbering. He John Thompson, son of John, was born and sold the old sawmill built by his father. Mr. reared on his father's farm, where he con- Altimus has set out a large number of fruit trees, built a commodious barn, and made numerous other improvements upon the prop- erty during his ownership, and the fine condi-

tinned to reside until his death, in 1877, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was well educated for his day, and was a valued em- ployee of the Potter Furnace Company for tion of the place is sufficient evidence of his some time, first in the capacity of clerk and progressive and enterprising nature. He is afterward as manager of their extensive iron interested in all local affairs, and has held township office, having served three years as school director and three years as auditor. In polities he is a Republican. He is a prominent member of the M. E. Church at Strongstown, of which he has been trustee and steward for the last three years. works. He resigned the latter position to en- gage in the general mercantile business at Stormstown, and became one of the substan- tial citizens of that place, admired for his ability and respected for his honor and in- tegrity. His services were constantly in de- mand among his neighbors in all matters of importance, especially in legal business. He served one term as sheriff of Center county. Mr. Thompson married Lydia Blake, of Ken- nett Square, Chester Co., Pa., and as the mar- riage was against the wishes of her parents they disinherited her.

On Aug. 26, 1886, Mr. Altimus married Annie M. Duncan, daughter of John W. and Marian (Griffith) Duncan, and they have had five children : Orah Belle; Maude Delle, who has taught school in Buffington township for the last five years ; Susan May, who has taught four terms of school ; Hugh Mack ; and Russell John.

Stormstown, having an 1812 war claim. He engaged in farming and stock breeding, mak- ing a specialty of raising ox teams, for sale in eastern markets. He served for several years as justice of the peace. Mr. Thompson died in early life. In religious faith he was a

John Keene Thompson, M. D., son of John and Lydia (Blake) Thompson, was born in Center county, Pa., at the village of Storms- town, twelve miles west of Bellefonte, Dec. 25, 1821, and was reared there. At the age of seventeen he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa., studying there two years, after which he read medicine with Dr. George B. Engles. In 1844 he matriculated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which in-

HORACE JOHN THOMPSON, president of the Marion Center National Bank, of Marion Center, has been closely associated with the business life of that part of Indiana county from young manhood. As merchant, banker and real estate dealer he has been a leading man in this section, while his efficient services in the administration of public affairs stitution he was gradnated in 1845, and the stamp him as a citizen of the highest value to following March located for practice at Marion Center, Indiana Co., Pa., where he passed practically the remainder of his life. Dr. Baldwin was then the only physician in that section. Dr. Thompson was soon in command of a wide practice, which not only covered his home neighborhood but extended over the community. The man of large private interests is specially fitted to judge the needs of his town and county, but he is not always willing to sacrifice time to place his own un- usual abilities at the service of his fellow citi- zens. No selfishness of this kind, however, has governed Mr. Thompson in his relations parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and Armstrong to the borough in which he makes his home, and the influence of his go-ahead disposition and broad policies is felt in many phases of life in this locality.

counties. In 1863 he removed to Indiana, where he remained only two years, however, returning to Marion Center, in which borough he died Sept. 17, 1890. In his latter years he lived retired, attending patients only in tion.

The family to which Mr. Thompson be- longs has been settled in Pennsylvania for his own town, or when called into consulta- several generations and is of Scotch-Irish de- scent. His great-grandfather, John Thomp- It was not only as a physician that Dr. Thompson had a wide reputation. He was son, was one of the early settlers of Center county, Pa., who came from County Derry, elected associate judge of Indiana county in

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1856, and at the expiration of his term, in whom he clerked two years, the first year for 1861, was reelected, serving until 1866. In fifteen dollars a month and board, the second 1874 he was elected a member of the Penn- year for thirty dollars a month and board. sylvania Legislature, and was reelected in 1875. He also held local offices, and was serving as president of the Marion Center school board and burgess of the borough at

In 1873 he began business on his own account, buying an interest in the general store of J. C. Rochester, at Rochester Mills, this county. He spent a year there, in 1874 selling the time of his death. Before the war he his interest and going to Decker's Point, this was a Free-soiler in political opinion, and from 1865 was an active Republican, serving as delegate to the National convention at Philadelphia that nominated Grant for presi- dent and as alternate to the convention at

county, where he bought the store property (but not the goods) of William N. Prothero and began business as a general merchant. IIe was established there as such until 1894, and a few years before gave his son a half interest, Chicago in 1888 that nominated Harrison for the son taking the store when his father with- president. The Doctor proved himself a good drew. business man in the management of his pri- vate interests, owning about five hundred acres of valuable land besides his town property, and he was a charter member and one of the directors of the Indiana County Deposit Bank. He was a trustee of the State normal school at Indiana. "It has been the privilege of very few men to be so eminently useful as Dr. John Keene Thompson was in all that pertained to the well-being of his neighbors and the prosperity of his community. As a physician he had always been successful, as a judge he was able and impartial, as a legis- lator none were more active in the interests of the constituents, and as a man he stood high in the estimation of his fellow citizens throughout the county." He was buried in the Gilgal Church cemetery, whence his re- mains have since been removed by his son H. J. Thompson to Marion Center. Dr. Thompson was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

On April 6, 1849, Dr. Thompson married Jane Thompson, daughter of Robert Thomp- son, and of the seven children born to them only one, Horace John, survives. Mrs. Thompson died Jan. 4, 1888, and is interred at Marion Center.

Horace John Thompson, son of Dr. Jolin Keene and Jane (Thompson) Thompson, was born Jan. 14, 1850, in Marion Center, and there began his education in the public schools. He also attended Indiana Academy, under Prof. Adam Rowes, and among his classmates at that institution were Alexander Taylor, of Indiana, Henry Hall, James Watt, A. S. Cunningham (the well-known business man of Indiana), Dr. Frank Ehrenfeld and John P. St. Clair, the latter of Homer City, this county. He preferred a business career to professional life, and accordingly upon his return from school entered the employ of Bovard & McGregor, general merchants, for H. G. Work, cashier; J. A. Smith, assistant

After giving up merchandising Mr. Thomp- son returned to Marion Center, his early home, where he has since lived on the spot where he was born and raised. Upon the foundation of the old Thompson dwelling he has erected a substantial brick residence, one of the finest homes in that section. He has given con- siderable attention to real estate since his re- turn to the borough, and is himself one of the largest real estate owners in the northern part of Indiana county, having eight farms situated within a radius of seven miles from Marion Center, all underlaid with valuable coal deposits, as well as other property. When the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company built the branch lines from Pitts- burg through Indiana county Mr. Thompson became purchasing agent for the company. buying the land for the right of way ; he was thus engaged for over two years. Local en- terprises have always received his support and encouragement. He has been associated with the founding of two of the most important concerns of the borough to-day, the Marion Center National Bank, 1905, and the Heat, Light & Power Company, 1910, in both of which he is still a stockholder and serving on the board of directors. He was the organizer of and largest stockholder in the bank, which began business Ang. 21, 1905, was elected the first president of that institution, and has served in that responsible position continu- ously since. Under his wise management the bank has made great strides and is one of the most prosperous in the county outside of In- diana borough. The capital stock, originally $35,000, was increased in 1908 to $50,000, and the latest "condensed statement," made Nov. 26, 1912, showed the surplus to be over $56,000, circulation $50,000, and deposits of $295,000; resources, $452,000. Besides Mr. Thompson, the officers are C. R. Griffith, vice president;

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

cashier. The directors are H. J. Thompson, William Rankin, H. P. Wetzel, N. C. Simp- son, S. S. Wetzel, C. R. Griffith, C. A. Oberlin and J. M. Thompson (son of H. J. Thompson). The bank building was erected in 1905. This institution has had a marked influence in the prosperity of local business enterprises. Deeply concerned in the agricultural interests of his community, Mr. Thompson has been a liberal patron of the Indiana County Agri- cultural Association, and has been a member of its board of managers for the last fifteen years.

burg Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; and the Consistory at Williamsport, having attained the thirty-second degree.

In 1871 Mr. Thompson married Annie I. McMurray, daughter of James and Amelia (Eason) McMurray, of Burnside, Clearfield Co., Pa., the former of whom was engaged in the lumber business for many years in Clear- field county. For the last two years of his life he lived with his daughter, Mrs. H. J. Thompson, and died at her home. He is buried at Burnside, Clearfield county. All of his five children have passed away, Mrs. Thompson dying in September, 1899. She was the mother of two children, John Mc- Murray and Harry Earl. On Feb. 25, 1903, Mr. Thompson married (second) Bertha Mc- Connaughey, daughter of Thompson McCon- naughey, born Dec. 5, 1872. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Presbyterian Church and actively interested in its work.

Mr. Thompson has held various borough offices, serving as member of the borough council, for several years as burgess, and as member of the school board, of which he was president. He represented his district in the State Legislature for two terms, and served his constituents ably and faithfully. He was a member of the committees on Appropria- tions, Railroads, Banks and Banking, and Judiciary General. Referring to the "His- at Heilwood, Pa., and manager of the Heil- tory of the Pennsylvania State Government," written by William Rodearmel during the ses- sion of 1901 and 1902, Mr. Thompson's second term in the House, we find the following : "That his merits were appreciated by his associates on the floor of the House may be

JOHN MCMURRAY THOMPSON, postmaster wood Company, which has one of the largest general stores in Indiana county, was born April 11, 1872, at Marion Center, Indiana county, son of Horace John Thompson. The first school he went to was at Decker's Point; later he attended at Marion Center, and sup-

inferred from the fact that he was honored plemented his early training by two years' by an assignment to the committee on the study at the Indiana State normal. When Judiciary General, a position rarely given to nineteen years old he became associated with

members other than lawyers and such as have his father in the mercantile business, taking had considerable experience in legislation. It charge of the latter's store at Decker's Point, is probably safe to say that no new member and eventually became sole owner of the husi- ness there. After his father severed his con- nection with same he carried it on at the old location until 1904, when he moved it to Heil- wood, then a small but enterprising village. There it was absorbed by the Heilwood Com- pany and incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1912 the Heilwood Company increased its capital stock and in addition to the general merchandise busi- ness, after acquiring some four hundred acres of farm land, installed one of the most complete dairy plants in western Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Thompson has developed the has, in recent years, been so highly distin- guished in the matter of committee assign- ments." In politics Mr. Thompson has always been a stanch and uncompromising Republi- can, standing for the principles advocated by Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Mckinley and Taft. In 1896 he was a delegate to the Republican State convention, and was appointed an alter- nate to represent the Republicans of Pennsyl- vania at the National League convention of Republican clubs held at Omaha in July, 1908. Mr. Thompson will fight to defend his convictions or principles and is true to his standards. He is a keen business man, and business into one of the largest concerns of has a reputation for correct judgment which the kind in the county and is recognized as makes him respected and trusted by all who an energetic and progressive young merchant, have dealings with him. His friends are of more than average ability and capacity. many, for he is known all over the county and While a resident of Decker's Point he served has a genial personality which attracts and six years as postmaster, and on the establish- holds people. His private and public life are ment of the postoffice at Heilwood he was above reproach. He is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., of Indiana ; Zerub- babel Chapter, R. A. M., of Pittsburg; Pitts-

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 150

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