Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 153

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 153

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On Nov. 3, 1897, Mr. Buchanan was mar- ried to Venola Waltmire, daughter of John A. and Susan Waltmire, of Indiana, and they have a family of five children, namely: An- nie Zoe, Alice A., Esther V. and Marion W. (twins) and Harvey M.

HUGHI DIXON TOMB lives upon the old Tomb homestead in East Wheatfield township, Indiana county, where he was born Nov. 19, 1863, son of John D. Tomb. The Tombs are among the oldest families in that section, hav- ing been here since 1792. The family was originally Scotch, but for generations resided in County Armagh, Ireland.

David Tomb, the founder of this branch of the family in Indiana county, was born about 1760 in County Antrim, Ireland, and was reared there. His father, William Tomb, of County Armagh, had a family of seven chil- dren, named as follows: John, who came to America in 1790; Hugh, who remained in the old country; David; Catharine, who married James Anderson; Mary, who married Rich- ard Dempsey; Elizabeth, who married Alex- ander Carnathan; and Margaret Jane, who married William Parker and (second) James Graham. Margaret Jane was the first settler in Armagh, Indiana Co., Pa., with the ex- ception of Richard Dempsey, who married her sister Mary Tomb. All the rest of the family settled in what is now East Wheatfield township, in 1792.

one of their graveyards was on his farm. Here he hewed out a home for himself and spent the remainder of his life on the farm, doing what he could to clear it up and im- prove it. By hard work and intelligent ef- forts he succeeded in making the land pro- ductive. He and his brother John patented a tract of over two thousand acres on Black- lick creek. He died on his farm Aug. 23, 1838, at the age of seventy-eight years, and was bur- ied in Bethel Church cemetery, in what is now West Wheatfield township. The family were members of the Associate Reformed Church, which later became the United Pres- byterian Church. He married Elizabeth Dick- son, who was born about 1770 and died in 1854, aged eighty-four years, and was laid to rest in Bethel Church cemetery. She was a member of the U. P. Church. Nine chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tomb: Cath- arine; Hugh; John, who married Frances Shaw; Mary ( Polly), who married Samuel Killin; Richard Dickson; Jane; William; Elizabeth, who married John Buchanan; and David. born in 1809, who married Angelina Killin (he was justice of the peace for fifteen years ).

Hugh Tomb, the eldest son of David, was born in Wheatfield township March 1, 1794. What education he received was obtained in the subscription schools of that day, and he could attend only three months or less each year. Yet he became a well-read man for his day. He grew up on the farm, working with his father, and helped while still young to clear the land. For a period he worked on the construction of the Pennsylvania canal, as a hewer of timber, being engaged on the con- struction work from Blairsville to Johnstown. He also hewed most of the timber used in the construction of the Conemaugh and Baker furnaces, and hewed timber used in the con- struction of log houses and barns in that sec- tion. He settled down to farming in that part of the township now known as East Wheatfield, on a tract of 160 acres, which he bought from Judge Thomas White, father of Judge Harry White. Here he erected a log house, the logs for which were hewed by him- self, and a part of this house is still standing, now being used as a tinshop by Hugh D. Tomb. He made this house large and com- fortable, and it was his home for the re- mainder of his life. He worked hard to clear up and cultivate his farm, upon which he died March 12, 1863; he was buried in the family

David Tomb came to America with other members of the family in 1792, locating in what is now East Wheatfield township, one and a half miles east of Armagh, which was then a part of Westmoreland county. Here he became the owner of 250 acres of land near Armagh. the oldest town in the county, in what was then a wilderness, and on which he erected a log house and log stable. In- lot in Bethel cemetery. Mr. Tomb was a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Democrat in politics, and took considerable making her home with her son John Calvin interest in local affairs, serving the township in East Wheatfield township. Seven children were born to this union: Joseph, who is de- eeased; George Steele, who died when four- teen months old; Robert Anderson, who lives in Vandergrift, Pa .; Nancy Jane, who mar- as tax collector and doing his share toward the establishing of the public school system. He was enterprising and progressive, keeping abreast of his day and generation. On Dec. 31, 1818, Mr. Tomb married Agnes Devlin, ried Joshua Cole; Hugh Dixon; Blanche, who died young ; and John Calvin. daughter of Samuel Devlin, who died Jan. 30, 1823, aged forty-eight years. Mrs. Tomb died on the farm, and was buried in Bethel Church cemetery. She was the mother of thir- teen children: Samnel Devlin, born Jan. 30,

Ilugh Dixon Tomb had such educational ad- vantages as the public schools near the home- stead afforded. He worked at home until seventeen years old, when he went to Johns- W. W. Pike, with whom he worked for three and a half years. Thence he went to Derry, Westmoreland county, and worked one year

1820, married Maria Louisa MeCartney; town, there learning the trade of tinsmith with David, born Nov. 10, 1821, married Matilda Clark and (second) Jane Bracken; John D., born Sept. 6, 1823, married Lucinda Hutchi- son; William D., born Jan. 19, 1825, married+ for J. W. Valentine. Returning home in 1887 Ellen MeKelvey, and resides at New Flor- he worked with his father the next four years, ence, Pa .; George Washington, born March also following his trade. In 1891 he took full 30, 1827, married Mary Ling and (second) charge of the cultivation of the homestead, Elizabeth Bracken and resides at Armagh, his father removing to the home he had Pa .; Richard D., born Jan. 15, 1829, married erected for his father. Mr. Tomb continues to work at his trade in connection with farm- ing, having for a workshop the log house erected by his grandfather, as previously stated. He has also done work in that line all over Indiana county. For fourteen years he has been extensively interested in dairy- ing, shipping his milk to the Johnstown Sani- tary Dairy Company, at Johnstown, Pa. He has been successful in all his undertakings, Emily Clark, and died in Armagh; Robert J., born Jan. 30, 1831, married Fannie B. Shearer and (second) Mary A. Hill; DeWitt Clinton, born Dec. 19, 1833, married Mary Berkey and resides at New Florence, Pa .; Benjamin Franklin, born July 14, 1835, was a physician and died in Johnstown, Pa. (he married Sarah Odell) ; Archibald D., born April 11, 1837, married Amanda Dill, and died in New Florence, Pa .; Matilda Devlin, and is one of the prosperous residents of his twin of Archibald, died in 1842; James F., township. He has served six years as school born Jan. 30, 1840, died March 6, 1842 ; James F. (2), born March 17, 1842, resides at New Florence, Pennsylvania.

director, during three years of that time act- ing as president of the board and the other three years as secretary. He has been a tee- totaler all his life, and gives his vote to the support of the Prohibition party. In church association he is a Presbyterian, belonging to the church at Armagh, which he has served twenty years as elder, for a long period as Sunday school teacher and for thirteen years as superintendent of the Sunday school.

John D. Tomb, son of Hugh and Agnes (Devlin) Tomb, was born on the homestead Sept. 6, 1823, and attended the log school in the neighborhood. He worked at home in his boyhood and youth, and then learned black- smithing at Johnstown, afterward following that trade at Armagh, in East Wheatfield township. Later he returned to the home- On May 29, 1890, Mr. Tomb was married, stead, where he erected a shop and followed in Buffington township, this county, to Della his trade the rest of his active life, also cul- Conrad, a native of that township, daughter tivating the place, which comprised 260 acres. of William and Lucinda (Evans) Conrad, He erected a dwelling and made many other and she died June 15, 1897, the mother of four improvements, and built a home near by for children. She was a member of the Baptist his parents, caring for them faithfully in Church of Dilltown. On March 23, 1898, Mr. their old age. He himself attained a ripe old Tomb married (second) Mary A. Altemus, of age, dying on the farm, and he was buried Buffington township, daughter of Nicholas in the Presbyterian Church cemetery. He and Cordilla (Wolfe) Altemus, and by this was a member of that church. In politics he marriage there are seven children. Mr. Tomb's was a Democrat, and he served his fellow citi- children were born as follows: Lucinda zens as school director. He married Lucinda Blanche, June 1, 1891 (at home) ; William Hutchison, daughter of Robert and Agnes Boyd, March 18, 1892 (at home) ; John Bion, (Steele) Hutchison, and she survives him, May 29, 1895; Mary Viola, June 1, 1896 (died

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in infancy) ; Joshua Roscoe, Dec. 27, 1898; for four years. From Illinois he went to James Miles, Mareh 26, 1900; Dora Cather- Iowa, where he was superintendent of the ine, Oct. 29, 1902; Henry Alvin, April 25, Ex-Convicts' Ilome, at Fort Dodge, for one 1904; Walter Frederiek, Jan. 22, 1907; Elsie Cordelia, Aug. 19, 1909; Hallie Elda, Sept. 16, 1912.

JOHN CALVIN TOMB, youngest son of John D. Tomb, was born on the homestead, and received his early education in the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. Later he at- tended summer normal under Prof. C. A. Campbell, and taught school for three terms, one at the Grove school in Buffington town- ship and two at the Trindle school in East Wheatfield township. He then began farm- ing, working on the homestead with his brother Hugh for two years, and was en- gaged in a store at Armagh for two years, after which he went to Derry township, West- moreland county, where he clerked in a store for a year and a half. The next year he followed teaming, and after the death of his father resumed farming in East Wheatfield township on the David Tomb farm of 214 aeres, where he has since been engaged in general farming and dairying, having made a specialty of the latter line for the last ten years. He sells his milk to the Johnstown Sanitary Dairy Company. In July, 1912, Mr. Tomb's barn was struck by lightning and destroyed, and he has replaced it with a thoroughly modern structure. Like his brother Mr. Tomb is a Prohibitionist in politi- cal association, and he has been quite inter- ested in public affairs in his township of which

Presbyterian Church, and has served as su- perintendent of the Sunday school.

Mr. Tomb married Melvina Wakefield, and they have children as follows: John David, Frank W., Grace, Paul L., Nancy E., and Ruth.

REV. IRA O. MALLORY, LITT. D. S., April 30, 1832, at Foot of Ten, son of Robert a resident of Blacklick, Indiana Co., Pa., is an Irish-Canadian by birth, born at Escott, Canada, in August. 1855. He was educated in the schools of his native county and at Albert College, Belleville, Ontario. He left Canada Robert Gardner, father of James, settled in Blair county, Pa., and was engaged as a woolen manufacturer. He married Rebecca Hartsoek, and both died in that county. He, too, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and four of his sons were in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war, one of them, John, having also served in the Mexican war. Five children were born to Robert and Rebecca (Hartsock) Gardner, all sons, namely: John, Joseph, in 1884 and went to the Ojibwa Indian Mis- sion at Iroquois Point, Lake Superior, where he remained one year. From Michigan he went to Illinois, where he served three pas- torates, when he was appointed chaplain of the Illinois State Reformatory, in which po- sition he served for four years. He was then advanced to the position of assistant superin- tendent, serving under Hon. George Torrence

year. After leaving prison work he took up church work again, serving two churches from that time until he relinquished minis- terial work in 1912, Manson ( Iowa) Congre- gational Church being his last pastorate. In February, 1912, Dr. Mallory came to Black- lick, Pa., where he now resides. He is at present interested in Florida lands.

On Feb. 15, 1912, Dr. Mallory married Mrs. Anna E. Gardner, and they occupy the home- stead of the late James Gardner.

Dr. Mallory is an authority on reformatory work, and is an expert lecturer on crimi- nology and penal questions. He received his bachelor's degree from Oskaloosa (Iowa) Col- lege, and later received the doctor's degree in sacred literature.

To Dr. Mallory's first marriage, to Eliza A. Moxley, of Leeds county, Ontario, were born three sons: George, the eldest, who is an attorney at Little Rock, Ark .; Frank, postmaster at DeQueen, Ark .; and Charles, who is in the mercantile business at Kansas City, Missouri.

Dr. Mallory is a prominent Mason, belong- ing to Gardner Lodge, No. 573. F. & A. M .; Wilmington Chapter, No. 142, R. A. M., and Blaney Commandery, No. 5. K. T. He also holds membership in the I. O. O. F. and Modern Woodmen of America.

JAMES GARDNER was the oldest citizen he has been auditor. He is a member of the of Blacklick, Indiana county, at the time of

his death, and he had been the most promi- nent member of that community for a num- ber of years. He laid out the town and named it, and his interest in its development and welfare never lessened during the al- most fifty years of his residence there. A native of Blair county, Pa., he was born Gardner and grandson of Moses Gardner. His great-grandfather served in the Revolu- tionary war, and his grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

James, Charles II. and David. The last named died Dec. 24, 1897, and in 1902 he married was colonel of the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry (second) Mrs. Anna E. Moreland, of Illinois, Reserves during the Civil war and led the pa- rade at Washington, D. C., at Grant's inaug- uration. He is now residing at Clarendon, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.

James Gardner passed his early life and young manhood in his native county, and ob- tained his education in the public schools. He came to what is now Blacklick, Indiana county, in 1861, as the first agent of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company at that point, when the Indiana branch was completed. At that time the station agent was also a purchas- ing agent, keeping the company supplied with Mrs. Anna E. Mallory is one of the foremost workers in the Eastern Star, which she joined in 1874 at Sparland, III. She is a past presi- dent of the Rebekah State Assembly of Illi- nois, and served that State ably as official examiner and instructor for the Rebekah De- ties and cordwood, and sometimes buying coal. Mr. Gardner was engaged thus for several years, resigning the position about 1870. Meantime he had been acquiring important lo- cal interests, the proper development of which demanded his attention. Ile had laid out the gree. Her connection with this auxiliary of town and named it, and as he was engaged in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has led her into exhaustive study of Odd Fellow- ship, in which she is considered so high an authority that she is frequently called upon to address lodges of that order. Her thorough familiarity with the origin and development of secret societies, benevolent organizations, and particularly the tenets and work of the I. O. O. F., its history, objects, ritual and inter- ests of all kinds, render her an entertaining and instructive lecturer, and she has become widely known and popular in that capacity. Experience in platform work, joined to nat- ural gifts of thought and speech, have made her a fluent and finished talker, and she has taken the utmost pains to make herself worthy of the honors which have been bestowed upon her. Her talents and attainments entitle her to be called one of the most valuable members of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. business as a general contractor for some years had considerable part in the erection of many of its first buildings. Owning a tract of 260 acres at that site, he gave land for streets and donated five acres for the use of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company when it was extended through the town. For some years he carried on a general store at Blacklick, and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank there, becoming the first vice president of that institution; before the erection of the bank building the directors held their meetings at his house. He sold seventy-six acres of land where the nearby town of Josephine now stands. His real estate, commercial and finan- cial ventures were all successful, and he not only managed them ably, but gave consider- able time and attention to the formation of various enterprises important to the improve- ment of his adopted town, where he established a beautiful home. His death, which occurred April 6, 1910, at the homestead, was regarded as a public loss. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and his former pastor, Rev. Dr. Jacobs, of the First M. E. Church of Al- toona, Pa., conducted his funeral services, assisted by Dr. C. L. E. Cartwright, pastor of the North Avenue M. E. Church of Pittsburg. The interment was in Blairsville cemetery, and Blairsville Lodge of Elks had charge of the services at the grave. Mr. Gardner was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. His father was made a Mason by special dispen- sation of King George of England, who was grand master in Scotland.

Mr. Gardner married Hester Cassell, who

who, on Feb. 15, 1912, became the wife of Dr. Ira O. Mallory. They reside in the beautiful Gardner homestead at Blacklick. Six chil- dren by his first marriage, two sons and four daughters, survived Mr. Gardner: William T., of Stet, Mo .; P. L., of Cluburne, Texas; Rebecca, Mrs. McDowell, of Pittsburg; Kate, Mrs. Miller, of Lima, Ohio; Mrs. E. A. Holmes, of Superior, Wis .; and Mrs. Charles Simpson, of Vallejo, Cal. There were then twenty-three grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.

CHARLES H. GARDNER, M. D., brother of the late James Gardner, was born Feb. 19, 1838, near Duncansville, Blair Co., Pa., and received his early education in the public schools. Then he attended the seminary at Cassville, Huntingdon Co., Pa., and high school at Hollidaysburg, and in 1861 he began to read medicine at the latter place, under Dr. P. S. Leisenring. In 1862 he was mus- tered into the Union service as hospital stew- ard, in the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, and in 1865 was commissioned acting assist- ant surgeon. He took part in all the engage- ments of the Army of the Potomac from Fred- ericksburg to the surrender of Lee at Ap- pomattox, and in 1866 resumed his medical studies, with Dr. C. W. Rollar, of Hollidays-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

burg. He took two courses of lectures at city. After several years' work as watchman Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York he decided to quit this hazardous occupation, City, was graduated therefrom in 1868, and and upon the advice of his brothers Samuel and Andrew bought a farm of 220 acres in the same year began practice in Pithole, Ve- nango Co., Pa., where he remained until 1873. Pine township, Allegheny county, near where He then settled at Philadelphia, where he has since followed his profession very successfully. He became a member of the Venango County Medical Society in 1868, and is now a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society : in 1887 he was a member of the International Medical Congress; and in 1888 he joined the Red Cross Society. He is a Mason, having been admitted to the fraternity in 1862, and a member of the G. A. R. and of the Union Veteran Legion.

In 1869 Dr. Gardner married Emily H. Smith, daughter of Hon. Garettson Smith, of Philadelphia. They have had two children, Raymond H. (a graduate of the Friends' Central high school, Philadelphia ) and Emily Florence, the latter deceased.

HUGH CRAIG ENGLISH is very well known in various connections to his fellow citizens of Homer City, Indiana county. He has been honored with election to important offices in the borough, and in every capacity has discharged his duties efficiently and in- telligently. He was born in Pine township. Allegheny Co., Pa., Dec. 8, 1851, son of John English, who came to America with his father and the rest of the family in the year 1825, from County Down, Ireland. They located first at Philadelphia. Several relatives ac- companied them, all the others going farther west and some locating at Pittsburg, Pa. These relatives later induced John English and his father's family to join them at Pitts- burg, and they were soon settled in Pine town- ship, Allegheny county.

John English was sixteen years old when he came with his father to America. He had learned the weaver's trade in Ireland, but gave it up after a time and became a baker, being thus employed for some time after his arrival in Philadelphia, until obliged to ahan- don the work because of ill health. His broth- ers Samuel and Andrew became residents of Pittsburg, and they obtained a position for him in that city as watchman when he came to western Pennsylvania. About that time Pittsburg was overrun with thieves, and Mr. English showed great tact and skill as a de- tective, finally succeeding in locating and ar- resting the notorious gang that was causing the trouble and breaking up and destroying the organization which had terrorized the

they were located. There he spent the re- mainder of his long life, passing away in 1894, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and was buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery near his home. In his prime he was noted for his great strength and fine physique. He took an active part in the administration of public affairs in the township where he settled, hold- ing office for a number of years, as school di- rector, collector, election officer, etc., and was held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In politics he was origin- ally a Whig, later a Republican. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Before leaving Philadelphia Mr. English married Eliza Bowers, whose father and grandfather came from Germany, the latter serving as a general in the War of 1812. Mrs. English died in 1899, at the age of eighty years, and was buried beside her husband in Mount Pleasant cemetery, in Pine township. Twelve children were born to this honored couple : One died in infancy; Andrew lives in Pine township. Allegheny county; Alex- ander lives on the North Side, in Pittsburg, Pa. : Elizabeth married Joseph Quail, of Belle- view, Pa. ; John is a farmer in Butler county, Pa .; Samuel, of Boston, Mass., is a noted horseman; Hugh Craig is mentioned below; Mary married Cyrus Rea, and lived in But- ler county, Pa .: James lives at East Liver- pool, Ohio: Margaret died when nine years old; Isabelle married A. C. Irwin, of Mars, Pa .; Matilda is the wife of Harry Dillon, of Pittsburg (North Side).

Hugh Craig English received his education in the common schools. When eighteen years old he began business for himself at Five Points. Allegheny county, buying and selling provisions, and marketing, in Pittsburg. He was very successful in this line, in which he continued for eleven years, but he decided to sell and seek a new location, in the spring of 1880 coming to Indiana county. His first home here was at. Cokeville, where he re- mained one year, the following spring mov- ing to Homer City. For ten years he followed the produce business, and for a time was en- gaged in contracting, building railroad and telephone lines in Pennsylvania and adjoining States, but had to give up this work in 1897 because of poor health. A short time after-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ward he commenced farming, buying the place twenty years. His helpful activity in every in Center township where he has since lived, movement in which he is interested, and his broad public spirit, make him a citizen of the highest worth. and where until recently he was actively en- gaged in general farming and stock raising. He has erected fine buildings on this property, On May 28, 1874, Mr. English married Elizabeth Rodgers, daughter of William and Sarah J. (McCord) Rodgers, of Pine township, Allegheny county, and the following children have been born to them: William, a resident of Homer City, who married May Gerhart; Minnie, deceased, who was the wife of Calvin Gerhard, of Blacklick station, this county; which is kept up in the systematic manner typical of the way in which Mr. English looks after all his interests. He has been prominently associated with the local govern- ment, having been a member of the council and served as president of that body. He has served a number of times on the election board of Homer City, and is a Republican in political connection. He belongs to the Jean, at home; Homer Glenn, of Vander- Homer City M. E. Church, in which he is a> grift, Pa .; Rilla ; and Mary, a school teacher prominent worker, having been a trustee for in Center township.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 153

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