USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 91
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John P. Ford, just referred to, is men- tioned as one of the early manufacturers here. He was also one of the town's most intelli- gent and upright citizens, a man with a well stored mind and a remarkable memory.
Matthew George was another early resi- dent. He had a store in Bairdstown, was a surveyor of reputation and executed legal papers. He was among the early elders of the Presbyterian Church. A surviving son, Laury, and family reside at Mount Pleasant, this State ; he is a merchant there. Two sons, Robert and Lewis, and their families reside here. Harry and Robert, two sons of Robert, have taken high places as bankers; Harry is a special bank examiner for the government.
BANKS
The First National Bank was authorized to commence business by Hugh Mccullough, ATTORNEYS comptroller of the currency, March 15, 1865, . Charles H. Moore, attorney at law, was with a capital of $80,000. It has renewed its born in Steamburg, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, April 29, 1871, and went with his parents to Sandy Lake, Mercer Co., Pa., when three years of age. There he resided until 1899, when he was married to Agnes, eldest daugh- ter of S. C. Fulton, of Blacklick township, Indiana Co., Pa. He graduated at Grove City College in 1895, was admitted to the charter twice and in its history has had five presidents up to the present year, 1913, in the order following: William Maher, Sam- uel Ray, Columbus Bell, Paul Graff and T. D. Cunningham (died October 9, 1913). In 1903 was erected the three-story brown stone banking house on the corner of Market and
The Blairsville National Bank was organ- ized June 9, 1893, by the election of John H. Devers, president; Robert M. Wilson, cash- ier; with the following board of directors: Thomas H. Long, John H. Devers, George Wilkinson, L. S. W. Ray, W. C. Richey, Dr. William Hunter, Dr. M. L. Miller. In 1907 John H. Devers retired from the presidency, and Thomas H. Long was elected his suc- cessor, which position he still holds. In May, 1903, Mr. Wilson resigned his position as cash- ier to accept the position of treasurer of the Savings & Trust Company of Indiana, Pa., E. E. Lewis succeeding him as cashier until August, 1905, when he resigned to accept the position of State bank examiner. H. P. Rhoads succeeded Mr. Lewis as cashier, which position he still holds.
During the summer of 1912 the bank was remodeled and enlarged, so that the banking room is now one of the finest in western Penn- sylvania. One of the many improvements was the installing of a "Tisco" manganese steel vault weighing fifty tons. The exterior of the building is Cleveland grey stone and brick, while the interior is Italian marble and ma- hogany.
The present board of directors consists of : Thomas H. Long, L. S. W. Ray, Robert M. Wilson (died August 7, 1913), John H. De- vers, G. M. Doty.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
bar of Mercer county in 1897 and to the In- Luckhart, D. E. Thompson, Cyrus Stouffer, diana county bar in 1899, and has practiced T. M. Duncan, W. C. Devinney ; E. E. Cribbs, street commissioner ; H. H. Wiley, city clerk. law in Blairsville since 1899. He has one son, Norman Fulton Moore, who was born June 14, 1903.
Coulter Wiggins, attorney at law, was born seventy years ago in White township, Indi- ana county. He read law with A. W. Tay- lor in Indiana, practiced in Minnesota six years, then in Indiana, Pa., until 1890, when he came to Blairsville, where he has been practicing since.
Samuel Miller has just commenced prac- tice here, his office being in the First National Bank building. His father was for years pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Salts- burg, this county.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania Railroad Young Men's Christian Association of Blairsville, organized February 12, 1911, incorporated December 4, 1911, has a membership of 300. The annual dues are $3.00. The building is open day and night. There is a library of between 600 and 700 volumes, and the tables in the read- ing room contain about thirty-five monthly and weekly periodicals, besides four Pitts- burg, one Philadelphia and one Altoona daily papers, the Blairsville and other county papers published weekly. There are Sunday afternoon meetings, Bible classes, men's prayer meetings, and social and educational meetings. Shower and tub baths are at the disposal of all, and there are fourteen beds for men away from home. The building and meetings are open to the public, membership open to every Pennsylvania Railroad em- ployee.
Officers and directors: C. P. Dixon, presi- dent; B. F. Sheriff, vice president; R. J. Claypoole, secretary ; T. M. Duncan, Sr., treasurer; R. R. Root, J. H. Hill, J. E. George, Samuel Hovis, Chas. Palmer, J. T. Tyson, W. D. Devinney, W. B. Spiess, Harry McKee, R. H. Orwig, J. J. Brantlinger, G. W. F. Woodside, general secretary.
MASONIC LODGE
Present officers of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., of Blairsville, are: Edward Phillips, worshipful master; Charles W. Rumbaugh, senior warden; James W. Marshall.
BOROUGH OFFICERS, 1913
School directors: George W. Davis; Claire Kennedy, secretary; Harry P. Rhoads; Ly- man Ray ; A. T. Rutledge, M. D.
PRESENT COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ESTAB- LISHMENTS
Following is a list of the manufacturing plants under operation in Blairsville at this time, also of those engaged in the various other kinds of business.
The Columbia Plate Glass Company is our largest manufacturing plant and the largest separate plant in the county. A fuller state- ment concerning this plant and its officers and directors will be found under "Blairsville by Decades."
The large building constructed by the West Penn Glass Company is now owned by men living in Newark, N. J., mentioned below.
Additional buildings have been constructed, and these with the other large building are used by the Little Giant Food Company, the Hen-E-Ta Bone Company and the Conemaugh Utilization Company.
C. L. Tittle, foundry, employs from thirty to fifty men.
John A. Stokes, machine shop, and engaged as manufacturer of refrigeration machines, has been here since 1906.
C. F. Murray has been engaged in the mak- ing of monuments for twenty-two years and has a model establishment.
Daniel Sowers repairs and makes furni- ture. He has been engaged here thus for twenty-four years.
The F. B. Andre Lumber Company has been in business for about ten years.
George Marshall, harness shop; business has been established for a number of years.
The Edward Phillips Dry Goods Company has been engaged in business here for some few years, occupying rooms in the First Na- tional Bank building. A large stock is car- ried.
E. J. and Knox Gilmore have a dry goods and grocery store on Maple avenue. The joint establishment is one of the largest in the town and has been established for the last sixteen or seventeen years.
The various coal mines operated around Blairsville are those of the Graff Coal Com- pany, at Strangford, three miles out; the Robert Smith Coal Company, Smith station;
Council: F. M. Smith, chairman; George Hunter, C. J. Gregory, M. G. Miller, W. C. the mines at what is known as Coalville,
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
operated by Thomas Maher and Wilbur P. Graff, and another one on the same hill oper- ated by James Flowers; the Jones mines, operated at Bernizer, three miles out. The Graff Coal Company ship their coal, as do the Robert Smith and the Jones Company. The mine of Maher & Graff supplies the Columbia Plate Glass Company, and James Flowers supplies the electric light plant.
The Robert Smith Company operate a mine that was opened as a country bank as far back as 1818. They commenced shipping in 1856. They have never had any one killed in their mines, nor had an accident followed by serions consequences. Robert Smith, the section. grandfather of Ralph and Wood Smith, was a superior man. As he opened a coal bank in 1818 he must have been enterprising. The Booth & Flinn Company, of Pittsburg, operate extensive quarries on Chestnut Ridge, near Blairsville.
M. E. Brown & Brother, meat packers, have been established in Blairsville for forty- one years. They have been in the wholesale business for over twenty years, have a nice plant and employ twenty men. M. E. Brown is serving his fourth term as burgess of Blairsville.
The Blairsville Enameled Ware Company, incorporated in 1908, capital stock $75,000, manufactures castiron, enameled bathtubs, sinks, lavatories, and other articles. The annual output is valued at $300,000. The employees number 135 men, mostly skilled mechanics. The officers are: F. D. Cook, president ; W. L. Reed, vice president; I. J. Bayliss, secretary ; H. L. Taylor, treasurer. The works are situated along the Indiana Branch railroad, the buildings are modern and fireproof.
Charles L. Tittle, foundry. The Blairs- ville Foundry was put into operation by Sam- uel Ray in 1874, and after managing it for four seasons he sold it to Charles L. Tittle. Mr. Tittle came from Johnstown, Pa., to Blairsville thirty-five years ago. He engaged in the foundry business, employing at first one or two men to assist him. He now employs from thirty to fifty and is doing a good sub- stantial business.
The J. G. McGuire Contracting Company (J. G. MeGuire and W. H. Coates) has offices in the First National Bank building. They come from New Brighton and have a large contract for placing sewer pipes, curbing, sidewalks and street paving in Blairsville.
People's Gas Company : J. M. Torrance is in charge of the Blairsville office.
R. Einstein, who is engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing business, also has the opera house, and in connection two electric light plants, one of 1,800, the other of 150, kw.
Joseph H. Rugg, manufacturer of tobies and cigars, has on his pay roll twelve people. The business was established by Joseph Rugg, an unele of his father, in 1843. It was taken over by Charles Rugg, the father of Joseph, in 1870, and more recently by Joseph.
A. A. Crabbs, formerly a resident of Ohio, near Cincinnati, later of Pittsburg, has one of the finest dairies in the State two and a half miles from Blairsville, near the Inter-
PRESENT BUSINESS IIOUSES
Bakeries:
Link & Hamilton. Mr. M. Link established this bakery twenty years ago.
Walter Wynn, established ten years.
J. K. Daus, established ten years.
Miss Belle Wallace.
Miss Illie Stitt.
Barbers:
August Berg, twenty-nine years.
Ralph Groff, five years.
George E. Klein, five years.
William Livingston, since 1890.
Daniel Smith, eight years.
J. S. Graff, twelve years.
George Brazenski, twelve years.
Blacksmiths:
S. Evans & Sons. Mr. S. Evans is a native of Bedford county, where he learned his trade and conducted a shop for some years at the crossing of the Juniata. He then moved to Blair county, where he remained for some years, and then to Blairsville, where he has been for twelve years. He recently bought property including two dwellings and a shop.
Albert Deemer.
H. B. Ferguson.
George Hancock.
Candy Kitchen:
Cosmos Brothers.
Candy, Tobacco, Knickknacks:
James George. Though badly crippled years ago in a coal mine accident and not able to walk except with great effort, he has al- ways made his living. He is active in the African Church.
Civil Engineer:
Charles A. Swartz.
Clothing:
J. B. Lintner, established twenty-two years. Large, well furnished and well stocked store.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Abe Buchman, twelve years.
R. Einstein, twenty-two years.
Robert Buchman, since 1886.
Emanuel Buchman, since 1904. Abe Elisahof, twelve years.
Confectionery, etc .:
Morris B. Wise Company, confectionery and other things.
Walter Wynn, ice cream, confectionery, and other things. Dentists :
R. B. Cummins.
C. S. Pearce.
S. S. Lowrey.
H. A. Gontz.
Druggists:
Samuel H. Shepley succeeds to a business established almost a half a century ago by his father, H. P. Shepley, who died in 1904.
M. G. Miller commenced business in 1881 and has done also a wholesale business for twenty years.
John M. Wilson has been here for several years. He has a branch store at New Florence.
W. C. Anderson has been the owner of a drug store for about ten years.
Electricity :
The Public Service Company operates the electrical plant.
Fire and Ten Cent Store:
Esch Brothers, here fifteen years.
Chalmers Brandlinger.
Fruit Dealers: Andy Dimeo. La Mantia Brothers.
Sam Runzo.
Furniture and House Furnishings:
John C. Short & Son, established by John C. Short in 1889; have fine buildings and stock.
George W. Davis, established in 1877.
Daniel Sowers repairs and makes furniture. IIe has been here for twenty-four years.
H. W. Ferguson & Son.
Garages:
Brown & McDermitt-John Brown and George MeDermitt.
The Blairsville Automobile Co., T. C. Kerr. John A. Stokes, garage and automobiles. General Stores:
Sol. Handley.
Enrico Forni, dry goods and other stock. Grain and Feed:
Smith & MeKelvey have been engaged in the grain and feed business, combined with agricultural implements, buggies, carriages
and other things, since some time in the nineties.
Charles New has been engaged in grinding feed and in the feed business since 1900. Grocers:
James Murray, Bairdstown; in business thirty-five years ; fine buildings.
Harry A. New, seventeen years.
Elmer Taylor, several years, succeeding to the established business of D. E. Thompson. Hiram F. Bowser, six years.
Mrs. Albert Kiseel, twenty years.
Joe Frattura, ten years.
J. M. Harvey, since 1874.
E. B. Kettering, at the old stand of D. B.
D. Coleman, later Alfred Coleman, since 1906. Tony Lombardo, groceries and fruit.
Joseph Cribbs, thirteen years.
L. DeLuca.
Ada Allen, fifteen years.
David Greasley and son Harry. The busi- ness started fifteen years ago, when David Greasley, the father, bought the store of the late E. E. Allen.
Blanche Baird, nine years.
Mrs. L. J. Steel, twelve years.
Lizzie Ray, three years.
W. M. Hosack, twenty-one years.
W. A. Geary, two stores; eleven years.
Joe Veratto.
E. J. Gilmore and Knox Gilmore. Albert Loeffler.
Hardware:
L. S. W. Ray. This business has been handed down by Samuel Ray, who was one of the earliest merchants. Lyman Ray and D. M. Kier compete for being the persons who have been for the longest time continuously in business here, that is, who are in business now.
S. D. Stiffey & Sons' business originated with S. D. Stiffey and a brother, who was killed by the fall of tile on a chimney on the Rugg house. They can point back to many years of successful business. The present firm was organized fourteen years ago.
George J. New commenced in 1897. Agri- cultural implements, seeds, hardware and other things.
Hotels:
Merchants' Hotel, J. C. Thompson, pro- prietor.
Union House, Freeman Wilkinson, pro- prietor.
Insurance:
E. J. Graff.
Samuel Wineman.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
William Lore.
G. L. Clawson. Jewelers:
C. H. Bauer has been here ten years.
J. P. Archibald has been in business for twelve years.
Karl Stadtmiller came here recently.
Bert Bronson works in the business and has patented some inventions.
Justices of the Peace:
ยท J. G. Geib.
Howard Graham.
Liveries: William Young, 1890.
George Cribbs. George Neal.
Lumber:
The F. B. Andre Lumber Company was organized as Andre & Stewart (F. B. Andre and C. L. Stewart). Mr. Stewart died and the business is continued as the F. B. Andre Lumber Company.
Machine Shop:
John A. Stokes conducts a garage, manu- facturers refrigeration machines, and con- dnets a machine shop.
Machinery:
C. S. Wainwright, agent for the Frick Man- nfacturing Company, of Waynesboro, manu- facturers of various kinds of machinery. Marble Cutter:
C. F. Murray has been engaged in the busi- ness for twenty-two years.
Meat Markets:
William Heim commenced business fifteen years ago.
John Longhrey has been engaged in busi- ness twenty-nine years.
Henry Brothers, Matthew H. Henry and Robert Henry, have been engaged in the busi- ness twelve years.
Stitt & Walters, John N. Stitt and Paul Walters. This business was started by J. N. Stitt and Levi Baylor, later conducted by J. N. Stitt, the father of John. J. N. Stitt now attends to the outside part of the business. Milliners:
Irma Boesman has been here five years.
Miss Anna Fowler has been here six years. Musical Instruments:
B. J. MeGinity & Son. News Stands:
HI. H. Wilson, established 1906.
Mrs. Annie Reed was the first person to sell daily papers here. She has never been out of the town except for one trip to Pittsburg on a canal-boat, when she was a little girl.
Novelties:
A. W. Ferenz, novelties.
Chalmers Brandlinger, novelty store. Painters:
Vorlege Brothers, James and William. The business established by their father years ago.
Lore Brothers, Irvin and Charles. Estab- lished fifteen years.
W. A. Palmer has been here twenty-five years.
Photographer : Chester Early.
Picture "Movies":
Forest Lowman.
George Seurtzinger.
Plumbers, Tinners and Dealers in various kinds of wares:
F. B. Pender has been here ten years in the business.
W. H. Jackson, twenty-one years.
Newton Gibson, many years.
Oscar Alter continues a business established by his father many years ago.
S. D. Stiffey & Sons, business long estab- lished.
Pool Rooms :
Robert Johnston.
Mike Asper.
John Baughman.
Real Estate :
G. L. Clawson, engaged in the business ten years.
W. H. Stitt, engaged in the business for fifteen years.
Restaurants:
Samuel Bennett.
Henry Jellison, established seven years.
Miss Hood.
Beuhlah Catlin.
J. Morton.
Sewing Machines:
James Marts, agent.
Shoes:
J. T. Henry has been here twelve years.
D. M. Kier started in 1889, the firm then
being Harvey, Kier & Co.
Shocmakers:
Bendetto & Co.
W. S. Davis.
John Hoey.
Joe Crawford.
Ross Desabato.
F. Barbera.
Stationery, Tobacco, Toys, etc .:
Alfred Cohen.
Tailors:
William A. Grant, long in the business here.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
George McCune, long established.
Joseph A. Srp, twenty-nine years. Ilector Cardelino.
John Cardelino.
Telephone:
Blairsville Telephone Company, general, local, and long distance ; Freeman Wilkinson, order to get a ride. The Conestoga wagons president ; E. J. Graff, secretary ; E. M. Graff, treasurer ; G. E. Christ, manager.
Wallpaper:
Miss M. G. Davis, established nineteen years.
BUSINESS PEOPLE, PAST AND PRESENT
The contrast between those who made up the business roster in former years and now is very noticeable. Things have become more cosmopolitan. The trade of shoemaker or tailor and similar lines of work do not lead to fortune, but give rather a comfortable and independent living. What would be desig- nated as the American boys are not learning these. They are passing them by. The peo- ple that work are the ones that make the BEGINNING OF BLAIRSVILLE money, as a rule, barring exceptional cases. A trade is a good thing to have, even if it may The first sale of lots in Blairsville took place on the 11th of November, 1818, when quite a seem to appear inconsequential. What we term the foreigners are contending for the large number of town lots were sold at public trades, the business and the property, and they are doing their full share of acquirement.
HISTORY OF BLAIRSVILLE BY DECADES
It is ninety-five years since Blairsville was born. Divided by decades, we have ten of them, being now in the middle period of the tenth. The then village originated with the Northern turnpike, which marked the march of empire ever moving westward. And in the beginning, and for the first decade, Blairs- ville was a turnpike village, though the latter part of the decade saw the beginning of work on the canal. From the various facts stated we can conclude that the travel in that time was considerable, and that there was a good volume of general business; we would judge this from the large number of taverns in and near to town. It is likely also that there were some thirsty throats. It is hardly possible to find anyone now living to relate tales of these turnpike days. But we have read many word pictures of the arrival and departure of the stage coaches carrying the mails and passen- gers; also of the arrival and departure of the Conestoga wagons. These things were said to be very interesting events of the day. The stage drivers, it is related, took delight in
blowing their horns and cracking their long whips, causing the horses pulling the coaches to come in with a dash and clatter. The boys, we are told, would hide under the canvas, used as a covering for baggage, and situated on the rack in the rear of the coaches, in
with their white covers, drawn by six sleek horses, having polished harness, set off with shining brass and carrying musical silver bells, were something to make the drivers proud and also to interest the onlooker. It is stated that the teams that rested over Sun- day made as good time on the average as those that kept going on Sunday. Maj. Christo- pher Libengood, who resided for many years within sight of Blairsville Intersection, and who was a very extensive land owner there, told of seeing Aaron Burr and Henry Clay as they came through Blairsville on a stage coach. They stopped at the "Exchange Ho- tel." Mr. Libengood, then a boy, was getting a ride under the cover of the trunk rack.
outery. These lots were 60 by 150 feet, those sold at that time running north and south. The Northern turnpike, connecting the Dela- ware river at Philadelphia with the Ohio river at Pittsburg, was then in course of con- struction and coming this way. The pike as located through the town became Market street, its course in from the east and out westward. Then Campbell and Brown streets ran parallel with Market, as did also alleys in the rear of the lots. The cross streets, run- ning north and south, were Water, Liberty, Spring, Walnut, and, later, Stewart and East Lane. Then suburban additions were built. One of these on the east was called Browns- town, another on the west and across the river, Bairdstown, where a number of build- ings were constructed, followed in time by O'Harra on the south, North and South Blairsville and Coketown.
Professor T. J. Chapman, in his history of the Conemaugh valley, a very small volume published in 1865, says that Hon. John Cun- ningham, whose name is of precious and most honorable memory, settled here when the site of the town was an unbroken forest, and on the lot which he purchased on the south side of Spring street, just above the corner lot, constructed a log building which he used for
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
a shop. He was by trade a chairmaker. It was the second one constructed in the new town, the first to be constructed being by Henry Keely, a carpenter, and situated on the cor- ner of Liberty and Campbell streets; it was later known as the Alexander Shields resi- dence, and is now occupied by William Cur- now. It is said Mr. Cunningham boarded with Mr. Keely, and to get there had to blaze a way diagonally from the shop to Mr. Kee- ly's residence. Later Judge Cunningham built a house adjoining the shop and the same property has continued in the name of the . family ever since, being still in the posses- sion of direct descendants.
Then, in the history of Indiana county published in 1880, these things are stated, in connection with the first sale of lots in the new town. In order to give immediate growth to the village, the proprietors offered to give a lot to the first person who would finish a house. Isaac Green, a carpenter, in behalf of Hugh Richards, and James Rankin competed for this prize. Green's was the first, but Ran- kin's was completed only a couple of hours later.
The Keely house must have stood prior to this, and the building erected by John Cun- ningham being a workshop, and not a house, they were eliminated from being competitors with Green and Rankin.
There is no particular record as to those that were in the manufacturing industry here in the first decade, but we are told of a firm of wagon-and later buggy and carriage- makers, known as Holloway & Co. Albert Ford, a son of the late John P. Ford, states that in the middle of the second decade his father became a partner in this firm and later succeeded to the business, continuing it until after the war and reconstruction period, but for five years of the time he turned it over to Joseph Fry, later taking it over again. Other workers in that line here were the Wangamans and a man named Kail Davis.
The close of the first decade gave Blairs- ville a population of five hundred. The late John Bruce and David Davis, who were car- penters of the time, told that most of the early houses in Blairsville and neighborhood were built of logs. Others told of greased paper windows, and hewed oak seats in the country schoolhouses. George Wilkinson, a bricklayer by trade, said they got in those early times one dollar a thousand for laying brick. Mr. Wilkinson for many years was proprietor of the "Union Hotel" in Blairs- ville, which was a temperance house, and it
proved profitable. Prior to taking this hotel, and in the earlier years, for a short time he had the "Marker House" and also the hotel situated on what is now Ray's corner, where he had license, and in each case he lost money.
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