Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 884

USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II > Part 10

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).

Hiram R. Lockard, father of Elsworth M. Lockard, was a lumberman during the greater part of his life. He married Susan Mock, daughter of Peter Mock, who was born in Bedford county, Pa., and followed sawmilling and lumbering for many years. Mrs. Susan (Mock) Lockard was also a descendant of the Carrolltons of Carrollton. She died Nov. 13, 1889, and Mr. Lockard died Aug. 31, 1909. They were the parents of nine children : Lincoln M .; Elsworth M .; Alma M., wife of S. A. McCoy ; Dr. Wilmer G .; A. Kate, wife of John I. Bucher; Clara G., widow of Andrew S. Lockard; Ralph W .; Robert S., and Madge E., wife of E. A. Weller.

Elsworth M. Lockard attended public school in Indiana county and later continued his studies under a private tutor. Then he en- tered Coleman's business college, at Newark, N. J., and on May 7, 1879, began his appren- ticeship to the carpenter's trade under John E. Miller, with whom he remained for a period of eight years. He then engaged in business for himself, at Cookport, Indiana county, where he remained about one year. During the winter of 1886-87 he taught school. On March 27, 1887, he located at Indiana, where he has since had his home. After working one year for Klingensmith & Hastings, during which time he was foreman on the construction of the new jail of Indiana county, he began contracting on his own ac- count, in the spring of 1889. In the twenty four years which have elapsed since he has put up more buildings, and done more gen- eral business in the line of contracting and building, than any other man in the town of Indiana. Among the many structures upon which he has been engaged, either as builder or remodeler and designer, we mention the First National bank, the Deposit bank, the Farmers' bank, the Citizens' National bank, the Episcopal church and parsonage, the Leonard Hall of the State normal school group, the Thomas Sutton Hall (known as the "dining hall"), the Silas M. Clark Hall (known as the boys' dormitory), the residence

office of Judge Elkin, residence of Dr. M. M. Davis, residence of J. M. Stewart, residence of M. C. Watson, the Lutheran church (de- signed and remodeled), J. W. Clements' resi- dence (designed), residences of R. E. Young, William C. McGregor, Edward Rowe, W. F. Wettling, J. C. Wallace, A. S. Wallace, J. L. Getty, Harry McCreary, S. J. St. Clair, A. W. Mabon, Dr. J. M. Torrence, J. E. Powell, J. G. Fleming, J. P., T. E. A. Dugan, Charles A. Gessler, R. E. Forester, and the Y. M. C. A. building, which latter was started April 20, 1912 ; Mr. Lockard is not only the designer and builder of this structure, but was also one of the four largest contributors toward its erection. This list will give a general idea of the wide patronage which he enjoys and the extensive business he has acquired. It is almost needless to say that his reputa- tion has been established upon a foundation of honorable work and reliable dealing which has never been called into question in any of his transactions. His high character would give him prestige in any community. He has always been specially interested in the question of public education, and has served as school director of Indiana borough for over fifteen years, serving for eight consecutive years of that time as president of the board; at present he is secretary of the county board of school directors. His work has been pub- lic-spirited and effective, and is highly appre- ciated by his fellow citizens.

On July 23, 1885, Mr. Lockard was mar- ried to Nancy Elizabeth Daugherty, daughter of Evert Daugherty, who was a soldier during the Civil war, serving nearly four years, dur- ing part of which time he was in the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Mr. and Mrs. Lock- ard have three children: Mary, who is a public school teacher at Johnstown, Pa .; Margaret, also a teacher, at Franklin, Cam- bria county, near Johnstown ; and Donald W. The family are Presbyterians.

DAVID WALKER RARAIGH, farmer of South Mahoning township, Indiana county, and director and vice president of the Plum- ville National Bank, was born on the home- stead farm of his family, near the Armstrong county line, June 15, 1868.

The Raraigh family is of German extrac- tion, but the founder in America is not def- initely known. In 1803 John Raraigh, great- grandfather of D. Walker Raraigh, moved from Bedford county, Pa., with his wife and their children John, Jacob, George, William

840

IHISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and Samuel, Catherine, Polly and Susie. izing in the latter line, and continued in active They settled at Rossmoyne, Indiana county, business until within a few years of his death, in the Mahoning district, which at that time when he retired, dying March 22, 1912, on was a wilderness. In after years they moved to Cowanshannock township, Armstrong Co., Pa., near Slate Hill, where they died, and they were buried in the German Baptist Church cemetery near that place.

Samuel Raraigh, sou of John, was born in 1801 in Bedford county, Pa., moving with his parents to Indiana county in 1803. About 1830 he made a home for himself in the woods, securing 110 acres on the Armstrong county line, in South Mahoning township. He was fond of the forest and the haunts of large game, and was very successful in hunt- ing the same, killing a bear when he was but twelve years of age. He devoted his life to farming, and under his fostering care his property was greatly improved, so that when he died, in 1877, aged seventy-six years, it was very much more valuable than when he se- cured it. He married Nancy Hollowell, of East Mahoning township, who lived to the age of ninety-one years. Samuel Raraigh and his wife were members of the German Baptist Church of Cowanshannock township, in whose cemetery their remains were buried. Their children were: Rachel married John Wells, of South Mahoning township, and died at the age of fifty-seven; Nancy died at the age of eighty-three years; Mary married Wil- liam Wells, and died at the age of seventy- nine; Samuel married Hannah Mikesell, and died in Brushvalley township, aged sixty- nine years; Jacob married Barbara Stauffer, and died at Smicksburg, aged eighty-one years; Lydia married David Ruffner, of South Mahoning township, and died at the age of seventy-four; Daniel is mentioned be- low; Sarah Ann died at the age of nineteen ; Joseph died at the age of twenty-five; Ephraim died in childhood.

Daniel Raraigh, son of Samuel Raraigh, was born June 1, 1836, and was reared on the home farm, attending the local school when opportunity offered. He cared for his par- ents in their declining years, and bought the homestead, on which he made many improve- ments, including a residence which he built in 1887, and barns in 1894. He also added to the value of the property in other ways and was an excellent farmer. Later he bought the Tratz farm of seventy-two acres in Cowan- shannock township, Armstrong county, oper- ating this in conjunction with his own home- stead. He not only farmed upon an extensive scale but also carried on stock raising, special-

the farm on which he was born, in his seventy- sixth year. His remains were buried in the cemetery of the Baptist Church in South Mahoning township. He was a faithful mem- ber of that church, which he served as trustee for many years. A Republican in politics, he served his township officially, and his county as juror. He was a good citizen, and kind and affectionate in his family relations.

Daniel Raraigh married Sarah F. Byrley, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., daugh- ter of David Bryley, and died Sept. 11, 1902, aged sixty-four years; she lies in the Baptist Church cemetery in South Mahoning town- ship. She joined that church in girlhood and was a consistent member of it for half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Raraigh had children as follows: Joseph died in childhood; Ma- lissa married Ross Moore, of Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county; Amanda mar- ried E. T. Neigh, and resides in Cowanshan- nock township, Armstrong county; David Walker is mentioned below; Dillie married Clark Davis, of Washington township; Idella married A. H. Bowser, of West Mahoning township, and died March 4, 1901, aged twenty-eight years.

David Walker Raraigh was educated in the schools of his home neighborhood and in the Plumville normal school, then conducted by D. H. Tomb. He is an intelligent, well- informed man, and his enterprise and busi- ness ability, combined with industrious appli- cation to his undertakings, have brought him prosperity. From childhood he lived with his parents, caring for them as they grew old. He has always been a farmer, and in addition to the homestead in South Mahoning town- ship, and the seventy-two acres in Cowan- shannock township, Armstrong county, he owns the Byrley farm of sixty-five acres and two other tracts in South Mahoning township, and a tract of land in Plumville on which he has erected several dwelling houses. His holdings aggregate 300 acres, and he is one of the heaviest land owners of his township. Mr. Raraigh devotes his land to general farm- ing and stock raising, making a specialty of raising blooded horses and other good stock, his product being noted the country over. Mr. Raraigh takes a deep interest in the up- building and development of his locality, and is a man of public spirit and integrity. He is interested in other than agricultural mat- ters, having for the last eighteen years been

841

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

agent for fire insurance companies, both home and foreign. Among other institutions with which he has been connected is the First National Bank of Plumville, which he helped to organize, and which he has served faith- fully as director and vice president for six years. He is also a member of and stock- holder in the Johnston-Beyer Hardware Com- pany of Rural Valley and Wallopburg, and a member of the Dayton Agriculture and Me- chanical Association. In political sentiment he is a sound Republican. He has been a member of the election board for several years, served his township as auditor for fifteen years, and has served on the petit jury at Indiana upon more than one occasion.

On Oct. 21, 1897, Mr. Raraigh was mar- ried, at Chambersville, to Annie B. Cummins, daughter of John D. and Margaret (Mears) Cummins, and a descendant of one of the oldest families in Indiana county, a full his- tory of whom is given elsewhere in this work. She died April 28, 1911, aged thirty-eight years, a devoted wife and mother and a worthy Christian woman, faithful as a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. She was laid to rest in the little cemetery connected with that church in South Mahoning township, where lie the remains of so many of her hus- band's family. Mr. and Mrs. Raraigh be- came the parents of three children : Duff C., born July 23, 1899 ; D. Myron, born Aug. 2, 1900; and Davis Walker, born Sept. 4, 1906.

Mr. Raraigh is a member of the Mahoning Baptist Church, which organization he has served as trustee and also as deacon. A man of high principle, devoted to his home and in early life. Mrs. Moorhead also belonged community, he represents the highest type of citizen, and is welcomed wherever he goes.

JOSEPH MOORHEAD, head of the firm of Joseph Moorhead & Son, printers and pub- lishers of Blairsville, Indiana county, has been one of the leaders of public opinion in that community for a quarter of a century. His long-continued connection with the Blairs- ville Enterprise, as editor and proprietor, has kept him in touch with the people and inter- ests of this section, and his readiness to de- fend the right and defeat the wrong has made his influence a factor to be reckoned with. So well has he used his power that he has thoroughly gained the confidence of his fel- low citizens, and he has never abused their trust.

Mr. Moorhead is a native of Indiana county, born Aug. 16, 1829, in Burrell town- ship, where the family has been settled since

1812. In both paternal and maternal lines he is of North of Ireland ancestry, and of Revolutionary stock through his grandmother, Agnes (Craig), whose father lost his life in the war for independence. Samuel Moor- head, his grandfather, was born in Cumber- land county, Pa., in 1769. He became a tan- ner, and as there was no tannery in the northern part of Westmoreland county when he moved there he established a highly pros- perous business, which he continued to carry on for many years. He became very wealthy for his day, acquiring the ownership of eight or ten farms. His death occurred in 1853, when he was eighty-four years old.

Hon. Samuel Moorhead, son of Samuel and Agnes (Craig) Moorhead, was the father of Joseph Moorhead. He was born in Derry township, Westmoreland county, married, and came in 1812 to Indiana county, where he spent practically all the rest of his life en- gaged in farming. However, he was a man of active disposition and intelligence, and had other interests. He built the dam below Blairsville on the old Pennsylvania canal. He was appointed associate judge of the courts of Indiana county in 1830, by Gov- ernor Wolf, and served as such very credit- ably for a period of six years, his keen per- ceptions and remarkably good judgment mak- ing him a valuable man in that position: In politics he was a Democrat, in religion a Presbyterian. On March 13, 1812, he married Martha Bell, who was born March 24, 1793, daughter of John Bell, who removed from Cumberland county to Westmoreland county to the Presbyterian Church. To this union were born nine children: Agnes, Elizabeth, Samuel, Rebecca, John, Joseph, Myrtilla, Wallace and Alexander. The eldest son helped to capture the city of Mexico under General Scott, and of the five sons four, in- cluding him, were in the Union army during the Civil war.

Joseph Moorhead grew to manhood on his father's farm, and obtained his education in the public schools of his locality. His early life was devoted to agricultural work, in which he was engaged until he entered the Union army, in July, 1863, as a member of Company A, 101st P. V. I. He served until April, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged at Camp Reynolds, in Allegheny county, and returning home he resumed charge of his farm in Burrell township. Farming continued to be his chief interest until 1886, in which year he removed to the

842

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

borough of Blairsville, and took charge of they left their native country as early as 1833 the Enterprise as editor and proprietor. and crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel. The paper had been established in 1880, and was an eight-column quarto, which under Mr. Moorhead's direction soon acquired a high reputation as a well-conducted sheet. Its news columns are devoted chiefly to local affairs, important county and borough hap- penings, church and social items, and well- selected general reading matter. Mr. Moor- head has pursued a clean, independent policy which has won him the respect and admira- tion of all his fellow citizens in Blairsville, and which has directly and indirectly helped to raise moral standards in this locality very materially. Though able and willing, when necessary, to state his own position or objec- tion to other tactics with vigor and force, he has never resorted to vituperation or un- worthy methods to accomplish any good end toward which he may be working, and the skill he has shown in quiet but persistent opposition to wrong-doing has met with much success and made him many friends among the best element. Politically he is a Repub- lican, and on July 24, 1890, under the Har- risou administration, was appointed post- master at Blairsville for a term of four years. Socially he belongs to Findley Patch Post, No. 137, G. A. R., and he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, which he has served as elder for fifty-two years.

In 1852 Mr. Moorhead married Rebecca Armel, who was born June 2, 1834, in West- moreland county, daughter of Isaac and Mar- garet (Sease) Armel, of Burrell township. She died in April, 1870, leaving three chil- dren : Richard E., George R. and Jessie Mil- dred. In 1871 Mr. Moorhead married (sec- ond) Rebecca Hosack, who was born in West- moreland county in 1843, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hosack, of Westmore- land. They have had six children, namely : John W., Myrtilla B., Alice C., Mary, Harry S. and Joseph P.

WILLIAM PENN OBERLIN, deceased, who for upward of twenty years was a well- known business man of Rochester Mills, Pa., was born Nov. 14, 1836, in the city of Pitts- burg, Pa., son of Christopher and Catharine (Kubach) Oberlin.

Christopher Oberlin, the father of William Penn Oberlin, was born near the Rhine, in Baden, Germany, in 1791, and there grew to manhood and learned the trade of weaver. Ile was married in the Fatherland to Cath- arine Kubaeh, and with their three children

Ou arriving in this country they came to Lancaster, Pa., where they remained a short time, Mr. Oberlin following the trade of stock- iug weaving, and then crossed the Allegheny mountains and located in the city of Pitts- burg, where the father continued the same business and also opened a store for the sale of his product. The family home was located on Penn street, and there the mother died in 1840, at the age of thirty-eight years, her death being caused by homesickness, as she had always longed to return to her native country. She was the mother of four children, namely : Lewis F., deceased, who was an Ohio river captain and married Christina Shelby ; Charles, born in 1824, a shoemaker of West Mahoning township, who married in 1846 Catharine Grossman, and died at the home of his son in Punxsutawney; Samuel, who died while the family was coming to this country and was buried at sea; and William Penu. Christopher Oberlin was married . (second) at Lancaster, Pa., to Mary Eschelman, and they became the parents of two children : Su- sannah C., who married Henry Beecher, both dying at Belle Center, Ohio; and Nancy, who married T. S. Neal, ex-sheriff of Indiana county, and a resident of North Mahoning township. Christopher Oberlin died in 1859, at the age of sixty-eight years, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery. He was a member of the German Evangelical Church.

William Penn Oberlin, son of Christopher Oberlin, was educated in the public schools of Pittsburg, and was still a small lad when he lost his mother. He learned the trade of shoe- maker with his brother Charles, at Smieks- burg, where he worked at same and subse- quently opened a shop of his own, being thus engaged at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. On Aug. 27, 1862. he enlisted in Company E, 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Capt. John Sutton, Col. James A. Beaver, of Center county, and this company was mustered into the service Sept. 2, 1862, Mr. Oberlin continuing to serve until the close of the war. Among the numerous engage- ments in which he participated may be men- tioned the following: Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863; IIaymarket, July 25, 1863; Gettys- burg, July 2 and 3, 1863, where he contracted bowel trouble from the impure drinking water, and was confined to the hospital for several months. He rejoined his regiment in time to participate in the battle of the Wilderness, May 4-7, 1864; Spottsylvania,

843

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

May 9-14, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; township, March 14, 1860, to Anna M. Petersburg, June 15-30, 1864; Deep Bottom, Stauffer, who was born in that township, July 27, 1864 ; Ream's Station, Aug. 24, 1864; daughter of Jonathan and Susanna (Beyer) Stauffer. Mrs. Oberlin's family came from Huntingdon county, and were early settlers of Indiana county. She is still living, active and in full possession of her faculties, and makes her home in Richmond. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin, namely : Ella M., Ida C., Harry Walter and Curtis A. . second Deep Bottom, Aug. 14-20, 1864; charge on works at Petersburg, Oct. 27, 1864; Hatch- er's Run; Adams Run; Sutherland Station, and numerous minor engagements. He was at the evacuation of Richmond, and fell into the hands of the Confederates and was taken to Libby, but was subsequently released and rejoined his regiment. At the battle of Get- tysburg he received a slight wound in the knee.

ELLA M. OBERLIN, daughter of William Penn Oberlin, was born Feb. 22, 1861, and is the widow of James H. Elkin. She resides in Indiana, Pa., and is the mother of Linus J. and Curtis Elkin, both graduates of the State normal school, Indiana.

IDA C. OBERLIN, daughter of William Penn Oberlin, was born Sept. 3, 1862, and married Linus M. Lewis, of Canoe township, Indiana county, a farmer. They have two children, Ruelba M. and William Edward.

HARRY WALTER OBERLIN, son of William Penn Oberlin, was born in West Mahon- ing township, Indiana county, Pa., June 22, 1865, and received his education in the public schools of Dayton, Smicksburg and Grant township, and at Dayton academy, un- der Hugh McCandless. He taught school for one term in Grant township, but when his father embarked in business on his own ac- count he and his brother Curtis A. became clerks, and in 1890 were admitted to partner- ship, under the firm style of W. P. Oberlin & Sons. When their father died the brothers formed a partnership under the style of Oberlin Brothers, an association which has continued to the present time. In 1907 they erected one of the finest stores in Indiana county north of Indiana, a three-story struc- ture, 30x90 feet, where they are conducting a very successful business. Both are thorough business men, of pleasing personality, good judgment and inherent business acumen, and have inherited their father's love for integ- rity and honest dealing. Harry W. Oberlin is a Republican, although he has never been an office seeker, and his religious belief is that of the United Brethren Church, in which he has served as class leader, trustee and in other capacities. Besides his mercantile business, he and his wife are largely interested in real estate, coal lands and timber tracts, in East Mahoning, Grant and White townships, and Mr. Oberlin is a stockholder in the Indiana Savings and Trust Company.

In August, 1896, Mr. Oberlin was married to Luella M. Leasure, who was born July 3,

Mr. Oberlin was married in West Mahoning 1868, daughter of Daniel Leasure. Mrs.

On receiving his honorable discharge, after a service that was characterized by bravery and devotion to duty, Mr. Oberlin resumed his trade, locating in the western part of West Mahoning township, near the Armstrong county line. There he settled on a farm that is now the property of John Shaffer, and con- tinued his trade and farmed until 1873, when he was appointed manager of the shoe de- partment of the Dayton Soldiers' Orphans' Home, a position which he held for three years. He then spent one year as male at- tendant in the same institution. His brother Charles later held the position of superin- tendent of the shoe department there. In 1877 Mr. Oberlin resigned his position and lo- cated in Smicksburg, where he took up the manufacture of shoes, with several men in his employ. In 1879 he came to Richmond (Rochester Mills) and here embarked in a mercantile business with James Adams, in the center of the town, under the firm style of Adams & Oberlin, this partnership contin- uing until 1885, when Mr. Oberlin moved to the eastern part of the valley, or near the banks of the Little Mahoning. There he erected a store, 26 by 65 feet, two stories in height, where he entered business with his sons as partners, under the firm name of W. P. Oberlin & Sons, and continued active in same up to the time of his death, which oc- curred suddenly, Aug. 21, 1897, from the ef- fects of disease he had contracted in the army. He was buried in Pine Grove cemetery. Mr. Oberlin was a member of Frank W. Brown Post, No. 266, Grand Army of the Republic, at Richmond. In political matters he was a Republican, and his religious belief was that of the United Brethren Church, in which he was class leader and Sunday school teacher and superintendent. A well-read man, he was domestic in his tastes and devoted to his family, and among his business associates had a reputation for the strictest integrity.

844

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Oberlin is a member of the Presbyterian church, Rev. Elias Rowland, a retired minis- Church, and is widely known in religious ter, now residing at Mechanicsburg, and Rev. work and social circles. Six children have Martin Luther Rowland, also retired and liv- ing in South Mahoning township, having done notable work in their day. been born to Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin, namely : Evelyn, a student in the State normal school, Indiana; David William and Martha, who re- side at home with their parents; Louise, who met her death by drowning when three and a half years old; Ruth, who died when she

The family is of Welsh origin. William Rowland, the first of the line in America, was a native of Wales, came to this country with his wife Elizabeth Ellis, and settled near was two years old; and Mildred, who died in Ebensburg, Pa. His son, Griffith Rowland, infancy. Mr. Oberlin is a charter member of born in Wales about 1771, married Jane Jones, Robert Doty Camp, Sons of Veterans, at Rich- daughter of William Jones, and both the Jones and Rowland families came to America about 1795, settling first near Ebensburg, Pa. The Rowlands continued to make their home in Cambria county, locating about 1800 in Cone- maugh township, where Mr. Rowland became a land owner and followed farming. Settling in the wilderness, he hewed out a home for himself and there spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1847, aged seventy-six years; he is buried in Bethel Church cemetery, near Ebensburg. His wife also died on the farm, and is buried in the same cemetery. Their children were: William; Maria, who married John Crumb and (second) Joseph Craig; Isaac, who married Elizabeth Keller; Jacob; Griffith J., who married Mary Mikesell and (second) Margaret Jordan, and died in 1871; John, who married Jane Conrad, and lived in Brushvalley township; and Eliza, who mar- ried Enoch Reese.

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 II, Part 10

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 884

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 884