Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 100

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 100

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John Swasy, son of John, was born May 21, 1824, on the farm in Center township, and attended subscription school in the neighbor- hood. He followed agricultural pursuits all his life on the homestead, was a hard worker, and became a much respected citizen of his locality. He died on the farm July 18, 1895, and is buried in Greenwood cemetery, at Indiana. Mr. Swasy was a member of the M. E. Church at Homer City. In political association he was a Democrat, but he never took any part in public matters. On Nov. 17, 1846, he was married, in White township, this county, to Sarah B. Allison, who sur- vived him, residing on the home farm until her death, Aug. 17, 1912. She became the mother of five children: Martha married Houston Monshower and resides in Wor- cester, Mass .; John Harrison married Matilda Lyons and lives in Blacklick township; Hannah, wife of Lemuel Kunkle, resides on the homestead in Center township; Mary Ann married John Jacob Anthony, of Armstrong township, Indiana Co., Pa .; Robert Allison makes his home at Erie, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Anthony is a Republican in political matters, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have had two children: Iva, who is at home; and Arthur, who died when six years old.

John B. Siverd attended school in Brush- valley and Green townships, Indiana county, and as a young man learned woolen manufac- turing with his father, being associated with him in business for some time. The close con- finement, however, impaired his health, and he turned his attention to farming in Rayne township. Later he came to Green town- ship and purchased the farm which he is now operating, and for a time was employed in the lumber and mill business. For some time he has engaged in mercantile pursuits in con- nection with farming. His ventures have proved uniformly successful and he is con- sidered one of the substantial men of his lo- cality.

JOHN B. SIVERD, who is the owner of a Mr. Siverd was married March 29, 1877, to Mary Catherine Lydick, who was born March valuable farm in Green township, Indiana county, and also engaged in mercantile pur- 8, 1853, in Indiana county, daughter of Rob-

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ert A. and Nancy A. Lydick, and eight chil- buried in Oakland cemetery. They were dren have been born to this union, namely : R. Lindon, a resident of Green township, who married Alice Hadden and has had three children, Dean, Florence (deceased) and Grant; Burdette, who married Zoe Gibson, a native of Indiana county, and has three children, Edith, Edna and Olive; Pearl, re- siding at home; Sadie Lula (deceased), wife of Norman Boucher, of Green township, who had two children, Grace and Ruth; Meda M. and John B., Jr., at home; Elsie, the wife of Robert Sinclair, of Clymer, Pa .; and Claire, who lives with his parents. members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was deacon and trustee for a long period, and he was a Republican in his politi- cal views. He served as constable for years, and also held the office of overseer of the poor in Indiana township. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas had four children: Peter, an orchardist, who died in Kansas, married Fannie Williams, whose father was a minister; Margaret mar- ried R. M. Fleming, a carpenter; Jesse, who is still on the old home farm in Armstrong township, married Julia Robinson ; and Lewis M. is mentioned below.

In political matters Mr. Siverd is a Repub- lican, and has been chosen to fill a number of township offices, acting in the capacity of township collector, road commissioner and constable of Green township, in all of which positions he has shown his worth and efficiency. He and Mrs. Siverd are well- known members of the Presbyterian Church.

LEWIS M. THOMAS was engaged in farm- ing in Armstrong township, Indiana county, before his removal to the borough of Indiana, where he is now living retired. His paternal ancestors were Welsh, and his grandfather, Jesse Thomas, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., where he lived for years, coming thence to Indiana county, where he died. He fol- lowed farming. By his second wife, whose

Lewis M. Thomas was born November 3, 1842, in Washington township, and grew to manhood in Armstrong township. He went to school until he was eighteen years old. During the Civil war he enlisted for nine months' service, in Company A, 135th P. V. I., which was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Six months after entering the service he was taken ill with typhoid fever in Washington city, and he spent ten weeks in the Catholic Sisters' hospital there. By that time his father had hunted him up, and he came home to get better, after which he started out to rejoin his command. He was not allowed to go back to the field, however, on account of the state of his health, and re- mained at Little York, Pa., where he was dis- charged at the expiration of his term. When

maiden name was Hunter, he had six children, able he resumed work on the home farm, and namely: Dubre, Amos, Lewis, Margaret, Naomi and Anna.

when his father removed to the borough of Indiana lie and his brother Jesse took charge of its cultivation, in time dividing the land. Mr. Thomas continued to engage in farming until 1886, since which time he has made his home in Indiana. His home is at No. 950 Church street. He was a progressive and enterprising agriculturist, and made a thor- ough success of his undertakings.

Dubre Thomas, father of Lewis M. Thomas, was born and reared in Luzerne county, Pa. He became a farmer and stock dealer, follow- ing those lines in his native county until he removed to Indiana county, Pa., where he first settled in Washington township. There he engaged in general farming and stock raising, and for over twenty-two years drove In Armstrong township Mr. Thomas mar- ried Mary Atkinson, of that township, daugh- ter of George and Lizzie (Kerr) Atkinson, and four children were born to them, namely : Ida, who died young; Dubre, who died in Denver, Colo. (he was in the lumber busi- ness) ; Bessie, living at home; and Edward, a newspaper man of the State of Indiana. The mother of this family died, aged forty- one years. Mr. Thomas's second marriage was to Mary Fleming, of Armstrong town- ship, daughter of John and Evelyn (Thomas) Fleming, and three children have been born cattle to the eastern cities. He had a farm of 100 acres there. In 1853 he removed to Armstrong township and bought the Shoe- maker tract of 110 acres, to which he added from time to time until he had 340 acres, which was divided between his sons Jesse and Lewis. He was a trusted as well as suc- cessful man, in addition to looking after his private affairs settling many estates, crying sales, etc. He married in Indiana county Mary Hefflefinger, of Armstrong township, daughter of James Hefflefinger, and they moved to Indiana, where they died, he at the to this union: Edna, who is at home; Harry age of seventy-two, Mrs. Thomas reaching Ira; and Robert Emerson. the advanced age of ninety-two. They are

Socially Mr. Thomas belongs to the Knights

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of Honor and to the G. A. R. (Post No. 28), and his religious connection is with the M. E. Church. He is a Republican on political issues.

WAGNER. The establishment of the Wagner family in the United States dates back several generations, and the founder was a German by birth.

Michael Wagner, great-grandfather of John W. Wagner and great-great-grand- father of Joseph S. Wagner, of West Wheat- field township, Indiana county, was born in Germany, and came to the United States, settling in York county, Pennsylvania.

Michael Wagner, Jr., son of Michael Wag- ner mentioned above, was born in York county, and died in West Wheatfield town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa. He married Ann Sides, daughter of Adam and Ann (Stevely) Sides, who was also a native of York county, and they both are buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery in West Wheatfield town- ship. Their children were: Jacob is men- tioned fully below; John, who married Re- becca St. Clair Campbell, resided in Brush- valley; Michael, who married Sarah Duncan, resided in Brushvalley ; Sarah married James Mack; Ann died young; Lydia married Levi Walbeck. In 1820 the father of this family came from York county to West Wheatfield township, Indiana county, being then in young manhood. Ambitious, he settled on what is now the St. Clair farm of 200 acres, and developed it until he was one of the sub- stantial agriculturalists of his day. He and his family belonged to the German Lutheran Church in his neighborhood, of which he was a founder, and he served on the building committee that put up a new place of wor- ship. Politically he was a Democrat.

Jacob Wagner, born Jan. 20, 1821, in West Wheatfield township, died May 4, 1901. He married Sarah Walbeck. who was born in York county, came to Indiana county when seven years old, and died Dec. 30, 1886, aged seventy-four years, one month, twenty- four days. She was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Sides) Walbeck, of West Wheatfield township. The children born to Jacob and Sarah Wagner were: Lydia mar- ried John Huston and had children, Harry and Edna; Annie died young; John W., of West Wheatfield township, is mentioned at length below; Joseph W. married Naomi Specht (children, Fern Dare and Elizabeth), and resides in Somerset county, Pa .; Michael

Walbeck married Susan Mock, and they had fourteen children, Jacob O., William B., John M., Mary, Carl, Ord, Chester, Ray, Laura, Dewey, Pearl, Odessa, Ann and Emma (they reside at Heshbon, West Wheatfield town- ship) ; Sarah Emma is unmarried and resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Jacob Wagner attended the common schools of West Wheatfield township, and learned the rudiments of farming with his father. When he was twenty-two years old he bought the Creig farm of fifty acres, to which he later added 200 acres, erecting on his property a large dwelling house and barn, and becom- ing one of the prosperous farmers and stock- men of his township. During the Civil war, when his country had need of his services, he proved his patriotism by enlisting in Com- pany H, 206th Pennsylvania Infantry, serv- ing one year under Col. Hugh J. Brady. He was placed on guard at the Lee homestead, and was one of the first to march on to Rich- mond. At the close of the war he resumed farming, and continued actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. Ex- perience taught him the wisdom of operating his farm intelligently, and of adopting new methods, and his property showed the result of his efforts. In him the German Lutheran Church had a faithful member and represent- ative elder, he giving his support to the con- gregation in West Wheatfield township. AI- though he had many interests, he found his truest pleasure with his family, and wel- comed his friends to his home, where he dis- pensed a delightful old-time hospitality that is still gratefully remembered.

JOHN WALBECK WAGNER was born Nov. 12, 1845, in West Wheatfield township, and married March 26, 1868, Ermina J. Carna- han, daughter of William and Elizabeth Mc- Clellan (Steel) Carnahan, of West Wheat- field township. Children as follows have been born to this marriage: J. Ord, born Sept. 3, 1869, died Oct. 24. 1889; he was for six years a public school teacher in Indiana county. William Erwin, horn Nov. 16, 1870, married Lois Dancer, and is a farmer and stockman on 640 acres of land in Alberta, Canada. Perie Emma was born April 15, 1872, married M. L. Luther, who is farming in West Wheatfield township. Charles Lu- ther, born Jan. 6, 1878, now an employee of the Cambria Steel Company, of Jolinstown, Pa., married Annie Skiles, and has two chil- dren, Charles Kenneth and Maurice A. Joseph Sides is mentioned at length below. John Earl, born Dec. 20, 1882, married Mary

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

B. Sowers, of Homer City, Indiana Co., Pa., 8, 1863, in the South. He was on reserve and and has children, J. Earl, Jr., and Mary C. picket duty. Returning home, he resumed Loyal LeRoy, born Feb. 4, 1884, married Pearl M. Kern, and resides at Indiana Har- bor, Ind., and they have one child, Richard K. Marlin A., born April 4, 1888, is spoken of below; and four children died in infancy.

Of the above mentioned children, several deserve special mention. John Earl Wagner. served in Company I, 5th Pennsylvania Guards, of Johnstown. He was educated in the common schools of Armagh, where he was under the instruction of Professors Stewart and Campbell, and at the Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio, and at present lives at Cleveland, being a civil engineer and draughtsman. ' Another son, Marlin A. Wag- ner, also served in the militia. He attended the university at Ada, Ohio, where he studied civil engineering in all its branches, and while there was captain of the militia of Ada, Ohio. When he left school his classmates presented him a handsome gold mounted sword. At present he is following his pro- fession with the Cambria Steel Company of Johnstown.

John Walbeck Wagner, father of the above mentioned children, was given a more care- ful educational training than fell to the lot of many of his period and locality, for after he had attended the common schools of his township he was sent t a select school. Until 1865 he worked with his father, and then bought from the latter a farm of 100 acres, on which he put up a good residence and two barns. Since then he has made farm- ing his life work, and has achieved more than ordinary success. He has set out about two thousand fruit trees, having now a magnifi- cent orchard, of peaches, apples, plums and cherries. Since these trees have begun bear- ing Mr. Wagner has specialized on fruit growing. He also carries on general farming, stock raising and dairying, all of his produce finding a ready market on account of its superior quality. A man of accurate habits, he enters into nothing heedlessly, but works with a definite aim ahead, and in consequence reaps greater profits than many who operate without a full realization of the necessities of the situation. He ships his fruit to Johns- town.

the peaceful agricultural duties his military service had interrupted. Although his career as a soldier ended many years ago, Mr. Wag. ner has never ceased to fight the battles of humanity against wrong-doing, and as Progressive Republican is upholding sound principles to this day. He has been town- ship treasurer, holding that office for fourteen years, and for twenty-three years has been a school director. For the last twenty years he has been a trustee of the German Lutheran Church of West Wheatfield township, to which he has belonged for a long period. Mrs. Wagner is one of the most esteemed residents of the township, and her children lay their success in life to the effect of her influence upon them. Mr. Wagner is one of the best farmers and orchardists in Indiana county, and is a recognized authority upon matters pertaining to fruit culture.

JOSEPH SIDES WAGNER was born in West Wheatfield township Dec. 31, 1874. On Aug. 31, 1896, he married Addie Cunningham, daughter of David and Catherine (Campbell) Cunningham, of Brushvalley township, and they have become the parents of the follow- ing children: Robert, born Nov. 10, 1897, in Brushvalley township; Madie, born April 4, 1899, in Somerset county, Pa. ; John Harold, born Feb. 15, 1902, in New Florence, Pa .; and Exie, born Aug. 4, 1905, in New Florence.

After attending the common schools of West Wheatfield township Mr. Wagner went to the select school kept by Professor Campbell, re- ceiving the benefit of that learned instructor's training. While thus engaged he worked with his father, and continued with him until he attained his majority. At that time he was in the lumber business in Somerset county, Pa., and conducted it for a year. several changes, during which time he rented After land, Mr. Wagner bought the MeNealy farm of 180 acres in 1906. This property is in West Wheatfield township, which locality has been the scene of so much valuable agricultural work on the part of his forebears that it was but natural that he should settle there too. His farm is conveniently located on the clay pike, one mile from Clyde. As soon as he bought his property Mr. Wagner began mak- ing improvements upon it, and in 1909 put up his handsome $4,000 barn, which is one of the best in the county. It was constructed accord- ing to the latest models of sanitary building,

Like his father, during the Civil war Mr. Wagner bore a gun and wore the uniform of his country, as a private in Company K, 177th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Daniel Killin and Col. Hugh J. Brady, serving from October, 1862, to Aug. and the plans have received universal ap-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

proval from other agriculturists. Like his was known as the Allison Loughry farm and father, Mr. Wagner believes in fruit culture, consisted of 156 acres, of which only part was cleared. Here he erected a house and barn and made other improvements, being an active, wide-awake farmer. He died May 18, 1911, at the age of eighty-two years, and was buried in the Blairsville cemetery. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was a class leader and active in all church work. He was a Republican in politics. and has already set out over five hundred fruit trees, purposing to devote considerable atten- tion to his orchard culture in the future. Real- izing the worth of advanced agriculture and intensive farming,. Mr. Wagner has supplied his farm with modern machinery and is try- ing to make his land produce to its fullest extent. His excellent location gives him a good market, and his produce is sought by those who appreciate first-class articles.

Although he has never felt he had the time to devote himself conscientiously to the duties of public office, Mr. Wagner has done his duty as a citizen in endeavoring to secure good government and the improvement of existing conditions, and as a Republican has yielded his party loyal service. Like his father's fam- ily, he and his family are members of the German Lutheran Church. Although he no longer lives in his childhood home, his parents are very dear to him, and he visits them regu- larly and frequently, in every way possible making pleasant their declining years. As a son, husband, father and citizen, Mr. Wagner has always done his duty as he saw it, and is justly numbered among the substantial men and successful agriculturists of his section of Indiana county.

STUART J. SIDES, a well-known farmer and lumberman of Burrell township, Indiana county, was born in the county, in West Wheatfield township, Aug. 14, 1866. The family has been settled there for over a cen- tury, his great-grandfather, Adam Sides, having come to this section from York county, Pa., and settled in what is known now as Germany, in West Wheatfield township. This was about the year 1800. He married Ann Stevely.

Joseph Sides, son of Adam and Ann (Stevely) Sides, lived in East Wheatfield township. He married Eve Walbeck, and their children were: Adam; Catherine, who married Joseph Duncan ; Annie, who married Thomas Wakefield; Samuel, who married Margaret Brentlinger ; Elizabeth, who married Daniel Hendricks; Jacob; Lydia, who mar- ried Daniel Winebrenner; Sarah Jane, who married John Huston: Charles; and Joseph.

Adam Sides, son of Joseph and Eve (Wal- beck) Sides, was born in 1829. He remained on the homestead until the year 1874, when he bought a farm in Burrell township, near Blairsville and located thereon. This place

Mr. Sides married Nancy Daugherty, daughter of Peter Daugherty, of Centerville, Pa., and she preceded him to the grave, dying May 28, 1910; she was buried in the Blairs- ville cemetery. Nine children were born to this marriage: Sophia, who married Jacob Gerhard; Joseph M., of Lincoln, Nebr., a re- tired stockman and farmer; Ella, married to Joseph Mack, of Derry, Pa .; Elizabeth, de- ceased; Eva, deceased; John F., of Dakota City, Nebr .; Charles M., who lives on the homestead; Flora V., married to William Dixon, of Cokeville, Pa., and Stuart J.

Stuart J. Sides, the youngest of the family, remained at home with his parents until his marriage, except for thirteen months spent in the West, going there in 1883. His educa- tion was obtained in the local public schools. After his marriage he continued to farm the home place until 1906, in which year he bought a farm near Blacklick to which he re- moved, and which has since been his place of residence. In 1895 fire destroyed all the buildings on the place, and he immediately began the erection of a modern house, barn and all other necessary buildings, the im- provements of this kind on his property being substantial and in creditable condition. He carries on general farming, has been exten- sively engaged in the lumber business since 1884, and is local agent for the Atlantic Fer- tilizer Company, of Baltimore, and the Johns- ton Harvester Company. His agricultural operations are extensive, he having had 195 acres in fall grain in 1912, over three thou- sand bushels. With all his various private interests he has found time to take part in public affairs, having served nine years on the Burrell township school board (three years of which time he was president), and ten years as clerk of the township. In polit- ical association he is a Republican. He is a member of the W. O. W. and helped to organ- ize the camp at Blacklick, and is at present a manager. He is one of the directors of the Blacklick National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers and original directors.

S. A.Sides

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On Aug. 4, 1890, Mr. Sides was married and proved himself a brave and loyal soldier. to Sarah M. Jamison, daughter of James and Lydia C. (Mack) Jamison, of Brushvalley township. They have had five children: Blanch E., now the wife of Evans Wiley, of Corbett, Md .; O. Ruth, a student of Blairs- ville College for Ladies; Adam, deceased; Flora V., a student at the Indiana State normal school, and Jamison Stuart.

HENRY H. LONG, a constable of White township, Indiana county, was born in Cherry- hill township June 25, 1840, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Gordon) Long, and grandson of Christopher Long.

Christopher Long settled in Bedford county, Pa., but later came to Indiana county, and continued to follow farming. He lived in Cherryhill township, where he died.

Jacob Long, a son of Christopher Long, was born in Bedford county, Pa., but came to Cherryhill township, Indiana county, with his father, and developed into a successful farmer of that locality. Later on he went to Arm- strong township, and still later to White town- ship, all the while being engaged in farming, and becoming one of the substantial agricul- turists of his day. His death occurred in White township. He and his wife were mar- ried in Cherryhill township, and became the parents of eight children : Henry H .; Robert, who is deceased; Jane, who married Henry Miller (both now deceased) ; David, deceased ; Elizabeth, deceased: Charlotte. deceased ; Silas, deceased ; and William E., who enlisted from Indiana county in the 136th Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry for three months' service in the Civil war, reenlisted, and served until the expiration of his second period, be- coming a sergeant. The mother of these chil- dren, who is also deceased, was a most excel- lent woman, and her memory is cherished in the hearts of her family.

Henry H. Long was three years old when his parents moved to Armstrong township, and he grew up amid healthful surroundings, learning how to conduct a farm, while at the same time he attended the schools of his dis- trict. After leaving school he went to Indiana and entered the paper mill conducted by John Shryshock, severing this connection to enlist, in August, 1862, in Capt. S. Nicholson's com- pany of the 135th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and after the expiration of his period of service reenlisted, in May, 1863, at Harris- burg, in the same company and regiment. Mr. Long saw some hard service, being in the bat- tles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg, 83

Returning home, he resumed his work at the paper mill, thus continuing for eighteen years, when he became an engineer at the foundry conducted by Major MeFarland, re- maining as such for thirteen years. At the expiration of that period Mr. Long was elected constable of White township, and still con- tinues to discharge the duties of that office. He has been tax collector, working in every township in the county, and proving himself an efficient and honorable official. For years he has been a member of the Indiana Post of the G. A. R., and has held various offices in that body, being extremely popular with his comrades. He also enjoys meeting them at different reunions, and is accounted one of the most honored veterans of the Civil war still residing in White township.

In 1864 Mr. Long was married to Jennie Boucher, who was born in Indiana county, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Dodson) Boucher, and six children were born to them: Henry W. is deceased; Luna is the wife of Sherman Deviney, of Blairsville, Pa .; Uressa is the wife of T. D. Cort, of Indiana, Pa .; Blanche is the wife of John McPherson, of Ernest, Pa .; William E. is a resident of New Kensington ; Herbert C., of Indiana, married Margaret Harris, of Indiana, daughter of Samuel Harris. The grandchildren of the family are: Harry Deviney, who is in the United States navy; and Harry C. Long, son of Herbert C. Long. Mr. and Mrs. Deviney had four other children, John, Mabel, Walter and Paul. Mrs. Henry H. Long died in No- vember, 1876, and Mr. and Mrs. Cort make their home with Mr. Long. On November 6, 1878, he married (second) Elizabeth Wilhel- man, a native of Armstrong township, daugh- ter of Moses and Catherine (Keener) Wil- helman, farming people of that township, who were among the early settlers of this section. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelman are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Long had one son, Herbert C. The mother died April 19, 1910.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 100

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