Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 101

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 101

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Mr. Long is a member of the Methodist Church, and is one of its liberal supporters. Continuing loyal to his country, he is a mem- ber of the Sons of America, and also belongs to the American Mechanics.

GORDON. Robert Gordon was a soldier in the American Revolution, and later on in life came to Cherryhill township, where he resided until death claimed him.

Robert Gordon (2), son of Robert Gordon, above, was a farmer of Cherryhill township, and one of the successful men of his day.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of Robert Gor- During the Civil war Mr. Stewart answered don (2), married Jacob Long, and became the the call of his country and enlisted in Com- mother of Henry H. Long.

The Long and Gordon families have been long established in Pennsylvania, the former of Dutch and the latter of Irish stock. The descendants of these families are to be found in many localities, and they are always num- bered among the representative people, up- holding law and order and doing all within their power to advance the welfare of the com- munity generally.

Mr. Stewart married (first) Margaret Stewart, who was a native of Pittsburg, and died at her home in Indiana in 1871; she was buried in Oakland cemetery. She was the mother of five children, viz .: Alice, who mar- ried W. R. Mahan, of White township ; Joseph, GEORGE RODGERS STEWART, a farm- who died in 1877; George Rodgers; Mary, who er of Brushvalley township, is a member of a married Silas Williamson, of Mahoning town- Scotch-Irish family, the founder of this branch of the family in Indiana county being Joseph Stewart, who was a native of Mary- land, born in 1802; he was a son of William Stewart.

Joseph Stewart came to Indiana county, Pa., in the early part of the nineteenth cen- tury, and located in Brushvalley township three miles north of Mechanicsburg, where he owned a tract of 300 acres. Here he continued until after the Civil war, when he removed to East Mahoning township, and became engaged in general farming, thus continuing until his death, in 1877. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and quite active in its work.

Mr. Stewart married Mary Findley, a na- tive of York county, Pa., born in 1800, daugh- ter of Archibald and Mary (Poe) Findley, who moved in 1800 to Westmoreland county, and in 1806 to West Lebanon, Indiana county. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart: Archibald; William, who married Sarah A. Goodrich; Abel; Martha J., who married Simon Lewis; Elizabeth ; Samuel, who married Jane Hart; Joseph, born in 1832, died in 1865 at Jacksonville, who was a well-known physician, and married Christina J. Graham; Mary, who married (first) Reuben Reeger and (second) Thomas Taylor; Hannah, who mar- ried H. H. Hamilton, and died in 1876; George, who married Jane Findley; David, who married Anne Askin; and Sarah A. P., who married Shadrach Askin.

Abel Stewart, son of Joseph and Mary (Findley) Stewart, was born in 1826 in Brushvalley, where he grew to manhood. In 1847 he located in Indiana, where he learned the trade of hatter, which he followed the re- mainder of his life. He died in 1894, and was buried in Oakland cemetery, at Indiana.

pany I, 211th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, where he served with credit to him- self. He was a member of the United Pres- byterian Church, and in politics was a Republican.

ship; and William W., who is an ink manu- facturer of Pittsburg. Mr. Stewart's second marriage was to Eliza Riddle, a widow; there were no children by this union.

George Rodgers Stewart was born in Indi- ana Feb. 4, 1857, son of Abel and Margaret (Stewart) Stewart. He attended school at Indiana until the age of thirteen, when lie started out to make his own living. Going to Pittsburg, he found employment as a waiter in a restaurant on Market street, receiving three dollars and his board per week. Here he spent a year and a half, after which he learned the molder's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Soon after this he took up farming with his brother-in-law, and con- tinued with him three years, at the end of which time he rented a farm of 125 acres in Brushvalley township, where he was located for two years. He then went to New Florence and worked at the molder's trade five years. going from there to Johnstown, to work for the Cambria Iron Company, with whom he remained three years. At the expiration of this time he returned to Brushvalley and bought the Fred Hurlinger farm of thirty acres, where he now resides. Mr. Stewart is an intelligent, thrifty and up-to-date farmer, enterprising and progressive. A stanch Pro- hibitionist, he has always supported that ticket. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and in religious connection is an elder in the Homer City Lutheran Church.

On Dec. 21, 1881, Mr. Stewart married Elizabeth George, who was born Oct. 19, 1860, daughter of Adam and Mary Anne (King) George, and to this union were born three chil- dren, as follows: (1) Murray Clair, born in New Florence, April 17. 1886, was educated in the public schools and is now engaged with the Vancouver (B. C.) Electric Light & Power Company as an electrician. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Harris Club.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and the Y. M. C. A. In 1912 he married these children died in February, 1908, and Florence Davis, of Brushvalley township. (2) was buried in Greenwood cemetery, at Indiana. Clarence Russell, born Sept. 10, 1889, at New Florence, was educated in the public schools and the Indiana State normal school, and took JACOB ANTHONY GALLAGHER, a farmer of Young township, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Armstrong county, this State, Jan. 19, 1862, son of Anthony Gallagher. a five years' course at the Pennsylvania State College, where he was graduated in 1911 with first honors. He is an electrical engineer and is now engaged with the General Electric Com- pany, of Schenectady, N. Y. (3) Edwin Luther, born Oct. 30, 1893, at Johnstown, Pa., attended the Brushvalley public schools and summer normal at Mechanicsburg, under Pro- fessor Campbell, and is now a student of the Indiana State normal school.

The George family, of which Mrs. Stewart is a member, is of German origin, but the home of the family has been in Pennsylvania for a number of years.

John George, grandfather of Mrs. Stewart, was born in Franklin county, near Chambers- burg, Pa., son of Jacob and Margaret (Cook) George. In 1812 the family came West and located in Armstrong county, near South Bend, where John engaged in general black- smithing, following this occupation here until his death. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and in his political views was a Demo- crat. His wife was Saloma Smith, and they were the parents of nine children, of whom Adam was the third son.

Adam George was born Oct. 15, 1826, and was reared to farming. In 1861 he went to Indiana, where he worked for a short time, and later removed to Blacklick township, where he bought a farm of 105 acres, carry- ing on general farming there for fifteen years. At the end of this period he located in Brush- valley township, and engaged in lumbering and farming until 1903, when he bought a feed mill in Homer City and removed thither, ever afterward carrying on this business with his son Thomas K., under the firm name of A. George & Son. He died July 13, 1912, and is buried in Greenwood cemetery, Indiana. Mr. George was a member of the Lutheran Church, which he joined in 1853. In politics he was a Republican.

Mr. George married Mary Anne King, of South Bend, Armstrong Co., Pa., daughter of Thomas King, and ten children were born to them, as follows: William, who resides in Pittsburg; Samuel, who died young; John, who resides in Mississippi ; Thomas K .; Nancy Jane, who died young; Margaretta ; Matilda, deceased : Catharine, deceased; Elizabeth, who married George R. Stewart: and Martha, who married Ralph Miller. The mother of

The founder of the Gallagher family in America was Anthony Gallagher, grandfather of Jacob Anthony Gallagher. A native of County Down, Ireland, he came to America with his wife and children at an early day, settling in Armstrong county, Pa., where he took up land and carried on farming the re- mainder of his life. All the members of his family, including himself and wife, were members of the Church of England, and asso- ciated themselves with the Episcopal Church after coming to this country.

Anthony Gallagher, son of the immigrant ancestor, and father of Jacob Anthony Galla- gher, was also born in County Down, Ireland, and came to America with his parents when but eight years old. His boyhood was spent in Armstrong county, where he grew to man- hood and entered upon agricultural life. Securing 100 acres near Barnard, that county, he was cultivating his land when the Civil war broke out, and he felt called upon to en- list for service, joining a regiment of Pennsyl- vania volunteer infantry. During his service he contracted chronic diarrhoea and was sent home on a furlough, and died from its effects in 1864 ; his remains were interred in the ceme- tery of the Baptist Church in Mahoning. Like his father he was a member of the Episcopal Church, and faithful to its teachings. Until the war issues changed his opinions he was a Democrat, but he then espoused the Repub- lican cause and voted the ticket of that party. He left a wife and three children.

Anthony Gallagher was married to Mary Ann DeLancey, daughter of Jacob F. and Susan (Knepper) DeLancey, a complete sketch of whose family is to be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher had four children: Hannah Edith, who married Oliver P. Steffey, of Elderton, Pa .; Philip, who died in infancy; Jacob Anthony; and Daniel, who died in young manhood. After the death of her husband Mrs. Gallagher went to Elderton, Armstrong Co., Pa., where she lived until her death, which occurred in 1902, when she was seventy-four years old. She is buried in the Baptist Church cemetery of Elderton, having been a consistent member of the denomination.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Jacob Anthony Gallagher had the misfor- Republican central committee, and is often tune to lose his father when only two years called upon to act as inspector of election. He is a charter member of Clarksburg Lodge, No. 35, Woodmen of the World, and is now acting as one of its managers. old, but his mother brought him up carefully, and sent him to the schools of Elderton. Until he was sixteen years old he remained with her, and then began supporting himself, securing employment in a brickyard at fifteen dollars a month, which was exclusive of board, which he had to furnish himself. After a short period Mr. Gallagher found that it would pay him better to engage with a farmer, and he entered the employ of Jacob Kinnell, of Arm- strong county, receiving ten dollars a month and board for his services. Until he attained his majority he continued to work on farms, but at that time went to Eldersridge. Later he secured employment with William Mc- Comb, of Young township, Indiana Co., Pa., with whom he remained a year, leaving him to go to the farm of S. J. Craighead. After four years of work for farmers of Young township Mr. Gallagher went to South Bend township, Armstrong Co., Pa., where he con- tinued his labors on farms for three years. Once more he engaged with Mr. Craighead, this time for one dollar a day, and so con- tinued for six years. During this time he had acquired a wife and family, so that it took hard work and much contriving to save any- thing from such small wages, but Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher were not only industrious but frugal, and finally were able to buy a home near Eldersridge. At the same time, Mr. Gal- lagher continned to work for others, keeping this up for five years more. During this lat- ter period his wages were never higher than one dollar per day, and often as low as seventy- five cents per day. Better times dawned for the family, however, when he secured employ- ment with the Pittsburg Gas Coal Company at their Iselin plant, and he remained with that concern until 1904. In that year he was able to buy the Rankin Taylor farm of 104 acres in Young township, having in the mean- while sold his property near Eldersridge, the proceeds from which were applied upon the purchase of the farm. During the eight years the Gallagher family have owned this farm many much needed improvements have been inaugurated and carried out, including the enlargement of the residence. With the help of his sons he carries on general farming and stock raising, and has developed into one of the prosperous agriculturists of his township.

has been a member of the Young township

On Feb. 14, 1883, Mr. Gallagher was mar- ried to Nancy Elizabeth Reeves, who was born at Eldersridge, Pa., daughter of Leslie and Rachel Ann (Jelleson) Reeves, well-known people of Eldersridge. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher: Annie Mary, who was educated in the public schools of Eldersridge and the academy at that place, is at home; Daniel M. is a farmer of South Bend township, Armstrong Co., Pa .; John St. Clair is a farmer of Young township; Martha Maria, who is at home, takes an active interest in church work and that of the Christian En- deavor society ; George Craighead, Samuel V., Hannah Edith and Charles Addison are at home. All the members of the family belong to the Presbyterian Church at Clarksburg, and take an active part in its good work.

FRY ROSER, an old-time resident of Pine township, Indiana county, was born in the county, in Brushvalley township. Feb. 14, 1840. The family is of German extraction, and his grandfather, George Roser, was born. in Germany. He settled in Brushvalley town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., over one hundred years ago, buying land near Mechanicsburg. It was then in its wild state, and he had to clear it before he could begin farming, which he fol- lowed the remainder of his life, dying on the homestead. He married Elizabeth Fry.

George Roser, son of George and Elizabeth (Fry) Roser, was born in York county, Pa., and moved with his parents to Indiana county, settling in Pine township, where he lived until his death, which occurred when he was eighty- four years old. He married Christina Fetter- man, who was born in Indiana county, where her father, Philip Fetterman, located in pio- neer times, and died at the age of seventy years. Children as follows were born to George and Christina (Fetterman) Roser : Samuel, who died in infancy ; Peter, deceased ; Lawrence, deceased; Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomp- son, deceased ; Fry, mentioned below; George, deceased; Martin, who lives in Lycoming county. Pa .; Dennis, living on the old family homestead in Pine township; Lydia, Mrs. Waltemire, residing in Indiana; and Sarah, deceased.

A Republican in his political views, Mr. Gallagher has served as supervisor of Young Fry Roser began his education in the schools township for three years. For ten years he of his native township, and continued to at- tend school after the family moved to Pine

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

township. He has always followed agricul- tural pursuits. In 1863 he entered his coun- try's service, enlisting from Indiana county in Company E, 102d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and he was mustered out June 5, 1865, at Pittsburg. He served in many battles, was wounded in the engagement at Cold Harbor, and became corporal of his company. Returning to his home in Indiana after his discharge from the service he has since engaged in farming, mak- ing his home in Pine township, where he has three farms, containing 284 acres.

On Oct. 10, 1861, Mr. Roser married Salome Coy, who was born in Indiana county Dec. 24, 1839, daughter of Louis and Margaret (Slep- py) Coy, who were among the pioneers of Indiana county. Mr. Coy died in 1895, his wife in 1892. Their family consisted of these children : Anna E., Mrs. Williams, who lived in New York State; twin sons, of whom John lives in Michigan; Salome, Mrs. Roser ; Abraham, deceased; Nancy; Mary J., de- ceased; Carrie, wife of John Maxwell, of Indi- ana county ; Isabelle, wife of John Steffey, now living in Michigan; Margaret, Mrs. Trout, of Indiana county ; and Thomas, living in the West.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roser : Margaret E., who is the wife of Scott Schultz, of Indiana county; Anderson, deceased ; Keziah, wife of George Fetterman, of Pine township; William E., deceased ; Edith, wife of Furman Edmiston, of Pine township; Ira, living in Pine township; and Lucinda, wife of Nelson Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Roser are members of the Lutheran Church, which he has served as deacon. Politically he is a Republican, and he has held the office of overseer of the poor.

HERMAN KLEINSTUB, proprietor of a general store at Creekside, Pa., was born in Warsaw, Russia, Jan. 5, 1863. His parents are both natives of Russia, where they still reside, and the father was a farmer during his active years.

Growing up in his native land, Mr. Klein- stub attended school, and learned the princi- ples of farming from his father. When he began working for himself, however, he en- gaged in merchandising, but realizing that better opportunities for advancement were to be found in America he left for this country in 1891, landing at Philadelphia, whence he went to Cleveland, Ohio, for a time there clerking in a store. From that city he went to Altoona, Pa., and embarking in business re-

mained there twelve years. In 1903 he moved to Creekside, Pa., engaging in the general mercantile business which he has developed until it is one of the largest establishments of its kind in Indiana county. At the same time he has taken no inconsiderable part in civic matters, assisting in the organization of the borough of Creekside, and now serving as a member of the council. Fraternally he be- longs to the Odd Fellows, at Altoona, and the Eagles, Indiana Council.

In 1888 Mr. Kleinstub was married to Bes- sie Isenstein, a native of Russia, and they have had six children, the first two born in Russia, and the other four in America : Nellie, Philip, Amiel, Louis, Abraham and Eva. In all his undertakings Mr. Kleinstub has shown com- mendable enterprise, and his success in life is well merited.

HARRY THOMAS ROSS, of Mechanics- burg, Indiana county, has been in the mer- cantile business there for three years and has a well-established trade serving the residents of that section. He was born near Marion Center, this county, Aug. 25, 1877.

Robert Ross, grandfather of Harry T. Ross, was among the pioneers of that part of the county, where he owned and cleared 125 acres of land upon which he spent his life and died. In Clearfield county, Pa., he married Polly McCright, who was a native of that county. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

Thomas Ross, born in 1855, eldest son of Robert, grew up on the home farm. When a young man he went to Kansas, where he spent four years, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Returning to the homestead he has continued farming ever since, now owning and operating a tract near Taylorsville, Indiana county. He is a Republican and a member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Ross married Mary Steffy, daughter of David Steffy, and eight children have been born to them: Harry Thomas; Clara, who is deceased ; Effie Viola, who mar- ried Luther Williams; Mabel Irene, Mrs. Lower; J. Logan, a merchant at Hamill, Pa .; Earl, a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad. of Altoona; Annie Ethel, wife of Boyd Shef- fler, of West Lebanon; and Robert Clay, at home.

Harry Thomas Ross obtained his education in the local public schools and remained under the care of his father until twenty-one years old. Meantime he followed farming on the homestead, and after leaving home went to DuBois, Pa., to work as lumberman. Then he

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

became clerk with the Grand Union Tea Com- to his home. When he had recovered suf- pany at their store at DuBois, where he re- ficiently he resumed farming, and after his marriage purchased a small farm in Rayne township, on which he continued to carry on operations until his retirement, in 1897, since which time he has lived in his own home at No. 1278 Church street, Indiana, erected by him. He is a valued member of the Union Veteran Legion and the Legion of Honor, and is a Republican in his political views. mained some time, returning home for one year, after which he became a weighmaster for the Clearfield Coal Company for one year. He was next engaged as traveling salesman for G. T. Buchanan, wholesale grocer of Indi- ana, Pa., with whom he continued until 1909, when he came to Mechanicsburg and became a general merchant on his own account. His previous experience no doubt aided in his suc- cess, which has been marked. He is a good manager and has built up a profitable business by catering to the demands of his customers and anticipating them, his stock being very satisfactory. .

In June, 1899, Mr. Ross married Mary Dav- ison, daughter of William and Rebecca Ann Davison, of Taylorsville, Pa., and they have one child, Walter Dale. Mr. Ross and his fam- ily attend the Baptist Church of Brushvalley township. He is a Republican, but takes no active part in politics.

GEORGE J. SNYDER, retired farmer and veteran of the Civil war, now living in Indi- ana, Pa., was born May 7, 1838, on his father's farm, situated two miles from the borough of Indiana, in Rayne township. Indiana county, and is a son of Lewis and Hannah Elizabeth Snyder.

Lewis Snyder and his wife were both born in Germany and came to the United States about the year 1835, settling in Indiana coun- ty, Pa., where Mr. Snyder carried on farming throughout his life. They had children as fol- lows : Susanna, who died unmarried; George J .; Margaret, widow of John Carlin ; Daniel, deceased, who served during the Civil war; Adam, of Indiana, also a Civil war veteran; and Sophia. who married John Joseph Kling- enburg, of Indiana.

George J. Snyder received his education in the little log country schoolhouse of his vicin- ity, and as was the custom of farmers' lads in his day worked on the farm in the summer months, the acquiring of an education being limited to the winter terms. He remained with his father until his enlistment in Com- pany K, 105th Regiment. Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry. for three years, and served with that organization in all its engagements up to the battle of Fair Oaks. when he was dangerously wounded in the left shoulder. Blood poisioning set in, and for five months he was confined to the hospital at New Haven, Conn .. eventually receiving his honorable dis- charge on account of disability and returning

Mr. Snyder married Isabella Boucher, daughter of David and Catherine Boucher, and they have had the following children: Annie, who married William Heil, of Vander- grift; Tabitha, who married Charles Freck, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa .; Nettie, the wife of I. C. Roland, of Pittsburg; John, of Rayne town- ship, who married Carrie Freck; Harvey, a merchant of Indiana, who married Blanche Waterson; and Dollie, who married Thomas C. Beatty, of Indiana.

WESLEY W. NICHOL, of Green town- ship, Indiana county, present secretary of the school board and a prosperous farmer of that section, was born there Sept. 3, 1865, son of John McFarland and Margaret (Buter- baugh) Nichol. William Nichol, his grand- father, came from Ireland, and bought a farm near Taylorsville, in Green township, Indiana Co., Pa., upon which he settled and lived until his death.

John McFarland Nichol was born in 1841 in Indiana county, was reared to farming, and followed that occupation all his life. He also engaged in stock raising. He bought a part of the farm where his son Wesley now lives, and a farm adjoining the one owned by his son Wesley, living there for thirty-five years, until he removed west to Colorado in 1906. He improved the property greatly during his residence thereon. In Colorado he bought land upon which he remained until his death, which occurred March 19, 1910. His remains were brought east and buried in the Taylors- ville cemetery. In 1862 he married Margaret Buterbangh, also a native of Indiana county, daughter of Henry and Mary (Langham) Buterbangh, of Green township. and she died, the mother of seven children, namely: Mary Ann, who is the widow of Peter Sickenberger and lives in Indiana county; Wesley W .; Sadie, wife of Frank Jeffries, of Richmond, Pa .; Jane, who died young; James, who lives in Green township; Eliza, wife of Abner Lloyd, of Colorado; and Margaret, a resident of Colorado. The father married for his second wife Sarah Houston, by whom he had

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

eight children: Zola, the wife of Charles ried Mary Welsh, of Pittsburg. They were Long, living in Colorado; Archie, in Colo- members of the M. E. Church. rado; Calvin, in Colorado; Donald, who is in Green township, Indiana Co., Pa .; Parle, twin of Donald, deceased; Hope, living in Green township; John, of Green township; and Wil- liam, of Green township. Mrs. Nichol and her children live on the old homestead.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 101

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