Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 103

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 103

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PETER SAWYER, of Montgomery town- ship, Indiana county, owns considerable land there and has extensive agricultural interests. Formerly he was also engaged in lumbering. Mr. Sawyer was born Oct. 7, 1833, in Potts- ville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., son of Peter and Mary Sawyer, natives of Germany, who set- tled in Cambria eounty, Pa. The father fol- lowed his trade of carpenter and also farmed.

In 1859 Peter Sawyer eame to Indiana county, where he began lumbering. H bought the farm where he now makes his home, a tract of 240 acres in Montgomery township, and at one time owned a thousand acres in all, but he has sold off most of his holdings, at present retaining only his home- stead and another piece of 124 aeres. For twenty-five years he followed lumbering, putting logs into the Susquehanna river, but

farming has been his principal vocation, and he has prospered by dint of hard work and good management. He is a much respected eitizen of his township, where he has been elected supervisor and overseer of the poor, and he has also served on the board of elee- tion commissioners. In political connection he is a Demoerat .. During his residence of over half a century in Montgomery township he has won high standing in the regard of his fellow eitizens.

In 1862 Mr. Sawyer married Clara Darr, of Burnside township, Clearfield Co., Pa., who died in 1864. There were two children by this marriage, both of whom died in infancy. In 1866 he married (second) Jane Irwin, of Montgomery township, Indiana county, daughter of Samuel and Mary Irwin, farm- ing people, and of the seven children born to this union two are deceased, one dying very young and Flora Bell when twenty years old. The five who survive are: Samuel Irwin, of Glen Campbell, this eounty, farmer and coal dealer, who married Grace Ake, of Hillsdale, this eounty; Duff, a farmer, car- penter and coal dealer, also of Glen Camp- bell, who married Nannie Moore, of Cherry- tree; Clara J., now the wife of Dr. J. W. Clark, of Winburne, Pa .; Mary Viola, wife of Charles M. Ake, a merchant of Hillsdale, Pa .; and Bertha O., who graduated from the State normal school at Indiana, and is now engaged in school teaching. The mother of these died in June, 1899.

JACOB DORMIRE, who is living retired after many years spent in agricultural pur- suits in Indiana county, was born Feb. 21, 1834, in Pine township, Armstrong Co., Pa .. son of David and Sarah (Hofflefinger) Dormire.

Anthony Dormire, the paternal grand- father of Jacob Dormire, was born in North- umberland county, and removed to Arm- strong county at an early date, settling near Elderton, where he secured land and spent the rest of his life in farming. He and his wife had a family of ten children.

David Dormire, son of Anthony, and father of Jacob Dormire, was born .near Elderton. Armstrong Co., Pa. He had but meager opportunities to secure an education, but he was ambitious and industrious and made the best of his ehanees, eventually becoming a well-informed man. When a young man he removed to Pine township, Armstrong county. and there acquired the ownership of a farm, which he cleared and cultivated, and on

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

which he spent the rest of his life, dying in farming he found time to serve his township the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which in numerous offices, and was known as one of his wife was also a faithful member. Mr. the active Democrats of his section. He and Dormire married Sarah Hofflefinger, of She- his wife were members of the German Re- locta, Pa., and they became the parents of the following children: William, deceased, who lived in Armstrong county; Anthony, deceased, who spent the last years of his life in Michigan; Alexander, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Jacob; Susanna, who married John Brosius, and lives on the old home place; and Lavina, deceased, who mar- ried G. S. Reedy.

Jacob Dormire, son of David Dormire, re- ceived a common school education, and re- mained at home until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time he removed to Wayne township, Armstrong county, and in 1871 came to North Mahoning township and purchased 100 acres of land, on which had been made a small clearing, a shanty and log stable standing there. Mr. Dormire had but little cash capital, but was possessed of ambi- tion, thrift and industry, and set about mak- ing it a valuable property. In 1875 he erected a substantial barn, and this was followed the next year by the erection of a comfortable frame residence, and by the time of his re- tirement, in 1909, he had cleared and put under cultivation about ninety acres of his land. He is now living quietly, enjoying the fruits of his years of early toil, and his son, Isaac Curts Dormire, is engaged in con- ducting the home place. Mr. Dormire's long and useful career has demonstrated the value of sobriety, probity and integrity, when coupled with well-directed effort, and his life is one worthy of emulation by the youth of the present generation.

Mr. Dormire was first married to Sarah Houser, of Armstrong county, and to this union were born five children, as follows: Joseph C., a farmer of Guthrie, Okla .; Emma, who is deceased; Nancy Jane, who married Jolın Sheesley, of Jefferson county, Pa., and John and David, twins, of whom John is liv- ing in Wayne township, Armstrong Co., Pa., and David in Brown county, Illinois.

On May 4, 1865, Mr. Dormire was married (second) to Lizzie Rumbough, of Dayton, Pa., who was born Dec. 3, 1841, daughter of Isaac and Mary C. (Knight) Rumbough, the former of Butler county and the latter of Clarion county. Mr. Rumbough went to Armstrong county in young manhood and settled near Dayton, where he secured 600 acres of land, the greater part of which he put under cul- tivation. In addition to growing stock and

formed Church, in the faith of which both passed away on the old home place. They were the parents of the following children : David, a carpenter hy trade, who is deceased; Simon, a farmer and office holder, also de- ceased; Mary, who married William Wadd- ing, both now deceased; Lucy Ann, widow of Jacob Thomas, living on the old homestead ; Catherine, widow of Henry Rupp, living in Dayton, Pa .; Christina, deceased, who was the wife of Christopher Riesman; Caroline, who died at the age of twenty years ; and Mrs. Dormire.

Mr. and Mrs. Dormire have had six chil- dren : Mary, deceased, who was the wife of J. Gould, and had one child, Mary; Ida, the wife of Wilson Fetterhoff, of North Mahoning township, who has three children, Albert, Lincoln and Claire; Maggie, who married Ed. Kerr, of Punxsutawney, Pa., and has two children, Walter and Frederick; William G., a farmer of North Mahoning township, who married Bessie Hosick, and has one son, Floyd; Isaac C., farming for his father in North Mahoning township, who married Olive Crossman, and has three children, Elizabeth, Margaret and Mary; and Harvey J., the pro- prietor of a furniture store at Dubois, Pa., who married Zillie Chambers, and has two children, Max and Martha.

Mr. Dormire is a Republican in his political views, and has served as school director for three terms, and as a member of the board of supervisors. With his wife he attends the Lutheran Church. In all the relations of life he has shown himself to be a straight- forward, public-spirited citizen, well worthy the respect and esteem which are his.

WILSON C. THOMAS, who owns and operates a large farm in Rayne township, Indiana county, and is also very well known in that section as a successful veterinary surgeon, was born Oct. 26, 1852, on the farm where he resides, and where his father lived before him.

Hiram Thomas, his father, died in 1861, at the age of sixty-one years. He married Anna Shield, who lived to the age of seventy- four, dying in 1887. They had a large fam- ily, namely: George W., who died at the age of seventy years; Hiram, deceased; Mar- garet, deceased; Robert, deceased ; Hugh, de- ceased; William, deceased; Jessie, deceased ;

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mary, who married Silas Miller, and has one son (they live in Pittsburg) ; John P., de- ceased ; Eveline, who married Robert Park and lives in Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa .; Archy, deceased; Amos, a dentist, located in Ne- braska; and Wilson C. Seven of the sons and three sons-in-law served in the Union army during the Civil war.

Wilson C. Thomas grew to manhood in Rayne township, and has followed farming there throughout his active years, becoming very successful. He owns a tract of 250 acres, and is regarded as one of the pros- perous agriculturists of his section, where he is highly respected for his substantial worth. He attends the Presbyterian Church at Marion Center.

On Feb. 16, 1870, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Mary A. Donahey, daughter of William and Harriet (Wimer) Donahey. Her father was a member of Company A, 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and lost his life at the battle of Fair Oaks. The mother died when sixty-two years old, in 1888, at Rossmoyne, Pa. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas: Florence, who lives at Dixonville, Indiana county ; Charles S., who is engaged in farming in Rayne township; Jessie E., also a resident of Rayne township; Harry White, who is in bus- iness as an undertaker at Glen Campbell, this county ; William M., a farmer of Rayne township; Park J., a mail carrier, who lives in Marion Center, Pa .; Benjamin W., a mail carrier, of Marion Center, Pa .; Sylvester C., a barber, of Marion Center; Norman L., who died when eighteen years old; Eva Thomas; and one deceased in infancy.

ANDREW WEAMER, a venerable citizen of South Mahoning township, Indiana county, resides at West Plumville, which village stands on the southern part of his home farm, land owned by the Weamer family for the last century.

Andrew Weamer, his grandfather, was born at Flatlands, in Bucks county, Pa., and learned blacksmithing, which trade he found very useful in his pioneer life in western Pennsylvania. Coming to South Mahoning township, Indiana county, he became the owner of four hundred acres of land, upon which, in 1814, he built a stone house which is still standing, owned by Dr. McEwen. In the early days he kept a hotel or tavern, sup- plying refreshment to travelers who rode through on horseback. In those days there were no roads. He also dealt in stock, ship-

ping horses, cattle and sheep to the eastern markets. His death occurred in 1839, when he was sixty-two years old, and he was buried in the cemetery of St. John's Lutheran Church, of which church he was one of the founders. His wife's name was Elizabeth.

Jacob Weamer, son of Andrew and Eliz- abeth Weamer, was born in 1806 on the old farm, and obtained such education as the local subscription schools afforded. He made good use of his advantages, could speak Eng- lish and German, and taught school in Wash- ington township (this county) for one term. He assisted his father in the work of clearing the home place, and was given 140 acres of same, the western part, later buying another tract of 127 acres and operating 267 acres altogether. He built a frame house and barn and made other valuable improvements on his property, and was not only a successful gen- eral farmer but was quite extensively inter- ested in buying and selling cattle, sheep and horses, shipping to the Philadelphia markets. He made his trips with his horses overland on horseback at that time. His affairs pros- pered because of his hard work and intelligent management, and he was also deeply inter- ested in the advancement of the public wel- fare, being particularly active in the promo- tion of the public school system. He served as school director, and in other township offices, and was public-spirited in every way, giving three of his sons for service in the Union army during the Civil war. He was a Republican in politics and an active mem- ber of St. John's Lutheran Church, which he served as deacon and elder. He died on Dec. 28, 1881, at the age of seventy- five, and is buried in St. John's cemetery. Mr. Weamer married Margaret Roof, a na- tive of Westmoreland county, Pa., born July 15. 1811, near Greensburg, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Weaver) Roof, and she died in 1894, at the age of eighty-four, and was buried in the cemetery of St. John's Lutheran Church, of which church she was a member. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weamer : Andrew; Mary, who married Jacob Clowes; William H., now a resident of Homer City, this county, who served during the Civil war; George W., also a resident of Homer City, who served in the Civil war; Joseph C., farmer of South Mahoning town- ship, who served in the Civil war; Margaret, wife of J. C. Craig, living in Chicago, Ill .; and Gettys Franklin, who died when eight years old.

Andrew Weamer, son of Jacob and Mar-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

garet (Roof) Weamer, was born March 22, tled. 1833, on the Weamer homestead at what is now West Plumville, and was educated at the local public schools. He always worked at home with his parents, continuing to re- side on the homestead and care for them in their declining years, and eventually became the owner of the 140 acres of the old Weamer tract which his father owned. Mr. Weamer has been a successful farmer and stock dealer, and has been making improvements on his property steadily, being one of the most en- terprising and progressive agriculturists of his locality. The village of West Plumville, containing some forty houses, school and several stores, is now situated on the southern part of his property. Mr. Weamer is a val- uable citizen of his township, which he has served in various public capacities, two terms as assessor, two terms as school director and two terms as supervisor. Like his father he is a Republican in politics and a Lutheran in religion, belonging to St. John's Church, which he has served as deacon and in other capacities. There is no more respected citi- zen in the district.

On April 14, 1859, Mr. Weamer married Rebecca Stuchel, daughter of Christopher Stuchel, and they celebrated the golden an- niversary of their wedding with appropriate festivities. Mrs. Weamer is a descendant of an old Indiana county family. Like her hus- band she holds membership in the Lutheran Church. Ten children were born to them: Louise Ann, who died when three years old; Margaret Jane, wife of C. C. Shields, of Indi- ana borough; Ellen, married to Albert Bow- ser, of Rural Valley, Armstrong county ; Mary, wife of D. L. Smiley, blacksmith, of West Plumville; Frank, now deceased, who graduated from the State normal school at Indiana and was engaged in teaching; Harry L., a merchant of Saltsburg, married to Adda Smail; Charles, now deceased, who became a physician and practiced at Plumville two years; John, who lives in Somerset county, Pa., married to Effie Lohr; Cora, who mar- ried Ellis Good, of West Plumville; and Wilbur A., who owns a part of the old home- stead, married to Emma Neff.

SAMUEL SPICHER, one of the old resi- dents of Montgomery township, Indiana county, was born there April 26, 1842, and has occupied his present farm for the long period of forty-seven years. His father and grandfather were natives of Somerset county, Pa., where his mother's family were also set-

Samuel and Margaret (Barkey) Spicher, parents of Samuel Spicher, came to Indiana county in 1842 and bought a farm of 160 acres, which he cleared. He followed lumbering until his land was in condition to be cultivated, after which he devoted himself to farming until his retirement. He died at the age of eighty-two years, his wife at the age of seventy-eight. Their children were: Magdelina, wife of George Rareigh; Peter, who married Barbary Decker; John, who married Sarah Gardner; Daniel, who mar- ried Jimiah Gardner and (second) Rebecca O'Haro; Elizabeth, wife of William Gard- ner; George B., who married Elizabeth Brink; Caroline, wife of James Dunlap; Sam- uel, mentioned below; and Levi, who married Amanda Brilhart.

Samuel Spicher received his education in the log schoolhouse near Gettysburg, Indiana county. After he was twenty-one he followed lumbering and made timber, square timber, spars, booms, etc., and he rafted on the Sus- quehanna river from Cherrytree to Marietta, continuing in this line for forty years. Meantime he had also acquired agricultural interests, having bought the farm of 115 acres where he now lives forty-seven years ago. He cleared this place, and has con- verted it into a productive farm, being one of the successful farmers of his part of the township. Mr. Spicher has always taken a great interest in local political affairs. He has never missed a presidential election since he was entitled to vote, and only two county elections, and he is an old-school Republican and ardently concerned for the welfare of the party. He has served as judge of elections and county committeeman.

On Feb. 8, 1863, Mr. Spicher married Lucy A. Wier, of Montgomery township, daughter of John and Mary (Connor) Wier, the former a miller and farmer, who came to this county in the early fifties. Mr. and Mrs. Spicher have ten children: Jacob R., who owns a hotel in Cambria county, Pa .; William T., a miner, of Arcadia, Indiana county; Amanda, wife of Wilson Gromley, a miner, of Mont- gomery township; Harry E., a farmer of Montgomery township; Celia, wife of Samuel Getty, a farmer; Maud, deceased, who mar- ried Ed. Sebring, a painter, of Montgomery township; Howard, a miner, of Arcadia, Pa .; Joseph, of Somerset county, Pa., who is con- nected with a hotel; Benjamin Franklin, a farmer, living at home; and Ellen, married to Howard Powell, a blacksmith of Montgom- ery township. Mr. and Mrs. Spicher have had

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

forty grandchildren, viz .: Blanche, Maria, Mabon married Catherine Ansley, a daughter Edgar, Jacob, Ruth, Earl, Doyle, Ruth and of an aunt of Dr. W. B. Ansley, and they had eleven children: Angeline, who married Wil- liam J. Smith; Robert L .; James; Elizabeth, who married Charles L. Graff; Clara, who married Isaac F. Laughlin; William; Nettie, who married W. B. Long; Emma, Mrs. Mc- Feeters; Louisa, who married J. M. John- ston ; Frank B .; and Charles. Barney Spicher; Ollie, Samuel, Raul, Quay, Everett, Blaine, Charlie, Fredia, Winnie and Lydia Gromley; Grover, Aleth and Leo Spicher; four who died in infancy unnamed (Spichers) ; Vivian and Vernon Spicher; Cortney and Ralph Getty; Octa, John, Alice, Huldah and Trudell Sebring; Marie, Ray- mond, Edna and Carl Powell; and Oliver Spicher. There are four great-grandchildren, Alien, Evelyn and Lucille Abrams, and Alden Spicher.

Mr. Spicher's religious connection is with the Church of the Brethren; his wife belongs to the United Evangelical Association.

JACKSON ANDREW COMPTON, a farmer of Conemaugh township, was born in 1870, at Jacksonville, Indiana county, near the Blacklick township line, and was brought by his parents to Conemaugh township when still very young. Here he attended common school at Clarksburg, and worked on the farm with his parents until the death of his father, who willed to him a tract of 140 acres. This he is now conducting, carrying on farming and stock raising, making a specialty of fine horses, raising some for the market each year. He has a comfortable residence, good barn. and outbuildings, and takes a pride in keep- ing his premises up-to-date in every respect. In addition to his agricultural interests, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Telephone Company. He and his family all belong, to the Presbyterian Church at Clarksburg, which he serves as trustee. Politically he is an independent Democrat, and has been a school director for the last four years.

On Oct. 12, 1904, Mr. Compton was mar- ried to Nannie Bell Mabon, a daughter of James and Thurza Jane (Smith) Mabon, resi- dents of Blacklick township. Mr. and Mrs. Compton have had four children, Blaine Loraine, Carol Mabon, Nola May and Wilber Ward.

MABON. John Mabon, the great-grand- father of Mrs. Compton, came from Clyde, Scotland, to Indiana county, Pennsylvania.

Squire James Mabon was a farmer and justice of the peace in Blacklick township. He was born at Marion Center Feb. 18, 1856, came to Blacklick township when young, and has been prominent in township affairs; he has been a justice of the peace for the last twenty years.

On Jan. 13, 1881, Mr. Mabon married Thurza Jane Smith, a daughter of William and Ann C. (Bricker) Smith, and children as follows were born of this marriage: Wil- liam F., who was born Dee. 21, 1881, and married Louise Rager ; Maude L .; Nannie B., born March 18, 1887, who married J. A. Compton; George S., born Jan. 25, 1891; Jean C., born Nov. 7, 1894; and Corwin John, born May 8, 1903.

VERNA CLAY THOMAS is engaged in farming in Armstrong township, Indiana county, on a tract of land which was in his father's possession for a period of over thirty years. He was born Dec. 25, 1872, at the old Thomas homestead in the same township, which has been owned in the family seventy years or more, son of John L. Thomas and grandson of John Thomas, the latter also a . native of Armstrong township, where he lived and died. He is buried in the cemetery of Curry's Run Church. He owned a farm of about three hundred acres, the place now owned and occupied by his son Amos. He married Anna Walker, and they had children as follows: Israel; William, who lives in Venango county, Pa .; Amos; John L .; Mar- garet, wife of James Peelor; Sarah, wife of Harrison Anthony; Mary A., wife of Preble Kelly; Eveline, wife of John Fleming; Martha, wife of Richard Fleming; and Eliz- abeth, wife of Jacob Detter.

Francis B. Mabon, son of John Mabon, John L. Thomas was born May 22, 1844. at the homestead in Armstrong township, was reared on that place, and became familiar with farm work from an early age. He also learned the trades of carpenter and painter, which he followed for some years. He then bought a farm from Joseph Peelor, the place in Armstrong township where his son Verna was born at Georgeville, Pa., and later moved to Marion Center, where he was a farmer. Still later he went to Blacklick township, and in 1861 bought the John Laughry farm of 145 acres, on which he carried on farming the remainder of his useful life. His remains were buried at Blairsville, Pa. At one time he was a county commissioner. Francis B. now lives, and made his home on that prop-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

erty until his death-for thirty-two years. He passed away April 1, 1911.

On Dec. 25, 1871, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Caroline MeGary, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Swan) MeGary, and they became the parents of four children: Verna Clay; Olive M., who is the wife of Charles Lewis, of White township, this to Smicksburg, where he remained until county ; Samuel Wilbur, a railroad man ; and Charlotte S., who is married to Blair Lewis, of Indiana, Pa. The mother now lives at Indiana.

Verna Clay Thomas was given a good com- mon school education. He always remained at home on the farm as his father's assistant, and from the time of his marriage has been engaged in farming on his own account. He now owns his father's place, having a fine tract in Armstrong township, of 180 acres, about four and a half miles from the borough of Indiana. He gives all his time and energy to the management and operation of this property, which is in most creditable condi- tion and bears every evidence of intelligent care.

In 1899 Mr. Thomas married Mary Wig- gins, of Shelocta, daughter of Alexander and Nancy Wiggins, and they have had eight chil- dren, namely : Helen, Lysle, Carolyne, Leroy, John, Arthur, Anna Bell, and Flora Frances (who died when five weeks old). Mr. Thomas is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Curry's Run.

JAMES AUSTIN CONDRON, a farmer of Rayne township, was born in West Mahon- ing township, this county, May 9, 1857, one and a half miles south of Smicksburg, son of David and Lydia Aun (Davis) Condron.

Jacob Condron, his grandfather, came from the eastern part of Pennsylvania to West Mahoning township, settling on a tract of land where he followed farming, becoming the owner of 200 acres. He also engaged in lumbering and continued his activities up to the time of his death. He married a Miss Lockhard, and they had a large family, viz. : William, who died in Iowa; an unnamed daughter ; Elizabeth and Mary, both of whom married Cornelius Lowe, of Smicksburg; James, who died in Hollidaysburg (he owned a blast furnace and iron business) ; George; Jane, who married Thomas Weston; John ; Steve and Griffith, who died in the West; David; Marion; Eliza, who married Isaac Yengling; and Jacob, who died in Bedford county.

David Condron was born in Blair county, Pa., but was brought to Indiana county in boyhood by his parents, and was reared to agricultural life. After his marriage to the daughter of James Davis he located on what was known as the Lowe farm of 150 acres, in West Mahoning township, and in 1868 moved

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 103

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