Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 105

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 105

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On July 3, 1873, Mr. McFeaters was mar- ried to Catherine Colteborgh, a native of In- diana county, whose parents, both now de- ceased, were early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. McFeaters have had five children : Charles L., living at Steubenville, Ohio; Rob- ert, who is deceased; Dollie, wife of Charles Kunkle, of Creekside; Grace, wife of R. B. Fitzsimmons, of Vandergrift, Pa .; and Maud, wife of E. H. Turney, of Vandergrift.

Mr. Brinkman married Catherine Shots, a daughter of Michael and Jane (Chambers) Mr. and Mrs. McFeaters are members of the Presbyterian Church, while fraternally he is connected with Creekside Council, Royal Arcanum, and the Heptasophs at Indiana, Pennsylvania. Shots, the former a canalboat man. Mrs. Brinkman died in December, 1912, a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, and a most excellent wife and mother. Mr. and Mrs. Brinkman had these children: Hattie, who married Kim Johnson, of Ligonier, Pa .; John JONAS B. BAUGHMAN, head of the firm H., who married Bertha Davidson, and died of J. B. Baughman & Sons, of Blairsville, In-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

diana county, has been engaged in business property in Blairsville besides his factory. there as a manufacturer and dealer in ve- His fellow citizens have chosen him to vari- hicles for the last forty years. He is the leading man in his line in the borough. Mr. Baughman is a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., born at Youngstown, but was brought to Blairsville when three years old and has lived there ever since.

Peter Baughman, the grandfather of Jonas B. Baughman, was a native of Holland. His son, Seth Baughman, was born in Westmore- land county, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1849. He learned the trade of cabinetmaker, at which he was success- fully engaged in Youngstown for many years, manufacturing a large quantity of chairs, which sold readily, and for which he was especially noted. His wife, Christina (Smith), was of German lineage, and was born in Westmoreland county in 1814, daugh- ter of Joseph Smith. She survived her hus- band five years, dying in 1854. They were members of the Reformed Church. Their family consisted of six children, of whom three are living: Kate, wife of John Decker, of Irwin, Pa .; Sarah; and Jonas B. Joseph, Lucetta and John are deceased.

Jonas B. Baughman was born March 14, 1848. Being very young when his parents died, he had to make his way among strang- ers, and had no advantages of education or influence to aid him in getting a start in life. He obtained his education in the public schools, such as they were in his youth, and he could attend only three months in the winter season After serving several years' apprenticeship in a carriage factory he be- came engaged as a journeyman with a car- riage firm, by whom he was employed until he commenced business on his own account, in 1873. He established a factory on Camp- bell street, in Blairsville, and besides manu- facturing fine carriages and buggies has turned out neat and serviceable vehicles of all kinds, also conducting a complete repair shop. Mr. Baughman's thorough familiarity with all the details of manufacturing, and his long experience, enable him to exercise proper supervision over all the work done in the shop and factory and to give the best possible service to all patrons. The business is conducted in a commodious building, 25 by 200 feet in dimensions, with work rooms for the various branches completely fitted up and ample storage capacity. Mr. Baughman has prospered through industry and intelli- gent management of his affairs, and has ac- quired the ownership of several pieces of

ous public positions of trust, and he has served them acceptably as a member of the town council (three terms), school director, overseer of the poor, and in other offices. In politics he has been associated with the Re- publican party. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for the last twenty-five years, and an Odd Fellow for over forty years, since 1872, and was a representative to the grand lodge of that fraternity in 1902; he is a charter member of the local lodges of the B. P. O. Elks and Woodmen of the World.

In 1872 Mr. Baughman was married to Sa- lome Wonder, who was a daughter of Ste- phen and Susan (Gahn) Wonder, natives of Bedford county, Pa. Mrs. Baughman died in 1900, in her fifty-sixth year, the mother of eight children, two sons and six daughters, namely: Clara B., wife of Scott Miller, of Hazelwood, Pa .; Ida B., wife of C. F. A. Meyer, of Derry, Pa .; Mary K., wife of Phil- las Staub, of Portland, Oregon; Sarah J., wife of Dr. Albert Mason, of Roaring Springs, Pa .; Maggie M., wife of.J. M. McGahey, of Monessen, Pa .; Jesse C. and William E., both of Blairsville, now in partnership with their father as members of the firm of J. B. Baughman & Sons; and Alice I., wife of Frank Mobrey, of Hillside, Pa. For his sec- ond wife Mr. Baughman married, in Decem- ber, 1901, Mary E. Wonder, sister of his first wife, and they have two children, Nora Edith and J. B., Jr.

Mr. Baughman, though he has led a busy life, has found time for recreation and travel, and in 1911 journeyed eleven thousand miles, visiting British Columbia, Portland, San Francisco and other far western points, as well as old Mexico.

Stephen and Susan (Gahn) Wonder, par- ents of Mrs. Baughman, had a family of eleven children, five of whom are yet living: Katherine, wife of Henry M. Pringle, of Ir- win, Pa .; Mary E., Mrs. Baughman; Nora, wife of R. G. Algeo, of Mckees Rocks, Pa .; Henry, of Muncie, Ind .; and Martin S., of Pitcairn, Pa. The following are deceased : Elizabeth, Jacob, Margaret, Salome (first wife of Jonas B. Baughman), Louisa and Daniel.

ROSS S. FLEMING, a resident of Arm- strong township, Indiana county, belongs to an old settled family of this part of Penn- sylvania. His great-grandfather, Thomas

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IHISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Fleming, was born in Huntingdon county, ment, Capt. Joseph C. Greer (discharged this State, and his wife, Bettie (Martin), was June 1, 1865). He was present at Richmond when Lee surrendered, and afterward went to Venango county, Pa., spending about one year in the cil fields, and then returning to Armstrong township, Indiana county. a native of Ireland, coming to the United States with her parents when a little girl. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fleming were both of Scotch-Irish parentage. In 1818 he set- tled in Indiana county. He was a farmer by occupation.

James Fleming, son of Thomas, lived in Indiana county among the early settlers. He was a machinist by trade, engaged in farming to some extent, and also in the flour milling business, being a part owner of the first flour mill in Armstrong county. During the six- ties, at the time of the Morgan raid, he was a member of the Pennsylvania militia. His children were: Elizabeth A., wife of David Hill; John; Thomas; James G .; William; May A., wife of Israel Thomas; and Char- lotte, wife of George Cline. The father of this family died in 1891, the mother surviv- ing until 1902; she was ninety-two years old. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.

William Fleming, father of Ross S. Flem- ing, was born Jan. 6, 1839, at Woodward's Mill, in Armstrong county, and attended the common school in the vicinity. Then he went to Huntingdon county, Pa., and engaged in farming at the foot of the planes. Moving to Armstrong township, Indiana county, he bought the W. D. Anthony farm in 1866, a piece of property containing 160 acres lo- cated on Anthony's run, and followed farm- ing on that place for about fifteen years. In 1881 he purchased the R. H. Armstrong farm and home, where he resided from that time until his death. The house was a sub- stantial dwelling, erected in 1861, and Mr. Fleming made extensive improvements on the farm of 150 acres during his ownership, keeping the property in fine condition. He engaged in general agriculture and was ex- tensively interested in the raising of cattle. He was an energetic man, alive to the needs of the community as well as enterprising in the care of his own interests, and held vari- ous local offices, serving as overseer of the poor, supervisor and member of the election board. In political connection he was a Democrat, but he was an ardent Union sym- pathizer during the Civil war, in which he served under three enlistments-Aug. 7, 1862, in Company I, 135th Pennsylvania Regiment, Capt. John A. Kinters (discharged May 24, 1863) ; July 1, 1863, in Company C, 57th Pennsylvania Regiment; and Aug. 22, 1863, in Company H, 206th Pennsylvania Regi-

On Oct. 4, 1866, Mr. Fleming married Sarah E. Anthony, daughter of John and Elizabeth (McKnight) Anthony, of Arm- strong township (she is a cousin of Dr. W. J. MeKnight, author of the "Pioneer Outline History of Northwestern Pennsylvania"). Mrs. Fleming continues to reside on the home- stead place. Mr. Fleming died Dec. 10, 1900, at the "Henry Hotel," Pittsburg, Pa., while on a business trip, and is buried in Oakland cemetery in Indiana, where a fine monument has been erected to his 'memory. Three chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Fleming, Frank, Ross S. and Paul M. Frank married Lizzie Calhoun, daughter of James and Mary (Blakley) Calhoun, and now re- sides at Denver, Colo., where he is engaged in business as a contractor and builder. Paul M., born Aug. 31, 1866, is living at Kiefer, Okla., and is engaged in the oil fields.

Ross S. Fleming was born June 2, 1883, in Armstrong township, Indiana county, and there began his education in public school, later attending a select school at Shelocta, this county. He was brought up like the average farmer's boy, and although not ac- tively engaged in agricultural lines now has found his work in a similar field, in which his practical knowledge of farming and farm- ers' needs has proved highly useful. He is traveling salesman for the James Manufac- turing Company, of Fort Atkinson, Wis., manufacturers of sanitary dairy fixtures, etc. His territory is in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and southern New York.

On June 20, 1907, Mr. Fleming married Abbie Jane Miller, daughter of Moses B. and Rachel (Mangus) Miller, of Armstrong town- ship, and his mother resides with them, Mr. Fleming having one of the finest homes in Armstrong township, the old home place of his parents. He owns a tract of 150 acres, his father's old farm, which he rents, giving all his time to business matters.

ALTEMUS. The Altemus family of Brushvalley township is one of the oldest and most respected in that portion of Indiana county, and two of the surviving sons of Nicholas Altemus, William Wolf and Math- ias S. Altemus, still reside there, honored as

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

typical representatives of a name which has ness man, acquiring the ownership of over long been associated with good citizenship and high character.

The first of this name in Brushvalley town- ship was Adam Altemus, who was of German extraction and a native of Northampton county, Pa. Coming to Indiana county about 1798 he located in Center township, near the line of what is now Brushvalley township, on what is now known as the Robert Mc- Phetris farm, and here he settled down to farming, having a tract of 200 acres, on which he made considerable improvement. He built a fine brick dwelling house on the farm, the first of its kind in that section, the brick being made on his place. He spent his active life on the property, and when he re- tired from arduous labor moved to Mechanics- burg, where he owned a home and spent the re- mainder of his days, dying there in Septem- ber, 1863; he was buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery. He was blind some years ber of the Lutheran Church, was a Whig and Republican in politics, and was known to all as a man who did his duty faithfully in his walk of life. He married Evaline (Eve) Shaffer, a native also of Northampton county, and she is buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery near Graceton, in Center township. Children as follows were born to this pioneer couple : Nicholas; Margaret, who married Peter Steffy; Daniel, who married Elizabeth Henderickson; John, who married Mary A. Drennen; Thomas, who was killed, with a horse he was riding, by a falling tree, while returning from Wakefields mill; William, who married Prudence Peddicord; Susanna, who married Dyarman Wolf; and David, who married Sarah Peddicord.

Nicholas Altemus, eldest son of Adam Alte- mus, was born in 1800 in Center township and there grew to manhood. What educa- tion he received was obtained in the sub- scription schools of the day. He worked at home with his father until of age, when in 1823 he settled in Brushcreek run, in Brush- valley township, and with his father's help built the first grist and saw mill in Brush- valley (then a part of Wheatfield) town- ship, which he operated. In 1853 the old mill was replaced by the present structure, and operations have been carried on there ever since. In 1848 he built the frame dwell- ing house which is now the home of his son William Wolf Altemus. Besides attending to the mill work he farmed a tract of 128 acres near the mill, and was a successful busi-

eight hundred acres before his death; most of it is still in the possession of his sons and grandchildren. On Feb. 23, 1872, while leav- ing his home to attend a sale, the horse he was riding slipped on the ice and fell, and Mr. Altemus fell off, his head striking the hard ground. He died from the effects of his injuries in a few hours, and was buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery in Brush- valley township. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and active in its work. In politics he was a stanch Whig and Repub- lican. He was prominent in local affairs, serving as assessor, tax collector and school director of the township as well as in other public offices.

In 1821 Nicholas Altemus married Mary Wolf, who was born in Brushvalley town- ship in 1802, daughter of John Wolf, and died in that township at the age of seventy- six years. She is buried in the cemetery of

before his death. Mr. Altemus was a mem- . the Lutheran Church, of which she was a

member. Fourteen children were born to this marriage: Martha H. married Alexan- der Noble, and both are deceased; Margaret married Frank Hurlinger, and both are de- ceased; Adam married Catherine Conrad; Elizabeth married C. R. Weaver, and died in Brushvalley ; Susanna died in young woman- hood; David, born April 19, 1831, married Susan Dick, and died in Buffington township, this county ; James, born Dec. 27, 1832, mar- ried Mary E. Darney, and died in Buffing- ton township; Evaline married Robert Prin- gle; Sarah married Amos Knabb, and resides in Colorado; Mary married George Paul; Charlotte married John Shaffer; William Wolf and Mathias S. are mentioned below; John A. died when two and a half years old.

WILLIAM WOLF ALTEMUS, son of Nicholas, was born on the farm at Altemus Mills, in Brushvalley township, March 8, 1842. In his boyhood he attended the local school at Me- chanicsburg taught by Mrs. Potter. Even during his school days he had begun to as- sist his father on the farm, and he continued to work with him until the call came for volunteers in the Civil war. On July 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, 12th Penn- sylvania Reserves, under Capt. A. J. Bolar and Colonel Taggart, and signed for a period of eighteen months. His was the first com- pany recruited in the county for three years' service. The regiment remained at Camp Curtin until Aug. 10th, when it was mus- tered into the United States service and sent to Tennallytown, near Washington, where

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

it was assigned to the 3d brigade of the re- to Hugh F. Robinson, of Johnstown; and serves. In October the regiment was moved Anne Gertrude, who died when eleven years to the Virginia side of the Potomac and went old.

into winter quarters at Camp Pierpont. Mr. Altemus took part with his company and regiment in the battles of Drainesville, Me- chanicsville, Gaines' Mills, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Bull Run and South Mountain, where he was wounded in the left shoulder Sept. 14, 1862. He was taken to hospital and was discharged on ac- count of disability Jan. 20, 1863. Later in that year he again enlisted, at the call of Governor Curtin, helping to recruit Com- pany E, 2d Battalion, under Lieut. Col. Lin- inger, and Capt. William P. Altemus, becom- ing first lieutenant of this company, which was elected to serve for six months. It was mustered into the United States service in June, 1863, and did guard duty in West Vir- ginia on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, spending seven months in the service. Mr. Altemus was discharged at Pittsburg in Jan- uary, 1864, with the rank of first lieutenant.

Turning his attention once more to farm- ing, Mr. Altemus settled on a tract of 260 acres which was a part of the 800-acre property owned by his father, and the greater part of which is now operated by his son James K. Altemus. He continued to live on the farm, engaged in general farming and stock raising, until 1900, when he became the owner of the Altemus Mill, which his father had built and oper- ated. There for the last twelve years he has been engaged in general milling, and he also cultivates a tract of 126 acres known as the homestead farm. Mr. Altemus is a man of enterprise and progressive ideas, and his ability is recognized by his fellow citizens, who have retained him in the office of town- ship supervisor for ten years. He is a stanch Republican in his political views. He was one of the organizers of the G. A. R. post at Mechanicsburg and has served as officer of the day.

On July 5, 1864, Mr. Altemus married Mary E. Kelly, daughter of James T. Kelly, a farmer of Brushvalley township, who died in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Altemus have had a happy married life of forty-eight years. They have had a family of eleven children, five of whom died young, the others being : James Kelly, who farms his father's home- stead : Taylor, a farmer in Brushvalley town- ship; Edgar, who resides at Johnstown, Pa .; Marlin Vincent, an employee of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company; Cora, married

MATHIAS S. ALTEMUS, son of Nicholas and brother of William Wolf Altemus, was born on the Altemus farm Feb. 12, 1844. He was educated in the public schools of the town- ship and continued on the homestead with his parents, assisting with the farm and mill work. When he started for himself he be- came engaged in general farming and stock raising on a tract of 135 acres which was a part of his father's 800-acre tract, being thus occupied until the electric car system was established in Johnstown, when he became a motorman on the first cars operated. After five years of this work he returned to the farm, and followed general agriculture for another six years, at the end of which time he turned that place over to his son Ralph. He then bought Rev. A. B. Runyan's farm, near Slabtown, a tract of 113 acres, in 1903, and has since cultivated that property, en- gaging in general farming and stock rais- ing. He also owns some orange lands in Florida.

On March 10, 1865, Mr. Altemus enlisted in Company F, 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Richard White and Lieut. Curtis McCornish, and served until after the close of the war, being discharged at Petersburg, Va., Aug. 30, 1865. In the latter part of March, 1865, the regiment crossed the James river and marched to Hatcher's Run, Va., and was in the skirmish line in the general advance of March 31st, where twenty men were killed or wounded. The next engagement the regiment partici- pated in was the charge on Fort Baldwin, the 55th being the first regiment to occupy it, suffering only slight loss. The regiment at that time had no more than 200 effective men. Mr. Altemus did his duty as a soldier, and he has always been a public-spirited citi- zen, a hard-working, honest and honorable man, who commands the esteem of all who know him. He has been a stanch Republican. but independent in supporting what seems right to him, and he is a stanch admirer of Roosevelt and his principles. Though never seeking publie honors he has served as road boss of the township one year, school director, and member of the election board as judge and inspector. He is a leading member of the M. E. Church of Mechanicsburg, which he has served as class leader and trustee for twenty years, steward, and Sunday school

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

teacher and superintendent, taking part in all the branches of church work.

On March 8, 1865, Mr. Altemus married Lucinda Sproul, who was born in Cambria county, Pa., daughter of James and Nancy Sproul, and they have had eleven children: Mary E. (Molly), who married William Mil- ler and resides in Johnstown; Harry White, who is with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, assistant on the Conemaugh branch in Cambria county ; Ralph N., farming on the homestead; John, who resides near his father ; Mabel, married to Blair Horner, of Ambridge, Beaver county; Nannie, married to Harry Rheam, of Cambria county; M. Brook, re- siding at Johnstown; and four who died young, George Washington, Floyd T., Stan- ley and one unnamed.

ALEXANDER MATHIAS ADAMS, one of Homer City's well-known business men, a dealer in real estate, was born on a farm in Brushvalley township, Indiana county, Pa., Sept. 22, 1861, and is a son of Silas and Re- becca (McCormack) Adams, and a grandson of Stephen Adams.

Stephen Adams was one of the pioneer settlers of Brushvalley and he lived and died on his own farm there; he was buried at Mechanicsburg, Pa. He married a Miss Wil- son, and they had the following children : Wilson, who resided at Brookville, Pa .; Silas ; Levi, who lived at Plumville; and Matilda, who married Alexander Adams (and they moved to the West).

Silas Adams, son of Stephen, was born on the homestead in Brushvalley about 1825, and there grew to manhood and adopted farming as his occupation. Although he died while yet in the prime of life, in July, 1865, when aged forty years, he owned and was operating a farm of 100 acres. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and a worthy man in every relation of life. Politically he was a Whig in early life and later a Republican. He married Rebecca McCormack, who was born in Brushvalley township, a daughter of James and Sarah (Wilson) McCormack, and five children were born to them, namely: Sarah Jane, who lives at Homer City; Augustus, who died young ; Carlos Calvin, who is with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and lives at Blairsville (he married Jennie Thompson) ; Alexander M .; and Samuel Alpheus, who married Mary S. Boyer (they reside at Blairsville).

township, where she bought the Mathew Reni- ken farm of 180 acres, and for some time the family operated it and then sold to Andrew Kline and bought another tract, known as the Fergus Clason farm, of 160 acres, on which they continued to live until the death of the mother, July 4, 1898. She was buried in Greenwood cemetery, at Indiana. She was a faithful member of the United Presby- terian Church and an admirable woman in every way. Being left with business respon- sibilities and a family of young children, she bravely met every obstacle and overcame it, reared and educated her family, and was prudent in managing their patrimony.

Alexander M. Adams was quite young when the family came to Center township and from an early age assisted his mother to the extent of his capacity. When she gave up her interest in the management of the farm he bought the Fergus Clason place, and continued to operate it for twenty-two years, his activities including both farming and stock raising. As it proved a property richly underlaid with coal, Mr. Adams sold it to the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company in 1898. He has been interested mainly as a real estate dealer since retiring from the road after twelve years of commer- cial traveling for R. E. Young, of Indiana, in the marble and monument line. In ad- dition to Indiana and Homer City real estate interests he has others at Johnstown. Politi- cally he is a Republican, along progressive lines, and his public spirit and devotion to American ideals make him a representative citizen.

On June 4, 1901, Mr. Adams was married to Jennie Belle McCornish, who was born in Brushvalley township, a daughter of Curtis and Elizabeth (McCormack) McCornish. Mrs. Adams was educated in the Brushvalley schools and was also a student under Prof. J. T. Stewart, at the Indiana State normal school, and in 1898 was graduated from the normal school at Clarion, Pa. For about five years prior to her marriage she taught school very acceptably, in Brushvalley and Pine townships, this county, and in Clarion county. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have had three chil- dren: Twins that died in infancy, and Alex- ander Victor, who was born July 21, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Homer City, of which he is a trustee.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 105

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