Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 107

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 107

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Robert N. Miller attended common school in his native township, and subsequently worked at farming with his father until the latter died. He then took charge of the home place, which he now owns, and where he is interested in general farming and stock rais- ing. His beautiful home and large barn, and in fact all his surroundings, tell of the pride the owner has in his property, and of his effect- ive and business-like methods of performing his work. Mr. Miller is a man who takes a thorough interest in anything which enlists his attention, and thus he has borne an active part in the public affairs of his locality and in local politics, associated with the Republican and Prohibition parties. He has been election inspector, and has served his township as school director. He is a leading member of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a ruling elder for the last thirty-five years, clerk of the session thirty-one years, and superintendent of the Sunday school. He has belonged to that church since 1867, and his wife and family are also members of the con- gregation.

Mr. Miller was married to Ann Margaret Craig, who was born in June, 1844, daughter of Hugh and Barbara (Ramsey) Craig, and they have had three children: John B., who is a merchant at Apollo, Armstrong Co., Pa., married Laura McCreight (he is an elder in the United Presbyterian Church) ; Jennie mar- ried R. Carnahan; Ford B., who lives at home, was a student at the Indiana State normal school.

GEORGE E. SANDBERG, a young busi- ness man of Cherrytree, in Montgomery town- ship, Indiana county, at present serving as a member of the town council, has resided there

George E. Sandberg attended school at Houtzdale, where he lived until fifteen years old. He then removed to Patton, Pa., where he remained until coming to Cherrytree, in May, 1908. Here he purchased the store and business of J. A. Rank, to the conduct of which he has since given most of his time and atten- tion. He is doing well, and is gaining a worthy place among the useful citizens of the borough, having proved his interest in the welfare of his adopted town in various ways. He is now serving as a member of the town council, to which position he was elected in 1909, as a member of the Republican party.

In 1909 Mr. Sandberg was married, in Clearfield, Pa., to Clara Carlson, who was born at Williamsport, Pa., daughter of Andrew Carlson, a native of Sweden. They have had two children, Robert and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Sandberg are members of the Presbyterian Church.

J. MILTON STEWART, farmer and pres- ent tax collector of Cherryhill township, Indi- ana county, has lived at Penn Run, in that township, all his life, and is well known in the vicinity, having been in the mercantile business for some years before he settled down to farming. He was born at Penn Run May 12, 1876, son of Frank and Augusta (Kirk) Stewart, and grandson of Archie Stewart.

The Stewarts are of Scotch-Irish descent, and Archie Stewart was a native of Scotland. He settled in Cherryhill township, Indiana Co., Pa., in a very early day, and there followed farming until his death, his farm and home place being now occupied by Archie Stewart, a cousin of J. Milton Stewart. He had two sons, both now deceased.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Frank Stewart, son of Archie, was born in he followed for some years. In 1856 he came Cherryhill township, and learned the trade of to Indiana county and settled on the 136- harnessmaker at Indiana, the county seat. He acre farm of his father-in-law, George Hile- engaged in business as a harnessmaker at Penn Run, and with the exception of three years spent in the West, made his home there until his death, which occurred in February, 1901. He married Augusta Kirk, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and whose parents were also of Scotch-Irish origin. Mrs. Stewart survives her husband, living with a daughter in Ohio. They had a family of six children : E. Blanche, wife of J. W. Robinson, of Saltsburg, Indiana Co., Pa .; Augusta, wife of George E. Lose, of Ashtabula, Ohio; J. Milton; and Frank, Ella and Elsie, all three deceased.

J. Milton Stewart received his education at Penn Run. After commencing life for him- self he engaged in the drug business there, carrying it on for three years, and then en- gaged in the general merchandise business, which he conducted for seven years. Since then he has been interested in farming, having purchased a tract of sixty-five acres, in the cultivation of which he is actively engaged. He has made a success of his agricultural work, as he did of his commercial ventures, and is considered one of the intelligent and progress- ive men of his section. He has built a beauti- ful brick residence on his property, which gives every evidence of the thrift and hard work of the owner. He is holding the office of tax collector of the township.

On March 29, 1899, Mr. Stewart was mar- ried to Dora N. Lydick, who was born in 1879 in Cherryhill township, daughter of William and Amanda (Lockard) Lydick, who settled early in Indiana county and were always farm- ing people; Mr. Lydick is now living retired. He is a veteran of the Civil war. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart : H. Guy, Mildred and J. Wendall. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the Presbyterian Church. He holds membership in Pine Flats Lodge, I. O. O. F.

LLOYD SUTTON SHAFFER, carpenter and builder of West Wheatfield township, In- diana county, is a native of Frankstown, Blair county, born June 6, 1854, son of John and Mary (Hileman) Shaffer.

Adam Shaffer, grandfather of Lloyd S. Shaffer, was of German descent, and settled iu Indiana county late in life.

John Shaffer, son of Adam, and father of Lloyd S. Shaffer, was born at Yellowspring. Blair county. and grew to manhood in that county, learning the trade of carpenter, which

man, there making many improvements, in- cluding the erection of a fine new barn, and spent the remainder of his life on that prop- erty, passing away in 1899. He was buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery at Brush- valley, Pa., having been elder of that church and active in its work. Politically he was a Republican. Mr. Shaffer married Mary Hile- man, daughter of George Hileman, a complete sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume, and she died in Indiana, in 1906, and was buried beside her husband. They had eleven children : George, who died in the army during the Civil war; Hannah, who passed away in young womanhood; Samuel, who re- sides at Lima, Ohio; Blair, who lives at Vin- tondale, Pa .; Lloyd Sutton; Charles, who is engaged in farming in Michigan; Sarah, de- ceased; Mary, who married J. I. Paul, of Brushvalley township; Alice, who is unmar- ried ; Annie, wife of John Allison ; and Nettie, who died young.

Lloyd Sutton Shaffer was educated in the public schools of Brushvalley township, and remained on the homestead until he was six- teen years of age, at which time he went to Altoona, Pa., there learning the carpenter's trade. After spending three years there he returned to the homestead and carried on farming for four years, at the end of that time forming a partnership with his brother Blair. They engaged in the planing mill business at Strongstown, under the firm style of Shaffer Brothers, but four years later Lloyd S. Shaf- fer returned to the homestead and again en- gaged in farming. In 1890 he removed to Clyde, in West Wheatfield township, where he has made his home ever since, being engaged at his trade and in contracting and building. He has done much building at New Florence, where numerous examples of his skill and re- liable workmanship can be found, and he has also built a number of schoolhouses and churches throughout this section of the State. For some time he carried on building pursuits with W. H. Lower, in Brushvalley township. In his political views Mr. Shaffer is a Repub- lican, but has never cared for office. In relig- ion he is a member of the Lutheran Church. and was formerly an elder.

On Jan. 27, 1876, Mr. Shaffer was married to Rachel S. Coy, who was born in Cherryhill township, daughter of John Coy, and three children have been born to this union: Mary Armenta, who married T. C. Mack, of East

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Wheatfield township; and John W. and Cora Helen, residing at home.

JOSEPH H. LOUGHRY, deceased, former farmer of Indiana county, and for twenty years superintendent of Oakland cemetery, at Indiana, Pa., was born in White township, Indiana county, Aug. 17, 1826, son of James and Ann (Wilson) Loughry.

The paternal grandfather of Joseph H. Loughry, a native of Ireland, came to the United States in young manhood and settled in Center township, Indiana Co., Pa., there spending the remainder of his life in agri- cultural pursuits.

James Loughry, father of Joseph H., was born in Center township, but subsequently moved to White township, where he died in October, 1850. He was twice married, and had eleven children by each wife.

Joseph H. Loughry was reared on the home farm, and pursued his studies in the old Stone academy which stood on the present site of the home of Wood Clark, of Indiana, the principal being Rev. John Reed, a Presbyterian preach- er. On Dec. 20, 1849, Mr. Loughry was mar- ried to Martha Bryan Allison, who was born in White township, three miles from Indiana, Feb. 16, 1829, daughter of Robert F. and Hannah (Bryan) Allison. After his marriage Mr. Loughry engaged in farming in White and East Mahoning townships, and in Febru- ary, 1877, took charge of Oakland cemetery, being superintendent thereof for the next twenty years. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in his political views.

Mr. and Mrs. Loughry had the following children : Anna Jane, who married Johnson Butler, of Armstrong county; Martha and Mary, who died when young; Sarah Mar- garet, who married John R. Hazlet, of Clar- ion county ; David M., who died when a lad; and Robert Allison, who is engaged in the coal business in Center township (he mar- ried Margaret Lomison).

Mrs. Loughry, although eighty-four years of age, is remarkably well preserved. She never wears eyeglasses, her hearing is perfect, and her memory wonderful, recalling names and dates from the past with the utmost ease. Reared to the life of a farmer's daughter, she did everything on the farm in her younger years except plow, and also bnsied herself at the reel, her mother being a weaver. When a young woman Mrs. Longhry pulled flax in the field, threshed out the seed, took it from the brake, scutched it and wove it into sheets, as burgess of Blairsville.

shirts, blankets and clothing. With a wide fund of information, and well posted on events of the past, her conversation is interesting and instructive, and her many admirable personal traits of character have made her highly es- teemed among the people of her community.

MICHAEL E. BROWN, senior member of the firm of M. E. Brown & Bro., of Blairsville, Indiana county, has been a lifelong resident of that place, and is not only a prominent busi- ness man but also one of the most popular Democrats in this section of Pennsylvania. He was born in Blairsville' April 5, 1853, son of John W. and Hannah (Crate) Brown, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. John W. Brown was at one time a contractor, and he built the addition to heighten the original East Fork dam at Johnstown, which after- ward broke with such disastrous results.

Michael E. Brown received a public school education at Blairsville. When a boy of twelve he began to assist his father in the butcher business, in which he has been in- terested ever since, he and his brother Thomas C. Brown forming a partnership in the early seventies which has continued uninterruptedly since. They began as retailers, but gradually the business became wholesale in character and has been conducted as such since 1890. Their plant is now modernly equipped in every detail. They have a two-story building 150x 150 feet in dimensions, and their ice plant forms an important branch of the business, supplying the city. They buy all their live stock at the hest markets, Chicago and Kansas City, and the killing capacity is now four hun- dred hogs and two carloads of cattle, besides sheep and calves, weekly. Though they are best known as meat packers, the Brown broth- ers have formed other important associations. They were the original promoters of the West- moreland Street Railway Company, which they organized in 1902, securing the franchises and right of way through the borough and get- ting the road into operation, after which they sold out.

Michael E. Brown has always taken a great interest in the success of the Democratic party, and is one of its leading workers in his part of the State. He has been delegate to two national conventions, at Kansas City and Baltimore (1912). In 1897 he was the Demo- cratic candidate for State treasurer. He has done good work as a public official of his home city, at present filling his third term

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

In September, 1874, Mr. Brown married Isadora Jelley, of Blairsville. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Catholic Church.

THOMAS C. BROWN, member of the firm of M. E. Brown & Bro., meat packers, of Blairsville, Indiana county, was born in that borough March 5, 1855, son of John W. and Hannah (Crate) Brown. He attended public school, and began work as his father's assist- ant in the butcher business at Blairsville. He continued thus until January, 1873, when he and his brother Michael E. Brown began busi- ness together under the firm name they have his work and worth are thoroughly appreciated ever since retained. They have had many in- by all who come in contact with him.

terests in common, having been associated in the promotion and establishment of the West- moreland Street Railway Company, which was organized in 1902, and which they subse- quently sold. Mr. Brown is considered one of the most trustworthy business men in Blairsville and holds a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens. He is an honorary mem- ber of the volunteer fire department.

In 1876 Mr. Brown married Mary Mullen, at that time of Philadelphia, originally from Canada. They have one daughter, Anna Christine.

PETER E. DECKER, of Green township, owns one of the most beautiful farms in Indi- ana county, and the work of development he has prosecuted on his property is not only a credit to his ambition and ability but also a practical illustration of the possibilities of this region. He is a son of Christopher Decker and grandson of John and Catherine (Weil) Decker, natives of Fulton county, Pennsyl- vania.

Christopher Decker was born in Fulton county, Pa., and came to Indiana county in 1857. He settled in the vicinity of Garmans Mills, and engaged in lumbering, continuing in that occupation during the remainder of his life-which was brief, his death occurring in 1860. Mr. Decker married Sarah Stahl, who was born April 10, 1836, in Indiana coun- ty, where her father, Peter Stahl, settled in pioneer days. Mrs. Decker married again, becoming the wife of William Pittman, and she now lives with her son William Pittman, at Clymer, Indiana county. He was the only child of her second marriage, and by her first union she also had one son, Peter E.

township. In his earlier life he was occupied chiefly in lumbering, going into the woods when only a boy, and though he had no capital to begin with, prospered in that line. Later he took up farming, to which he now devotes all his energies, and in which he has been re- markably successful. He has the qualities of perseverance and intelligent application which help a man to make good in any field of labor, and his fine farm bears every evidence of the practical workings of modern ideas in agricul- ture. There are few places in Indiana county which show as progressive management. Mr. Decker is an up-to-date business farmer, and

In 1886 Mr. Decker was married in Green township to Maggie Langham, who was born in Indiana county, daughter of Josiah and Susan (Conrath) Langham, farming people of Green township, both of whom are now deceased. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Decker : Vernie ; Zella, who is now the wife of Calvin McCoy, of Green township, who has three children, Weldon, Dennis and Queen ; Ford, who married Tirzah King, of Green township, where they reside (they have two children, Emabel and Theodore) ; Tweet, the wife of Clair Knupp, of Green township (they have one child, a daughter) ; and Bessie, Dee, Ruth and Blair, at home.

WILLIAM H. DAVIS, justice of the peace and general blacksmith of Mechanicsburg. Brushvalley township, is one of the best and most widely known men in that section of Indiana county. He is a native of East Wheatfield township, born Aug. 12, 1847.

The Davis family is Welsh, and the founder of this branch in America was Llewellyn Davis, who was a native of Wales, and came to America when a young man, locating at An- tietam, Md. There he followed the trade of millwright and continued to make his home the rest of his life, dying at that place. He married Margaret Jones, who was of English descent, and she also died at Antietam, Md., where she was buried. Their children were: Thomas, who lived in Philadelphia ; John, who was a farmer in Franklin county ; Llewellyn, who was a contractor and builder of Altoona, Pa .; Hanson, who resided at Sligo Furnace ; Jane, and Benjamin C.

Benjamin C. Davis, son of Llewellyn, was born at Antictam, Md., where he grew to man- hood, and learned the trade of wagonmaker. This he followed for several years, also doing

Peter E. Decker was born May 6, 1860, in Green township, and was educated at the schools of Indiana county, principally in Green some farming. He came at an early period

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to Indiana county, locating in East Wheatfield holds the confidence of all who have had deal- township, where he settled on a farm and be- ings with him, and of all who know him. He has always been a stanch Republican in poli- tics, and has served as school director, as burgess of Mechanicsburg, and also as member of the council of the borough. He is a broad- minded, intelligent man, well-read and well- informed on all current matters, and his com- munity has reaped the benefit of his ability. He is quite active in church work, being a member of the M. E. Church, in which he is class leader and also a teacher in the Sun- day school. came engaged in general farming. Some time later he sold out and moved to White town- ship, locating on a farm on Yellow creek, where the remainder of his life was spent, and where he died in January, 1897. He was buried in the graveyard at Armagh. He was a member of the M. E. Church and was quite active in its work, and in his habits was temperate. He was a stanch Whig and then a Republican in politics, being an admirer of Abraham Lin- coln and James G. Blaine.

Benjamin C. Davis married Eleanor Chaney, who was a native of Bedford county, of French Huguenot extraction. She died in 1867, and was buried in the Armagh cemetery. Like her husband she was a member of the M. E. Church. Their children were: (1) Rebecca married John McElhaney, and is now de- ceased. (2) Amos C., who was an employee of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, at Al- toona, died in 1912. (3) Elizabeth married J. M. Spencer, and resides at Wichita, Kans. (4) William H. is mentioned below. (5) Thomas R. resides in Baltimore. (6) James and (7) Robert are deceased. (8) Alice re- sides in Tionesta, Pa. (10) Eleanora married William Schum, of Altoona. (10) Llewellyn, (11) Benjamin J. and (12) John all died in infancy.

William H. Davis, son of Benjamin C. and Eleanor (Chaney) Davis, attended the local schools of his native township, East Wheat- field. At the early age of thirteen years he was apprenticed to Abraham Wilson, of Dilltown, where he learned blacksmithing. After having learned this trade he worked for three years as a machinst in Altoona, and then followed it as a journeyman in many parts of the county, doing that kind of work for about twenty-two years. In the year 1877 he came to Mechanicsburg, Brushvalley town- ship, where he bought the blacksmith shop of Daniel Grumbling, and here for the last thirty- five years he has been engaged in general blacksmithing, being one of the best-known iron workers in this section. He is still active and attends to his business each day, and suc- cess has rewarded his untiring efforts and hard work.

In 1894 Mr. Davis was elected justice of the peace, and he has filled that office ever since, administering the affairs of that office with an even, efficient hand, and his judgment has always been sustained in every case which has been appealed from his office. He has proved himself invaluable in this position, and he

On April 17, 1871, Mr. Davis married Mary Agnes Marks, daughter of John Marks, of Mechanicsburg. In 1903 Mrs. Davis was ap- pointed postmistress at Mechanicsburg, dur- ing the Roosevelt administration, and she has filled that office for the last ten years. She was the first woman to get a postoffice com- mission in Mechanicsburg, and she has been a careful official, discharging her duties with general satisfaction. She is a member of the M. E. Church and is a devoted wife and mother. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had chil- dren as follows: (1) Annie married C. M. Stewart, brother of Prof. J. T. Stewart, and they reside in Brushvalley township. (2) Amos C., foreman of the eastern division, Pennsylvania Railroad, resides in Altoona. (3) Margaret married Collins Overdorff, of Juniata, Blair Co., Pa. (4) Pearl, (5) Olive and (6) Eleanore died in infancy. (7) Florence is a school teacher, having taught for the past ten years. (8) Donald is a ma- chinist with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, at Altoona. (9) Oscar resides at Al- toona. (10) Grace and (11) Raymond are at home.

EBBY W. SMITH, who is engaged in farm- ing in Pine township, Indiana county, was born in Green township, this county, Feb. 19, 1867, and is a son of Benjamin C. and Sarah Jane (Hill) Smith.

Ebby Smith, the grandfather of Ebby W. Smith, was born in Virginia, and came to In- diana county, Pa., at an early date, settling in Green township, where he purchased land and was engaged in farming throughout his life.

Benjamin C. Smith, son of Ebby Smith, and father of Ebby W. Smith, was born July 2, 1834, in Green township, and as a young man moved to Cherryhill township, where he bought a tract near the village of Kenwood. There he spent his life in agricultural pur- suits, and died, honored and respected by his neighbors and associates, in July, 1912. Mr.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Smith married Sarah Jane Hill, who was born advanced age he had the misfortune to dis- in September, 1839, in Montgomery township, Indiana county, daughter of Daniel Hill, one of the old-time farmers and millers of Mont- gomery township. Mrs. Smith passed away April 22, 1908, at the age of sixty-eight years. Seven children were born to Benjamin C. and Sarah Jane Smith, namely : Lovina, who is the Jessie, who is deceased ; John, living on the old home place in Cherryhill township; Ebby W .; Elizabeth M., who is deceased; Howard, a justice of the peace, at Clymer, Pa .; and Frank, a conductor on the Pennsylvania rail- road, who lives at Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

locate his hip, and did not rally from the shock. His first wife died in 1803 at Elders- ridge, Indiana county, and he subsequently married (second) Margaret McClelland, of Westmoreland county, who was of Scotch- Irish descent. Her father, James McClelland, came to this country from Scotland with his wife of Milton Grumbling, of Indiana county; young wife in 1783, settling in Conemaugh township, Indiana county, where his children were born. In the early days they were fre- quently obliged to flee to a neighboring block- house to seek safety from the Indians. Four children were born to Mr. Watson's first mar- riage: John, Thomas (who married Rebecca Ebby W. Smith, son of Benjamin C. Smith, received his education in the public schools of Cherryhill township, and when a lad worked P. Wilson), Matthew and Mary (who died unmarried) ; and eight to the second: Jane, Isabella J., Robert, Alexander, William, on his father's farm. He received a good James, Ann and Margaret. Mrs. Margaret training in the science of modern farming and Watson died in 1866. also spent some time in lumbering, remaining under the parental roof until 1900, in which year he purchased his present farm in Pine township, a tract of 178 acres, on which he has made numerous improvements. He is known as one of the practical agriculturists and good, public-spirited citizens of his part of the town- ship, and through straightforward dealing has gained and held many friends.

On Dec. 23, 1890, Mr. Smith was married to Ida Griffith, who was born in Pine township, daughter of Stephen and Catherine Griffith, the former of whom was born on the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Smith now live. Mrs. Smith died May 20, 1906, the mother of six children, namely: Frank and Charles, who are deceased; and Teddy, Catherine, Jennie and Stephen, residing at home.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 107

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