Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 11

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 11

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CURTIS A. OBERLIN, son of William Penn Oberlin, was born in West Mahoning town- ship, Indiana county, Pa., May 30, 1867. He received his educational training in the public schools of Dayton, Pa., and West Ma- honing and Grant townships, and worked at home until entering his father's store as a clerk, in 1890. There he received the train- ing that has made him so successful as a busi- ness man, and like his brother he is thorough- ly conversant with every detail of their en- terprise. Like him, also, he has gained the respect and esteem of the people of his com- munity, and the confidence of the customers of the establishment, through his thoroughly business-like dealings and the honorable man- ner in which he lives up to the letter of his contracts. He has also invested his money in various other enterprises, and is the owner of timber tracts, coal land and other real estate, a stockholder in the Marion Center National Bank, and the owner of the well-known Wid- dowson hotel property in Richmond. Essen- tially a business man, he has devoted his en- tire attention to his private affairs and has not cared to enter the public arena as a seeker for preferment, although he supports the principles and candidates of the Republican party. His religious faith is that of the Gold- en Rule, and his social connection with Robert Doty Camp, Sons of Veterans, of which he is a charter member.

In 1907 Mr. Oberlin was married to Maria R. Moore, who was born in East Mahoning township, daughter of William Moore. They have one child, Ralph C.

ROWLAND. The Rowland family of southern Indiana county is well represented del, who was born May 26, 1809, daughter of

there at the present time, and its members have not only been substantial citizens who contributed to the material prosperity of the section but zealous church workers, associated with the Baptist denomination. Some of its members have entered the ministry of that

William Rowland, son of Griffith, was born Oct. 3, 1801, in what was then Conemaugh (later Blacklick) township, Cambria county, where he grew to manhood and became en- gaged in farming, at first on the homestead. Settling on a farm in Blacklick township, Cambria county, among the first settlers of that section, he remained there about six years, following farming, and made extensive improvements on his place. Later, in 1838, he removed to South Mahoning township, In- diana county, buying a tract of 112 acres from Mr. Stannard which was all woods at the time. He built a log house, hewing the logs himself, put up a stable and set to work to clear his property, making extensive im- provements on the farm, where he spent the rest of his days, dying there Aug. 8, 1883. On April 12, 1832, he married Clarissa Run- Gilbert and Amy (Nichols) Rundel, of Gen- esee county, N. Y., and died on the farm Aug. 5, 1897, aged eighty-eight years, two months, ten days. Her son William S. Rowland cared for her in her,declining years. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland were members of the Baptist Church,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and were buried in the Baptist Church ceme- of Company K, 187th Pennsylvania Volunteer tery in Mahoning township. In politics he Infantry, which was attached to the 5th Army was a Whig and Republican. Thirteen chil- dren were born to this pioneer couple: Elias, born Feb. 16, 1833, is mentioned below; Wil- liam S., born July 25, 1834, is mentioned be- low; John G., born Jan. 16, 1836, married Tabitha Milliron; Isaac, born Aug. 28, 1837, married Susan Neville and (second) Mary French, and he died in the State of Washing- ton; Jacob, born March 28, 1839, married Romina Curry and settled in Jefferson City, Mo., where he died; Emma Jane, born July 17, 1841, died young; Annie Maria (de- ceased), born Jan. 30, 1843, married Isaac Wisinger, of Cambria county, Pa .; Elizabeth, born Dec. 5, 1844, married Thomas Mitchell; Mary E., born July 12, 1846, is the widow of John Davis, who was a farmer and merchant

Corps, and took part in the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg, second engagement on the Weldon railroad, and Fort White. He was discharged at Harrisburg Aug. 3, 1865. Returning home he again took up farming, in Cambria county, where he also served as justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. Meantime he turned his attention to the study of theology, and in 1892 he was licensed to preach. In 1896 he was ordained a minister of the gospel, and began to preach at Bethel Baptist Church, in Cambria county, where he continued until the early part of the pres- ent century, at that time coming to Mechanics- burg. There he has made his home ever since, and he preached here for several years. He is now retired, but still active mentally and of Nanty Glo, Pa .; Mahala, born March 23, . physically, and preaches occasionally. While 1849, died in infancy; Rev. Martin Luther, justice of the peace he had the remarkable record of having all his judgments sustained by the courts. At Mechanicsburg he has served as member of the borough council, and for the last four years he has served as burgess of the borough. He is a man of genial est five sons of this family, Elias, William S., personality, and strong character. Mr. Row- land is a firm believer in temperance. born Jan. 16, 1848, is mentioned below; Amanda, born Nov. 4, 1851, married Thomas Jones, and resides at Seattle, Wash .; Sarah Rebecca, born June 3, 1854, married Coleman Miller, and resides at Toledo, Ohio. The eld- John G., Isaac and Jacob, were soldiers in the Civil war, and John G. died of starvation in Salisbury prison, where he was confined for six months.

REV. ELIAS ROWLAND, the grand old man of Mechanicsburg, a retired minister of the Baptist Church, though in his eighty-first year is still active in mind and body, and after years of fruitful labor in the Lord's vineyard can look back in his declining years with pleas- ure and pride to the good work that he has accomplished. His life has not been lived in vain.

Mr. Rowland was born in Blacklick town- ship, Cambria county, spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the local school, but most of his education he gained by reading and observation, becoming a well-read man. He continued on the farm until 1852, when he found employment in the Cambria Iron Works, at Johnstown, working there some time. Then he turned his attention to farm- ing, which he followed for eight years. Wish- ing to follow a professional life he took up the study of medicine with Dr. J. R. Morris and was preparing to attend medical lectures when he enlisted, June 13, 1863, in Company A, Battalion of Emergency Men, serving un- til Lee was driven across the Potomac. He was discharged Aug. 8, 1863. On March 31, ventive mind and a genius in his line, he is 1864, he again enlisted, becoming a member making a success of his work and is a much

On Nov. 28, 1854, Mr. Rowland married Isabelle Wilson Simson, daughter of Levi Simson, and she died June 23, 1911, after a married life of nearly fifty-seven years. She was a good Christian woman, a devoted wife and mother, a loving helpmate, and a sweet influence for good in her home and in the community. She was her husband's sympa- thetic associate in his Christian work, and much of his pleasure in its performance was due to her kindly co-operation. She is buried at Bethel, Cambria county, Pa. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rowland : John Luther, born Jan. 29, 1856, died Oct. 14, 1869. James E., born June 9, 1858, died Dec. 28, 1903, married Alice Keller and left a family of one son and five daughters, all living. Isaac E., born June 14, 1861, died Sept. 14, 1865. Alvah H., born April 30, 1866, died Aug. 27, 1907, married Rosy J. Michaels and left a family of two sons and three daughters, three of whom are deceased. Austin E., born May 21, 1869, died April 5, 1874. Harvey Chalmers, born July 23, 1873, was educated in the Cambria county public schools and taught school for some time. He is now engaged in the jewelry business, and also as an electric mechanic. A young man of in-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

respected citizen. He lived at home until his marriage, June 26, 1913, to Alice C. Shaffer, daughter of the late John Shaffer, of Brush- valley, Pa., the marriage ceremony being per- formed by the Rev. Elias Rowland, assisted by Rev. P. O. Wagner. sought office, preferring to devote his time to his own affairs, Mr. Rowland has served as supervisor of his township, and he was also school director for one term, when the first Davis school was built. In politics he was formerly a Republican but now associated Rev. Mr. Rowland is a Republican, and for with the Prohibition party, being a strong ad- some twenty-five years or more served on the vocate of temperance and a stanch supporter of the cause. For some years Mr. Rowland

board of school directors, much of the time acting as secretary of that body. He has was an active member of the G. A. R. Post at taken an active interest in all matters of a Plumville.

literary or educational nature. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R.

WILLIAM S. ROWLAND, a well-known and successful farmer, of South Mahoning town- ship, Indiana county, was born July 25, 1834, in what is now Blacklick (then Cambria) township, Cambria county, and was quite young when the family moved to Indiana county. When he was about seven years old he went to live with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Reese, in Blacklick township, Cambria county, where he continued to make his home for five years, attending school there. Returning to the parental home he remained but a short time, going from there to Brush- valley township, Indiana county, to live with his uncle John Rowland, near Mechanicsburg, spending a period of eight years there. Dur- ing that time he also had opportunity to at- tend school. After his return home he became a student at the Dayton academy, and then taught school for one term in West Mahoning township, Indiana county. He went back home again, and was engaged in farming un- til 1864, when he enlisted in Company B, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which command his brother Jacob was also a private; it was un- der command of Colonel McCormack and was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Mr. Rowland served until the close of the war, being discharged at Nashville in 1865, and coming home he settled down to farming on the homestead, buying the property from his parents, for whom he cared during their remaining days. He made extensive improve- ments on the farm, putting up a new house, barn and other buildings, and continued to reside there for the next forty years, follow- ing farming and stock raising. In 1904 he sold the farm and bought the smaller tract on the Smicksburg and Plumville road which he now occupies, this being fifty-two acres formerly known as the Bracken farm. He stead with his father while his five brothers were serving their country in the Civil war. Wishing to become a minister of the gospel, he attended Reed's Institute at Reedsburg, Clarion county, Pa., taking a preparatory

has remodeled the house and made other im- provements, the appearance of his home and surroundings denoting the thrift character- istic of the owner.

In 1861 Mr. Rowland was married to Mary Jane Lukehart, who was born in 1837, in In- diana county, Pa., daughter of Jacob and Lena (Davis) Lukehart, and died Oct. 25, 1884, the mother of seven children, namely : Emery* Prescott, who makes his home near Jefferson City, Mo .; John Davis, a meat deal- er of Marion Center, Pa .; Elvena Bertha, wife of Jesse E. McDevitt and residing in Punxsutawney, Pa .; Ira Curtin, a carpenter and builder, of Pittsburg; Homer, who died young; Allura Estelle, who died young; and Clara, who married John Lydick and died in North Mahoning township, Indiana county, in 1912. In 1888 Mr. Rowland married (second) Lydia Agnes Lukehart, sister of his first wife, and to this union have been born three chil- dren: Mayme Tessie, who married George Nolf and resides in Apollo, Pa .; Olive Lenora, who is a dressmaker at home; and William Clair, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland are valued members of the Mahoning Baptist Church, which he has served as deacon, and he has also been a faithful Sunday school worker, serving as teacher and superin- tendent.

REV. MARTIN LUTHER ROWLAND, youngest son of William Rowland, was born Jan. 16, 1848, in South Mahoning township, Indiana county, on the old homestead now owned by McKee Wilson, and attended the local schools. Remaining at home until he was fourteen years old, he then went to Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, where he worked a short time for a Dr. Wood, after which he went to Blacklick township, Cambria county, and en- gaged in shookmaking for four years. While there he became converted, under the preach- ing of Rev. J. W. Evans, a Baptist minister who preached at Bethel Church, and was bap- tized by him when eighteen years old. Mean- time returning home he remained on the home-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

course, of three years, and was licensed' to Crooked Creek Churches, and Ambrose Bap- preach in 1870, delivering his first sermon in tist Church. Mr. Rowland has been preaching the Williamsburg schoolhouse, two miles from for about forty years altogether, and has done notable work in this section for his denomina- tion. He is a stanch advocate of temperance, and has taught its principles wherever and whenever possible. In political sentiment he is a Republican. the institute. He was ordained Oct. 14, 1874, at the old Pine Creek Church, in the Clarion Association, by Rev. Aaron Neff, moderator, and Rev. W. S. Bowser, clerk of the council, with laying on of hands by seven other min- isters. For the next five years he was pastor On'May 6, 1874, Mr. Rowland was married to Nannie A. Hull, daughter of James and Nancy (Bell) Hull, and they have had four children : Emma Bell, born May 4, 1875, died young; Clara Ross, born April 30, 1877, died when five months old; Wilda D., born Aug. 20, 1879, graduated from the State nor- mal school in 1896, and taught nine terms of school, four in the borough of Kittanning, Pa., and married H. H. Claypole Aug. 7, 1912; William James Mentor, born July 14, 1881, is at home. of the Pine Creek Church, where he built the present house of worship, during that time also preaching two years at the Frank- lin Union Church and two years at the Red Bank Church, of the Clarion Association. For one year following he was preacher at the West Lebanon Baptist Church, and from there went to the Fairview Church and the Shiloh Church, in the Indiana Association, preaching at the former for six years and at the latter four years. From there he trans- ferred to the Twolick Church, where he re- mained five years, at the end of that period GEORGE K. KLINE, who has one of the principal dry goods establishments in Johns- town, Pa., is a native son of Indiana county, born Oct. 13, 1863, in the borough of Indiana. He is a son of Wellington B. and Annie M. (Custer) Kline, and a grandson of George Kline, and his earlier ancestors, who were of German and French origin, were among the early settlers of Eastern Pennsylvania. going to the Baptist Church at Spencerville, Allen county, Ohio, in the Auglaize Associa- tion, serving that one year and the Mount Zion Church for six months. He next preached six months at Ada, Ohio, returning to Penn- sylvania at the end of that time because of the ill health of his wife and child, taking the pastorate of the Old Union Baptist Church, south of Kittanning, Armstrong George Kline, the grandfather, was born in Berks county, Pa., March 12, 1807, and died Feb. 5, 1876, at the age of sixty-eight years, in Indiana county, Pa. He was a merchant and hotelkeeper by occupation. county, for one year. That was in the Clar- ion Association. From there he went to Leechburg, same county, for two years, thence back to the Twolick Church (where he had formerly served five years) for seven years, Wellington B. Kline, son of George, was born in Berks county, Feb. 4, 1840, and from 1863 lived at Indiana, Pa., where he was one of the founders of the mercantile house of Marshall & Kline, in their day one of the largest dry goods concerns in that part of the State. The partnership continued until Mr. Marshall's death, in 1894, after which Mr. Kline moved to Johnstown and formed an association with his son George, under the name of W. B. Kline & Son. He was one of the substantial business men of that place until his death, March 15, 1904. during the latter part of that period also serving as pastor of the Baptist Churches at Blairsville and East Mahoning-two years at each place. Then he resigned to become pas- tor of the Sugar Creek Church in the Monon- gahela Association, being there one year and subsequently at Monongahela Union four years. While there he organized the Baptist Church at Mount Morris and was pastor of the Zora Church one year in Monon- galia county, W. Va., and also built an out station. Resigning from that charge he re- turned to the bounds of the Indiana Associa- tion, where he lived five years. Then he be- came pastor of the Mount Zion Church in Butler, Pa., for three years, having an as- sistant there. Returning to Indiana county, he has since made his home on a small farm in South Mahoning township, east of Plum-

George K. Kline obtained all his education in Indiana, attending the public schools until his graduation in 1875; he then took a course in the State normal school. In 1878 he be- gan to clerk regularly for his father, remain- ing with the firm of Marshall & Kline until 1891, when he located at Johnstown. In 1894, ville. Since settling here he has served the when the firm of W. B. Kline & Son was Twolick Church for about four years, and organized, he became junior member, and since has also supplied at the West Mahoning and his father's death has carried on the business

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

alone as George K. Kline. His stock and ac- commodations have been increased steadily to meet the wants of the constantly enlarging trade, and the store is up-to-date in every particular, ranking among the best in that section of Pennsylvania. His line of goods is varied and complete. Mr. Kline has been notably successful in the line of business with which his family has been associated for sev- eral generations, and it is only just to say that his large trade has been built up by the most honorable methods, coupled with the fac- ulty of providing excellent service for all who patronize his store.

Fraternally Mr. Kline has various connec- tions and is well known. He is a Mason, be- longing to Indiana Lodge, No. 313, F. & A. M .; Zerubbabel Chapter, No. 162, R. A. M., of Pittsburg; Commandery No. 1, K. T., of Pittsburg; Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pittsburg. He is also a member of the Johnstown Royal Arcanum and Johnstown Lodge of Elks, No. 175. His religious con- nection is with the Presbyterian Church.

On Aug. 5, 1891, Mr. Kline married Sarah Morley, daughter of James and Ann Morley, of Johnstown. They have one son, James Morley, born May 3, 1892.

JOHN BUCHANAN McCORMICK was born Nov. 4, 1834, in the little village of Sink- ing Valley, near Tyrone, Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pa., of Scotch-Irish parentage, descending from the McCormicks and Con- leys on the paternal side, and the Buchanans and Bards in the maternal line. They set- tled in Colonial times in Franklin and Cum- berland counties, Pa., and at Bardstown, Ken- tucky.

teemed friend, Dr. William N. Sims, to head at well-known crossings. The advantages for education at that time were meager enough. His first teacher was a Mrs. McCumber, wife of a Baptist minister. The McCumbers came from the State of Connecticut. The largest room in their house was the schoolroom, and the seats were two pine slabs, brought from Travis's sawmill, with four legs to each, and placed around the wall. Mrs. McCumber was an accomplished artist in water colors, and her pupils received cards, decorated with flowers, or foxes, dogs, cats, deer, coons and other animals as rewards of merit, hand- painted and beautiful, and much appreciated by her handful of "scholars." This no doubt accounts, in part at least, for Mr. McCor- mick's artistic tastes. He picked up most of his knowledge piecemeal, while all through his life experience has been his best teacher. About this time his Grandmother Buchanan, who was the daughter of Rev. David Bard, visited them, and being an artist in mezzo- tints and other lines she taught him to out- line horses, cattle, houses and various other objects with grains of corn on the bottom of wooden seated chairs or table. Those were the little things that started the restless young mind to work out other matters later. He went into the shop to assist his father at the age of eight. At that time all the material for the making and repairing of tarpole wagons was taken from the woods. White oak was used for the tongues, and a tree that would split out eight pieces was selected, and placed heart up to season. For axles hickory was used, split and seasoned. February was the month for cutting. Mr. McCormick said : "My father and I used to cut this timber when I was only able to steady the crosscut saw, and corn pone and sometimes bread, which people now would consider entirely too plain."

In March, 1838, Joseph A. McCormick, father of John B. McCormick, moved with his and our dinner would be cold boiled pork family from Sinking Valley to Smicksburg, Indiana Co., Pa., on sleds, the growth of tim- ber being so heavy at that time that the At the age of ten he was a fair workman, and turned the material on a tramp lathe and framed and painted a little rockingchair for his baby sister. At the same time he turned clothespins from dry wild cherry to place in the bedrooms of the double porch house in Smicksburg built in 1844, by Hezekiah Christ- man. When seventeen years of age he was allowed to start in with his uncle, David B. Buchanan, in an old-fashioned cabinet and chair shop, where all the work was done by snow remained until late in the season of springtime. The lad was now about three years and four months old. At the age of six, barefooted and bareheaded, he followed after the hounds, Ranger and General Jack- son, from the hills across the creek to the loop hills and back where the deer would generally take to the water above the village. A tow shirt and tow trousers to cover his nakedness and keep out the sun, with a straw hat (which was soon torn up in the brush), hand, and he thoroughly mastered the trade made up his summer costume. In the winter- in all its details, from the woods to the fin- ishing. At the same time he cultivated a taste for music, and the first violin he played upon time later he carried a cowbell while trailing the deer through the snow for his highly es-

HOME OF JOHN B. MCCORMICK IN THE "FAIR VALE OF MAHONING"

AMERICAN PAPER TRADE

JOHN B. MCCORMICK IN HIS WORK SHOP

"The Man Who Revolutionized the Turbine Wheel Business of the World"

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was made by himself. His musical talents and "The Village Choir," 336 pages, said to he turned to advantage. For about five be the greatest collections in their class in the months in the year, for about twenty-two English language. Mr. McCormick is unas- suming about what he has, or has accom- plished, but he prizes a few old paintings which he executed many years ago, in particu- lar a night view of "Donati's Comet" as it ap- peared at Smicksburg in 1858, when it was at its brightest (size 30 by 28 inches) ; "The Country Boy on Sunday Morning" (size 10 by 12 inches) and the beautiful hills which surround the farm where he makes his home. It seems to be his artistic delight to show and describe the view to strangers. years, he taught old-fashioned singing school in schoolhouses and churches in Indiana and adjoining counties, where the name of Mc- Cormick became as familiar as household words. Trudging from place to place (and he did not wear an overcoat), he estimates that in looking after his schools alone he walked 42,000 miles in the twenty-two years. It was in this manner, and in house painting and graining, he made the money which after- ward enabled him to develop and bring forth his turbine wheels.

Now, in his seventy-ninth year, Mr. Mc- Cormick is working at all kinds of farm labor as though he were compelled to do so to keep the wolf from the door. His greatest delight seems to be the improvement of his land and bringing his farms to the highest state of cultivation, and to find out for a certainty what can be produced per acre on Indiana county soil.

In 1873 Mr. McCormick went to Brookville, Pa., to Brown, Son & Co., where the shops and patterns were burned twice. After the test- ing of the "Hercules" turbine at Holyoke, McCormick and Brown made an agreement with the Stilwell & Bierce Company, of Day- ton, Ohio, which proved very disastrous for them. Mr. McCormick went into their em- ploy to perfect patterns. After six months they had received all of the information they THOMAS SHARP NEAL, formerly sheriff of Indiana county, has also served in various minor offices, and has long been a popular and respected citizen of his section. He makes his home at Trade City, where he was in the mercantile business for a number of years. He has been associated with the typical in- dustries of the region throughout his active career, and has acquired considerable land. Mr. Neal was born Sept. 2, 1841, on the old Neal homestead in North Mahoning township, son of John and Rachel (Blose) Neal and desired, and unknown to him took out patents on the so-called "Victor Turbine," which em- bodied everything in the "Hercules." Mr. McCormick went to Holyoke in 1877, and en- gaged with the Holyoke Machine Company to manufacture the "Hercules," remaining with them for about eleven years, putting eighteen sizes, right and left hand, above eighty per cent useful, an efficiency percentage which Mr. Emerson highly commended. After perfect- ing the "Hercules" there was a misunder- standing between Mr. McCormick and the grandson of William Neal. His great-grand- company, and he had to sue them to obtain his rights. Hon. George D. Robinson, ex- governor of Massachusetts, was his attorney and won his suit against the company.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 11

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