Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 118

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 118

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A strong Prohibitionist, he is willing to up- hold the principles he espouses, and being well . informed upon the subject is able to present convincing arguments in favor of his stand. For some years he rendered valuable service as a school director. Early in life he was a Methodist, but later joined with the United Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Watt was married to Margaret Emily Bish, born Dec. 8, 1866, who died March 18, 1904. She was reared in Porter township. Mr. and Mrs. Watt had children as follows: Effie M., who is a school teacher, having taught for five winters; Ella Sarah, who is at home; Hazel Dora, who has taught two winters; William T .; Nevada J .; Jessie ; Lizzie, and Bertha, the last five living at home. When Mrs. Watt died she left a fam- ily of helpless little ones, and Mr. Watt had to be both father and mother to them. For years his task was a heavy one, but his chil- dren are now old enough to look out for them- selves in the home. Always a hard-working man, his industry and thrift are now meet- ing with just appreciation.

SAMUEL A. CROSSMAN, carpenter, re -· siding at Mitchells Mills, in Cherryhill town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., was born Nov. 29, 1837, in Pennsylvania, son of William L. and Maria (Kneedler) Crossman.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Samuel Crossman, his grandfather, was and constable, serving as marshal during the born in Scotland, and came to the United building of the Iron Mountain railroad. States in youth, living first in the State of New York and afterward in Pennsylvania. His death was accidental, caused by the fall of a tree on his house.

William L. Crossman, son of Samuel, was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania and died in his native state. He maintained his home for many years on the border of Indiana, Clearfield and Cambria counties, en- gaging in lumbering and carpentering, and was also a sawyer and a pilot on the river for several years. He married Maria Kneed- ler, and they had eleven children.

Samuel A. Crossman attended the district schools in boyhood and was reared to indus- trious habits from youth. He accompanied his parents when they moved to Madison county, Ill., and the mother died in Alexan- der county, that state, in 1857. It was while living there, in 1861, that Samuel A. Cross- man enlisted for service in the Civil war, en- tering Company D, 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, from Alexander county, for three years, but was so seriously wounded one year later that he was discharged. In Septem- ber, 1863, he reenlisted, entering Company I, 2d Missouri State Militia, and still later was a member of Company K, 13th Volun- teer Cavalry, and served until January, 1866. He was first discharged at Jackson, Tenn., and reenlisted at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. During his long service he saw many of the worst features of war and took part in many hard-won struggles. He was in the battle of Fort Donelson, where he was wounded. While performing scouting duty, under the orders of General Grant, he was taken pris- oner as a spy, at Columbus, Ky., and was confined for eighteen days in the prison at New Madrid. He entered the service as a private, but later was sergeant of the 13th Cavalry, and was corporal of Company D, in the 18th Illinois Infantry. During a part of his service he was with his regiment on the western plains.

At the close of the war Mr. Crossman de- cided to locate in the West and there was en- gaged in railroad work, in Missouri and Ar- kansas, until 1892, when he returned to Penn- sylvania. Since then he has resided at Mitch- ells Mills, where he follows carpenter work and blacksmithing and has also done some contracting. He was quite active in public matters in the West and at one time was deputy sheriff of Poplar Bluff, Mo., marshal

On Dec. 31, 1863, Mr. Crossman was mar- ried (first) at Charlestown, Mo., to Maggie McCamey, who was a native of Illinois. She died in 1866, leaving one child, who is now deceased. In 1878 Mr. Crossman was mar- ried (second) at Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Re- becca J. Girard, who was born in Marshall county, Ind., Aug. 13, 1853. Four children were born to this union, namely: Franklin and William, both of whom are deceased ; Ida V., who is the widow of Edward Frown, and resides at Mitchells Mills, with her four children, Charles H., Russell, Alberta and Iola; James lives at Pittsburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Crossman are members of the Christian Church. They enjoy a comfortable residence, which Mr. Crossman erected after coming to Mitchells Mills. He is identified with the G. A. R.

GEORGE FRANKLIN HESS, a farmer of Green township and associated with business affairs in Dixonville as head of the Dixon- ville Beef & Provision Company, is one of the best-known meu in his part of Indiana county, where he has passed all his life. He was born at Richmond, Sept. 15, 1859, son of George and Mary (Heflick) Hess, both of whom were also natives of Indiana county. George Hess was a blacksmith, and followed the trade in his earlier life, later engaging in same in Canoe township, this county, where he resided until his death, in 1904. His wife died about 1892, and they are buried in Rich- mond cemetery, Grant township, Indiana county.

George Franklin Hess attended school in Canoe township. When a young man he be- gan farming, in which he has continued to the present time, having a valuable property in Green township, to which he moved when twenty-one years old. For the last twenty- five years he has been engaged in stock deal- ing and butchering, which has become one of his most important interests. In 1908 he built the plant at Dixonville known as the Dixonville Beef, Provision & Cold Storage Plant, which is equipped with all necessary up-to-date machinery for the successful con- duct of the business, in which he and his son Blair are associated. It is one of the most modern establishments in the section, and Mr. Hess, by his good judgment in the manage- ment of the business, has made a substantial place for himself among the enterprising citi- zens of this region.

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On Oct. 25, 1888, Mr. Hess was married to good manager, as well as an industrious worker, and there are excellent possibilities

Sarah J. Wheeler, daughter of John and Sam- antha (Lydic) Wheeler, of Dixonville, and in his growing business. they have seven living children : Blair, Eva, Minnie, Della, Laura, Zura and Paul. . Blair, the eldest, born Oct. 5, 1889, is associated in business with his father; he married Mame Holt, of Indiana county, and has one child, Blaine.

JOSEPH WELTEROTH has been a resi- dent of Indiana for a comparatively brief period, but he has established himself in a thriving plumbing and heating business, built most commendable business methods. Mr. Welteroth was born in Pittston, Luzerne Co., Pa., Jan. 5, 1867, son of Peter and Gertrude (Kellenbach) Welteroth. The parents were natives of Germany and were married in that country. The father was engaged as a car- penter contractor during his residence in Pittston, Pa., and thence moved to Williams- port, Pa. He died in 1878, the mother in 1888. They had the following children : Peter, Henry, Elizabeth, John, Christina, Barbara and Joseph.

Joseph Welteroth passed his boyhood and youth at Williamsport, receiving his educa- tion in the parochial schools there. At the age of seventeen he went to work for the Wil- liamsport Hardware Company, to learn plumbing and tinning, in that employ acquir- ing his first knowledge of plumbing and steam- fitting. Subsequently he worked at various places in Pennsylvania, New York State and Ohio, picking up valuable experience in his chosen calling. Going to Punxsutawney, Pa., he spent six years there in the employ of the Punxsutawney Hardware Company, and thence came to the borough of Indiana, In- diana county, to open the establishment of the Indiana Hardware Company at that point, having an interest in the business-plumb- ing and tinning. At the end of one year's connection with that concern, however, he sold out and started his present business, plumb- ing, heating and ventilating, tin, iron and slate roofing, and doing all kinds of job work, making a specialty of the repairing of stoves and furnaces. His location is at the corner of Fifth and Philadelphia streets. There is always a demand for expert service of this kind in a well-settled community, and Mr. Welteroth during his six years' residence in Indiana has gained a reputation for prompt and reliable service which has brought him a wide and profitable patronage. He is a

On Nov. 14, 1888, Mr. Welteroth was mar- ried in Williamsport, Pa., to Annie Agnes Brand, daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth (Agold) Brand, the former of whom is a car- penter contractor. Mr. and Mrs. Welteroth have had four children: J. Clyde, of In- diana, who married Winnie Isman and has one child, Annie Ruth; Charles, who is in Arizona; Ruth, at home; and George, who is still in school.

Mr. Welteroth is a member of St. Bernard's up by good service to his patrons and the Catholic Church, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to the Modern Woodmen of America.

BLAINE SHORT, of Dixonville, Indiana county, member of the Dixonville Beef & Pro- vision Company, has been associated with that concern since 1908, the year he came to the town. He was born May 9, 1883, in Cherryhill township, this county, son of Wil- liam J. and Maggie M. (Bence) Short.

The founder of the family in this section was James Short, great-grandfather of Blaine Short. He came to Indiana county from Huntingdon county, where his parents had settled at an early day, being emigrants from Holland. On coming to this county he lo- cated on land in Rayne township, on which he carried on general agriculture during the daylight hours, while his evenings were spent in working at his trade of blacksmith. A sober, industrious man, he succeeded in ac- cumulating a competency, and at the time of his death, in February, 1875, his commu- nity had no more highly esteemed citizen. Among his children was John Short, who en- listed in the Union army during the Civil war and was killed at Antietam fifteen min- utes after the start of the battle. Another son, Dr. James Short, was born in Rayne township, graduated from Jefferson College, and spent three years as a surgeon in the Civil war. Subsequently he located in In- diana, and was there successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery until his death, which was caused by blood poison- ing, from infection while performing an oper- ation. He married Mary J. MeCunn.

David A. Short, son of James, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., and was a lad . when he accompanied his parents to Rayne township, Indiana county, where he spent the remainder of his active life, in agricultural pursuits, retiring in 1891, by which time he

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had accumulated 500 acres of land in one His ability and solid worth have gained him body. At that time, feeling that he had creditable standing among the business peo- earned a rest from his labors, he moved to ple of the place. Indiana, and there his death occurred Aug. Mr. Short was married Jan. 10, 1906, to Floda Houck, a native of Rayne township, this county, daughter of James and Maggie (Gibson) Houck, the former a merchant at Indiana, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Short are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. They have two living children, Margaret and William. 6, 1906. He married Mary Ann Long, who was born in Rayne township, and she died April 30, 1912, the mother of the following children : William J .; Jane, the wife of H. N. Dyaren, a farmer of Rayne township; Minerva, wife of James Bence, also of this township; Harry L., a resident of Rayne township, who married Mary Widdowson, ANDREW FOSTER, a farmer of North Mahoning township, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, July 26, 1842, a son of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Means) Foster. who is now deceased; Lovina, wife of James Wiggins, of White township; and Mary and John, who are deceased. David A. Short served through the Civil war as a Union sol- dier.

William J. Short was educated in Rayne township. In 1876, when he was eighteen years of age, he settled in Cherryhill township, which locality has since been his home, and here he now owns a tract of 205 acres, one of the well-cultivated properties of his sec- tion, his place being known as the "Ideal Farm." For seventeen years he has acted as manager for the Indiana County Fair Asso- ciation. He has long been a school director of Cherryhill township.

On March 7, 1878, Mr. Short was married to Maggie M. Bence, a native of Rayne town- ship, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Rinn) Bence, early settlers of Rayne town- ship, the latter of whom came from Germany, while the former was of German descent. Mrs. Short died Feb. 3, 1901, at Longmont, Colo., whither she had gone in an attempt to regain her health. She and Mr. Short had a family of six children, as follows: Elmer E., of Washington township, who married Laura Fyock, of Cherryhill township, and has five children ; Anna, who married Delhert Means, a resident of Indiana, Pa .; Blaine, residing at Dixonville, Pa .; Grace, wife of Homer Dick, of Cherryhill, now residing at Indiana, Pa .; and Mary and Clarence, who live at home. On Dec. 16, 1902, Mr. Short was mar- ried (second) to Clara Helman, a native of Cherryhill township.

William Foster was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, as was his wife, and both died there. They were farming people, and their family consisted of six children, as follows: Andrew; John, who came to America in 1867, locating at Pittsburg, where he died; Mary Ann, who is the widow of Andrew Foster of East End, Pittsburg, Pa .; Fannie, unmarried, who is still in County Tyrone, Ireland; Ellen, who married Matthew Dinsmore, and lives on the family farm in Ireland; and William, who located in Canada and there died.

Andrew Foster attended the common schools of Ireland and lived at home until 1867, when he and his sister Mary Ann came to America, locating at Pittsburg. When he arrived in that city he found various indus- tries suffering from the effects of a financial panic, so he went to work on a small farm in the vicinity. As soon as business picked up a little he obtained employment with the Citi- zens' Passenger Railroad Company of Pitts- burg, as hostler, and was promoted until he became an inspector. Later he was trans- ferred to a branch road and had charge of the stable. He was with this company until its consolidation with the Philadelphia Com- pany. Following that event, in March, 1898. Mr. Foster bought his present farm in North Mahoning township, known as the old Dilts place, containing 118 acres all in a state of improvement. He has one of the best farms in Indiana county, and raises wheat, oats, corn, hay and potatoes.

Blaine Short attended school in Cherryhill township and worked on the farm in his boy- Mr. Foster was married at Pittsburg, Pa., to Jane Crawford, of County Tyrone, Ireland, who died at Pittsburg. She had three chil- dren. William John, who was a farmer, died when twenty-four years old ; Ellen is at home ; Andrew passed away at the age of nine years, in Pittsburg. The second marriage of Mr. Foster was to Mrs. Elizabeth Given. dangh- hood and youth. He lived for a time in Cambria county, being clerk in the store of the Logan Coal Company at Beaverdale and later having charge of the meat department as manager. Coming to Dixonville in 1908, he soon afterward, on July 1st, entered the firm of which he has since been a member, the Dixonville Beef & Provision Company. ter of Francis Elkin and widow of John Wil-

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liam Given, of County Tyrone, Ireland, who Cherryhill township in April, 1861, daughter died at Pittsburg, Pa. By her first marriage of Jacob and Elizabeth (Mock) Dick, natives of Blair county, Pa., who settled in Indiana county at an early date. Mr. Dick passed

Mrs. Foster had one daughter, Martha, who married Harry Elkin. Mr. and Mrs. Foster belong to the Methodist Church of George- away in 1861, and his widow makes her home ville, Pa., and are active in its good work. He is a Republican, but not an office seeker.

Coming to America a poor boy, Mr. Foster has worked his way up, and is now one of the substantial agriculturists of his section of Indiana county. Had he not possessed in- nate characteristics that made for success he would not have been able to progress as he did, but his natural ability, combined with hard work and close economy, have brought about desirable results.

ROBERT E. SIMPSON, general farmer and stock raiser of Cherryhill township, where he has spent practically all of his life, was born in that township Dec. 5, 1861, and is a son of James and Margaret (Lapsley ) Simp- son, natives of Indiana county.

Robert Simpson, grandfather of Robert E. Simpson, was born in Ireland. and came to the United States at the age of twelve years, settling in Cherryhill township, Indiana Co., Pa. There he spent a number of years in agri- cultural pursuits, but on his retirement from active life moved to Clymer, where he died in 1901, at the age of ninety-five years.

James Simpson, son of Robert, and father of Robert E. Simpson, was born in Indiana county, Pa., and has been engaged in farm- ing. He is now the owner of the property on which his father first settled so many years ago, and is in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His wife has also passed her seven- tieth birthday. They have had four sons and two daughters, as follows: Robert E .; Louis: Nellie, the wife of Frank Decker, residing on a part of the old homestead ; Merle, at home ; and two who died in infancy.

James Lapsley, maternal grandfather of Robert E. Simpson, was a native of Ireland. from which country he came to the United States and settled in Cherryhill township, spending the rest of his life here in farming operations.

Robert E. Simpson attended school in Cherryhill township, and from his earliest youth has been engaged in agricultural pur- suits. With the exception of two years he has always lived in his native township, and has owned his present farm, a tract of 200 acres, for the last nine years.

at Greenville, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have had six children: Earl, who is on the farm, married Jennie O. Widdowson, daugh- ter of Clark B. Widdowson, of Penn Run; Lula teaches school at Homer City; Vera is a student at the Indiana normal school; Ed- gar Budd is a teacher at Mitchells Mills; two children died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is pub- lic-spirited in his duties as a citizen, and has served efficiently as school director and super- visor of Cherryhill township on several occa- sions.

FRANCIS J. FLEMING owns the Summit Farm, in Green township, Indiana county, where his parents settled in 1861 and mem- bers of this family have lived continuously since. He was born there May 19, 1862, son of George H. and Eliza J. (O'Neil) Fleming . and grandson of Francis J. Fleming. The grandfather came into Indiana county at an early day and made a settlement in Green township, living in what came to be known as the old Fleming farm near Cookport, where he remained until his death. His family con- sisted of eight children, of whom George H. was the eldest. Four of this family survive: William I., Robert F., Jane S. (wife of George Lutman) and Mary.

George H. Fleming was born near Pitts- burg, Pa., at what was known as Squirrel Hill, and came with the family to Indiana county. In 1860 he bought part of the farm now occupied by his son Francis, moving to that place in 1861. His first purchase was sixty acres, to which he subsequently added fifty acres, and the property is popularly known as Summit Farm or Fleming's Sum- mit. George H. Fleming moved to the bor- ough of Indiana two years before his death, which occurred there in February, 1908. His wife, Eliza Jane (O'Neil), daughter of Ed- ward and Catherine (Kneedler) O'Neil, was born April 1, 1838, and survives him, living in the borough of Indiana. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming : Francis J .; Edward J., who lives at Starford, Pa .; Catherine, wife of G. T. Learn, of Green town-

Mr. Simpson was married there, Aug. 7, ship; Laura A., who lives with her mother ; 1884, to Caroline Dick, who was born in

Jennie, a teacher, also living with her mother ;

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Crissie, deceased; and Jessie, who is now years, while he died on his homestead in his teaching in Ohio.

ninety-third year. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Although never very active in politics, he cast his vote with the Republican party for many years. Chil- dren as follows were born to Andrew Calder- wood and his wife: Samuel is mentioned be- low; Elizabeth, born in County Tyrone, Ire- property is a notably fine one, and he has land, June 1, 1837, was married to David Rad-

Francis J. Fleming received a public school education in Green township. From boyhood he has been engaged in farming, and he grad- ually assumed the care of the home place, upon his father's retirement taking over its entire cultivation and management. The kept it in the best condition by his intelligent methods and systematic labors. He takes some part in the public affairs of the locality, having served as member of the township school board.

On Oct. 20, 1887, Mr. Fleming was united in marriage with Laura M. Cook, who was born in Green township, daughter of Rich- ard and Catherine (Dasher) Cook, the former deceased, the latter now living in Clearfield county. Mr. Cook was a farmer in Green township, Indiana county. Mrs. Fleming is the eldest of the six children born to her par- ents, all yet living, namely : Laura M. (Mrs. Fleming), Charles, William (a resident of Clearfield county), Ellsworth (of Clearfield county), Mabel and Edward. Of the chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming, George H., the eldest, is deceased. The others are: Hazel, at home; Hope, now a student at the Indiana (Pa.) State normal school; Blaine, a teacher, now at Swissvale, Pa .; Belle; Cather- ine, and Emory. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming and their family are members of the Lutheran Church at Cookport.

SAMUEL CALDERWOOD, a general farmer and stock raiser, who resides on his farm of 130 acres, situated in Canoe town- ship, Indiana county, was born Jan. 15, 1834. in County Tyrone, Ireland, a son of Andrew and Mary (Milligan) Calderwood.

Andrew Calderwood and wife were born, reared and married in County Tyrone, Ire- land, and from there came to America in 1848, making their way to Indiana county, Pa. For the first three years their home was in North Mahoning township, after which they moved into Canoe township, Andrew Calderwood buying the land on which his son Robert now resides. It was 100 acres of virgin soil, heav- ily timbered, and before he could erect his modest log cabin he had to clear space for the same. His children were soon able to as- sist in providing necessities and comforts for the new home in the strange land and he prospered. Both he and his wife lived into advanced age, her death occurring in Banks township when she was aged eighty-three

cliff and (second) to John Coglin, and they live in Montgomery township, Indiana Co., Pa .; Robert, born in Ireland, March 26, 1841, was a lumberman and farmer on the old home place, married Mary L. Rishel, and died March 4, 1912; William, born in County Tyrone, Ire- land, March 10, 1845, a farmer in Knox town- ship, Jefferson Co., Pa., married Martha Work, and they had children, Lizzie, William, Mary, Claire, Hattie, Bertha and Elizabeth, the three last named being deceased; John E. began his education at Covode, Pa., studied law under the preceptorship of Jenks & Wins- low, of Punxsutawney, and has been in active practice since 1879.

Samuel Calderwood had but a limited edu- cation, like the boys of his locality and gen- eration being brought up to the hard work of the farm. He remained under the par- ental roof until he was married, Jan. 23, 1859, to Elizabeth Shields. Mrs. Calderwood was born April 26, 1842, in Canoe township, daughter of George Shields, a sketch of whose career will be found in another part of this work. Eight children were born to this union : William Milligan, born Oct. 27, 1860, now his father's assistant on the home place, mar- ried Nettie Knox, and has one son, Ralph; Jane Isabel, born April 21, 1863, died Aug. 13, 1865; Robert Simeon, born Feb. 2, 1865, connected with the contracting firm of E. J. Govern, of Richmond, Pa., married Alma Richardson, and has two children, Larue and Verna; Mary, born Feb. 19, 1867, died Feb. 13, 1891; Ella H., born Oct. 20, 1868, is also deceased; Walter Scott, born Nov. 28, 1870, formerly cashier of the First National Bank of MeKean County, Pa., for twenty-two years, now engaged in the oil and gas business, mar- ried Minnie North, and has two sons, George Q. and John E .; George Lynus, born Jan. 25, 1873, died Jan. 31, 1878; Harry Edwin, born Aug. 16, 1879, died July 28, 1881. The children were all given excellent educational advantages, and Walter S. Calderwood com- pleted his training in the Eastman college at Poughkeepsie, New York.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 118

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