Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 120

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 120

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On Feb. 26, 1874, Mr. Keith was married to Caroline Johns, a native of Green town- ship, daughter of James and Christina (Lute) Johns, both of whom were born in Indiana county, where their respective families set- tled at an early day. Mr. Johns was a farmer by occupation. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keith: Emma L., Ann Eliz- abeth and Isaac are deceased, as well as two that died in infancy; Arena is the wife of Bryant Lowman, of Starford, this county ; Bertha is the wife of Bert Long, of Green township; Letta is the wife of Myles Snow- berger, of East Freedom; Clark Watson is the youngest of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Keith are members of the German Baptist Church. He also belongs to Cherrytree Post, No. 40, G. A. R.

MARY ZENER, who is postmistress and also proprietor of a hotel at Marchand, Indi- ana Co., Pa., was born in North Mahoning township, this county, June 29, 1863, daugh-

came to the United States, in 1836 settling

in 1837, he at one time lived on what is known as the Hicks farm. He died in Illinois in 1864, when almost seventy years of age. His second marriage, which was to Mary Dietrich, took place in Indiana county, and he was the father of five children: John, who married Elizabeth Hess; Conrad; Elizabeth, who married Adam Glasser; and William and Margaret.

Conrad Zener was born in 1830, in Hessen Cassel, Germany, and was six years old when he accompanied his parents to America. He became a farmer and continued in that busi- ness during the entire period of his active life. During the Civil war he served as a soldier for four months, being a member of Company B, 74th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. In 1852 he married Rachel Frede- ricka New, who was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, and accompanied her parents to Amer- ica when she was a girl thirteen years of age. The following children were born to them: John, who is deceased, married Lydia Pifer, and they lived at Marchand; George died when aged eighteen years; Caro- line is the wife of Daniel Mottarn, and they live near Georgeville; Sarah was the wife of Jacob J. Gall; Jacob, who is a resident of Indiana, Pa., married Clara Hershberger; Mary is mentioned below; William, who lives on the old homestead, married Esther Mot- tarn; Samuel, who lives at Wilkinsburg, Pa., married Allie Orr, of Indiana, Pa .; Annie is the wife of F. J. Moot, of Marchand; Mar- garet is the wife of J. J. Bollander, of Buffalo. The parents are deceased and buried in Mar- chand cemetery. They were members of the United Evangelical Church of that place. Mr. Zener was a Republican in his political views.

Mary Zener attended the public schools in North Mahoning township and remained at home, continuing to reside on the farm until 1889, when she came to Marchand, of which village she has ever since been a highly es- teemed resident. She conducts her hotel there with much business capacity, and dur- ing President Roosevelt's last administration was appointed postmistress, and has had the Bell telephone station ever since the line was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

put through the town, about twenty years modious and elegant, and the accommodations ago, proving an efficient operator. In De- are up-to-date in every particular and kept cember, 1908, her hotel was destroyed by fire up to the excellent standard set by Mr. Wort- with part of the contents, on which she car- ried no insurance, and she rebuilt in the spring of 1909. Miss Zener is a member of the United Evangelical Church at Marchand and has served as organist for the congrega- tion. man from the beginning. He has made numerous changes since he became proprietor and in the spring of 1913 installed a steam heating plant and had a tile floor laid. He has had more years of experience than any other hotel man now doing business in Indi- ana, and he has made a success of his present venture by consistent and unremitting atten- tion to the wants of his patrons. He is pop- ular personally, with a pleasing, social man- ner which wins him many friends among his guests and adds to the good impression which the good service offered by this house makes upon them. Mr. Wortman is a prominent member of the Hotel Association of Pennsyl- vania, and fraternally he holds membership in the Elks Lodge, No. 931, at Indiana.

CALVIN M. WORTMAN, who has been proprietor of the "Clawson House" in the borough of Indiana since 1908, was born June 4, 1864, in North Mahoning township, Indi- ana county, son of John and Elizabeth (Curry) Wortman. His grandfather, Casper Wortman, was born in Germany, and was about forty years old when he came to the United States. After living in the State of New York for a time, he settled in Indiana county, Pa. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation.

John Wortman, son of Casper, was born in New York State, and was quite young when his father came to live in Indiana county. Here he received his education in the public schools, and he followed farming throughout his active years. He died in 1901, surviving his wife, who had passed away in 1891. They had three children: Samuel A., Calvin M. and Della, wife of J. L. Dilts. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Wortman was a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity.

Calvin M. Wortman received his education in the public schools of Indiana county. He was reared to farming, which he continued to follow until about twenty-eight years old, at which time he engaged in the hotel business at Trade City, this county, continuing same at that location for five years. Selling out, he removed to the borough of Indiana, where he was proprietor of the "Lewis House" for two years. He then went to Punxsutawney, Pa., where he was engaged in the livery busi- ness for two years, and then for a year was in the hotel business there. In 1903 he was proprietor of the "Alexander Hotel" in Kittanning, which he ran for one year. Com- ing to Indiana at the end of that time, he lived retired for a period of four years be- fore resuming business, in 1908 taking charge of the "Clawson House" as proprietor. He enlarged and remodeled the house before opening it in his own name, and it now ranks among the first-class hostelries of this sec- tion. It is equipped with modern improve- ments and conveniences, the offices are com- nent lumber and mill man of Pensacola, N.

In 1898 Mr. Wortman was married to May L. Frech, daughter of Peter Frech, ex-com- missioner of Indiana county. Mrs. Wortman is a member of the Lutheran Church at Indiana.

EVERETT L .. CROASMUN, general far- mer of North Mahoning township, Indiana county, who during the last quarter of a cen- tury has had charge of the old Croasmun homestead, was born on his present farm March 21, 1862, son of Asa and Mary (Rob- inson) Croasmun. Asa Croasmun, his grand- father, married Mary McHenry.

Asa Croasmun, father of E. L. Croasmun, was born Oct. 1, 1828, in North Mahoning township, and died July 12, 1906; he was buried at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Jefferson county, Pa. He grew up on his father's old place, was there married, and spent his life in agricultural pursuits, be- coming well and favorably known in his com- munity. His wife, born April 27, 1830, passed away July 5, 1907, and was also buried in Jefferson county. They were faithful mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Croasmun was a Republican; he was elected to a number of township offices. They had a family of nine children, as follows: Hattie, who married Daniel Seiler, and is liv- ing in Jefferson county ; Elizabeth, who mar -- ried John Enterline, a carpenter, dairyman and farmer, of Cool Springs, Jefferson county ; James A., mayor of Indiana, Pa., mentioned . elsewhere in this work; Carrie, wife of H. A. Smith, of Sheffield, Pa .; Everett Lincoln; Au- gusta, who married C. A. Oberlin, a promi-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

C .; Susie, who married Marion Stevens, an Mr. Croasmun; Minnie, who married Elmer attorney and ranchman of Greenville, Minn. ; Isaac, foreman of a brick plant at Altoona, Pa .; and Clarissa, who died when two years old.

Asa Croasmun enlisted in the Union army March 8, 1865, for service during the Civil war, becoming a member of Company K, 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was a cor- poral under Capt. Martin McCarmos, and re- ceived his honorable discharge Aug. 25, 1865. He was a hard-working man, cleared up a good deal of land, and became the owner of 102 acres. His health was broken by his un- ceasing labors, and during the last years of his life he was an invalid. During the early days he was engaged in rafting and lumber- ing to some extent, but the greater part of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he met with well-deserved success.

Everett Lincoln Croasmun, son of Asa Croasmun, received a common school educa- tion, and always remained at home, tenderly caring for his parents during their declining years. He was married July 7, 1887, to Alice Fetterhoff, who was born in North Mahoning township, Indiana county, daughter of George and Christian (Crissman) Fetterhoff, the former of Huntingdon county, and the latter of North Mahoning township. The first of the Fetterhoff family to come to Indiana county was John Fetterhoff, who with his wife, Mary Sprankle, arrived here in 1837. He died Oct. 6, 1867, aged sixty-seven years, nine months, and his wife passed away Jan. 26, 1882, aged seventy-nine years, four days. They had the following children: Susan, who married George Sprankle, of North Mahoning town- ship; Betsy, who married Robert Jordan, of North Mahoning township; Mary, who mar- ried Joseph McHenry and .(second) John Foust; George, the father of Mrs. Croasmun, and Sarah, deceased, who married Sharatt Sprankle, and lives in North Mahoning town- ship.

Beck, and lives on the old home place, a sketch of Mr. Beck's life appearing elsewhere; Jo- seph, a truck farmer of Glendive, Mont .; Nannie, who married Grant Prever, of South Mahoning township ; Daniel, living at Charles- ton, W. Va .; and Clarence, who lives on the old place with Mrs. Beck.

Mr. and Mrs. Croasmun have had four chil- dren, namely: Beulah; Paul, who is attend- ing the State Agricultural College, State Col- lege, Pa .; Nannie, and Twila. Mr. Croasmun has had charge of the old home place for the last twenty-five years, and has always lived there with the exception of four years dur- ing which he was engaged in lumbering in Elk county. General farming and stock rais- ing have received his attention, and the ex- cellent results he has secured from his land testify to his high ability as a farmer. A Republican in his political views, he has served in a number of township offices, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal (White) Church, in Jefferson county. A man highly esteemed for his many admirable qualities, he bears the respect of his neighbors and associates and is entitled to be numbered with the representative men of Indiana county.

CELESTIAN HINES, late of Cherryhill township, Indiana county, was a general farmer and stock raiser, owning a property near Mitchells Mills. He was a member of the board of supervisors of his township. Mr. Hines was born in Cambria county, Pa., May 5, 1853, son of William and Elizabetlı (San- ders) Hines. His parents were both born in Germany, from which country his father came as a young man and settled in Cambria county, where he spent the rest of his life in farming, and where his death occurred in 1862, his wife surviving him ten years. There were eight children in their family, as follows: Matilda, who is deceased, was the wife of Charles Farabaugh; Jolın resides in Black- lick, Cambria county; James resides at Cres- cent, Pa .; Margaret is the wife of John Lynch, of Crescent, Pa .; Joseph is deceased ; Kate is the wife of Luke Burgone, of Cres- cent, Pa .; Celestian is mentioned below : one died in infancy.

George Fetterhoff was but six years of age when brought by his parents to Indiana county, and here he passed the remainder of his life, devoting himself to the cultivation of the soil. He died Sept. 24, 1907, aged seventy- six years, and his wife passed away April 22, 1905, aged seventy-two years. Their children were as follows: Monroe, who is engaged in The youth of Celestian Hines was spent on his father's farm in Cambria county, and his education obtained in the district schools of the locality. At the age of twenty-two years county, settling first at Mitchells Mills, where farming in South Mahoning township; John W., a farmer of North Mahoning township, a complete review of whose career will be found in another part of this work; Ida, who died he left the parental roof and came to Indiana at the age of six years; Alice, who married

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

he remained for six years. Then he was at born to David Davis, who was a native of Heilwood four years, coming thence to Cherry- hill township and purchasing the farm where he made his home, with the exception of one year, until his death-living there twenty-one years. He continued to carry on general farming operations with uniform success, and was known as one of his community's sub- stantial and representative men. He died Aug. 19, 1912, of heart disease, and was buried at Manor.

In 1878 Mr. Hines was married to Susanna Brown, a native of Indiana county, daugh- ter of John Brown. . She died the mother of four children : Albert J., of Cherryhill town- ship; Inez, residing at home; Agnes, the wife of Robert Glaspie, of Mitchells Mills; and Camilla, who is deceased. In 1892 Mr. Hines was married (second) to Dessie A. Sicken- berger, of Indiana county, daughter of Bas- tian Sickenberger, who died in 1908; Mrs. Hines' mother passed away when she was a small child. Both her parents were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hines had four children, Harry, Mary, Lawrence and Esta.

At the time of his death Mr. Hines was serving his township in the capacity of super- visor, a position he ably filled for several years. He was known as a public-spirited citizen, and as a faithful member of the Catholic Church, with which his wife is also connected.

BENJAMIN F. DONAHEY (deceased) was a resident of Green township, Indiana county, almost half a century, having moved there with his parents in 1865 from Black- lick township, where he was born Feb. 7, 1849, son of William J. Donahey.

James Donahey, his grandfather, was an early settler in that section of Indiana county, where he owned land and followed farming until his death upon the place where he first located. His wife, who also died on the home farm, was an aunt of Richard B. Clawson. Mr. and Mrs. James Donahey had three sons and three daughters.

William J. Donahey, son 'of James, was born Sept. 23, 1825, in Blacklick township, where he remained until 1865. He then re- moved with his family to Green township, and in 1868 settled on the farm there where his son James now lives. He cleared that place GEORGE ANDREW MINSER, a farmer of East Mahoning township, was born in Bell township, Jefferson Co., Pa., Dec. 17, 1859, son of Mark Minser. The family is of Ger- and remained there until his death, which oc- curred Sept. 22, 1889. He married Margaret Davis, who was born in Blacklick township Feb. 22, 1829, and died July 31, 1900. She man extraction, the grandfather of George was one of several children (all now deceased)

Indiana county, lived in Blacklick township, where he bought land and engaged in farm- ing, and died Jan. 31, 1855, at the old home. He was of Scotch ancestry. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Donahey: Benjamin F., born Feb. 7, 1849, is mentioned below ; Martha Jane, born March 3, 1851, is deceased ; Sarah Ellen, born April 2, 1853, is the wife of William Beck Rice, of Green township; James H., born Aug. 26, 1855, lives in Green township; Edward, born Nov. 25, 1857, lives in Grant township, this county; Frank D., born June 26, 1860, resides at Starford, In- diana county, and is a justice of the peace; Anna Mary, born May 30, 1862, died Feb. 26, 1865; Rachel Emma, born Dcc. 6, 1864, is the wife of Wilbert Kidd, of Indiana county ; William A., born March 4, 1867, lives at Wil- kinsburg; Richard Milton, born Oct. 7, 1869, lives at Starford, and is a carrier in the rural free delivery service.

Benjamin F. Donahey spent his boyhood days in Blacklick township, and came with the family upon their removal to Green town- ship, where he ever afterward made his home. He remained at home helping his father until his marriage. Mr. Donahey was the repre- sentative of a substantial and respected fam- ily, and was himself one of the most esteemed citizens in his locality. He died Jan. 10, 1913, of paralysis.

On Dec. 4, 1873, Mr. Donahey was married to Rebecca J. Clawson, a native of Blacklick township, this county, daughter of Richard B. and Rachel (Davis) Clawson, both of whom were old residents of Indiana county, the father having been born there, the mother in Connecticut. Mr. Clawson was a notably suc- cessful farmer in his day. He died June 22, 1896, his wife in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Donahey had two children, G. D. and Gussie, both of whom live in Indiana county. G. D. Donahey married Ella McMillen, of Indiana county, and they have two children, Grace and Ben- jamin. Gussie Donahey is the wife of Wil- liam Wike, of Green township, and has two children, Viola Rebecca and Veda Elizabeth. Mr. Donahey was a member of the Methodist Church at Dixonville, this county, to which Mrs. Donahey also belongs.

Andrew Minser having come from Germany

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and settled in Lawrence county, Pa., at an services. Later he engaged with David Short early day.

Mark Minser was born in Lawrence county, Pa., and was given few opportunities to at- tend school, teaching himself to read and write after growing to manhood. Having learned the plasterer's trade, he moved in the fifties to Bell township, in Jefferson county, follow- ing that calling and working in sawmills as occasion offered. In 1864, seeing better oppor- tunities in Indiana county, he came here, and locating in Grant township formed a partner- ship with Samuel Raleigh for the purpose of manufacturing lumber, carrying on that business for some years. Later he began farm- ing in Green township, buying fifty-three acres, and spent the remainder of his life in operating same and raising stock. He made improvements upon his farm, where he died Nov. 22, 1894, aged sixty-eight years. He was buried in Rayne township cemetery. While his section. A Republican, he has served as an earnest Republican, he did not seek office. a school director, and during the five years he For many years he belonged to the German was on the board was president of it two Baptist Church and became a local preacher, and although self-taught was very eloquent, speaking with homely fervor that had a re- markable effect upon his congregations. Mr. Minser did not content himself with preach- ing only, but lived out his faith in his life and brought many into the church. years. For two years he was treasurer of the road funds and secretary as well. For two more years he was a member of the Republi- can township central committee. His rule of life has been that of giving the other man the same kind of deal he wants from him, and he is satisfied with this simple religious creed.

He was married in Lawrence to Elizabeth Stanley, a daughter of Andrew Stanley, and she survives him, living in Green township, where she finds consolation in the German Baptist Church, of which she, too, is a faith- ful member. Mr. and Mrs. Minser had the following children: Alfred W. is a farmer of Grant township; Sarah married Jolin John- son, of Grant township, and is now deceased ; Mary married Sylvester McMillen, of Mont- gomery township; John D. lives near the homestead in Green township; George An- drew is mentioned below; Ella married John Lycock, of Green township; Anna married ceased; Samuel is postmaster in Arcadia, Pennsylvania.

John Rice, of Marion Center; Mark is de- Banks township, Indiana county, was born

George Andrew Minser was five years old when the family migration occurred, and' he grew to manhood in Indiana county, attending the local schools. Until he was eighteen years old he worked with his father in the lumber business, and then began clerking at Deckers Point for Hon. Horace J. Thompson, with whom he remained for two years. After this he worked in the lumber regions during the winter, and on farms in Clearfield county in community, and was elected to the office of the summer, receiving one dollar a day for his school director, in which he served efficiently.

for $12.50 per month and remained with him two years, and then went to another farmer, Isaac Secrest, of Rayne township. After a year he returned to his former employer, re- ceiving $15 per month, and remained with him until he had saved. sufficient money to buy a farm in Green township, known as the Fred Glasser farm. This property comprised 122 acres and he and his brother Alfred operated it together for a year, when Mr. Minser pur- chased the interest of his partner, assuming a debt of $2,500. He continued to conduct this property until 1904, when he sold and came to East Mahoning township, where he bought the William Mabon farm. Here he has since continued, being engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has developed a valuable property and firmly established ;himself as one of the reliable agriculturists of

In 1891 Mr. Minser was married to Tena Whitier, who was born in Armstrong county, a daughter of Joseph Whitier. She died in 1894, leaving two children, Clyde and Clair. Mr. Minser was subsequently married (sec- ond) to Amanda Phillips, a daughter of Jacob Phillips, of Green township, and they have become the parents of these children: Mark, who died in childhood ; Ralph; David; Cather- ine, and Harry. Mrs. Minser belongs to the German Baptist Church, and is a most ex- cellent woman.

CHARLES WILLIAM ELBEL, farmer of Oct. 11, 1862, in Jefferson county, Pa., son of Charles Edward and Regina (Reno) Elbel. The father, a 'native of Saxony, Germany, came to this country in 1848, and lived a num- ber of years in Jefferson county. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania. They came to Indiana county about 1866, settling in Banks township, and for about ten years Mr. Elbel continued to follow his trade, that of tanner, later engaging in lumbering and farming. He became a much respected citizen of his

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

He died in 1905, and his wife is still liv- sisted of four sons and four daughters: David ing, in Banks township, now (1912) aged J., Gertrude M., Anna, Robert, Earl, Eliza- seventy-four years. They had a family of beth, John Earl and Margaret, all surviving ten children, of whom two are deceased, the except Earl.

survivors being: Mary; George Henry, who David J. Price was educated at Ashland, Pa., and was graduated from the Ashland high school in 1900, later attending the Bloomsburg State normal school. After pre- paring himself for civil and mining engineer- ing his first position was with the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with which concern is a farmer of Banks township, Indiana county ; Maggie, now Mrs. Herman Bowers, of Clearfield, Pa. (Mr. Bowers is a contractor and builder) ; Sarah Emma, wife of James A. McKee, a farmer of Banks township; Theresa Jane, wife of Clyde Frampton, a stationary engineer, of Big Run, Pa .; Bertha, wife of he remained for two years, afterward practic- Bert Bee, a carpenter, of Rossiter, Pa .; Ida ing engineering in Cambria county for one M., wife of Earl V. Bowers, a merchant, of Banks township; and Charles William.

Charles William Elbel obtained his educa- tion in the country schools and was reared to farming, remaining on the home place with his father until he reached the age of twenty- five years. At that time he married and be- gan farming for himself, having lived at his present home since his marriage, and he has succeeded so well in his agricultural opera- tions that he now owns a valuable farm of 147 acres in Banks township. He has taken an interest in the public welfare and has served two terms as school director, doing good. work in that capacity. Politically he is a Democrat.

On May 5, 1887, Mr. Elbel was married to Margaret E. Shields, of Canoe township, In- diana county, daughter of W. H. and Sarah (Martin) Shields, and of the ten children born to them one died in infancy and Flossie L. (born Aug. 12, 1891) when five years old. The eight survivors are: Harold Ray, born Sept. 29, 1888; Martin Luther, born June 25, 1893; Paul Ernest, born Sept. 17, 1895; Carl Bryan, born June 24, 1897; Joseph Ed- ward, born April 25, 1899; Mary Edna, born Aug. 12, 1901; Margaret Alda, born Feb. 21, 1903; and Marion Zula, horn Jan. 1, 1909. All are still at home. Mr. Elbel is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

DAVID J. PRICE, civil and mining en- gineer, for several years a resident of Cly- mer, Indiana county, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., March 27, 1884, a son of James and Anna (Vaughın) Price, and a grandson of James Price and David Vaughn. His grandfathers were both natives of Wales. They came to America in early manhood, both were mine operators, and both settled at Ash- land, in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 120

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