Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 121

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 121

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year. After coming to Indiana county, in 1903, he surveyed coal properties in Green, Rayne, and Cherryhill townships, prospecting for coal and opening the mines in that vicin- ity. In 1905 he surveyed and laid out the town of Clymer, afterward assisting in its organization. He then became the city engin- eer, and also mining engineer for two large coal companies, Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation and Pioneer Coal Company, and was also interested in the Clymer Brick and Fire Clay Companies. In April, 1912, he went to Pittsburg, where he is now connected with the United States Bureau of Mines, as assistant mining engineer, Pittsburg district. Mr. Price is a wide-awake business man and is considered very competent in his profession.

On Sept. 30, 1908, Mr. Price was married, at Ashland, Pa., to Esther B. Leib, and they liave one son, David G., who was born Jan. 27, 1910. Mrs. Price was born at Ashland, Pa., March 17, 1884, and is a daughter of George and Margaret (Bevan) Leib.

George Leib was born at Ashland, Pa., and died there in 1906. He was a blacksmith and wheelwright by trade, and a well-known and respected citizen. His wife survives, as do their children, viz .: Harry, who is a resident of Ashland; William S., who is resident Clerk of the House of Representatives at Harris- burg and formerly was assistant United States treasurer at Philadelphia; Margaret, who is the wife of George Evans, of Philadel- phia; Mary, who is the wife of Edward F. Durkin, of Ashland; Florence, widow of Frank Lentz, of Ashland; Cora, who is thie wife of Lewis Krehbs, of Ashland; and Mrs. Price.

Mr. and Mrs. Price are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Price was superintendent of the first Sunday school at Clymer and later of the Methodist Sunday school there, and also president of Clymer Sunday school district, No. 3, comprising

James Price (2), son of James and father of David J. Price, has been a mine man all his life and at present is a mine operator ; he still lives at Ashland. His family con- Green, Pine and Cherryhill townships. He

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

assisted in organizing the first Union Sun- following children were born to Jason Black- day school and also the Methodist Church burn and wife: Caroline D., Amy C., J. and advanced Clymer district, No. 3, to one Albert, Enos E.,' Jessie R. and Helen M. of the highest in the State. He is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, belonging to Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., at Indiana; Royal Arch Chapter No. 228, Clearfield; Moshannon Commandery No. 74, at Philipsburg, and the Mystic Shrine at Altoona.

ENOS ELI BLACKBURN, manager of the Heilwood Dairy Farms, at Heilwood, in Pine township, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Bed- ford county, Pa., Sept. 14, 1891, son of Jason Blackburn, grandson of Enos Blackburn and great-grandson of John A. Blackburn.

(I) John A. Blackburn was one of the early settlers of Bedford county, Pa., where he became a farmer and prosperous citizen, dying upon his rural property.

(II) Enos Blackburn, son of John A. Black- burn, was born in 1830, and is still enjoying the best of health. He is the owner of 200 acres of valuable land in Bedford county, Pa., and was engaged in agricultural pur- · suits all of his active life. By his marriage to Content Garretson, a member of a promi- nent Quaker family of eastern Pennsylvania, he had one son, Jason. Enos Blackburn mar- ried for his second wife Mary Mickle, and they had five children : Isaac, Charles, Charity, Sarah Jane and Ellen. Mr. Black- burn was drafted during the Civil war, but was not called into service.

(III) Jason Blackburn, son of Enos Black- burn, was born on his father's homestead in Bedford county, Pa., and attended the schools of his neighborhood. Later he taught school for fifteen years in Bedford county, during the first eleven years teaching in winter and running his father's farm in summer. He then bought a farm, his present place (about five miles from his father's property), and devoted himself to its cultivation for a period of ten years. He then resumed teaching, which he followed for four years more, at the end of that time turning his entire atten- tion to farming again. His two sons, who had run the farm during his last period of teaching and attended public school, in the meantime left home to secure a higher educa- tion than the schools of the immediate locality afforded. Jason Blackburn married Hannah Darlington Hoopes, a daughter of Albert H. and Deborah (Darlington) Hoopes, who was horn near Westchester, Chester Co., Pa., com- ing from a fine family of that locality. The

(IV) Enos E. Blackburn attended the pub- lic schools of Bedford county and the West- chester State normal school, and then became a student at the Pennsylvania State College, taking a special course in dairying, being graduated therefrom in 1912. In June of that year he came to Heilwood, Indiana county, to assume the management of the dairy farms at this place, which position he still holds. He belongs to his college fra- ternity, Beta Alpha Sigma, and to the State College Y. M. C. A., the largest college Y. M. C. A. in the United States. Like his father he is a member of the Society of Friends. In the full flush of young manhood, intelli- gent and carefully trained, Mr. Blackburn is giving his company efficient and conscien- tious service and bids fair to develop into one of the leading men of his locality.

JOHN WILSON FETTERHOFF, a farmer of North Mahoning township, Indiana county, was born on the old Fetterhoff home- stead in that township Nov. 13, 1859, son of George and Christian (Crissman) Fetterhoff. John Fetterhoff was the founder of the family in Indiana county, coming here in 1837 and settling on a farm in what is now North Mahoning township, where he cleared off his land and made a comfortable home, dying there Oct. 6, 1867, aged sixty-seven years. He married Mary Sprankle, who sur- vived him until Jan. 26, 1882, dying aged seventy-nine years, four days. John Fetter- hoff and his wife had children as follows: Susan, who married George Sprankle, of North Mahoning township; Betsey, who mar- ried Robert Jordan, of North Mahoning town- ship; Mary, who married James McHenry and (second) John Foust ; George ; and Sarah, now deceased, who married Sharret Sprankle, who is living in North Mahoning township.

George Fetterhoff was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., while his wife was a native of North Mahoning township, this county. He died Sept. 24, 1907, aged seventy-six years, and she died April 22, 1905, aged seventy- two years. Their children were: Monroe, who is a farmer of South Mahoning town- ship; John Wilson; Minnie, who married El- mer Beck, and lives on the old homestead; Alice, who married E. L. Croasmun, of North Mahoning township, spoken of at greater length elsewhere in this work; Joseph, a truck farmer of Montana; Nannie, who married

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Grant Pierce, of South Mahoning township; garet Harshman, by whom he had three chil- Daniel, who lives at Charleston, W. Va .; and dren: James; Etta J. (Mrs. Hess), of Johns- Clarence, who lives on the old homestead with . town; and John A., of New Kensington, Mrs. Beck.

John Wilson Fetterhoff received only a common school education, and remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, at which time he began working for outsiders. After his marriage, in 1885, he farmed on his father's homestead for four years, and then located in West Mahoning township, where he bought forty-five acres of land, but soon thereafter sold that property and purchased the Gamble place in North Mahoning town- ship. This property comprises 140 acres, which he has improved until it is very val- uable, and he carries on general farming. Politically a Republican, he has never aspired to public office. The Lutheran Church of Trade City holds his membership.

On Sept. 17, 1885, Mr. Fetterhoff was mar- ried to Ida E. Dormire, who was born near Eddyville, Armstrong Co., Pa., daughter of Jacob Dormire, of North Mahoning township. Children as follows have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fetterhoff: Albert G., who is a photographer of Dayton, Pa., married Millie Rumbaugh, and they have one son, Roy ; Lincoln M. is at home; Clair is also at home.

JAMES WISSINGER, of Rayne township, Indiana county, was born in Cherryhill town- ship, this county, March 1, 1847, son of John and Margaret (Harshman) Wissinger, and is a member of the fourth generation of his family in this country. Ludwig Wissinger came to America from Germany in an early day. His son, Daniel Wissinger, the grand- father of James Wissinger, was a farmer by occupation, and made his home in Cambria county, this State.

John Wissinger, son of Daniel, was born April 4, 1814, in Cambria county, Pa., and died July 19, 1888. He was a potter, and followed that trade all his life, living and dying in Rayne township, Indiana Co., Pa. By his first marriage, to Sarah Snyder, he had a family of five children, four sons and one daughter, viz .: Samuel, who is deceased; Elizabeth (Mrs. Marsh), of Johnstown, Pa .; W. T., a farmer of Rayne township; B. F., deceased, who was a resident of Lorain, Ohio (he was in the Union service during the Civil war, was captured at Harper's Ferry, and was confined in Libby prison, being incarcer- ated there at the same time as Judge White) ; and Andrew, who died at Fort Dodge, Iowa. Mr. Wissinger's second marriage was to Mar- Simon, deceased; Martha, deceased, who mar-

Pennsylvania.

On Oct. 10, 1867, Mr. James Wissinger was united in marriage with Susanna Lambing, who was born Nov. 27, 1847, daughter of John and Margaret (Shirly) Lambing, of Cherryhill township, this county, and died Feb. 23, 1905. Six children were born to this marriage: Robert, born Aug. 18, 1868, now engaged in farming in East Mahoning township, this county; Margaret Elizabeth Jane, born May 6, 1870, who lives at home ; George A., born Jan. 19, 1873, now a farmer and stock dealer, living in East Mahoning township; Harvey E., born Dec. 10, 1876, who is engaged in the lumber business and lives in Green township; John I., born July 23, 1881, who died in infancy; and Franklin Blair, born Aug. 22, 1884, now a farmer in Rayne township.

Mr. Wissinger attends the M. E. Church at Marion Center, and takes an active part in its work, at present serving as district steward. Politically he is a member of the Republican party, and he has been associated with the local government in several differ- ent capacities, having been supervisor for one term, roadmaster, etc.

EDWARD EMPFIELD, of Indiana, pro- prietor of the "New Indiana Hotel," belongs to a family of German origin which has long been settled in Pennsylvania, the earlier gen- erations in this country living in the eastern part of the State. Thence Peter Empfield, grandfather of Edward Empfield, came to Indiana county during the early years of the nineteenth century. He was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and died in 1872, aged eighty- four years, in Cherryhill township, where he had followed his trade of carpenter and mill- wright. He did such work in many sections of Indiana county during his active life, and his later years were spent among his children, who cared for their parents in their old age. Mr. Empfield was buried in the Lutheran church cemetery. He was twice married, and by his first wife, whose name is not known, had three children: Margaret (who married John Coy), George and John. His second marriage was to Mary Hart, and their chil- dren were: Isaac; Nancy, who married Henry Wike, of Pine township; Sarah, who married Cyrus Dumn; Alexander, who died in Missouri; Henry, living in Missouri:

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ried John Green; William Harrison, now liv- house is popular priced and well patronized ing retired in Brushvalley township, Indi- by the traveling public, and Mr. Empfield ana county; and Caroline, who died unmar- has the faculty of retaining as well as at- tracting trade. ried. The mother died while living with her children and is buried in the Lutheran ceme- tery in Brushvalley.

Isaac Empfield, son of Peter, was born Nov. 20, 1818, in Brushvalley township, Indiana county. He was quite young when his par- ents located at Penn Run, Indiana county, where he grew up and received his education, attending the local public school. For several years he followed farming in Cherryhill township, and became an extensive land owner, his holdings amounting to about six hundred acres. Besides managing and su- pervising his home property he kept a hotel and livery stable at Penn Run for many years, being proprietor of the hotel at the time of his death, which occurred July 5, 1873. His

home was at that place from the time he was a is a great-grandson of John Thompson, the young man, and he was one of the successful and influential citizens of his section. He as "drover John." He married Mary Cain, was a Republican and a Presbyterian, and active in both political and religious matters in his locality. Mr. Empfield married Cla- rissa Churchill, who survives him, making her home at Penn Run, and though over eighty she is very active. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Their family consisted of eight children: Elizabeth, wife of C. C. Emiglo; Margaret A., wife of W. C.

John Thompson, son of John and Mary (Cain) Thompson, was a farmer of Black- Pattison; Ella, who married Rev. D. C. lick township, where his life was spent. He Pattee, an Episcopal minister (he is now deceased ) ; Kate E., wife of Charles A. Jenks, of Punxsutawney, Pa .; Charles W .; Albert F .; Frank T., deceased; and Edward. married Eleanor Davis, and had children: John; William; George; James; David ; Sam- uel, who married Sarah Clawson; Christo- pher, who settled in Clarion county, Pa .; Jane, wife of Adam Creamer; and Margaret, wife of Dr. John Bennett, a prominent phy- sician of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Edward Empfield began his education in the public schools and also attended the East- man business college, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the Indiana State normal school, graduating from both institutions. When a young man he engaged in the drug business, at Cresson, Pa., continuing thus for about four years. At the end of that time, in 1901, he organized the First National Bank of Cres- son and became cashier of that institution, holding that position for the next five years. In 1906 he came to Indiana, where he bought and remodeled (practically rebuilt) the "New Indiana Hotel," which he has since successfully conducted. He modernized the building in every respect, and has seventy- five handsomely furnished rooms, many of them with private baths. The hotel is cen- trally located, at Sixth and Philadelphia streets, and is a substantial five-story brick structure well adapted for the purpose. Ilis many years.

In 1900 Mr. Empfield married Mary E. Fowler, daughter of James Fowler, of Penn Run, and they have one child, Edward. Mr. Empfield holds a life membership in Lodge No. 102, B. P. O. Elks, of Altoona, Pa .; Ebensburg Lodge, No. 312, F. & A. M .; Wil- liamsport Consistory (thirty-second degree), of which he was a charter member; and Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Altoona, Pennsylvania.

JOHN GEORGE THOMPSON, now liv- ing retired at Grafton, was during his active years engaged in farming in Blacklick town- ship, Indiana county. He was born there April 24, 1843, son of George Thompson, and first of the family in Indiana county, known and to their union were born the following children: John; Rosanna, who married Wil- liam Hanna; Sarah, who married William Hopkins; Margaret, who married John Cru- san; William, who married Mary Brady; George C., who married Elizabeth Davis; and Robert.

George Thompson, son of John and Eleanor (Davis) Thompson, was born in Blacklick township about 1812. What education he ac- quired was obtained in the subscription schools of that time. He began to help at home in early boyhood, and was thus engaged until he reached manhood, when he went to work in Campbell's mills, on Blacklick creek, for some time. Then he started farming on the homestead on his own account, buying out the interest of the other members of the family, and here continued to live the rest of his life. His farm contained over one hun- dred acres. He was a stanch Democrat, and took a live interest in his township and its public affairs, serving as supervisor for many years, school director, and tax collector for His religious connection was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

with the M. E. Church. He died on the service being ten months, four days. He was homestead in 1873, and was buried in Hope- discharged in June, 1865, in Richmond, and returning home again took up farming. The two years following he spent on the George Compton farm; then for four years was on the Turner farm, which he rented, and at the end of that period returned to the home- stead, on the hill near Muddy run. From the time his father died he farmed there for himself, having a tract of ninety-six acres where he carried on general farming and stock raising. He erected a frame house and barn, and in other respects also made exten- sive improvements on the place, which bears many evidences of his excellent management. Mr. Thompson has now retired from active work, living in Grafton, on Blacklick creek, and the farm is conducted by his son Harry W. Thompson. well cemetery. . Mr. Thompson was twice married, his first wife, Eliza (Clawson), daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Morehead) Clawson, dying when about twenty-five years of age. For his second wife he married Ruth Clawson, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Donahue) Clawson. There were four chil- dren by the first marriage and twelve by the second, namely: Sarah died when sixteen years old; Jolin George is mentioned below ; James married Hannah Houston, of Black- lick, Burrell township; Eliza married Josiah C. Houston, and lived in Johnstown; (and by the second marriage) Eleanor married John McIntyre and resides in Blairsville; Richard C. was next in the family; Margaret Ann married Milton Stump; Elizabeth died young; Mary married Ollie Frizzle, and lived In his early life Mr. Thompson supported the principles of the Democratic party, later became associated with the Greenback party, and of late years has allied himself with the Socialist party, of which he is a strong sup- porter. He and his wife are members of Hopewell M. E. Church, but now attend the M. E. Church at Black Lick. at Wentworth, S. Dak .; Nancy Emma died when seventeen years old; Charles B. married Nettie Spires and lives in Blairsville ; William married Agnes Hoag, and lives at Josephine, Pa .; Maria married Harry Boyle and lives at Allegheny City, Pa .; Malinda married James Starrie and resides at Blairsville, Pa .; Tillie died young; David married Catherine Gascill, and lives at Blairsville.

John George Thompson, son of George and Eliza (Clawson) Thompson, was born in Blacklick township and attended the Yankee Hill school there. He remained on the farm with his father until 1864, when he enlisted, in September, in Company D, 206th Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, under Col. Hugh J. Brady, of Indiana county, and Capt. W. C. Gordon. Proceeding to the front he was attached to the 18th Corps, then near Bermuda Hundred, soon after moving to the north side of the James river and being assigned to duty with the engineer corps that built Fort Brady, north of Dutch Gap. In the latter part of October the command was assigned to the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Corps, and went into winter quarters, being engaged prin- cipally in drill and routine camp duty. Upon the reorganization of the army corps the 206th was assigned to the 24th Corps and con- tinued on duty with the Army of the James, under General Ord. During the spring cam- paign the regiment was ordered to remain in camp, doing provost duty, and upon the evacuation of Richmond was the first to enter the Southern capital, where it did provost duty. Later it was on similar duty at Lynch- burg. Mr. Thompson continued in the army until the close of the war, the period of his

On Oct. 6, 1866, Mr. Thompson married Emeline McCoy, of Indiana, Ill., daughter of Church and Mary Jane (McCardell) McCoy. They have had two children, Harry Willett and Iola, the daughter residing with her par- ents. Harry Willett Thompson now farms the homestead. He married Elizabeth Jones, and they had three children, John G., Carson Wendel and Edna May.

WILLIAM W. ADAMS, deceased, a vet- eran of the Civil war, blacksmith and farmer of Indiana county, was born in Somerset, Pa., in August, 1828, and was the only child of his parents. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Weaver, first married Jacob Schaf- fer, by whom she had two children, Chris- tianna and John.

William W. Adams was reared to manhood in Somerset, and there learned the black- smith's trade besides obtaining his education in the country schools. As a young man he came to Brushvalley, Indiana county, where he worked at his trade, and was married there Feb. 23, 1874, to Mrs. Amanda (Fee) Mike- sell, of Brushvalley township, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Mahon) Fee. Mr. and Mrs. Adams commenced housekeeping at Me- chaniesburg, but later removed to a farm of 140 acres, which, it was subsequently discov- ered, was underlaid with coal. Mr. Adams

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

served in a Pennsylvania regiment of volun- farmer, and takes an interest in the welfare teer infantry during the Civil war, and had of the community as well as in the success of his own affairs, being public-spirited about supporting worthy movements of all kinds. He has served two terms as overseer of the poor in Cherryhill township. In politics he is a Republican. He and his family belong to the M. E. Church. the middle finger of his right hand shot off while in battle. He was a Republican in his political views, and a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death oc- curred Feb. 23, 1886, and he was buried at Mechanicsburg, Indiana county.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams had a family of three children: Jennie, who married John Mc- Neelege, of Sharon, Pa .; Lillian, who lives at home; and Dora, residing in Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Adams was born on her father's farm in Brushvalley township, Indiana county, and attended the country schools of her native place. She was first married to Jeremiah W. Mikesell, a farmer, by whom she had one child, Sarah, now wife of C. A. Campbell, a school teacher of Conemaugh. Mrs. Adams still resides in the borough of Indiana, at No. 528 Chestnut street, where she is very well known and has many warm personal friends.

MARTIN H. DICK is a native of Cherry- hill township, Indiana county, and has lived on his present farm there for twenty-five years. He was born Dec. 1, 1861, son of Jacob P. Dick, and grandson of John Dick, who came to this county at an early day and bought land which he cleared and cultivated ; he resided thereon until his death, which oc- curred when he was forty-four years old.

Jacob P. Dick was born in Blair county, Pa., but was reared in Indiana county, fol- lowed farming all his active life in Cherry- hill township, and died in 1900. In 1863 he married Elizabeth Hoover, and the following children were born to them: Margaret, who is now deceased; David H., of Cherryhill township; George, who lives near Greenville, Indiana county; Andrew and John, both of whom are deceased ; Nancy, wife of Benjamin Bowers, of Martinsburg, Pa .; and Martin H., who lives in Cherryhill township. By his second marriage Jacob P. Dick had seven children, the survivors being: William, who lives in Iowa; James, of Johnstown, Pa .; Jacob M., who is on the old homestead; and Frank, living with his mother at Greenville, Pennsylvania.

Martin H. Dick was educated in Cherry- hill township and began farm work during his boyhood, helping at home. In his early manhood he also became engaged in lumber- ing, but he has devoted his time to farming exclusively for many years, in 1887 buying the place in Cherryhill township where he has since made his home. He is a well-to-do

In July, 1887, Mr. Dick was married in Cherryhill township to Amanda McKendrick, who was born in that township, daughter of John and Amanda (McKendrick), old settlers of Indiana county, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Dick died Jan. 22, 1904, the mother of two children: Thomas W., who is now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mary E., who lives at home. On Feb. 19, 1907, Mr. Dick married (second) Mrs. Jennie B. Miller, who was born in Rayne township, Indiana county, daughter of Josiah and Charity Ann (McKeown) Clawson, who settled in that township at an early day. Mr. Clawson be- came a farmer in Cherryhill township; he and his wife are now deceased.

WILLIAM E. CRAMER, junior member of the firm of Kneedler & Cramer, black- smiths and wagonmakers of Cherrytree, was born in Curwensville, Pa., Sept. 14, 1871, a son of Eli V. and Mary J. (Stansberry) Cramer, and grandson of Isaac and Sarah Cramer. The Cramer family is of Dutch ancestry, but the exact date of its founding in America is not known.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 121

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