Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 122

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 122

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Eli V. Cramer was born at Trenton, N. J., and later moved to Philadelphia, where he resided for a time, thence going to Spruce Creek, Huntingdon Co., Pa., where he mar- ried (first) Susanna Wait. They had four children : Howard, Wilson, and Mary and Martha, twins. After the death of his first wife Mr. Cramer married (second) Mary J. Stansberry, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., daughter of Richard and Jane (Simpson) Stansberry, natives of Hunting- don county, and granddaughter of John Stansberry, who came of English ancestry. The latter married Maria Cobert, a native of the eastern part of Pennsylvania. Robert Simpson, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Cramer, was of Irish ancestry. The marriage of Eli V. Cramer and his second wife took place at Spruce Creek Aug. 1, 1865, and fol- lowing that event they went to Curwensville, Clearfield county, where they remained about eight years, thence moving to Jefferson county, and then to Cherrytree, where they arrived in 1881. Mr. Cramer died here in

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1898, but his widow survives and makes her

John Daugherty died when his son, John home with a daughter in Cherrytree. He W. Daugherty, was seventeen years old, in served in the army during the Mexican war, 1854, and his wife died when she was forty- and was a brave soldier. By trade he was a five years old. mechanic. He and his wife had the following John W. Daugherty was early thrown on his own resources, and in 1848 went to Rich- land county, Ohio, where he began learning the carpenter's trade in 1853. He returned to Pennsylvania and followed his trade, also engaging in farming. As occasion has de- manded he has worked as a cabinetmaker and built houses and barns, showing decided skill in all his operations. On Sept. 10, 1861, Mr. Daugherty enlisted in Company D, 78th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served un- til his honorable discharge on Sept. 11, 1865, having been a brave and efficient soldier. family : Harry O., who lives in Clearfield county; R. H., who is a physician and sur- geon of Cambridge, Ohio; J. H., who is the proprietor of the Cramer Printing Company, of Crafton, Pa .; William E .; Victor E., who is a farmer of Montgomery township; Blanche, who is the wife of Andrew Jackson, of Butler, Pa .; Walter G., who is in a printing business at Burgettstown, Washington Co., Pa .; Annie, who lives at Altoona, Pa .; Zoe, who is the wife of William Hoffman, of Crafton, Pa .; Edwin O., clerk and bookkeeper for the Hast- ings Coal & Coke Company, of Cherrytree; Paul, deceased; and Lela, who is with her mother.

(III) William E. Cramer was educated at Cherrytree, where he attended the local schools. At an early age he embarked in the lumbering business at Cherrytree, and oper- ated also in the northern part of the State for some years. In 1902 he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and still continues with that concern in addition to managing the details of his own business. In September, 1911, the firm of Kneedler & Cramer was started for the purpose of man- ufacturing and repairing wagons and doing all kinds of blacksmithing, Mr. Cramer being the junior member. The quality of the work turned out is such as to gain and hold pat- ronage, and the firm is well recommended over a wide territory. Both partners are practical men, and their policy is to give everyone a fair deal at reasonable prices.

In 1907 Mr. Cramer was united in marriage to Bertha Wassam, who was born in Mont- gomery township, this county, daughter of Peter W. Wassam, whose history appears else- where in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer have become the parents of two children, Paul W. and Beatrice Wilda.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cramer are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. He be- longs to the Knights of Pythias, and is auditor of his lodge.

JOHN W. DAUGHERTY, a carpenter of White township, Indiana county, and a vet- eran of the Civil war, was born near Salts- burg, in Westmoreland county, Pa., July 4, 1837, son of John and Elizabeth (Walthers) Daugherty. His paternal grandfather was William Daugherty.

On May 3, 1863, Mr. Daugherty was mar- ried to Annie Fernsworth, by whom he had the following children : Jennie, Benton, Muntie, Gwinnie Ann and Charles P. Mrs. Daugherty died Oct. 18, 1892, and Mr. Daugherty married (second) Mrs. Hannah (Bricker) Kesell. On Oct. 9, 1907, he mar- ried (third) Mrs. James McGeary.

Mr. Daugherty belongs to the Baptist Church, to which he gives generous support. He is proud of the fact that he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.

GEORGE FORNEY ROWE, a farmer of Armstrong township, Indiana county, was born in Rayne township, this county, June 7, 1864, on the Giles Stevens farm, a son of John I. and Lucinda (Bence) Rowe.

George Rowe, the first of this line in the United States, came to this country from Germany.

George Rowe (2), son of George Rowe, above, married Betsy Stumpf.

John I. Rowe, son of George Rowe (2), lo- cated on a farm in Rayne township, this county.

George Forney Rowe was brought up in Rayne township and learned farming while attending school. As he was a natural me- chanic he has always been handy with tools. Until he was sixteen years old he remained at home, and then began working among the farmers of his neighborhood, thus continu- ing until his marriage, when he located on the J. M. Guthrie farm, in Cherryhill town- ship. After eight years' residence there he bought the Lockard farm, in Green township, and spent eight years upon that property. At the expiration of that period he bought his present farm of ninety-eight acres in Arm-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

strong township, where he carried on gen- Laughlin. His father was not only a thor- eral farming.

On Feb. 13, 1890, Mr. Rowe was married to Luna Viola Nupp, who was born near Pur- chase Line, Indiana Co., Pa., a daughter of Cyrus and Cynthia (Kingsley) Nupp. Mrs. Rowe was educated in the local schools of her neighborhood and the Purchase Line academy, and began teaching school when eighteen years old at the Mumau school in Green township, being later placed in charge of the school at Dixonville. She also taught the Tanoma and McKee schools. Her father was born in Somerset county, Pa. On the maternal side of the family she is descended from English stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have had children as follows : Zula Violet, who married L. M. Car- nahan; Ross Emerson ; Erma D .; Gaynell G .; Bruce M .; Hale B .; Manson B., who is de- ceased ; Logan S .; Sears M., deceased; and Lincoln G. Mr. Rowe is not connected with any religious denomination; Mrs. Rowe is a member of the Methodist Church.

JOHN W. KERR has recently moved to the borough of Indiana, where he is living in retirement after a long and active career as a contractor, in which line he did an ex- tensive and successful business for many years. Mr. Kerr was born May 23, 1830, at Smicksburg, Indiana Co., Pa., son of Charles and Isabelle (Hunter) Kerr and grandson of Valentine and Ann (Barr) Kerr, who were natives of Germany and Scotland, respect- ively. . The grandparents lived and died in Armstrong township, Indiana county, where they reared their children on the farm. They had children : Mary, Joseph, Samuel, John, Charles, Hannah, James and Thomas.

Charles Kerr, father of John W. Kerr, was a carpenter by trade. He lived and worked at various places, the family moving around a great deal, and he died in Green township, Indiana county, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died there at the age of eighty-four. They had children as follows: Jane, Mrs. William Hefflefinger, now deceased ; Hannah, Mrs. Aaron Lockard, deceased ; Wil- liam, who lives at Cairo, Ill .; John W .; Lovina, deceased, who was Mrs. Henry But- erbaugh, of Green township; Ann, Mrs. James Reesman, of Clarion county, Pa .; Mary, Mrs. Isaac Salsgiver, deceased; Charles, a veteran of the Civil war, who died in Fayette county, Pa .; and Isabella, Mrs. John Laney, deceased.

John W. Kerr went to the country schools in his boyhood, attending under Rankin G.

ough carpenter, but he was also skilled at cabinetmaking and wheelwrighting, and made spinning wheels. John W. Kerr learned all such work under his able instruction, and followed his trades at the various localities where he lived until his enlistment, on Feb. 13, 1864, in the Signal Corps of the United States army, with which he served for eight- een months, until after the close of the Civil war. Returning home, his first wife died, and he moved to Green township, living with his parents one year. He then remarried, and moved to Grant township, settling near Pur- chase Line, where he made his home for forty- five years on a twelve-acre tract which he owned. He carried on work at his trades as a contractor, and did an excellent business, his conscientious and skillful work winning him patrons for many miles around. He continued to be thus actively engaged until after the death of his second wife, when, in 1911, he retired and moved into the borough of Indiana; he still owns the twelve acres in Grant township. He has led an upright and useful life, and is a man who holds the es- teem of all who know him.

In 1854 Mr. Kerr married (first) in Arm- strong county Mary Kunkel, and they located on Plum creek, in Armstrong county, living there for one year. In 1857 they moved to the old Mitchell farm in Plumcreek township, Armstrong county, and subsequently on the James Armstrong farm, which Mr. Kerr cul- tivated for one year. After this they moved about, living at various places, until he en- tered the army. Soon after his return home his wife died, in February, 1866, and he went. to live with his parents in Green township. In the latter part of 1866 he was married (second) to Nancy McAlester, and they set- tled in Grant township, at the place near Purchase Line previously mentioned, where they resided until Mrs. Kerr's death, April 5, 1909. Mr. Kerr had six children by his first wife, namely: Mary J., who became Mrs. Samuel Marshall, of Apollo, Pa .; Josiah, who died when eight years old; Isabella, who died when five years old; Jacob, who died young; Margaret, Mrs. James Learn, of Grant town- ship; and George, of Apollo, Armstrong Co., Pa. Two children were born to Mr. Kerr's second marriage: Effie, Mrs. George Miller, of Montgomery county, Pa., and Grier, who lives on the home place in Grant township.

Mr. Kerr has seen many changes in the county in his long life, and he has seen the conditions under which its people dwell im-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

prove very materially. He well remembers in Green township, the Mrs. Samuel Grove the high prices for all necessities which pre- vailed when he was first married, flour being $17.50 a barrel, corn $1.50 a bushel, bacon .22 a pound, and other things correspondingly dear. He has never been particularly active in public affairs, but holds his own opinions on such matters, and is an independent voter, being bound by the ties of no party. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and socially belongs to James O'Niel Post, No. 537, G. A. R., of Cookport, Indiana county.

JEFFERSON WRIGHT is a farmer of Green township, Indiana county, and for a number of years was also engaged in buying and selling stock. He moved to his present home in October, 1911. Mr. Wright was born in Montgomery township, this county, Feb. 27, 1846, son of George Washington and Leah (Fridley) Wright, natives of eastern Penn- sylvania.

George Washington Wright came to Indi- ana county many years ago, when a young man, and settled in Green township, where he cleared land and remained for some time. From there he removed to what is now Grant (then Montgomery) township, where he and his family lived for forty-three years, Mr. Wright passing the rest of his life there, dy- ing in February, 1882. His wife Leah also died there, May 26, 1874, both attaining old age. Jefferson Wright was their only child. Mr. Wright had first married a Miss Yaunt, by whom he had children: Clark Sloan, de- ceased, and Rhoda, who married John Lego, and lived in Bellwood, Pa. During the Civil war the father served about one year in Company A, 206th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Jefferson Wright spent his boyhood days in Montgomery township, and when his school days were over was employed at farming. He was eighteen years old when he entered the Union army during the Civil war, enlist- ing from Indiana county Aug. 5, 1864, in Company F, 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and receiving his discharge June 27, 1865. After returning to Indiana county he worked in the woods in Clearfield and In- diana counties for twenty years, meantime living in Montgomery township, Indiana county. Following his marriage he lived two years in Grant township, where he bought a farm in 1867, and then purchased the farm in Montgomery township upon which he made his home until he bought his present place

farm, in October, 1911. It consists of seventy- nine acres at Fleming Summit. He has an up-to-date property, equipped with fine buildings, and carries on general farming and trucking; he has one of the best apple orchards in this section. Mr. Wright has followed farming continuously, and for twenty years was also engaged in buying and selling stock, which line he found very prof- itable. While a resident of Montgomery township Mr. Wright took an active part in local affairs, serving as supervisor. Politi- cally he is associated with the Republican party. He attends Baptist services in East Mahoning and Fairview.

On May 9, 1866, Mr. Wright married Nancy J. Dunlap, who was born in Alle- gheny county, Pa., daughter of John C. and Mary Catherine (Gardner) Dunlap, who came to this country from Ireland and settled in Allegheny county. In his early days Mr. Dunlap engaged in boating on the canal. Later he moved to Indiana county, where he continued to reside until his death in 1895. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright: Elvie A., who is a physician in Houston, Texas; William, of Montgomery township, who married Nettie Walker, of Indiana county, and has six children, Clar- ence, Frank, Morna, Dean, Orpha and a son born Oct. 1, 1912, unnamed at this writing; John, engaged in fruit raising in Montgomery township, who married Maggie Gorman, of Indiana county, and has two children, Leroy and Bessie; Ada, wife of James S. Bunch, of Atlanta, Ga., who has one child, Josephine H .; Blair and Clair, twins, the former of whom married Lida Frazier, of Indiana county, and has had one child (deceased), the latter living in Punxsutawney (married and has two children, Marlan G. and Murl) ; and Grant, who lives in Glen Campbell.

JOHN P. LYDICK, general farmer and stock raiser of Cherryhill township, was born on the old Lydick homestead, on which he is now carrying on operations, Jan. 30, 1875, and is a son of Russell and Nancy Lydick.

John Lydick, the paternal great-great- grandfather of John P. Lydick, came to Cherryhill township, Indiana Co., Pa., in 1760, settling on a farm. This rugged old pioneer, however, was forced to abandon his land on account of the hostility of the In- dians, who massacred many of the early set- tlers in the vicinity, and for seven years he did not venture to return to claim his home-

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stead. On coming back a fort was erected grandparents, paternal and maternal, lived as a means of protection against the savages, and died. and John Lydick continued to farm there Joshua and Mary (Thomas) Davis were born at Newcastle Emlyn, and were married throughout the remainder of his life.

great-grandfather of John P. Lydick, was born on this land and continued to cultivate it after his father's death until he himself passed away.

Patrick Lydick, son of Jacob, and grand- father of John P. Lydick, like his father and grandfather was a tiller of the soil, receiving the old homestead, or a part thereof, at the time of his father's death, and continuing to cultivate it until he died.

Jacob Lydick, son of the pioneer John, and in their native country, where one child. Franklin D., was born to them. In 1851 the little family came to America, landing at Philadelphia, where they resided for a short time, thence coming westward to Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Pa. In 1854 they removed to Cherrytree, where they made a permanent home, Mr. Davis dying there in February, 1903, Mrs. Davis in August, 1910. Mr. Davis was a shoemaker, having learned the trade in his early life, and he worked at same in Ebensburg and also followed it after coming to Cherrytree. For several years he was in- terested in lumbering, later engaging in the mercantile business at Cherrytree, which he carried on until his death. He founded the establishment now carried on under the firm name of Mrs. Joshua Davis & Co., his widow owning it after his death. He prospered in

Russell Lydick, son of Patrick, was born on the homestead in Cherryhill township, and in his turn received the old family property at the time of his father's demise. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his life, passing away Jan. 18, 1900, while his wife died May 30, 1882. They had a fam- ily of three sons and two daughters, namely : William; Harry; Jolin P .; Elizabeth, who is business, becoming one of the substantial the wife of Levi Houck, of Cherryhill town- ship; and Ella, wife of Earl Long, residing at Indiana, Pennsylvania.

The education of John P. Lydick was se- cured in the MeGaughey school in Cherryhill township, after leaving which he took up farming on the old homestead, where he has continued to carry on operations to the pres- ent time with marked success.

On May 10, 1905, Mr. Lydick was married to Elizabeth Kanarr, who was born in Grant township, Indiana Co., Pa., May 11, 1873, daughter of Jacob and Martha (King) Kanarr, early settlers of Grant township who subsequently removed to Rayne township, and are now living retired, in Indiana, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Kanarr had three sons and five daughters: Thomas, who resides in White township, engaged in farming; Elizabeth, who married Mr. Lydick; Nannie, the wife of C. E. Henry, of Indiana, Pa .; Hester, resid- ing at home; Mary; Ollie, the wife of Robert Helman, of Rayne township, on the old home- stead; and Ira and Mortin, who are residing at home.

citizens of the borough as he was one of the most respected. Six children were born to himself and wife: Franklin D .; Price; one that died in infancy; Mary, a resident of Cherrytree, where she is engaged in business ; Emily, wife of Robert A. Mckibben, living in East Pittsburg; and a son that died in infancy.

Price Davis received a common school edu- cation, and when a boy learned the trade of shoemaker under his father's tuition, work- ing at same from the time he was thirteen years old until 1884. In that year he em- barked in business for himself, at his present location, having a general store which now ranks with the most important business es- tablishments of the borough. He has built up a fine trade by adhering to the highest stand- ards in all his dealings with his patrons, who appreciate excellent service and honest goods and have shown their confidence in him by loyal patronage. Personally he is highly es- teemed, has been chosen a member of the school board and burgess of the borough, the highest office within the gift of his townsmien, and is at present serving as a member of the town council.

PRICE DAVIS, proprietor of a thriving general business in the borough of Cherry- tree, Indiana county, is a representative of a On Nov. 28, 1906, Mr. Davis married Emma S. Pitts, a native of Cherrytree, daughter of B. F. and Jane (McCurdy) Pitts, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Pitts was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and was an early settler in Indiana county. Ile and his family which has been settled there for al- most sixty years and during most of that time associated with its business interests. He was born at Cherrytree June 26, 1856, son of Joshua and Mary (Thomas) Davis, natives of South Wales, in which country his wife had a family of five children: Williamn,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

who is now a resident of Charlottesville, Va .; His life has been an industrious one, but it Emma S., Mrs. Price Davis; Ann, who lives at Cherrytree; Frank, living at Cherrytree; and Bessie, who is engaged in teaching at Heilwood and lives at Cherrytree.

The family are members of the Presby- terian Church at Cherrytree. In social con- nection Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. Elizabeth Hessler, daughter of Andrew O. F. lodge of his borough.

GEORGE W. GRAFF, whose meat market is the best equipped and most popular estab- lishment of the kind in the borough of Indi- ana, has been in the business there continu- ously for a period of thirty-two years, and his continued prosperity is the best evidence of his high standing and ability. Mr. Graff was born Feb. 16, 1855, in Clarion county, Pa., son of John and Anna (Blatzer) Graff, na- tives of Germany. The father attended pub- lic school in his native land, and coming to the United States when a young man located in Clarion county, Pa., where for a time he found employment at the ore banks. Sub- sequently he moved to Indiana county, Pa., where he engaged in farming for the rest of his life. He was the father of fourteen chil- dren, four of whom died in infancy, namely : John; Margaret, wife of Charles Deming; Joseph; George W .; Michael; Mary; Teresa, deceased; Anna, wife of Lewis Fath; Eliza- beth, Mrs. Miller; William; Emma K .; Wolf- gang, deceased; Bernard, deceased; and Frank, deceased. The parents were members of the Catholic Church. The father died in 1893, the mother in 1910, and they are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Indiana.

George W. Graff obtained his education in the public schools of Indiana county, and worked on his father's farm until about twenty-two years old. Then he became an apprentice to the butcher's trade, which he has continued to follow so successfully since. After working one and a half years for Wil- liam Grabenstein, a butcher at Saltsburg, he came to Indiana, where he was in the employ of Mr. Wetting for a time, and later with John Rough. On Oct. 25, 1880, he opened an establishment of his own, and has been doing a prosperous business ever since. Dur- ing this time Mr. Graff has built up an ex- tensive patronage and has formed a wide acquaintance among the residents of the borough, and he is thoroughly respected by all who know him, his personal character having been as much a factor in his success as the reliability of his goods and the cour- teous treatment which all his patrons receive.

has been one of progressive industry, for he has kept pace with the times in his business methods, equipment and service to his nu- merous customers, who appreciate the ad- vantage of trading with a man of his stamp. On May 7, 1881, Mr. Graff was married to

Hessler, of Saltsburg, and they have a fam- ily of six children: Paul, Bertha, Martha, Anthony, Omer and Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Graff and their family are members of the Catholic Church, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus.

JESSE E. MOCK, contractor and builder, at Clymer, was born in Cherryhill township, Indiana county, April 26, 1881, son of Wil- liam Harrison and Elizabeth (Howe) Mock.

William Harrison Mock has spent the greater portion of his life in Indiana county and still resides on his farm in Cherryhill township. He married Elizabeth Howe, who passed her entire life in this township, her death occurring in February, 1889. The fol- lowing children were born to them: Everett S., who lives near Latrobe, Pa .; Minnie, who is the wife of Harry Kurtz, of Canton, Ohio; Anna L. and Howard, both of whom are de- ceased, the latter dying in infancy ; E. Grant, who lives at Indiana; Harry C., who is a public school teacher at Clymer; and James and Jesse E., twins.

Jesse E. Mock attended school in Cherry- hill township in boyhood and worked on the home farm until twenty years of age, when he learned the brickmason's trade and later both the stonemason's and carpenter's trades. Thus well equipped in an industrial way, Mr. Mock came to Clymer when the town was being organized and assisted in building the third house in the place. Since then he has carried on a successful business in the line of general contracting and building and has a reputation for absolute reliability.

Mr. Mock was married Sept. 5, 1906, to Zuela Clare Davis, who was born in Cherry- hill township, a daughter of James W. and Sarah E. (Harrold) Davis.

James W. Davis, father of Mrs. Mock, was born at Lewisville, in the southern part of Indiana county. By trade he is a blacksmith, and he conducts a shop at Penn Run, Indi- ana county, doing a good business. He mar- ried Sarah E. Harrold, who was born also at Lewisville, and still survives. They have two children : Mrs. Mock and Cameron, the lat-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 122

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