Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 125

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 125

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Thomas Prestley Campbell obtained his education in the common schools of Parker township, Butler county. Until seventeen years of age he worked at home with his father, subsequently doing farm work for others and learning the trade of blacksmith at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county. On Sept. 3, 1863, he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company C, 6th Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery, under Capt. David Evans, of Pittsburg, and Colonel Barnes. He was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Fort Al- bany and Fort Ward, in Virginia, spending a year in the service, and was mustered out at Fort Ward, returning to Pennsylvania. Going to Butler county he worked in the oil fields for seven or eight years, as a black- smith and driller. Iu 1873 he came to In- diana county and worked on his father's farm for a short time, until he settled on the John D. Hart place, a tract of 116 acres, where he carried on general farming and stock raising for the next thirty-five years, in 1908 rent- ing the property and moving to West Lebanon. He has since lived retired, though he is active and enjoys good health. Mr. Campbell is an unassuming citizen, and though he has not taken any part in public matters is well known and liked in this vicinity. He is a Republi- can in politics, and in religions connection a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

James Campbell, father of Thomas P. Campbell, was born in Butler county and grew to manhood on his father's farm, there. For a time he was employed on the Erie canal, receiving fifty cents a day, and subse- quently followed farming in Parker town- ship, Butler county. In 1873 he sold his interests there and came to Indiana county, locating in Young township, where he bought In 1880 Mr. Campbell married Belle J. Kier, daughter of James Kier, and she was the Elwood farm, a tract of 189 acres upon which he spent the remainder of his days, also a member of the United Presbyterian

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Church. No children were born to this union, ready to help any movement which promises Mrs. Campbell died Aug. 11, 1910, and is to be of benefit to his community, and while a resident of Montgomery township rendered signal service as a member of the board of school directors. buried in the West Union cemetery in Arm- strong township. Since her decease Mr. Campbell has made his home with his sister Joanna in West Lebanon.

LEWIS DEABENDERFER, who is carry- ing on agricultural operations in White town- ship, Indiana county, was born in Westmore- land county, Pa., June 14, 1835, son of John and Catherine Deabenderfer.

John Deabenderfer was born in Germany and some time after his marriage emigrated to the United States, first settling at Balti- more, Md., where he spent a short time, and subsequently removing to Westmoreland county, Pa. For the first few years he was in that location he was engaged in work in the woods, but on going to Armstrong county started to cultivate a rented farm, and when he came to Montgomery township, Indiana county, in 1857, bought property of his own, which he continued to cultivate until the time of his death. His widow survived several years, and also passed away in Montgomery township. They were the parents of the following children: Maria, who is deceased; Lewis; John, who was killed by a fall from a tree; Eli, who is deceased; two children who died in infancy; Henry, who is engaged in farming in Nebraska; and George, who met an accidental death.

Lewis Deabenderfer, son of John, received his early education in the schools of Arm- strong county, and pursued his later studies in the Montgomery township public schools. As a lad he assisted his father in clearing the home farm, and also worked for some time in the woods, and after the death of his father he took charge of the home property, to which he gave his entire attention, farming there until 1898. He then went back to Armstrong county, where he remained four years, in 1902 coming to White township and settling on his present place, which he had purchased several years before. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has been emi- nently successful in his operations, the ex- cellent condition of his land testifying elo- quently to the satisfactory results of putting progressive ideas into practice and intelligent, well-directed effort. In 1912 he erected a handsome brick and stone house of modern architecture, and other improvements have been made from time to time, making this James E. both died in childhood. Abram one of the most valuable properties in the Hicks was married (second) to Martha Hoo- township. Mr. Deabenderfer is at all times ver, of Philipsburg, Pa., and she died in 91

Mr. Deabenderfer was married Dec. 23, 1868, to Mary Ann Heckman, a native of Armstrong county, daughter of Abraham and Esther Heckman, farming people of Arm- strong county, who died there, and four chil- dren have been born to this union : Abraham, who lives in Armstrong county; Esther C., living with her parents; David William, who is engaged in farming in White township; and H. Bert, also a White township farmer. With his family, Mr. Deabenderfer attends the Lutheran Church at Indiana, Pennsylvania.

LAWRENCE HICKS, who is engaged in the general merchandise business at North Point, Pa., was born July 5, 1883, in North Mahoning township, Indiana county, son of Washington J. and Maggie J. (Robinson) Hicks.

John Hicks, the paternal great-grandfather of Lawrence Hicks, and the first of the fam- ily to come to Indiana county, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., and when a young man came to Rayne township, where he spent the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits.

Abram Hicks, son of John Hicks, and grandfather of Lawrence Hicks, grew up in Rayne township, and there attended the com- mon schools. After his marriage he went to North Mahoning township, where he secured a partly cleared farm on which he spent the remainder of his life, there passing away in October, 1873. He was a Republican in poli- tics, and held various township offices, while his religious faith was that of the Lutheran Church. By his first marriage, to Nancy Mc- Kee, of Rayne township, Indiana county, he had six children, namely : Simmons, deceased, who married Nancy Shosinger, was a farmer in North Mahoning township; Nelson, who served in Company B, 74th Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, during the Civil war, was killed in a railroad accident, at Blairsville, Pa., in 1903, leaving a widow, Jane (Drum- mond) ; Charles, who served in the same regi- ment as his brother Nelson, was later a farmer and miller, and now resides at New Kensing- ton, Pa., married Rebecca McSperin, who is now deceased; Jemima married Joseph Mc- Cright, and both are deceased ; Mary Ann and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

March, 1906, the mother of eight children, namely : Abram, a farmer of North Point, Pa., who married Ann E. Barick; Martha, de- ceased, who was the wife of John Hoop; Mar- garet, who married Allan Shields, of Port- land, Ore .; George, a merchant at Marchand, Pa., who married Sarah Walker; Washing- ton J .; Ulysses Grant, who died at the age of ten years; Eliza Jane, deceased; and Nancy, who died in childhood.

Washington J. Hicks, son of Abram Hicks, and father of Lawrence Hicks, was born in North Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pa., in 1863, grew up on the homestead, and re- ceived his education in the common schools. He spent two years in Butler county, Kans., but subsequently returned to Indiana county and purchased a part of the old homestead, engaging in agricultural pursuits until 1905. In that year he and his son Lawrence bought a general store and hotel at Trade City, Pa., but in 1910 Lawrence sold his interest in the store to his father, and in 1911 Hicks the father sold the store to Henry E. Roney, and now gives all of his time and attention to conducting the hotel, which is one of the most popular in the county, while the farm is rented. In 1882 Mr. Hicks was married to Maggie J. Robinson, of North Mahoning township, and they have had seven children: Lawrence; Leonard, a farmer at Norcatur, Kans., who married Ida Summit, and has one son, Blaine ; Lillie, who married Calvin Gould, of North Mahoning township, and has one child, Dorothea; Bessie, who married William Kerr, of West Mahoning township, and has four children; Blair, of Wyoming; Alma, re- siding in Pittsburg, Pa .; and Vada, who mar- ried Joseph Felterhoff, and has two children, William and Milo.

ply the needs of his patrons. Among the busi- ness men with whom he has had dealings, he is known as a man in whom the utmost con- fidence may be placed and in his home locality he has a wide circle of warm friends.

Mr. Hicks was married Nov. 30, 1909, to Vesta Florence Craig, of Rayne township, daughter of William and Hannah (Kelly) Craig, and granddaughter of William and Matilda (Speedy) Craig, pioneer settlers of Rayne township. William Craig and his wife had two children: Mrs. Hicks and Elgie L., the latter of whom died May 26, 1912, at the age of nineteen years. Mrs. Craig passed away Nov. 10, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have had two children: Lawrence Mervin, born March 9, 1910; and Vesta Iona, born Aug. 10, 1912. The family is connected with the Lutheran Church.

SAMUEL ALEXANDER McCOY, super- intendent for the Greenwood Cemetery Asso- ciation, at Indiana, Pa., was born on his father's farm in Cherryhill township, In- diana county, Nov. 26, 1856, son of William and Julia Ann (Lydick) McCoy.

Alexander McCoy, grandfather of Samuel A. McCoy, was born in County Derry, Ire- land, and was there married to Mary Pickett. When their son William was about six months old they came to the United States, and lived in Philadelphia, Pa., until he was five years of age, at which time the family removed to Cherryhill township, Indiana county, where the grandparents passed the remainder of their lives. They were faithful members of the Presbyterian Church. They became the parents of the following children: William ; James, who married Mary Ray, and died on the home farm; Robert, who died in early manhood; John, who died when a young man ; Alexander, a resident of Purchase Line, who married a Miss Lydick; Samuel, who lost his life in a railroad accident in 1900, (he married a Miss Perry) ; Mary Lovina, who married George Mccullough, and died in this county ; and Margaret, Mrs. Jamison, who lives in the State of Michigan.

Lawrence Hicks, son of Washington J. Hicks, attended the home schools and the Marchand high school. At the age of nine- teen he began his mercantile career as a clerk in a grocery at Homestead, Pa. Later he was employed by the Union Pacific Tea Com- pany at their Allegheny (Pa.) store, and by the Lauderbach & Barber Company, at their Punxsutawney (Pa.) branch. From 1905 to William McCoy, father of Samuel A., was born in Ireland, spent a few of his early years in Philadelphia, and from the time he was five years old was reared on the family home- stead in Cherryhill township. He was a farmer throughout his life, and passed away in 1910, his wife preceding him to the grave in 1905. They were memhers of the Presby- terian Church, in which Mr. McCoy was an 1910 he was in partnership with his father in the business at Trade City, in July, 1910, lo- cating at North Point, in business on his own account. Here he purchased his present store and a new stock of merchandise, and his activi- ties have resulted in well-deserved success. Through industry, integrity and good judg- ment he has built up a large and profitable trade, his stock including everything to sup- elder, and in his political views he was a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Republican. Their children were as follows: Samuel Alexander; Mary, who married Wil- liam Morris, of Green township; Julia Ann, who is unmarried ; and Robert J., who resides in the West.

Samuel Alexander McCoy remained on the home farm in Cherryhill township, and at- tended public school at Pineflats until he was seventeen years of age, afterward working in the lumber woods in the winter months and on the home farm in the summer seasons. He so continued until he was twenty-six years of age, and Oct. 8, 1882, was united in marriage with Alma May Lockard, of Green township, Indiana county, daughter of Hiram and Susan (Mock) Lockard. After his marriage Mr. McCoy located on a farm in Green township, which he and his father purchased together, a tract of sixty acres which he farmed for ten years, then selling his share to his father. He continued renting land until April, 1900, at which time he moved to Indiana, Pa., work- ing for one year in the Indiana glass factory, and then, in April, 1901, being made superin- tendent of Greenwood cemetery, a position he has held to the present time.

Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have one child, Wil- liam Norris, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., who mar- ried a Miss Lotts and has one child, Morris Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are members of the Presbyterian Church. In his political views he is a Republican.

BENJAMIN L. STEPHENS, a farmer of Cherryhill township, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in that township Jan. 31, 1867, son of Giles Stephens.

William Stephens, grandfather of Benja- min L. Stephens, was one of the first men to locate in Indiana county, and here he found an outlet for his energies in milling and blacksmithing during his early life, and farm- ing in later years. All his life he interested himself in religious matters, and was a local preacher of the Methodist Church. He also taught school in Indiana county.

Giles Stephens, son of William, was born in Huntingdon county, and came here at an early age, becoming a miller and farmer, and rounding out a useful life.

Maple Grove farm, and developed it to its present valuable condition, specializing in stock raising.

On April 19, 1899, Mr. Stephens was (first) married to Amelia Ackerson, of Cherryhill township. She died April 23, 1905, the mother of two sons, James G. and Benjamin R. On Nov. 25, 1910, Mr. Stephens was married (second) to Mrs. Blanche J. (Condron) Sny- der, daughter of David and Caroline (Wells) Condron, both now deceased. For years Mr. Condron was a farmer of Indiana county. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of one son, Robert.

SAMUEL F. BAKER, member of a fam- ily well represented in Green township and elsewhere in Indiana county, was born in that township, near Cookport, July 3, 1851, son of George and Elizabeth (Cook) Baker. The parents were also natives of Indiana county.

George Baker settled near Cookport, in Green township, buying a farm upon which he remained until his death; his wife sur- vived him. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, namely: Levi, who lives in Indiana county; W. Hezekiah, living in Green town- ship; Mary, wife of Simon Buterbaugh, of Indiana county; Jane, wife of Jonathan Learn, of Indiana borough; George, living on the home place in Green township; Samuel Furman; Philip, deceased; Ann, deceased; Lucy, wife of George W. Mccullough, of Cookport; and Henderson, whose home is in Seattle, Washington.

Samuel Furman Baker spent his early days on the paternal farm near Cookport and ob- tained his education in the public schools of his native township. He began farm work when a boy, and also followed lumbering in his young manhood. In 1878 he moved to the farm near Purchase Line, in Green town- ship, where he has since lived and worked, buying it a few years later. Here he carries on farming and stock raising, devoting all his time to his own affairs, though he takes a public-spirited interest in the welfare of his township. He married Oct. 24, 1874, Mary A. Langham, who was born in Green town- ship, daughter of Josiah and Susan Ann (Conrath) Langham, who came from West- moreland county, Pa., at an early day, and passed the remainder of their lives in Indiana county. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the par- ents of four children: Blanche, the eldest, is deceased ; Eva is the wife of Claude Ginter, of Dixonville, and they have three children,

Benjamin L. Stephens attended the schools of his neighborhood, and has always been en- gaged in farming. When he was eighteen years old he made a trip to Kansas, and dur- ing the year he spent in the West gained some valuable experience in various kinds of farm- ing. Returning to Indiana county, he bought the property he now occupies, known as the Glen, Arveda and Geneva; Ida is the wife of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

John Spotts, of Montgomery township, this county, and they have one child, Chester ; Clay lives at home on the farm, assisting his father. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the East Mahoning Baptist Church. Mr. Baker is associated with the Republican party in politics.

WILLIAM HAMILTON LYDIC, a retired farmer of Washington township, Indiana county, belongs to one of the oldest families of that region, the family having been founded here by his great-grandfather, John Lydic, who came to this country from Holland. He settled at the stone fort in Indiana county and though he was driven off his land by the Indians twice, came the third time and re- mained. He cleared up a farm out of the wilderness, and made a permanent home for his family, and his sons settled in the vicin- ity. He married Mary May.

Patrick Lydie. son of John and Mary (May) Lydie, married Mary MeHenry and they lived in Indiana county to the end of their days. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and a Whig in politics. To him and his wife were born eleven children: John, James, Isaac, William. Patrick. Samuel, Joseph, Mary, Nancy, Hannah and Margaret.

Patrick Lydic, son of Patrick and Mary (MeHenry) Lydic, was born Jan. 8, 1806, in what is now Cherryhill, Indiana county, and died May 19, 1881. The principal part of his life was spent in South Mahoning township, this county, and he was always engaged in farming. He was active and prominent in local affairs, holding various township offices, was a Whig and abolitionist and later a Re- publican in his political views, and was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he filled the position of elder. He was instrumental in establishing the Plum- ville Church. He married Jane Hamilton, who was born Ang. 18, 1811, in Indiana county, daughter of James Hamilton, who was of Irish parentage. Mr. Hamilton spent his life near Indiana, Indiana county; his wife's maiden name was Sample. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Lydic, namely: William Hamilton, men- tioned below; Edward Turner, born Feb. 22, 1837; James, horn March 8, 1839; John, born April 10, 1840; Mary Jane, born April 21, 1842; Sarah E., born Dec. 19, 1843; Samnel, born April 19, 1846; Benjamin F., born July 22, 1848; Silas C., born Dec. 15, 1850; Anna Eliza, born Oct. 16. 1852; and four who died in infancy unnamed.

William Hamilton Lydie was born April 18, 1835, in South Mahoning township, In- diana county. He moved to Washington township in 1870. Throughout his active years he was always engaged in farming, in connection with which he was extensively in- terested in stock raising. He retired in 1899. He was active and prominent in local affairs, holding various township offices, and in his political views adhering to the principles of the Republican party. He has long been an active member of the Washington Presbyter- ian Church, being united with the church in young manhood, was elected ruling elder in March, 1876, and for a number of years served as Sabbath school superintendent.

On Sept. 30, 1858, Mr. Lydie married Jane W. Bell, who was born Sept. 19, 1836, and died Nov. 11, 1880. Three children were born to this marriage: Edward Turner, born Oct. 14, 1859, died Jan. 7, 1880; Ida B., born Oct. 29, 1862, married Feb. 11, 1886, Ilarry E. Mahan, now deceased, who was a farmer of Washington township, where she still lives; William Harry, born Aug. 8, 1866, married Sarah Martin Feb. 21, 1889, and died March 22, 1895.

On Sept. 6, 1883, Mr. Lydie married (sec- ond) Sarah J. Lockhart.

Samuel Lockhart, Mrs. Lydie's father, spent the greater part of his life in Indiana county, coming hither from Huntingdon county, Pa. His parents, Francis and Magdalina (Kep- heart) Lockhart, were always farming people. Their children were: . Samuel, Henry, John, Francis, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah.

Samuel Lockhart married Hannah Lydic, who was born Sept. 21, 1811, daughter of Patrick and Mary (MeHenry) Lydie, men- tioned above, and died May 25, 1891. Eleven children were born to their union: B. Frank- lin, J. Harvey, Mary M., Sarah J. (Mrs. Ly- die), Nannie A., John C., Theodore T., Cort- land V., and three that died in infancy un- named.

WILLIAM T. CALHOUN, a farmer of Armstrong township, was born in that town- ship, on his father's homestead, March 28, 1841, son of Samnel and Margaret (Wiggins) Calhoun. His grandfather, William Cal- houn, came from Ireland in boyhood with his father, James Calhoun. The latter was twice married, first to a Miss Templeton, and sec- ond to Sara Walker. William Calhoun mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Lytle,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Samuel Calhoun, son of William and Eliza- they settled, and he secured wild land in the beth Calhoun, became the owner of a farm in Armstrong township, this county. He mar- ried Margaret Wiggins.

William T. Calhoun attended the old Sharp school, having for his first teacher Robert Robinson. He continued in school until he was eighteen years old, and at the same time considerable amount from the skins of the ani- assisted his father in the farm work. I mals he caught. He and his wife died on 1863 he enlisted in the 54th Pennsylvania their Jefferson county farm. The children Volunteer Infantry, for three months, and born to this excellent couple were: Jacob, George, Samuel, Henry, Betsy, Barbara, Katie and Susan.

reenlisted in 1864 in Company H., 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving un- til the close of the war, when he returned home, having been a brave and gallant sol- dier.

His military service completed, Mr. Cal- houn resumed his interrupted agricultural duties and continued on the home farm until his marriage, in 1870, when he left to en- gage in farming for himself. In 1879 he lo- cated on his present property, which com- prises 120 acres of good land. This he has since operated, and has reason to be proud of its condition.

On March 24, 1870, Mr. Calhoun was mar- ried to Maggie Lowry, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Gibson) Lowry. Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun became the parents of children as follows: Nancy Alma, who was married to William Byers in 1903, lives in Armstrong township; Samuel L., born April 6, 1875, at- tended the local schools, and married Clara Taylor (by whom he had one child, Clara Marie) and (second) Emma Peterman; Rob- ert Blair, who married Grace Palmer, lives in the vicinity of Indiana.

Mr. Calhoun belongs to G. A. R. Post No. 303, of Shelocta, and has been commander of same for several years. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of West Union, in which he is prominent. Always a strong Republican, he has steadfastly sup- ported the principles and candidates of his party, but never sought public office. A man of high principles, he has lived up to them, and in consequence enjoys in large measure the confidence of all with whom he is asso- ciated.

JACOB SMITH, now living retired at Rossister, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Canoe township, this county, Dec. 22, 1841, son of George and Mary J. (White) Smith, and grandson of Jacob Smith.

Jacob Smith moved from Westmoreland county, Pa., with his wife, to Jefferson county. They were pioneers of the district in which

vicinity of Paradise, through hard work and careful management developing a good home, carrying on farming and lumbering all his life. In the early days he was quite noted as a trapper and hunter, and he kept the fam- ily supplied with game, while he made a

George Smith was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and had limited educational op- portunities, attending in an old log house. When a young man he became driver of a six-horse freight team, hauling goods between Philadelphia and Pittsburg and other points. Moving with the family to Indiana county, he bought land in Canoe township, near the Union Church, upon which his grandson Carl Smith is now residing. As the land was en- tirely undeveloped he had to do all the work of clearing it, and in order to house his fam- ily he erected a log cabin, also putting up a log stable for his stock. In this primitive way he began his operations as a farmer, and became in time a prosperous man, owning 200 acres of land that is now very valuable. His death occurred on this place when he was ninety-two years old, as did that of his wife, who passed away when she was sixty years of age. Politically he was a Democrat. In early days he and his family attended church at Punxsutawney, but as this necessitated considerable travel he eventually connected himself with the Union Church in Canoe township, and gave it his liberal support un- til death claimed him. As his farm was on the main road, in the early days he enter- tained many travelers with whole-souled hos- pitality, never asking a question, but wel- coming the wayfarer as a friend. Because of his many excellent traits of character he was honored and respected, and he is still cited by the older people of the township as an example of an upright, honorable man.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 125

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