Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 127

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 127

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Henry Bence attended the district schools of Cherryhill and Rayne townships, and was reared to the occupation of farmer, to which he has devoted himself all his life. In 1899 he moved to the old farm near Dixonville, in Green township, and he now has a well- developed property with modern improve- ments.

On Aug. 23, 1880, Mr. Bence was married to Emma Cribbs, who was born in Blacklick township, Indiana county, Aug. 10, 1860, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Clawson) Cribbs, the former of whom died in April, 1903, and the latter Jan. 16, 1895. Mr. Cribbs was a blacksmith by trade, and in addition to following that occupation was also en- gaged in farming in Blacklick township. He and his wife had a family of nine children: Samuel, who resides at Vandergrift, Pa .; John, living at Reynoldsville, this State; David, living in Pennsylvania; William, Nancy A., Sarah Jane and George, who are all deceased; Milton, who lives in Houston, Texas; and Emma, who married Mr. Bence.

Mr. and Mrs. Bence have had fourteen children, namely: Emory, who lives at Apollo, Armstrong county; Harry and Charles, living in Rayne township, Indiana county; Cora, the wife of Park Thomas, of Marion Center; Orrin, living at Vandergrift; Eva, the wife of J. Long, of Danville ; Emma, Iva, Mary and Clara, who live at home; and Claire, Homer, Clarence and Flora, deceased.

JOSEPH DOUGHERTY, whose eighty acres of farming land are located in Canoe township, Indiana county, was born on his father's old homestead farm in Jefferson county, Pa., April 24, 1845, son of Daniel and Belinda (Coffman) Dougherty.

Daniel Dougherty, son of William, and father of Joseph Dougherty, was born Dec. 25, 1816, in Armstrong county, Pa., and there grew to manhood. Later he removed to Westmoreland county, and in 1830 went to near Cloe, in Bell township, Jefferson county. There he was married, Sept. 21, 1837, to Belinda Coffman, of Gaskill town- ship, Jefferson county, and they settled on a farm of 140 acres, for which he had paid $2.50 an acre. On this tract of timber land Mr. Dougherty put up a small log house and started to make a home for his family, but his death occurred in the prime of life, July 6, 1852, when he was but thirty-six years of age. His widow remarried, becoming the wife of Samuel Hughes, who was born Aug. 2, 1811, and died in 1874. He was a lumber- man of Indiana county. Mrs. Hughes sur- vived until Oct. 2, 1903, dying in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty were born the following children : William, born June 28, 1839, died in February, 1855; Ann Eliza, born April 5, 1841, married Reuben Williams, of near Cloe, Pa., and died in 1909; Augustus, born July 18, 1843, married Isabella Thompson, resided on the old homestead, and died April 5, 1889 ; Joseph was born April 24, 1845; Taylor, born April 29, 1847, married Sallie Tucker, and is engaged in farming near Cloe; Pa .; Louisa, born July 19, 1849, married John H. Grube, and lives in Albion, Pa .; Samuel, born Feb. 18, 1852, who married Emma Krenkaw, is carrying on agricultural operations near Cloe, Pennsylvania.

Joseph Dougherty, son of Daniel Dough- erty, was given but little encouragement in an educational way when he was a youth, the greater part of his training being secured in the school of hard work and experience. He was reared to the severe, unremitting toil of the fields, and also spent some time in rafting and lumbering. At the age of seven years he was placed by his mother with the Coffman family, with whom he remained ten years, receiving but little during that period. The lad was sturdy and industrious, however, and worked faithfully at the duties to which he

William Dougherty, the paternal grand- father of Joseph Dougherty, was born in Ire- land, and was the first of the family to come was assigned, and on leaving the Coffman

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home returned to his own homestead, contin- men feel that they are ready to lay down ning with his mother until he was twenty- three years of age. During this time he had not received one dollar for the hard work he had done, but he subsequently spent nine years in work on adjoining properties, in the meanwhile carefully saving his wages, with the object ever in view of becoming the owner of a property of his own.

On Jan. 26, 1871, Mr. Dougherty was united in marriage with Anna B. Grube, who was born June 8, 1853, in Jefferson county,

Pa., daughter of George and Catherine Grube, ship, was the oldest man in Indiana county

the latter of Westmoreland county, and the former of Center county. They were pioneer residents of the Grube settlement in Jefferson eounty, where Mr. Grube owned a valuable farm and where he and his wife died. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty have had the following children: Aubrey E., a painter by occupa- tion, who makes his home with his parents; John C., who died Feb. 24, 1885; Arthur M., a glass worker of Tarentum, Pa., who mar- ried Ann Baker; Ella T., who died Jan. 9, 1904; Samuel C., who died April 30, 1901; and Ora Viola, who lives with her parents.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dongh- erty settled on a traet of fifty acres known as the Mungold farm, located one mile from Punxsutawney, Pa., on which they resided for five years. Their next home was at Elk Run, and in Mareh, 1877, Mr. Dougherty pur- chased his present farm in Canoe township, a tract of ninety-eight acres, known as the Miller place. In 1894 he rebuilt the home on this land, and in 1900 built the present substantial barn, in addition to which he has made all the other improvements, converting it into one of the valuable tracts of the town- ship. He has sold some of the original tract, having now about eighty acres in all in his property, and about fifty-six aeres are under cultivation, and here his years of hard labor have been finally crowned by success. Mr. Dougherty's career may well serve as an ex- ample for aspiring youths who feel that they are hopelessly handicapped by the lack of capital or influential friends. He started in life a poor boy, but he never allowed himself to become discouraged, always striving ear- nestly to work his way up the ladder of suc- eess. That he has done so is readily apparent to anyone who now visits his well-regulated farm, and that he has always held the con- fidence and esteem of his neighbors and those with whom he has had business transactions may be inferred by the number of his friends. know him. He was a Lutheran in religious Although he has reached an age when most

the active duties of life, he is still in excellent health, his clean, upright life having pre- served his faculties well. He has held a num- ber of the township offices. During the last twelve years he has voted the Prohibition ticket. With his family he attends the United Evangelical Church at Juneau, Pa., where he has served as steward and trustee and been active in all religious work.

CLAUS WOIILERS, late of Rayne town- at the time of his death, and he was regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the lo- cality where so many years of his long and useful life had been passed. Mr. Wohlers was a native of Hamburg, Germany, and eame to the United States when twenty-one years old. IIe had received the thorough training ens- tomary in his native land, attending sehool until fourteen years old, and then learning his trade, under his stepfather, who was a blacksmith. His own father, George Wohlers, died when his son Claus was very young.

When Mr. Wohlers landed at Baltimore, in 1834, he had $125, which had been left by his father to be given him on his twenty-first birthday. For a time after his arrival he traveled from place to place seeking a suit- able location, and doing his first work here at Hagerstown, Md. He received only five dollars a month. George Sebring, a compan- ion, a locksmith by trade, had come from Germany with him, and they journeyed around together for some time, Sebring event- nally settling in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became a very wealthy man. Before long Mr. Wohlers started a shop at Greensburg, Pa., in partnership with Adam Rugh and after Mr. Rugh's death became associated with Jacob Kepple. After they dissolved partner- ship, in 1865 Mr. Wohlers, having seven sons, thought it would be wise to raise his family on a farm, and he accordingly made a trip West, in search of promising territory. After visiting six States without finding any- thing he cared for he returned to Pennsyl- vania and settled in Rayne township, Indiana county, where he bought a tract of 107 acres lying along the road running from Indiana to Chambersville. There he passed the re- mainder of his life, following agricultural pursuits as well as blacksmithing and coach- making, by his thrift and industry winning the good will and respect of all who came to

belief, a citizen of public spirit on all matters

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

affecting the local welfare, and a man who The father, a native of Belvidere, N. J., grew did his duty in all the relations of life. His to manhood there. Coming to Pennsylvania, death occurred on his farm Oct. 27, 1911.

On Sept. 22, 1854, Mr. Wohlers was mar- ried at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., to Flora Armstrong, a native of Hempfield township, that county, born Nov. 2, 1832. She grew up there. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wohlers, seven sons and one daughter, namely: William, who married Della Jacobs and now lives in the State of Washington ; Herman, who died at Leadville, Colo., when forty-four years old; Thomas, now of McCoy, Colo., who married Sarah Daniels; Harry, deceased, who married Bella McCoy ; Samuel, who married Jennie Moore and lives at Greensburg, Pa .; Edward, who is married and living in Saskatchewan; Charles C., now residing on the paternal farm, who married Florence Blauch Craig and has four children, Nola Marie, Helen Gertrude, Charles Russell and Florence Wini- fred; and Sadie, wife of William Kinter, of Rayne township.

Andrew Armstrong, father of Mrs. Flora Wohlers, was born at Kittanning, Armstrong Co., Pa., where his parents were among the early residents, and died about 1853 at Greensburg, Pa., when forty-eight years old. He learned ehairmaking but did not follow that trade, being engaged in drilling wells. He married Catherine Hagermaster, a native of Armstrong county, whose father, Christian Hagermaster, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, was the first German preacher on this side of the Allegheny mountains. He held services in an old log church at Greens- boro, now Sands. He died near Greensburg on his one hundreth birthday. His wife was Elizabeth Peters, of Baltimore. Mrs. Arm- strong died in Greensburg when seventy- seven years old. She and her husband had a family of nine children: William, who died in Jefferson county, Pa .; Flora, Mrs. Woh- lers; Catherine, Mrs. William Reynolds, of Cresson, Cambria Co., Pa .; Thomas, of Greens- burg; Daniel, who has not been heard from in years; Lucetta, wife of Thomas Washa- baugh; of Greensburg; Andrew, who died at the age of twenty-two years; John, living in Westmoreland county; and Jennie, de- eeased, who was the wife of James Simonton.

JOHN A. WOOLWEAVER, a veteran of the Civil war and retired mine foreman now 'at home, and Harold, at home.

living at No. 140 East School street, Indiana, was born March 3, 1842, in White township, Indiana county, son of Conrad Woolweaver.

he settled in Indiana eounty, passing the re- mainder of his life in White township. He was twice married, his second union being with Harriet Wayne, whom he married in Indiana county. Seven children were born to Conrad and Harriet (Wayne) Woolweaver, all now deceased but John A. and George.

John A. Woolweaver has passed all his life in Indiana county. Ile attended the country schools in his early boyhood, and later went to school in Indiana borough at the old brick schoolhouse opposite the "Clawson House," but his advantages were not many. When only eleven years old he was bound out to Isaac Moorhead, a farmer, for four years, and after the expiration of that period worked out among other farmers and did various kinds of work until his enlistment, at Kittan- ning, on Sept. 10, 1861. Becoming a private in Company D, 78th P. V. I., he served four years under Captain Forbes and Colonel Sirwell. After spending a short time at Camp Orr, Kittanning, he was at Camp Wil- kins for another brief period, and then joined the Army of the Cumberland under Sherman, taking part in all the great battles of his command up to Atlanta. He was mustered out and discharged at Kittanning in Novem- ber, 1864. Returning then to his father, who was at that time living in Brushvalley town- ship, this county, he began his connection with the coal mining business a year later, as digger. He became mine foreman, and was thus engaged for years, until his retire- ment. He has made his home in the borough of Indiana for the last few years, and in 1894 bought his present residence, which he has occupied with his family since. Mr. Wool- weaver has always been a man of industrious habits, one whose life has commanded the re- speet of all with whom he has been associated.

On Aug. 28, 1872, Mr. Woolweaver was married, at New Florence, Pa., to Matilda J. Henry, of Brushvalley township, this county, daughter of John and Sophia (Frederick) Henry, both of whom are now deceased. Seven children have been born to this union : James S., now of Blairsville, Pa .; John C., of Indiana borough; Evora, Mrs. John Sonnen- lighter, of Charleroi, Pa .; Harry, of Salts- burg, Pa .; Lizzie, who is unmarried; Paul C.,

KINLEY HUNTER, a farmer and stock raiser of East Mahoning township, was born

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in Rayne township, this county, Sept. 16, James, who died in childhood. Mr. Hunter's 1852, son of James Hunter.

tling on 200 acres of land on which he made improvements, and there died Sept. 13, 1905, his remains being laid to rest in the cemetery at Marion Center. The Presbyterian Church held his membership in religious matters, while politically he was a Democrat. James Hunter was married in Westmoreland county to Susan Kinley, who died on the home farm and is buried in the same cemetery as her husband. They had children as follows: David, who lives at Pittsburg; Mary E., who married William Somers, of Pittsburg; John, who is an attorney of Pittsburg; Kinley ; Belle, deceased, who married James A. Beatty, of East Mahoning township; Sarah, who died in childhood; James, who is deceased; and Edward, who is a farmer.

Kinley Hunter was an infant when brought to East Mahoning township, where he grew up and attended the local schools. Until he was twenty-one years old he worked for his father, but after he attained his majority the latter rented him seventy-five acres of the homestead, all of which he improved. For fourteen years he operated this property, at the end of that period buying his present farm, which was formerly owned by Richard and Lawson. It contains eighty-four acres and is very valuable, and Mr. Hunter de- votes it to general farming and stock rais- ing, and also deals in stock. He is a devout Methodist and lives up to his faith. It is, however, in relation to the temperance cause that Mr. Hunter exerts his most powerful influence. Long ago convinced that only through the abolition of the liquor traffic could the morals of the country be governed, he has devoted much time and attention to the promulgation of these doctrines, and left the ranks of the Democratic party to join the Prohibition party.

second marriage was to N. J. Erghney.

James Hunter was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1818, grew up a farmer and WILLIAM RAY, deceased, who for many years was a farmer of Armstrong township, was born in Butler county, Pa., June 14, 1827, a son of John and Elizabeth (Dunn) Ray. also learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1851 he came to Rayne township, Indiana county, where he took up a tract of land and con- tinued to follow agriculture. After a year John Ray came to this country from Ire- he located in East Mahoning township, set- land in his youth, settling in Butler county, where he lived until 1854, when with his son William he came to Indiana county, here buy- ing 200 acres of land, 144 acres of which remain in the family. The home was built on the site of an old blockhouse. At this home John Ray died about 1860. He and his wife were the parents of the following chil- dren: James, who is deceased; William, also deceased; Catherine, who married William Anderson, deceased; John, deceased; Hugh, deceased; and Alexander Parker.

William Ray was in partnership with his father in his purchase of Armstrong town- ship land. He married Isabella McFarland, of Butler county, Pa., a daughter of John and Jane (Porter) McFarland. Mrs. Ray died June 19, 1868, and Mr. Ray later mar- ried (second) Matilda Getty, of Creekside, Pa., a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mar- shall) Getty. William Ray was the father of the following children: Martha Jane died when eleven years old; John is at home; Catherine Elizabeth is at home; Hugh Dunn is at home; George Mc. died in infancy; Margaret Amanda, who married M. S. Couch, lives in the vicinity of Pittsburg; Isabella Jane, who married M. P. Calhoun, resides in the vicinity of Pittsburg; Susanna, twin sis- ter of Isabella Jane, died in infancy ; Burton G., who is a physician of Glenshaw, Pa., is the only child by the second marriage. Dr. Ray was very carefully educated in the com- mon schools of Armstrong township, Semi- inary Ridge academy, at Indiana, and the normal school, and taught school. He mar- ried Sally Wittmer.

William Ray died June 22, 1903. He was an elder of his church, in political faith he was a Democrat, and he held a number of township offices, being a man of prominence in his community.

JAMES A. PEARCE, merchant, engaged in business at Rossiter, Indiana Co., Pa .. was born Feb. 12. 1873, in Canoe township, this county, son of Abraham Pearce and grand- son of Joh Pearce.

Mr. Hunter was first married, in 1874, to Sarah Wetzell, a daughter of Henry Wetzell, and she died Nov. 3, 1892, the mother of two children: Alda, who married George Wis- Joh Pearce was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. inger. of East Mahoning township; and He owned a farm in South Mahoning town-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship and lived in the old stone house at Plum- at Rossiter, which he has successfully con- ville, that township. When he came to Canoe ducted ever since. township he settled one mile from Rossiter. During the summers he engaged in farming, spending his winters in teaching school. He and wife died in Canoe township, and they were buried in the Pearce cemetery near Rossiter.

Abraham Pearce, son of Job and father of James A. Pearce, was born in the old stone house above mentioned, in Plumville, South Mahoning township, in 1830, and more or less regularly attended school in the village of Plumville until he was seventeen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Canoe township. Later he ac- quired much land, having two farms aggre- gating 528 acres, and his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and lumbering. In politics he was a Republican, but never ac- cepted any public office. In religion he was a Presbyterian, belonging first to the Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church in Jefferson county, but later uniting with the Presby- terian Church at Rossiter. He died Jan. 11, 1906, aged seventy-six years. He married Mary Smith, a daughter of Andrew Smith, of Olive township, Jefferson Co., Pa., and she died at the age of sixty-four years. The following children were born to them : Harry, who is deceased; Elmer A., a resident of Punxsutawney, who married Bertha Craw- ford; Calvin R., who married Annie Neal, daughter of former County Commissioner Neal, of Indiana county, who during 1912 was manager of the county poor farm; and James A.

James A. Pearce attended public school in ('anoe township and spent one year in the Lock Haven normal school. He then learned the art of telegraphy and for ten years en- gaged in telegraphic work, first serving six months with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, at Winslow, Pa., for two years, two months was operator at Winslow, and for two more years at Fordham, for the above com- pany; for six months was operator at Brad- dock, Pa., for the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Rail- road Company ; for two years, six months was stationed at Rossiter, for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; was operator one year at Curwensville for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Company, and for one year was operator at Chambersville for that company. He then gave up telegraphy and John Harvey Lytle, son of John Lytle, at- turned his attention to merchandising, pur- tended the public schools of district No. 5, chasing the general store of M. H. Harvey, and worked with his parents until 1868, when

Mr. Pearce married Agnes L. Conger, a daughter of Hiram and Hannah Conger, of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa. Mrs. Pearce died leaving one son, James C., who is six years old. The second marriage of Mr. Pearce was to Ida C. Conger, sister of his- first wife, and they have two children: Elenora, who is three years old, and Evaline Gertrude, an infant. Mr. Pearce is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Rossiter, Pa. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served one term as school director.

JOHN HARVEY LYTLE, who is engaged in farming and the growing of small fruits in Conemaugh township, was born May 29, 1847, in the stone house erected by his grand- father, on Lytle's run, in Conemaugh. town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., and is a son of John and Eliza (Cruthers) Lytle. Alexander Lytle, was his paternal grandfather.

John Lytle, son of Alexander Lytle, was born in Conemaugh township and there at- tended the common schools. He worked on the home farm with his parents until he at- tained his majority, at which time he pur- chased 150 acres of farming land from his father, a part of the original homestead, mak- ing his residence in the old stone house which his father had built in 1813, and which is now occupied by Theo. Martin. There he followed farming and did extensive stock raising, con- tinuing to operate his farm on Lytle's run until his death, when he was buried beside his wife in Conemaugh cemetery. A stal- wart Republican, he served his township as assessor and justice of the peace for over ten years, and was also supervisor of roads and a member of the election board for a long period. Mr. Lytle served as a member of the building committee of the United Presbyter- ian Church, with which he was connected all of his life. John and Eliza (Cruthers) Lytle had the following children : Alexander Clark died at the age of twenty-four years ; William Calvin, a farmer of Conemaugh township all of his life, married Malinda J. Elrick, and died in 1908; John Harvey is mentioned later ; Melissa Jane married Harry E. Nowery : Eveline E. married Levi Kuhns ; Cordelia married James E. Wilson ; Franklin Pierce married Sarah Dunmeyer; Mary Allen married William Gregg.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

he located on the Sam Waddle farm in Cone- well known in Indiana county, where they maugh township, which he cropped for five are held in the highest esteem. years. He then moved back to the opposite side of Lytle's run from his father's home, JAMES W. HADDEN, an agriculturist of Green township, Indiana county, was born in Rayne township, this county, March 19, 1848, and is a son of Bartholomew and Maria (Mc- Collough) Hadden. and there, in 1873, purchased a farm of 100 acres, on which he erected a modern residence, fine barn and substantial outbuildings. Mr. Lytle has engaged in general farming, giving a good deal of attention to stock raising, and The great-grandfather of James W. Had- den, a native of Ireland, was one of the at one time was the owner of a threshing ma-

chine, with which he traveled all over the pioneer settlers of Indiana county, and came country during the season, threshing his of a race of farming people, agricultural pursuits engaging his attention throughout his life. neighbors' crops with a steam engine of high power, but this he later disposed of. He was also the proprietor of a sawmill from 1882 James Hadden, the grandfather of James W., was born in Indiana county, and as a young man learned the carpenter's trade, subsequently erecting the first jail in Indi- ana. His early years were spent in White township, but subsequently he removed to Cherryhill township, and there his death oc- to 1892, buying up timber and convert- ing it into railroad ties and long planks, which he sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, but this business he also disposed of. Mr. Lytle is an up-to-date and progress- ive farmer and an extensive grower of small fruits, and has met with uniform success in curred in 1874. all his undertakings. It may be said that the foundation stone of his success has been business integrity, for no man in Conemangh bears a higher reputation for probity and honest dealing. He wields a wide influence in public matters in his neighborhood, but has never been a seeker for personal preferment, although he has on various occasions served as a member of the election board. He has supported the principles and policies of the ceased: Rebecca Jane, wife of William Republican party. His religious connection is with the Tunnelton Presbyterian Church, which his wife and children also attend, and all are liberal supporters of its enterprises.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 127

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