Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 129

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 129

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).

Mr. Rupert married Matilda Walker, daughter of John and Sarah (Kunkle) Walk- er, of Armstrong township, and they have had children as follows: Harry, who mar- ried Maud Young and resides at Bracken- bridge, Pa., being a roller in the steel mill there; Minnie Ella, who married Frank Fis- cus, and resides at Blairsville; and Irene, who married Alvin MeGaughey.

JOSEPH W. GEORGE, whose well-culti- vated farm is situated in White township, was born in Brushvalley township, Indiana

George Rupert, grandfather of Hezekiah Rupert, was born at South Bend, Pa., and county, Aug. 1, 1869, son of Reuben and patented 230 acres of land there, building Emily (McCoombs) George.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Joseph George, the grandfather of Joseph wife and children Mr. George attends the Bap- W. George, was born and reared in Indiana tist Church. county, and during the greater part of his life carried on agricultural pursuits here.

Reuben George, son of Joseph George, was born in Brushvalley township, Indiana county, and there continued to be engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in March, 1907. He married Emily McCoombs, daugh- ter of William MeCoombs, an early settler of Green township, and she still survives, mak- ing her home with her son George W. Nine children were born to Reuben and Emily George, namely: William, who is now de- ceased; Isabel, the wife of William Clawson, of Blacklick township; a child who died in infancy, unnamed; Annie, the wife of Charles Kruzan, of Ohio; George W., living in Brush- valley township on the old homestead ; Saidie, the wife of George Lydick; Hannah, who married Julius McCormick, of Brushvalley township; Joseph W .; and Bruce, of Brush- valley township.

Joseph W. George was educated at the Round Top schoolhouse in Brushvalley town- ship, and as a youth was reared to agricultural pursuits. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age, assisting his father with the work of the homestead, and then mar- ried and moved to Yellow Creek, where for three years he carried on farming and lum- bering. He spent the subsequent ten years in Dilltown, in 1902 coming to White town- ship and purchasing the old Griffith farm, where he has devoted himself to general farm- ing and stock raising to the present time. Mr. George is a practical farmer, skilled in all the details of his vocation, and with a large stock of general information. He takes a pride in keeping his farm in the best of con- dition and that he is an able manager is evi- denced by the general air of prosperity on the place. Although ready to do his full duty as a citizen at all times, Mr. George has not cared to enter public life, preferring to de- vote his whole time and attention to his farm and his home.

GEORGE J. McCUNE, merchant tailor of Blairsville, Indiana county, was born in West- moreland county, Pa., May 10, 1866, a son of Stewart and Ellen (Jammison) McCune, na- tives of Indiana and Center counties, Pa., respectively.

Samuel McCune was born in Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland, and died at Blairsville, aged sixty-seven years. His wife survived him for twenty-two years. Her maiden name was Charlotte Bannen. When she and her husband came to this country they underwent considerable hardships, as the vessel was in peril and in order to lighten it all baggage was thrown overboard.

Stewart McCune, son of Samuel McCune, went to Westmoreland county, Pa., after his marriage, and farmed there until his death, which occurred July 30, 1899. His widow survives and makes her home in Derry.

George J. McCune was educated in the Blairsville schools and assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty years of age. At that time he began learning the tailoring trade at Derry, later spending six years at Leechburg, Pa., where he operated a tailoring business for Joseph A. Sep, whom he after- ward bought out, continuing the business alone. In 1894 he went to Derry, where he continued his tailoring business until 1900, and in that year came to Blairsville, where he has since become one of the leading mer- chant tailors of his part of the county.

In 1905 Mr. McCune enlisted in Company D, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania State Militia, and rose until he was captain of his company. He held that rank until Feb. 19, 1907, when he resigned, having given his State valuable service. For several years he has belonged to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and to Acacia Lodge, 355, F. & A. M. For seven years he has been the leader of MeCune's orchestra and the Blairsville City Band, being a natural and trained musician ; he succeeded R. H. Frey as leader of the latter organization. A man of genial disposition, he has made many friends, while his temperate habits and business ability have won him the confidence and respect of his associates.

On June 18, 1888, Mr. George was married to Mary Evans, daughter of Josiah G. Evans, and seven children have been born to this union: Frank W., at home; William, a resi- On June 21, 1892, Mr. McCune was mar- ried to Mattie Belle Stahl, daughter of Isaac Stahl, of Armstrong township, a native of dent of Pittston, Pa .; Harry, who lives at Wilkinsburg, Pa .; and Emma, Clarence, Charles and Mary, all at home. With his Indiana county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. McCune

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

are the parents of three children: Siebert J., Ralphı C. and Walter L.

JACOB B. YOUNKINS, proprietor of the Star Theatre, Indiana, is one of the most progressive business men of that borough, where he has made his home for the last thirty years. He was born Feb. 6, 1858, in Burrell township, Westmoreland county, son of Jacob Younkins, and is of German descent, his grandparents having been natives of Ger- many. On coming to this country they set- tled in the neighborhood of Easton, Pennsyl- vania.

Jacob Younkins, father of Jacob B. Youn- kins, was born April 14, 1808, in Westmore- land county, where he resided all his life, en- gaged in farming. He served as constable of his township for years. In religious con- nection he was a member of the United Pres- byterian Church. On Sept. 29, 1830, he mar- ried Elizabeth Frederick, who was born March 10, 1812, and died about 1860. Mr. Younkins died in 1859. They had a family of twelve children, namely: Daniel, born Nov. 15, 1831, a farmer, died in 1892 in West- moreland county (he married Mattie Bare) ; Nancy, born Feb. 7, 1833, married Michael Slonicker, and both died in 1908; Sarah, born March 10, 1835, married Jacob Wagerman, and both died in Westmoreland county ; John, born Nov. 18, 1836, lives in Westmoreland county (he served in the Union army for three years during the Civil war, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison) ; Susanna, born Jan. 31, 1838, was married in 1859 to Israel Bare, and moved out to Iowa, where she still lives; Mary Ann, born June 28, 1840, died in 1860; William, born March 3, 1842, died in 1860; Elizabeth, born Nov. 16, 1846, married John Morrison, of West- moreland county, and (second) James Mor- rison ; Jeremiah, born July 5, 1849, lives in Marion, Ohio; Josiah, born Nov. 27, 1851, went West; Rebecca, born June 9, 1854, mar- ried James Shearer, of Westmoreland county ; Jacob B. was the youngest of the family.

Jacob B. Younkins was left an orphan when only two years old, his father dying in 1859, his mother about 1860. He was reared in the home of his sister Sarah, Mrs. Wauga- man, on the old home farm, and was sent to public school in the neighborhood until he reached the age of fourteen. From an early age he was familiar with farm work, and when still a boy was doing a man's labor. He remained at the home place with his his property in 1881, when he was seventy- sister, Mrs. Morrison, and a brother until he five years old. His widow survived until

reached the age of twenty, when he went out to Ohio for a time, working on a farm at Marion. Returning home, he was married in the winter of 1880 to Ida S. Parke, of Cone- maugh township, Indiana county, daughter of William and Margaret (Shearer) Parke, and he spent the next year on the William Altman farm near Blairsville. In the spring of 1881 he moved into the borough of Indi- ana, where he has since had his home. For the next ten years he was on the road, run- ning a drug wagon for Hetrick Brothers, after this experience traveling for a time for W. H. Grevemyer, of Philadelphia, selling wall paper, window shades, etc. He then started a grocery business of his own at the corner of Philadelphia and Seventh streets, conducting same for fifteen years, during which time he built up a fine trade and be- came one of the substantial business men of the borough. Since giving up the grocery business he has conducted the Star Theatre on the same site and in the same building, which he remodeled for his present purpose, opening his theatre Dec. 22, 1908. It has a capacity of one hundred and fifty.

Mr. Younkins' home is at No. 718.Church street, Indiana. He belongs to Lodge No. 931, B. P. O. Elks, and is a well-known Odd Fellow, being a member and past grand of Lodge No. 346, of Indiana; he has held membership in the Odd Fellows fraternity for over a quarter of a century. In politics Mr. Younkins is an independent Democrat. He and his wife are Lutherans, belonging to the Zion Church. They have had a family of four children: W. Parke, Harry E., John (deceased) and one that died in infancy.

DAVID BAUN, a farmer of Canoe town- ship, Indiana county, was born Jan. 3, 1848, in Zelienople, Butler Co., Pa., a son of Henry and Barbara (Strawhecker) Baun.

Henry Baun was born in Wittenberg, Ger- many, where he lived until he was twenty- one years old. At that time, with his par- ents, he came to the United States, and set- tled in Butler county, Pa., where they se- cured land and cleared it. Henry Baun had learned the distilling business, and operated a still in Butler county. In 1853 he came to Indiana county and bought a fifty-acre tract in Canoe township, on which his son, J. N. Baun, now lives. This was then wild land, but he cleared it and made many improve- ments prior to his death, which occurred on

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1896, dying at the age of eighty-one years. friends. To him and his wife were born chil- dren as follows: Ann, who married Robert MeFarland, of Canoe township; Mrs. Baun; Emma, who married John Pierie, of Jefferson county, Pa .; M. C., who married Jane Smith, and is living in Indiana, Pa .; Edward J., who married a Miss States, and lives on the old They were consistent members of the Evan- gelical Church. Ten children were born to them: Fred, deceased, who married Cathe- rine Varner, lived in Canoe township; Henry, who married Sarah Thompson, lived at Punx- sutawney, Pa .; Christ, who married Eve Piffer, lives in Canoe township; David is farm in Canoe township; Myrtle, married to mentioned below; William is deceased; John, George Hughes, living at Pittsburg, Pa .; and George, who married Pearl Slimer, and lives in Punxsutawney. who married Louisa Harroll, lives in North Mahoning township; Joseph G., who married Barbara Piffer, is a farmer and stonemason of Canoe township; Jacob, who married Susie Smith, is a farmer of the old homestead in Canoe township; Caroline married George Smith, of Canoe township; one son died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. and Mrs. Baun became the parents of three children : James Murray, who has been manager of the tipple of the Bituminous Coal Company at Rossiter since the concern started, married Alta Calderwood and they have had a son, Robert Lorain, who died when three years old; Sarah married Ralph Tyger, of Dubois, Pa., who is with the Buf- falo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad Com- pany, and they have children Murray and Howard; Olive H. died in 1887 when three months old.

David Baun grew up on his father's farm, receiving a common school education and as- sisting about the place. He made himself so valuable that he remained at home until he was thirty years old, at which time he mar- ried and located on his present farm at North Juneau, Pa. He made all of the improve- ments upon this property, which comprises forty acres. For the last eight years he has been living retired from active participation in the farming operations. During his busy days he was not only a farmer, but a millman and lumberman, operating quite heavily along all three lines, and is the owner of some very fine farms in other portions of the county, as well as coal and oil lands.

Politically Mr. Baun is a Prohibitionist, and supports the principles of his party loyally. He has never cared for office, pre- ferring to exert his influence for good as a private citizen. He is a member of the United Brethren in Christ Church of Canoe town- ship, in which he has held office, and to which he gives liberally of both time and money.

ARCHIE WALLACE DUNCAN, a dairy- man and farmer of Conemaugh township, was born Dec. 5, 1874, on the Duncan homestead, in the brick house built by his father, Jolın Mathews Duncan.

On Dec. 11, 1879, Mr. Baun was united in marriage with Mary P. Ellenberger, of Canoe township, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hum) Ellenberger, natives of Armstrong county and Punxsutawney, Pa., respectively. James Duncan, his grandfather, the pioneer of this family in Indiana county, came over the mountains and married Elizabeth Math- ews, whose father, John Mathews, settled at an early day in Conemaugh township, this county, when he carried on farming on 470 acres which he bought, known as the River Hill tract. Mr. and Mrs. James Duncan had two children, Dorcas and John M. James Duncan and his son built a brick house on part of the old Mathews farm, and it is still standing. Mr. Duncan followed farming all his life, and became one of the leading agri- culturists of his period. For some years he acted as overseer of the poor, and was a man of prominence. At an early day Mr. Ellenberger came to In- diana county, where he bought land in Canoe township, and developed a good home. With the exception of the time he was in the Civil war he spent his life in farming. In 1863 Mr. Ellenberger enlisted in the Union service, being enrolled July 13, 1863, as a member of Company G, 102d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, of which he was corporal. He was wounded once during his service, being shot through the right shoulder, and received his honorable discharge June 28, 1865. Return- ing home he resumed his agricultural occu- pations. For years he was a valued member of Punxsutawney Post, No. 237, G. A. R. His death occurred in 1894, upon his home John Mathews Duncan, son of James Dun- can and father of Archie Wallace Duncan, was born at Eldersridge, but came to Cone- maugh township when he was five years old, farm, when he was sixty-four years old, and his widow resides at Punxsutawney. Mr. Ellenberger was a man widely and favorably known, and was sadly missed by his many and lived with his parents. After engaging

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in both school teaching and farming for many every respect and aid him in carrying out years, in later life he devoted himself to the his ideas relative to the farm work expediti- ously and effectively. All of his machinery is well housed and his barns and other build- ings for his stock are constructed according to sanitary regulations. The present large granary was built by him, although he does not raise enough to feed his stock, buying from the West in carload lots. One reason his milk finds so ready sale is that his cows receive good care, and his dairy equipment is so modern in every respect that he can handle the product in a cleanly and rapid manner. cultivation of 160 acres of the homestead, which he devoted to general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the rais- ing of small fruits. Politically he was a Re- publican, but he had no desire for public office, though a man of considerable moment in his community. He was noted as an ex- cellent farmer. A member of the United Presbyterian Church, he served it as elder for thirty-four years, and was a teacher and superintendent of the Sabbath school as well as choir leader. John M. Duncan married Mr. Duncan married Mary Henderson, daughter of Joseph Henry and Prudence J. (Telford) Henderson, of Young township. They have had children as follows: James Telford, John Mathews, Joseph Henderson and Robert Cree, living, and one who died in Elizabeth Anu Coleman, and they had the following children: James Mathews married Ida Grumbling and (second) Mary Barr, and now resides in Keota, Iowa, where he has charge of the United Presbyterian Church; Mary Emily lives with her brother A. W. infancy unnamed. Mrs. Duncan is a most

Duncan; Martha Jane married Isaac St. Clair and (second) H. M. Kirkpatrick, and resided at Pittsburg until his death, March 26, 1913; Robert died when three years old; Tirzah Elizabeth lives with her brother A. W. Dun- can; Alma died at the age of twenty-nine years, unmarried; Dorcas Edith married Cyrus Stiffey, whose sketch appears else- where in this work; Augustus Josephine died young; John Elmer, who married Jennie Archibald, resides in Derry township, West-

moreland county, where he is a farmer; party, for he believes that the liquor traffic

Jessie Eve died at the age of twenty-one years; Alice Margaret married T. R. Sproull ; Archie Wallace completes the family.

John M. Duncan died Oct. 10, 1904, his wife June 23, 1904, and they were laid to rest in the cemetery connected with the United Presbyterian Church in Conemaugh township, a handsome monument marking their graves.

estimable woman of delightful manners, an excellent housekeeper, and has many friends throughout the neighborhood and in the United Presbyterian Church, of which she is a member, as is her husband, who was a trustee of the church for three years and is now an elder. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Duncan taught school under Prof. J. T. Stewart. A man of high principles, Mr. Dun- can has long given his influence toward up- holding the doctrines of the Prohibition

is one of the great evils of the country.

Although a man young in years, Mr. Dun- can has already accomplished much and stands among the leaders in his community. His sisters, both highly thought of, also be- long to the United Presbyterian Church, and this organization benefits from their gener- osity. No family stands any higher in public estimation than that bearing the name of Duncan, and its individual members are fully sustaining the high reputation borne by the earlier representatives, who always stood for the higher ideals in everything.

Archie Wallace Duncan was brought up on his father's farm, attending the Duncan school and then a select school at Livermore. Following this he worked with his father un- til the latter's death, at which time he bought out the other heirs to the tract of 160 acres. WILLIAM ABEL, a farmer of Armstrong township, this county, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 13, 1852, a son of Henry Abel. Since assuming charge of the property he has demonstrated that he is a man of progressive spirit, and is one of the leading agriculturists Henry Abel was born in Germany, but came to the United States in young manhood, and found employment at his trade of shoe- making in Pittsburg, where he rounded out his life. His wife was Katie Grunce prior to her marriage, and she too was born in of his township. He keeps about thirty cows in his dairy herd and ships daily to East Liberty, Pa., from Livermore. In addition to other improvements Mr. Duncan has built a large silo, and he has everything on his place in first-rate shape, taking pride in the Germany, coming to this country in girlhood. condition of his premises. His machinery Like her husband, she passed away in Pitts- and appliances are thoroughly modern in burg.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

William Abel grew to 'maturity in Pitts- burg, but received only limited educational advantages. After his marriage he located on a farm in Allegheny county, Pa., and in 1890 came to his present property of 150

John Fulmer, father of Mrs. Ober, was born in Indiana county, Pa., and for many acres in Armstrong township, Indiana Co., years was a farmer in Green township, now residing at Dixonville. He married Anna

Pa., which he continues to operate.

Mr. Abel was married in Pittsburg, Pa., Were. to Maggie Runge, who was born in Germany, but came to Pittsburg when still a girl. Mr. and Mrs. Abel have had the following chil- dren : Annie, who married Chester Uncapher ; Mary, who is a teacher in Blacklick town- ship; Henry D .; Minnie; Jennie; Clara; George; Freda and Emil. The family all belong to the United Presbyterian Church and are active in promoting the good work of that body. Politically Mr. Abel is inde- pendent in his views, and he.is in every way a most excellent man.

DAVID OBER, proprietor of a general store at Dixonville, Pa., was born in Green township, Indiana county, Nov. 27, 1873, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Dick) Ober.

Joseph Ober was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and from there came to Indiana county in early manhood, locating in Green township. By trade he was a stonemason, and this he followed as his vocation until his death, on Jan. 15, 1912, on his farm in Green township. He married Elizabeth Dick, a daughter of Jacob Dick, who was an early settler and a farmer in Indiana county. Mrs. Ober was born in Indiana county and died Sept. 15, 1886, the mother of five children, namely: Martin, who lives at Dixonville with his brother David; Myron, who is now deceased; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Leslie Bowser, living in Armstrong county; David; and Stella, who is the wife of Benjamin Cook, of Owosso, Michigan.

David Ober attended school in Green town- ship through boyhood and when he was old enough learned the stonemason's trade. He followed same until 1889, when he embarked in the hardware business at Dixonville, where he has continued, at present also carrying a line of general merchandise. He is con- cerned also in lumbering enterprises and is interested in the Clymer National Bank as one of its board of directors; he was one of the organizers of this bank and one of its original directors.

On Nov. 9, 1889, Mr. Ober was married to Ella Fulmer, who was born in Green town- ship, a daughter of John and Anna (Were) Fulmer, and they have two children, E. Jay Germany.

and Marie. Mrs. Ober is a member of the Brethren Church. Mr. Ober at present is serving as supervisor of Green township.

EDWARD H. STEPHENS, a farmer of Cherryhill township, Indiana county, was born in that township March 8, 1875, a son of Giles Stephens.

William Stephens, one of the early settlers of Indiana county, was during his early life a miller and blacksmith. Whenever he felt called upon to do so, he engaged in minis- terial work for the Methodist Church. At times he also taught school throughout Indi- ana county, and was a man of prominence. Later on in life he devoted himself to farming.

Giles Stephens, son of William, and father of Edward H., was a miller in early life, later taking up farming.

Edward H. Stephens attended school in Cherryhill township, and while doing so as- sisted his father on the parental farm, now owned by him. In 1886 the mother and her family moved to the property now owned by Benjamin L. Stephens, where they remained until 1896. In that year Edward H. Stephens moved back to the homestead, which he has since operated, with more than ordinary success.

On March 30, 1896, Edward H. Stephens was married, in Cherryhill township, to Emma Jane Dick, born in that township Aug. 18, 1876, daughter of David H. and Rachel Dick. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have had eight children : Roy Arnold, Lawrence Edward, Evala Leona, Rachel Catherine, Ila Blanche, Clyde David, Mary Fay and Ruth Matilda. Mr. Stephens belongs to the Baptist Church at Dixonville. At present he is assessor of his township, and for several terms has served as school director, being interested in civic matters and the securing of good administra- tion of affairs for his community.

ADAM SIDES, a farmer of Green town- ship, Indiana county, has with the exception of three years lived all his life at the home he now occupies, having been born there Sept. 15, 1861, son of Adam and Mary (Dickey) Sides. The family was founded in this sec- tion by his grandfather, who was a native of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Adam Sides, the father, was born in West William and Eliza (Smith) Pattison. His Wheatfield township, Indiana county, and paternal grandfather, a native of Ireland, was a lifelong farmer. Many years ago he spent his whole life in that country, dying tlıere.

settled in Pine township, where he bought land which he cleared and cultivated. He followed farming there for some years, finally removing to the neighboring township of Green, where he settled on the farm now oc- cupied by his son Adam, living there until his death, May 12, 1884. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Dickey, was also born in Indiana county, in Brushvalley township, and died in Green township Feb. 28, 1897. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: Elias, who died while in the Union service during the Civil war; John, who is living in Green township; William, living in Pine township; Uriah, now a resident of Barnesboro, Cambria Co., Pa .; Alonzo, living at Pineflats, Indiana county ; one that died in infancy ; Jane, wife of William C. Wilson, of Johnstown, Pa .; Emma, wife of William Hahn, of Johnstown; Elizabeth, wife of Wil- liam H. Strauss, of Johnstown, Cambria county, wholesale and retail dealer in tobacco and cigars; one that died in infancy; and Adam, the youngest, who lives in Pine town- ship.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 129

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