Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 134

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 134

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James Kingston was born at Adair, Iowa, became a general millwright, and operated sawmills in his native State and in Cambria county, Pa., where he settled after coming to this section, in 1860. He also followed lumbering for many years, but now is en- gaged in farming. He married Sarah Kline, who was born in Cambria county, and the following children were born to them: Isa- dore; Mary and Maggie, both of whom are now deceased; James, who lives at Altoona, connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Chloe, the wife of Edward Gilli- gan, who is in the lumber business at Charles- ton, W. Va .; Bertha, who resides at Cleve- land, Ohio; Robert, who lives at Tyrone, Pa .; Howard, who is a resident of Cambria county ; and Charles, who lives at Sunbury, Pa. The mother of the above family died in January, 1902.

Isadore Kingston attended school in Cam- bria county until he was twelve years old and then went to Clearfield county to work in a tannery, and later began to work in the coal mines at Coalport, becoming assistant mine boss for the Arvard Coal & Coke Company and remaining there for eleven years. In 1909 Mr. Kingston came to Clymer, where he engaged at first in mining and then com- menced his present business enterprise.

On Sept. 23, 1896, in Cambria county, Mr. Kingston was married to Martha Rowles, who was born Nov. 18, 1878, in Clearfield county, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Van- nell) Rowles, the former of whom is de- ceased, the latter still residing in Clearfield county. Mr. and Mrs. Kingston have had three children: Dollie, who is deceased; James, and George. Mr. Kingston is an act- ive citizen, giving attention to all public matters as becomes a good citizen, and for the last two years has been a member of the borough council. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Loyal Order of Moose, at Clymer, and with Kanawock Lodge, No. 210, Red Men, at Rosebud, Clearfield county.

While still living in Austria Mr. Kametz was married, in 1882, to Annie Kametz, and SOL LEVINE, proprietor of the Indiana two children have been born of this union: Dye Works, at No. 678 Philadelphia street, Andrew, at home, and Mary of Indiana, Pa. Indiana, Pa., was born March 31, 1872, in

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the city of Mohileff (Mogilef), province of he had attained the remarkable age of ninety- Mohileff, Russia, a son of Saul and Gussie three. Le Vine.

Mr. LeVine's father, a banker in the city of Mohileff, which at that time had a population of 40,000, died in 1886, leaving a wife and six children, the latter being as follows: Sol, Harry, Morris, Milan, Michael and Annie. The mother and her children came to the United States in 1891, landing at New York, whence they made their way to Fostoria, Ohio; with the exception of Sol the entire family lives in New York. Mrs. LeVine is now sixty-two years of age.

Sol Le Vine attended the schools of his na- tive vicinity, graduated from the high school, and learned the trade of druggist. He was not quite eighteen years of age when he ac- companied his mother and brothers and sis- ters to America, and his first employment in this country was in a glass works situated at Fostoria, Ohio. Subsequently he went to New York City, and for ten years conducted restaurants in different parts of the metrop- olis, but later saw a better opportunity in the dyeing business, in which he engaged for a short time in New York. There he con- tinued to carry on business until August, 1908, at which time he came to Indiana, Pa., and is now the proprietor of the Indiana Dye Works, doing dyeing, steam and dry clean- ing and pressing of ladies' and gentlemen's garments, fancy dresses, lace, velvets and feathers and guaranteeing high-class work.

In Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1893, Mr. Le- Vine was married to Lena Cherniack, of that place, and they have three children: Charles, Rosalind and Florence. In political matters Mr. LeVine is a Republican, and his fra- ternal connections are with the Royal Ar- canum, the Woodmen of the World, the Odd Fellows and the Moose, in the latter of which he was for two years treasurer and is now presiding officer.

Harry Lariff secured a common school edu- cation in Russia, where as a young man he learned the trade of shoemaker. Like many other worthy men of his country, he felt that the future held nothing in store for him but to work hard always and never attain a com- petency in his native land, and accordingly, in 1888, he embarked for the United States. Landing at New York City, he remained there for one year, working at his trade, and then made his way to Houtzdale, Clearfield county, where he spent eighteen years, event- ually becoming proprietor of a successful business. From Houtzdale Mr. Lariff went to Altoona, where he spent one year in the grocery business, in 1909 coming to Clymer and establishing himself in the shoe and fur- nishing goods trade. He has attracted a rep- resentative patronage to his well-stocked establishment.

Mr. Lariff was married while at Houtzdale to Rebecca Brenner, also a native of Russia, and to this union there have been born three children : One who died in infancy ; Himan, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Myer, who assists his father in conducting the store.

LOWRY F. STRONG, a farmer of Cherry- hill township, Indiana county, was born in that township March 22, 1855, son of John and Barbara (Fyock) Strong, of Irish and German ancestry, respectively.

John Strong was born at Strongstown, this county, where the family were among the early settlers. In early life he was a weaver, and carried on a large business, but later on devoted himself to farming, dying on his homestead.

John Strong, son of John, and father of Lowry F. Strong, was also born at Strongs- town. An auctioneer, he was well known throughout the county, and for thirteen years served as constable. He was also interested in farming, and was a man of substance when he died, Dec. 27, 1883, his widow surviving until the fall of 1908. Three survive of the children born to John and Barbara Strong: Lowry F .; Loughry W. Strong, of Logans- port, Ind .; and Emma, who lives with her brother Lowry F.

HARRY LARIFF, who has been engaged in the shoe and furnishing goods business in the borough of Clymer, Indiana county, since 1909, is a native of Russia, having been born in that country in 1870, son of Abraham and Matilda Lariff. The parents of Mr. Lariff were born in the domains of the Czar, and Lowry F. Strong was educated in the his mother passed away when Harry was schools of Cherryhill township, and has al- still a small child. The father survived her ways been engaged in farming. On July 4, many years, dying in his native country when 1878, he was married to Ellen Shank, born on 94

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the home now occupied by Mr. Strong Nov. White and Cherryhill townships. He has 28, 1858, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth been engaged in farming on his own account (Wissinger) Shank. The father was born in since young manhood, and settled at his pres- ent home in Green township in 1897. Here he has sixty-nine acres and carries on general agriculture and stock raising, also engaging in huckstering. Somerset county, in September, 1808, and the mother was born in the same county. They came to Indiana county at an early day, Joshua Shank being one of the early settlers here, as was his father, who bore the same On Feb. 1, 1898, Mr. Swartz married Eliz- abeth Fyock, of Green township, where her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Wise) Fyock, lived and died; they had eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz have no family. Mrs. Swartz is a member of the Church of the Brethren. name. They were both active as farmers. The father died in 1892, and the mother in 1896. There were twelve children in the Shank family, four of whom are now living: Sarah, widow of Martin Putt, of this county; Eva, widow of Josiah Gibson, who resides near Indiana; Mary, widow of William Ly- dick, of Windber, Somerset Co., Pa .; and CLYDE E. FULTON, proprietor of a res- taurant and confectionery at the town of Heilwood, Indiana county, was born on a farm in Clearfield county, Pa., Nov. 15, 1880, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (McKee) Fulton. Mrs. Strong. Mr. and Mrs. Strong became the parents of seven children: Loughry W., of Cherryhill township, married Sadie Wise, of Indiana county, and has children, Blanche, Charles, Grace and John; Emma, wife of George Lockard, died after bearing him two children, Glen and Lowry ; Frank is deceased ; Joshua, Blair, Clark and David are all at home. Mr. Strong and his family all belong to the Progressive Brethren Church, and are most excellent people, respected by all with whom they are associated.

D. HARVEY SWARTZ, general farmer of Green township, Indiana county, is a son of Samuel T. and Malinda (Fetterman) Swartz and grandson of Robert Swartz.

Samuel T. Swartz, the father, was born in Indiana county, where he has passed all his life. He was reared in Brushvalley township, and later moving to White township lived there for some time, thence going to Rayne township. After farming there for a while he moved to Cherryhill township, where he still resides, engaged in farming. In 1873 he married Malinda Fetterman, who was born in Indiana county, daughter of Daniel Fetter- man, a farmer of Rayne township, who owned a place at the headwaters of Crooked creek. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swartz, namely: D. Harvey; Robert, who lives at New Florence, Pa .; Minnie, the wife of Ira McAfoos, of Marion Center, Indiana Co., Pa .; William Garfield, deceased; Dessie, wife of Andrew Mumau, of Indiana, Pa .; ana; Guy, living in Indiana county; Mae, deceased; and Jay, at home with his parents.

D. Harvey Swartz was born Ang. 4, 1874, in White township, this county, and received his education in the public schools of Rayne,

Daniel Fulton was born in Clearfield county, and there in his youth and young manhood engaged in farming and lumber- ing, but at this time is giving his entire at- tention to agricultural pursuits. His wife, also a native of Clearfield county, died in November, 1892, the mother of seven children, as follows: Claire, a resident of Oklahoma; Clyde E .; Dell, a resident of Coolover, Pa .; Zula, residing at home; and Ethel, Orpha and Mary E.

Clyde E. Fulton received his education in the district schools of the vicinity of his father's farm in Clearfield county, and as a youth assisted his father in the work on the old homestead. The life of an agriculturist, however, did not appeal to the young man, and he learned the occupation of cook, which he followed in the logging camps of Clear- field county until 1901, at that time establish- ing himself in a restaurant business at Burn- side. He continued in business at that place until 1905, in which year he came to Heilwood and opened a restaurant, subsequently start- ing a confectionery, and is still carrying on both lines. He has met with success in his ventures and is a director of the Clymer Na- tional Bank.

In January, 1906, Mr. Fulton was married Nelson, deceased; George, a resident of Indi- at Burnside, Clearfield county, to Letitia Wright, who was born in Clearfield county, daughter of George and Margaret Wright, residents of that county, where Mr. Wright is engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton have had two children, Ralph and one who

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton are lows, the Elks, the L. O. O. Moose and the consistent members of the Methodist Epis- F. O. E. copal Church.

OAKLEY E. LEARN, proprietor of a CHARLES F. PAUCH, merchant tailor flour and feed mill located at Wandin, Indi- of Indiana, Pa., was born June 29, 1878, in Allegheny City, this State, and is a son of Frank and Barbara (Croft) Pauch.

Frank Pauch was born in Germany and was married in Cleveland, Ohio, to Barbara Croft, who was a native of Austria-Hungary. After a short residence in Cleveland they removed to Allegheny City, Pa., but a year or two later returned to Cleveland, whence they went to Brownsville, Pa., where the father died in 1909, when sixty-two years of age. The mother passed away about 1905. Mr. Pauch was a merchant tailor by occupa- tion, following that vocation in the various towns in which he resided, and became a suc- cessful business man. He and his wife were members of the Roman Catholic Church. They were the parents of five children: Charles F .; James, residing at Nelsonville, Ohio; Rosa, who is deceased; Edward, a resi- dent of Cleveland, Ohio; and one child who died in infancy.

Charles F. Pauch was still an infant when taken to Cleveland by his parents, and in that city resided and attended the public schools until he was twelve years of age, when the family moved to Brownsville. There he grew to manhood, completing his public school education and subsequently attending the Brownsville business college, and after learn- ing the trade of tailor with his father and others he left home, at the age of twenty-one years, and traveled over thirty-five States working as a coatmaker. In 1904 he came to Indiana and was employed in the tailoring establishment of Vogel Brothers for some time, in 1908 establishing himself in business on his own account in quarters over the Gazette office; eight months later he moved to rooms over Plotzer's meat market. One year later the rapid growth of his business demanded larger accommodations and he moved to his present location.

ana county, was born in Green township, Indiana county, Oct. 7, 1870, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Kunkle) Learn.

John Learn, the grandfather of Oakley E. Learn, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and as a young man came to Indiana county and settled in Green township, Oakley E. being the owner of the old homestead where he first took up his residence in this county. There he spent the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits, aud when he passed away had the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens in the fullest degree.

Henry Learn, son of John, was born in Green township, Indiana county, and followed in his father's foosteps, choosing agricultural pursuits as his life work, and following that vocation through a long, useful and honorable career. His widow passed away at the home of Oakley E. Learn. They were the parents of two children, Oakley E. and Frank, the latter engaged in the grocery business in the town of Indiana.

The boyhood days of Oakley E. Learn were spent on the homestead farm in Green township, where he was thoroughly trained in the science of tilling the soil, while his liter- ary education was secured in the district schools. He continued to engage in farming until 1904, in which year he came to Wandin and embarked in the flour and feed mill busi- ness, successfully conducting same to the pres- ent time.

On June 3, 1889, Mr. Learn was married to Cecilia Lewis, who was born in East Ma- honing township, Indiana county, Sept. 24, 1870, daughter of William and Permilia (Lydick) Lewis, natives of East Mahoning township. Mr. Lewis, who was for a number of years engaged in the livery business, at Indiana and Punxsutawney, is now deceased, but his widow still survives and lives on the old home place in East Mahoning township. They had a family of five children, of whom Mrs. Learn is the oldest, the others being : Cora, the wife of Curt Wells, a resident of Jefferson county; Linnie, wife of Homer Foltz, also of Jefferson county; Arthur, liv- ing in Armstrong county; and Joseph, living at home with his mother.

Mr. Pauch was married in 1909 to Pearl Stewart, of Homer City, Pa., daughter of William Stewart, and they have one child, Mildred Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Pauch are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and he is independent in his political views. His Mr. and Mrs. Learn have had four chil- fraternal connections are with the Odd Fel- dren: Alva E., who is living on the old home-

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stead, married Dora Bair, a former resident been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichol, viz. : Ollie, of East Mahoning township, and a daughter Helen, Lisle, Mahlon, Dorothy, Leona, Louise of Elias Bair, and they have two children, and Evelyn. Mrs. Nichol is a member of Cecilia and Loretta; Ernest P. married the East Mahoning Baptist Church. Minnie Moorhead, a native of Green town- ship, and daughter of Walker Moorhead;

JOHN BUTERBAUGH was the oldest Louis is living at home; Catherine also resides citizen of Indiana county and had held that with her parents.

Mr. Learn and the oldest two of his sons are members of the Lutheran Church at Cook- port; Mrs. Learn is a member of the Baptist Church, and the daughter, Catherine, is an adherent of the Methodist faith.

WILLIAM A. NICHOL was born in Green township, Indiana county, Aug. 16, 1869, and has spent all his life there, engaged in farming.

Joseph Nichol, his father, was born in Green township, of Irish descent, the family having settled in that township long before

that district had been developed into the don county, Pa., oldest in the family of eight prosperous farming community it now is. born to William Buterbaugh, who was born The grandfather bought land near where in Maryland and moved thence to Hunting-

William A. Nichol now lives, and resided there until his death. Joseph Nichol fol- lowed farming and lumbering until his death, which occurred June 25, 1898. He married Meny Moore, who was born in Indiana county, daughter of Joseph Moore, a native of Indi- ana county who lived in Grant township, following farming and lumbering. Mrs. Nichol survived her husband, dying in 1904. They were the parents of six children : Joseph, who is a resident of Swissvale, Pa .; William A .; Horace, living at Youngstown, Ohio; Laura, wife of William Mundorff, of Punx- sutawney, Pa .; Clara, wife of Bert Long, of Sykesville, Jefferson Co., Pa .; and Walter, deceased.

William A. Nichol acquired his education in the country schools in Green township. He was reared to farming, assisting with the work on the home place in his boyhood and youth, and has followed that calling on his own account from young manhood. He lo- cated at Starford in 1899, and in 1903 bought his present farm of 196 acres. He is an esteemed and substantial member of his community, his industrious career win- ning him the respect of his associates in all the relations of life.

In 1895 Mr. Nichol married Jennie Hamil- ton, a native of Grant township, this county, the eldest of the twelve children born to Matthew and Mary (Moore) Hamilton, old residents of Grant township; Mr. IIamilton follows farming there. Eight children have

distinction for many years at the time of his death. Born Aug. 3, 1799, the year Wash- ington died, he lived to his ninety-seventh year, passing away Feb. 12, 1896. He lived in Green township, Indiana county, from 1819 until his death. His life covered practically the whole period of the transition of this region from its crude primitive state to mod- ern conditions. As a typical representative of the hardy, courageous people who made the settlement of this section possible he de- serves honorable mention in any work per- taining to Indiana county.

Mr. Buterbaugh was a native of Hunting-

don county. The children were: John, Wil- liam, Jacob R., Henry, and David. The fam- ily is noted for longevity. On Aug. 3, 1894, when John Buterbangh celebrated the ninety- fifth anniversary of his birth. there were three living besides himself, Jacob, Frede- rick and David, and their ages, combined with the ages of those who had died, totaled 584 years. The family lived near Springfield Furnace until interested by reports. of the good lands and fine hunting grounds in Indi- ana county. The father and oldest son came out to "spy" the land, traveling on foot over the mountains and carrying their rifles. After examining various localities they de- cided upon what is now known as Pleasant Valley, in Green township, a beautiful tract then heavily timbered with pine on the hill- sides, with good pasture land in the valleys. The north fork of Twolick creek crossed through the center, and in the lowland were fine sugar maples which helped to provision their larder. John Buterhaugh, sizing up the advantages of the place, which was then oc- cupied by a tenant, went at once to the owner and agreed to purchase it for three hundred dollars an acre. He commenced making improvements without delay, his brother William coming out to assist with the work of clearing and planting, preparatory to the removal of the rest of the family. This however, did not take place for ten years. Father and sons continued the work of clear- ing and cultivation, going back and forth

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

between the new land and their eastern home best, if not the very best in Indiana county as necessary, and it is related that on one occasion, when John stayed on alone to finish some work in hand he made his supper on the last potato he had and set out in the morn- ing without any breakfast, expecting to find something to eat at a neighbor's. But the water was so low just there that those who had grain could not get it ground, and though he might have shared what the kind-hearted neighbors had left he did not feel right about doing so, and got nothing to eat until evening.

The family moved out to the new home in December, 1829, crossing the Susquehanna at what was called Salt Wells, above the Cherry- tree, near where Garmans Mills is now located. The river was frozen and they crossed on the ice. Stopping on the bank to feed the horses, the men cut a hole in the ice to obtain water, and a large number of fish came to the open- ing. The men struck the ice with a sledge, which paralyzed the fish and made it easy to catch them, and as there was no time to dress them then, they were put into the feed trongh, and on arriving at the cabin late that night the fish were put in the drain in the spring house, frozen so hard that they "rattled like icicles." The fresh water, however, thawed and revived them, and in the morning all were alive but three, so the family had a fine supply of large, fresh fish to use when wanted.

at the time. It was a great center, people coming from a great distance to patronize "Buterbaugh's Mill," and he often had to run it night and day to keep up with the de- mands of his customers. But no matter how busy, he would not operate it on the Sabbath, except once when an unusually long dry spell left people actually in want of flour; when the rain came at last he kept the mill going uutil all had been supplied. At the little village of Pleasant Valley, in Green township, Mr. Buterbaugh secured a tract of land for him- self, living there to the end of his days.

It was after said, "John Buterbaugh can make anything out of mud that can be made," and it is a fact that he was called upon by his neighbors to do most of the difficult things which came up requiring skill and mechan- ical ability. He built and repaired twenty- three sawmills. If a clock or watch failed to "go," if a barrel was to be hooped, a kraut stand to be made, a sawmill or flouring mill built, he was depended upon to do it. And he was not only the local machinist, but the dentist. He wrote beautifully and was a good accountant, accomplishments not so general in his day as now, and being possessed of more than average intelligence and a charac- ter that won him well deserved confidence, he was chosen to many public offices, in all of which he gave able and faithful service. He acted as supervisor for many years when Green township extended from Cherrytree to the Hood farm; served as school committee- man before the law providing for the election of school directors was passed, and for two terms filled the office of justice of the peace, in the administration of which he won the grati- tude and good will of many who had their difficulties adjusted before him; he always acted the part of peacemaker, and tried to effect an amicable settlement without recourse to the law. IIis influence in all the relations of life was always exerted for good, and his sterling qualities and the high esteem in which he was held made his opinions sought and re- spected.

Soon after the family was established here and a number of acres under cultivation, John Buterbaugh, who was a natural mechanic and experienced millright, put up a sawmill, doing all the carpenter work himself. Before long he attached chopping stones to the orig- inal equipment and commenced to make corn- meal and buckwheat flour in addition to or- dinary flour. All of this was most appreciated by the neighbors, for they were dependent almost entirely upon themselves for food- stuffs, and the variety was very welcome. As the streams were then fuller and more to be depended upon than now, Mr. Buterbaugh could keep his mill running eight and some- times as much as ten months in the year, and is was not only a benefit to the locality, but Politically Mr. Buterbaugh was originally a Whig in 1854 joining the American or Know-nothing party and in the year 1856 casting his lot with the Republicans, with whom he continued to be associated the rest of his life. His religion was with the Lu- theran Church at Cookport, from early life, materially increased his income. His honesty was proverbial, and there was no more pop- ular man in these parts, either personally or in a business way. His interest in machinery and naturally progressive disposition were incentive enough to make him keep his estab- lishment up-to-date, but the large trade he acquired made it necessary, and the regular and attended regularly until extreme old age flouring mill he created in time was one of the prevented.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 134

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