Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 140

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 140

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William McHenry, son of Isaac and Jane, was born in 1770, and died in 1855, aged eighty-four years. He was with Anthony Wayne, serving in Ohio during the Indian troubles in 1793 and 1794. He married Sid- ney Gordon, and among their grandchildren is Squire McHenry, of Spangler, Pa., whose mother was a Row.

George Stear, the grandfather of Peter Stear, was a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., whence he removed to Porter township, Jefferson county, there locating on 200 acres of land. He was one of the first settlers of that section. He cleared his land, made a good home for his family, and died at the age of seventy-six years, honored and respected

William McHenry, son of William, was by all. He was twice married, first to a Miss born in 1812 on the Moore farm, two miles from Indiana, Pa. In 1838 he married El- inor Sebring, daughter of William, and they have had children as follows: Deborah, de- ceased; Scott; William Simpson; Julia A .; John, deceased; Jackson, who married Marion Stuchel; Samuel R .; Franklin, who married Margaret McHenry Milton; Sarah J .; Clara, deceased; and Anna L.

Crissman and second to a Miss Fisher, and by his first wife he had six children, as fol- lows : Frederick; George, a blacksmith of Smicksburg; John, also a blacksmith at that place; Rebecca, who married Thomas Luke- hart, and lived at Plumville, Pa .; Betsy, who married David Fleck, and lived in West Ma- honing township; and Maria, . who married Joseph Robinson, and lived at Troy, Pa. By his second wife he had eight children: David, a merchant and farmer of Trade City, Pa .; Jacob, who was a miller and was proprietor of the Stear mill; Ephraim and Enoch, resi- dents of Smicksburg; Marion, who was in the mercantile business with his brother at Trade City; William, who lived at Smicks- burg, and was killed in a coal bank; Eliza, who married Joseph Weaver and (second) William Weaver, and lived at Plumville; and Caroline, widow of Joseph McIntire, who makes her home at Smicksburg.

Samuel Robert McHenry was born May 27, 1850, in White township, Indiana county, and passed his early life in White and Rayne townships, receiving his education in the pub- lic schools. When a young man of eighteen he began working out on farms, being en- gaged by the year, and for six years was with Harry Bryan, of White township. His wages at first were $16 a month. When he started out on his own account he "cropped" for five years, and then bought a tract of sixty-four acres in Rayne township, where he built his home and has since resided. He Frederick Stear, son of George Stear, and father of Peter Stear, received but few op- has done well in his farm work, prospering to such an extent that he has added consid- portunities to gain an education in his boy-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

hood. As a young man he settled on a farm present town of Perryville stands. John Neal one and a half miles north of North Point, Pa., on the old Stear homestead in Jefferson county, and there continued to live until his death, at the age of seventy-six years, his wife passing away when seventy-seven. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Stear served in the

was a farmer and drover and a man widely and favorably known. He was accidentally killed, on the railroad, Oct. 28, 1903, and his wife followed him to the grave in October, 1906. They were members of the United Brethren Church, and he was a Republican capacity of constable and in various other in politics. Their children were as follows: offices, and he and his wife 'were members of the Lutheran Church. They had fourteen children, as follows: Lizzie, who died in in- fancy; Susan, the widow of William Moses, of Jefferson county ; David, retired, formerly a farmer on the old home place, and now liv- ing in Punxsutawney; Peter; John C., a mer- chant at North Point, Pa .; William, a black- smith at Punxsutawney; Melissa, deceased, who married James Brown, of Hamilton, Pa .; and seven children who died young.

Peter Stear attended the old log school- house located two and a half miles from his home, and which was equipped with slab seats, puncheon floor, and writing desks crudely fashioned and fastened to the wall. At that time school kept only four months in the year, and he spent the rest of the time in assisting his father with the work on the home place. He also learned the blacksmith trade. In 1861 he went to Worthville, Pa., where he followed his trade with William Eisenhart and Samuel Miller. After serving an apprenticeship of two years he worked four years with his brother, John C. Stear, at North Point, and next went to Perrys- ville, Pa., where he conducted a shop for thir- teen years. His next location was at Trade City, where he conducted a mercantile busi- ness four years with T. S. Neal, under the firm style of Neal & Stear. Mr. Stear was successful in this line, and on the discon- tinuation of the business he purchased 142 acres of land in North Mahoning township, known then as the Peter Dilts place. Here he has since continued to reside, making numerous improvements, building good struc- tures and developing the land into one of the best farms in the township. In 1891 he built his modern residence, having the year before put up a commodious barn for his stock. General farming has occupied his attention, and his ventures have met with the success that they deserve.

Cynthia, the widow of Joseph Coon, of North Mahoning township; T. S., of Trade City, Pa., ex-sheriff, farmer and merchant ; Martha, the widow of William McKillip, of West Ma- honing township; George, deceased, a farmer, who married Lucinda Van Horn, of North Point, Pa .; Aaron, of Seattle, Wash., a race horseman, dealer and breeder of fast horses (he married Maggie Morgan, who is now de- ceased) ; Sarah, the wife of Mr. Stear ; Emma, living on the old place in West Mahoning township, who married Frank O'Hara; Josiah, a detective, living in Indiana, Pa .; William R., a traveling salesman, of Punxsu- tawney, Pa., who married Cora Winslow; and Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Austin Struckard, of Jefferson county.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stear: Della E., married W. C. Brown, a mine man, of Marchand, Pa., and died June 19, 1910, leaving three children, Ruth, Sarah and Samuel; Laura G., married T. S. Whittaker, of Georgeville, Pa., and has one son, Albert; A. Floyd, of DuBois, for- merly a bookkeeper in the B. R. & P. Rail- road Company's offices, now a civil engineer, is a graduate of the Scranton (Pa.) School of Drawing, and was a chainman for one year (he married Bertha Butler, of Georgeville).

Mr. Stear is a Republican in his political views, and has held various township offices within the gift of his fellow citizens. For the last thirty-six years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has been active in church and charitable work, and has served many years in the capacity of steward. During his long residence in this community he has made friends, and every- where he is recognized as a man of the strict- est integrity.

ABRAHAM B. BENNETT, now living re- tired at Strongstown, was born in what was then Pine (now Buffington) township, Indi- ana county, Aug. 13, 1835. He is the repre- sentative of a family whose members for many years have been associated with much of the progress and growth of Indiana county.

On March 1, 1866, Mr. Stear was married to Sarah Neal, who was born at North Point, Pa., daughter of John and Rachel Neal, the former of North Mahoning township and the latter of Hamilton, Pa. Her people were John Bennett, the founder of the family pioneers, and owned the land upon which the in America, left his native England when a 96

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

young man, and coming to the United States first settled in West Virginia, then a portion of Virginia. Later he came to Indiana county, Pa., locating in what is now Buffing- ton township, where he secured over one hun- dred acres of land. This property was wooded and he cleared the greater portion of it, developing a fine farm from it before his death, which occurred in Buffington township at the home of his son Michael Bennett; he is buried at Strongstown. He and his wife became the parents of children as follows: William, Margaret (Peggy), Michael, Peter, Katie, Jacob and Abraham.

William Bennett, son of John Bennett, was born in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Pa., but grew to manhood in Buffington township. He learned and followed blacksmithing, but later became an agriculturist in that township, where his death occurred when he was only forty-eight years old. His remains were laid to rest at Strongstown, Pa. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Church and was a class leader for many years. At one time he be- longed to the old State militia, and was a fifer.

William Bennett married Elizabeth Baley, a daughter of Samuel Baley, and they had children as follows: John, who died in Brushvalley township; Mary, who married Adam Moses and died in Armstrong county, Pa .; Catherine, who married Thomas Swartz- walder, and died in Armstrong county, Pa .; David, who went out to California in 1849, and was never afterward heard from; Wesley, who died young; Abraham B .; James, who is living at Strongstown, retired; Susan Ann, who married John Campbell, and died in Armstrong county, Pa .; Sarah, who died young; Margaret Jane, who married George McCutchon and is living in Brushvalley town- ship; Elizabeth, who married Samuel White- head and is living in Missouri; and Lucinda, who died young.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Baley) Bennett married (second) Samuel McAdams, and they had two children : Alexander, who is living at Strongs- town; and Samuel, living at Seward, West- moreland Co., Pa. Mrs. McAdams lived to be seventy-nine years old, and was buried at Strongstown.

spent a year. He then went to Bells Mills, Indiana Co., Pa., and spent two years, fol- lowing which he was at Heshbon for three years, building the first house at that place, in 1861. At the expiration of the three years he went to Buffington township and pur- chased a farm of about 250 acres, located three miles from Dilltown. To this he has added from time to time until he owns 800 acres, all in Buffington township, about half of which is cleared, and very productive farm land. His sons are now attending to its cul- tivation. While living in Buffington town- ship, Mr. Bennett continued to work at his trade, having built a shop there, and he finally came to Strongstown, in June, 1889. That year he erected a handsome residence at Strongstown, as well as a shop 16x20 feet, one and one half stories high, continuing work at his trade for twelve years, since when he has lived retired. Mr. Bennett conducted the "Kinter House" for a year, in 1893.

On Feb. 1, 1855, Mr. Bennett was married, at Indiana, Pa., to Margaret McAdams, a daughter of Samuel and Agnes (Morrow) McAdams. Mrs. Bennett was born in Scot- land Oct. 23, 1836, and came to the United States with her mother when eleven years old. They located in New York City, where the mother passed away, and the child then lived in Huntingdon county, Pa., and later in Indi- dana county. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett became the parents of the following family: Annie S., born Oct. 25, 1856, married Oliver Mc- Kelvy, and is deceased; John died at the age of four years; James died when nine months old; Harry W., born Sept. 2, 1863, married Mary Ann Graham, and is farming in Buf- fington township; Charles W., born May 27, 1866, married Catherine Petticord, and is liv- ing at Vintondale, Pa .; Elizabeth died at the age of seven years; William T., born Aug. 13, 1870, now farming in Buffington town- ship, married Mary Gertrude Orner; Alex- ander, born Dec. 4, 1872, married Jennie Bracken, is a stock dealer and lives at Indi- ana, Pa .; Cora A., born May 24, 1876, mar- ried Allen Graham, and died when only twenty-one years old (she is buried at Strongstown, Pa).

Mr. Bennett is a Republican in political Abraham B. Bennett grew up on the farm, becoming familiar with agricultural work from boyhood and meantime studying at the local schools. When old enough he began learning the blacksmith trade at Indiana, and principle, but has at times, as his conscience dictated, supported the Washington Prohibi- tion, Keystone and People's parties. He served as supervisor of Buffington township four years, and was constable of that town- followed it about five years at that point, ship for six years. For many years Mr. Ben- thence going to Blairsville, Pa., where he nett has been a consistent and earnest mem-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ber of the Methodist Church of Strongstown, party, being practically its leader in his end serving as steward, exhorter, trustee, class of Banks township. His religious connection leader, and assistant superintendent of the is with the M. E. Church, and socially he be- Sunday school.

During the Civil war Mr. Bennett enlisted, July 30, 1864, from Indiana county, for one year's service, in Company E, 67th Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. James Kearney and Col. J. C. Carpenter. He was mustered in at Greensburg, Pa., and assigned to the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 3d Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and sent to Baltimore, Md., and Annapolis, being on guard duty along the Baltimore & Ohio rail- road during the operations in the Shenandoah valley. This command participated in the engagements at Winchester; the Wilderness, May 5, 1864; Trevillian Station, June 11-12, 1864; Petersburg, June 16-30, 1864; Ream's Station, Aug. 25, 1864; Winchester Gap, Sept. 14, 1864 ; Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, 1864; Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864; Petersburg, April 2, 1865; and Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. Mr. Bennett shared the fortunes of his regiment in all the battles which took place during his service. He was honorably discharged June 20, 1865, near Washington, D. C., by general order of the War Depart- ment. For years he has been a member of Indiana Post, No. 28, G. A. R.

CHARLES HENRY PEARCE, present supervisor of Banks township, Indiana county, is one of the progressive and thrifty farmer citizens of that township, where he has spent all his life. He was born there Nov. 28, 1873, son of Andrew and Catherine (Cochran) Pearce, the former also a native of Indiana county, the latter of Armstrong county, Pa. Andrew Pearce was a lumber- man and farmer by vocation.

Charles Henry Pearce attended public school in Banks township, was reared on the farm, and as he became old enough worked at lumbering, in which he continued for a number of years, still giving part of his time to that occupation. In 1904 he bought the farm of fifty-four acres at Johnsonburg, in Banks township, where he has since had his home. He is enterprising and up-to-date in his agricultural work, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Pearce has served the public in various capacities, having been school director for some time, and at present holding the office of supervisor. He is ca- pable, and an efficient worker for any cause he espouses, and he has been one of the most active men in his locality in the Republican

longs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America and to the Knights of Pythias.

On April 26, 1897, Mr. Pearce married Laura States, of Indiana county, daughter of Aaron and Maria (Sieger) States, farming people. To them have been born three chil- dren : Andrew Quinn, Joseph Earl and Edna Mildred.

JAMES BROWN GRAHAM, of Buffing- ton township, Indiana county, was born there May 12, 1847, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Brown) Graham, and is a great-grandson of John Graham, the pioneer of the family in this region, who was an early settler in what is now Buffington township, locating on a tract of 200 acres upon which he made the first improvements, and which has since been occupied by his descendants. Here he married Ann Henry, daughter of John Henry, and they had children as follows: James; Samuel, who married Mary Marshall; John; Jane (Jennie), who married William Dun- can; Ann, who married John Duncan; Mary, who married Maj. James Stewart; Margaret, who married John Lemon; William; and Sarah, who married Joseph (or Samuel) Duncan.

John Graham, son of John and Ann (Henry) Graham, married Rebecca Stephens, and they had a family of nine children, namely : Samuel; Ann, who married Robert Woodsides and (second) John Sadler; Re- becca, deceased, who married Mark McFeaters and resided in Brushvalley; James (died in Green township, this county), who married Ada Lyde and had children, Lucy (wife of Calvin Leasure), Miriam (wife of Shed Con- nor), Exie (married David R. Williams), Mary (married Mathew Streams) and Gib- son (married) ; Joseph, who died young; Benjamin, who died young; Miriam, who married Hugh Cameron; John, who died at the age of twenty-two years; and Jane, who married James C. Dick, and had children, Maggie, Annie and John. All this family were born in the house of hewed logs built by the father, John Graham, on the farm he developed. He cleared considerable land and followed farming all his life.

Samuel Graham, son of John and Rebecca (Stephens) Graham, was born Oct. 22, 1817, in Buffington township, and what education he acquired was obtained in the subscription schools there. He became very well-to-do,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

becoming the owner of a farm of 400 acres, followed farming and stock raising rather ex- tensively, and also ran a sawmill and did considerable lumbering. During his residence in Buffington he was one of its most active citizens, in regard to both business and public matters, serving as justice of the peace (fif- teen years), tax collector, auditor and super- visor; he was also a leading member of the M. E. Church there, and held the offices of steward and trustee. In the fall of 1872 he went west to Cozad, Nebr., and bought a farm of 640 acres upon which he carried on farm- ing on a large scale, also becoming extensively interested in stock raising. There he passed the remainder of his life. He married Eliz- abeth Brown, who was born Jan. 4, 1819, daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Bowers) Brown, and they died at their home in Ne- braska in 1897, Mrs. Graham in April and Mr. Graham in August. They were buried at Cozad. Mr. and Mrs. Graham were the par- ents of seven children: Mary M., born April 7, 1841, died unmarried. Rebecca, born Feb. 19, 1843, married William Sides and resides in Pine township, this county; they have chil- dren, Loie, Maggie and Lowney. Amos, born June 14, 1845, married Marinda Dick and resides in Johnstown, Pa., where he is em- ployed by the Cambria Steel Company. James B. is mentioned below. Susan, born Sept. 5, 1850, married Abner Griffitt, and died in 1906. Watson Thompson, born July 30, 1858, is now engaged in fruit growing in the Wenatchee valley, in Washington; he is married. One child died in infancy.

James Brown Graham obtained his educa- tion in the local public schools, but his ad- vantages in that line were none too liberal. He learned the trade of carpenter with Wil- liam Keys, of Janesville, with whom he re- mained one year, after which he was engaged as a journeyman, being in the employ of Gering & Miller for a time. He then re- turned to the home place, and settled there permanently when his father moved to the West, buying this property in 1873. Alto- gether he had six hundred acres in Buffing- ton township and 180 acres in Cambria county (the latter purchased from the J. W. Duncan heirs), where he ran a sawmill and engaged to a considerable extent in' lumber- ing, the Red Mill belonging to this property. He carried on milling in connection with his general farming and stock raising operations. In his earlier years Mr. Graham also did con- tracting and building. He was energetic and farmer of Buffington township. He married enterprising, and may justly be called a self- Bertha Carney, of Pine township. (5)

made man, for he advanced entirely through his own efforts, leading an industrious and honorable life. He is now enjoying his ease, only occasionally taking an active part in affairs, and well deserves the respite from hard work he is having. A number of years ago he met with a serious accident, cutting himself with an ax, which incapacitated him for three years, during which time his wife proved herself a capable and loyal helpmate, looking after affairs until he was able to re- sume work. His reliability has been given substantial recognition by his fellow citizens, who have chosen him to various local posi- tions, and he has given satisfactory service as justice of the peace (which office he held fifteen years), notary public (twelve years), tax collector, township auditor and member of the election board. Politically he is a Re- publican. In 1864, when seventeen years old, Mr. Graham enlisted in Company I, 206th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the war, receiving his discharge June 27, 1865.

On Dec. 27, 1871, Mr. Graham was married to Elizabeth Jane Gibson, who was born Jan. 14, 1845, in Cherryhill township, Indiana Co., Pa., daughter of Joseph and Ann (Dun- woodie) Gibson, and died June 20, 1911. She was laid to rest in Pineland cemetery at Strongstown, in Pine township, this county. Mrs. Graham was a devoted wife and mother, beloved by all who knew her, whether in or outside of the family circle, and many friends in Buffington township mourned her demise. She was a devout member of the M. E. Church. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Graham, namely: (1) Wilber Earl, born June 6, 1873, is engaged in the lumber business in association with Bruce Wagner in Buffington township. (2) Florence Pearl, born Sept. 14, 1876, taught school for a time, married F. C. Laney, and resides in Homer City, this county. (3) Ann Elizabeth, born May 17, 1879, now keeps house for her father and runs the dairy business on the farm, also raising a large number of chickens. She makes two trips a week to Vintondale with her butter and eggs, and is also agent in the district for a New York cloak house and the Larkin Soap Company, having made a de- cided success of this venture as well as of everything else she has undertaken. She is ambitious and enterprising, and has proved herself a thoroughly capable business woman. (4) Victor Tyron, born Nov. 30, 1881, is a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Aubry Leland, born Feb. 24, 1884, married Reed Lodge, No. 536, F. & A. M., of Reyn- Elsie Lingenfeld, and they reside at Homer City, this county. (6) Chalmers Dick, born July 12, 1886, died July 13, 1887. (7) One child died in infancy.

WILLIAM B. WARDROP, superintendent at Iselin, Indiana county, for the Pittsburg Gas Coal Company, has been engaged in mine JOHN ELDER KEIBLER, familiarly known as E. J. Keibler, a farmer of Arm- strong township, Indiana county, was born July 3, 1852, in Lewisville, Indiana county, son of Joseph P. and Violet (Elder) Keibler. Jacob Keibler, his grandfather, was born work all his life, and has risen to his present position of responsibility by efficient and in- telligent service. He was born in June,: 1869, in Tioga county, Pa., son of William and Elizabeth (Allen) Wardrop, natives of Scot- land. When the father came to America he in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he spent his entire life, a farmer by occupation. He ing to Jefferson county, this State, and he married Catherine Piper, and they had chil- dren as follows: George, Jacob, Joseph P.,

settled at Fallbrook, Tioga Co .; Pa., later mov- at the latter place, and his wife also died in John, and two or more daughters.

followed mining at both locations. He died Jefferson county. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom William B. was fourth in the order of birth.

William B. Wardrop received his educa- tion in the public schools. He was only nine years old when he began work in and around the mines. For seven years he was employed in McKean county, and was next at Dubois, in Clearfield county, in which section he was engaged in mining for a period of ten years. From there he transferred to Adrian, Jeffer- son county, where he was in the employ of the Rochester & Pittsburg Company, was subse- quently at Florence for a short time, and then went to Eleanora, a town six miles from Flor- ence, where he became mine foreman and remained for five years. At the end of that time he came to Iselin, where on Aug. 21, 1912, he became superintendent for the Pitts- burg Gas Coal Company, having charge of five plants; 1,650 men are employed in this district. Mr. Wardrop is a trustworthy, re- liable man, and has won the respect of the many employees under his direction and the warm appreciation of his employers. He is a public-spirited citizen, and while a resident of Jefferson county served four years as mem- ber of the school board of his township.

oldsville, Jefferson Co., Pa .; Brookville Royal Arch Chapter, No. 225; Bethany Chap- ter, of Dubois, Pa .; Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Altoona, Pa .; and B. P. O. Elks Lodge No. 519, of Reynoldsville. Politically he is a Republican.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 140

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