Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 141

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 141

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Joseph P. Keibler moved to Cowanshan- nock township, Armstrong county, where he bought 130 acres of land and operated it in conjunction with working at his trade, blacksmithing. He built a shop on his prop- erty and labored industriously. When his country had need of his services he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment, serving from 1861 until the close of the Civil war. As he advanced in years, he became prominent in his township, serving three terms as a justice of the peace, as well as in various township offices. A consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, he served as elder from early manhood until his death, which oc- curred on his farm in 1892, when he was sixty- five years old. His wife died in 1894, aged sixty-two years. She, too, was a Presbyte- rian in religious connection. Joseph P. Keib- ler was secretary of the Armstrong Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The children born to him and his wife were: John Elder; Isa- belle, who died at the age of twenty-two years ; Rebecca, who married Laurentius Neff, de- ceased; Wallace, who died at the age of nine- teen years; Sadie, who died at the age of fifteen years; and Ida, who married William Luckhart, of Indiana county.

Mr. Wardrop married Lottie Tulowetzki, John Elder Keibler grew up on his father's homestead in Armstrong county and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. He learned his father's trade, and followed it, also working on the farm. After his mar- riage Mr. Keibler operated the Samuel Hoover farm, near Smicksburg, Indiana county, for and they have had six children: William, who died when four months old; Herbert, who is in the employ of the Pittsburg Gas Coal Company at Iselin; Charles, a clerk in the company store at Iselin ; Martha, Mildred and William (2), at school. Mr. Wardrop and his family are Presbyterians in religious con- one year, and then for another year was on nection, but attend the Union Church at the farm of his father-in-law, at Atwood, Iselin. Socially he is a Mason and member Armstrong county. At the end of this time of the B. P. O. Elks, belonging to John M. he was able to buy eighty acres of land in

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county. manhood in Buffington township. He learned After remaining on this property for five and followed blacksmithing, but later became years, he sold, and in December, 1887, an agriculturist in that township, where his bought his present farm of 140 acres in Arm- death occurred when he was forty-eight years strong township, Indiana county, which has old. His remains were laid to rest at Strongs- continued to be his home ever since. He has town, Pa. He was a member of the Methodist greatly improved his property, having now Church and was a class leader for many excellent buildings and appliances, while his years. At one time he belonged to the old land is in a high state of cultivation.

On Nov. 8, 1875, Mr. Keibler was married to Mary Theressa Mccullough, who was born June 12, 1857, at Red Bank Furnace, Clarion Co., Pa., daughter of David and Jane (Downey) Mccullough, natives of Pennsyl- vania. When Mrs. Keibler was one year old her parents brought her to Armstrong town- ship, Indiana county, and when she was four years old they moved to Cowanshannock township, Armstrong county. There she grew to womanhood, gaining an excellent educa- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Keibler have become the parents of children as follows: Bertha May, Wilbur Reed, Turza Mayme, Dora Alice, John Clarence, James G. Blaine, Elsie Pearl, Paul McCullough, Helen Marie, Murray Mc- Kinley and Viola Grace.

Mr. Keibler is a Republican, although his father was a Democrat, and he is interested in the passage and enforcement of such laws as will secure good government and the pro- tection of the agriculturist. The Keibler family is deservedly ranked among the sub- stantial people of Indiana and Armstrong counties, and its representatives fully sus- tain the high standards established by their forefathers in earlier days.

ARCHIE A. BENNETT, hotel-keeper at Strongstown, Pa., belongs to a family of Eng- lish extraction founded in Indiana county by his great-grandfather, John Bennett.

John Bennett left his native England when a young man, and coming to the United States first settled in West Virginia, then a portion of Virginia, later coming to Indiana county, Pa., and locating in what is now Buffington township, where he secured over one hundred. acres of land. This property was wooded and he cleared the greater portion of it, devel- oping 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, was born in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Pa., and grew to

State militia, and was a fifer.

William Bennett married Elizabeth Baley, daughter of Samuel Baley, and they had chil- dren as follows: John, who died in Brush- valley township, this county; Mary, who married Adam Moses and died in Armstrong county, Pa .; Catherine, who married Thomas Swartzwalder, and died in Armstrong county, Pa .; David, who went out to California in 1849, and was never heard from afterward; Wesley, who died young; Abraham B .; James, who is living retired at Strongstown; 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 Brush- valley township; Elizabeth, who married Sam- uel Whitehead 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 Strongstown; and Samuel, of Seward, West- moreland Co., Pa. Mrs. McAdams lived to be seventy-nine years old, and was buried at Strongstown.

James Bennett, son of William and Eliz- abeth (Baley) Bennett, was born in Buffing- ton township, and became a farmer and stone- mason. Until 1874 he operated a farm in Buffington township, in that year going to Cambria county, Pa., where he bought a farm which he carried on until 1900. Then he came to Pine township, Indiana county, and con- tinued agricultural operations for two years more, since when he has lived retired at Strongstown. During the Civil war he served in Company E, 67th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, as a sharpshooter, and took part in many notable engagements; his period of service extended over eleven months and he was discharged at the close of the war.

James Bennett married Elizabeth Shultz, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Cramer) Schultz, and they had two children : Nancy, who married James Marsh, and lives in Blacklick township, Cambria county, on the old homestead of the Bennett family ; and Archie A.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Archie A. Bennett was born Jan. 1, 1864, born in Young township, Jefferson Co., Pa., in Buffington township, Indiana county. He June 16, 1844, son of Henry G. Wingert. attended public school in Cambria county, Henry G. Wingert, the father, was born in Germany, near the city of Berlin. When he came to the United States he settled in Jefferson county, Pa., where he died. and a summer school taught by Professor Garaway, and worked for his father, with whom he is still associated in business inter- ests. Until he was forty years old Mr. Ben- Henry G. Wingert, son of Henry G. Win- gert, grew to manhood in Jefferson county and owned 300 acres of land there, on which he carried on farming and lumbering. He re- mained there until 1887, when he moved to Indiana county and went into the general store business at Marchand, conducting same nett continued farming, in 1904 coming to Strongstown, where he was in the general mercantile business for six years, also acting as agent for agricultural implements and re- pairs on same, and dealing in corn, oats, chop flour and mill feeds. He had the store at the corner of Main and Buffington streets. His in connection with the operation of his farm sons were in partnership with him for some of 146 acres. His death occurred at Mar- chand Oct. 19, 1897. He was a member of the Reformed Church at Punxsutawney. In politics he was a Democrat, but never held any public office. For many years he was a member of John W. Jenks Lodge, No. 534, F. & A. M., at Punxsutawney. time, the firm being known as A. A. Bennett & Sons. Mr. Bennett has since been engaged in the hotel business, as proprietor of the "Bennett House," which he conducts for the accommodation of travelers who appreciate the fact that he carries no license for the sale of intoxicants.

Archie A. Bennett married Jane Marsh, Rosanna Noerr, a daughter of George and daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Dias) Marsh, and they are the parents of the fol- lowing children: (1) Andrew M., who lives at and operates the White mill, in Blacklick township, Cambria Co., Pa., was always a good shot and is now making a practical use of his skill as crack shot for the Winchester Fire Arms people ; he married Lola Williams. (2) J. Walter, who is at Calvert, Pa., in the employ of a coal company, married Lida Ondreizek. (3) Elvira married Alton Strong, a farmer, of Strongstown, Pa. (4) Mayme lives at home. (5) Ann E., at home, is or- ganist for the Methodist Church. (6) Alton Smith and (7) Grace are at home.

Mr. Bennett was commissioned a notary public and is now serving his second term. His reliability and conscientiousness makes him appreciate the responsibilities of that of- fice. In politics he is a Republican. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Church at Strongstown, and is serving it as member of the board of trustees and secretary of that board. The Bennett family is well known, and its representatives stand high in public opinion, for they are citizens of steadfast purpose and untiring zeal in promoting the general welfare.

HENRY G. WINGERT (deceased) was a well-known and much respected citizen of North Mahoning township, Indiana county, where he had extensive interests as a farmer, lumberman and general storekeeper. He was Nov. 4, 1904; and Emma C., born Feb. 12,

On Dec. 30, 1873, Mr. Wingert married Catherine Barbara (Hoffman) Noerr, and they had the following children: Emma, who married Samuel Wassam, of Cherrytree; Samuel Tilden, who lives at Summerville, Pa. ; Milton, who is deceased; Charlotte, who is a school teacher at Watsonville, Cal .; Beulah, who is the wife of William Eckert, living in Arizona ; Clara, a teacher in Colorado; Laura, who is the wife of Francis Condron, living in Arizona; Charles M., living at home; Ellen, who is the wife of William Rodress, of Pitts- burg; Clark W., who lives in Arizona; and Frank S., who is with his brother at Sum- merville.

George Noerr, father of Mrs. Henry G. Wingert, was born in Germany, near Wurt- emberg, Jan. 12, 1827, and came to the United States when a young man. In the city of Pittsburg, Pa., he was married to Catherine Barbara Hoffman, who was born in Germany Oct. 23, 1828, and the following children were born to them: Rosanna is the widow of Henry G. Wingert; George M., born Feb. 12, 1854, married Ada McDowell, of McCalmont township, Jefferson Co., Pa .; Eliza B., born Aug. 9, 1856, married James North, of Punxsutawney, and died Nov. 6, 1901; John, born Sept. 30, 1858, married Susanna Zimmerman; Sophia M., born Sept. 10, 1860, married Henry Smith, of Trade City ; Carl Frederick, born Oct. 16, 1862, died March 22, 1880; Mary M., born Aug. 6, 1865, died March 12, 1880; William A., born May 10, 1867, married Emma Burkett, and died

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1870, married Frank St. Clair, of DuBois, was engaged in farming until he was cap- Pennsylvania.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Noerr lived on their farm of 800 acres situated in MeCalmont township, Jefferson county, Mr. Noerr carrying on general farming and lum- bering, building a large sawmill on his land. In 1883 he retired from active business life, and with his wife and youngest daughter moved to Punxsutawney, where he lived in comfort during the rest of his days, his death occurring fifteen years later, on May 18, 1898. His widow survives and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Wingert, at Marchand. Each of his sons inherited a farm in Jefferson county. Mr. Noerr voted the Democratic ticket and believed in the principles of that political party, but never held any office. He was a member of the German Lutheran Church at Punxsutawney.

Mrs. Rosanna Wingert was born in Jeffer- son county, Pa., Sept. 15, 1852, and there obtained a public school education. She re- mained with her parents until she was twenty- one years of age, at which time she married, and for fourteen years afterward she and Mr. Wingert continued to reside in Jefferson county, then moving to Marchand, where she has lived ever since. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Covode, Penn- sylvania.

MILTON EMERSON CESSNA, of Plum- ville, Indiana county, dealer in lumber and builders' supplies, was born in Clearfield, Clearfield Co., Pa., March 9, 1860. The Cess- na family is of French origin, but for up- ward of two hundred years the representa- tives of the family to which he belongs have made their home in America. The name was originally De Cessna.

The founder of the Cessna family in Amer- ica was Count John De Cessna, who was born in the south of France, of a prominent family. He was a Huguenot, and an officer under William, Prince of Orange, during the conquest of Ireland, participating in the battle of the Boyne in 1690. Later on Count De Cessna came to the American colonies, and locating first in Lancaster county, Pa., remained there for a period, thence going to York county, same State, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1751. He mar- ried a young Irish girl named Priscilla, and they had several sons, some of whom settled at Shippensburg, 'Pennsylvania.

tured by the Indians while working in his field about seven miles from Shippensburg, July 18, 1757, together with two of his sons and others.

John Cessna (3), son of John (2), was born Jan. 26, 1726, at Shippensburg, Pa., and moved to Bedford county, Pa., where in 1765 he bought a farm at Friends Cove, near Rainsburg, in Colerain township, which is still in the family. He took a very active part in the public affairs of Pennsylvania in his day, being a member of the constitutional convention of 1774 which drafted the first constitution of the State. As major of a regi- ment he took a patriotic part in the Revolu- tionary war, and later was sheriff of Bedford county for six years, from 1789, serving three terms of two years each, giving his country and community distinguished service. He died March 31, 1802. His first wife, Sarah Rose, born Feb. 6, 1740, died July 1, 1788, the mother of children as follows: Jonathan, born Nov. 16, 1760; Rachel, born Aug. 1, 1762; John, born Dec. 8, 1764; Stephen, born Dec. 26, 1766; Elizabeth, born Dec. 1, 1768; William, born June 20, 1775; and others. Mr. Cessna's second marriage was to Elizabeth Hall, and by this union he had four children : Evan, Charles, James, and a daughter who died at the age of twenty.

Charles Cessna, son of John and Eliza- beth (Hall) Cessna, was born in the home- stead at Friends Cove, in Colerain township, Bedford Co., Pa., March 10, 1789. He mar- ried Katherine Smouse and they had the fol- lowing children: George, William, Elizabeth, John, Annie, Betsy, Mary and Charles Wash- ington. Mr. Cessna lived during his latter days at Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa., where he died in 1829, while still in the very prime of life.

John Cessna, son of Charles and Katherine Cessna, was born at Blairsville, and was only five years old when he had the misfortune to lose his father. After he attained his majority he moved to Jefferson county, and there was engaged in lumbering, and later went to Clearfield county, continuing his lumber operations until 1866, when he settled near Smithport, in Banks township, Indiana Co., Pa. There he ran a sawmill and dealt in lumber the remainder of his life, also farming. He passed away in 1893. He was a Democrat politically while in religious faith

John Cessna (2), son of John and Pris- he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal eilla, located near Shippensburg, where he Church.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

John Cessna married first a Miss Martin, at home; Maria was killed by an accident; who was born in Clearfield, and they had Wayne is at home. children as follows: George, who resides at Mr. Cessna is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Sagamore and the Odd Fellows at Plumville. A man of unusual business ability and fine principles, he has not only tried to make a success of his own affairs, but to live as a useful citizen. He is a worthy representative of an honored family. Hortons, Pa .; William, who is deceased; Cath- erine, who died young; Kutora, deceased; and Eliza, who married Joseph Coy. By his sec- ond marriage, to Abigail Keslar, there were the following children: Sarah A., who mar- ried T. J. Hickox, of Jefferson county, Pa .; Milton Emerson; Ida, who married A. M. Tyger, of Canoe township; Lillie, who mar- ried H. G. Bowers, of Punxsutawney, Pa .; Mildred I., who married H. C. Tyger, of Rochester Mills; Melissa E., who married Frank F. McCall, of Punxsutawney ; John,

THOMAS WIGGINS, one of the honored residents of Armstrong township, Indiana county, was born in White township, this county, two miles from Indiana, Sept. 1, 1830, son of James and Mary (Ramsey) Wig- who died in childhood; and Ai, who also died gins. He was the youngest of a family of eleven children and is the only surviving

in childhood.

Milton Emerson Cessna was only six years member. old when the family moved to Indiana county, Mr. Wiggins grew to manhood in this county and was reared to agricultural life. After his marriage he farmed in different places. In 1852 Mr. Wiggins was married to Sarah Jane McCullom, born Sept. 3, 1828, in the vicinity of Apollo, Armstrong Co., Pa., daughter of David and Hannah (Brown) Mc- Cullom, the latter from Mercer county, Pa. Mrs. Wiggins grew to womanhood in Arm- strong township, Indiana county. Mr. and so that he passed practically all his early life in this locality. He was sent to school at Smithport, and began working on the home farm in childhood, and in his father's saw- mill. He continued in the lumber business with his father until the death of the latter, after which he carried it on alone, and was also interested in farming until 1904, when lie rented the farm and moved to Indiana. There he formed a partnership with H. B. Mrs. Wiggins became the parents of children Engle, a dealer in builders' supplies. This as follows: James Wilson, who married county ; Hannah Jane is Mrs. James Calhoun ; Mary Ann is the widow of John Lowry ; Della married John Little and lives at Indiana; Sarah C. died when seven years old; Mar- garet, who is Mrs. Alfred Street, lives at home; David H., who married Jennie Lewis, lives at Indiana; Samuel Blair, who married Jennie McAdoo, lives at Vandergrift ; Andrew Harvey, who married Maggie McCurdy, lives in Armstrong township; and Elva E., who married Bruce Fitzgerald, lives in Cone- maugh township. association lasted for a year, when Mr. Cessna Laura Agnes Lawrence, lives in Cambria sold in 1905, coming to Plumville to establish himself in the business he has since carried on. He manufactures and deals in lumber of all kinds, and makes stair work and interior finish outside of Indiana, doing the largest business of the kind in the county. Mr. Cessna has erected a fine plant and store, and also three residences. Outside of contribut- ing in this way to the material improvement of the town he has been interested in securing its municipal and moral advancement in other ways and is justly recognized as one of its leading men. Politically he is a Democrat.

On Sept. 16, 1885, Mr. Cessna was married in Banks township to Martha J. Bowers, born in Jefferson county, Pa., a daughter of Jacob Bowers. Mr. and Mrs. Cessna have had ten children: Harvey George, who is with the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad Co., mar- ried in 1907 Pauline Bridenstine, and they have three children, Harold, Martha and a baby; Clyde Emerson, who is at home, mar- ried Ada Crawford, and they have one child, Ralph Milton; Glenn is in Montana; Quay is working for the Buffalo & Susquehanna Rail- road Co .; John, Ellen, Jacob and Arthur are

Mr. Wiggins belongs to the United Presby- terian Church at Shelocta. Politically he is a Democrat, but not active, and has never sought public office. Always a hard-working man, he has fully earned the comforts with which he is now surrounded, as well as the confidence and respect of his neighbors.

WILLIAM JAMES GRAHAM is engaged in general farming, teaming and lumbering in Buffington township, Indiana county, where he is owner of a fine farm of 205 acres, composed of two tracts owned formerly by his father and grandfather. He is a great- grandson of John Graham, the pioneer of the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

family in this region, who was an early settler and Minnie. A son born in 1850 died the in what is now Buffington township, locating same year. on a tract of 200 acres upon which he made

Samuel Graham was born Feb. 4, 1839,

the first improvements, and which has since on the old homestead in Buffington township. been occupied by his descendants. Here he married Ann Henry, and they had children as follows: James; Samuel, who married Mary Marshall; John, who married Rebecca Stephens; Jane (Jennie), who married Wil- liam Duncan; Ann, who married Jolın Dun- can; Mary, who married Maj. James Stewart; Margaret, who married John Lemon; Wil- liam; and Sarah, who married Joseph or Samuel Duncan. and helped with the farm work there until he reached his majority. He then bought from his uncle a tract of 220 acres, upon which he engaged in farming, and he also followed lumbering and the carpenter's trade, making railroad ties and contracting ; he made a specialty of building frame houses. He was a good business man, and though he gave his private affairs proper attention also found time to take part in public matters, serv- William Graham, son of John and Ann (Henry) Graham, was born July 22, 1805, in what is now Buffington township, and here followed agricultural pursuits, in which he prospered, acquiring the ownership of five election board. In religion he was a member ing his township as supervisor and school director; he was a stanch Republican and took an interest in the success of the party, and he served as member of the township of the Presbyterian Church. He died July 7, 1908, after an active and useful career which brought him honorable standing among his fellow men.

farms, with a total area of over seven hundred acres. He raised a large amount of stock. His home was always on the place settled by his father, now occupied by his grandson Allen S. Graham. He was one of the influen- tial citizens of the township in his day. His died Feb. 23, 1871, surviving him a number of years, his death having occurred June 8, 1853. They were buried in the McCartney cemetery in Buffington township. We have

the following record of the ten children born to them: John, born July 18, 1829, died Nov. 13, 1829. William, born Aug. 21, 1830, married Jane Duncan; during the Civil war he enlisted in Company I, 67th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and had served about fifteen months when he was killed, May 20, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness. James, born Jan. 30, 1833, made his home in Worth county, Mo., and died in 1906; during the Civil war he served nearly three years in Com- pany I, 67th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, and was captured, being held prisoner at Belle Isle for eight weeks; he married Z. Lydia, and they had children, William S., John W., Harry S. and Robert. John (2), born Oct. 12, 1835, married Mrs. Annie (Davis) Hanna, and died Aug. 3, 1903. Andrew, born Nov. 27, 1837, died Feb. 1, 1838. Samuel is mentioned below. Nancy Jane, born Dec. 20, 1841, married William H. Robertson, and died in 1872. A daughter died in infancy in June, 1847. Robert S., born June 28, 1847, served during the Civil war in the 2d Battalion, Pennsylvania six months' volunteers; he now resides in Worth county, Mo .; he married Jemima Emfield, and they have children, Chalmers D., Edward

Mr. Graham married Sarah Ann Blades, who died July 18, 1887. They had a family

wife, Mary (McFeaters), born Nov. 27, 1808, of eleven children, viz .: Mary Ann, who married Harry Bennett; Emma Jane, who married George Wyke; Cora Agnes, who died when nineteen years old; Charles Grant, de- ceased, an engineer on the Pennsylvania rail- road, who married Maud Siler; Elmer Clark, deceased, who married Maria Stilts; John W., deceased; William James; Stewart, de- ceased, who married Minnie Hill ; Louisa, who married Martin Orner and resides in Johns- town, Pa .; Frank, deceased; and Samuel, de- ceased.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 141

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