Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 145

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 145

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West Mahoning township, when nearly ninety years old. In the early days he was noted for his skill and success as a hunter and trapper, one winter killing forty bears. He was very well known in northern Indiana county and the adjoining territory in Jeffer- son county. Ten children were born to his

first marriage, with Mary Cunningham, of Though past eighty he is active and well

Jacksonville, Pa., viz .: Abraham L., born Dec. 29, 1807, lived in West Mahoning town- ship. Elizabeth (Betsy), born Oct. 22, 1809, married Jacob Young. Ann, born Nov. 22, 1811. married James McHenry, and lived at Northpoint, Pa. Catherine (Kate), born April 15, 1813, married James Neal and (sec- ond) Joseph Sharp, and all are now deceased. John, born Dec. 4, 1816, married Rachel Blose ; he was killed on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad bridge in 1903. Thomas, born April 11, 1818, lived in West Mahon- ing township; he married Elizabeth McClel- lan and (second) Nancy Wingrove. Mary R., born Sept. 2, 1820, married Artemus Purdy and lived in Galva, Ill. Sarah, born Sept. 2, 1823, married John Chambers. Margaret (Peggy), born Feb. 18, 1826, married Robert

addition to operating same has engaged to some extent in the mercantile business, carry- ing a stock of confectionery and notions. He has also continued to follow his trade, his combined interests serving to bring him a comfortable income and establishing him among the substantial men of his vicinity. preserved, and his excellent memory enables him to recall many interesting experiences of the early days. He has become widely known in his various connections, business and otherwise, and has many friends. He has never aspired to office of any kind, though interested in politics as a member of the Democratic party. In fraternal association he is a member of the I. O. O. F., having be- longed to Amor Lodge, No. 608, at Perrys- ville, for over twenty-five years.

On April 14, 1853, Mr. Neal married Mary Jane Riddle, who died in 1865. In 1866 he married (second) Margaret Ann Gillespie. Four children were born to the first marriage : (1) Silas Clark, of Blairsville, Pa., a baker by trade, married Ann Clark, of Huntingdon county, Pa., and they have had children:

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Albert, Howard, Ethel, Fred, Robert and Hillsdale, and has two children, Vance F. Harry. (2) Johnson, a baker by trade, but and Dean; Charles S., a carpenter, of Gipsy, now engaged in the livery business at Derry Station, Pa., married Barbara Stadmiller, and has one child, Catherine Bell. (3) Lucinda Bell is a milliner at Derry, Pa. (4) John Hastings died unmarried in 1888. He was a baker by trade. To Mr. Neal's second union was born one child, Laura Malissa, who mar- ried Hubbard Day, an employee of the Amer- ican Express Company at New York City.

SYLVESTER McMILLEN is one of the well-known residents of his section of Indi- ana county, where he is now engaged ex- clusively in farming. He was formerly in- terested in lumbering and carpenter work, and in his various activities has made a large circle of acquaintances.

Simon McMillen, his father, was a native

in the winter season. He was a public of- ficial, serving as tax collector and road super- visor, and was one of the respected citizens of Montgomery township in his day. He married Lealı Findley, of Montgomery town- ship, whose family were farming people, and both are now deceased.

Sylvester McMillen was born Sept. 26, 1851, near Hillsdale, in Montgomery township, In- diana Co., Pa., and attended the public schools of the locality. He remained with his father until he attained his majority, farming and lumbering, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for ten years, taking contracts; he has built a great many barns in Indiana county. For a few years he also lumbered to some extent, but meantime he had also been farming most of the time, and since 1901 has been devoting all his time to agricultural work.

years) and overseer of the poor (two terms).

On June 18, 1873, Mr. McMillen married Mary Jane Minser, of Montgomery township, Indiana county, daughter of Mark and Eliz- abeth Minser, the former of whom was en- gaged in lumbering and sawmilling; he was a preacher of the Dunkard Brethren Church. Mr. and Mrs. McMillen have had the follow- ing children: Albert W., a farmer of Mont- gomery township, who married Mary Biss, of

Indiana county, who married Margaret Rose and has three children, Sylvester M., William R. and Mary A .; Mark, of Indiana, Pa., who married Stella Neal and has two children, Neal and Mary G .; Orange, of Denver, Colo .; Ray, at home; Harvy Clair, at home; Clar- ence, at home; Ella Elizabeth, wife of J. A. McCoy, a farmer of East Wheatfield town -. ship, Indiana county, who has children, How- ard Smith, Lynn and Mead; and Sarah Ann, who is the wife of Howard S. Heilman, of Banks township, Indiana county, and has two children, Sylvester Ray and Cecil.

JAMES S. WYNCOOP, a farmer of Rayne township, Indiana county, who has been prominent in the public affairs of his township for a number of years, was born

of Ohio, and came to Indiana county, Pa. He May 6, 1845, son of Matthew B. and Mary was a farmer, and also followed lumbering (Van Lier) Wyncoop. His parental grand- parents were of Holland-Dutch and Scotch descent, respectively. They had a family of eight children.

Matthew B. Wyncoop was born Jan. 13, 1795, in Indiana county, and followed farm- ing all his life, meeting with substantial suc- cess in his chosen calling. He became the owner of the farms now owned by his sons Matthew and James. He died in 1878 in his eighty-fourth year. By his first wife, Eliz- abeth (Work), Mr. Wyncoop had four chil- dren, namely : Agnes, John W., Jane F. and Elizabeth J. His second marriage was to Mary Van Lier, by whom he had eight chil- dren: Robert C., Lucinda V., Matthew B., William M., James S., George S., Emily and Gerardus.

James S. Wyncoop is engaged in farming in Rayne township, and has made an excel- lent record as a township official. He served three years as auditor, two years as con- stable, twelve successive years as tax col- years, with three years of his present term

Mr. McMillen has been active in the work- ings of the Republican party in his locality, and though not an office seeker has accepted lector, and has been school director nine various honors from his fellow citizens, hav- ing served acceptably as supervisor (two still to serve. In politics he is a Republican terms), tax collector (one term of three with leanings toward the Progressive move- ment. He attends the Presbyterian Church at Marion Center.

During the Civil war Mr. Wyncoop en- listed in the 135th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for nine months, after which he enlisted in the United . States Signal Corps, remaining in that branch of the service until the close of the war.

On Oct. 12, 1868, Mr. Wyncoop was mar- ried to Wilhelmina Clark, daughter of Ben-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

jamin F. and Sallie Clark, of Somerset On March 11, 1874, Mr. Miller married county, Pa., who had a family of seven chil- Rachel Mangus, of White township, Indiana dren. Mrs. Wyncoop died Nov. 5, 1905, the county, a daughter of Christian and Lydia mother of eight children, viz .: Ira C., who is

(Lape) Mangus. Mrs. Miller died May 1, engaged in business as a merchant at Irwin, 1909, the mother of the following children : Westmoreland Co., Pa .; Cora M., wife of Margaret, who married A. P. Calhoun, of J. C. McCormick, of Marion Center, this Armstrong township; Edward, who is at county ; Earl Blair, a farmer in Rayne town- - home; Carrie, who married J. B. Hanna, of ship; Verne, wife of Charles Mclaughlin, a Blairsville, Pa .; Barney I., who married farmer of Rayne township; Logan Milton, an undertaker, in New York City; Emma E., married to J. I. McElhoes, a farmer of Rayne township ; Mary B., at home; and Mildred A., who has been teaching in Rayne township since 1903.

For his second wife Mr. Wyncoop married Rena Rook, daughter of Harris Martz, of In- diana county, whose family consisted of eight children.

MOSES B. MILLER, now living retired at Shelocta, Indiana county, was born April 16, 1854, in Washington township, this county, son of Barnabas and Margaret (Yount) Miller.

Moses Miller, his grandfather, was born and reared in Bedford county, Pa., and came to this section of the State when the site of

what is now Johnstown was nothing but a point of continuous residence in Montgom- wilderness. He laid out the first foundation ery township, Indiana county, has been an for a house within the present limits of that

active and useful member of his community in city. By trade he was a stonemason. He every respect. He is a substantial farmer, bought a tract of land in what is now the has served in various local offices, and has city of Johnstown, 227 acres, paying fifty cents an acre, but he subsequently moved to Indiana county, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. He married Mary Mag- dalene Sell, and their children were: Barna- bas, Henry, Moses, William, Mrs. George Mitchell. Susan (Mrs. William Johnson), Elizabeth (Mrs. John Russell), Peggie (Mrs. Henry Frailey) and Annie. The father of this family died in 1877, at the age of eighty- nine years.

Barnabas Miller, a son of Moses Miller, the township.

lived in Washington township, Indiana county. He married Margaret Yount.

Nettie Walker; Abbie J., who married R. S. Fleming, of Shelocta; Catherine, who is de- ceased; Mary, who married C. W. Kerr, of Armstrong township; Rose, who is at home; H. Porter, born June 30, 1890, who was edu- cated in the common schools and at Elderton academy, and taught in the Parkwood school for one year and the Fleming school for an- other year; and Virginia E., who is at home.

Mr. Miller is a member of the United Pres- byterian Church, which he served as trustee. While he has been a Republican in political sentiment his sympathies are with the Pro- hibition movement, and he supports it by ex- ample and influence, for he believes that many of the ills of the times can be directly traced to the liquor traffic.

JOSIAH ROWLEY, the oldest citizen in

been associated with all movements which have aimed at the betterment of conditions in his section. Mr. Rowley was born in Arm- strong county, Pa., Sept. 23, 1837, son of Cornelius and Theresa (Ruffner) Rowley, farming people who moved to Montgomery township, Indiana county, April 3, 1838. Cornelius Rowley followed farming there to the end of his days, dying at the age of seventy- five years. His wife died at the age of eighty- two. He served two terms as supervisor of

Josiah Rowley has been a lifelong farmer, at present owning seventy-seven acres, under excellent cultivation. He has served six terms as supervisor of his township, and seven terms as school director, his long retention in these positions being the best evidence of the satisfaction his discharge of their respon-

Moses B. Miller, son of Barnabas Miller, was educated in the common schools of his locality, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a journeyman and later as a successful contractor and builder, erect- ing the Parkwood school and a large hotel in sibilities has given to his fellow citizens. He Clarksburg, Pa., as well as many commodious is a man of high moral worth, a member of the Dunkard Brethren Church and a Pro- hibitionist in political connection. barns, and repaired the United Presbyterian church at Elderton. He is now retired from active life, enjoying the comforts his industry On Feb. 25, 1866, Mr. Rowley married Maria Plose (Plous), of Montgomery town- has provided.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship, Indiana county, daughter of George and Mary Plose, and eight children were born to this union, five dying in infancy. The surviv- ors are: Anna, now the wife of M. G. Rug- amer, machinist in an automobile factory, of Lafayette, Ind .; William Wallace; and Sam- uel S., section boss on the Pennsylvania rail- road, now living at McGees Mills, Clearfield Co., Pa. Mrs. Rowley died Oct. 1, 1899.

WILLIAM WALLACE ROWLEY, son of Josiah and Maria Rowley, was born Feb. 14, 1871, in his time and attention to its cultivation, in which he has been very successful. He has there. He has always followed farming, and officially, having filled the office of overseer Montgomery township, Indiana county, and obtained his education in the public schools found time also to serve his fellow citizens in the winter also engages in lumbering. He of the poor for three terms. owns a tract of sixty-three acres, which under

On Oct. 2, 1882, Mr. Dick married Linna his energetic management is in profitable con- Stephens, who was born in Indiana county, dition. Like his father he takes a keen in- daughter of Giles Stephens, a farmer, who terest in the administration of local affairs, settled in the county many years ago. Mrs. and he has served three terms as overseer of the poor and three times as supervisor of elections. He supports the Prohibition party. On March 13, 1900, he married Pearl Conner, of Washington township, this county, daughter of Abraham W. and Catherine Conner, farm- ing people, and they have had two children: Ray Sprankle, born Oct. 21, 1902, and Elmer Sheldon, born Nov. 22, 1906.

GEORGE H. DICK, farmer of Cherryhill township, Indiana county, has with the ex- ception of a short time spent in the West been a lifelong resident of that township, where he was born Sept. 2, 1851. His grand- father, John Dick, came to this county at an early day and bought land which he cleared and cultivated, living thereon until his death, which occurred when he was forty-four years old.

Jacob P. Dick, son of John, was the father of George H. Dick. He was born in Blair county, Pa., but was reared in Indiana coun- ty, followed farming all his active life in and grandson of Samuel Patterson, who came Cherryhill township, and died in 1900. In to Indiana county in pioneer days. This sec- tion was a wilderness when he settled here. He followed farming from early life, and lived and died upon the place where he located upon his arrival. His children were: Wil- liam, John C., Thomas, Robert, Elizabeth and Margaret. 1863 he married Elizabeth Hoover, and the following children were born to them: Mar- garet, who is now deceased; David H., of Cherryhill township; George H .; Andrew and John, both of whom are deceased; Nancy, wife of Benjamin Bowers, of Martinsburg, Pa .; and Martin H., who lives in Cherryhill township. By his second marriage Jacob P. Dick had seven children, the survivors being: William, who lives in Iowa; James, of Johnstown, Pa .; Jacob M., who is on the old homestead ; and Frank, living with his mother at Greenville, Pennsylvania.

George H. Dick attended the schools near his home in Cherryhill township, and from boyhood worked with his father, assisting in the cultivation of the home farm. Since he began life for himself he has continued to follow farming, as well as lumbering, and with the exception of two years when he was out West has always lived in his native coun -. ty. In 1893 he purchased the farm upon which he now lives, and has since given all

Dick died June 30, 1890. She had four chil- dren, viz .: Edna, who died at the age of four- teen years; a twin of Edna, deceased in in- fancy ; Harry, and Wilda. On March 6, 1891, Mr. Dick was married (second) to Mary D. Moorhead, who was born in the borough of Indiana, on what is now the site of the "Indiana Hotel," daughter of James and Belle Moorhead, both of whom lived in In- diana county from their early days. Six children have been born to this union, one of whom died in infancy. The survivors are : Martha, George, James, Edward and Stella. Mr. and Mrs. Dick are members of the Pres- byterian Church.

JOHN W. PATTERSON, of Green town- ship, Indiana county, has been engaged in farming all his life and has also followed lumbering. He lives on what was formerly known as the Trimmell farm. Mr. Patterson was born in Green township Dec. 10, 1846, son of Thomas and Martha (Dunkle) Patterson

Thomas Patterson, father of John W. Pat- terson, was born in Cherryhill township, this county, learned shoemaking, and followed that trade all his life. He was a well-known citizen in his day, having served several terms as justice of the peace in Green township. He died May 9, 1888. His wife, Martha (Dunkle), who is still living, now (1912)

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ninety-two years old, was born in Brushval- burg, Pa .; she has had three children, Harold ley township, this county, daughter of John (deceased), Raymond and Virginia. Jessie Dunkle, a native of New York, of Dutch an- E. lives in Pittsburg. Albert is also a resi- cestry, who settled in Indiana county in the early days. He was a farmer by occupation. Of the family born to him and his wife, Keziah, the eldest, is deceased; Martha be- came Mrs. Patterson ; Mary is deceased; Cath- erine, Lucinda and Elizabeth are deceased. dent of Pittsburg. Harold, who lives in Pittsburg, married Olive Luther, and they have one child, Norman. Thomas, who lives in Cambria county, married Elizabeth Cole- man, and they have one child. Oden is liv- ing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are Nine children were born to Thomas and members of the Methodist Church, in which

Martha (Dunkle) Patterson: Samuel D., he has been an active worker, being at present who is now deceased, was a soldier in the a trustee, class leader and superintendent of Civil war, serving in Company I, 67th Penn- the Sunday school.

sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and taking part in many battles; he was captured, and con-

JACOB J. EVERWINE was born Oct. 27, fined at Andersonville, Libby prison and 1841, on the farm in Rayne township, Indiana Belle Isle; he lived in Cambria county, and county, which he still operates, his son now assisting him. represented same in the State Legislature for one term. John W. is mentioned below. Keziah is the wife of Robert F. Templeton, of Green township. William E. is living on the old homestead in Green township. Martin L. is a resident of Montgomery township, this county. Robert lives in Green township. Cal- lie is the wife of John L. Evans, of Ebens- burg, Pa. Ella M. is the wife of Evan G. Davis and lives in Green township. Emma is the wife of W. B. Douglas, of Green town- ship.

Jacob Everwine, his father, was born in Germany, and he was twice married, both his wives being natives of the same province as himself. By his second union, to Catherine Rosina Polack, he had three children: Louisa, who is the widow of William Zigler and lives in the borough of Indiana, Indiana county ; Jacob J .; and Rosina, deceased, who was the wife of James Bence, a farmer of Rayne town- ship, and had nine children. When the father came to America he first made his home at Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa., later moving to the borough of Indiana, and subsequently purchasing the farm in Rayne township where his son Jacob now lives. He died on this old homestead March 20, 1873, and the mother died there April 6, 1895.

John W. Patterson obtained his education in the common schools of Green township. He lived on the farm where he was born until he reached manhood, and subsequently spent two years at Ebensburg, Pa. He has followed lumbering as well as general farming, and since 1884 has lived at his present home in Green township, occupying what was at one time the Trimmell farm, where the famous Trimmell triplets were born. He owns a fine property, in excellent condition, giving every evidence of the intelligent care and manage- ment of the owner. Mr. Patterson has served two terms as a member of the board of school directors of his township.

Jacob J. Everwine was raised and educated in Rayne township, and has been engaged in farming throughout his active years, now owning the farm which his father bought many years ago. He has 150 acres of valu- able land, and he and his son now cultivate the place together, their intelligent and well- directed labors being apparent in the fine condition of the property. He has been a On May 15, 1872, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage to Mary Virginia Moorhead, who was born in Cherryhill township, this county, daughter of David and Lydia (Hahn) Moor- Republican in political association, and now belongs to the Progressive party, and he has taken considerable interest in the welfare of his locality and its proper administration. head, the former a native of Lancaster county, He has been elected to the office of school director. Mr. Everwine attends the Lutheran Church.

Pa., and the latter a native of Maryland; they settled in this county at an early day, Mr. Moorhead engaging in farming in Cherry- hill township. Mr. and Mrs. Moorhead are now deceased. They were the parents of four children.

On March 1, 1866, Mr. Everwine married Amanda Widdowson, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth G. (Lydick) Widdowson, farm- ing people of Cherryhill township; they had

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs, a family of fourteen children. The follow- Patterson : Mabel, the eldest, is now the ing were born to Mr. and Mrs. Everwine: widow of Robert Dawson, and lives in Pitts- Mary married Harry Longwill, a farmer, of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Dixonville, this county, and they have a county, where he bought the Speedy farm of family of six children; Jean married T. N. 212 acres, located halfway between Saltsburg Strong, farmer of Rayne township, and has and Livermore, on the Saltsburg and Blairs- two children, one son and one daughter; ville road. Here he engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising the re- mainder of his life. He was a prominent man in his day, in both Westmoreland and Indiana counties, being of active character and progressive disposition. He was up-to- date in his work and thoroughly honorable in all his dealings. He died on this place and was buried with his wife in the cemetery of the Conemaugh Church. A lifelong member of the Annetta Rosina married Charles Stuchell, who is now deceased, and by him had one son, and she is now the wife of George Gib- son, of Canada, at present living on Long Island, New York ; Olive is deceased; Florence is deceased; Thomas J. married Minerva Ed- wards, a builder, now living at Swissvale, Allegheny Co., Pa., and they have one child, a daughter; John L., born May 12, 1883, lives at home; M. J., born Oct. 6, 1886, is studying United Presbyterian Church, he was active medicine at Chicago, Illinois.

THOMAS ALEXANDER HUGHES, of Conemaugh township, has had his home there from young manhood, when he came to this section with his parents. Though the family has not been associated for long with Indiana county, it is one of the oldest in this part of Pennsylvania, the great-grandfather of Mr. Hughes having been the first white child born in Westmoreland county.

(A recent history of Westmoreland county says the Hughes family is of Scotch-Irish lineage, and the branch to which the late Dr. John W. Hughes, of Latrobe, belonged was early founded in Pennsylvania, members of the family having been among the first pioneers to settle west of the Allegheny moun- tains in this State. William Hughes was a farmer by vocation, and in early life married a Miss Barnett, a representative of the well- known family of that name which early settled near New Derry, Westmoreland coun- ty, being prominent in the Presbyterian Church for many generations. Their son, Samuel B. Hughes, who died in 1874, was the father of Dr. John W. Hughes.)

Isaac Hughes, grandfather of Thomas Alex- ander Hughes, was born at Derry station, in Westmoreland county, and there followed farming all his life. He was twice married, having two children, Isaac and Samuel, by the first union, and his second wife, whose maiden name was Cummings, was the mother of four: David, Alexander, James, and a daughter whose name is not given.

in its work and contributed freely to its sup- port, and while a resident of Westmoreland county served many years as trustee of the church at New Alexandria. Mr. Hughes mar- ried Sarah Kennedy, daughter of George Kennedy, of Westmoreland county, whose wife's name was Gray, and to this union were born the following children: George married Annie Bell Kincade, and they live on the farm in Conemaugh township adjoin- ing that of Thomas Alexander Hughes, it being a tract of 106 acres, half of the original place bought by their father; Loretta married John Hunter, of Elderton, Armstrong Co., Pa., a farmer ; Irene is deceased ; Mary, widow of James Irwin, resides at Livermore, West- moreland county ; Thomas Alexander is men- tioned below.

Thomas Alexander Hughes was born April 12, 1867, in Derry township, near New Alex- andria, Westmoreland county, and there re- ceived his education in the common schools. He worked with his father from boyhood, and was eighteen years old when the family moved to Conemaugh township, Indiana county, where he continued to farm with his father until the latter's death. The home place was then divided, he and his brother George each receiving 106 acres, which they continue to cultivate. Thomas A. Hughes makes a spe- cialty of truck gardening along with general farming, and stock raising, and his practical methods and enterprising disposition are ap- parent in the fine appearance of his property and its increased productive qualities. Though he cares nothing for public honors for him- self he has taken a prominent part in town- ship affairs, and he held the position of road supervisor one term.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 145

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