Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 146

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 146

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David Hughes, son of Isaac, was born at Derry station, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and had common school privileges. He began farming with his parents, later owning a large farm and carrying on farming and stock rais- Mr. Hughes married Blanch Christman, daughter of William and Sarah (Irwin) ing extensively. In 1885 he sold this place and moved to Conemaugh township, Indiana Christman, and they have the following chil-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

dren : Eva May, George Kennedy, John Gertha, at home; Theresa, Dow, Walter and Albert, Irene Elizabeth and Annie Bell.

Mary, all four deceased.

ASA E. McANULTY is a native-born res- ident of Green township, Indiana county, and has lived on his present farm since he was seventeen years old. He was born July 15, 1855, son of James and Martha McAnulty, and grandson of Michael McAnulty, who was a pioneer settler in the county and bought a farm in Green township upon which he lived and worked until his death. The McAnultys are of Scotch-Irish origin.

James McAnulty, father of Asa E. Me- Anulty, was born in Indiana county, and died when Asa E., his only child, was very young. His wife, Martha, was also a native of In- diana county, and was one of seven children born to her parents, all now deceased.

Asa E. McAnulty received a public school education in Green township, and when a boy began to work on the farm, continuing to fol- low agricultural pursuits all his life, in Green township. When seventeen he came to the farm upon which he has ever since re- sided, and he has engaged in lumbering as well as general farming. He has been suc- cessful in his work, which has brought him a comfortable income.

On Jan. 24, 1878, Mr. McAnulty was mar- ried to Catherine Jeffries, who was born June 19, 1862, in Pine Flats, Indiana county, daughter of Howell and Anna (Evans) Jeff- ries, natives of Wales, the former of whom came with his parents to America in an early day, the family first settling at Johnstown, Pa. Later they moved to Indiana county, making a home in Green township. Mrs. Mc- Anulty's maternal grandfather Evans settled at Pine Flats, this county, owning a farm in Green township where he lived and died. Mrs. McAnulty was one of five children born to her parents: Mary, now widow of John

in Pittsburg, Pa .; Anna, wife of William Fleming, of Green township; Catherine, Mrs. Me Anulty ; and Ella, wife of William H. Wil- liams, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

JOHN W. SNYDER, who has an eighty-two- acre farin in Rayne township, Indiana county, was born in that township April 17, 1871, son of George J. and Isabelle (Boocher) Snyder. His father, who is a native of Indiana county, passed all his active years in farming, retir- ing in the year 1898. He makes his home in the borough of Indiana.

John W. Snyder received his education in the old McKee and Shields schools, and early became familiar with farming, working with his father. For some time he resided in In- diana borough, where he was employed at the carpenter's trade, and from there moved to Rayne township, buying the farm of eighty- two acres upon which he now lives. He de- votes all his time to the cultivation of this place, and has been a useful citizen of his locality, serving one term in the office of supervisor, in which he gave thorough sat- isfaction.

On Sept. 16, 1896, at the age of twenty- five years, Mr. Snyder married Carrie M. Freck, of Rayne township, daughter of George and Catherine (Cook) Freek, well-known resi- dents of this section. Her father is a farmer by occupation, has served as assessor for years, and has also held the office of school director. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder: Clarence Monroe, born June 19, 1897; Genevea Florence, born April 17, 1899; and Kathryn Mary Bell, born Nov. 6, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members and earnest workers of the Grove Chapel Lutheran Church, which he is serving in the office of deacon. In political association he has always been a Republican.

HARRY CARSON, a well-known farmer of White township, Indiana county, was born Cresswell, of Green township; Robert, living in Center township May 5, 1869, son of Rob- ert C. and Elizabeth H. (Hamill) Carson, and grandson of William Carson.

William Carson, the grandfather, was born probably in Perry county, Pa., and from there in 1834 came to Indiana county, in company with his brothers and sisters John, Alexander, Susan and Jane. William Carson engaged in farming until overtaken by blindness, a number of years before his death. He mar-

Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. MeAnulty : Stella, now the wife of John Haf- fen, of Starford, Indiana county ; Ernest, liv- ing in Green township; Wesley, living at Heil- wood, Indiana county; Hale, a resident of Pittsburg; Mattie, who is teaching school in ried Letitia Work, and both died in Center Green township; Rilla, wife of Quay Baker, township and were buried at Bethel Church. They were members of the Presbyterian a resident of Green township, who is engaged in teaching school, which profession Mrs. Church. They had the following children : Baker has also followed; Wilda, at home; William; Alexander; James; Mary, wife of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

John Robbins, of White township; Rose, wife son four children were born, as follows: Jen- of Edward Harbinson; John, who died in nie, who became the wife of William S. Hunt- 1911, aged eighty-nine years; Letitia, who ley, of Youngwood, Westmoreland county ; died in 1910; Susan, widow of Thomas Smith, Harry ; Myrtle A., who married J. M. Davis, of White township; and Porter H., who died in childhood. residing at Chambersville; Robert C .; and Thomas, who was killed at the battle of Gaines's Mills during the Civil war. Four of them were carpenters and builders.

Robert C. Carson was born in Center town- ship, Indiana county, in 1835. When he grew to manhood he learned carpentry and after- ward followed contracting and building a number of years, erecting some of the best residences in Center township, as well as barns, schoolhouses and other structures, and was the builder of the first house for residen- tial purposes at the Graceton Coke Works. He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving out a first enlistment in Company E, 177th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Lewis M. Brumell, from Oct. 16, 1862, to Aug. 5, 1863. On March 17, 1865, he reenlisted under Capt. Joseph M. Dougherty, in the 103d Pennsylvania Infantry, and served as a lieutenant until the close of hostilities. Dur- ing these years of danger and hardship his commands were stationed in Virginia and North Carolina, and in the swamps of these States he contracted fever and ague, now gen- erally attributed to miasma, which made such inroads on his naturally strong constitution that he never fully regained his health. Be- ing, however, a man of strong will and re- markable energy, he continued active in busi- ness until his death. During the later years of his life, while following his trade, he lived on his farm in Center township, near Homer City, having improved his property with handsome and substantial buildings. He died April 18, 1893, at the age of fifty-seven years, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery, at Indiana. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Homer City, in which he was an elder, and also served as superin- tendent of the Sunday school. Interested as he always was in general education, he con- sented to serve for a long period as school director, and held other local offices. Although naturally of a retiring nature he made many friends through his recognition of the rights of others and a due regard for their comfort and welfare. He married Elizabeth H. Hamill, who was born in Center township, a daughter of Robert and Jane (Trimble) Hamill, her birth occurring in 1840. She was reared in a Christian home, her parents be- ing members of the United Presbyterian Church. To Robert C. and Elizabeth H. Car- 98

Harry Carson was educated in the public schools of Center township and from a com- paratively early age worked on the farm and for his father at the carpenter's trade. He remained on the homestead until 1901, when he came to White township, where he pur- chased the Robbins farm of ninety-one acres, to which he has made additions until now he owns and operates a tract of 199 acres, carry- ing on general farming and dairying, taking advantage of all modern discoveries relating to agricultural activities and thereby making very satisfactory progress.

On Sept. 3, 1897, Mr. Carson was married to Mrs. S. Elizabeth (Miller) Long, daughter of John Irwin and Mary (Keener) Miller, of Blacklick township, and widow of George S. Long. Mrs. Carson was born in Conemaugh township, later moving to Blacklick township, where she lived till her marriage to Mr. Car- son. She was well educated, attending the public schools of Indiana county and the State normal school, and teaching school for some years before her first marriage, to which one son was born, J. Irwin Long. After his gradu- ation from the public schools he attended the Indiana State normal school, and engaged in teaching, first in Indiana county and later in the famous Hood River valley, Oregon, where he spent a year. On returning from the far West he finished his course at the Indiana State normal, graduating in the class of 1911. He bought a farm in White township (after coming back East), a tract of 109 acres, which is situated in sight of his parents' farm, on which he resides, but has not entirely given up teaching school. To Mr. and Mrs. Carson three sons have been born: Robert Miller, Harry Carlyle and Paul E., all students. The eldest made a record in passing the State pub- lic school examination at the age of thirteen years.

Mr. Carson has always taken a deep interest in the public school system and at the age of twenty-four years became a school director in Center township, and continued as such for seven years, when he resigned in order to locate in White township, where he served in a similar capacity for eight years and has been president and also secretary of the board in both townships. He belongs to the Pro- gressive Republican party in politics, being an

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

unusually broad-minded, well-informed man. Jan. 12, 1854, who died April 20, 1872. Henry At the age of twenty-five years he was elected F. Bowser passed his entire life in agricultural an elder in the Homer City United Presby- pursuits, and died May 20, 1872. He and his terian Church and served as such until he second wife had the following children: (1) moved into White township, and at present is serving as an elder of the First United Presby- terian Church of Indiana, another member of the board being Prof. J. T. Stewart, the well- known educator and historian of Indiana.

WILSON M. BOWSER, who is cultivating the old Bowser homestead in West Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pa., was born on that farm in 1865, son of Henry F. and Catherine (Marshall) Bowser.

Christian Bowser, his paternal grandfather, was born in Bedford county, Pa., Sept. '27, 1798, and was there married to Susanna Fluck, Oct. 21, 1825. In 1840 they removed to Arm- strong county, settling in East Franklin town- ship, near Kittanning, where he became a well- known agriculturist, but in 1851 they went to Jefferson county, Pa., locating in Gaskill township. There he spent the rest of his life in farming, and passed away Sept. 18, 1869, in the faith of the German Baptist Church. He and his wife, who died Sept. 2, 1877, had the following children: Henry F. is men- tioned below; William F., born Aug. 21, 1828, a puddler of Kittanning, married Margaret Campbell, and died July 31, 1893; David F., born Sept. 10, 1833, who married Mary Mey- ers, carried on farming and lumbering, and died March 25, 1895, in Jefferson county, where his widow is still living; Peter F., born Sept. 10, 1836, who married Eliza Brooks, carried on farming and lumbering in Jeffer- son county until 1902, since which time he has been a resident of Dallas, Oregon; Christina F., born Dec. 13, 1839, who married Robert Beatty, is living in Clearfield county, near McGee's Mills; Jacob F., born Nov. 6, 1843, died in May, 1911, married Martha Rhodes, who still resides in Jefferson county; Eliza- beth F., born Dec. 12, 1849, married James Powland, who died in the fall of 1871, and she subsequently married (second) a Mr. Miller, and passed away in 1875.

Henry F. Bowser, son of Christian Bowser, was born Jan. 6, 1827, in Bedford county, Pa., and there received meager educational advan- tages. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Swigert, of Armstrong county, who died with- out issue, and in February, 1863, he was mar- ried (second) to Mrs. Catherine Marshall, the widow of John Lewis Marshall. She was born near Dayton, Pa., Feb. 5, 1827, and had one son by her first husband, Calvin James, born

Wilson M. (2) Ida Clara, born Oct. 18, 1867, married George Sink, and died April 2, 1891. She had one child, Clara G., who is now de- ceased. (3) Arnold H., born Oet. 11, 1871, married July 1, 1896, Idella Rairaigh, and had two children, Herbert W. and Marshall, the latter deceased. The mother passed away March 4, 1901, and his second marriage, on Sept. 5, 1906, was to Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, by whom he has two children, J. Dale and Adah. Arnold H. Bowser has always been a farmer on the old home place in partnership with his brother, Wilson M. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Smicksburg.

William Marshall, the maternal great- grandfather of Wilson M. Bowser, was of Scotch-Irish descent.

James Marshall, son of William Marshall and grandfather of Wilson M. Bowser, was born Dee. 5, 1796, and in 1803 went to Arm- strong county and built the Glade Run Mills. He was married July 17, 1821, to Margaret Marshall, daughter of Archibald Marshall, and some time thereafter they sold the mill and purchased 500 acres of land near Plum- ville, Pa., the larger part of which he cleared. He was an exemplary citizen, and was widely known and highly esteemed, and in his death, which occurred July 1, 1844, his township lost one of its best citizens. His wife followed him to the grave Dec. 28, 1873. They were the parents of the following children: Mar- garet W., born March 9, 1826, married Thomas Davis, who died April 3, 1857, and she then married (second) Nathaniel Doty, March 3, 1868, and died Oet. 11, 1895; Joseph Wilson, born Dec. 11, 1827, lived on a part of the old place, where his first wife, Jane Davis, whom he married Jan. 27, 1850, died Jan. 25, 1864, and he married (second) May 4, 1865, Mary C. Stewart; Archibald, born Oct. 9, 1829, who married Mary A. Wadding, lived on a part of the old home place in South Mahon- ing township, and died July 29, 1859; Rob- ert, born Nov. 13, 1831, married April 26, 1860, Evelyn Roland, and died Sept. 12, 1885, and they lived in South Mahoning township; Catherine became the wife of Mr. Bowser. James Marshall never aspired to public of- fice, and took little interest in political affairs, but was a great supporter of the temperance cause, and a strong believer in probity and morality. He filled an honorable and influ-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ential position in his community and was this farm finds a ready sale in the nearby widely known and highly respected.

Wilson M. Bowser, son of Henry F. Bowser, was educated in the common schools of his native vicinity, where he has always resided. He was married June 30, 1886, to Lydia Welch, of Plumville, Pa., daughter of Lewis A. and Annie E. (Spargo) Welch, the former of Clearfield county and the latter of Cam- bria county. Mr. Welch was born March 4, 1838, and his wife May 16, 1840, and they died Feb. 19, 1902, and Dec. 24, 1908, re- spectively. He was a shoemaker by trade. During the Civil war he fought bravely as a EVAN WILLIAMS GRIFFITH, inventor and business man, has been a citizen of In- diana since 1880, and during the greater part of the intervening time has been engaged in business there. He is at present connected as superintendent with the Indiana Spreader Company, manufacturers of the lime spreader of his invention, and also deals in coal lands. He was born in Green township, Indiana county, Aug. 12, 1857, in a log cabin on a farm known as the Henry Parry place. member of Company E, 148th Regiment, P. V. I., under Colonel Beaver, in the 2d Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. During his latter years he farmed on the old Spargo place in South Mahoning township, and died at Salona, Pa., while attending a reunion. He was a stanch Republican and a faithful mem- ber of the Baptist Church, as well as a popu- lar comrade of the Union Veterans' Legion. He and his wife were the parents of the fol- lowing children besides Lydia, Mrs. Bowser : Thomas Griffith, his father, was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, son of John Griffith, a farmer. He was married in his native country to Margaret Williams, a native of Glamorganshire, Wales, daughter of Daniel and Jane (Matthews) Williams, the former a Baptist minister and son of a Baptist min- ister. They came to America soon after their marriage, in 1848, landing at New York, and proceeded westward to Pittsburg, and thence to Indiana county. Mr. Griffith had been a farmer in Wales, and upon his arrival here Mary S., born May 15, 1862, was a teacher, and married A. P. Cunningham, of Dayton, Pa., by whom she had four children, Lewis J. (a butcher of Dayton, who married Grace Mc- Intire), Annie (who married Joseph Smith, a sawmill man of Industry, Pa.), Elzie B. (who has always lived with Mr. and Mrs. Bowser) and Clara (at home) ; Lottie, born Nov. 4, 1864, married John F. Sims, of Far- son, Wyo., and has seven children, Lewis. Gertrude, Estella, William, Allmada, Clifford and an infant daughter; Mertie, born Dec. 6, located near Pineflats, in Green township, 1870, was married to Harry E. Rowland, of South Mahoning township; George B., born Feb. 18, 1873, lives at Dayton, and owns a farm in South Mahoning township; Edgar J., born Jan. 8, 1876, at Plumville, Pa., who graduated from the normal school and be- came a teacher, was married to Carrie Coup, by whom he has two children. Marion and Leonard ; Almanda, born April 14, 1878, mar- ried K. E. Nolf; J. L. C., born Nov. 20, 1880, living near Dayton, married Agnes Allen, and has three children, Wendell, Alta and Flor- ence.

Mr. Bowser has always engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and is a large grower of pota- toes. He has about 140 acres of the homestead of 257 acres under cultivation, and his land has been improved by the erection of sub- stantial modern buildings. He has also de- voted some attention to the raising of Jer- sey cattle, and the butter manufactured on

markets. In political matters a Republican, Mr. Bowser has served as assessor of West Mahoning township for six years, as auditor nine years, and as school director six years, and has always taken an active interest in all matters that affect his community, being one of the leading factors in securing Rural Free Delivery Route No. 1. His fraternal con- nection is with Smicksburg Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with his wife he attends the Baptist Church.

for a few years, renting land, which he culti- vated. He then bought a farm of thirty-three acres, afterward adding to it until he had ninety-seven acres more, continuing to own this property until shortly before his death. He and his wife were Baptists in religious connection. Mr. Griffith was a Republican in his political views, but independent in his support of candidates. We have the following record of his children: (1) Daniel, of Iowa, is secretary of the Iowa State Baptist Mis- sion; he has been a preacher for many years, having graduated from the Bucknell Uni- versity in 1879 and Crozier Theological Col- lege in 1882. He married Mary Evans, a Latin instructor at Bucknell. (2) Samuel, of Johns- town, Pa., married Sadie Williams. (3) John, a government surveyor, of San Diego, Cal., is also a rancher; he is married. (4) Evan Williams is mentioned below. (5) Jane mar- ried William Pattison, of near Grisemore, In-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

diana county. (5) Lizzie, deceased, mar- offices in the church and serving several years ried Wallace Lockard. (6) William, who was as superintendent of the Sunday school. In a dentist, was instructor in the Chicago Uni- political opinion he is a Republican. versity Dental College for a time, but his health failing he moved to a farm in Iowa, where his death occurred. He married Min- nie Fitch.

ESTELL BUBB LEWIS, M. D., of Glen Campbell, Indiana county, is not only in com- mand of a large private practice but also acts as surgeon for several coal companies in that region. and as local surgeon for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company. He. is a native of the county, born Oct. 31, 1870, in East Mahon- ing township, son of IIugh Parr and Ellen (Ansley) Lewis.

Evan Williams Griffith passed his early life on the home farm, continuing to remain with his parents after the other children had left home. At the time of his father's death he took the home farm, continuing to live upon and operate that place until 1880. Mov- ing to Indiana, he there engaged in the wall Dr. Lewis began his education in the public schools, later attending Eldersridge Academy and the State normal school at Indiana. He took his medical course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1899, and at once began practice at Glen Campbell, where he remained for a year and a half. At the end of that period he moved to Arcadia, four miles away, where he was located for seven years, in 1908 returning to Glen Camp- bell. Here he has followed general practice, and is also surgeon for the Glenwood Coal Company, Irish Brothers Coal Company and Clark Brothers Coal Company, as well as for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He holds membership in the Indiana County Medical Society and the Red Bank Protective Association. Dr. Lewis is widely known pro- fessionally and also as one of the most public- spirited and intelligent workers for the local paper business, and though he began in a small way, his trade expanded until he had the largest concern of the kind between Pitts- burg and Altoona. He not only traded in wall papers but was extensively engaged in deco- rating, employing a number of men whom he sent to Johnstown and other large places, where he had patrons. In 1895, owing to ill health, he disposed of the business, selling it to Job McCreight. For some time thereafter he was engaged as a coal prospector with the Barnes & Tucker Coal Company at Jolins- town, after which he bought and developed the Randolph mine near Dixonville, putting it in working order. In time he sold this property to Randolph & Tucker, and he has since been interested in buying and selling coal lands. He himself owns 150 acres of coal land near Heilwood, Indiana county, as well as a forty-acre farm near that place. welfare, being president of the school board While engaging in the coal business he in- of the borough at this writing and doing ef- vented facilities to work on the coal car fective work in that capacity. At one time he served two years as deputy sheriff, while his father was sheriff. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is trustee and elder. shifter for use in the mines which save the labor of three men. His lime spreader previ- ously referred to, which he invented in 1911, is a remarkable labor-saving device for farm- ers; it is considered to be the only spreader that may be used successfully with all kinds of lime.

On Oct. 1, 1907, Dr. Lewis married Mame E. Armstrong, of Cherrytree, Indiana county, daughter of J. Martin and R. Caroline (Ham- ilton) Armstrong. They have had two chil-

Mr. Griffith's executive ability, his intelli- gent comprehension of the various lines of dren, Estell Evers and Richard Parr.

business in which he is engaged, and his sub- stantial character, entitle him to a place among

the most intelligent men of this region. He is devoting his activities to the cultiva-

is an active figure in every enterprise which benefits the community.

In 1883 Mr. Griffith married Maggie Ste- phens, daughter of Alexander and Jane (An- derson) Stephens, and they have had three children : Gertrude, now Mrs. Samuel Baker, of Buffalo, N. Y .; Bertha, who died when nine years old; and Mary, at home. Mr. Grif- fith and his family are Baptists and he was for years an active church worker, holding

JOHN ROBINSON HOUSHOLDER, who tion of his farm in Burrell township, Indiana county, was born on a farm in Derry town- ship, Westmoreland Co., Pa., Sept. 4, 1852. son of Solomon and Mary (Gray) Hous- holder.

Solomon Housholder, the father, was born in Westmoreland County, where he was en- gaged in farming, and in the fall of 1852 pur- chased a farm near Rugh station, Indiana county, from Michael Rugh, although he did

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 146

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