Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 148

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 148

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Daniel Snyder, son of Conrad, and grand- father of Harry A. Snyder, was born in New Jersey and was still in his teens when the fam- ily came to Indiana county. He learned the Snyder is a good business man, possesses a trade of mason in White township, and this he followed for some years, doing much work on the blast furnaces of Indiana county. Later he took up farming as an occupation and op- erated a part of the homestead in White town- ship, but eventually sold out and moved to Brushvalley township, where he purchased a tract of 400 acres. He made extensive im- provements there and spent the rest of his dren: life in agricultural pursuits. He was widely known and highly esteemed throughout the township, both as a farmer and as a public- spirited citizen whose activities assisted in the development and progress of his section. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He was married in Wheatfield township, Indiana county, to Mary Killin, who was born in that township, daughter of Sam- uel Killin and granddaughter of Daniel Kil- lin, a soldier in the war of the Revolution. She died on the farm, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had the following children: Elizabeth ; Tillie; David L .; William II., a farmer of Center township; Samuel, who is deceased; Abbey; Richard, who resides in Center township; Jackson K., also of Center township; and Sarah.

David L. Snyder, son of Daniel, and father of Harry A. Snyder, was born Feb. 28, 1848, in Center township, and there attended pub- lic school. He was still a youth when the family removed to Brushvalley township, and there he completed his education in the schools of Mechaniesburg. From early boyhood he had worked on the home farm, and on reaclı- ing man's estate took up agricultural work as his life vocation, in addition to which he bred Indiana Lodge, No. 313, F. & A. M .; Zerub- cattle and dealt extensively in stock. He also habel Chapter, Pittsburg; the I. O. O. F., at

farm at the end of that period, and contin- ued farming and buying stock for a period of four years. He then became a conductor on the Pittsburg electric street railway, and con- tinued to act in that capacity six years, at the end of which time he located at South Fork, Pa., and there engaged in the mercantile busi- ness for two years. In 1903 he came to Homer City and purchased the old hotel property, which he remodeled, opening up a general store and meat market, and in the following year took in his only son, Harry A., as a part- ner. The business has been conducted ever since under the firm name of D. L. Snyder & Son. The firm has its own slaughter house, and does its own butchering, thus assuring customers of absolutely reliable goods. Mr. genial manner, and is popular with all who know him. He is a stanch Republican in politics and has filled numerous township offices. Fraternally he is connected with the I. O. O. F., while his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1874 he was married to Mildred Jane Gettey, and to this union there were born two chil- Cora and Harry A. The daughter, born June 9, 1875, married Hudson Rowland Grumbling, of Homer City, and they have two children, Thirza, born Feb. 27, 1897, and Hudson Virgil D., born Nov. 10, 1908.

Harry A. Snyder secured his education in the public schools of Brushvalley township and a select school at Mechanicsburg, taught by Prof. J. T. Stewart of Indiana. He worked on the home farm until he reached manhood, and after teaching school in Brushvalley town- ship for one year went to Pittsburg, and be- came a brakeman on the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad, in which position he spent one year. He was then promoted to the position of fireman, and later became engineer on the Bessemer & Lake Erie railroad, but in 1904 gave up railroading to come to Homer City and engage in business as his father's partner. Mr. Snyder is a young man of energy, en- thusiasm and ability, and possesses a pleasing personality that has gained him many friends and the firm numerous customers. Like his father he is a stanch Republican, and has been a member of the borough council for a long period, serving as its president for three years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he holds membership in

1563

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Homer City ; and the K. of E., also of Homer City, of which he is a past chief.

In 1897 Mr. Snyder was married, in Pitts- burg, to Nellie R. Moorhead, daughter of M. T. Moorhead, belonging to one of the oldest fami- lies of western Pennsylvania. Four children have been born to this union, namely : Harold M., Amy, Thelma and Dorothy. .

HON. WILLIAM F. NEELEY, mayor of Clymer, Indiana county, where he is promi- nent in business as well as in public affairs, I. O. O. F. at Clymer; and the Red Men at

was born in Brady township, Clearfield Co., Pa., Nov. 19, 1876, son of John F. and Mary (Woods) Neeley. Samuel Neeley, his grand- father, was of Irish descent.

John F. Neeley was born in Clearfield county and for twenty-five years was en- gaged in lumbering there, afterward locating on his farm in Union township, that county, on which he yet resides. He married Mary Woods, who was also born in Clearfield county, and three sons and two daughters were born to them, namely: William F .; Norman C., who. is a photographer at Dubois, Pa .; Olive, who is the wife of William Frantz, of Dubois; Jesse, who also lives at Dubois; and Ida, who remains with her parents,

William F. Neeley was seven years old when his father's business made necessary a tem- porary residence in Jefferson county, where the family lived until he was thirteen years of age, returning then to Clearfield county. In the meanwhile he had attended school as opportunity offered and as soon as old enough for such labor began to assist his father in his lumbering enterprises and also on the farm, and during the subsequent nine years he spent in Clearfield county he also worked in his Frank, who went to West Virginia; Martha father's sawmill. Mr. Neeley then left home, (Mattie), who married Robert Huston; and and while passing a few months in Tennessee Samuel, who went to Fairfield, Westmore- learned the barber's trade, after which he land Co., Pa., and died when eighteen years returned to Clearfield county and at different old.

points worked at his trade until 1906, when he came to Clymer. He was one of the ener- getic and resourceful men that effected the organization of the town and shortly after- ward erected the hotel which he has con- ducted ever since, having one of the best ap- pointed hostelries in Indiana county. In con- nection with the hotel he also operates a first- class livery. In addition he is interested in the automobile business, conducting a garage of his own, and is a member of the firm of Neeley & Rankin, automobile dealers, his part- ner being Joseph W. Rankin. For four years after Clymer was incorporated, Mr. Neeley served as town treasurer, and early in 1912

was elected mayor. He is giving the borough a thoroughly satisfactory business administra- tion which is attracting a large amount of capital in this direction.

On July 5, 1901, William F. Neeley was married at Cumberland, Md., to Mame Thomp- son, who was left an orphan when very young. Mr. and Mrs. Neeley have two children, Ralph E. and Winfield G. Mayor Neeley has numer- ous fraternal associations, including member- ship in Indiana Lodge, B. P. O. Elks; the Glen Campbell.

JOHN McELHENNY GRUBBS, M. D., physician and surgeon of Armagh, East Wheatfield township, Indiana county, was born at Saxonburg, Butler Co., Pa., Jan. 2, 1858, son of Dr. Andrew Grubbs.

Andrew Grubbs, the American founder of the family, came from his native Germany to America with two brothers at an early day, locating at Lancaster, Pa., where he brought up a family.

John Grubbs, son of Andrew Grubbs and grandfather of Dr. Grubbs, settled in Deer township, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he was an extensive land owner and prosperous farmer. Later he went to Westmoreland county, locat- ing in Fairfield township, and there continued his agricultural operations, but after a period, returned to Allegheny county, where he lived the remainder of his useful life. He was a consistent member of the U. P. Church, and active in forwarding its work. In 1827 he married Isabelle Reed, who was a native of Young township, Indiana Co., Pa., and their children were: Andrew ; Lewis; James ; Reed ;

Dr. Andrew Grubbs, son of John Grubbs, and father of Dr. John M. Grubbs, was born on the farm in Allegheny county and there at- tended school. In young manhood he went to Butler county, and became interested in gas production, later going to Lawrenceville, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he was engaged on the construction of some public works at that place for a number of years. When this con- tract was completed he went to Derry town- ship, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and was em- ployed as a mechanical engineer for several years. His business affairs then called him to Allegheny, where he spent a year or two prior to going to Mckeesport to take up the

1564

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

study of medicine. Although then in middle Fellows and Patriotic Order Sons of America, life he completed his medical course, and prac- and his religious views make him a Methodist. ticed his profession until his death, in 1909, at In 1887 Dr. Grubbs was married to Clara Hull, of Ohio, who died in 1890, at Latrobe, leaving no issue. In 1893 Dr. Grubbs mar- ried (second) Luella V. Faust, and they have had two children, Earl Faust and John Reed, both of whom died in infancy. which time he was known and respected throughout a wide territory. A man of high moral principles, when he believed that the best interests of the people would be served by the success of the Prohibition party he left the ranks of the Republican party to enroll himself with the former, and worked for its advancement until death . claimed

WILLIAM HASSON DICKIE, of Black- him. lick township, Indiana county, belongs to one Equally enthusiastic in religious matters, he of the old families of Scotch-Irish origin which gave the Methodist Church valuable support have been settled in this section since pioneer days. as a member and class leader, and was super- intendent of the Sunday school. His fame as a local preacher and exhorter was widespread and he could always be counted upon for any kind of church work.

In 1857 Dr. Andrew Grubbs was married, while living in Allegheny, to Margaret Mc- Elhenny, daughter of William McElhenny. She died at Mckeesport, Pa., in 1902, as de- years, later removing to Jacksonville, Indiana vout a member of the Methodist Church as her husband. They had children as follows: John Mc Elhenny ; William, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Mc- Keesport; Gilbert, who was a switchman and in 1865-66, at the age of eighty-five years, killed on duty in 1907; and five who died in infancy.

Dr. John M. Grubbs, after receiving a care- ful preliminary education in the public schools of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, went to a large school in Fayette county for several years, and then began reading medi- cine with Dr. Myers, of Braddock. Later, he entered the Miami Medical College at Cincin- nati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1886, immediately thereafter entering upon general practice at Westville and Ottawa, Ohio. Within two and a half years, however, he returned to Westmoreland county, and was at Latrobe for a year as a physician before entering the drug business with William Me- Millan, under the firm name of McMillan & Co., which association continued five years. Dr. Grubbs then went to Mckeesport, where he practiced until 1895, that year locating at Armagh, Indiana Co., Pa., where he has been since-a period of eighteen years. His prac- tice extends over a wide territory that em- braces East and West Wheatfield and Buffing- ton townships. Politically Dr. Grubbs is a Republican, and has been a member of the borough council and the school board, having been secretary of the latter body. He is also secretary of the board of health of Armagh, and is one of the most public-spirited men of the place. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd derson, and died in Illinois.

William H. Dickie, the founder of the Dickie family in this region, was of Scotch-Irish ex- traction. Coming to Indiana county at an early period he located in Center township, on a farm about four miles from Indiana, now known as the Kauffman farm. There he con- tinned to engage in farming for a number of county, where he remained several years, and finally to the home of his son George on a farm in White township, spending the re- mainder of his life with him and dying there

eight days. Mr. Diekie was a Whig and Re- publican in political sentiment but not par- ticularly active in party affairs. He served as school director, however, after the estab- lishment of the public schools. A member of the M. E. Church, he served many years as class leader and was also chorister for a long period. In fact he was widely known in the latter connection in this region, having taught singing for many years.

Mr. Dickie married Jane Allison, a native of Center township, daughter of Andrew and Sally' (Barr) Allison, the former of whom served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war under General Washington. Mrs. Dickie died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Kanffman, and was buried in Oakland cemetery, at Indi- ana, beside her husband. Ten children were born to this couple: George is mentioned be- low; Hannah married Thomas B. Allison, of Marchand, Indiana county, who served as asso- ciate judge; Jane married Rev. J. Gordon, a minister of the M. E. Church; Ebenezer died at Rock Island, Ill .; Nancy married James Ayers, of Marion Center, Pa .; John died in Ohio; Mary (Polly) married Samuel Ray, of Crete, this county; Lavina married Jacob Kauffman ; Elizabeth married John McMullen, of Center township, and later removed to Illinois ; Ursula Toledo married John F. Hen-

1565

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

George Dickie, eldest son of William H. Bend, on the Cumberland river. It was also Dickie, was born Sept. 27, 1809, on the farm present at LaVergne, Tenn., Stone River, in White township, and obtained his education Tullahoma, Dug Gap, Ga., Chattanooga, Ross- at the subscription school held in a near-by log house. He grew up on the farm and from his earliest boyhood was familiar with agricul- tural work, which he followed all his life, and in which he became very prosperous. He ac-

ville and Atlanta; and went on the campaign with Sherman. Mr. Dickie was in the army three years, one month, fifteen days, receiving his discharge Oct. 12, 1864, at Atlanta. After his return home he farmed at the homestead quired over six hundred acres of land. He for three years more, in 1868 moving to Black- built a substantial brick house to replace the lick township and settling on the farm where first one of logs, and made many other im- he has since resided-a period of forty-four provements on his property, which became years. This was formerly the Daniel Fair quite valuable under his intelligent and ener- place, and contains 155 acres of excellent land,

getic management. In addition to general farming he engaged somewhat extensively in stock raising, and drove to the eastern markets for many years. He made a specialty of the raising of fine sheep, his large acreage enabling him to keep great numbers. He died March 5, 1901, in his ninety-second year, after a busy and useful career, and was buried in Oakland cemetery. He was a lifelong member of the M. E. Church at Homer City, and served as steward. In political opinion he was a Re- publican. upon which Mr. Dickie has successfully fol- lowed farming and stock raising. For some time he made sheep raising his principal line, having at one time 820 head of sheep. In 1874 he bought a tract of eighty-six acres in West Wheatfield township which he still owns, including the timber and coal rights. Mr. Dickie was one of the organizers and first di- rectors of the First National Bank of Black- lick, and he has been public-spirited about giving his influence and encouragement to other enterprises which promised to benefit the On May 14, 1835, Mr. Dickie married Jane Dixon, who was born Sept. 8, 1811, daughter of Joseph Dixon, whose family sketch may be found elsewhere in this work, and they had a married life of over half a century, her death occurring Dec. 24, 1885. She, too, is buried in locality and enlarge the scope of local inter- ests; he is auditor of the bank at present. He has served his township in the offices of supervisor and school director, and was presi- dent of the school board four years. In poli- ties he has always upheld the principles of Oakland cemetery. They had a family of six the Republican party, but he is independent children : Mary Jane, born April 19, 1836, about casting his vote. He is a member of died Jan. 2, 1838; William H., born Dec. 11, Bolar Post, G. A. R., of Blairsville, this 1838, is a farmer in Blacklick township; county.

Joseph Dixon, born June 21, 1840, is a farmer

On Feb. 28, 1868, Mr. Dickie married Mary in Center township, this county; Nancy H., E. Fair, who was born in Blacklick township, born Dec. 4, 1843, is the widow of Capt. G. H.

daughter of Daniel and Mary E. (Devinny) Ogden, of Homer City ; Elizabeth, born May 7, Fair, and they have had the following chil- 1846, married Frank Broskey, who died in Indiana ; George C., born June 12, 1850, lived at Indiana, and died in February, 1912.

dren : (1) Lorella May, born April 22, 1870, received her education in the public schools of Blacklick township and the State normal school at Indiana, and prior to her marriage taught school for seven years in Pittsburg, in Blacklick township one term, Cambria county, Pa., one term, and Youngstown, Ohio, one term. In 1901 she married George A.

William Hasson Dickie was born Dec. 11, 1838, in the little log cabin on the Dickie homestead in White township, and obtained his elementary education in the public schools of White and Center townships. He also at- tended a select school conducted by D. B. Gunn, a traveling salesman, and they reside Mahon. He worked with his father on the in Pittsburg. They have no children. (2)

farm until he was twenty-two years old, at Ina Charlotte, born Sept. 28, 1871, was edu- cated in the public schools and the State nor- which time, on Aug. 27, 1861, he enlisted at Kittanning, Armstrong Co., Pa., for service mal at Indiana, and taught at Homer City for in the Union army, being mustered in Oct. three years and at Jeannette (Pa.) for two 12th as a member of Company A, 78th Penn- years before her marriage to Rev. Charles sylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Day, a Lutheran minister, now stationed at Cummins and Col. William Sirwell. The Ottawa, Kans. (3) William Augustus, born regiment went to Kentucky and on Dec. 17, July 18, 1873, obtained his early education at 1861, took part in the engagement at Neely's the local public schools and in Homer City,

1566

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and studied medicine at the College of Medi- ings in Young township, and had limited edu- cine, Epworth University, Oklahoma. He is now engaged in medical practice at Purcell, Mo. He is unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. Dickie are members of the Lutheran Church at Coral, in which she is an active worker.

BLAKLEY. The Blakley family of Young township, Indiana county, one of the oldest settled and most highly respected families of that region, is of Irish extraction, its founder here, David Blakley, having been a native of Belfast, Ireland. His father, also named David Blakley, was a merchant of that city and had a large family, of which two sons be- eame ministers of the gospel.

David Blakley, the emigrant ancestor, grew to manhood in his native home and learned the mercantile business with his father, in time be- coming his partner under the firm name of David Blakley & Son. He married in Ireland Margaret Herron, and in the latter part of the eighteenth century they left for America, bringing their children. Proceeding farther to western Pennsylvania, they located in Young township, Indiana county, between 1792 and 1800. They were among the first of the pioneer settlers in that section, which was then a wilderness, and Mr. Blakley at onee erected a log house, log stable and log store, becoming the. first storekeeper in that part of the county. He dealt in cattle and various commodities, which he took in exchange for store goods. He disposed of his cattle and sheep in the East, driving them over the married James Brown, and died Nov. 26, 1867. Allegheny mountains to market, and made (6) Julianu, born May 31, 1829, died April many such trips, bringing baek merchandise. 28, 1850. (7) Rebecca Jean, born Jan. 1, 1831, While on one of these trips he established a died Aug. 29, 1844. (8) Sarah, born Dec. 13, 1833, married Richard Lafferty, and died Nov. 26. 1870. (9) Deboralı Ellen, born March 16, 1836, married James R. Hart and (second) Alexander Sharp, who served as a soldier in the Civil war. She is now a widow, residing at West Lebanon, Indiana county. (10) Joseph Alexander was born July 25, 1838. store at Hagerstown, Md. On his last journey East, in 1820, he was taken siek and died, at the age of sixty years. IIis wife long sur- vived him, dying in West Mahoning town- ship, Indiana county, in 1849, at the age of eighty-nine, at the home of her daughter Mrs. Knox. She was a member of the Seceder Church. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Blakley: James, who married Elizabeth Gibson, (second) Catherine Waters and (third) Jane Jack ; Hugh ; Elizabeth, who married Hugh Knox and settled in the Ma- honing distriet of Indiana eounty ; Margaret, who married John Gibson; and Susan, who married James MeClanahan.

cational opportunities. Farming was his life work. He located on a tract of 250 acres in the vicinity of Anderson school, built a log house and barn and made other improvements and there passed his active years. The build- ings he put up are still on the place, though in ruins, his grandson, Hugh Blakley, who now owns and operates the farm, living on another portion of the property. In his de- clining years Mr. Blakley made his home with his son David, dying there Dec. 17, 1877, when eighty-seven years old. He is buried in the family lot on the farm. He was first a member of the Associate Reformed Church, attending at Jacksonville, and later joined the United Presbyterian Church at West Union, in Armstrong township, of which he was one of the founders and served as elder; he was one of the ruling eld- ers of the Jacksonville Church. In polities Mr. Blakley was originally a Whig, after- ward a Republican. On April 29, 1819, he married Jean Henderson, daughter of John Henderson, of Young township, and she died long before him, passing away Aug. 28, 1844; she is buried in the Jacksonville cemetery. A large family was born to this marriage: (1) David J., born Jan. 16, 1820, died May 13, 1892. He married Martha Caldwell and was engaged in farming in Young township. (2) John, born Dec. 27, 1822, died Ang. 22, 1844. (3) James W., born Nov. 16, 1824, married Jane Wilson. (4) Robert, born Feb. 19, 1827, died Feb. 24, 1860. (5) Mary, twin of Robert,

Joseph Alexander Blakley, born July 25, 1838, on the homestead on Hooper run, at- tended the Anderson school in that vicinity and worked at home with his father until shortly after the breaking out of the Civil war. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 56th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, un- der Capt. William MeIntire of Pittsburg and Col. S. A. Merideth of Philadelphia. IIe was mustered into the service Sept. 23d, at Harris-

Hugh Blakley, son of David, was born Jan. 18, 1790, in Belfast, Ireland, and was quite young when his parents crossed the Atlantic. burg, was sent from there to Washington and He grew to manhood amid primitive surround- Falmouth, and later to Fredericksburg, Va.,

1567

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

taking part in the battle under General Pope. home and buried in the West Lebanon ceme- He was in the Army of the Potomac. From tery. there he went up the James river to Rich- mond, took part in the second battle of Bull JOHN FRANKLIN POUNDS, a represen- Run and the Seven Days' fight, as well as the tative of an old family of Indiana county, is battle of Sulphur Springs and other engage- a well-known school teacher and farmer of Center township, and his family is one of the best known in western Pennsylvania. ments. On Aug. 28, 1862, he received a gun- shot wound in the right wrist, paralyzing his hand, and he has suffered from the effects ever According to family tradition the founder of this family in America was Thomas Pound, of Saxon or Scandinavian parentage, from North Holland or Denmark, who came over in 1635, at the age of twenty-one years. He made the voyage from Amsterdam, Holland, to London, England, and from there to the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, where he married a daughter of one of the Pilgrims. since. 'He was taken to hospital at West- chester, Pa., and was discharged for disability while in the line of duty. Returning home, he · became associated with Colonel Lininger and recruited a company, of which he was unani- mously elected captain, but could not serve be- cause of disability. After working on the home farm for a time he went west to Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, spending two One of his descendants, Adonijah Pound, resided in Tarrytown, Westchester Co., N. Y., and lost his life in the Revolutionary war. He married Hannah Collier, who is supposed to have been a sister of Thomas Collier and Sarah (Collier) Harper, and a direct descend- ant of William Collier, a London merchant who came to Plymouth Colony in 1633 and was assistant governor for thirty years. years in that section, during which time he engaged in various occupations. Coming back East he located at Braddock, Pa., where he was in the employ of the Thompson Steel Company for nine years, at the end of that time resuming farming, which he has ever since followed. He settled on a part of the old Fulton farm, one mile east of West Leb- anon, in Indiana county, and has built a dwell- ing house, barn and other buildings, besides making many other improvements. He has also added land to his original purchase, now having ninety acres. The Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad runs through his prop- erty. Mr. Blakley operates the farm with the help of his son Silas. He is a Republican and has been quite active in local politics, having served as inspector of elections, overseer of the poor, supervisor, auditor, and in other township offices. Socially he belongs to Fos- ter Robinson Post, G. A. R., of Saltsburg, and bis religious connection is with the Presby- terian Church at West Lebanon.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 148

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