Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 15

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 15

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ALVIN TAYLOR MCNUTT, proprietor of the Orchard Grove farm of Brushvalley town- ship, which has been in the McNutt family for five generations, is one of the progressive farmers of that section of Indiana county. He was born Nov. 17, 1854, on the farm where he now makes his home.

The MeNutt family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, the founder of the Indiana county branch being James MeNutt, who was a native of Ireland, and came to this country at an early date. He settled in Brushvalley town- ship, Indiana county, which was then a wil- derness. Here he took up a tract of 500 acres, which later was patented by his son John. Mr. McNutt here erected a log house, and by hard labor hewed out a home for him- self in the wilderness, settling down to farm- 55

Mr. McNutt married Sally Amatage, who was also a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of twelve children, viz .: John; Joseph; Wesley; James; Henry, who settled in Ohio; Asbury, who died young; Robert, who settled in New Orleans; Samuel, Nelson and William, who all died in infancy ; Miram, who married Jesse Hiner; and Betsey M., who died young.

Joseph McNutt, son of James, was born on the old homestead, where he grew to man- hood. He learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed during his active life. In his earlier years he worked at his trade in different sections of the State, but later in life he settled down in Brushvalley township, where he erected a shop on a part of his father's farm and here followed his trade as a general blacksmith for many years. His last years were spent in Johnstown, where his death occurred, and he was buried there. Mr. MeNutt married in Brushvalley town- ship Elizabeth (Betsey) Evans, daughter of Hugh Evans, who was a pioneer settler of that township. Children as follows came to this union : Mary Ann, who married Robert Swarts, of Brushvalley township; John E .; Hugh, who went West; Hannah, who married Jacob Mckay; Sarah, who married James Summerville; and Samuel, who resided in Boswell, Cambria county. After his first wife's death Mr. McNutt was married (sec- ond) to Margaret Gebhart, and they had four children, Lizzie, Catherine, Jane and Elmer.

John Evans McNutt, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Evans) McNutt, was born in Brushvalley township, where he was educated. He worked at farming from an early age, and when he reached manhood settled on the farm of his uncle, John McNutt, where the remainder of his active life was spent. The place is now in the possession of his son, Alvin Taylor McNutt, and it is known as Orchard Grove farm. He here operated a tract of 100 acres, engaging in general farming all his active life. Upon his retirement Mr. McNutt removed to Mechanicsburg, and continued to live there until his death, in September, 1891; he was buried in the Evans cemetery, in Brushvalley township. In politics he was a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

stanch Republican, and he was assessor and at Mechanicsburg, Pa., under Prof. C. A. supervisor of his township. He was a member of the M. E. Church and was active in all church work.

Mr. MeNutt married Catharine McNutt, daughter of John McNutt, who for years was a well-known local preacher and exhorter of the M. E. Church, and who was the owner and patentee of the land taken up by his father in Brushvalley township. Mrs. MeNutt is Mr. Alvin T. McNutt is a Republican in politics. He is a stanch supporter of the still living, residing with her grandchildren in Center township, near Homer City. She principles of Colonel Roosevelt, and one of is a member of the M. E. Church also. The his most ardent admirers. He has been di- rector of the public schools of his township for one term.

following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McNutt : (1) Edward, who died at Blairs- ville, was a farmer in Burrell township. He married Lizzie Younkin. (2) Alvin Taylor is mentioned below.

Alvin Taylor MeNutt received his educa- tion in the schools of the township, and grew to manhood on the farm where he aided his father in the cultivating of the homestead. In 1889, when his father retired, he took charge of the property, then a tract of 100 acres, to which he has added 130 acres, being now the

where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has made extensive im- provements on the farm, and is one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists in his part of the county.

Campbell. He taught school for two years in Brushvalley and Buffington townships, and is now a student at the Illinois Holiness Uni- versity at Olivet, Illinois, preparing himself for the life of a missionary. (7) Robert Vivian, born Sept. 16, 1897, was also edu- cated in the public schools of Brushvalley township, and resides at home.

GEORGE S. GRIFFITH, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of his section of Indi- ana county, was born in South Mahoning township Feb. 22, 1861, son of David Griffith.

Evan Griffith, a native of South Wales, brought his family to America in 1840, in a sailing vessel. Coming to Pennsylvania, they first settled in Rayne township, ' Indiana county, and followed farming, but later the

owner and operator of a tract of 230 acres, parents went to Cambria county, where they

rounded out their lives, owning the farm on which they died. Evan Griffith and his wife Mary had these children: Evan, who settled in California; John, who settled in Illinois; Griffith, who settled in Cambria county ; Lewis, who died young ; Daniel, who settled in Conemaugh township; David, who settled in Indiana county; Mary, who died in Cambria county ; Sarah, who died in Cambria county ; Margaret, who married Alexander St. Clair, and lived in Illinois; Winnie, who married Daniel Thomas, and lived in Johnstown; Elizabeth, who lived in Cambria county; and a son who died in infancy, unnamed.

Mr. McNutt married March 4, 1879, Lu- cinda Smith, who was born in Allegheny, Pa., daughter of John and Amy (Cross) Smith. Mrs. MeNutt is a member of the Evangelical Church. She has always been a devoted. and affectionate mother, and her husband has always had in her a loving help- mate. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McNutt, viz .: (1) Alvin Gilford died at the age of nine years. (2) Etta David Griffith was born in 1821, in South Wales, and came with his father to America when about twenty years old. After a year spent in Rayne township, Indiana county, he went to East Mahoning township, where he farmed until 1850, and then went to West Mahoning township and bought the farm now owned by his son Evan. It contained 130 acres and he improved it to a considerable ex- tent before his death upon it, in 1878, when he was fifty-seven years old. He is buried in the Baptist Church cemetery in South Ma- honing township. He was a good man, fol- lowing out the Golden Rule in his everyday life. Maude, born July 17, 1881, married Charles Ross, and has four children, Cora Bela, War- den Melvin, Wilda Adeline and Orlene Retula. (3) One child died in infancy. (4) George Taylor, born March 2, 1884, was edu- cated in the public schools and worked at home with his parents until 1911, when he went to Alberta, Canada, and he is now a ranchman in Montana. He is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. (5) Annie Catharine, born Sept. 21, 1890, was educated in the public schools and the summer normal school taught by Prof. J. T. Stewart. She resides at home. (6) John Smith, born Oct. 16, 1891, received his early education in the public schools David Griffith married Sarah Kimple, who was born in Delaware county, N. J., in 1831, of Brushvalley township, later studying at Greenville, Pa., under Professor Weaver, and daughter of John and Mary (Sigler) Kimple,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and granddaughter of Philip Sigler, who was a Revolutionary soldier. She died on the homestead in 1885 and is buried in the same cemetery as her husband. The children of this excellent couple were: Evan W., who is a farmer of West Mahoning township, mar- ried Flora Spencer; John K., who resides in Kansas, married Margaret M. Schall; George L. died young; Mary, who married Scott Fitzgerald, resides in Kansas City ; Sarah L., who married James Hazelett, is deceased ; George S. is mentioned below; Margaret Adessa is unmarried; Amanda Emma is the widow of William Carahan, and resides in Chicago; Annie Maria is a physician; Philip S. lives in Nebraska ; Jennie V. married Wil- liam McKinney, of Goodland, Kansas.

George S. Griffith, son of David Griffith, attended the district schools, and assisted with the work on the homestead until he was twenty-two years old. He then bought fifty acres of the Crawford farm, paying down $300, and giving notes for the remaining $2,300. For a time he had to economize closely to clear off this debt, but he succeeded and added forty acres more, which farm was known as the Allison property. At present he operates ninety acres. In addition he owns 104 acres formerly known as the Capt. Peter Spencer farm, in South Mahoning township, and a five-acre tract in Plumville, which has been built upon. His land is devoted to gen- eral farming and stock raising, and he has also dealt in cattle, horses and sheep. Mr. Griffith made many improvements on his barn, which was struck by lightning in 1899, after which he rebuilt it.

A Republican, he served as assessor for three years and constable for three years. He was a candidate for county treasurer of Indi- ana county in 1911, but after making a hard fight lost the nomination by a few votes. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has many friends in that connection as he has elsewhere, his genial, pleasant personality winning them for him.

In 1881 Mr. Griffith married Annie Kerr, who was born in West Mahoning township, daughter of William Kerr, and died in 1900; she is buried in the Baptist Church cemetery in South Mahoning township. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith had these children: Charles William is a farmer of East Mahoning township; Sarah is deceased; Pearl is a widow and re- sides at home; Bert was a fireman and was killed on the Buffalo & Susquehanna railroad ; David K. resides at Cleveland, Ohio; an in- fant daughter died unnamed. Mr. Griffith

married, for his second wife, Thea Bell Neil, who was born in South Mahoning township, a daughter of Julin and Annie (Orr) Neil. Mrs. Griffith was taken to Missouri by her parents when five years old, and was there reared to maturity. She is a woman of in- telligence and admirable character. She and Mr. Griffith have had two children: Irene, who died young; and George Sylvester, Jr. Mrs. Griffith is a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

Mr. Griffith has always shown a public- spirited interest in local institutions, believ- ing in encouraging them. At one time he gave his support to the First National Bank of Plumville as a director, his name lending strength to this concern. His career has been marked by hard, unremitting work, but his efforts have met with a commensurate reward, and his standing in the community is con- sistently high.

JOHN TAYLOR BELL has been asso- ciated with the business life of the bor- ough of Indiana during the greater part of his residence there and is a citizen thoroughly interested in the general welfare, as he has shown practically in his more than twenty-five years of service as member of the board of school directors. He is one of the foremost men of Indiana county, and the fact that he has attained his honor- able and substantial position through his own efforts make his success the more note- worthy. He belongs to a family whose his- tory in this part of Pennsylvania begins in pioneer days, and whose members have been typical representatives of the hardy, thrifty Scotch-Irish race to which they belong. The State has this element to thank for many of its most desirable citizens. Combining intel- lectual vigor and strong moral qualities with physical sturdiness, they faced the hardships of the early days courageously, made the most of their opportunities, inaugurated move- ments for the advancement of the general good as soon as prosperity relieved them from the pressure of unremitting devotion to their im- mediate needs, and helped to establish a civil- ization which reflects credit on all who have taken part in its accomplishment. Members of the family have intermarried with the Mc- Garas, Speedys, McKees, Johnstons, Davises and Hughes, and other worthy and respected families, all of whom are well represented at the Bell reunions held from time to time, a family association having been organized some years ago. The Bells as a rule are Presby-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

terians in religious connection, though there but an infant when his father moved to Cum- are many of the Methodist and Baptist per- suasion among them.

berland county, this State, and soon after to Sewickley settlement in Westmoreland county, It seems likely that the home of the Bells where he grew up. One of the interesting ex- was originally in Scotland, whenee they periences of his young manhood was his part spread into Ireland, England and Wales, and in the overthrow of the Whiskey Insurrection, thenee to America, "possibly ahead of the 'Mayflower,' " according to one member of the family. However, Robert Bell was born in 1736 near Belfast, in the north of Ireland, and came to this country with two brothers, landing at Philadelphia. One of the brothers went South, and one remained in eastern Pennsylvania, Robert going first to Center county, Pa., and thence to Westmoreland county, where he made a settlement near Se- wickley. Among his descendants are the Bells of Kentneky, his son Joseph Bell. who was born in Westmoreland county, July 17, 1765, dying in Kentneky, Jannary 16. 1803. Robert Bell died June 11, 1826, long surviving his wife, Jane, who died April 3, 1791. Their children were: (1) Joseph, born July 17, 1765, died in Kentucky January 16, 1803. (2) James was born December 10, 1766. (3) Elizabeth, born in February, 1768, never mar- ried. (4) John, born January 28, 1770, is mentioned below. (5) Samnel, born Febru- ary 10, 1773, died June 9, 1856, at the Bell homestead near Chambersville, Indiana He was "squire" for over thirty years and surveyor for the Holland Land Company of Philadelphia, and his surveying instruments, bearing his initials, "S. B.," were owned by some one near Newville, In- diana county, Pa., some years ago. He moved from Sewickley to six or seven miles southwest of Greensburg, thence to near Saltsburg, where he lived until his removal to MeKees Mill in 1807. From there in 1814 he moved to Chambersville, where he bought a large tract of land known as "the Steward's lands." belonging to some English heirs, sold at eom- missioners' sale for taxes, for $17.53. in 1811. Samuel Bell married Jane Welsh, sister of his brother John's wife. (6) William, born Feb- ruary 10, 1776, died in Kentucky, where he left a family, two of whom, William and John, became practicing physicians in Lonisville, while another, James, made his home near there. (7) Margaret, born in February, 1778, inarried James MeLaughlin, of Indiana county. (8) Jane married Archie Fleming, of near Greensburg, and their descendants are found in Ohio and Illinois.

and he remembered perfectly incidents con- nected with the march of the forees through this region for its suppression. He was mar- ried there to Elizabeth Welsh, and about 1800 moved to the vicinity of what is now the bor- ough of Indiana. He was the first constable elected in Indiana county after its formation. in 1806, but in 1809 he moved farther into the wilderness, in May of that year settling upon the farm near Perrysville, now Hamil- ton, in Jefferson county, about one mile north of Big Mahoning ereek, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying there May 18. 1855, in his eighty-sixth year. This was the first settlement made north of that creek in Jefferson county. The country for miles around was a wilderness without human habi- tation, his only neighbors until 1812 being nine miles distant, and the only road in that part of the county four miles away. John Bell was "a true specimen of the pioneer who with ax and rifle subdued the forests and opened the way for civilization, and combined the manly virtues and striking traits which distinguished that class of men, now almost county. extinet," their strongly marked peculiarities being known more by tradition than observa- tion to the present generation. "As may be inferred, the silence of the forest was as often broken by the craek of Squire Bell's rifle as by the stroke of his ax. In those days elear- ing land and hunting game were employments which elaimed an equal share of the pioneer's attractions. Indeed, for a long time after he settled there, the rifle was almost his only means of subsistence, for the heavy and thiekly grown timber of that region was not easily eleared off. And thus in the simple but rugged employments of the forest passed many of his years. Of his hunting exploits no better description can be given than to state that during his residence in Jefferson county he killed two panthers, ninety-three wolves, three hundred and six bears and over eight hundred deer. Incredible as this state- ment may appear to the degenerate hunters of the present day, none who knew John Bell will doubt its truth ; for it was taken from his lips by a gentleman whose taste in hunting and whose eare and industry as a collector of statistics are well known. But he was not a born Jannary 28, 1770, in Virginia, and was hunter merely, for in addition to his duties on

John Bell, son of Robert, was the great- grandfather of John Taylor Bell. He was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the farm he fulfilled all the duties of a citizen. terians than anything else. * * * Yet, In 1818 Governor Findlay appointed him jus- whether Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists tice of the peace, an office which he held for or what denomination, they were generally twenty-five years with credit and usefulness. true to their convictions and consistent in "We have said that John Bell was a repre- their lives."

sentative of the early American character as developed in pioneer life; but he was more a type of its virtues than of its faults. Brave and enterprising, he avoided neither exposure nor fatigue and cheerfully underwent labors from which most men would shrink, and, familiar with the dangers of forest, he knew no fear. But his most striking characteristics were love for truth and sterling honesty dis- played alike in his own business and in his in- tercourse with others. The common fault of professing what we do not feel he did not possess. He called no man friend whom he did not respect; his sturdy independence of character disdained to conceal any opinions he might have of others, either from them- selves or from the world. But for those who possessed his friendship, no personal incon- venience or sacrifice was too great. For twenty-five years or more his hospitable home was the resting place of the Indiana bar in their periodical pilgrimage to Brookville, and so long at least as its members live his simple, manly virtues will be appreciated and his memory kindly cherished." He died May 19, 1855, in his eighty-sixth year. (Quotations from an article published in the Punxsutaw ney News as being of interest in connection with the meeting of the Bells at the residence of John H. Brown, near Marchand, Indiana county, in 1893.)

The proverbial thriftiness of the Bells in providing for their wants in the face of diffi- culties, and their hard-working disposition, is dwelt upon by a member of the family in an article prepared for one of the reunions. "The Bells are noted for the providence of the men and the skill and economy of the woman in 'laying up' an abundance of the good things of life." Speaking of the brothers Squire Samuel and Squire John, he says : "Their homely larders were always well stocked with a plentiful supply of game, fish, etc., including deer, bear, wild turkey, wild pork, wild honey, nuts and berries. Nowhere I have ever been have I seen any people more industrions in providing for winter than the

* people of western Pennsylvania, * *

and I am sure none more than the Bells. * * * The Bells were Whigs and Demo- crats, and very 'sot' in their religions and political views, but I am inclined to judge that there were more Democrats and Presby-

Squire John Bell married Elizabeth Welslı, of Sewickley, Pa. By this marriage there were three children, James, Jane and Joseph. Of these, James married Hannah Jordan and had nine children, Robert, James Welsh, Jo- seph, John, William, Mary (married to Alex. Hughes), Eliza (married to Samuel Swisher). Margaret (married to Job Brown) and Kate (married to Daniel North). Jane married David Postlewaite and had ten children, John B., James M., Joseph Warren, David Minor, Thomas J., Benjamin F., William P., Emily Jane, Sarah and Mary. His first wife having died, Squire Bell later married Jane Potter, by whom he had one daughter, named Rachel, who married Samuel Weaver, and now resides at Valier, Jefferson Co., Pennsylvania.

Joseph Bell, son of John Bell by the first wife, was born on the old homestead near Perrysville in January, 1796, and died June 19, 1850, aged fifty-four years. In 1825 he married Sarah McKee, who died in 1833, leav- ing two sons, Hugh McKee and Frank Welsh. He afterward married Rachel Backman, by whom he had three daughters: Jane, de- ceased, wife of Miller Means, of Punxsutaw ney, Pa .; Elizabeth, also deceased, wife of William McGee, and Mary E., widow of W. P. Morris of Jefferson county.

Frank Welsh Bell, the younger son of Joseph Bell, married Sarah Robinson, of Jef- ferson county, and they had five children : Hattie is the wife of Dr. Armstrong and lives in Kane, Pa .; Mattie, Minnie, Mack and Charles, and both parents, are deceased.

Hugh McKee Bell, the elder son of Joseph Bell, was born August 15, 1826, and was a farmer in Jefferson county, living on the old homestead. On July 22, 1852, he was married to Eleanor Martin, and seven children were born to this couple: John Taylor married Elizabeth Todd, of Indiana, now deceased, and still lives in Indiana; Joseph C. married Annie Cook, of Iowa, and is now deceased ; George R. married Hattie McGee and prac- tices dentistry in Punxsutawney; Frank Welsh married Mary Smitten and now lives in Oregon; Sarah Elizabeth married B. E. Carrier, of near Brookville, Pa., and now lives near Salem, Oregon; William M. and Lot are deceased. The father died on the old home- stead March 23, 1911, and the mother just eleven days later, on April 3. They were

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

members of the M. E. Church, which he had which has its plant in the borough of Indiana, served in an official capacity for many years.

John Taylor Bell was born September 16, 1853, at Frostburg, Jefferson county, and ob- tained his early education in the public schools of his native county. Later he attended the normal school at Indiana, Pa., and Mount Union College, at Alliance, Ohio, after which he read law, with Hon. S. M. Clark and J. N. Banks, both of Indiana. Meantime he had commenced teaching, when but sixteen years old, his first experience being at what is now known as the Pickering Run school, in East Mahoning township, Indiana county. He re- mained there one year, and was subsequently engaged in different parts of Indiana county for ten years, during the summer teaching in a school for teachers at Plumville. When he came to Indiana he was assistant to the principal, and followed his profession in the borough for three years, continuing to teach while he was reading law. He was very snc- cessful as an educator, and became well known throughout the county as an ardent friend of education. In 1886 Mr. Bell was admitted to the bar in Indiana county, and for two years practiced his profession, but owing to poor health decided to give up legal work, and has since devoted himself to general business pur- suits. He has been engaged principally as a salesman for school books, first for Porter & Coates, of Philadelphia. later with the Werner Company, of Akron, Ohio, and more recently with the American Book Company, of New York. He is one of the directors of the In- diana Savings & Trust Company, and his standing in commercial and financial circles is a credit to his ability and honorable standards. As previously stated, Mr. Bell has been a member of the school board of In- diana for over twenty-five years, and has given intelligent as well as faithful service to the community in that connection. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and in social connection is a Mason, belonging to Indiana Lodge, No. 313, F. & A. M .. to the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Pittsburg, and Pitts- burg Lodge of Perfection.

On September 15, 1885, Mr. Bell was mar- ried to Elizabeth Todd, danghter of Col. Wil- liam A. Todd, of Indiana, and they had two children : Edna T., who is attending Hollins College, at Hollins, Va., and IIngh T., a stu- dent at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Mrs. Bell died June 4, 1904.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 15

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