Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 150

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 150

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Mr. and Mrs. King are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a Republican since he cast his first vote, for Abraham Lincoln. His fraternal connec- tions are with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, in both of which he has been honored by election to office.

Mr. and Mrs. King have had the following children : Matilda H., who died at the age of seven years; Mary C., who was four years old at the time of her death ; Clemma G., who mar- ried W. H. MeLees, of Williamsport, and has two children, Lillian and William Glenn; Frederick E. and Edward P., twins, who died in infancy; Mary E., who married John O. Doney, of Indiana, Pa., and has two children, , William Gerson and J. Frank; and Grace M., who married Prof. II. Healy, of Williamsport.

JOHN ANDERSON McFEATTERS (de- ing that place he became bookkeeper and gen- ceased) was a leading agriculturist and cattle dealer of Brushvalley township, Indiana county. He was born there Nov. 30, 1830, on the homestead where the family now resides.

eral manager of the wholesale wall paper firm of A. D. Lundy & Co., at Williamsport. At the end of two years he accepted a similar position with the hardware firm of Kline & The McFeatters family is of Scotch ex- Co., with which he was connected until the traction, the first of the name in Brushval- failure of his health six and a half years later. ley township being James S. McFeatters, who was born Nov. 13, 1795, in Juniata county, Pa. He married Dec. 24, 1829, Rebecca Cress- well, who was born March 29, 1799, in Hunt- After he had recuperated he took charge of the books of the Williamsport Hardware and Stove Company, in which concern he subse- quently purchased a one-quarter interest, but ingdon county, Pa. At an early period he

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

settled in Brushvalley township, Indiana the management of the homestead, conducting county, where he engaged in farming. His it with gratifying success. Mrs. McFeatters is first dwelling was a log house, but in 1835 he a lady of cheerful disposition, kind and af- built the present brick structure, which was fable, and she has been a most devoted mother, the first of its kind in the township. His

raising a family who have reflected credit death occurred early in 1844, when he was in on their early training. Mr. and Mrs. McFeat- his forty-ninth year, and he was buried in ters were the parents of six children, viz .: Manor cemetery, near Greenville, Indiana (1) Franklin Roll, who attended the Millers- ville State normal school, is superintendent county. His loving and devoted wife followed him to the grave June 19, 1880, and she also of the Union railroad, and resides in Wilkins- was buried in the Manor cemetery. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. MeFeatters: (1) John Anderson was born Nov. 30, 1830. (2) James Cresswell, born in April, 1832, was a soldier in the Civil war, and is now deceased. (3) Matthew, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, resided in Kansas and died in 1909. (4) Mary Ann, now deceased, was the wife of David Findley, of Kansas. hurg, Pa. He married Elizabeth Wilson, of Brushvalley, Pa. (2) Harrison died Nov. 28, 1861. (3) Emma Katherine, who attended Beansville Seminary and graduated from the Clarion normal school, married George Whit- mer, Esq., and resides in Clarion, Pa. (4) Clara Eve, who was educated at the Indiana State normal and Clarion State normal schools, has been a teacher in Indiana, Cam- bria and Allegheny counties, and is now as- sisting her mother in the conduct of the home farm. (5) Albert Ellsworth attended Slip- pery Rock normal school in Butler county, conducted the home farm for five years after the death of his father, and was afterward engaged in business as a coal dealer at Swiss-

John Anderson McFeatters was educated in the local schools of Brushvalley township, and was still in his teens when his father died. He worked hard from early boyhood to help support his mother and other members of the family, and eventually settled on the vale, Pa., where he died in 1903. He married homestead and followed general farming. He Luella Miller, of Brushvalley, and they had two children, Grace and Rollo. (6) Mary Princetta married Nicholas A. Altimus, and died in Iowa, leaving a daughter, Elda, who is a graduate of the Clarion normal school. Since the death of her mother she has been making her home with her grandmother and aunt, and has followed teaching in Brush- valley township. These ladies are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have cul- tivated tastes and excellent capabilities. became one of the largest land owners of Brushvalley township, making stock raising and dealing his principal occupation, and he shipped and drove live stock to the eastern markets, principally to Philadelphia. Al- though his opportunities for advancement in educational lines were limited, he read a great deal, and being naturally observant and in- telligent he became a well-read and well-in- formed man for his day. Though not par- ticularly strong physically, the excellent busi- ness qualities and rare good judgment he possessed were the means of his becoming the successful man and popular citizen he actually was. A devoted father and husband, he was quite domestic in his tastes and took great pleasure in his home. His death occurred on his farm Aug. 23, 1895, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and he was laid to rest in the Mechanicsburg cemetery. In politics he was a Republican, and served as supervisor and school director of the township. He was a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church, and superintendent of the Sunday school. In his habits he was strictly temperate.

Mr. McFeatters married March 18, 1855, Nancy Roll, who was born Nov. 23, 1833, in Clarion, Clarion Co., Pa., daughter of David and Eve (Potter) Roll. After Mr. McFeatters' death his widow and daughter, Clara E., took

HARRY E. RUFFNER, D. D. S., has recently become a resident of Indiana, having moved to that borough from Glen Campbell, Indiana county, where he was engaged in the practice of dentistry for over twenty years. Besides being widely known profes- sionally in that section he was a public official of high standing. Born July 22, 1866, in Grant township, Indiana county, he is a son of Joseph R. and Amy Ann (Dougherty) Ruffner, the former of whom died in 1909. He was a farmer and huckster, and one of the well-known residents of his locality, hav- ing held various township offices. He was a native of Montgomery township, this county. His widow now lives at Hillsdale, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.

Harry E. Ruffner obtained his early edu- cation in the public schools, later attending

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the academy at Purchase Line, from which On March 16, 1887, Mr. Barrett was united institution he was graduated in 1886. In in marriage with Serena L. Lowe, who was 1888 he took a preparatory course at Marion, born near Smicksburg, Pa., daughter of Bar- nabas and Millicent (Maddock) Lowe, natives of Derbyshire, England, who came to America and settled near Smicksburg, Pa., where they secured and developed a small farm. By trade Mr. Lowe was a shoemaker, and alter- nated working at his calling and attending to his land. His death occurred in 1885, his widow surviving until 1892. Pa., and the same year entered the Philadel- phia Dental College, at Philadelphia, Pa., finishing the course in 1890. The same year he settled at Glen Campbell, where he continued to practice until his removal to Indiana in 1913 .. He established himself firmly in the confidence of a large number of patrons, being busily engaged all the time. But he has never neglected his duties of citi- John D. Barrett and his wife had children as follows: Lorenzo Dow, who died at the age of seven years; Nelson, who died at the age of four years; Luther, who died when two years old; Alfred, who died when four months old; Millicent; Edna; Homer, and Serena. zenship, being interested in all things making for the welfare of his borough. He was one of the workers toward the success of the Giant Electric Light, Heat & Power Company, serving as one of the directors of that concern. Some years ago he served as a member of the board of school directors, was subsequently elected burgess, and held the office of justice of the peace for the seven years before leav- ing Glen Campbell, being elected the last time to serve until 1917: All the local cases came up before him for trial, and his fairness and good judgment made him respected and popular.

Dr. Ruffner is.a prominent member of the M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F., being particu- larly active in the latter organization and encampment. He was secretary and noble grand of the local lodge, and has been repre- sentative to the grand lodge.

On Dec. 21, 1891, Dr. Ruffner married Jennie Connor, of Banks township, Indiana county, daughter of Charles Connor, a farmer and lumberman. They have had three chil- dren: Alethe Hazel, now the wife of Archi- bald Williams, agent for the New York Cen- tral Railway Company at Clymer, Pa .; Joseph Paul, who is deceased; and Helen Lucile. The family reside at No. 533 Water street, Indiana.

JOHN D. BARRETT, a general farmer of West Mahoning township, was born in that township May 11, 1864, son of Daniel D. and Elizabeth (Lantz) Barrett.

John D. Barrett attended the local schools of West Mahoning township, and was reared in a sensible way to habits of industry and thrift, upon the farm that has always been his home. He has developed into a first-class modern farmer, whose success in his chosen calling is as pronounced as it is well merited. He owns 170 acres of the original homestead, one half of which is in a . highly developed state of cultivation.

Always a strong Republican, Mr. Barrett has given his party hearty and valuable sup- port and has been its candidate for various offices, notably that of supervisor of his town- ship, to which he was reelected many times. While on the county board he espoused and saw carried through to successful completion many much needed public improvements. He and his excellent wife are consistent members of the Methodist Church of Smicksburg, where they are as highly esteemed as they are in other circles.

WARD NATHANIEL TIMBLIN, V. S., of Indiana, Pa., has been engaged in the prac- tice of veterinary surgery there for a year and has proved himself well prepared for his chosen calling. IIe was born July 1, 1888, near Georgeville, this county. His great- grandfather, James Timblin, the first of the family in Indiana county, came to this region in an early day, and eventually settled in Porter township, Jefferson county.

George Reeser Timblin, son of James, was born Sept. 9, 1842, in Porter township, Jeffer- son county, and lived on the home farm until eighteen years of age, meantime acquiring his education in the local common schools. At that time he went into lumber camps in Clear- field county, Pa., following that kind of work until his marriage, which occurred in Indiana county in December, 1866, his wife being Sarah Jane White. Locating on a seventy- five-acre farm in Canoe township, Indiana county, they remained there until nine years ago, when Mr. Timblin sold out and bought a tract of 135 acres in Plumcreek township,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Armstrong county. This property he has since sold to his son Maurice, for himself buying another farm of fifty-five acres in Armstrong county. He has lived retired for the last seven years, making his home with his children, his wife having died Feb. 17, 1906. She was buried at the Union Church in Canoe township, Indiana county. Mrs. Timblin was a devout member of the Presby- terian Church; Mr. Timblin belongs to the Evangelical Church. Their children, besides the father of Ward N. Timblin, were: Maur- ice, living in Armstrong county, who married Maggie Thomas; Alverda, who married James Sharrar, of Ford City, Armstrong county ; and Bessie, wife of George Cessna, of Armstrong county.

The father of Ward N. Timblin was reared to manhood on the home farm in Canoe town- ship, attending public school until he reached the age of eighteen years, out of school hours and during vacations assisting his father. He continued to work at home until his marriage, after which he and his wife went to live on a place in East Mahoning township, this county, owned by her mother. They remained there four years, thence removing to Glen Campbell, where Mr. Timblin was engaged in construction work for Clark Brothers. For the last fifteen years he has had charge of construction work on the Buffalo, Roches- ter & Pittsburg railroad. Mr. Timblin is a Republican on political questions. He has no church connections.

On Aug. 24, 1887, Mr. Timblin married Lizzie North, of Canoe township, who was born there Jan. 23, 1868, and received a pub- lic school education. They have had two children, Ward Nathaniel and Vernon George, the latter born June 22, 1896.

Ward N. Timblin grew up at Glen Camp- bell and there began his education at the public school, later attending the Indiana State normal school for several years. On Sept. 15, 1909, he entered the Chicago (Ill.) Veterinary College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1912, and in the meantime he also acquired valuable prac- tical experience, working under Dr. James Arthur Bovett of Chicago for two years. On April 18, 1912, he commenced practice at Indiana, where he is acquiring reputation and fame for conscientious and skillful atten- tion to every animal committed to his care.

John North, Dr. Timblin's great-grand- father in the maternal line, came to this coun- try from Ireland before his marriage to Eliza-

beth Simpson, of Indiana county, Pa. After they were married they lived a few years in Canoe township, this county, and then bought the farm in Young township, Jefferson county, where they made their permanent home. There Mr. North died at the age of seventy- eight years, his widow remaining in Indiana county, where she lived to the great age of ninety-six. Their children were: Nathaniel Simpson; Anna Mary, Mrs. William Simp- son ; Pogue; Taylor, who settled on the home farm; and Laura, who married David Ham- ilton and (second) David Allison.

Nathaniel Simpson North was born Sept. 17, 1842, in Canoe township, Indiana county, thence moving with his parents to Young township, Jefferson county, where he grew to manhood. He has been a lifelong farmer, and is now living in Canoe township, In- diana county. During the Civil war he faithfully supported the Union cause, serv- ing in the army from 1861 to 1865, and was twice wounded. He was a member of Com- pany A, 61st P. V. I. Mr. North married Nancy Hamilton, who was born June 10, 1842, in East Mahoning township, this county, and died Oct. 8, 1894. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. North : Lizzie, Mrs. Timblin ; Martha Theresa, born in 1870, who died in 1904, unmarried ; John Hamilton, born March 1, 1872, now residing on a farm in East Ma- honing township, who married Laura Bar- clay, of Marchand, Indiana county; Taylor Ellsworth, born in 1875, who died in infancy; Clara Irene, born Dec. 1, 1877, who married Benton R. Thompson and (second) Harry A. Borland, of Indiana; and David Clair, born March 4, 1881, who married Ethel Lit- zinger, of White township.

SAMUEL GRANT ST. CLAIR, engineer at the compressure plant of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Lockport, Pa., was born Dec. 3, 1865, near Little Washington, in West Wheatfield township, Indiana Co., Pa., and belongs to an old-settled family of this re- gion.

The St. Clair family is of Scotch-Irish origin, a branch of the St. Clair family of Scotland, which was founded in the middle ages by Sir Walderne de St. Clair, a Norman knight, who married Margaret, daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy. Their second son, William, settled in Scotland, and one of his descendants, William St. Clair, became prince of the Orkney islands under the king of Norway, and high chancellor of Scotland

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

under the royal house of Bruce. In 1741 James Overdorff. For many years he served the St. Clairs exchanged their lofty title and as constable. He and his wife, whose maiden island domains for the earldom of Caithness, name was Jameson, are buried in Bethel Church cemetery. They had fourteen chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: Nicholas, James, Daniel, Archie, Samuel, Hugh, Jane (who married Andrew Alcorn), Catherine, Pollie, John, Rebecca (who died unmarried) and Susan.

which they still hold. The name has since be- come Anglicized to Sinclair. Two of the de- scendants of one of these earls through a younger son were Gen. Arthur St. Clair and · his cousin James St. Clair, Sr., the former of whom was president of the Continental Congress in 1787 and commander in chief of the armies of the United States in 1791.

James St. Clair, son of Samuel St. Clair, was born Jan. 4, 1836, in West Wheatfield township, where he attended common school. For a time he worked with his father on the farm, afterward learning the trade of butch- er, which he followed to some extent, later

James St. Clair, Sr., was the great-great- grandfather of S. G. St. Clair. His parents were natives of the North of Ireland, and he was born in 1741 in eastern Pennsylvania. He lived nine miles from York, Pa., where he learning the carpenter's trade. Moving out to owned a valuable farm and mill, and he was Dresden, Ohio, he lived there for fourteen not only a prosperous citizen of his time but years, engaged as carpenter foreman in the an earnest sympathizer with the Colonial cause, serving throughout the Revolutionary war. His wife's maiden name was Miller.

employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany. On May 4, 1886, he moved back to West Wheatfield township and established James St. Clair, Sr., died in York county in a butcher shop at Bolivar, Westmoreland 1806, at the age of sixty-five years.

James St. Clair, one of the sons of James St. Clair, Sr., was born in York (now Adams) county, Pa., in May, 1774, and passed the employ of the Panhandle Railway Company ; greater part of his mature life in Indiana county, Pa. In 1809 he came to Brushvalley township, in 1816 removing to what is now the northern part of White township, where he took up a quarter section of government land and followed farming for many years. He died in Center township, this county, April 8, 1855, at the advanced age of eighty- one years. He was an old-line Whig in politics. He married Jennie Slemmons, who was born in Lancaster, Pa., of Irish descent, and was reared in Washington county, Pa., her father, William Slemmons, removing from Lancaster to Washington county in 1790 and there fol- lowing farming until his death, which oc- curred in 1820, in his sixtieth year. Mr. Slemmons was justice of the peace, by gover- nor's appointment, for a period of thirty years, and he was a man of the highest char- acter and of honorable standing. His wife's maiden name was Boggs, and they had several children. Mrs. Jennie (Slemmons) St. Clair died Oct. 15, 1855, aged seventy-one years, a member of the Presbyterian Church. She and her husband had a family of ten children, namely : Margaret, William S., Mary W., James, Samuel, Isaac, John, Robert, Thomas and Hiram.

Samuel St. Clair, son of James and Jennie (Slemmons) St. Clair, passed all his life in Samuel Grant St. Clair was an infant in West Wheatfield township, following farm- arms when his parents moved to Ohio, and ing on a large tract of land now owned by there he received his education, in Madison

county, also running a meat wagon. He was an energetic man, always keeping busy. While in Ohio he was also a private detective in the he acted as auctioneer; and besides looking after his other interests bought and sold oil wells in the oil region of Pennsylvania. He was a well-known man, and highly respected. He was a Republican in politics, and during the Civil war gave his services to the Union cause as a member of Company E, 11th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, being in the army for three years, twenty-six days. He served under Captain Piper and Col. Dick Colder. Mr. St. Clair was a member of the United Brethren Church during his residence in Ohio, but on his return to West Wheat- field township joined the United Presbyterian Church, to which he belonged the rest of his life. His death occurred May 16, 1902.

Mr. St. Clair married Susan Emma Laura Brandlinger, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Walbeck) Brandlinger, and she survives him, making her home with her son Samuel. Four children were born to this union : Jacob Gamble married Amelia Utzler, and they had children, Hugh W. (married Annie Mearley), John Hood (married Gertrude Mack), James Walter (married a Miss Penrose) and Mary Ellen (married Samuel Soxman). Joseph William died when twelve years old. Samuel Grant is mentioned below. Myra Livonia died when seventeen years old.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

township, Muskingum county. £ Returning cupation, buying a farm in Green township to West Wheatfield township with his parents upon which he remained until his death, which he became engaged in construction work for occurred Feb. 11, 1907, when he was eighty- seven years old. He married Mary Learn, daughter of John Learn, one of the first settlers in Cherryhill township, Indiana coun- ty; he was a farmer from early life. Mrs. Rodkey died Jan. 31, 1898, aged seventy- four years. She and her husband had a family of nine children, of whom John H. was the eldest, the others being: Elizabeth, who is now deceased; George, deceased; Catherine, wife of W. J. Devinney, of Green township; James, a resident of Cookport, Indiana coun- ty; Susan, wife of Newton Rodkey, living at Spangler, Cambria Co., Pa .; and three who died in infancy. the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, continu- ing thus for a short time. Then he farmed two years for his father-in-law, after which he went to work for the Gardner Company, in the brick manufacturing business, at Lock- port, Westmoreland county. He returned to the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as division foreman, holding that position until 1906, since which time he has been stationary engineer at the company's plant at Lockport. He is a responsible and reliable man, as his long service indicates. Mr. St. Clair is a member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Relief Association, and fraternally is an Odd Fellow, holding membership in New Florence Lodge, No. 558. He is a Republican in political association, and in religious con- nection is a member of the United Presby- terian Church.

Mr. St. Clair married Catherine Fulcomer, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Stormer) Fulcomer, of West Wheatfield township, and they have had six children, viz .: James Cur- tis, who married Minnie Burcett and has chil- dren, James W., Samuel G., Henry B., Hazel R. and Ralph W .; Samuel Clyde, unmarried, who is employed by the Bolivar Coal & Coke Company; H. Hezekiah, who died when five years old; Gos McKinley, living in Derry township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., who is em- ployed as engine inspector by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company ; Robert Lester, who died when four months, twenty days old; and Fleet Blair, born April 16, 1896.

JOHN H. RODKEY has been a resident of Cookport, in Green township, Indiana county, for several years, engaged in the un- dertaking business and carpenter work. He has always lived in Green township, where he was born Jan. 8, 1846, son of George and Mary (Learn) Rodkey. The Rodkeys are of German ancestry, but have long been settled in this country, Frederick Rodkey, the grand- of Post No. 537, of Cookport. father of John H. Rodkey, having been a native of Blair county, Pa. He was killed Long, who was born in Indiana county, daugh- when his son George was quite young.

George Rodkey, father of John H. Rodkey, She died in 1870, and in 1871 Mr. Rodkey was born in Blair county, and came to Indi- ana county with his mother and stepfather, Godfrey Harpen, the family settling in Green township, where they followed farming. George Rodkey began farming in his early life, and always continued to follow that oc- and Mr. Barnett engaged in farming through-

John H. Rodkey obtained his education in Green township. As a boy he worked on the home farm, and later continued farming and also engaged in lumbering. For some time he conducted a saw-mill. In 1897 he engaged in the undertaking business in partnership with David Harpen, under the firm name of Harpen & Rodkey, being associated with Mr. Harpen for some time and finally buying his interest. Mr. Rodkey has made his home at Cookport for the last eleven years, and has ·been actively engaged in the undertaking business and taking contracts for carpenter work, in which line he has built up a fine custom in this section. He is a skillful and thorough workman, and has made a success of his enterprises, now owning his home and other property in Cookport. His industrious and upright career has won him the respect of all who know him.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 150

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