Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 151

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 151

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On July 4, 1863, Mr. Rodkey enlisted from Indiana county for service in the Civil war, joining Company E, 2d Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, with which he served nine months. He was under the command of Colo- nel Lininger. He was mustered out at Pitts- burg. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R. in this locality, having been commander

In 1869 Mr. Rodkey married Sarah Jane ter of Frank Long, of Cherryhill township. married (second) Mrs. Nancy Jane (Barnett) Ober, a native of Cherryhill township, daugh- ter of David and Eliza (Craft) Barnett, both of whom were born in Bedford county, Pa .; they came to Indiana county in an early day,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

out his life. Mr. and Mrs. Rodkey have no directly after the war, principally to see the children. They are members of the Baptist country. Church.

THOMAS WHITE THOMPSON, of Rayne township, Indiana county, occupies the old homestead there formerly owned by his father and belongs to one of the oldest established families in this part of the county. JOHNATHAN DOUGLASS has been settled on his present farm in Green town- ship, Indiana county, since 1880, and has lived in that township most of his life. He was born there April 15, 1840, son of William Douglass, and grandson of Barnabas Doug- John Thompson, his grandfather, born March 9, 1761, died Feb. 26, 1838, in his seventy-seventh year. He came to Indiana county in an early day, and from the fact that there was a blockhouse erected on his property was widely known as "Blockhouse John." He cleared up a farm of 160 acres, and in addition to the work incident to the lass, a native of Dublin, Ireland, whose wife was also born in that country. Upon coming to America the grandparents first settled in Philadelphia, later moving to Cambria coun- ty, Pa., where they remained about eighteen years. At the end of that time the family came to Indiana county, purchasing a large tract of land in Green township near the improvement of his home place followed the Cambria county line, where Barnabas Doug- carpenter's trade in the neighborhood. His lass continued to live and farm until his wife, Rachel (White), who was from near death. He had a family of five children, Philadelphia, Pa., was born Oct. 9, 1761, and three sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to her ninety-third year, dying Nov. 7, are now deceased.

1853.

William Douglass, father of Johnathan

David Karr Thompson, son of John and Douglass, was born in Cambria county, Pa., Rachel (White) Thompson, was born July 8, 1798, in Indiana county, Pa., and died in 1882. He acquired a good education, taught school in winter and farmed in summer, and was one of the influential citizens of this re- gion in his time, serving for years as justice of the peace, and also holding the offices of school director and tax assessor of the town- ship. In 1826 he married Mary McHenry, of White township, Indiana county, who pre- ceded him to the grave, dying in 1879. They had a family of eight children, namely: Mar- garet Jane, Rachel, Sidney, John R., William M., David V., Thomas White and Mary Ann.

came to Indiana county with his parents, and after the death of his father continued to farm on the place where the family had settled until his death, which occurred Feb. 20, 1886; he was buried Feb. 22d. He married Mary MeKissick, a native of Indiana county, daugh- ter of Thomas McKissick, who was born in Scotland and on coming to America settled in Indiana county, Pa., where he bought land in Green township; later he went West, where he remained until his death. He was a farmer throughout his life. He had a family of three sons and four daughters, all now deceased. Mrs. Mary (McKissick) Douglass died on the old Douglass homestead. She and her hus- band were the parents of nine children, the eldest being Johnathan, a resident of Green

Thomas White Thompson was born May 4, 1840, in Rayne township, and was reared on the farm where he still continues to make his home, now owning the old homestead. He township; William is deceased; Martha is de- has retired from the active work of its cultiva-

ceased; Barnabas lives in Green township; tion, however, enjoying a well-earned rest. He Thomas E. is deceased; Joseph is deceased ; and his sister Sidney, who occupy the old home together, and Mrs. Abel Findley, of White township, are now the only survivors of the family.

On Sept. 12, 1862, Mr. Thompson enlisted in Troop B (Company K), 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served for almost three years, being discharged May 31, 1865, shortly after the close of the war. He was promoted to first duty sergeant. He took part in a num- ber of battles in the Shenandoah valley, in- cluding the engagement at Winchester and Sheridan's raid. He made several trips West

John E. is a resident of Green township; Sadie is the wife of John Baker, of Cambria county ; Thaddeus lives in Montgomery town- ship, this county.

Johnathan Douglass passed his boyhood and youth on the farm where his grandfather settled. In 1859 he moved to another tract in Green township, which he cultivated for some time, later buying a place in Cambria, which he farmed for three years. Then he bought what was known as the old William Stephens farm, upon which he resided for eight years, at the end of that time purchas- ing and removing to his present property.

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This was in 1880. He has been successfully Bridgeport, Conn. He belongs to the Alpha engaged in general farming, and is one of the Alpha College fraternity. On political ques- tions he is a Republican. substantial and esteemed citizens of his town- ship, where he has long been a trusted official, having served four terms as supervisor.

On Oct. 17, 1864, Mr. Douglass was united in marriage with Martha Pittman, a native of Indiana county, born Oct. 31, 1841, on the when three years old; the survivors are Flor- old Pittman farm, daughter of Benjamin and ence Elnora and Bernice Maud.

Elizabeth Pittman, farming people, who lived in this county from the early days. They had a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of whom only two survive, Zachariah and Mrs. Douglass. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Douglass : Eva, who is the wife of Levi Reed, of Green

Cambria county, Pa .; William B., a resident of Green township; Addie, the wife of Ben- jamin Duncan, a farmer of Indiana county ; Sim and Scott, twins; and Jessie, who lives in Cambria county. There are sixteen grand- children, and one great-grandchild. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are members of the Presby- terian Church.

WILLIS DELOSS HALL, M. D., of Gipsy, Indiana county, physician and surgeon for the Irish Brothers Coal Co. and the Hills- dale Coal Company and also engaged in gen- eral practice, was born Feb. 15, 1882, at Keene, N. H., sou of James George and Lod- ine (Pratt) Hall. His father is a locomotive engineer.

Dr. Hall received his early education in the public schools, following with a course at the Booth Preparatory School at New Haven, Conn., from which he was graduated in June, 1906. In September of that year he began the study of medicine at the Philadelphia Medical School of Temple College, Philadel- phia, Pa., graduated from that institution in 1910, and the same year located at Gipsy, where he has since followed his profession. As physician and surgeon for the Irish Brothers Coal Company and the Hillsdale Coal Company at that point he at once be- came well known, and his efficient services and conscientious attention to every demand of his work have established him completely in the confidence of his fellow citizens there. He is building up a creditable practice on his own account, and personally has won high Edward Clarence Compton, son of Andrew J. and Mary (Gilbert) Compton, was born Dec. 18, 1866, at Jacksonville, in Blacklick township, Indiana county. When eleven years old he moved with his parents to Conemaugh standing in the community. He is a member of the Red Bank Physicians' Protective Asso- ciation, and fraternally holds membership in the Patriotic Order Sons of America at Gipsy, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at township, where he farmed with his father

On June 5, 1902, Dr. Hall married Cora Weir, of Walpole, N. H., daughter of Rowe Weir, a railroad man. Dr. and Mrs. Hall have had three children, James Rowe dying

EDWARD CLARENCE COMPTON, of Blacklick township, is a member of an old and honored family of southern Indiana coun- ty, which has been settled there since the time of his grandfather, Reuben Compton.

Reuben Compton was born in Westmore- township; Mary, wife of Morris Ruffner, of land county, and was quite young when his father died. He married and settled at Clarks- burg, Indiana Co., Pa., where he followed farming and stockraising. His children were: Andrew Jackson; and Mary, who married Richard Donahew and resides in Young town- ship, Indiana county (she had children Mary, Annie and Jack).

Andrew Jackson Compton, son of Reuben, was born in Young township, Indiana coun- ty, where he received a common school educa- tion. He followed farming, in time buying the Gilbert farm at Clarksburg (now owned by his son Jack), near the Blacklick town- ship line, a property of 135 acres, belonging to his wife's family. Later he bought another farm, near Clarksburg, in Conemaugh town- ship, the place of 140 acres now run by his son Jack. He was a progressive man, and in his farming and stock raising operations kept abreast of the times. He was a Democrat and a Presbyterian, holding membership in the Church at Clarksburg, and is buried in the cemetery of that church. His death oc- curred Jan. 23, Mr. Compton mar- ried Mary Gilbert, daughter of George Gil- bert, and she now resides at Clarksburg. They had a family of ten children, and we have rec- ord of: George, who married Margaret B. Bergman and is a merchant in Indiana, Pa .; Edward C .; Della, widow of John Trump (who died of a cancer) and now residing in Clarksburg (she had children Mary and Arthur) ; Jack, who lives with his mother; Ansley; William; Hallie; Gertrude; and one that died young.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

until he started out in life for himself. For

extracted while warm with his blood, and he nine years Mr. Compton gained experience secured it, the bullet being one of the precious and familiarity with farm values as a renter possessions of his son Henry S. Griffith. After the expiration of his time in the army Mr. Griffith returned to Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm in Barr township, Cambria county, residing there for two years, and there he was married to Jennie Conner, a daughter of Robert and Nancy Conner, who came to this country from Ireland. Joseph Griffith and his wife had the following children: Lottie, Grant, Henry S., William, Maggie, Annie and Bertha. After his marriage Mr. Griffith re- turned to Pine township, where he lived the remainder of his lifetime. In politics he was a Republican. He belonged to the Mount Union Methodist Church. and cropper, cultivating several farms. Then, in 1910, he bought and settled upon the Con- rad Fritz farm, of 114 acres, where he is now carrying on agricultural operations. He is a man of progressive ideas, which he endeav- ors to put into practice in his work, and has had good results. His keen business sense and enterprising disposition have led him into other lines which have aided in making him successful. He is a carpenter, and follows his trade in the winter months. He is a stock- holder in the Blacklick Township Farmers' Telephone Company. Mr. Compton is a strong advocate of temperance, and like the Comp- ton family generally he is a member of the Presbyterian Church in religious connection, and is a teacher in the Sunday school. His wife and family are also members of the Pres- byterian Church. In politics he is a Demo- crat.

Mr. Compton married Stella Dixon, daugh- ter of Erb and Sarah (Hazlett) Dixon, of Conemaugh township, and seven children have been born to them, namely: Irwin New- ell, Paul, Sarah, Robert, Glen, Pearl and Viola.

HENRY S. GRIFFITH, of Pine township, Indiana county, was born in that township Oct. 15, 1873, .a son of Joseph Griffith, Jr., a former resident of Center township, In- diana county. His grandfather, Joseph Griffith, Sr., was a farmer of Center township. He married Liddie Row, of that township, whose family record can be traeed back to the early settlers of Indiana county.

Joseph Griffith, father of Henry S. Grif- fith, was born in Center township, this coun- ty, Nov. 29, 1840, his early life being spent on his father's farm in Center township. At the beginning of the Civil war he was among the men who volunteered to defend the country, enlisting in Company C, 19th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and serving three years. He was in eight pitched battles, besides a number of skirmishes, some of his most important battles be- ing Pittsburg Landing, Bull Run, Corinth, Lookout Mountain, and Stone River, where he was wounded Dec. 31, 1862, the ball enter- ing close to the spine and passing through his body to his right side, taking with it a portion of a rib. It stopped in the muscle of his right arm above the elbow. Ife was removed to a hospital, where the ball was Frank F., of Greensburg.

Henry S. Griffith after attending the local schools, at the age of sixteen years started to work in sawmills and in the lumber woods. When twenty-two years old he was married to Adda Kinter, daughter of John and Lillie Kinter, and they have children as follows: Mary, Elsie, William, Stella, Henry, Edwin, Kermit, Boyd and Frank.

In politics Mr. Griffith is a Progressive, having been one of the first Progressives in Pine township. He is a coal merchant, oper- ating or mining coal for the local trade, which vocation he has followed for the last ten years. He is well known throughout In- diana county, and highly esteemed by all who come in contact with him.

HOWARD D. SMITH, justice of the peace at Clymer, Pa., was born in Cherryhill town- ship, Indiana county, August 24, 1876, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Hill) Smith.

Ebenezer Smith, the grandfather, came to Indiana county with his family at a very early day and engaged in lumbering, making the first elearing in Green township.

Benjamin Smith, son of Ebenezer, and father of Howard D. Smith, accompanied his father to Indiana county, and became inter- ested in lumbering on the Susquehanna river, and for several years was a pilot on that river. He now lives retired on the old home place in Cherryhill township. He married Sarah Hill, who was born in Indiana county, and died in the spring of 1909, the mother of five sons and two daughters, as follows: Vinnie, who is the wife of Milton S. Crumbling, of Indiana county ; Jesse, who is deceased ; John H., who lives on the old homestead ; Ebenezer, who lives near Tunnelton, Indiana county ; Elizabeth, who is deceased; Howard D .; and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Howard D. Smith was given a public school Mr. Palmer enlisted for service in the Civil education in Cherryhill township. For two years he was engaged in the lumber business at Dunlo, in Cambria county, and then went to Somerset county, where he embarked in the transfer business, remaining there en- gaged in that line for eight years. In 1905 he came to Clymer and entered the grocery business, which he carried on for three years. He was appointed a justice of the peace by the governor, and later was elected to the office, which he continues to hold, He is in- terested also in the lumber business, in asso- ciation with his brother John H. Smith, and in addition he operates a coal mine.

In May, 1895, Mr. Smith was married, in Indiana county, to Etta E. Lutman, who was born in this county, a daughter of George Lutman, one of the old and substantial resi- dents here, a carpenter by trade and a public official, having served in the offices of col- lector and constable. Mrs. Smith has three brothers, Harry, George and John.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five children : LeRoy, Pauline, George, Benjamin and Rob- ert Francis, all surviving except the eldest. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow and is the present financial secretary of Lodge No. 1163, at Clymer.

ALVIN R. PALMER, postmaster at Hesh- bon, Indiana county, and the proprietor of a general merchandise business in that town, was born May 6, 1872, in West Wheatfield township, Indiana Co., Pa., a son of David Jenkins and Jane (Hadden) Palmer, and grandson of David and Jane (Bell) Palmer. The Palmer family is one of long standing in Indiana county.

war, becoming a member of Company G, 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain McCombs and Colonel Brady, and served with that organization for nine months, until the close of hostilities. Later he joined Findley Patch Post, G. A. R., at Blairsville. He and his wife are buried in the Barr cemetery. To them were born children as follows: Margaret Rebecca, who married Porter Campbell; Mary Jane, who married John Hite and resides in Pittsburg ; James, a resident of Heshbon, Pa .; David, a resident of Blacklick; Jeremiah, who lives in Los Angeles, Cal .; Henry L., on the old home- stead; Ella C., who married William Reyn- olds, of Brushvalley township; Alvin R .; and John Simpson and Caroline, who died young.

Alvin R. Palmer obtained his education in the public schools of West Wheatfield town- ship, and until he was twenty years of age assisted his father in the work of the home farm. At that time he went to Pittsburg and became shipping clerk in a wholesale furni- ture house, subsequently accepting a posi- tion as car inspector for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, on the Fort Wayne branch, at Pittsburg. After four years he returned to West Wheatfield and took up car- penter work, and for years was engaged as a builder, but in 1911 turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, establishing himself in business at Heshbon. The same year he was appointed postmaster, after taking the civil service examination. For a number of years Mr. Palmer was a member of the National Guard, and in 1898, during the Spanish- American war, he enlisted in Company D, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, not being able to qualify, however, on account of defective eyesight.

David Jenkins Palmer was born in Bur- rell township, Indiana county, in 1821, and In politics Mr. Palmer is a Democrat, but was there educated and reared to the voca- reserves the right to vote for the candidate he tion of farmer. After attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, and settled in West Wheatfield township, clearing deems best fitted for office. He is a member of Crescent Lodge, Odd Fellows, and was a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. He belongs his farm of eighty-four acres. It was in the to the Methodist Episcopal Church. wilderness when he went to live there, and he erected a log house and barn, and by hard W. SHERMAN FERGUSON, yardmaster at Josephine, Indiana Co., Pa., for the Jo- sephine Foundry & Coke Company, was born in Blacklick township, this county, Dec. 31, 1865, son of Elliott and Hulda (Clawson) Ferguson, and grandson of David Ferguson. work put his land in a state of cultivation. Later he replaced the original buildings with a good frame residence and barn, made numer- ous other improvements, and spent the rest of his life in tilling his fields, dying on the farm in January, 1892, at the age of seventy- David Ferguson was one of the pioneer farmers of Blacklick township, where he be- came the owner of 162 acres of valuable land, one years. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he served as steward. In 1864 the greater portion of which he cleared. He

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

married Anna Davis, and both died upon township, near Clymer, this county, Aug. 19, their homestead, in Blacklick township. They 1861, son of John R. and Margaret (Weis- had the following children : Elizabeth, James, inger) Myers, and grandson of Simon Myers. William, Margaret, Mary, Jane, Jehu and The latter was a farmer of Cherryhill town- Elliott.

Elliott Ferguson, son of David Ferguson, was born in Blacklick township, Indiana county, and was brought up a farmer. In time he became the owner of the homestead, which he operated until his retirement. Dur- ing the Civil war he proved his patriotism by serving for three years, and was in General Sherman's notable campaign in Georgia and the march to the sea. During his period of service he was in some very important en- gagements, and was an excellent soldier. Both he and his wife died on the farm, and are buried in the Ebenezer Church cemetery at Lewisville. Their children were : W. Sherman, Larry C., Wilhelmena, Horace (deceased), Caroline, Emeline (deceased) and Roxanna.

W. Sherman Ferguson remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, mean- time securing a common school education in the schools of his district, and learning how to operate a farm. Leaving home he went to Westmoreland county, Pa., where he worked in the coal mines for six years, but returning to his native county attended to the cultiva- tion of the homestead for some eight years. In 1906 he left the farm to engage with the Josephine Foundry and Coke Company, and proved so capable a man that two years later he was made yardmaster. In addition to other interests, he owns the farm that onee belonged to his grandfather Ferguson in Blacklick township, now comprising 146 acres of land, but lives at Josephine. Mr. Fergu- son has made a snecess of his work, although somewhat hampered by reason of an accident which occurred in 1905, when he lost his left hand in a corn husker.

Mr. Ferguson married Arabelle Morton, a daugliter of John and Nancy (Wineman) Morton. They have had the following fam- ily: Oscar E. (deceased), Edna L., Almeda I., Hulda V., John E., Susan J., Charlotte and Dorothy M. Mr. Ferguson holds to the principles of the Democratic party, and has served as road supervisor of Blackliek town- ship and for two terms was poor director of his township. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds the membership of Mr. Fer- guson and his family.

JACOB WEISINGER MYERS, a farmer of White township, was born in Cherryhill

ship.

John R. Myers, a son of Simon Myers, was born in Cherryhill township, where he grew up on a farm, and attended the common schools. He spent his life in that township, becoming the owner of 125 acres of land, upon which he died in February, 1898, aged sixty years. His widow survives and lives on the old homestead. She was a daughter of Jacob and Polly (Shank) Weisinger. Mr. and Mrs. John R. Myers had five children: John W .; Mary, who married John C. Strong and re- sides on the homestead in Cherryhill town- ship; David, who is unmarried, living in Greensburg, Pa .; William, who married Addie Winsheimer and resides in the vicinity of Philadelphia, where he is farming; and Truby, who married Flo. Howath and resides in the borough of Indiana.

Politically John R. Myers was a Repub- lican. For many years he was a member of the Wesley Methodist Church, and took an active part in the Sunday school work, serv- ing as superintendent. His wife now be- longs to the Disciples Church. Mr. Myers was interred in Harmony cemetery in Cherryhill township.

Jacob W. Myers attended the schools of his district, his first teacher being named Perry. After leaving school Mr. Myers be- gan working for William Stephens in Cherry- hill township, being then seventeen years old, and so continued for five and a half years. For the following few years he was engaged in lumbering, farming, harvesting and simi- lar work, according to the seasons, and then coming to White township spent nineteen months in the employ of Matthew Henry, ex-county commissioner. His next employer was Johnson Morehead, of Cherryhill town- ship, and he remained with him for two years, when he went to work for William Stephens, but after six months returned to Mr. Morehead. After another two years in his employ he engaged with A. R. Evans, of Cherryhill township, and after two years, hav- ing saved his money carefully, was able to buy his present farm of seventy-five acres in White township, then known as the old Wil- liam Hamilton farm. On it he erected a handsome frame residence, and a commodious barn, as well as other necessary buildings, and carries on general farming, specializing in the production of butter and eggs.

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Mr. Myers was elected a justice of the the home farm until he was twenty-one years peace on the Prohibition ticket, but declined old, then assuming the management of the farm, paying his father his share of the profits up to the time of the latter's death. to serve, for although active in township af- fairs he does not feel that he can give proper attention to the duties of public office. His For eight years longer he remained on the support of Prohibition is earnest and con- old farm, and in 1891 bought and settled on his present farm of 120 acres .. He is a Demo- crat in politics, but has never served in any public office. scientious, for he believes much in the move- ment. The Wesley Methodist Church of In- diana holds his membership, and he is now superintendent of the Sunday school, like his father believing in its power and influence. For the last two years he has rendered val- uable service to the church as a trustee.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 151

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