Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 154

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 154

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John Blue was married in his native land to Elizabeth Campbell, and they became the parents of the following children: James, Cornelius, John, Sarah, Jane and David.

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Politically he was a Democrat, but never as- same country in 1823. In June, 1853, they pired to public office. Prior to leaving Ire- came to the United States, settling at Kittan- land he was made a Mason. Reared a Presby- ning, Armstrong Co., Pa., where Mr. Swan terian, upon coming to Indiana county he connected himself with the United Presby- terian Church of this locality. His wife passed away in 1874, aged eighty years, hav- ing survived him some eight years. They were people of the highest character and were held in esteem by all who had the honor of their acquaintance.

David Blue attended school in Armstrong township until his father moved to Rayne township, when he entered the Hawthorne school, and there completed his educational training. Following this he was associated with his father in the farm work until he en- tered the army. This event took place with his enlistment in Company A, 77th Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and he served for three years and two months, participating in many of the major battles of the war, as well as numerous skirmishes, among them be- ing the engagements of Stone River, Chick- amauga, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain and Glen Hope Church. Mr. Blue received his honorable discharge on Oct. 1, 1864, and returned home, having done his full duty as a soldier.

On Dec. 1, 1864, Mr. Blue was united in marriage with Margaret Swan, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Marshall) Swan, and they had the following children: John, who married Annie Barbistock, and lives in the married James Getty; Sarah, who married Charles Bell, of Plum creek; Maud, who mar- ried Edward Thompson, of Kelleysburg; Samuel, deceased, who was killed on the rail- road; Elmer, of Johnstown, Pa., who mar- ried Miss Rhoads; Frank, who married Susan Stein, and lives at East Liberty, Pitts- burg, Pa .; and Claude, who married Maud Warden, and lives on his father's farm in Rayne township.

Until his father's death Mr. Blue continued to work with him, and then inherited the homestead, which he operated until his re- tirement, when he purchased a residence at Chambersville, where he has since lived. Politically he is a Democrat, and has held the office of school director, but aside from that has not entered public life. The Pres- byterian Church holds his membership, and benefits from his generosity.

worked at his trade of stonemason and brick- layer. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Swan were: Martha married William Bry- son, of Kittanning, Pa .; Robert died in Andersonville prison during the Civil war; John, who is deceased, was a stonemason, working with his father; Samuel, who married Effie Burkart, was an oil driller; Elizabeth died at the age of nineteen years; Margaret is Mrs. Blue. Mr. Swan died at Kittanning, Pa., in 1890, aged seventy-six years, his widow surviving until 1906, when she passed away at Kittanning aged eighty-three years.

ALBERT CLARK KERR, deceased, was born April 27, 1857, in West Mahoning town- ship, Indiana Co., Pa., son of John and Mary Kerr.

Samuel Kerr, of West Mahoning township, was the father of John Kerr, and grandfather of Albert Clark Kerr. He married Polly Thomas, also of West Mahoning township, where she and her husband died, having been farming people all their lives.

John Kerr, son of Samuel Kerr, was born in West Mahoning township, as was his wife. They, too, were farming people. The follow- ing children were born to them: Samuel, who is living on the old home place; Kate, who married Albert Brewer, of South Mahon- ing township; Albert Clark; Thomas, who State of Indiana; Rebecca; Elizabeth, who is a merchant of Georgeville, Pa .; and Ida, who married Luther Beck, of West Mahon- ing township.

Albert Clark Kerr had only a common school education, but was a successful farmer and carpenter, and early in life taught school. He was a man of high principles, and gained and retained friends wherever he went.

On Jan. 9, 1879, Mr. Kerr was married to Mary Jordan, who was born in North Mahon- ing township, daughter of Robert and Martha (Pounds) Jordan, both of that township, where they always lived. He was a farmer and in early life operated a hotel. His death occurred Dec. 14, 1894, his widow surviving until 1910. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were: Robert, who is deceased ; Mar- garet, widow of Daniel Laughey, living in West Mahoning township; Samuel, deceased ; Martha, who married William Brown, of In- diana, Pa .; James, deceased; John, who is

John Swan, the father of Mrs. Blue, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1814, while living in Armstrong county, Pa .; Charles, de- his wife Rebecca (Marshall) was born in the ceased; and Mary, Mrs. Kerr.

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Mr. and Mrs. Kerr became the parents of died Sept. 21, 1841; Marshall G., born Nov. five children : Martha, who married W. Niel 14, 1841, died March 4, 1907, served in the and has three children, Claire, May and Civil war, was married in Saltsburg, March Hazel; Minerva, deceased, who married Elmer Elkin; Homer, who is a farmer, sawmill man and thresher, living at home; Robert, de- ceased; and Albert, also a farmer, sawmill

18, 1868, to Levina Wilson, and had three children, Bertha (who married William Low- man), John and Laura; Sarah Elizabeth, born Aug. 3, 1843, married J. N. Coleman, a man and formerly a thresher, who is at home. farmer of Conemaugh township; William

After his marriage Mr. Kerr located on the in West Mahoning township, and there he

Albert, born April 6, 1846, died Oct. 9, 1896, farm that is still the property of his widow, served in the Civil war, was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson Medical College, resided until his sudden death, on April 27, and practiced medicine for a number of years 1890. Politically he was a stanch Republican, but never aspired to public office. He did not belong to any fraternal orders, although his sons are Odd Fellows, being connected with the lodge at Smicksburg, Pa. Mr. Kerr was well and favorably known in Indiana county, where he is remembered with the

at Braddock, Pa .; Maria Jane, born June 11, 1848, married B. F. Reed and (second) S. S. McClellan, a farmer and oil developer; a child born Feb. 23, 1851, died March 23d of that year; Mary Ella, born Sept. 30, 1852, died unmarried July 5, 1874; Anna Bell, born Dec. 9, 1858, married D. M. Kier, and

highest regard. He was a member of the now resides at Braddock, Pa., where Mr. United Brethren Church. Mrs. Kerr is a Kier is a contractor and builder; Harlan P. valuable member of the Ladies' Aid Society is mentioned below.

and takes a great deal of interest in that William Sandles was born and reared near organization and in church work generally. Mount Pleasant, in Westmoreland county,

HARLAN P. SANDLES, who owns and operates a tract of 125 acres of well-cultivated land in Conemaugh township, was born Dec. 21, 1854, at Saltsburg, Conemaugh township, son of William and Maria (Marshall) Sandles.

and on first coming to Indiana county worked on the old Pennsylvania canal and boated be- tween Johnstown and Pittsburg. He subse- quently became owner of a boat, which he operated himself, and for a time was also engaged in the mercantile line in Saltsburg, in what was known as the S. Robinson & Co.

Christopher Sandles, the paternal grand- father of Harlan P. Saudles, was born in General Store, but in 1860 he sold out, moved Ireland and came to the United States in to Clarksburg, and purchased the Marshall young manhood, settling at Mount Pleasant, farm of 300 acres, near that place, where he continued to farm and raise and buy live stock during the remainder of his life. A man of industry, integrity and probity, he won the respect and esteem of his fellow citi- zens through the exercise of good judgment and honorable dealing, and no man had a wider circle of warm personal friends. In in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he fol- lowed farming and other laboring all of his life. He died at Mount Pleasant, and there he and his wife and all of their children are buried. The children were as follows : Christ- opher; John, who lived in Allegheny county ; George; William; Pollie; and Sarah, who married James Lemon, and had six children, political matters he was a Republican, and Van Amberg, Loyal, George, Nathaniel, Rody and another.

his religious connection was with the Clarks- burg Presbyterian Church, of which he was trustee for a long period.

William Saudles, son of Christopher Sandles, was born Oct. 1, 1806, and died Feb. Harlan P. Sandles, son of William Sandles, accompanied his parents to Clarksburg when still a small lad, and there attended the inde- pendent school. Later he was a student at the academies at Eldersridge and Glade Run, and worked with his parents until his father's death, at which time the home farm was divided between him and his brother Marshall. Mr. Sandles now owns and conducts 125 acres of well-cultivated land and is known as one of his community's progressive and enter- prising farmers. He makes a specialty of 6, 1885. He was married July 11, 1837, to Maria Marshall, who was born in Conemaugh township, Nov. 6, 1820, daughter of Scott and Jane (Wilson) Marshall, and died Feb. 13, 1907. Their children were as follows: Theo- dore M., born March 26, 1838, as a young man went to California and followed mining and prospecting until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted and served three years in the Union army, after which he fol- lowed gold mining until his death, in Utah, Feb. 10, 1881; John, born March 4, 1840, raising fine horses, conducts a stud, and his

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

animals bring topnotch prices in the eastern later on embarking in his present undertaking, markets. Mr. Sandles is a member of the new and has become one of the best known Italian business men in Indiana. Progressive party, but has never been an office seeker, although movements tending to Mr. Runzo married Josephine Calcogno, who was born in Italy, and they have four children: Stephen, Augustine, Thomas and the advancement of morality, education and good citizenship have always found in him a stanch supporter. He is a member of the Philip. Woodmen of the World, and a member and trustee of the Clarksburg Presbyterian Church, where for some years he has been teacher of an adult Bible class.

Mr. Sandles was married Oct. 12, 1875, to Mary J. Kier, daughter of William and Mar- garet Ann (Dixon) Kier, and they have had eight children, as follows: William Claud, born Ang. 19, 1876, married June 12, 1900, Cora B. Anderson; Mark Bennett, born Sept. 16, 1878, married July 20, 1902, Edna Har- bison, and is a mill worker at Gary, Ind .; Lisle Marshall, born Oct. 10, 1880, a graduate of Grove City College, finished his law course in the university at Columbus, Ohio, and is praticing law at Columbus (he is unmarried) ; Harry Porter, born Oct. 24, 1882, a resident of Red Lodge, Mont., where he is a superin- tendent of coal mines, married Aug. 18, 1909, Caroline Chapman; John Albert, born Oct. 24, 1882, a salesman, is a resident of Derry township; Edith May, born March 12, 1884, married June 22, 1909, Harry L. George, a national bank examiner; Maggie Marie, born Sept. 9, 1886, who has been a school teacher, resides at home with her parents; Anna Lois, born March 18, 1890, married June 12, 1912, John M. Mclaughlin, a merchant of Elders- ridge. Mr. and Mrs. Sandles have reared their children in such a manner that they are a credit to themselves and to the commun- ities in which they are now living. They have been well educated, fitted for the places in life they were destined to fill, and are faith- fully upholding the best traditions of this it. He conducts the only department store old and honored family.

FRANK RUNZO, a fruit and confection- ery merchant of Indiana, was born in Italy March 17, 1878, son.of Stephen and Gertrude Runzo. Stephen Runzo is a shoemaker by trade, and is still living in Italy. He and his wife became the parents of nine children.

HARRY LEVINSON, engaged in business at Clymer, Indiana Co., Pa., as a dealer in clothing, dry goods and shoes, was born in Russia Sept. 27, 1874, son of Hiram Joseph and Marie Levinson, both of whom died in that country.

Harry Levinson was given an opportunity to attend school in his native land and lived there until eighteen years of age. Coming to America, he landed at New York, and from there went to Blossburg, Pa., where he re- mained for four years. From there he went to Englishı Center, Pa., at which place he engaged in business with his brother Bernard, continuing to live there four years. Mr. Levinson then went to New York City, em- barking there in the notion business and also engaging in manufacturing clothing. He continued in the great metropolitan city until 1906, when he moved to Punxsutawney, Pa., where he was in the wholesale dry goods bus- iness for a year. He displayed business en- terprise and foresight in coming early to Clymer and establishing himself in the John Hunter building, which was the first erected in the place. Mr. Levinson put in a small stock at first but very soon found it necessary to increase it as his patronage grew with the rapid advance made by the town, and ere long he recognized the fact that larger quart- ers had become a necessity. Hence he erected his own building and again liis business so expanded that an annex had to be made to at Clymer and does the largest business of its kind in Indiana county.

On Jan. 15, 1907, Mr. Levinson was mar- ried to Lena Golubb, who was born in Russia, and they have three children: Marie, Hin- man Joseph and Ezekiel. Mr. Levinson is associated with the Odd Fellows at Clymer.

HENRY CLAY KELLY, who is now living retired at Pine Flats, Indiana county, in Green township, was born in this county, at Mechanicsburg, Jan. 20, 1845. He is of Irish descent, his grandfather, Patrick Kelly, hav- ing been a native of Ireland, whence he came to this country in young manhood. His first

Frank Runzo attended public school in liis native place. Learning the blacksmith's trade, he followed it until he came to the United States sixteen years ago. Landing in New York City, he went from there to Greensburg, Pa., where he spent eleven months, thence coming to Indiana. For a time he conducted a shoe repairing shop, location was in New York. Moving to Penn-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

sylvania, he took up a tract of land at what is now Homer City, in Center township, In- diana county, and died there. He took part during the Indian troubles in this section. His family consisted of twelve sons and one daughter. Two of the sons settled in Put- nam county, Ohio.

John Kelly, son of Patrick, was born in 1791, on the old homestead in Indiana coun- ty, learned shoemaking, and followed his trade in the manner customary at that day, travel- ing around with a kit of tools among his neigh- bors and more distant patrons. Sometimes he would be away for months at a stretch. He sold his property in Brushvalley township and left these parts in 1849. He married Ann Evans, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Turner) Evans, and they had the following children: Esther, Mrs. Joseph Swartz, who died in Indiana; William, of Mechanicsburg, this county; Hannah, who married Colonel Kane, of the Blair county regiment; Mary Jane, who married Samuel Devlin, a veteran of the Civil war, and died at Apollo, Arm- strong Co., Pa .; Elizabeth, Mrs. Jonathan Wil- son, who died in Brookville, Jefferson Co., Pa .; John E., of Blacklick station, this coun- ty, who served during the Civil war in Cap- tain Neshit's Company, 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; and Henry Clay. The mother was a member of the Baptist Church. . Henry Clay Kelly obtained his education in the common schools, attending until twelve years old. When fourteen le commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade with his brother William, and was thus engaged until he en- tered the Union army. On Aug. 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 135th Pennsylvania Regiment, for nine months' service, went to. Washington, D. C., under Col. J. R. Porter, and joined the Army of the Potomac, under Generals Burnside and Hooker. He took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, and was dis- charged at Harrisburg, Pa., in June, 1863. Mr. Kelly reenlisted in the 206th Regiment, becoming a member of Company F, under Captain Green, but was taken sick and never saw service with this command. Mr. Kelly has always been a Republican in political as- sociation, and he served his fellow citizens of Green township for years as tax collector and constable. In religious connection he is a Baptist.

On Dec. 8, 1870, Mr. Kelly married Mary Moore Williams, who died Sept. 1, 1889, at Pine Flats, this county.

REV. W. J. WILSON, whose parents came from the North of Ireland in the year 1844, was born at Truittsburg, Clarion Co., Pa., November 13, 1844. In the spring of 1852 he removed with his parents to Richardsville, Jefferson Co., Pa. Having spent nearly two years in the army, in September, 1865, he en- tered Westminster College, at New Wilming- ton, Pa. Early in his course he left college to engage, in the fall of 1869, to teach school at Richardsville, where he remained a year. After this he entered Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburg, Pa. In the spring of 1871 he opened a select school at New Beth- lehem, Pa., where he remained one year. In September, 1872, he reentered college and was graduated in June, 1873. The following Sep- tember he entered the Western Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated April 20, 1876. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Shenango, April 26, 1875. On June 14, 1876, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Kittanning and installed pastor of Union and Midway Churches. In October, 1879, he was released from this charge and removed to Malvern, Iowa, and there preached as stated supply for a year. In the fall of 1880 he removed to Callensburg, Clar- ion Co., Pa., where he remained until 1891, when he became the pastor of Currie's Run and Center Churches. He resigned at Cur- rie's Run in 1907. In connection with Center Church he served the Washington Church until October 1, 1913, when he resigned the pastorate of the Washington Church. He continues to serve the Center Church. Rev. Mr. Wilson has done more pastoral work in the rural districts than any other minister of the Presbytery.

ROBERT BUCHMAN, a leading merchant of Blairsville, came here from across the water in October, 1884. He has engaged suc- cessfully in business as a merchant, now own- ing a very valuable corner property where he conducts his clothing business. He also constructed a fine home on the same property, in which he resides. He is interested in the advancement of educational opportunities and methods and also in civic pride, hence does what he can to further the best interests of the community and town in which he lives. He has a fine family. Mr. Buchanan married Pauline Elisashafe, of Germany, and they have four children: Leon H., Abraham S., Gertrude and Jacob Joseph. Leon is a stu- dent at Carnegie Technical Institute in Pitts- burg and the others are students in Blairs- ville.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 154

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