Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 16

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 16

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has been one of the energetic citizens who have kept the business spirit in that place up to the modern standard, adding to the value of every other industry in the place by the intel- ligent management of his own. He was born in Indiana county April 4, 1847.

Thomas McElhoes, his great-grandfather, was born in Scotland, of Scotch parents, and came to the United States in company with two of his brothers, settling in the Cumber- land valley, in Pennsylvania, at an early day. He followed farming.

John McElhoes, son of Thomas, was born in Cumberland county, Pa., near Carlisle, and learned the trade of miller, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. When comparatively a young man he settled in Indiana county, where he was similarly en- gaged. He died in 1856.

Isaiah MeElhoes, son of John, was born and reared in Indiana county, receiving such educational advantages as the schools of his time afforded. Like his father he became a farmer and miller, and was thus engaged for some years, later becoming interested in the manufacture of wool, for which he established a mill on Pine run which is supposed to have been the first woolen mill in Indiana county. He was an enterprising business man, and the undertaking prospered. He married Isabella Kinter, and they had a family of four chil- dren : Jane, wife of George Collins; John K .; James S. ; and Bell, wife of James Allen. The mother died in 1874, the father surviv- ing her many years, until 1894.

James S. MeElhoes was educated in the public schools of the home locality. When quite young he began work in his father's woolen mill on Pine run, remaining there until 1890. The experience he gained under his father's careful oversight has proved in- valuable to him in his subsequent career. When the old mill at Pine run was destroyed by fire, in 1890, he removed to Indiana bor- ough, forming a partnership with John A. Finley for the manufacture of woolen goods, which they carried on under the firm name of MeElhoes & Finley. This firm did busi- ness until 1902. when their establishment was burned out, and Mr. MeElhoes then organized the present concern, which does business under the name of Indiana Woolen Mills Company. It was incorporated with a capital stock of $35,000, and at the beginning Mr. MeElhoes became superintendent, filling that position for several years. He then became secretary,

JAMES S. M.ELIIOES, long connected with the Indiana Woolen Mills Company, and in every capacity has given the utmost

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

satisfaction to all concerned. The company Ellen Harrison and (second) Sarah Miller ; makes a specialty of woolen blankets, and the Joseph, married Nancy Mabon; Mary, mar- business is thriving and shows steady growth. ried Archibald Jamison; Nancy, married Ed- There are a number of live concerns in the ward Turner; Hannah, married Samuel K. borough which contribute steadily to its pros- Lockhart : Margaret, married James Mabon. perity, and the Indiana Woolen Mills Com- pany is numbered among them. As a citizen Mr. McElhoes enjoys the highest standing. He is a prominent member of the Presby- terian Church, which he has served as elder, and he has also been Sunday school superin- tendent.

In 1897 Mr. McElhoes married Orpha Rupert, daughter of George Rupert. They have two children, George and Marion. oped into a valuable property. In addition George is still a student at college, and he also has the management of the home farm. gristmill in that section, now known as the Mr. McElhoes now makes his home on a farm in Rayne township (Home post office), near Kelleysburg, to which he removed from In- diana, some months ago.

JOSEPH LYDICK, late of South Mahon- ing township, was a veteran of the Civil war, and one of the oldest residents of his locality. He was born in West Mahoning township Oct. 13, 1829.

John Lydick, founder of the family in In- diana county, was a native of Ireland, and came to America at an early day. He was among the pioneer settlers of Indiana coun- ty, locating on the MeGanghey tract, in what is now Cherryhill township, and owing to the wild conditions prevailing was driven out several times by Indians. The last time he remained away seven years before risking his life again. Eventually, however, he found he could live peaceably, and followed farm- ing and hunting with profit. His children were: John, Jacob, Patrick, James, Elizabeth, Barbara, Margaret and Catherine.

Patrick Lydick, son of John Lydick, was a farmer all of his useful life, and made his home on the new State road, in Rayne (what was then Green) township. During the war of 1812 he gave his country patriotic service as a soldier. The death of this excellent man occurred on his property, and his remains were interred in Washington Church ceme- tery. In religious faith he was a Presby- terian. Patrick Lydick married Mary Mc- Henry, who also died on the farm, and is buried beside her husband. Their children were: John, married Elizabeth Chapman ; Isaac is mentioned below; James, married Sarah Chapman and (second) Rebecca John- son ; William, married Mary Neff; Patrick, married Jane A. Hamilton ; Samuel, married

Isaac Lydick, son of Patrick Lydick, was born in 1800, in what was then Green (now Rayne) township, and was educated in the schools of his period, conducted upon the sub- scription plan, as there were no public schools in those early days. He worked on the farm from early boyhood until he reached his ma- jority, when he located in South Mahoning township on 150 acres, which land he devel- to farming he built and operated the first

Rossmoyne, and kept a country store. His remaining years were spent there, and he died in 1838, when still in the prime of life. His remains were interred in Gilgal cemetery. He was a Baptist in religious belief, and a Whig politically.

The first wife of Isaac Lydick was Ann Turner, and his second marriage was to Eliza Sutor. The latter was born in Washington county, Pa., daughter of John Sutor, and died in East Mahoning township in 1884. aged seventy-six years; she is buried in Marion Center cemetery. The children born to Isaac Lydick were: George T., who is deceased; Joseph; Mary, who married Hugh Lawson (both are deceased) ; Margaret, who married Dr. Young; Beal, who died young; Agnes, who married Enoch Hastings, of Armstrong county ; Adoniram Judson, who is deceased; Enoch, who died in Arkansas; Emma, who married Albert Ponches and lives in Ohio; and John S., who lives at Vandergrift, Penn- sylvania.

Joseph Lydick received a good common school training during the winter seasons, at- tending school in Green township and at Day- ton and Brookville, working on his mother's farm in summer. He was only nine years old when he had the misfortune to lose his father, and he helped his mother at home and worked as farm assistant to others for small wages. When he was seventeen years old he began learning cabinetmaking at Brookville, and fol- lowed the trade for several years, establishing himself in business at Brookville. Continuing same for five years, he sold out in 1855 and returned to the homestead, and devoted his 150 acres to general farming and stock raising for many years. At last he sold sixty acres, and still retaining ninety acres, which his son operated after the father's retirement.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Lydick made many valuable improve- Bloomington, Ill., and at Ashland and Fair- ments upon his property, taking a pride in field, Neb., at the latter place going to Fair- having it well managed. The Buffalo & Sus- field College. For two years after leaving quehanna railroad runs through one end of the farm, and its value was very materially increased by this. There is gas on the land, and two wells are now in operation. Always a man of earnest convictions, Mr. Lydick had a strong character, and his habits of industry and thrift made him universally respected.

On February 14, 1864, Mr. Lydick was en- tered as a member of Company H, 78th Penn- sylvania Infantry, under Colonel Bonneton, and Capt. Paul Crawford, and was mustered out in October, 1865, after having been a brave and efficient soldier. Always a strong Republican, he gave his hearty and enthusias- tic support to President Taft during the cam- paign of 1912. For many years he was a val- ued member of the Mahoning Baptist Church, taught in the Sunday school, and served as Sunday school superintendent.

In March, 1853, Mr. Lydick was married to Helen A. Silvis, who was born in Clinton county, Pa., daughter of Henry Silvis. They had the following children: George T., who is operating the homestead; Virginia B., who is at home; Harry S., who is of Pittsburg, as is Ernest B.

Mr. and Mrs. Lydick were married nearly sixty years. Mr. Lydick was well preserved and in good health, and had remarkable eye- sight, being able to read without glasses; his other faculties were also in excellent condi- tion, with the exception of his hearing. His death occurred February 9, 1913. Mrs. Ly- dick has been an invalid for several years.

school he was employed as a telegraph opera- tor in the West, and then spent eighteen months in California before returning East, to Altoona, Pa. Taking a position as telegraph operator at Roaring Spring, Blair county, Pa., with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany ; he remained there until transferred to Martinsburg, same county, where he was agent and operator five years. He was next at Patton, Cambria county, Pa., as agent and operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, being at that point for ten years, at the end of which period he resigned to take a posi- tion with the Beech Creek Coal & Coke Com- pany, as civil engineer. He was engaged in that capacity until the end of December, 1902, on January 1, 1903, being sent to Arcadia, to take charge of the company's office there. The Beech Creek Coal & Coke Company has since become a part of the Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company, which he continued to serve in the same capacity. He was also superin- tendent of the Hooverhurst & Southwestern railroad, which has ten miles of track in In- diana county, and is an important feature in the development of coal properties in this region, affording a convenient outlet for the product of several mining. companies. He was one of the original surveyors in the local coal district-in Montgomery township and the surrounding portion of Indiana county.

Mr. Curfman was a Republican and took considerable interest in politics, and he was active in local affairs, having served as audi- tor of Banks township, and in 1908 assuming the duties of justice of the peace. He was a director of the First National Bank of Glen Campbell. Mr. Curfman was a leading mem- ber in the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a ruling elder, and fraternally he held membership in the I. O. O. F. His death. which was accidental, occurred at Arcadia July 9, 1912.

GEORGE HENRY CURFMAN, late of Arcadia, Indiana county, was in charge of the office of the Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company at that place for the last ten years of his life. He had become intimately asso- ciated with the bests interests of that vicinity and town during his residence there. He filled public positions of trust, was serving as justice of the peace at the time of his death, On December 24, 1891. Mr. Curfman mar- ried Annie Katherine Miller, of Martinsburg. Blair county, Pa., daughter of John and Hen- rietta (Kocher) Miller ; her father was a cab- inetmaker by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Curf- and had the esteem of all who came in con- tact with him, in business life, in his official capacity or as a private citizen. Mr. Curf- man was a native of Baltimore, Md., born November 6, 1861, son of Daniel and S. (Mase- man had one child, John Edwin, born Feb- rmary 22, 1898. Mrs. Curfman now resides

more) Curfman, both of whom were born in Maryland. IIis father was a manufacturer at Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. of paper.

Mr. Curfman attended school at Baltimore until he reached the age of thirteen years. Saltsburg. Indiana county, is one of the old- He subsequently continued his studies at established business men of that borough.

JOSEPH A. McCLARAN, druggist, of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

where he has also become well known in his Pennsylvania and remained there until he at- official capacity as postmaster. He was born tained his majority, when he joined the hardy there May 25, 1866, son of James and Cather- pioneers who were venturing into the forest regions west of the Allegheny mountains, set- tling in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he died. ine (Andre) McClaran, the former of whom was of Scotch-Irish antecedents, the latter of German descent.

Daniel Hill, son of Daniel, was born in 1817, and died at Twolick, in White township, Indiana county. He learned the trade of mill- wright. Removing to Armstrong county, Pa., he remained there until 1855, when he came to Indiana county and embarked in the lum- James McClaran, the father, was born in February, 1829, in Westmoreland county, Pa., and died in 1883. He was a saddler, and fol- lowed his trade for a number of years, later engaging in business as a merchant. He mar- ried Catherine Andre, who was born in In- diana county, Pa., daughter of Joseph Andre, ber business on the Susquehanna river, fol- of Indiana, Pa., and died in 1910. They were the parents of four children: Fred, a drug- gist, of Beaver Falls, Pa .; Joseph A .; Mary, who died in 1886, when eighteen years old; and Rome, who is assistant postmaster at Saltsburg.

lowing same until 1880. He then removed to White township, and also lived in Green and Cherryhill townships. He was a member of the Democratic party and took considerable interest in its work, holding several township offices. In religion he was a Presbyterian. He married Eliza A. Trimble, who was born in 1811, daughter of Thomas Trimble, a life- long resident and well-to-do farmer of West- moreland county, Pa., who died in 1850. Mrs.

Joseph A. McClaran began the drug busi- ness in young manhood, and has been en- gaged in that line of trade at Saltsburg for the last twenty-seven years. He has built up a thriving patronage by honorable dealing and Hill died in 1866. reliable goods, and merits the confidence in William Bigler Hill passed his early years which he is held by his acquaintances in all in Montgomery township, and was twelve the relations of life. He is serving as post- years old when his father moved to Green master at Saltsburg, a position to which he was appointed March 3, 1901, by President McKinley, and reappointed under both Roose- velt and Taft, and his highly satisfactory service in the office is characteristic of all he does. For twenty-three consecutive years, since 1889, he has been a member of the board of school directors of the borough. Mr. Mc- Claran attends the M. E. Church. He is a member of Saltsburg Lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M., and of Bloomsburg Consistory (thirty-sec- ond degree). township. His first work was on the mail route conducted by his brothers, Jethro and Thomas. When they went to serve in the Union army during the Civil war another brother, John (now an attorney in Indiana), took Jethro's place, and when John went to the war William took his place. He carried mail in 1863-64 from Cherrytree to George- ville. He then went into the woods and en- gaged in lumbering with his father, working in the timber, and driving logs on the Sus- quehanna. On April 23, 1889, Mr. McClaran married Anna A. Gamison, daughter of S. S. and Angeline (Beaty) Gamison, of Saltsburg, and five children have been born to them: Ken- neth, born in 1890, now in Pittsburg; Mary Beatrice, at home; Angela, who died in in- fancy ; Fred, born in 1900; and Anna L., born in 1904. About 1870 he engaged in the lumber business with his brother Archie, and they did an extensive business, for ten years driving from seven million to ten million feet of lumber annually; it was mostly pine and hemlock. In 1884 the brothers dissolved part- nership, and for some time thereafter Wil- liam B. Hill was occupied in looking after his sawmills, of which he had several, also ship- ping lumber, which he still continues. For

WILLIAM BIGLER HILL, at one time an the last ten years, however, he has devoted extensive lumberman, now engaged princi- most of his attention to buying and selling coal land, having disposed of ten thousand acres, to coal companies ; he now has an option on 15,000 acres. Until 1904 he lived on his farm of eighty-four acres in White township, moving thence to the borough of Indiana, where he built the fine two-story brick resi- dence at the corner of Sixth street and Carter avenue which he and his family have since pally in buying and selling coal lands, is a resident of Indiana and has lived all his life in Indiana county. He was born on the home farm in Montgomery township, Indiana county, Feb. 20, 1852, son of Daniel Hill. In both the paternal and maternal lines he is of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather, Daniel Hill, Sr., was born in the eastern part of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

occupied. Mr. Hill has not taken any part council. He died in Indiana Oct. 18, 1890. in public matters, but he is a stanch Democrat in his political views. In religion he is a Presbyterian.

On Dec. 24, 1880, Mr. Hill was married, in Cherryhill township, to Minetta Long, of that township, daughter of Benjamin and Susan (Burnham) Long. They have had a family of eleven children : Carrie, who lives at home ; Thomas T .; Ross, an electrician, now living in Liverpool, Ohio, who married Florence Helm, daughter of Rev. Mr. Helm, of Leech- burg, Pa .; Robert, an electrician, of Liver- pool, Ohio; James, at home; Norman, of Akron, Ohio; Edgar, at home; Arthur, at home; Mildred : Jean; and one deceased.

Thomas T. Hill, eldest son of William Big- ler Hill, was born in Cherryhill township, In- diana county. He attended the country schools in White township, graduated from the Indiana high school, and then entered the normal school in that borough, from which institution he was graduated with the honors of his elass. For the next two years he taught mathematics at the normal school, and then went to Ann Arbor (Mich.) University to take a course in law. He graduated in 1910, at the head of his class. Mr. Hill then became principal of the high school at Leechburg. Armstrong Co., Pa., which position he has filled with the highest efficiency for the last two years.

COLUMBUS McCOY, former commissioner of Indiana county, now living in retirement in Indiana borough, was born there Jan. 14, 1851, son of Church Smith McCoy. His pater- nal grandfather came from Ireland, was mar- ried in this country to a Miss Smith, and settled on a farm in Armstrong county, Pa. Their children were: Daniel, who married a Miss Smith, and died in Armstrong county, Pa., aged over seventy-two years; Church Smith ; and John, born June 4, 1827, who died June 24, 1899, unmarried. Mrs. McCoy mar- ried for her second husband a Mr. Millen, and they had three children: Mary Jane, Mrs. John Ballentine, deceased; Nancy, Mrs. Jolın Wagner, of Armstrong county; and Jackson, a veteran of the Civil war, who died unmar- ried and is buried at Marion Center.

Church Smith McCoy, born July 5, 1824, in Armstrong county, was given a common school education and reared to farming. He learned the carpenter's trade in Indiana and followed it all his life, doing contract work. He was a Republican in politics, and took some part in local affairs, serving as member of the town

Church Smith McCoy married Mary Jane Mc- Cardell, who was born Feb. 1, 1825, in Sink- ing Valley, Huntingdon Co., Pa., and died in Indiana May 31, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were members of the M. E. Church. To them was born a family of twelve children, namely : Emeline, Mrs. John G. Thompson, of Black- lick township, this county; John S., deceased, who served ninety days during the Civil war, in a Pennsylvania regiment, and who married Margaret Kline; Sarah Jane, Mrs. W. T. Lively, of Blacklick township, who died Jan. 1, 1913; Columbus ; William, who died young ; David Milton, of Vandergrift, who married Mary Gibson; George S., of Vandergrift, who married Mary Heffelfinger; Edward, who died in infancy ; Mary Mirelda, Mrs. William Lockard, of Homer City; Clara Myrtle, Mrs. William P. Stormer, of White township; Charles, who died at Wilkinsburg, Pa., Feb. 2, 1913 (he married Catherine Stephens) ; and Arabelle, Mrs. Harry Wohler, of Homer City.

Columbus McCoy has spent all his life in Indiana and White township. He attended the public schools in Indiana and learned the carpenter's trade under his father, and in time became engaged in contracting, which he followed for some years. In 1888 he moved to a farm in White township which he culti- vated for ten years, coming to Indiana in 1898. Mr. McCoy has been quite prominent in the work of the Republican party in his sec- tion, and has served one term as county com- missioner. 1903-04-05.

On March 21, 1872, Mr. McCoy married Martha Eleanor Simpson, who was born May 10, 1850, on her father's farm in Brushvalley township, this county. She received her early education in the country schools, later attend- ing night school at Mechanicsburg. She taught for three years in Buffington township. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy live at No. 50 South Fifth street. They are the parents of three children : (1) William E., born June 30, 1873, now living in Pittsburg, married Nannie J. Johnston, and has one child. Darrel. (2) Albert Clinton, born April 27. 1875, now liv- ing in Center township, married Anna Mary Reed, and has had children. J. Wilson, Elmer Simpson (deceased). Murray Reed, Ruth Pearl. John Blair and Mary Luella. (3) Mina Pearl, born April 30. 1878. married Clark Myers, and lives in Homer City; they have children, Edward Clair, Martha Pearl and Helen Jean. The parents are members of the M. E. Church.

Hugh Simpson, father of Mrs. McCoy, was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

born in County Donegal, Ireland, Sept. 5, Brothers. Mr. Hawes, the father, is now re- 1818, son of Solomon Simpson, who married tired, he and his wife continuing to make their Catherine Smith, of County Donegal. The home at Cherrytree. In 1878 he drilled the family came to America in 1820, and settled first gas well on the Twolick creek, in Indiana county.

on wild land in Indiana county, where the parents died. Hugh Simpson married Mar- On March 5, 1868, Mr. Hawes married Sarah Glass, daughter of William Glass, who settled in Indiana county at an early day, liv- ing in Brushvalley township. To this union were born four children, of whom Boyd W. is the eldest; Norman G. is his partner in the garet J. McFeathers, who died in Brushvalley township at the age of thirty-three years, and he subsequently married (second) Martha Findley. He removed to West Virginia, buy- ing a farm in Hampshire county upon which he lived until his death Sept. 29, 1909. His firm of Hawes Brothers; Harry is also a resi- children were as follows: Martha Eleanor, dent of Cherrytree, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business; Paul died in the year 1880. Mrs. McCoy; Catherine Ann, Mrs. William Campbell, of Johnston, Pa .; Margaret Jane, Mrs. John Allender, of West Virginia; Wil- liam, of West Virginia, who married Ellen Dennison ; and Hugh Solomon, of West Vir- ginia, who married Nancy Cheney and (sec- ond) Iliff Lang. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Simpson were members of the United Presbyterian Church.

BOYD W. HAWES, member of the firm of Hawes Brothers, general merchants, at Cherrytree, Indiana county, is a leading busi- ness man of that borough, and the establish- ment which he and his brother conduct was founded by their father over twenty years ago. Mr. Hawes was born Dec. 25, 1868, in Clear- field county, Pa., son of Henry B. Hawes and grandson of Jacob Hawes, a farmer, who State. The family is of Dutch ancestry.

passed all his life in Lancaster county, this Cherrytree Electric Light, Heat & Power

Henry B. Hawes, father of Boyd W. Hawes, was born Sept. 4, 1845, at Turkey Hill, in Manor township, Lancaster county, and there passed his early life. During the Civil war he enlisted from that county in the Union service, first becoming a member of Company B, 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry, was later in Company I, and still later in Company H, 1st Provisional Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Cavalry, serving to the end of the con- flict. He was discharged July 22, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va. After the war he went to Clearfield county, where he engaged in wagon- making, having learned the trade of black- smith, and he also carried on lumbering, at Burnside, Clearfield county. In 1887 he came to Cherrytree, Indiana county, where he first was interested in manufacturing wagons and buggies, and conducted a foundry, after a few years engaging in the general mercantile business. which he continued for eighteen years. In time his two sons. Boyd W. and Norman G. Hawes, took over his mercantile interests, under the firm name of Hawes

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 16

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