Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 21

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 21

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SAMUEL A. DOUGLASS, senior member of the Indiana County Bar Association, was born in Indiana, Pa., July 13, 1827, in the same square in which his office is now located, and where he has resided for over eighty years. He is a son of Woodrow and Mary (Truby) Douglass. Samuel Douglass, the paternal grandfather, with his wife, Lydia (Adams) Douglass, located at Newport, on the Conemaugh, near the mouth of Blacklick creek, in Indiana county, Pa., in 1791, and removed to Indiana in 1805. Their children were: John, William, Samuel, Woodrow, James and Rachel, all now deceased.

Woodrow Douglass was born at Newport in 1799, and his wife Mary (Truby) was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., June 12, 1801. They were married in 1826. On Feb. 3, 1832, Woodrow Douglass was ap- pointed a justice of the peace by Gov. George Wolf, and on Jan. 3, 1836, he was appointed by Gov. Joseph Ritner clerk of the Orphans' conrt and register of wills for the county of Indiana. In 1843 he was elected to the office of county treasurer. His death occurred March 15, 1850, and his widow died Oct. 11. 1893. The children born to him. and his wife were: Samuel A., Mary A. (who died July 14, 1830), Lydia A., Simeon W. (who died Sept. 29, 1884), Washington (who died May 2, 1835), Henrietta, John (since deceased), Elizabeth A. (married to M. F. Sherretts), William Q. (who died Nov. 16, 1851) and James (who died Nov. 27, 1851).

Samuel A. Douglass was educated in the

Mr. Douglass, having enlisted, was mustered into the United States service June 1, 1863, as a private in Company I, transferred to Com- pany H, 2d Battalion, six months' Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and was honorably dis- charged Jan. 25, 1864. After his discharge he resumed the practice of law, and is now also engaged as secretary-treasurer and manager of Greenwood cemetery. He is a member of Post No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic. One of his fellow practitioners expresses the high opinion the fraternity holds of him and his work thus:

"Mr. Douglass never took an active part in the trial of causes. He was a careful counselor, an excellent auditor, a good penman and accountant, honest, upright and compe- tent. He has the respect and confidence of his fellow members of the bar and the public. "In 1903, when the county celebrated its centennial, at the request of the bar Mr. Doug- lass wrote a sketch of the early history of the bar and of its members up to the time of writ- ing. a copy of which was filed with the Law Association of the county. It is a valuable document, and contains much information that would have been lost had it not been for his eare and research in preparation."

WILLIAM H. CAMPBELL, farmer of Bur- rell township, Indiana county, is a member of an old settled family of this section and a citizen whose industrious life has gained him the respect of all who know him. He is a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Campbell was Horn Feb. 29, 1844, in West Wheatfield town- ship. this eounty, son of John Campbell, and grandson of David Campbell, the first Ameri- can ancestor of this branch of the family.

S.a. Douglass

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Toward the end of the eighteenth century crat, in religion a member of the United Pres- Wheatfield township embraced all the terri- byterian Church. On Dec. 30, 1841, he mar- tory south of the Purchase Line; sixteen ried Mary Herron, who was born in East Wheatfield township, daughter of William Herron, and is also buried in Bethel Church cemetery. She, too, was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell : Elizabeth, born Aug. 23, 1842, married Isaac Alcorn, of West Wheatfield township; Wil- liam H. is mentioned below; Christopher D., born Feb. 27, 1846, farmer of Brushvalley township, married Sarah Campbell; David, born July 30, 1848, died young; John H., born Jan. 18, 1851, is a farmer in Burrell town- ship; Martha Jane, born April 25, 1853, mar- ried John McNutt; Mary Ellen, born Jan. 9, 1856, died young; Margaret, born in 1858, married John Piper, of Garfield, Pa .; Samuel H., born Dec. 4, 1860, lives at East Liverpool, Ohio. townships have since been formed within her original boundaries. The first settlers in this district were emigrants from Ireland, from the Counties of Antrim and Armagh, they land- ing in America July 21, 1792. Stories of the New World soon attracted others left behind, and David Campbell, who was born in Ireland in 1794, came some time later to join this colony in Wheatfield. Leaving his native home he took passage on a sailing vessel to America, and after a stormy voyage of more than six weeks found himself on the shores of the New World. He proceeded westward over the Allegheny mountains to the Conemaugh valley and finally located on Blacklick creek near the present site of the village of Heshbon. He came to what is now East Wheatfield township in 1814, later purchasing by patent 219 acres of land on Blacklick where he spent the remainder of his life. Assisted by his sons he cleared the land and erected buildings, and his farm became one of the productive tracts in the locality. Mr. Campbell was laid to rest in the Campbell graveyard on the homestead place.

Mr. Campbell was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of Sam- uel and Jane Kerr, and by her he had two children, John and Elizabeth (who married William Murphy). By his second wife, Mar- garet (Mahan), he had a large family : Chris- topher, Robert M., James, Samuel, David, Por- ter M., Jane (who married William Palmer), Margaret A. and Alexander (who died young). Samuel, David and Porter were all soldiers in the Civil war.

John Campbell, son of David, born Dec. 19, 1812, in West Wheatfield township, grew to manhood there and obtained his education in the subscription schools then in vogue. But he made such good use of his rather meager opportunities that he became a schoolmaster, following his profession in West Wheatfield for some years. He also followed farming there, owning a tract of ninety-six acres upon which he carried on general farming and stock raising. Well-informed, intelligent, and in- terested in all that went on in the community, he was a valued and esteemed citizen. He lived to a ripe old age, dying on the farm June 8, 1896, at the age of eighty-three years, five months, twenty days, and was buried in the Bethel Church cemetery in West Wheat- field township. In politics he was a Demo-

William H. Campbell grew to manhood on the home farm, spending his boyhood days in attendance at the local public schools and in assisting his father. He remained at home with his parents until he enlisted, in August, 1864, in Company H, 206th Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, under Capt. J. C. Greer and Col. H. J. Brady, serving until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Richmond, Va. Returning home he continued to do farm work in West Wheatfield township until he settled upon the Sides farm in Burrell town- ship, a tract of ninety acres which he operated . for six years. He next moved to the Samuel Ray place in Burrell township, containing 130 acres, which he operated for Mr. Ray until 1908, when the property was sold to Wilber P. Graft, of Blairsville, this county, for whom Mr. Campbell has since carried it on. He is a practical farmer and stock raiser, as his long management of the same farm would indicate, and everything about the place testifies to his neatness and good taste as well as to his industry. He is a hard worker, and is well liked by his associates. Mr. Campbell takes a public-spirited interest in whatever concerns the general welfare, but has been particularly active in securing good public school facilities in his locality, having served for over twenty years as school direc- tor of Burrell township; he has served three years as president of the school board and five years as secretary. He cast his first vote while in the army, for Lincoln, and has been a Republican ever since. His religious con- nection is with the United Presbyterian Church of Blairsville, of which he is a leading

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

member, having served as member of the young; Eve, who married Hiram Clawson; building committee, as member of the finance Mary, who married Daniel Byers; Michael, committee and (at present) as ruling elder. who resides at Parkers Landing, Pa .; Phebe, He takes a deep interest in every branch of who married Anderson Clauson; and John. church work. Mrs. Campbell also belongs to that church.

John Mclaughlin was but seven years old when his father died. He attended the local Mr. Campbell's first marriage was to Mary Miller, a native of West Wheatfield town- ship, daughter of David Miller, of Somerset county, Pa. Children as follows were born to schools and worked on the homestead from early boyhood, caring for his widowed mother, who passed away there. He continued to operate the home farm, engaging in general them: John, who is a resident of Vandergrift, farming and stock raising until 1886, when he moved with his family to Brushvalley town- ship, on the Thomas Fee farm, which was the home of his father-in-law, a tract of thirty- three acres. This he operated together with the homestead farm in Center township the remainder of his life. Mr. MeLaughlin was occupied also in butchering, selling his meats, etc., at Johnstown, Pa., and he did a large business in that line.

Pa., where he is employed in the tin sheet mill ; David Miller, an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, now residing at Madison, Pa .; and Elva Jane, who married John J. Armstrong, of Girard, Ohio. Mrs. Campbell died April 5, 1880, on the homestead. On March 22, 1883, Mr. Campbell married (sec- ond) Pirmillia (Anna) Hutchinson, of West Wheatfield township, daughter of Cornelius and Catherine (Fry) Hutchinson, and by her has had five children : Elsie, who is deceased ; Harry Ray, who is engaged in the postoffice at Turtle Creek, Pa .; William Lloyd, in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Blairsville, Pa .; Earl Scott, also in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Blairsville; and Mary Catherine, at home.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, in whose death Brushvalley township lost one of its best citi- zens and successful agriculturists, was a native of Indiana county, born in Center township, near the line of Brushvalley town- ship, May 13, 1843.

John MeLaughlin, father of John, was a native of Ireland, and came of that sturdy race of men which has done much to make the State of Pennsylvania one of the best in the Union. He was born in County Down, in 1799, and came to America in the prime of manhood, locating in Center township, In- diana Co., Pa., where he became the owner of a tract of 177 acres in the wilderness. Here he settled down to pioneer life in the forest, erecting a log house and barn, and he ever afterward made this spot his home. He worked hard to clear up his place, but death came while he was still in middle age, on Jan. 6, 1850, and he was laid to rest on the farm which he had helped to clear up. He was a man of strict honesty, integrity of purpose, industrious and hard-working. His devotion to his wife and family made his death most hard for those he left to mourn him. Mr. MeLaughlin married Mary McLanghlin, and their children were: Catharine, who died public schools of Brushvalley and the summer

Mr. MeLaughlin died May 17, 1908, aged sixty-five years, and was buried in the ceme- tery at Armagh, Pa. He made the Golden Rule his chief religion in life and most con- scientiously lived up to it. He was an honor- able, industrious man, an excellent citizen, and one who did much for his community. A Republican in politics, he served as school director for nine years, and for many years as overseer of the poor, and took an active part in all town affairs. He was hard-working, his chief aim in life being to make his family com- fortable and afford them the opportunities of good education.

Mr. MeLaughlin married Nov. 4, 1869, Mar- garet Ella Fee, born in Brushvalley town- ship, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Mahan) Fee. Mrs. MeLaughlin is still living on the old homestead, tenderly cared for in her de- elining years by her devoted family. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. MeLaugh- lin, viz .: (1) Effie M. is at home. (2) Clif- ford Thomas, born Nov. 15, 1874, was edu- cated in the Brushvalley schools, also attended summer normal school under Prof. J. T. Stewart and Prof. C. A. Campbell, and taught school for fifteen years, principally in Brush- valley and East Wheatfield townships, In- diana county, though he was also engaged in Cambria and Allegheny counties. Later he became manager of the five and ten cent store of Mr. Bonner, at Braddock, Pa., filling that position for one year, and he is now in the United States postal service at Windber, Pa., serving as letter carrier. He married Fannie Wakefield, and they have one child, Jennett C. (3) Myrtle obtained her education in the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

school at Homer City, studying under Mr. Winrer brothers, and has since devoted his Bracken and Mr. Welsh. She has been a suc- energies to conducting it. This is the leading cessful school teacher, having taught in public drug store in South Mahoning township, and school in both Indiana and Cambria counties. Mr. Green meets popular demand very capably (4) Gillis Lloyd, born July 17, 1882, was also educated in the public schools of Brushvalley and summer normal schools under Prof. J. T. Stewart and Prof. C. A. Campbell, and at- tended summer school at Homer City under Messrs. Bracken and Welsh. He taught school for five years in the townships of Brushvalley, West Wheatfield, Burrell and Center, and now resides on the homestead, engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising. (5) J. Ralph, born Sept. 25, 1888, was also educated in the public schools of Brushvalley, and summer normal school under Profs. J. T. Stewart and C. A. Campbell, and taught four years in East Wheatfield and Burrell townships. He was a bookkeeper for the Lumber Manufacturing Company of Johnstown.

by carrying a fine and varied line of station- ery, wall paper and similar goods in addition to his drugs. Besides, he owns a fine eighty- acre farm on which he raises stock and carries on general farming. Having been appointed a notary public by Governor Tener in 1901, he was a logical candidate for justice of the peace and was elected by a handsome majority in 1902 and reelected in 1907, receiving his commission from Governor Stewart. No ap- peals have been taken from his decisions, for those who come before him recognize his sense of justice and appreciate his interest in giving them a fair deal, while at the same time en- forcing the law vigorously. He took an im- portant part in the organization of the borough of Plumville, and is a strong Repub- lican of the old school, steadfastly adhering to ELISHA GREEN, a druggist of Plumville, Indiana county, where he is also justice of the peace and notary public, was born near Sagamore, in Cowanshannock township, Arm- strong Co., Pa., June 13, 1853, son of Abraham Green. President Taft, of whom he is a great ad- mirer. An Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodge at Plumville, he is now a past grand of that body and a member of the grand lodge of the State; he also belongs to the Rebek- ahs. He is a member of the Woodmen of Ezekiel Green, father of Abraham Green, was born near Williamsport, Pa., came to Arm- the World of Indiana. Both he and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian strong county with his father, and was a Church, which he is serving as elder, and he blacksmith and farmer at Sagamore, where has long been a Sunday school teacher and his death occurred. superintendent, carrying into his everyday life the creed he professes.

Abraham Green, son of Ezekiel Green, was a farmer of Cowanshannock township, where he owned 120 acres of land. This he devoted to stock raising and general farming, and be- came a successful agriculturist, making many improvements upon his property. As he cleared his land he converted the trees into lumber, being thus employed until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-one years old. For many years he was a member of the Lutheran Church, St. John's, and was buried in the cemetery attached to that church. In politics he was a Republican, but he did not seek public office. Abraham Green was mar- ried in Armstrong county to Esther A. Smith, who died on the homestead and is buried in the same cemetery as her husband.

Elisha Green, son of Abraham Green, re- ceived a good practical education in the public schools of his township, at Glade Run academy and a select school at Plumville, and then for eleven years taught school, being engaged eight years in Armstrong county, and three years in Indiana county. In 1883 he bought the drug store at Plumville owned by the

In 1874 Mr. Green was married in Arm- strong county to Clarinda Adam, born in Plumville, a daughter of David Adam. Mrs. Green is one of the most devoted of wives and mothers, and her home reflects her high, Christian character. Mr. and Mrs. Green be- came the parents of three children: David Nelson (who died when seven years old), Sara Etta and James Blaine. Sara Etta Green, who was educated in music at Irwin College, taught music in the public schools of Plum- ville for six years prior to her marriage to Moody A. Speedy, an electrical engineer with the Westinghouse Company of Pittsburg, by whom she has one son, Alexander Blaine.

JAMES BLAINE GREEN, youngest child of Elisha Green, was born Aug. 3, 1884, in Plum- ville, where he attended public school, later going to the summer normal held in that town. He fitted himself for a business life by taking a course in the Bliss commercial college of Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated June 30, 1902. Following this Mr. Green en- tered Allegheny College, at Meadville, and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

took a classical course, but did not graduate others with some of their public spirit, and owing to ill health. Later he pursued his whatever undertaking they espouse is likely studies in pharmacy in the pharmaceutical to be carried on effectively under their com- petent leadership. They have both been active in municipal affairs, always giving the people more than their offices demand, and few are held in such high regard as they. Such citi- zens prove conclusively that right living, high thinking and honorable methods of action do department of Pittsburg College, from which he was graduated in 1905, with the degree of Ph. G. For several years thereafter he as- sisted his father in the drug business, but on July 12, 1911, was made assistant cashier and bookkeeper of the First National Bank of Plumville, and held that position until Octo- pay not only in the long run, but at all times. ber, 1912, when he resigned to resume the drug business. His skill as a druggist has long been appreciated by the people of Plum- ville, and both he and his father are well known over a wide territory that embraces several counties.

JAMES A. CROSSMAN, who has long been justice of the peace and is at present also serving as burgess of Indiana, has been identi- fied with official circles in Indiana county for many years. He is interested in several local business enterprises, and is one of the repre- sentative citizens of this section, where he has May 3, 1849, in Indiana county, son of Asa and Mary (Robinson) Crossman. His grand- father was born in the East, presumably in Massachusetts, and came to Indiana county, Pa., when a young man, following farming here.

In 1905 Governor Pennypacker appointed Mr. Green a notary public, and he was reap- pointed by Governor Tener. Mr. Green's con- spent all his life. Mr. Crossman was born nection with the Odd Fellows is of such a nature as to reflect credit upon him as a man and a member of that fraternity. He belongs to Plumville Lodge No. 803, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand, and also belongs to the grand lodge of the State; he is past chief patriarch of Dayton Encampment, No. 121, I. O. O. F., and is active in Desdemona Lodge, No. 350, Rebekah degree, of Plumville. Mr. Green is also interested in the Elks at In- diana. Like his father he is a strong Repub- lican. He has been judge of election of his borough, and having been on the board of health for some time has given Plumville the

Asa Crossman was born and reared in In- diana county, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Robinson, whose father was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and emigrated to the United States in early life, settling in Indiana county, Pa., where he engaged in farming. Mr. Crossman died in 1900, his wife in 1902. They had a wife of Daniel Siler; Elizabeth, wife of John

benefit of his professional knowledge, and family of eight children, namely: Henrietta, placed it under lasting obligations to him. He is also serving as secretary of the borough Enterline; James A .; Anna, wife of Hulet council. During 1910 Mr. Green did effective Smith; Everett L .; Augusta H., wife of Charles Oberlin ; Isaac ; Susan, wife of M. L. Stevens. The parents were members of the M. E. Church. and conscientious work as a census enumera- tor in South Mahoning township and Plum- ville.

During recent years, Mr. Green has found recreation and profit in giving some attention to stock breeding and raising in partnership with his father, and they have specialized with favorable results in Jersey cattle.

James A. Crossman began his education in the public schools, later continuing his studies at the Dayton (Pa.) Academy. He taught school for a period of five years, after which he was engaged in the general mercantile busi-

In an age when there is such decided com- ness for two years. In 1893 he became clerk to the county commissioners, which position

petition, it is necessary for a man to train his faculties carefully in order to keep abreast he filled for five years, at the end of which of the tide of human events. It is not often, time he was elected justice of the peace. He has since served continuously in that office, having been twice reelected, the present be- ing his third five-year term in that office. In 1907 Mr. Crossman was elected burgess of In- diana and served three successive years, and in December, 1911, he was appointed to that office, to fill a vacaney, serving now under that appointment. Mr. Crossman is thoroughly in- however, that men are found who not only succeed in one or other of the learned pro- fessions, but who hold equally important posi- tions in public affairs and the business world as well. Yet this is the case with the Greens, father and son. They are men of unusual endowments, who recognize the requirements of their times and endeavor to live up to them. Men of high character, they manage to imbue terested in and associated with local indus-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tries, being a stockholder in the Dugan Glass three-story frame structure, equipped with all Company and other concerns in the borough, and he is very well known in fraternal con- nection, belonging to the Elks, Eagles, Royal Arcanum and Modern Woodmen, and a past officer of the Elks and Eagles. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church.

the modern machinery, including a magnifi- cent ice plant, for a first-class slaughterhouse. Mr. Serena now conducts a large wholesale and retail butchering business in conjunction with his sons under the firm style of W. B. Serena & Sons, and controls an immense trade Mr. Crossman married Agnes Oberlin, daughter of Charles Oberlin, and they have three children: Lesbra C., wife of George that covers a wide area. In addition to carry- ing all kinds of meats, both cured and fresh, he handles sea foods, which he ships direct Rigg; Charlotte, wife of Clyde Seanor, and from the ocean ports to accommodate his pa- Gertrude.

WILLIAM B. SERENA, senior member of the firm of W. B. Serena & Sons, of Saltsburg, was born Oct. 28, 1836, in Ligonier township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., a son of Joseph Serena and grandson of Joseph Serena, the latter a soldier of the war of 1812. His wife's maiden name was McGee.

Joseph Serena, son of Joseph Serena and by many who look to him in matters relating father of William B. Serena, was a farmer in to his line of business.

Loyalhanna township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., becoming the owner of over 200 acres divided into two farms. He continued to be a farmer, teamster and lumberman throughout his life. Mr. Serena married Catherine Baker, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., of German ancestry, and their children were: Lucinda; Mary ; William Baker; Elizabeth; Philip, who en- listed in Company I, 11th Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, later reenlisting in 1862, in Company K, 62d Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, again in Company C, 191st Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and the fourth time in Company E, 155th Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry; Joseph; and David, who served in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry from -

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 21

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