Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 23

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 23

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Jolın Colkett, the maternal grandfather of

Nancy Ann (Colkett), was a native of Indi- ana county. They became the parents of the following children: Hiram, deceased, lived to · manhood in West Mahoning township; John C., Louisa and Annis died when but a few years old, of diphtheria; William E., deceased, who lived in Banks township and carried on farming, was a soldier in Company

was three times married, (first) to Mary Braughler, (second) to Elizabeth Leausure, and (third) to Sarah E. Horton, the last- named still surviving and residing in Banks township; Charles W., deceased, a farmer and stonemason of South Mahoning township, married Mary Work, and they had children, James O., John P., Russell and Alice, now Mrs. Alex. Birnie, of Sharpsburg, Pa .; John P., deceased, who served as a soldier in Company F, 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was wounded near Fair Oaks, and died there, where he is buried; Jesse J. is mentioned below; Ann Eliza died unmarried; Silas R., who served in the Civil war as a member of the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion, now a farmer of West Mahoning township, married Mary Stewart and (second) Annie E. Weaver, and has children as follows by the second mar- riage: Charles W. (who lives at home, fol- lowing farming), Otis C. (a public school teacher), Alverda H. and Samnel B. (both at home).

Jesse J. Williamson, son of William G. Wil- liamson, received a common school education, and was reared to the occupation of agricul- turist, following the same on the home farm until after the death of his father. In 1876 he was married to Catherine Morrow, of South Mahoning township, Indiana county, daugh- ter of David and Margaret (Lytle) Morrow, and to this union have been born children as follows: Edwin M. was a teacher in the pub- lie schools for some years, later going to

illness which caused his death on Oct. 5, 1906. Frank, also a teacher, is now follow- ing the occupation of farming. Anna May and Emma were graduated from the Penn-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

sylvania State normal school at Indiana, Pa., Methodist Church, of which he was a lifelong in the class of 1907, and have since been en- gaged as teachers in the public schools of western Pennsylvania.

On March 31, 1865, Mr. Williamson enlisted the age of seventy-eight years; his remains in the 103d Pennsylvania Infantry, with rest in the Zion cemetery. which he served until the close of the war. Mahoning township, where he still resides.

On his return he resumed farming in West mon schools of his native place, and remained with his father until he was eighteen years Mr. Williamson cast his first vote for Abra- old, when he began working for himself. ham Lincoln, and has since that time voted the Republican ticket, as a rule. He has held minor offices in the township, and is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife being a United Presbyterian.

LON H. SKINNER, a stonecutter and con- on the school board, and takes a deep inter- tractor of West Mahoning township, was born in Porter township, Jefferson Co., Pa., Jan, 23, 1859, son of John and Maria (Gahagan) Skinner.

Cornelius Skinner, a native of Scotland, came to the United States when eighteen years old, and, marrying a Miss Andrews, settled in Jefferson county, Pa., where he farmed until his death, at which time he was sixty years old. His widow long survived, dying when ninety-one years of age. They reared a large family, and were highly respected people.

Lon H. Skinner was educated in the com- member. His house was a home for the early day preachers, and services were often held there. He raised a large family, and died at

After his marriage he and his wife settled on his farm on the Mahoning creek, in West Ma- honing township, and in addition to operating his property Mr. Skinner has been for years one of the most expert stonecutters and build- ers of the county. He is at present serving

est in politics, as a member of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are members of the Methodist Church, and active in its good work, and are as highly respected in the congregation as they are in other circles throughout the county.

Mr. Skinner was married to Mary Donald, of Westmoreland county, Pa., daughter of John and Mary Donald, of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have had children as follows: Theresa, a music teacher, married R. M. Bond, and is now residing in Johnstown, Pa .; Wilda, at home, has been a teacher for the last three years in the public schools of Indiana county; Edith, at home, is also a teacher in the public schools of this county ; Jessie is in college at the present time; Min- nie is attending school and lives at home. Mr. Skinner has given his children good educa- tional advantages and has every reason to be proud of them.

John Skinner was given the common school- ing of those days, attending in log cabins. He resided in Jefferson county until the fall of 1870, when he moved to Home post office, Indiana county, securing a farm in that vicin- ity. In later life, however, he resided with his children. In addition to farming he fol- lowed lumbering, and was an active man, hold- ing many of the township offices, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He was a member EDWARD F. SHAULIS, M. D., of Indi- ana, has been in practice in that borough since 1903, and is counted among the successful physicians of Indiana county. He is respected by all who know him, as physician or as pri- vate citizen, and leads a busy and useful life which entitles him to a place among the valu- of the Methodist Church. In 1844 he married Maria Gahagan, and they had seven children : Robinson, deceased, who was a stonecutter, lived in West Mahoning township; Emeline, who is the widow of E. Adams, lives in Punx- sutawney, Pa .; James, deceased, was a farmer of West Mahoning township; Annie died able members of his community. Dr. Shanlis young; Henry is a retired farmer of Eau Claire, Wis .; Martha married John Scott, of Sunbury, Pa .; Lon H. is mentioned below.

was born Feb. 3, 1873, near Bakersville, in Somerset county, Pa. His grandfather, Sam- nel Shanlis, was born and reared in Somerset county, and was a farmer by occupation.

The early ancestors of Maria Gahagan, wife of John Skinner, came from Ireland, emigrat- Frederick Shaulis, the Doctor's father, was born in Somerset county, and like his father was a farmer by occupation. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1907, he had been a member of the Lutheran Church for fifty- seven years. He married Mary A. Pile, who ing to this country in an early day. They settled in Maryland, and from there James Gahagan, her father, came to Jefferson county, Pa., settling near what is now called Zion Church. He was an exemplary citizen, and especially active in the advancement of the survives him, and they became the parents

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of twelve children, three of whom are de- West Wheatfield, while her husband was laid ceased. The survivors are: Anna, wife of to rest at Black Rock, Pa. He was an exten- Peter F. Brough ; Rev. Samuel A., a Lutheran sive brick manufacturer, and was prominent minister now located on the old homestead in in business circles during a long period of Jefferson township, Somerset Co., Pa .; Sadie, wife of A. J. Weimer, of Somerset county ; Ella, wife of Dr. C. R. Bittner, of Hoovers- ville, Somerset county ; Elizabeth, wife of S. E. Knupp, of Friedens, Pa .; Edward F .; Car- rie, wife of W. B. Putnam, of Jefferson town- ship, Somerset county ; Charles, who is a pro- fessor in the public school at Coleta, Ill .; and Wesley, a farmer in Jefferson township, Som- erset county.

Edward F. Shaulis attended public school in Jefferson township, Somerset county, and preparing himself for teaching followed that profession in his native county for five years. He then entered the State normal school lo- cated at Indiana, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in 1898, after which he took up the study of medicine, reading with Drs. C. R. Bittner and S. J. H. Louther, both of Somerset county. Entering the Eclectic Med- ical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, he was graduated in 1902, and the same year began practice on his own account, at Newcastle, Lawrence Co., Pa. He remained there one year, in 1903 moving to the borough of In- diana, where he has since been located. He has prospered from the start, now having a wide practice to attend to, being one of the busiest physicians in this section of the county. He is a member and corresponding secretary of the Eclectic Medical Association of Penn- sylvania, and a member of the National Eelec- tic Medical Association.

In 1901 Dr. Shaulis married Ethel Mand Steinrod, of Indiana county, and to them has been born one child, Frederic S. Dr. Shaulis is a member of the Lutheran Church, which he has served officially as member of the board of elders.

GEORGE FRANKLIN GAMBLE, miller, farmer and Civil War veteran, a resident of West Wheatfield township, Indiana county, is a son of George Washington and Mary (Wake- field) Gamble.

Albert Gamble, his great-grandfather, was the founder of the family in the United States, coming here from County Antrim, Ireland.

years. They had the following children: (1) Jacob E., who died June 17, 1888, aged sev- enty-five years, seven months, and three days, married (first) Elizabeth Wakefield, who was born Aug. 24, 1808, and died Feb. 28, 1859, and they had six children, Harrison, Mariah, George, Harriet, Eliza and John M. He sub- sequently married (second) Catherine Lutz, and they had six children, Jacob, Archie, James, Perry, Mary and Edmund R. (2) Harriet, who married Henry Shomo, a black- smith by trade, had four children, Lizzie, Jo- seph, Harry and Charles. (3) July. (4) Eliza married Ed. Milligan, of Blacklick township, and had six children, Adeline, Maud, Jessie, Mary, Elmore and Andrew. (5) George Washington is mentioned below. (6) John went West, where he died.

George Washington Gamble, son of Wil- liam, was born in 1813, and died May 17, 1879, aged sixty-six years, one month, seven days. He married Mary Wakefield, who was born in West Wheatfield township, and she died June 17, 1879, aged sixty-eight years, five months, ' eighteen days, the mother of the following children: John Burgoyne, who married Ag- nes Shomo, died Sept. 18, 1880, aged forty- four years, two months, eleven days; Nelson, born February 6, 1852, who died Aug. 26, 1861; George Franklin is mentioned below ; Percy Quitman, carpenter and millwright at Ross Furnace, Westmoreland county, married Mary McBurney, of that county, and has three children, John M., Eleanor and Vinnie; Mar- iah married James Armour, of Iowa, and has three children, Bruce, George and Ellen ; Jane married Robert Fee, of Seward, Pa., and has four children, Ida, Amanda, Pearl and Essie ; Malinda, who died July 11, 1876, aged thirty- four years, two months, nineteen days, the wife of Jonathan Gorman, had three children, Sadie, Frank and Harry; Caroline married Thomas Dickie, of West Wheatfield, and had three children, Edward, George and Clara; Amanda, born July 26, 1848, died May 15, 1887, the wife of Joseph Wagner, of Brush- valley, and had children, John, Bert, Clyde, Curtis, Sadie and Harry (born in 1887, died May 21, 1888).

William Gamble, son of Albert, and grand- father of George Franklin Gamble, was born George W. Gamble secured excellent educa- tional advantages in his native town of Mor- gantown, W. Va., and at the age of nineteen years went to Johnstown, Pa., where he at Morgantown, W. Va., and married Jane Carrington, who died Jan. 22, 1849, aged sev- enty-nine years, two months. She was buried in the Gamble and Wakefield cemetery in learned the trade of millwright and miller with

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

his older brother, Jacob Gamble, and together Methodist Episcopal Church since boyhood, they erected many mills in the surrounding he is a steward and trustee thereof, and has counties, George W. also following the car- been a Sunday school teacher for twenty penter's trade in Johnstown for two years. years. In all the relations of life he is known He then purchased Kring's Mill, in Somerset as an upright and public-spirited citizen, one who never knowingly made an enemy and who never lost a friend except through death. He holds membership in Mead Post, No. 14, Grand Army of the Republic, at Rice, Kansas, by vir- tue of his service in Company F, 2d Battalion, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. J. C. Lininger and Capt. Dan Tinkham, in which he enlisted at Pittsburg, June 16, 1863. He participated in a number of skirmishes, but the greater part of his services was in guard- ing bridges. He was known as a good and faithful soldier, and one who always per- formed his duties cheerfully and well. county, made numerous improvements thereto and subsequently sold the same to John Leh- man. At that time he moved to West Wheat- field, Indiana county, and continued mill- wrighting and -erecting mills until he pur- chased the Wakefield estate, a tract of 106 acres, from the heirs. He was road super- visor for many years, and was an active sup- porter of the Democratic party. A man of temperance and probity, he was one of the founders of Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he was a liberal coutributor, and in which his wife was an active worker all of her life. They were laid to rest in the Mr. Gamble was married (first) to Mary Hutchinson, who was born in 1844, and died in 1872, daughter of Cornelius and Catherine (Fry) Hutchinson, and they had four chil- dren : Milton, who traveled all over the world as a member of the United States signal corps, now lives in the West; Frank, living at Kan- Gamble and Wakefield cemetery in West Wakefield. For some years Mr. Gamble was connected with the Odd Fellows, and had numerous friends in the local lodge, as he had, indeed, in various other circles throughout this section.

George Franklin Gamble, son of George W. sas City, Mo., married Nettie Barman, who is Gamble, was born Feb. 9, 1841, at Kring's deceased; Clinton lives in Pittsburg; Delbert died at the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Gam- ble's second marriage was to Elizabeth Trim- ble, daughter of George W. and Mary Trim- ble, and they have had three children: Olive, who married Samuel Marshall and lives with her parents, Mr. Marshall assisting his father- in-law in conducting the mill, while Mrs. Mar- shall and her mother take care of the store; Pearl, who died aged twenty-two years; and Mills, and received his education there and at Johnstown, Pa., and at the age of sixteen years went to work in the sawmill of Samuel Hart- man. Later he learned the millwright's trade with his uncle, Jacob Gamble, in West Wheat- field township, and there followed his trade in the erection of flour and grist mills. In 1878 Mr. Gamble went to Kansas, and purchased a farm in Reno county, in connection with the operation of which he also worked at his Harry, who died in infancy.

trade. In 1885 he returned to West Wheat- field, where he purchased Gamble's Mills and a tract of 160 acres, formerly owned by his uncle, on which he made many improvements. of Indiana county :

The following notes of interest concerning the Gamble family were taken from a history

He also built a sawmill on Richard's run, a Jacob K. Gamble, son of William and Eliza- quarter of a mile north of the gristmill, and beth (Doyle) Gamble, was born in Morgan- both of these he is still conducting with uni- town, W. Va., in 1808. William Gamble's form success. In addition to these enterprises, children were: . John, deceased; Elizabeth, he is the owner of the Gamble's Mills general who married Archibald Fleming; Harriet, de- ceased, who married (first) John Rutter and (second) a Mr. Carr; William, who married Marian Scott; Julia A., deceased, who mar- ried John Hoskinson; George Washington; and Jacob K., who married Elizabeth Wake- field, deceased, and (second) Catherine Lute. The children of Jacob K. Gamble were as fol- lows-by his first wife: William H .; Maria, deceased; John M., who married Carrie Simp- son ; George W., who married Mary Shaffer ; Harriet, who married Henry Shomo; and store, which is managed by his wife and daughter. He was one of the organizers of the Gamble's Mills Telephone Company, and has interested himself in various other enter- prises. A man of strict integrity in all his business dealings, he has built up a reputation that makes his word of more value than any legal parchment. Politically a Democrat, he is progressive in his ideas, and always re- serves the right to cast his vote for the man he deems best qualified for the office under consideration. A member of the Germany Elizabeth, who married Edward Milliken. To

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the second union there were born: Jacob A .; marriage to Catherine Gorman, who was born James St. Clair; Mary, who married Thomas in Montgomery township, daughter of Alex- Gamble; Archibald F .; Hugh P .; and Edwin ander and Elizabeth (Smith) Gorman, early R. William H. and John Gamble, of this settlers of Banks and Montgomery townships, family, served in the Civil war. William Gamble, father of Jacob K., served under Gen- eral Wayne in the Indian wars, and lost his life in the war of 1812. Jacob K. Gamble settled in Indiana county in 1827, and learned the millwright's trade, at which he worked in Fayette and the surrounding counties for

JOHN R. SMITH, farmer and stock raiser of Cherryhill township, Indiana county, was born in Green township, this county, May 23, 1874, son of Richard R. and Elizabeth (Stuch- sell) Smith.

George W. Smith, grandfather of Jolin R. Smith, was born in Virginia, and brought his family to Indiana county, Pa., in 1827, set- tling in Green township, where he purchased over one thousand acres of land, being en- gaged in farming and lumbering throughout the remainder of his life.

Richard R. Smith, son of George W., and father of John R. Smith, was born in Green township, and continued to live on the old homestead for many years, eventually, how- ever, removing to Cookport, Indiana county, where his death occurred in February, 1902. His widow still survives, making her home with a daughter, Mrs. Leda Williams, of In- diana. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Smith : Mollie, who is de- ceased; two who died in infancy; William G., of White township, Indiana county; John R .; and Leda, who married R. B. Williams, of Indiana.

John R. Smith attended school in Green township, and worked on the old home place until accompanying his father to Cookport, where he was engaged in farming for eight years. In 1903 Mr. Smith moved to Cherry- hill township, here purchasing his present farm. He has carried on general agricultural operations, has been uniformly successful in his ventures, and at present is a director of the Clymer National Bank.

In December, 1896, Mr. Smith was united in

this county, where Mr. Gorman, who is now deceased, was engaged in farming. His wife, who still survives and resides in Indiana, bore him nine children, as follows: William, who is deceased; Hallie, widow of John Baird, and now a school teacher of Pittsburg, Pa .; Orrin, a resident of Montgomery township; Harry, several years. He purchased Gamble's Mills who lives in Colorado; Maggie, the wife of in 1830, rebuilt same in 1844, and continued to conduct same during the remainder of his life. The old mill, which stood on the site of the present one, was erected in 1818 by Hugh St. Clair. Jacob K. Gamble was one of the promi- nent men of his day and community and served one term as county commissioner and one as justice of the peace.

John Wright, of Montgomery township; Mrs. Smith; Lucy, wife of Clair D. Lydick, of Gipsy, Indiana county; Ray, a resident of Banks township; and Rose, who lives with her mother in Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had a family of seven children : Mary, Harry, Gertrude, John, Jr., Ralph, Evelyn and Helen. With his wife and children Mr. Smith attends the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM WALTER, general farmer and fruit grower of Burrell township, Indiana county, is also well known there in other con- nections, having served in public offices, and he is a leading member of the Free Methodist Church of Blairsville.

The Walter family is of German extraction, but has long been settled in eastern Pennsyl- vania, and there Peter Walter, grandfather of William Walter, was born, it is supposed in Lebanon county. In 1817 he came west- ward with his family, locating in Derry town- ship, Westmoreland county, near what is now the town of Latrobe, and there spent the re- mainder of his life engaged in farming. He died at that place. His wife's name was Catherine.

Peter Walter, son of Peter, above, was born March 21, 1817, in Lebanon county, Pa., and was but an infant when brought by his par- ents across the Allegheny mountains. He grew to manhood in Derry township, near La- trobe, and had such limited opportunities for education as the subscription schools of the time and place afforded ; they were conducted, however, for only a few months during the winter season. From early boyhood he was familiar with farm work, which he followed all his life, and when he commenced on his own account settled on a tract of 128 acres in Unity township, Westmoreland county, where he continued to make his home until his death. He was noted for his thrifty and industrious habits, and his unquestionable honesty in all his transactions ; was a quiet unassuming man

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of temperate habits and irreproachable life, of that tract in fruit. The substantial dwell- and a sincere member of the Mennonite Breth- ing house and barn were on the Earhard place when he settled there, but he has made many of the most valuable improvements, and his recent purchase also has begun to give evi- dence of his up-to-date care. By strict at- tention to the details of his special line of work, and unremitting industry in everything he has undertaken, he has won success, and his practical, intelligent methods have proved profitable and effective. He is a man of high character and thoroughly respected in his neighborhood, as may be judged by the fact that his fellow citizens have chosen him audi- tor (in which office he served one term) and school director; he has held the latter office four terms, and has acted as president and secretary of the board. In political connection he is a Republican, but he is independent in voting, supporting the men and measures he prefers, regardless of party. ren Church-a good citizen and true to his principles in all the relations of life. In poli- tics he was a Republican, a firm believer in the doctrines of Lincoln and Blaine. He died Nov. 24, 1889, and his wife, Sarah (Kimmel), who was born April 15, 1821, in Somerset county, Pa., daughter of Solomon and Cather- ine Kimmel, died in 1908; they are buried in Unity cemetery. Nine children were born to them : Daniel, born Sept. 18, 1841, died Jan. 30, 1861; Lydia E., born Dec. 29, 1843, is unmarried and lives in Unity township, West- moreland county ; David, born Sept. 20, 1846, now residing in Kingman county, Kans., mar- ried Elizabeth Ferguson, and they had chil- dren, Grace, Maud, Lawrence, Jeanette and Corea; Caleb W., born Dec. 8, 1848, died in 1911, married Frances McFarlin, and had chil- dren, Rolley, Clyde and Mack; Catherine, born March 30, 1851, is the wife of Isaiah In 1887 Mr. Walter married Nettie B. Shu- maker, who was born at Deanville, Armstrong Co., Pa., daughter of Isaac and Lucinda (Shu- Smail and resides in Unity township (they have had two children, Lydia, deceased, and M., born April 6, 1858, is a resident of Panola county, Texas, married Lizzie Victor, and has had three children, Laura (deceased), Milton and Mckinley ; Mary E., born Aug. 16, 1860, married Harry Jamison, of Hempfield town- ship, Westmoreland county, and has three children, Walter, Ray and Mabel; Ida Sarah, born April 15, 1863, is unmarried and lives in Unity township.

Dora) ; William is mentioned below; George maker) Shumaker, and she has been a de- voted helpmate. Six children have been born to this marriage: Goldie M. was educated in the public schools and at the Indiana State normal school, has taught three terms in Bur- rell township and three terms in Kingman county, Kans., and is now teaching at Homer City, Indiana Co., Pa .; James G. Blaine died when thirteen years old; Mary Velma re- ceived a public school education and is now living at home; Russell D. was educated in the public schools and lives at home ; Zell and Glenn Shumaker are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Walter and their family are members of the Free Methodist Church at Blairsville and take an active part in all its work ; he is serv- ing at present as class leader, steward and superintendent of the Sunday school.

William Walter was born Nov. 5, 1855, in Unity township, Westmoreland county, and there passed his boyhood days on the farm. He attended the local public school and also Sewickley Academy, near Pleasant Unity, and in his young manhood taught school one term. But he preferred farming, and for a number of years continued to follow that calling at the home place with his father, who carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock raising. There he remained until he came to

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 23

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