Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 3

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 3

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high and fancy grades of roller flour, most of which went to supply the local demand, though some was shipped to other markets. In 1903 Mr. Patterson admitted his son Harry to partnership, and the elder man retained his interest and connection with the business un- til his death, which occurred July 14, 1909. He is buried in the Saltsburg cemetery.

Mr. Patterson was one of the foremost men in the administration of public affairs in Salts- burg in his day. He served fifteen years as a school director, ten years as member of the town council, and two terms as burgess, and was once a candidate for sheriff of Indiana connty. He was prominent in all matters affecting the welfare of his town and county, was a Democrat in political association, and in his religious connection was a Presbyterian and active in church work, holding the office of trustee. He was particularly well known in the fraternal bodies, holding membership in Williamson Lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M .; Local Branch No. 141, Order of the Iron Hall ; Kiskiminetas Castle, No. 223, Knights of the Golden Eagle; Saltsburg Commandery, No. 22, K. G. E .; Saltsburg Council, No. 381, Royal Arcanum; Loyal Lodge, No. 165, Knights of Honor; and Diamond Council, No. 248, Jr. O. U. A. M.

On June 15, 1876, Mr. Patterson married Anna L. Watt, daughter of Judge Isaac Watt, of Homer City, this county, who served one term as associate judge of the courts of In- diana county. Mrs. Patterson now makes her home with her son Harry at Saltsburg. Two children were born to her and her husband: Harry C. W. and Grace Rella, the latter the wife of Dr. J. K. Beatty, of Ford City, Penn- sylvania.

Harry C. W. Patterson obtained his early education in the common schools of Salts- burg and Saltsburg high school, graduating from the latter, and then attended the Kis- kiminetas Springs School, from which he was graduated. Then he took a course at the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1896, and also attended the State normal school at In- diana, Pa. During the Spanish-American war Mr. Patterson was in the service nine months, as a member of Company D. 5th Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and was stationed at Chickamauga. After that experience he went to the University of l'ennsylvania, where he studied dentistry for two years, but he did not finish his preparation for the profession. For a time he was in the employ of the United

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

States Steel Company, at Vandergrift, Pa., as of the Orkney islands under the king of Nor- paymaster, and then became his father's part- way, and high chancellor of Scotland under ner in the flour milling business, in which he the royal house of Bruce. In 1741 the St. Clairs exchanged their lofty title and island domains for the earldom of Caithness, which they still hold. The name has since become Anglicized to Sinclair. Two of the descend- ants of one of these earls, through a younger son, were Gen. Arthur St. Clair and his cousin James St. Clair, Sr., the former of whom was president of the Continental Congress in 1787 and commander in chief of the armies of the United States in 1791. has ever since been interested. On Sept. 13, 1911, the mill was destroyed by fire, and he is now erecting a new plaut, 40 by 60 feet in dimensions, five stories high, to be equipped with the most approved up-to-date machin- ery, and operated throughout by electricity. It will be the model establishment of its kind in this region. The business was incorporated in 1911 as the Patterson Milling Company, of which Mr. Patterson is president and treas- urer. He also has extensive real estate in- terests in and around Saltshurg, and has had some important dealings in that line.

Mr. Patterson has been actively associated with the local government, has served as bor- ough auditor for six years, and in 1909 was elected burgess, in which office he still is serv- ing. He is one of the most popular officials of Saltsburg, his wideawake disposition and pro- gressive spirit doing much to encourage and promote local enterprises. In politics he is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to sev- eral orders, the Elks, Odd Fellows and Ma- sons, and has been prominent in such circles, being a past grand in the Odd Fellows and a past master of Williamson Lodge, No. 431, of Saltsburg. He is a member of Kedron Com- mandery, No. 18, Knights Templars, of Greensburg, and of Syria Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Pittsburg. Mr. Patterson has the Masonic papers his grandfather brought to this country from Ireland, introducing him to the fraternity, dated 1829. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church, to which his wife and mother also belong.

On June 20, 1906, Mr. Patterson married Marion Dougherty, daughter of James R. and Ellen (Welsh) Dougherty, of Newcastle, Pa., and they have one child, Martin, born Sept. 7, 1907.

JAMES JAMESON ST. CLAIR, of West Wheatfield township, Indiana county, is one of the typically representative members of a family which has been well and favorably known in this locality for considerably more than a century.

James St. Clair, Sr., was the great-great- grandfather of James Jameson St. Clair. His parents were natives of the North of Ireland, and he was born in 1741 in eastern Pennsyl- vania. He lived nine miles from York, Pa., where he owned a valuable farm and mill, and he was not only a prosperous citizen of his time but an earnest sympathizer with the Colonial cause, serving throughout the Revo- lutionary war. His wife's maiden name was Miller. James St. Clair, Sr., died in York county in 1806, at the age of sixty-five years.

James St. Clair, one of the sons of James St. Clair, Sr., was born in York (now Adams) county, Pa., May 4, 1774, and passed the greater part of his mature life in Indiana county, Pa. In 1809 he came to Brushvalley township, in 1816 removing to what is now the northern part of White township, where he took up a quarter section of government land and followed farming for many years. He died in Center township, this county, April 8, 1855, at the advanced age of eighty-one. He was an old-line Whig in politics. He mar- ried Jennie Slemmons, who was born in Lan- caster, Pa., of Irish descent, and was reared in Washington county, Pa., her father, Wil- liam Slemmons, removing from Lancaster to Washington county in 1790 and there follow- ing farming until his death, which occurred in 1820, in his sixtieth year. Mr. Slemmons was justice of the peace, by governor's ap- pointment, for a period of thirty years, and he was a man of the highest character and of honorable standing. His wife's maiden name was Boggs, and they had several chil- dren. Mrs. Jennie (Slemmons) St. Clair died Oct. 15, 1855, aged seventy-one years, a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. She and her husband had a family of ten children, namely : Margaret, William S., Mary W., James. Sam- uel, Isaac, John, Robert, Thomas and Hiram.

The St. Clairs are of Scotch-Irish origin, a branch of the St. Clair family of Scotland, which was founded in the middle ages by Sir Walderne de St. Clair, a Norman knight, who married Margaret, daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy. Their second son, Wil- Samuel St. Clair, son of James and Jennie liam, settled in Scotland, and one of his de- (Slemmons) St. Clair, passed all his life in scendants, William St. Clair, became prince West Wheatfield township, following farming

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

on a large tract of land now owned by James erected many fine residences and barns in his Overdorff. For many years he served as con- own and surrounding townships and in the stable. He married Rebecca Jameson, and neighboring towns. He has shown himself to they are buried in Bethel Church cemetery. They had fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: Nicholas, James, Daniel, Archie, Samuel, Hugh, Jane (who married Andrew Alcorn), Catherine, Pollie, John, Rebecca (who died unmarried) and Susan.

be a reliable architect, and he is an all-around mechanic, having acquired the greater part of his information by practical experience and making the most of his opportunities. He can repair almost any piece of machinery. In connection with his other work he carries on a 100-acre farm which he bought from the Sides estate, is engaged in stock raising to some extent, and also does teaming and lum- bering. Though so thoroughly occupied with his private affairs he has found time for pub- lic service, having been auditor of West Wheatfield township for a number of years. In politics he is an independent Republican.

Hugh St. Clair, born in West Wheatfield township, grew to manhood there. He fol- lowed milling all his life, for some time run- ning the Jacob Gamble mill on shares, receiv- ing one third of the profits. But he did not devote all his time to that work, also conduct- ing a farm of seventy-five acres in West Wheatfield township, and engaging in stock Mr. St. Clair married Emma Clara Wake- raising, lumbering and teaming. Before the field, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Sides) war he was a Democrat in politics, subse- Wakefield, and they have had six children: (1) Samuel Bert, born July 28, 1879, was an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Pitcairn, Pa., for ten years, and is now at home, farming with his father. (2) Ira Alvin, formerly a school teacher in West Wheatfield township, is now employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Pitcairn, Pa. (3) Joseph Carl, formerly a school teacher in West Wheatfield township, is now following the carpenter's trade at Turtle Creek, Pa. (4) Clara Estella married R. B. Mack and resides at Pitcairn, Pa. (5) Charles Ivan is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Pitcairn, Pa. (6) Flora Mildred was born Feb. 6, 1903. All of the family belong to Bethel M. E. Church, of which Mr. St. Clair has been steward, trus- tee and class leader. quently a Whig and Republican, and he was prominent in all affairs affecting the welfare of his township, though he never sought or held office. He was married to Julia Ann Rutter, whose mother's maiden name was July A. Gamble. Mrs. St. Clair died in West Wheatfield township, and she and her husband are interred in the Germany Church cemetery there. They were members of the M. E. Church. This couple had children as follows, all born in West Wheatfield township: John married Nancy Jane Buchanan (he followed the lumber business in Tennessee) ; Rebecca became the wife of Samuel Felton; Catherine married Isaiah Brantlinger; Samuel mar- ried and resides in Logan, Ohio; Harriet Jane became the wife of Thomas Brantlinger; Emma married William Lickenfeld, and both died in West Wheatfield township; Sarah Elizabeth, born March 6, 1857, married James . JOSEPH J. MCCRACKEN, justice of the peace, undertaker, and contractor and builder of Creekside, Washington township, was born in the northern part of Indiana county. in 1858, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Hun- ter) MeCracken, natives of Ireland. M. Wakefield, commissioner of Indiana county ; James Jameson is mentioned below; Jacob B. married Emma Lickenfeld, and re- sides in Conemaugh township, this county ; Julia, deceased, was the wife of Samuel Brend- linger.

James Jameson St. Clair was born Dec. 16, 1859, in West Wheatfield township, and at- tended the Gamble and Dick schools there. He worked with his father at the mill and also learned mill-wrighting and carpentry, being thus engaged until his marriage. At that time he moved to Garfield, where he was employed by the Lincoln Fire Brick Company for six years, afterward assisting in the construction of the present Robinson brickyards. In time he became interested in contracting and build- first house, and spent the balance of his life ing, which line he now follows, and he has in tilling the soil. His death occurred at the

On first coming to the United States, at the age of fourteen years, Joseph McCracken settled in Philadelphia, where he was later married. He then came to Indiana county and started a tannery, having learned the trade in his native land, and he subsequently opened a tannery in the town of Kelleysburg, which he operated for some time. Turning his at- tention to agricultural pursuits, he took up timbered land in the northern part of In- diana county, cut down the logs to build his

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

home of a daughter. He and his wife had hill township, was born at Penn Run, Indi- nine children, as follows: David, who lives ana county, Aug. 2, 1885, son of William C. at Kent, Pa .; Elizabeth, the wife of William and Addie M. (Empfield) Pattison, both of Gardner, living at Glen Campbell; Alexander, whom were born and reared in Indiana county. deceased, who was a farmer near Creekside, William C. Pattison was reared to the vo- cation of an agriculturist and throughout his life devoted himself to tilling the soil. His death occurred in California, but the causes and exact place are unknown. His widow still resides in Penn Run. They had two children, Orrin J. and June E. and was accidentally killed on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad, during the latter part of 1910; Sarah, wife of Daniel Smith, living at Gipsy; Joseph J .; Emma, wife of James Lowe, living at Homer City, Pa .; Anna, widow of P. Savar, of Rochester Mills; Hughey, who died in infancy; and Thomas, who is deceased.

Joseph J. McCracken was born on the home farm and attended the Doty school, and as a youth devoted his energies to wood chopping and to rafting on the Susquehanna river, subsequently becoming a pilot between Lock- haven and Cherrytree. He afterward learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for a long period, and came to Creekside long be- fore the railroads reached that point. He has erected many of the residences of the borough, assisted in organizing same, and shortly after coming here was elected justice of the peace, in which office he is serving his third term, in addition to which he has acted in the capacity of overseer of Grant township. He has also established himself in the under- taking business.

In August, 1889, Mr. McCracken was united in marriage with Lillian Riggs, who was born in Jefferson county, Pa., daughter of George and Mary (McKee) Riggs, the former of whom was in early life a farmer. After coming to Reynoldsville, Pa., Mr. Riggs was elected constable. He met with a sudden his widow still surviving and making her home at Reynoldsville. There were three children in their family: Myrtle, who is deceased; Mack, in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; and Mrs. McCracken. To Mr. and Mrs. McCracken there have been born seven children : Edna, wife of Ramy Stutsil, living in Creekside, who has one child, Jo- seph; Clyde, who lives at Steubenville, Ohio; Ralph, employed in the drug store at Creek- side; Clifford, at home; Ritta; and Beulah and Bessie, who died in infancy.

Mr. Pattison and his wife are members of death and was buried in Beechwood cemetery, the Presbyterian Church. He takes a dis- tinct interest in public and educational mat- ters, and serves as auditor of Cherryhill town- ship, and as trustee of the Sumner normal school at Penn Run.

Mr. McCracken is a member of the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, and of Savar Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Rochester Mills, Indiana county, in which he has passed all the chairs.

ORRIN J. PATTISON, proprietor of the large livery and sales stables at Penn Run, Pa., and also engaged in farming in Cherry-

Orrin J. Pattison spent his boyhood days in Penn Run, where he attended public school, subsequently going to school at Marion Cen- ter. After leaving school he was employed at work on the home farm, and while there prepared himself for teaching, subsequently following the profession of educator in Cher- ryhill township for eight terms, and later in Pine township. In 1910, however, he gave up teaching to enter the livery business in Penn Run, and this he has continued to conduct to the present time, also following general farming in Cherryhill township.

. 'On July 24, 1907, Mr. Pattison was mar- ried to Elsie Shank, who was born March 7, 1881, in Penn Run, daughter of Jacob and Mary Fyock Shank. Her father, an early settler of Penn Run, and a veteran of the Civil war, died in November, 1910, while her inother still survives and makes her home at Penn Run. They had five children: William E., residing at Gary, Ind .; Anna, the wife of Louis Follmar, of Johnstown, Pa .; Savila, wife of Augustus Geesey, of Buffalo, N. Y .; Louis; and Elsie, the wife of Mr. Pattison.

JOSEPH TAYLOR BOUCHER, tax col- lector for Indiana borough, is a native of In- diana county and has passed all his life in Indiana and the adjoining territory.

The Boucher family is of French extraction, and one branch has been established in Can- ada, one of its members being John Boucher, a noted character, whose skill as a guide and trapper in the wilds of Canada gave him a wide reputation; on his father's side he was of French and Irish blood, and his mother was a full-blooded Chippewa Indian. Fran- cois Boucher, the noted French painter, was also of this family.

Henry Boucher, grandfather of Joseph Tay-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

lor Boucher, was born in Virginia, May 15, more commodious quarters, on Philadelphia 1780, and was a cabinetmaker, following an street, being in the Cunningham building un- occupation in which many of the family have til 1904. been engaged. In April. 1802, he married at born Jan. 6. 1784, and they subsequently re- moved to Frankstown, Pa., on the Juniata, thence to Brushvalley, in Indiana county. In

Mr. Boucher has taken considerable part Hanover, Pa., Elizabeth Wolfe, of that place, in the local government and the affairs of the borough generally, having served four years in the council (during three of which he was on the finance committee), and he was after- 1815 they removed to Rayne township, Indi- ward elected tax collector, in which he has been ana county. Mrs. Boucher died here May 31, serving for the last six years. He has given excellent satisfaction in his public work, his business ability and integrity winning the confidence of his fellow citizens generally. In politics Mr. Boucher is a straight Republican. He is a member of the First United Presby- terian Church of Indiana. 1852, Mr. Boucher on Dec. 6, 1853. Their children were as follows: John, born Dec. 17, 1802; Henry, born Oct. 4, 1804; Eliza- beth, born Feb. 6, 1807; Margaret, born March 9, 1809; David, born Ang. 21, 1811; Andrew, born Ang. 31, 1813; Eve, born March 4, 1816; Catherine, born May 19, 1818; Jacob, born July 12, 1820; William, born Oct. 4, 1822; and Susan, born Jan. 22, 1827.

In 1870 Mr. Boucher married Mary C. Cole- man, daughter of Robert Coleman, and she died in 1874, the mother of one child, Bertha E., who died when seven years old. On Feb. 15, 1882, Mr. Boucher married (second) in In- diana Mrs. Annie M. (Leidig) Kline, daughter of M. A. Leidig, of Hellertown. They have no children.

Henry Boucher, son of Henry, born Oct. 4, 1804, at Frankstown, Pa., received his educa- tion in the common schools. He was reared to farm life, and also learned his father's trade, cabinetmaking, for which he had great aptitude, being able to make anything in wood, and under his father's skillful instruc- tion became a fine workman. The father used to make the old-fashioned windmills. Henry Boucher (Jr.) lived in White township and later in the borough of Indiana, where he died Ang. 9, 1865. He married Catherine Dod- son, of Bedford county, Pa., daughter of Jo- seph Dodson, and she survived him a few years, dying Ang. 21, 1869. Their children were horn as follows: Elizabeth, Nov. 16, 1834 (married Isaac Kening and died in 1870) : George, April 30, 1836 (died in Oc- tober. 1869) ; Mary C., March 29, 1838 (died March 8. 1857) : Alexander, May 25, 1841 (died May 29, 1875) ; Nancy J., March 29, 1844 (died in 1875) ; Joseph Taylor, Ang. 17, 1848: Sarah I., 1854 (died in 1857).

WILLIAM S. HAMILTON, superintendent of the Clymer Water Company, of Indiana, Indiana county, is a native of Jefferson connty, Pa., and belongs to one of the old settled families of that section of the State. He was born Aug. 6, 1848, son of Robert and Margaret (Johnston) Hamilton, and grand- son of David Hamilton, who was born in Ire- land and came to Jefferson county, Pa., in the year 1808. He took up a large tract of land, and followed farming. His wife's maiden name was McFarland. In religion he was a Presbyterian.

Robert Hamilton also became a farmer in Jefferson county and was one of the largest land holders in that county in his day. He was a highly successful business man in every line he entered. being extensively engaged as a merchant and lumberman in addition to his agricultural interests, and prospering in all his undertakings. To him and his wife Mar- garet (Johnston) were born the following chil- dren : James; William S .; David ; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. A. D. McCombs, of Jefferson county, Pa .; Laura, wife of Dr. J. A. Miller, now of Mexico ; and Martha, wife of Dr. J. A. Brown. of Brookville, Pa. The three daugh- ters all married physicians. The father of this family died in 1904, the mother in 1898. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.

Joseph T. Boucher passed his early life in White township and the borough of Indiana, ·receiving his education in the common schools. IIe began work when twelve years old, at the paper mill there, his wages being one dollar a week, for which he did chores and per- formed miscellaneous duties. In 1865 he be- gan house painting, at which he was engaged for some time, in the employ of others, about 1874 embarking in the business on his own account. He acquired a profitable patronage, keeping a crew of men busy, and continued in this line until 1884. Ile then opened a wall paper and paint store on Church street, Indiana, commencing modestly, in a small William S. Hamilton attended public and building, and as his business grew moved to select schools in his native county. At the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

age of eighteen he began to clerk in his father's upon that property and settled down to farm- store, where he continued until 1876, in ing, continuing to devote himself to the cul- which year he first came to Indiana. For tivation of his land for over twenty-five years. five years he was engaged in the mercantile In 1858 he moved to Homer City, making his business here on his own account, at the end of that period going to Pittsburg, where he was engaged as a broker for five years. Re- turning to Jefferson county, he lived there again for the next fourteen years, in 1904 re- turning to Indiana, at which place he has since made his home. Some time afterward, in May, 1909, he became superintendent of the Clymer Water Company of Indiana, a position he still holds, having proved him- self highly competent.

In 1898 Mr. Hamilton married Esther Drenning, daughter of Dr. Drenning, of Oil City, Pa. They have two children, R. Dren- ning and David James. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Presbyterian Church in re- ligious connection, and fraternally he belongs to various Masonic bodies, Blne Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., of Indiana, the Consistory of Williamsport, Pa., and the Shrine at Al- toona, Pennsylvania.

HARRY FLICKINGER is one of the most progressive business men of Homer City and his section of Indiana county, Pa., and as his father's successor as merchant and undertaker is upholding a name which has long stood for solid worth in that vicinity. He was born in Homer City Nov. 8, 1869, and is a member of a family which has been settled in Pennsyl- vania from Provincial days.

The Flickinger family is of Dutch extrac- tion. Peter Flickinger, the founder of this line in America, was born in Rotterdam, Hol- land, Sept. 14, 1753, and there grew to man- hood. At the age of twenty-three years he left his native land for America, and made a location in Dauphin county, Pa. His wife's maiden name was Decker, and they had five later became engaged in carpenter work and sons : Christian, Peter, Henry, George and John.

George Flickinger, son of Peter, settled in the Cumberland valley, in what is now Perry county, Pa. He lived to the age of ninety- three years.

Abraham Flickinger, son of George, was born Feb. 6, 1804, in Perry county, Pa., where he grew to manhood. On April 25, 1826, he was married there to Anna Postel- wait, who was born Feb. 4, 1804, daughter of Samuel Postelwait, of England, and in 1836 they moved out to Indiana county, Pa., locating on a tract of 160 acres in Center township; Mr. Flickinger erected a log house

home there on a tract of nineteen acres which he bought and ou which he passed the re- mainder of his life. He died March 20, 1885, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery, at Indiana. Mr. Flickinger was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Mechanicsburg, in Brushvalley township, and in politics he was originally a Whig, later a Republican. Mrs. Flickinger passed away Feb. 1, 1884, and is also buried in Greenwood cemetery. They had a large family, as follows: Barbara, born March 6, 1828, married Jesse Mickel and re- sides in Hancock county, Ill. ; George W., born June 5, 1830, married Sarah A. Kurtz; Sam- uel, born Feb. 18, 1832, married Eliza Z. Fee, of Brushvalley ; Elizabeth, born April 3, 1834, married Robert Longhry; Margaret Susan, born March 31, 1837, married Joseph Mickel ; Christianna, born May 25, 1839, married Henry Miller; John A., born May 5, 1841, a Lutheran minister now located at Washing- ton, D. C., married Wilmina Hendrickson; James Simpson was born Dec. 24, 1844; David J., born Nov. 3, 1846, died in Rock Island, Ill .; Lewis P., born May 29, 1849, married Jennie Lucas and lives in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 3

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