Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 31

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 31

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William Snyder, the grandfather, was a native of Warren county, N. J., where he was a land owner and farmer. He moved to Sussex county, N. J., and there continued farming until 1853, when he came out to Pennsylvania, locating first in Burrell town- ship, Indiana county, where he engaged in farming. Later he owned land upon which he lived and farmed in White township, but returned to Burrell township, where the rest of his life was spent, and where he died Dec. 3, 1884. He was buried in Oakland cemetery, at Indiana. His wife Elizabeth (Quick), whom he had married in his native county, died in Burrell township some years before him, and is buried in the same cemetery. They had two children, George B. and Sally Ann, the latter marrying William Ackerson and dying in young womanhood.

George B. Snyder was born in 1827 in War- ren county, N. J., removed with his parents to Sussex county, that State, and there followed farming near Newton. He married Hannah Ackerson, and in 1853, in company with his parents, his wife and their three children

came to western Pennsylvania. Their first home in this region was in White township, Indiana county, and later they lived in Bur- rell township, near his father, spending but a short time there, however. Moving to Brush- valley township, Mr. Snyder bought a tract of 240 acres known as the Joseph Stewart farm which he continued to cultivate and improve during the remainder of his life, dying there Aug. 8, 1905. His wife also died on the farm, in September, 1895, and they are buried in Oakland cemetery, at Indiana. Mr. Snyder was a Democrat, but took no part in politics and never aspired to office. His three children were: William, who died at Latrobe, Westmoreland county ; John D .; and Emma, who married Luther B. McDonald and resides in Brushvalley township.

John D. Snyder was a boy when the fam- ily removed from New Jersey, and he re- ceived his education in Brushvalley township, attending public school. From an early age he has done farm work, which he has always followed, and in which he has heen highly successful as the result of hard work and thrifty management. His energetic and pro- gressive disposition is shown in the condition and appearance of his various tracts, all of which have been greatly improved during his ownership. His holdings now comprise about four hundred acres in Brushvalley township, all furnished with substantial houses and barns, and well looked after in every respect, no detail being considered too trivial to merit attention. As a man he is honorable in all his dealings, liberal and broad-minded in his outlook on life, and has the good will of all who come in contact with him.

In 1870 Mr. Snyder married Margaret Stev- ens, a native of Brushvalley township, born May 16, 1851, daughter of David and Cath- erine (Winkelman) Stevens, and ten children have been born to them; William L., who is a farmer of Brushvalley township; Emma, wife of Robert Shearer, of Buffington town- ship; Alice J., wife of Daniel Barkley ; John P., a farmer of Brushvalley township; Eliza- beth, widow of Clark Barkley, living at home; Charles B., at home ; Clark, who died young ; George Cleveland, at home; Lillian, who mar- ried Andrew Mickesel and (second) Russell Campbell; and Hannah A., at home. The family are members of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Snyder is a Democrat of the old school, takes an active interest in public mat- ters, and is independent about supporting

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

whatever men and measures he deems most tion for over one hundred and twenty-five likely to contribute to the general welfare. years.

WILLIAM F. WEITZEL, M. D., general medical practitioner of Indiana, Indiana coun- ty, was born in Banks township, this county, Dec. 18, 1877, son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Coy) Weitzel. His grandfather was a farmer, and his father also followed farming in early life, and later engaged in business in the furniture and undertaking line. The Docter is one of a family of eight children, the others being: Joseph C .; Luther M .; Laura B., wife of Robert Y. Smith; Dolly, wife of Thomas P. Brickell ; Bertha C., wife of Dr. Harry H. Fairbanks; George, who died aged twenty-one years; and John, who died in infancy.

William F. Weitzel attended public school in his native township. After studying medi- cine for some time he entered the Baltimore Medical College, at Baltimore, Md., from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1903, beginning practice on his own account that year at Gipsy, Indiana Co., Pa. There he was located until 1911, when he took a post-graduate course at the Philadelphia Polyclinic, a special course on the eye, ear, nose and throat. Upon its completion he opened an office in the borough of Indiana, where he has since been engaged in general practice. He has acquired a large patronage, and was also for some time medical examiner for the New York Life, Prudential Life, and Equit- able Life Insurance Companies. He is a mem- ber of the Indiana County Medical Society, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association, and fra- ternally holds membership in the I. O. O. F. and Patriotic Order Sons of America. He belongs to the Christian Church. Dr. Weit- zel's high professional standing has been gained by conscientious devotion to the inter- ests of his patients, and his public-spirited disposition and intelligent interest in the gen- eral welfare have won the respect of all who know him.

On June 5, 1906, Dr. Weitzel married Ar- veda Gourley, daughter of Gaskel A. Gour- ley, of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania.

David Wakefield, who founded the family here, was born in Ireland and there married Mary Houge. They came to America about 1775, and in 1785 settled with their family in what was then Wheatfield township, now in Indiana county but then part of West- moreland county. The place where they made their home is now included in West Wheatfield township. Their property was then in the woods, and the rest of their lives was spent in its improvement and cultivation.

Jeremiah Wakefield, son of David, was the grandfather of Edward B. Wakefield. He made his home in Brushvalley township, on a tract now included in the large estate there owned by J. G. McCrory, of New York, and there remained to the end of his days. To. him and his wife Mary (Wakefield) Wakefield were born six children: Isaac N., who became a farmer in Allegheny county, Pa .; John F .; Elizabeth, who married George Grumbling; Caroline, who married Zachariah Oberdorff and is deceased; Margaret, now the widow of Thomas Wakefield; and David C., who mar- ried Blanche Smith and resides at Mckees- port, Pennsylvania.

John F. Wakefield, son of Jeremiah, was born July 31, 1836, on the farm in Brushval- ley township, and there attended public school. In his youth and early manhood he worked at farming and stock raising on the home place with his father, being thus engaged until his marriage, when he removed to his present place near Greenville, in Cherryhill township. During the Civil war he served over two years in the Union army. enlisting in February, 1863, in Company E, 11th Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and receiving his discharge in May, 1865. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. Mr. Wake- field is a substantial and respected citizen of his community, a member of the M. E. Church at Greenville, Cherryhill township, and a man who has been faithful to all his responsibili- ties. In 1868 he married Elizabeth Brady, of Westmoreland county, who died in 1875, the mother of three children, namely: Edward Brady and Harry H., twins; and Grant W .. who lives at home. Mr. Wakefield's second marriage was to Martha Fetterman, of Brush- valley township, who died in 1904. There was one child by this union. Ida, who lives with her father.

EDWARD BRADY WAKEFIELD, gen- eral superintendent of the J. G. McCrory es- tate in Brushvalley township, Indiana county, was born there May 20, 1872, and is a descend- Being only three years old when his mother died, Edward Brady Wakefield went to live ant of a family of Irish extraction which has been associated with the history of this sec- at the home of his grandfather, Jeremiah

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HISTORY. OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Wakefield, on whose farm he grew to man- Mass. He was in the service of Stephen Hop- hood. He attended the local public school. kins, and he was one of the signers of the solemn compact made in Cape Cod harbor Nov. 11, 1620, on board the "Mayflower." He married Jan. 6, 1634-35, Faith Clarke, born in 1619, daughter of Thurston and Faith Clarke. In 1652 Mr. Doty was one of the purchasers of Dartmouth, Mass., but later removed to Cape Cod, locating in the town of Yarmouth, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there Aug. 23, 1655. His widow married (second) John Phillips, of Duxbury. Children : Edward, John, Thomas, Samuel, Desire, Elizabeth, Isaac, Joseph and Mary. Remaining at that place until his grandfather died, he then, at the age of twenty, went to Pittsburg, where he found employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, continu- ing with same for nine years, during which time he worked his way up from the position of fireman to that of locomotive engineer. After giving up railroading he worked in the store of J. G. McCrory for a period, and then started in business for himself at Young Wood, Westmoreland county, where he was engaged as a merchant for two years. Selling out in 1906 he became superintendent of the large estate of J. G. McCrory in Brushvalley (II) Samuel Doty, son of Edward and Faith (Clarke) Doty, born in Plymouth, in 1643, became quite prominent in the affairs of Plymouth and Cape Cod. Later he re- moved to New Jersey, locating at Piscataway, Middlesex county, where he was well known. In 1675 he was commissioned lieutenant of the military company of New Piscataway, of which Francis Drake was captain; this com- mission was received in 1678. He became a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, which was formed in 1700. He died about October, 1715. In Piscataway, N. J., he mar- ried Jeane Harman, of that town. township, Indiana county, which comprises fourteen hundred acres and includes some of the oldest settled tracts in the township. Mr. McCrory has spared no expense in the improvement of these farms, putting up mod- ern dwelling houses, barns and other build- ings, the construction of which has been car- ried on under Mr. Wakefield's supervision. He also has entire charge of the farming, stock, etc., and has had ample opportunity to demonstrate his ability and executive qualities in the administration of this immense prop- erty. His trustworthiness no less than his qualifications as an agriculturist have been displayed in his management and adjustment of the numerous problems which arise in the conduct of so extensive an estate, and that his services have been eminently satisfactory is evidenced by the long continued confidence he has enjoyed.

On Jan. 1, 1900, Mr. Wakefield married Nannie E. Mack, who was born in Brushvalley township, daughter of the late John Mack, a well-known resident of that township. Four children have been born to this marriage: Violet, Helen, Lillie and Mack.

Mr. Wakefield is a member of the Firemen's and Engineers' Association. In political con- nection he is a stanch member of the Repub- lican party.

GILLIS McPHERSON DOTY, who is now living retired at Blacklick, Indiana county, is a descendant of one of the oldest and best- known families of New England.

The name was formerly spelled Dotey, Doty, Dote and Doten. (I) Edward Doten or Doty, a native of England, was a youth when he came to America with the little band of Pilgrims which crossed the Atlantic in the "Mayflower" in 1620, landing on Plymouth Rock, in what is now the harbor of Plymouth,

(III) Jonathan Doty, son of Samuel and Jeane (Harman) Doty, was born in Piscata- way, N. J., Feb. 24, 1687-88. About 1717 he married Mary, and they became the parents of eight children: William, born Sept. 11, 1719; Jonathan, born about 1724; Daniel, born about 1727; Joshua, born about 1730; Joseph, born about 1735; Mary; Jane, who married Oct. 21, 1747, John Johnson; and Elizabeth.

(IV) Jonathan Doty (2), son of Jonathan and Mary Doty, born about 1724, in Piscata- way, N. J., removed with his parents to Bask- ing Ridge, N. J., where he was a farmer and where he died. He married Patience Sutton, and their children were: Jonathan, born about 1754; Zebulon, born about 1758; Nath- aniel, born Oct. 19, 1761; Joseph, born Aug. 31, 1764; William, born Oct. 8, 1767; and Rebecca, who married and settled in Pennsyl- vania.

(V) Jonathan Doty (3), son of Jonathan (2) and Patience (Sutton) Doty, born at Basking Ridge, N. J., about 1754, there grew to manhood. It is supposed he served in the Revolutionary war as teamster, in Capt. Asa- hel Hinman's Team Brigade of New Jersey, as a Jonathan Doty was on the list of team- sters; it must have been this Jonathan or his

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

father. Mr. Doty about 1784, at the close of 1908, on the homestead; Rebecca C., born the Revolution, came West with his wife and Dec. 15, 1836, married James Falls and died children, locating in Derry township, West- April 20, 1906; Sarah Ann, born March 2, moreland Co., Pa., where he farmed and also 1839, married Jan. 1, 1862, Hugh Flynn, who kept a tavern. He met with fair success, and died July 6, 1878, and she resides at New- castle, Pa .; Gillis McPherson was born July 8, 1843. was a man well known and respected there in his day. Subsequently he removed to Blairs- ville, Indiana county, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, dying at the ripe age of ninety-six years, in 1850. He was a member of the M. E. Church, in which he was quite active, being a local preacher and exhorter of that denomination. His first wife, Abigail (McPherson), died at Blairsville, Pa., about 1815, and he married (second) Mrs. Nancy (Simpson) Dixon, widow of Samuel Dixon. His children, all born to the first marriage, were : Jonathan, born about 1780; John, born about 1783; Robert, born in Derry town- ship, Westmoreland county, about 1785; Bet- sey, born about 1787; Nathaniel, born about 1789; and Gillis, born about 1790.

(VII) Gillis McPherson Doty, youngest son of Gillis and Jean (Dixon) Doty, was born on the homestead in Blacklick, where he was educated in the public schools of the town- ship. Remaining on the homestead with his mother and sister Margaret J., he made farm- ing and stock raising his business, and contin- ued to follow those lines during his active life. In 1910 he had to give up business on account of his health, and he located in the village of Blacklick, where he is now living retired. He still retains the ownership of the homestead farm. Mr. Doty is well known all over In- diana county. He is a man of genial manner, and has hosts of friends with whom he is popular. He is a member of F. & A. M. Lodge No. 313, of Indiana, which he joined in 1864, at the age of twenty-one years, and also be- longs to the B. P. O. Elks. He has always been a Republican, and is at present keenly interested in the Progressive movement headed by Colonel Roosevelt.

(VI) Gillis Doty, son of Jonathan (3) and Abigail (McPherson) Doty, born in Derry township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., there grew to manhood and there followed farming until his marriage. At that time he settled in Blacklick township, Indiana county, on a farm of 200 acres on which stood a log cabin. He worked hard to clear the land, and later, as Mr. Doty was married Nov. 21, 1910, to Grace M. Lea, born at Pittsburg, daughter of prosperity enabled him, built a fine stone house and made other improvements on the John Lea and granddaughter of Richard Lea, place. He continued to engage in stock rais- who for sixty years was a minister of the ing and general farming, and lived to a ripe Presbyterian Church at Pittsburg. No chil- old age, dying on the farm Dec. 21, 1870. IIe dren have been born to this union.

was buried at Blairsville. Mr. Doty was one of the best-known men in his section, honor- SAMUEL GAILEY, a highly respected re- tired citizen of Indiana county, who has the distinction of being the oldest man in Cone- maugh township, has been a lifelong resident of that township, where he was born. March 5, 1829, son of Andrew and Jean (Barr) Gailey. able, intelligent and not only successful in his own affairs, but deeply interested in the good of his township and its people; he was a strong believer in free education. In 1817 he married Jean Dixon, who was born May 16, 1798, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Simpson) Dixon, and died on the homestead James Gailey, the paternal grandfather of Aug. 3, 1884. She was buried in Blairsville Samuel Gailey, was born in Ireland and came cemetery. Eleven children were born to Mr. to the United States in young manhood, set- tling in what is now known as Uniontown, Pa., where he was engaged in the cattle busi- ness. For some years he drove cattle to Bal- timore, Md., but later moved to Conemaugh and settled on 333 1-3 acres of land. the deed for which. signed by King George III., July 18. 1776, William Penn and William Penn. .Jr., is now in the possession of Samuel Gailey. Mr. Gailey was married in 1787 to Letitia Smith, who died Jan. 10. 1845, and he passed away June 28. 1838. both being buried at Clarksburg cemetery, in Conemaugh township. and Mrs. Doty : Abbie, born Jan. 29, 1818, married Samuel Douglas Aug. 18, 1836; Nancy, born March 26, 1820, married Henry B. Harrald July 29, 1841; Samuel, born April 6, 1822, died on the homestead; Jona- than, born Nov. 5, 1824, died Aug. 16, 1872, at Newcastle, Pa .; Mary, born Jan. 5, 1827, married Dr. James Hansen Bell, and died April 18, 1906: Robert, born Jan. 4, 1829, died Oct. 30, 1832; Elizabeth, born Nov. 9, 1831. is the widow of Joseph H. Campbell, Ph. D., and resides in New York City; Mar- garet Jane, born May 13, 1834. died Feb. 26. Mr. Gailey's first residence was a small log

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

cabin in the wilderness, but at the time of his over the country with his threshing outfit, but death he was the owner of a comfortable home and had more than one-half of his land cleared and in a state of cultivation. A sturdy and robust man, he had great powers of endurance, and on one occasion walked from his farm to Pittsburg and back in one day, a distance of seventy miles. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children, all born in the United States: Mary, born Nov. 27, 1788; Andrew, Dec. 19, 1789; Samuel, Nov. 18, 1791; James, Oct. 12, 1794 (who was a blacksmith) ; Cornelius, June 9, 1797 (who was twice married and made his home in Cherryhill township, In- diana county) ; Thomas, Nov. 5, 1799 (mar- ried Elizabeth Brown) ; and Ann,. Aug. 18, 1802 (died unmarried).

Andrew Gailey, son of James Gailey, and father of Samuel Gailey, was born Dec. 19, 1789, near Uniontown (then known as Bea- sontown), Pa., and as a lad removed with his parents to what is now Conemaugh town- ship. He did his share in the clearing and cultivating of the wilderness farm, as a re- ward for which he was given a tract of land by his father and also purchased more land from him, his subsequent life being spent there in farming and cattle raising. His death occurred June 6, 1868. He became one of the prominent stock raisers of his town- ship, and was also well known in public life, satisfactorily filling a number of local offices. With his family he attended the United Pres- byterian Church. On Dec. 23, 1823, Mr. Gailey was married to Jean Barr, who was born Dec. 3, 1791, daughter of Samuel Barr, and they had the following children: Ann, born Nov. 9, 1824, died unmarried in 1853; James Wilson, born Oct. 20, 1825, married Eliza Walp, and is now a retired carpenter, of Mckeesport, Pa .; Letitia, born April 12, 1827, married William Momeyer; Samuel was born March 5, 1829; Andrew, born Sept. 16, 1830, married Agnes Kirkpatrick and (sec- ond) Margaret Herschberger, and resides in Indiana borough; and Thomas Johnson, born July 28, 1834, died Aug. 17, 1844.

did not allow this to interfere with his farm- ing and stock raising operations, and for a long period he was known as one of his town- ship's leading stockmen. Mr. Gailey has reached the time of life when he feels that he is entitled to rest from the activities of former years, but his faculties are still unimpaired, and he reads readily without the aid of glasses. His fine farm of 140 acres is being operated under his direction by his son, who has in- herited many of his father's excellent traits of character. For many years Mr. Gailey has been prominent in Republican politics, serving as overseer of the poor and school di- rector, and no important movement in Cone- maugh is regarded as complete unless it has enlisted his support. One of the founders of the United Presbyterian Church, he has heen a lifelong member thereof, and is now serving as an elder and trustee.

Mr. Gailey was married to Catherine Alex- ander, who was born near Greensburg, West- moreland county, and reared near Freeport, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Brown) Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Gailey have had the following children: Renwick Cameron, born May 19, 1856, married Winifred Davie, and resides at Edgewood, Pa., where he is engaged in the insurance business (they have one son, Samuel Davie) ; Andrew Porter, a resident of New Kensington, Pa., married Re- becca Shearer, and (second) Mrs. Nettie Alex- ander, and has a daughter, Martha C., and a son, Samuel W .; N. Elmer, the proprietor of a grain elevator at Dodge City, Kans., mar- ried Delia Wehr; Mary Elmira married W. C. Shearer, a farmer of Armstrong county, Pa., and their children are Meade, Ren G., George, Naomi R., William G., Margaret Jean, Jolın D. and Catharine E .; John Hen- derson, who married Emma Wehr, has three children, Dorothy, Jennie W. and John Alex- ander, and they reside in Pittsburg; Elza Brown is unmarried; Margaret Matilda re- sides at home with her parents; Josiah Ful- ton, who lives at home, is conducting the farm for his father.

Samuel Gailey, son of Andrew Gailey, was given the advantages offered by the subscrip- tion schools of his day and locality, attending Samuel Gailey has had a long and useful life, and now, in his declining years, may look back over his career without regret, con- tented in the knowledge that he has assisted in no small degree in bettering his commú- nity, and that the success which has been his a little log schoolhouse situated a long dis- tance from his father's farm. While not at school he assisted his father and brothers in the cultivation of the home property, and was reared to habits of industry, integrity and sobriety. Mr. Gailey was a pioneer in the has come to him through no unfair means. threshing business, for many years traveling He has a wide circle of appreciative friends

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and is well deserving of the universal respect gaged in the insurance business, with which and esteem that is undoubtedly his.

ALEXANDER H. STEWART, M. D., physician and surgeon at Marion Center, In- diana Co., Pa., was born in the village of Plumville, this county, July 22, 1880, son of Joseph Harvey and Mary (Miller) Stewart.

Joseph Stewart, the grandfather of Dr. Stewart, was an early settler of Rayne town- ship, Indiana county, having been brought to this section by his father when he was a lad. He later removed to South Mahoning town- ship, and there continued to engage in farm- ing until his death, in 1882.

Joseph Harvey Stewart, son of Joseph Stew- art, was born in Rayne township, and in his early life was engaged in school teaching in Indiana county, continuing as an educator throughout his life and dying in 1898. His wife, who was born in South Mahoning town- ship, still survives, and is a resident of the town of Indiana, Pa. They had only one child, Alexander H.

Alexander H. Stewart secured his prelimi- nary education in the public schools of In- diana, and in 1897 was graduated from the high school there. Subsequently he attended the Indiana State normal school, and after some preparation became a student in the afterward, for a total period of three years, Western University of Pennsylvania, where the study of law engaged his attention, but

he received his medical degree in 1907. For the two years following he was engaged in the practice of his profession at Marion Center, in December, 1909, moving to Idamar, in Green township, Indiana county, where he has acquired a large and lucrative profes- sional patronage. On Sept. 3, 1912, he moved thence to his present location, at Marion Cen- ter. He is a member of the Indiana County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Med- ical Society and the American Medical As- sociation, in the work of which bodies he takes a keen and active interest, and bears a high reputation among his professional confreres.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 31

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