Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 33

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 33

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James Houston, son of James and Mary (Reed) Houston, was born in 1802 in Center township. He acquired a thorough common school education, and taught subscription schools in his early manhood, boarding around at the homes of the various pupils, as was then the custom. He taught the first free school established in his neighborhood after the introduction of the system. Having re- ceived 100 acres of the homestead farm from his father, he made farming his principal occupation. There were a log house and a log barn on this tract, which was then in- cluded in Blacklick township, and there he continued to follow agricultural pursuits un- til his death, which occurred in 1852, when he was in his prime. He was interred in the Houston graveyard. An intelligent and well- read man, he was looked up to in the com- munity and universally respected. In polit- ical opinion he was a Whig, in church con- nection a member of the Christian denomi- nation. His wife, Jennie (Clawson), a na- tive of Blacklick township, was a daughter of Josiah Clawson, and her family were old settlers there. She died at the home of her son William, who cared for her tenderly in her old age, and was laid to rest in the fam- ily cemetery. Like her husband she was a member of the Christian Church. Six chil-

WILLIAM HOUSTON, of Blacklick, in Burrell township, has served as justice of the peace since 1904, and in that position and other public relations has become well and favorably known to the residents of his sec- dren were born to them: John W., who is tion of Indiana county. He was born in deceased; Josiah Clawson, who resides in Blacklick township May 20, 1847, a member Johnstown, Pa .; Mary Jane, who married of the third generation of his family to live John Bennett and resides in Burrell town-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship; James, who died young; William; and

Alice G. married J. Dixon Avery and resides Sarah Margaret, who married Alexander in Pittsburg; Bertha, formerly a teacher, mar- Rankin.

ried J. Howard Stewart and has had four children, George Howard (deceased), William when his father died, and accordingly he had Houston, Robert Coe and Emory Jackson

William Houston was but five years old to commence work early. His opportunities for education were such as the local public schools afforded. Remaining at home, he farmed the 100-acre tract his father had owned for several years, and made a num- ber of improvements on the place, which he eventually sold, in 1875, buying the sixty- acre place known as the Householder farm, in Blackliek township. While residing there he followed general farming and stock rais- ing, and also dealt in stock to some extent. He lived there until 1903, in which year he sold the place, which was underlaid with coal and has since been developed along that line. He then removed to the town of Blacklick, where he has ever since made his home, and he is now interested in the real estate busi- ness and represents the Hartford Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn. In

ROBERT Y. ELDER, retired citizen of Saltsburg, and director of the First National Bank of that borough, is a native of Indiana county, Pa., born at Eldersridge, in Young township, April 6, 1840, son of Robert and 1904 he received an appointment from the Nancy W. (Douglas) Elder. governor of the State as justice of the peace, to succeed the late justice, Squire J. R. Pierce, filling out his unexpired term, and he has since been honored with election to the office, in which he has been kept continuously. He is noted for his keen judgment and imparti- ality, and while some of his decisions have been appealed to the higher courts they have generally been sustained. Mr. Houston has a strong sense of responsibility in the dis- charge of his duties which has made him a valued official. Before his removal to Black- liek he held a number of township offices, having been overseer of the poor, school di- rector for nine years, assessor and supervisor, and giving thorough, satisfaction in every capacity. In political association he has al- ways been a stanch Republican.

Mr. Honston was married in Blacklick township to Jennie Clawson, daughter of Rich- ard S. and Eleanora (Davis) Clawson. Though bearing the same maiden name as his mother, she was not related. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Houston two died young. and we have the following record of the family: Wesley I., formerly a school teacher, is now a minister of the Christian Church, residing at Nezperce, Idaho; Emory M. settled on the Pacific coast and died in California ; James R., formerly a school teacher, now mine foreman at Mineral Point. Cambria Co .. Pa .. married Gertrude Thomp- son and has two children. Ruth and Clair;

(they live at Avalon, Allegheny Co., Pa.) : Carrie is engaged as school teacher at Blairs- ville; William Roy resides in Pittsburg; Hood Elder lives at Detroit. Mich .; Nell T. is a student of the State normal at Indiana; IIelen is engaged as stenographer and type- writer at Pittsburg; Ralph died in young manhood; Martha died in infancy. All of this family have received excellent educa- tional advantages, and have been well started in life. Mr. and Mrs. Houston and their children are members of the Christian Church at Indiana, of which he is a deacon.

Robert Elder, the progenitor of the family in America, was born at Dromore, County Down, Ireland, and was of Scotch extraction. He came to the American Colonies in 1730, locating in Dauphin county, Pa., about five miles from Harrisburg, and after the close of the Revolutionary war came to Indiana county with his family, making the journey over the mountains with pack horses, and lo- cating in what is now Conemaugh township, in the wilderness. Here the family erected a temporary hut in the woods, and later suc- ceeded in building a cabin from hewed logs. which structure was subsequently used as a blockhouse. In this building the pioneer died in 1790 or 1791, his wife surviving until April 15, 1813. They were buried in Ebenezer Church cemetery. Robert Elder married Mary Taylor for his second wife, and to them there were born four children, as follows: James, who married Martha Robinson in 1792; David, born in 1764, who married Ann Nes- bitt in 1790. and in 1816 moved to Ohio; Robert, born in 1767; and Ann, who married Archibald Marshall.

Robert Elder (2), son of Robert the pro- genitor, was nineteen years of age when the family came across the Allegheny mountains from Dauphin county to the new home in western Pennsylvania. He settled down to farming. making his home in Conemaugh township, on the eastern half of the original tract. He died while in the prime of life, in

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1813, being but forty-six years of age. To and stock raising on a tract of 300 acres, on him and his wife Mary (Smith), who died in which he made numerous improvements, but 1857, were born children as follows: Mar- in 1903 sold the land for coal mining pur- garet, who married William Ewing; Joshua; poses to the Pittsburg Gas Coal Company, Mary, who married John Leard; Ann; Han- nah, and Robert.

Robert Elder (3), son of Robert (2), and father of Robert Y. Elder, was born in 1809, and made his home at Eldersridge, in Young township, becoming the largest land owner in that section of the county, where he had 500 acres, as well as a farm of 100 acres in Arm- strong county. Mr. Elder made extensive im- provements on his lands and built a fine brick dwelling house on the homestead farm at El- dersridge, continuing to engage in farming and stock raising there until his death, in 1890, in his eighty-first year. He was buried in Eldersridge or Ridgeview cemetery. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in his political views was a Whig and later a Republican. A very successful man in

and moved to Saltsburg, settling at what is known as Saltsburg Extension, where he now makes his home. After coming to Saltsburg he became engaged in the manufacturing busi- ness, but for a short time was at Mine La- motte, Mo., where he was manager of a de- partment store for over a year. He then re- turned to Saltsburg. Mr. Elder is a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of that place. He has been prominent in Grand Army circles, having been at one time commander of Saltsburg Post, No. 36, of which he is now adjutant. He is a past master of Saltsburg Lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M. A stanch Republican in politics, he has served as school director, and at this time is a member of the board of trustees of the El- dersridge Academy. Formerly he was a mem- a business way, he never sought public honors, ber of the Presbyterian Church at Elders- or position, but was domestic in his tastes and greatly devoted to his home and family. Mr. Elder married Nancy W. Douglas, daughter of John Douglas, and she died on the farm in 1896, at the age of eighty-one years, and was buried beside her husband. They had children as follows: Maria J., who married Thomas Elder and resides in Indiana; John Douglas, who was second lieutenant of Com- pany D, 62d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Malvern Hill, while in command of his com- pany, July 2, 1862; Robert Y .; Cordelia, wid- ow of Dr. Robert Barr; Julia, who died young ; Lydia A., who married C. C. Collins; Jose- phine, who is deceased; Agnes V., who resides in Kansas with her sister; and Lizzie E., who married Harry S. Durrett, M. D., and resides in Kansas.

ridge, where he served as elder and was also active in the Sunday school, acting as assist- ant superintendent and later as superintend- ent. Since coming to Saltsburg he has been an elder in the church of that denomination here.

On April 29, 1869, Mr. Elder was united in marriage with Mary E. Spalding, a native of Indiana county, daughter of George and Sarah (Paul) Spalding. Mrs. Elder was well educated, attending public school in West- moreland county, and later Leechburg Acad- emy, Eldersridge Academy and Blairsville Seminary. She taught public school five years in Westmoreland and Indiana counties. Mr. and Mrs. Elder have had five children: Maude Wallace, Robert Roy, George Paul, Alice Mary and Helen Douglas.

Maude Wallace Elder was born at Elders- ridge, and received exceptional educational advantages, attending the public schools of Young township, the State normal school at Indiana, Pa., and the University of Chicago. She taught in Eldersridge Academy, then spent three years teaching in Porto Rico, and for the last six years has been a teacher of languages in Franklin College, at New Athens, Ohio.

Robert Y. Elder was educated in the pub- lic schools of Young township and Eldersridge Academy, under Dr. Alexander Donaldson, and worked at home on the farm with his par- ents until May, 1864, when he enlisted in Com- pany C, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Capt. John C. Horrell and Colonel Young. He served in that company for a period of ten months, being mustered out of the service at Arlington Heights. Returning home, he Robert Roy Elder received his education in the public schools, Eldersridge Academy and Grove City College, where he was graduated in 1892. He then took a law course of three years in Pittsburg, and is now a successful practicing attorney in that city. He married continued on the homestead and followed farming until 1868, when he embarked in the mercantile business at Eldersridge, being thus engaged for a period of ten years, at the end of which time he again took up farming. Mr. Elder continued to carry on general farming Flora Edith Bargay, and they have two chil- 61

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

dren: Marion Viola and Robert Knox, the commendable methods. He was the owner latter being the ninth Robert in direct line of considerable valuable property in Indiana. in the Elder family. He died Nov. 21, 1911.

George Paul Elder was born at Eldersridge,

In 1871 Mr. Widdowson was married to and after attending the public schools became Jennie Hennigh, by whom he had a family a student in Eldersridge Academy. Since his of four children, namely: Luther, Earl, graduation from that institution he has been in business in Seattle, Washington.

Alice Mary Elder was educated in the pub- lic schools, Eldersridge Academy and Blairs- ville College for Women, and then taught pub- lie school for two years in Niagara, N. Dak., three years in Porto Rico, and three years in Medford, Oregon. She is now general secre- tary of the Young Women's Christian Asso- ciation, at Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Charles and Lola. The mother died in 1885, and in 1887 Mr. Widdowson married Estella Webster, daughter of John and Emma ( Hess) Webster. To their marriage were also born four children : Maud, wife of John B. Mitch- ell; Paul ; Ruth, and Bernice. Mrs. Widdow- son and her family are members of the Chris- tian Church at Indiana.

LEVI McGUIRE, who is engaged in farm-

Helen Douglas Elder was educated in the ing in Cherryhill township, where he owns a public schools, Eldersridge Academy and farm on Clymer Rural Free Delivery Route Blairsville College for Women, and then No. 1, was born in Cherryhill township Feb. graduated as a nurse from the Presbyterian 22, 1854, son of John and Elizabeth (Kerr) College, of Allegheny, Pa. At present she is McGuire. at home.

JOHN D. WIDDOWSON, late of Indiana, had made his home in that borough from 1903, and was a lifelong resident of Indiana county, born in 1847 in Cherryhill township. His father, William Widdowson, was a native of England, and after settling in this country engaged quite extensively in the lumber busi- ness. He married Louisa Kime.

James McGuire, grandfather of Levi Mc- Guire, was born in Blacklick township, In- diana Co., Pa., and at an early day came to Cherryhill township, later moving to Green township, settling on the present site of the town of Lovejoy. There he continued to be engaged in farming up to the time of his death.

John McGuire, son of James, and father of Levi McGuire, was also born in Blacklick township, Indiana county, and as a lad was taken to the present site of the town of Cly- mer. During his early days he was a boat- man, working along the canal from Blairs- ville to Johnstown, but during his later years followed farming as a vocation, owning a handsome property in Cherryhill township. He was one of the best-known citizens of his community, serving for nine years as con- stable, and also acting as overseer of the poor

Mr. Widdowson attended public school in Indiana county, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade. Subsequently he engaged in lumbering and sawmilling, do- ing a large and successful business, which he built up by able management and intelligent use of his opportunities. In 1903 he located at Indiana, where he built an elegant mod- ern home, and thereafter devoted his time principally to contracting and building, in which line he acquired extensive interests. and as county commissioner, and in his death, Many of the handsome modern homes now which occurred Jan. 27, 1896, his community lost one of its most representative men. To his marriage with Elizabeth Kerr were born five children, those besides Levi being : Jennie, the wife of John Ollinger, a resident of Sample Run, who is engaged in farming; Mary, the wife of Luther Helman, residing near Sample Run, in Cherryhill township; John, who resides in Clymer ; and Clara, wife of Stephen Rowe, of Rayne township. standing in the borough are of his construc- tion. The last structure of any importance upon which he was engaged was the Christian church in Indiana. Mr. Widdowson was pub- lic-spirited and felt strongly on matters af- fecting the general welfare, and in the latter years of his life he was an ardent Prohibi- tionist. Ile was a prominent member of the Christian Church, which he served as deacon, and in that connection as in every other rela- Thomas Kerr, the maternal grandfather of Levi McGuire, was a native of Shelocta, In- diana Co., Pa., and followed farming and car- pentering on the old homestead until his death. Mrs. McGuire, his daughter, is still tion of life was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His upright and useful life made him valued as a citizen, and he was recog- nized by his business associates as a most cap- able man, who had won suceess by the most living at the age of seventy-seven years, and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

makes her home with her son John, in Clymer. four daughters, as follows: Wava, wife of Levi McGuire attended school in Cherry- hill township, and when he could find time assisted his father in the work of the home farm. As a young man he learned the trade of brickmaking, which he followed for nine Lloyd McDowell, of Clearfield; Victor and Lloyd, residents of Clearfield; A. Clifford; Edgar, a traveling salesman, whose home is in DuBois, Pa .; Sadie, the wife of Hugh Mul- ligan, of Clearfield; Clayton, who is deceased ; years, but since 1879 has been engaged in and Vera and Mildred, residing at home. cultivating his present property. Mr. Mc- A. Clifford Hoover received his education Guire was married Jan. 7, 1879, to Mary M. in the country schools of Clearfield county and the public schools of the town of Clear- field, and during his boyhood days worked on the home farm. The life of an agricul- turist, however, did not appeal to him, his natural inclinations running toward mercan- tile pursuits, and at the age of twenty years he began to secure a business training as clerk in the store of Ernest Albert, of Woodland, Pa. By the year 1905 he had fitted himself to accept a position as manager with the Central Trading Company, and for a time was located at Winburne, in Clearfield county, but in 1910 was sent to Clymer, where he has since had charge of the company's interests. The store at Clymer is one of the firm's larg- est establishments, and its business has been materially increased under Mr. Hoover's able and progressive management.

Wimer, who was born in Green township, near Cookport, in 1856, daughter of William R. and Mary Jane (Lydick) Wimer. John Wi- mer, her grandfather, was an early settler in Indiana county, where he spent his life in farming. William R. Wimer, son of John Wimer, was a farmer in Cherryhill township, and there died in 1895. He married Mary Jane Lydick, who was born in what was known as the Lydick settlement, in Indiana county, daughter of Abraham Lydick, a pio- neer settler, farmer and lumberman of this county. The mother of Mrs. McGuire passed away in 1898. She had five children, of whom one died in infancy, the other being: Abra- ham L., a resident of Blairsville, Pa .; Sarah C., widow of Henry Wissinger; Mrs. Mc- Guire; and Arilla Jane, wife of Ellis Stiffler, a resident of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have three children: in the city of Pittsburg, to Mae Stewart, of Blanche, wife of Samuel Craig, of Rayne township, has five children, namely, Lillian, Violet, Floyd, Grace and. Donald; Irwin re- sides at home and assists his father in the farm work; Mande, also at home, was form- erly a school teacher. Mr. McGuire at this time is serving as school director of his town- ship, a position which he has held for sev- eral years. With his wife and family he at- tends the Christian Church.

A. CLIFFORD HOOVER, manager of the Central Trading Company, of Clymer, Indi- ana county, was born on a farm in Clearfield county, Pa., about nine miles from the city of Clearfield, Nov. 6, 1884, son of Anderson . Brethren Church and are generally well liked and Mary (Banghman) Hoover. William in social circles in Clymer. Hoover, his paternal grandfather, was de- scended from German ancestry, and was the original settler on the old family homestead situated in Clearfield county.

JOHN THEODORE SMITH, of Blacklick township, Indiana county, is one of the larg- est land owners of that township and exten- sively engaged in general agriculture and stock raising. He was born there, on the old Smith homestead, Nov. 3, 1851.

Anderson Hoover, son of William Hoover, was born on the old family place in Clear- field county, and there spent the greater part of his life in agricultural pursuits, his death The Smith family is of English origin. The founder in this country was James Smith, occurring in June, 1906, in Clearfield, to which place he had retired a short time be- a native of Lancashire, England, who was fore. His widow is still living in Clearfield. born in 1800 and came to America when quite They became the parents of five sons and a young man; making his way west of the

On May 6, 1909, Mr. Hoover was married, Rathmel, Jefferson county, daughter of John and Etta (Thomas) Stewart, who are now residents of Jefferson county, where Mr. Stewart is interested in mining ventures; in his earlier years he gave his attention to agri- cultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have one daughter, Arlene.

Mr. Hoover is primarily a business man and his duties demand the greater part of his attention, but he has not denied himself the companionship of his fellow men, and has in- terested himself to some extent in fraternal matters, being a popular member of Rathmel Lodge, No. 344, Knights of Pythias. He and Mrs. Hoover are members of the United

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Allegheny mountains he located in Blacklick Ellen, who died young; Anna, who died township, Indiana Co., Pa., which was for- young; and George, who died young. merly a part of Westmoreland county, and John Theodore Smith, son of George and there became engaged in farming, owning a Priscilla (Chrow) Smith, was educated in the large tract of land located near Hopewell church. He died while still in the prime of young manhood, in 1833, at the early age of thirty-three years, and was buried in Hope-

well cemetery. Although he died so young he had won a high reputation as a man of in- dustry and frugal habits, having worked hard to hew out a home in the wilderness. He mar- ried Mary Theresa Wainwright, who was born in England in 1802 and died in 1871, at the age of sixty-nine years. She was buried be- side her husband in Hopewell cemetery. Their children were: George, born in 1825; Wil- liam, born in 1827; Allie Retta, born in 1830, who married Isaac Hoover and (second) John George; Elizabeth, born in 1832, who mar- ried James Ferguson Badger, of Blacklick township, and Sarah, born in 1834, who mar- ried Jesse M. Long.

school near the homestead. He worked from early boyhood on the farm with his parents, and has all his life continued to engage in farming. When his father retired from ac- tive life he cared for him and his mother in their declining years, he and his wife making a home for them until they died. Since the death of his parents Mr. Smith has remained on the old place, carrying on farming and stock raising. He has become one of the larg- est land owners in Blacklick township, hav- ing over five hundred acres, and has made notable improvements on all the farms in his possession, erecting barns and other build- ings, and cultivating the soil according to the best modern ideas. He is one of the most practical agriculturists in his township, pos- sessing a keen knowledge of his chosen work and its requirements, and the results testify to the value of his methods. He is a great lover of cattle and horses, and as a stock raiser has been decidedly successful. Mr. Smith's home and surroundings bespeak his artistic taste and interest in their proper maintenance. He is a man of public spirit and deeply interested in the general welfare, and is a strong supporter of the public school and good citizenship are fostered in the schools. He has served as school director. Mr. Smith is a Republican of the Progressive kind, being a stanch admirer and supporter of Colonel Roosevelt's policies and the prin- ciples he advocates. He and his family are members of Hopewell M. E. Church, of which he is a trustee. He was a member of the building committee of the church. Mr. Smith has a genial disposition which has won for

George Smith, son of James and Mary Theresa (Wainwright) Smith, was born in Blacklick township, on the Smith homestead, in 1825, and was only eight years old when his father died. But he was tenderly cared for by his devoted mother. His opportuni- ties for obtaining an education were limited, as in that early period schools were few and supported by subscription, and lasted only a system, because he believes that patriotism few months in the year. He grew up on the farm, and being the eldest of the family had to assume responsibilities at an early age. When he reached manhood he took charge of the farm, a tract of 160 acres, and eventually bought out the interests of the other heirs. His home was originally a log dwelling house, but in time he made extensive improvements on the farm and became one of the prosper- ous men of his section, owning at one time over five hundred acres of land. He was him a host of friends.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 33

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