Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 38

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 38

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Alcinus Glen Truitt, son of George W. Truitt, was born Jan. 30, 1844, in Madison township, Armstrong county, and there spent his boyhood. He obtained his early education in the subscription or public schools, later at- tended college, and taught school for several years. In 1862 he enlisted in the 14th Pa. Cavalry, and served during the war till its close. After his marriage he located at the Truittsburg settlement in Clarion county. There he carried on a general store in part- nership with his brother Seth C., the firm be- ing known as A. G. Truitt & Co. He was one of the most respected and popular citizens in that section, being the only Republican justice of the peace there, and the first Re- publican ever elected to that office in Clarion county. He died Feb. 2, 1885. Mr. Truitt was a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and served as superintendent of the Sunday school. He was married at Oakland, Armstrong county, to Jennie E. Corbett, of that county, daughter of Lewis and Lucinda (Mohney) Corbett, the latter a native of Ger- many, who came to the United States in girl- On Oct. 4, 1900, at Reynoldsville, Jefferson county, Pa., Dr. Truitt was married to Maud R. Riston, of Reynoldsville, daughter of David hood. Lewis Corbett was of Irish origin, his great-grandfather being the first of the family to come to this country. After Mr. A. G. Tru- W. Riston. They have four children: Harry

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

W., Jr., Julia Marie, Dorothy Jane and Don all in the vicinity who have come in contact A. Dr. Truitt is a member of the Baptist with him, regardless of creed or class. Church at New Bethlehem, and his wife is a Presbyterian.

REV. ANTHONY BARON, pastor of the Holy Cross Catholic Church at Iselin, Indi- ana county, is a native of Silesia, Prussian Poland, born April 18, 1873. He was one of the twelve children born to Joseph and Mary (Serzysko) Baron, the former a land owner and farmer of that place. All of this large family survive.

Father Baron obtained his early education in the government schools of his native place, and thence went to Rome, where he prepared for the priesthood at the Gregorian Univer- sity, studying theology and philosophy. He was ordained in 1896 by Bishop Corsta, of his native diocese, after which he spent two years as assistant at home and also traveled through Russia. Returning to Rome he re- mained there four years, taking up the study of canon law and Oriental studies in the St. Apollinaris University, completing the course in 1903, in which year he came to America. He became assistant priest at St. Casimir's Polish Catholic Church at Johnstown, Pa., in the Altoona diocese, and was later ap- pointed pastor at St. Stanislaus Polish Cath- olić Church at Boswell, in the same diocese, administering to the spiritual wants of that congregation for two years. He then went to Rome on a mission to the Holy See, being ab- sent a year, and upon his return to this coun- try became assistant to Rev. Father Gorzyn- ski, at St. Adelbert Church, Pittsburg, Pa., in the Pittsburg diocese. He remained there until his appointment, in January, 1911, as pastor of the Holy Cross Church at Iselin, where he has been located ever since. There are eight hundred members in this congre- gation, of different nationalities, including Poles, Italians, Huns and other southern Europeans. Father Baron celebrates two masses each Sunday and holy day, and preaches three sermons, one in English, one in Polish and one in Italian. He is a man of scholarly attainments, especially gifted as a linguist, speaking French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Russian, German and English, and be- ing familiar with Greek and Latin and many of the Oriental languages.

Holy Cross parish was formed in 1907. A fine church and rectory have been built, and missions are to be established at the mining towns of Kent and Jacksonville. Father Baron is energetic and possessed of marked executive ability, a forceful speaker, and is proving a strong influence for good in the community where he is settled.

THOMAS CRAVEN, one of the oldest resi- dents of Indiana county, a veteran of the Civil war, and owner of 170 acres of land in White township, was born in Rayne township, this county, July 20, 1826, son of Nathaniel Simpson Craven.

Thomas Craven, the grandfather, married twice, his second wife being a Miss Simpson, and she was the grandmother of Thomas Craven.

Nathaniel Simpson Craven was born in Cherryhill township, this county, in 1806, and died in Canoe township. He was a farmer all his life. His wife, Rebecca (Pollock), was a native of County Derry, Ireland, and children as follows were born of this marriage: Thomas; Martha, who married William Mitch- ell; Robert, who married Sarah Joyant af- ter going to some Western State; Rebecca, who married David Mitchell; and David, Lu- cinda and Jane, all of whom died in infancy.

Thomas Craven was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and when still a lad he- gan lumbering and did considerable rafting on the river. In the summer months he worked at farming. Believing that it was his duty to defend his country, he enlisted in Com- pany A, 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, in 1864, and served until the close of the war, having been an able and efficient soldier.

In 1881 Mr. Craven married Martha Colta- baugh, who was born Sept. 29, 1847, in Dun- cansville, Pa .. a daughter of George and Mar- garet (Bertnette) Coltabaugh. After mar- riage Mr. Craven located in Washington town- ship, but later bought his present farm, where he has since resided. The large coal and coke industries of Ernest are located on land which was formerly attached to his place. He is a heavy stockholder in the company controlling these holdings, and their present development is largely due to his business enterprise.

During his residence at Iselin Father Baron has done much toward raising the moral Mr. and Mrs. Craven have had the follow- standards of his congregation, encouraging ing children: Annie M., living with her par- them to the practice of integrity, honesty and ents; Aaron, who married Mary Hinton, and true Christianity, and he is looked up to by is living in White township; and Catherine,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

at home. Mr. Craven is independent in his moved to Carpenter avenue, thence to the political views, believing in electing good men Mitchell building on Philadelphia street, and to office without regard to party ties. He is from there to his present stand, at No. 24 very liberal in his religious ideas, realizing that each man must work out his own plan of salvation. Having always been a man of prominence in his community, he has taken part in many public affairs, and has always maintained the full confidence and respect of his associates.

ANDREW JACKSON SMITH, custom shoemaker, of Indiana, Indiana county, has an up-to-date establishment and is one of the most reliable men in his line in this section. He is a native of the county, born Oct. 27, 1846, at Shelocta, son of Aaron Smith and grandson of Jacob Smith, both of whom were shoemakers. The grandfather died at New Berlin, Union Co., Pennsylvania.

Aaron Smith was born at New Berlin, Union county, but passed the greater part of his life at Shelocta, in Indiana county, follow- ing his trade there. He was married in this county to Elizabeth Woodward, who died at Shelocta, the mother of the following chil- dren : Pauline, Mrs. Kauffman, who is de- ceased; Andrew Jackson; and Edward, now deceased, who was only in his sixteenth year when he entered the service with his brother Andrew during the Civil war. For his sec- ond wife Aaron Smith married Margaret Sharp, and they had three children: J. Sharp, now of Brookville, Pa .; Clarence, of Indiana county, Pa .; and Hugh M. Mr. Smith died Oct. 19, 1898, at the home of Mrs. Kauffman.

Andrew Jackson Smith grew to manhood at Shelocta and there obtained his education in the public schools. He then learned his trade under the instruction of his father, receiving a very thorough training. When in his sev- enteenth year he enlisted for service in the Union army, being one of the youngest sol-

Carpenter avenue. He does custom shoe work, making a specialty of skillful repairing, and his plant is well equipped with modern ma- chinery and tools for carrying on this work in the most approved manner. He has prospered in business by the most commendable meth- ods, and is one of the substantial and respected citizens of the community where he has so long resided.

In 1874 Mr. Smith married Lizzie Myers, of Indiana, daughter of Samuel Myers, his former employer. Mrs. Smith died in 1882, leaving three children: Harry E., who is at home; W. Edward, of Indiana, who is mar- ried to Essie Swarts; and Mabel, at home.

In politics Mr. Smith adheres to the prin- ciples of the Republican party, but takes no active part in public affairs.

REV. GEORGE MACKINNY RYALL, pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church in the bor- ough of Saltsburg, Indiana county, has been serving that congregation since June, 1900. He is an able and tireless worker, and has accomplished much toward bringing the church to its present prosperous condition.

The Ryall family came from New Jersey but has long been settled in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Ryall's paternal grandparents, John and Janet (Bovard) Ryall, were natives of West- moreland county. Moving west to Ashland county, Ohio, they followed farming there, and there reared their family, which consisted of eight children. Grandfather Ryall died at the age of seventy-nine years, his wife living to the age of eighty-seven.

Oliver Bovard Ryall, father of Rev. George M. Ryall, was born June 3, 1835, in Ashland county, Ohio. When a young man he became the representative of a publishing house deal- ing in school books, and while thus engaged diers that went into the field. He was a mem- met his future wife, Margaret A. Lafferty, who ber of Company G, 2d Battalion, 57th Penn- at the time was teaching the Millwood school, sylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving six in Derry township. Westmoreland Co., Pa. months with that command, after which he She was a native of Indiana county, Pa., where her father John Pettit Lafferty was also boru (in 1800), her mother Mary (McCurdy). be- ing a native of Westmoreland county. John Pettit Lafferty was born in 1800 on a farm four miles from Saltsburg, Pa. Early in his married life he moved to Jacksonville, Indiana county, where he engaged in merchandising, was postmaster, and justice of the peace for twenty-five years. It was through his influ- ence that Jacksonville became a borough. He was also one of the promoters of the Jack- reenlisted in Company A, 206th Pennsyl- vania Regiment. Upon his return he went to work at Gettysburg, Indiana county, at his trade, and was employed there until 1867, when he went to Kelleysburg, this county, for a period of three years. He has since been a resident of that borough. He first worked here for Samuel Myers, commencing in busi- ness on his own account in 1885. His orig- inal location was on Philadelphia street, where Jordan's shoe store is at present. Thence he

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

sonville Academy, a famous school in its day, ancestry. In young manhood, he left his na- and served as one of its trustees as long as it tive land for America, and located on a farm near Strattonville, Clarion Co., Pa., where he married a Miss McKinley, of that locality, and to them were born the following children : James, Dina, Mary, Nancy, William, Mar- gret, Joseph, Jane, Robert, and Martha. He remarried after the death of his first wife, and to the second union was born a son, named John. He died Aug. 5, 1861. existed. He died at the age of seventy-four years, his wife at the age of eighty-eight. They had a family of six children. Four chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver B. Ryall: George MacKinny was the eldest; Wallace Wilberforce, born Aug. 17, 1874, in Jacksonville, Indiana county, now engaged in the practice of medicine at Youngstown, Ohio, married Emma Vernon Stewart, of Pittsburg, Robert Ross, son of Robert Ross, and father of John Smith Ross, was born in Clarion county, Pa., June 15, 1825. Owing to the conditions of his time and locality, his educa- tional advantages were limited to those af- forded at the subscription school which he at- tended a few months during the winter season, his time being otherwise occupied with assist- ing his father in the work on the farm. In carly manhood he went to Winslow township, and they have two children, Margaret and Wallace; Janet Annie, born Dec. 26, 1876, at Pittsburg, Pa., is the wife of Harry Woods Grier, who is in the employ of the Second Na- tional Bank of Pittsburg, and they have two children, Janet Ryall and Robert Jeffry ; John Milton, born Oct. 27, 1879, now engaged with the National Life Insurance Company of Ver- mont at Pittsburg, married Catherine P. Stahl, of Homestead, Pa., and has two chil- Jefferson Co., Pa., where he married Polly Mc- dren, John M. and Catherine Elizabeth.

Creight, daughter of Andrew McCreight, a

George MacKinny Ryall was born July 12, pioneer settler of Jefferson county, and be- 1872, in Pittsburg, Pa., and received his early came a farmer and lumberman. In 1864 he sold his farm in Winslow township, and set- tled in East Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pa., where he bought what was known as the John Bovard farm. Here Mr. Ross lived for fourteen years, carrying on farming and stock raising. In 1878 he left the farm, locating in Indiana, where on Nov. 12, 1878, he died ; his remains were interred in Oakland ceme- tery. Twenty-eight years later, on Dec. 26. 1906, his widow died, and her body was in- education there in the Twentieth ward pub- lic school. Later he entered the Central high school, took his collegiate course at Washing- ton and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., in the class of 1895, and prepared for the min- istry at the Western Theological Seminary, North Side, Pittsburg, Pa., graduating in May, 1898. His first call was to West Eliza- beth, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he remained as pastor for three years, from there coming

to Saltsburg in June, 1900. His labors in his terred by his side. From the time of the present field are heavy, the church having a membership of 563, and his intelligent, con- scientious work has won the approbation of all classes in the borough, regardless of de- nomination.

Mr. Ryall was married Sept. 6, 1901, to Katherine Morrison Howard, of Pittsburg, . daughter of William N. and Katherine W. Ross are: Thomas M., born March 5, 1855, Howard, who had a family of five children. Mr. Howard is an iron broker in Pittsburg.

He is the eldest son of Rev. William D. Howard, D. D., for twenty-seven years the well-known and dearly beloved pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Ryall have had one child. William Howard, born Aug. 17, 1904.

JOHN SMITH ROSS, an undertaker and mill owner of Richmond, Indiana county, was born in Winslow township, Jefferson Co., Pa., Feb. 27, 1860.

Robert Ross, grandfather of John Smith Ross, was born in Ireland, but came of Scotch

formation of the Republican party until his demise Mr. Ross heartily supported its prin- ciples and candidates, and was an honorable and upright man, in political as well as busi- ness affairs. The United Presbyterian Church held his membership and received his gener- ons support. The children of Mr. and Mrs.

resides at Mechanicsburg, Pa .: Annie, born Sept. 5, 1857, married James M. McCall, and resides at Falls Creek, Pa .; John Smith was born Feb. 27, 1860; Adda B., born Nov. 10, 1862, married Beniwel Hough, of Prescott- ville, Pa .; and Abram E., born Sept. 25, 1865, resides at DuBois, Pennsylvania.

John Smith Ross, son of Robert and Polly Ross, was but four years of age when the fam- ily came to East Mahoning township, so that he was practically reared in this locality. In young manhood he took up the profession of school teaching, which he followed about twenty years. In 1888, he settled in Rich- mond, Grant township, where he became a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

general merchant in partnership with Josiah Mr. Ross is one of the most progressive men of his township, possessing an unusual degree of ability. A man of domestic tastes, he takes his pleasure in his family circle, and is proud of his home and surroundings. Such a man is a credit to his community and to his own individual efforts. Widdowson, under the firm name of Wid- dowson & Ross. Four years later he became a commercial traveler for George A. Horn & Co., of Newark, N. Y., operating in New York State and Michigan, and was thus en- gaged several years. In 1903 he associated himself with J. C. Weaver; under the name of Weaver & Ross, in an undertaking busi- JAMES SIDWELL GETTY, a farmer and ness, which still continues, and in which he . stock raiser of Conemaugh township, was born has acquired the reputation of being a fun- Feb. 28, 1851, in that township, on the old eral director and embalmer of more than or- homestead of his father, James Getty.

dinary ability. In 1912 Mr. Ross formed a partnership with John A. Nolf, for the pur- pose of buying the Patchen Roller Flouring Mill, now operated under the name of Savan Roller Mills. This plant is equipped with both water and steam power, with a capacity of forty barrels of flour per day. Mr. Ross and his partner are now engaged in operating their milling plant with very gratifying re- sults.

In addition to the activities heretofore men- tioned, Mr. Ross was engaged during the years 1903 and 1904 in leasing and developing the coal interests in South Mahoning township. Indiana Co., Pa., and in Cowanshannock and Plumcreek townships, in Armstrong county, Pa. During this time the Buffalo and Sus- quehanna Company bought on options taken by Mr. Ross over seven thousand acres of coal lands, and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts- burg Company bought 1,734 acres.

Mr. Ross was married (first) in 1891 to Electa L. Widdowson, a daughter of William and Louisa Widdowson, a history of whose family is to be found elsewhere in this work. Two daughters were born to this union: Lu- cile, born Feb. 19, 1896, and Louise, born April 26, 1907. Mrs. Ross died May 17, 1907. In 1912 Mr. Ross married (second) Mrs. Flora (Hamilton) Schrecengost, daughter of Wil- liam and Lena Hamilton, of South Mahoning township. By her first husband, Park Schre- cengost, she had two children, Lena and Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have no children.

Andrew Getty was the great-grandfather of James S. Getty, and was a native of Ire- land.

James Getty, son of Andrew Getty, settled on Blacklegs creek, in Conemaugh township, Indiana Co., Pa., about two miles from Clarks- burg, on a large tract of land opposite the present election house, on the road between Saltsburg and Clarksburg. There he followed farming and stock raising with good results, and rounded out a successful life, at the time of his death holding the full confidence and respect of his associates. He married Pru- dence Green, and they had children as fol- lows: James; Andrew, who married Mar- garet G. Henderson and (second) Jane (Deane) Kelley, widow of Albert Kelley (lie had six children by his first marriage) ; and Catherine, who married Archibald Temple -. ton, a brick manufacturer of Saltsburg.

James Getty, son of James Getty, and father of James S. Getty, was born Jan. 6,

Fraternally Mr. Ross is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, a member of Indiana Lodge, No. 1823, in Conemaugh township, and died June 313, F. & A. M. During all the years of his manhood, he has been a stanch Republican, has served his township in the capacity of school director for nine years and is at pres- ent secretary of the board. Like his father he is a Presbyterian, belonging to the United Presbyterian Church of Richmond, and is serving that body as an elder, while for some time he has been superintendent of the Sab- bath school.

6, 1903. He attended the subscription schools of the period. Before he attained his major- ity he went to Ohio, but returned after a short stay and began boating on the canal, owning in conjunction with John Elder the "Sciota," a section boat. This they ran from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. Mr. Getty being the captain. In 1848 their business had so increased as to justify his buying the Alex Templeton farm. This property comprised 150 acres of good land, and he began oper- ating it as a general farmer and stock raiser. He became interested in the diseases of ani- mals, and studied veterinary surgery under a Mr. Hickey, of Westmoreland county. So skilled did he become that his services were called for by outsiders, and he soon had a large practice, extending over several coun- ties.

When the country had need of his services Mr. Getty enlisted in Company C, 4th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Cavalry. in September, 1864, and served until the close of the war,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

participating in the battles of Hatcher's Run teaching at Saltsburg Extension, after having and Five Forks, besides minor engagements, taught one term in the district schools and one and was present at the surrender at Appo- mattox. term in Lyman county, S. Dak .; Mary El- vira is attending the Indiana normal; Alice Glyndon and Thelma Theodora are attending school.

First a Republican, he later changed his political views and died a Democrat. For many years he was a prominent figure in township affairs, and served as school director, overseer of the poor and supervisor. Until 1890 he continued his farming and profes- sional work, and subsequently lived retired. He was laid to rest beside his wife in Edge- wood cemetery, at Saltsburg, Pennsylvania.

James Getty married Anna Elder Tem- pleton, who was born March 26, 1820, daugh- ter of Alex and Anna (Marshall) Templeton, and died Feb. 23, 1899. They had two chil- dren: Alex Templeton, who was born Nov. 20, 1847, and died Oct. 27, 1863; and James Sidwell.

James Sidwell Getty was born in a log house on his father's homestead and brought up amid primitive conditions that helped to strengthen his character and teach him habits of thrift and industry which have continued with him through life. In boyhood he at- tended the common schools of District No. 8, and later went to Saltsburg academy. Fol- lowing this he taught school for six terms in Conemaugh township. Having earned suffi- cient money, he took a course of one term at the Indiana normal, and a commercial course in the Spencerian business college at Cleve- land, Ohio. Returning home, he taught school from 1880 to 1888 in Conemaugh township, and afterward bought the homestead of his father. During the aged father's last years Mr. Getty and his wife took care of him and made him comfortable with filial devotion. The valuable property owned by Mr. Getty is underlaid with a rich vein of coal, now owned by the Mitchell-Watson Company. Mr. Getty is engaged in farming and stock raising and has met with fair success in most of his ven- tures. A Democrat politically, he has been called upon to serve as school director, and has also been township auditor, assessor and supervisor, administering the affairs of these offices creditably.

On Dec. 23, 1886, Mr. Getty was married to Mary Elizabeth Rose, daughter of George and Incinda (Alter) Rose. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Getty, five of whom survive: Anna May, who is a graduate of the Indiana normal school, class of 1909, is now teaching at Wilmerding, Pa .; Benjamin died in infancy ; Sarah Rose, who was gradu- ated from the Indiana normal in 1911, is now

Mr. Getty has gone into the cultivation of the soil and the kindred lines of work sensibly, with a due appreciation of the relative merits of intensive farming and the utilization of modern machinery. As a result, with but little more outlay, and in less time than be- fore, he is able to accomplish many things that were impossible in the earlier days. In his career he demonstrates that there are as `good, if not better, openings for young men in agricultural sections as in cities, and his example ought to prove beneficial in inducing more men to embrace agriculture as a life calling.

RICHARD WILLIAMS, who is engaged in general farming at Grisemore, in Green township, is a son of William M. Williams, a retired farmer, also living at Grisemore. The Williams family is of Welsh origin and has been settled in this part of Indiana county since the first half of the last century.

Richard W. Williams, great-grandfather of Richard Williams, was born in 1796 on the island of Anglesea, Wales, and came to the United States in 1832, first settling in Madison county, N. Y. He then moved to Pittsburg, Pa., living in Allegheny county for six years, and thence, in 1845, came to Indiana county, settling in Green township, on the place where his grandson William M. Williams now lives. There he remained until his death, in 1876, in his eighty-first year. He was one of the men interested in the establishment of a Welsh Church and Sunday school in the vicinity. By his first wife, Jane (Davis), he had a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, all born in Wales, and all of whom came to this country. For his second wife he married Sarah James, of Pittsburg, a native of Wales, who is deceased.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 38

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