Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 41

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 41

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THOMAS E. HILDEBRAND is engaged in the drug business in Indiana borough, carry- ing on the establishment founded by his father over fifty years ago. It is the oldest drug house in the county. Mr. Hildebrand also has other important interests here, heing cashier of the Indiana County Deposit Bank, with which he has been connected since 1884, and he is one of the most esteemed citizens of the community, where he has passed his en- tire life. He was born at Indiana Feb. 18, 1860, son of William B. and Sarah (Mc- Claran) Hildebrand, and grandson of William Hildebrand. His great-grandfather, John Hildebrand, was of German origin, and mar- ried Elizabeth Swigart. The family has been settled in Pennsylvania from the early days, and has long been identified with Adams county.

descent, who passed all his life here. IIe was an old-line Whig and a very active man in politics in his time, representing the county twice in the State Legislature, and serving two successive terms as register and recorder, to which position he was first elected in 1842. He was a strict Presbyterian in religions con- nection, and a man whose high principles were apparent in all his actions. Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrand had seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: Thomas E., Gertrude, Frank, Walter, William M., Mary and Elizabeth. Mrs. Hildebrand was, like her husband, a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Thomas E. Hildebrand grew to manhood in the borough of Indiana, and had the advant- ages afforded by the common schools and the State normal school. All of his business life he has been connected with the drug store, where he began as his father's assistant, after his father's death purchasing the store and taking entire charge of the business. In 1889 lie tore down the old building and replaced it with a substantial three-story brick building. 21 by 75 feet in dimensions, specially equip- ped and arranged for the conduct of the busi- ness. It is located on Philadelphia street. Mr. Hildebrand has always prided himself on having a complete and reliable stock of drugs, and being himself a skillful druggist knows the needs of his trade, to which he caters most successfully. He has kept up his wide circle of patrons, and indeed has added perceptibly to the extent of his business throughout his long career.

William B. Hildebrand was born in 1825 in Adams county, Pa., and in 1853 removed to Indiana borough, where he lived from that time until his death. He became a prominent and useful citizen of that place, establishing the drug business now conducted by his son, and in other connections identifying himself In 1884 Mr. Hildebrand began his connec- tion with the Indiana County Deposit Bank as teller, and he is now cashier, which position he has held since Feb. 26, 1907. He has taken considerable interest in the local government and public affairs generally, and he is a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Indiana (Pa.) State normal school. He is a Republi- can in political connection. Mr. Hildebrand has long been a member of the Cosmopolitan Club of Indiana. His intelligence and public spirit entitle him to rank among the most valuable men in his section. actively with the best interests of the bor- ough. In 1876, as a tribute to his recognized ability and high personal worth, he was elected secretary of the State normal school located at Indiana, and continued to serve in that position, being annually reelected, until his death, which occurred in 1886, when he was in his sixty-first year. In every relation of life he was known as a man of the highest integrity and honorable methods. He took no active part in politics, though he was a public-spirited citizen and a stanch Republic- an, but in all other causes in which he was interested did his share toward advancing the ELMER E. HEILMAN, M. D., has been engaged in the general practice of medicine principles they represented. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Indiana, at Hillsdale, Indiana Co., Pa., for almost and served ten years as trustee. In 1859 Mr. twenty years, having settled there at once Hildebrand married Sarah McClaran, who upon his graduation from medical school. He

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

is a native of Armstrong county, Pa., born Christian Keck, a soldier of the war of 1812, Nov. 23, 1867, son of Reuben and Mary (Ever- hart) Heilman, farming people. Dr. Heil- man's father and grandfather were also born in Armstrong county.

Dr. Heilman obtained his preliminary edu- cation in the public schools, and was with his father working on the farm and in the mer- cantile business for several years during his young manhood. Entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., he completed his course there in 1893, and the same year came to Hillsdale, where he has found a congenial field of labor. Personally and professionally he has a high reputation, and he has built up a creditable practice, his sincere interest in his patients and unflagging attention to their needs winning him friend- ship as well as confidence wherever he goes. He is a member of the Indiana County Med- ical Society.

On Oct. 8, 1896, Dr. Heilman married Morna Lee Pittman, of Hillsdale, daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Harriet J. (Barbour) Pitt- man, and they have one child, Virginia Irm- ingarde Lee. Dr. Pittman came to Hillsdale in 1863.

EVERHART. The Everhart family of Arm- strong county, to which Dr. Heilman belongs in the maternal line, were among the early settlers west of the Allegheny mountains. The Doctor's great-great-grandfather Ever- hart was born in Germany and came with his parents to this country. His son, Christian Everhart, came in an early day from Hunting- don county, Pa., to Westmoreland county, and frequently had to leave his farm to seek safety from the Indians, taking refuge in a neighbor- ing fort. He served in the war of 1812. HIe was an elder in the Lutheran Church, and died in Franklin township, Westmoreland county, at the age of sixty-six years. He mar- ried Mary Snyder.

Henry Everhart, son of Christian and Mary (Snyder) Everhart, was horn in 1808. In 1847 he moved from Westmoreland county to Feb. 17, 1817, in his seventy-second year, and Kittanning township, Armstrong county, was buried in Ebenezer cemetery. He became where he passed the remainder of his life, a very prominent man in the community

dying Oct. 1, 1888. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, a good worker and thrifty manager, and became one of the substantial and re- spected residents of his section. He held vari- ous public offices in his township. In politics he was a Democrat, in religious connection an earnest member of the Lutheran Church, and served it many years in the capacity of elder. He married Susan Keck, who was born Nov. 25, 1810, in Mercer county, Pa., daughter of

who was born in Mercer county and died there in 1854, at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Susan (Keck) Everhart died in Kittanning township April 24, 1875, a member of the Lutheran Church, Mr. and Mrs. Everhart had a family of six children, of whom Mrs. Mary. (Everhart) Heilman, mother of Dr. Heilman, was one.

JACK. The Jack family has been repre- sented for four generations in Blacklick town- ship, Indiana county, where William B. Jack is now engaged in farming and prominent in various local interests. The following is taken from a history of his ancestors written mostly by William Jack, M. D., of Allegheny, Pa., several years before his death. (Dr. Jack's account was written about thirty years ago .- 1912.)

James Jack lived and died in Cumberland county, Pa. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Carahan, both died and were buried near Newville, that county. They had thirteen children, four sons and nine daugh- ters, namely : Patrick, James, John, Andrew, Jane (married John Cooper), Ellen (married James Scroggs), Polly (married John Her- ron), Betsy (married William McFarland), Peggy (married William Clark), Nancy (married James McCombs), Cynthia (mar- ried James Hemphill), Hannah (married James Wills) and Jemima (married Thomas Dunlap ).

Patrick Jack, great-grandfather of William B. Jack, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was born in Cumberland county, Pa. (son of James and Jane Carahan Jack), and there married his first wife, Margaret Bryant, and about the year 1786 he moved to West- moreland county, settling near Mount Pleas- ant. Then he came to the southern part of Indi- ana county, Pa., in 1791, settling on a farm on Aultman's run in Blacklick township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died

where he resided, was one of the first ruling elders of Ebenezer congregation in Indiana county, a leading man in the church, upright in his dealings, and a wise counselor. For his second wife he married the Widow Watson, and his third marriage was to Mrs. Margaret Leslie (or Lesley), who died without issue, before him. The second and third wives are also buried at Ebenezer. There was one child by the first marriage, called James after his

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

grandfather; and one by the second marriage, battle of Fair Oaks, dying as the result of his injuries. He was buried in Cypress Hill cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Anna, who married John Henderson. Many years ago John Henderson moved from Penn- sylvania to what was then called the Far West, settling on a farm near Marysville, the county seat of Union county, Ohio. His youngest child, William, still lived on that old farm when this article was written. Mrs. Anna Henderson died at the age of eighty-two. She and her husband had ten children, of whom Andrew died when a child. The others were: Joseph, John, Samuel, David W. (a physi- cian), William, Margaret, Saralı Ann, Levinia and Mary. Dr. David W. Henderson practiced medicine in Marysville, Ohio, until his death.

James Jack, son of Patrick Jack by his first wife, was born on Christmas night, 1779, in Cumberland county, moved thence with the family to Mt. Pleasant township, Westmore- land county, and was a boy of eleven years when, in 1791, he came to the farm on Ault- man's run in Blacklick township, in southern Indiana county, Pa., formerly a part of West- moreland county. There he lived and died, his death occurring in August, 1861, when he was eighty-one years of age. He was buried at Ebenezer. He and all his family were members of the Ebenezer Church, to the sup-

(2) Jane Jack, second child of James Jack, married Samuel C. Hazlett, a farmer, dealer in horses, stock, etc., and had a family of four children, three sons and one daughter: James J., who was an eminent attorney of Greens- burg, Pa .; John Leslie, who resided at Indi- ana, Pa .; Mary Agnes, married to John Welsh, of Latrobe, Pa .; and Judge Alfred Hazlett, of Beatrice, Nebraska.

(3) Esther Kennedy Jack, third child of James Jack, married William C. Marshall, of Clarksburg, Indiana county. Of the large family born to them only one son, Theodore, and one daughter, Ella, wife of Armour Cribbs, survive. Three of the sons, James, Scott and Theodore, were in the Union army during the Civil war. Lydia married D. M. Reed, of Hiawatha, Kans. The fourth son lived on the home farm until his death.

(4) James McComb Jack, fourth child of James Jack, was born June 15, 1825, on Ault- man's run in Blacklick township, where he resided with his parents, growing to manhood on the home farm and assisting his father in its cultivation. He followed farming and port of which he contributed liberally, and he stock raising all his life, residing on the old

was known for his charity and generosity in farm which has been in the family for so many years and a part of which came into his possession upon the death of his father. Mr. Jack took a conspicuous part in local affairs, serving the township many years as school director, and was one of the most highly regarded citizens of his neighborhood, beloved and respected by all who knew him. He was a Republican in politics and in reli- gious connection a member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, which he served as elder. He and his wife Elizabeth are buried in the Ebenezer cemetery. all worthy causes. One of the progressive agriculturists of his day in his section of In- diana county, he cleared and improved the tract of about four hundred acres which he inherited. He married Mary Alcorn, daugh- ter of James and Esther (Kennedy) Alcorn, and she survived him, being ninety-three years old at the time of her death. Although she was only three or four years old at the time, she recollected the circumstances of her mother's capture by the Indians while out digging potatoes in a patch some distance from the cabin in which the family resided, in the Mr. Jack was twice married. His first wife, Emma Noyes, from the State of Maine, was a music teacher in the Blairsville Female Sem- inary for some years previous to her marriage. Allegheny mountains. James and Mary (Alcorn) Jack had eight children, three sons and five daughters, who lived to maturity, one son and one daughter dying in childhood. We .Several children were born to this union, but have the following record of this family :

all died in infancy. For his second wife James McComb Jack married, June 11, 1868. Elizabeth Fulton, of Westmoreland county, daughter of Moses Fulton, formerly of West- moreland county, Pa. A few years before her father and mother died they resided near the village of Livermore, in Indiana county. Five children were born to this marriage, four sons and one daughter: (1) Fulton, born

(1) Margaret Jack married Marshall Shields, and died in 1865, about the close of the Civil war, survived by one son and one daughter, William C. and Virginia Antoin- etta. Her eldest child, Milton, died in child- hood, of whooping cough, and was buried in the old cemetery at Saltsburg, Pa. The sec- ond child, James Jack Shields, enlisted with his father in the 105th Regiment, Pennsyl- June 17, 1869, was graduated from Wash- vania Volunteers, and was wounded at the ington and Jefferson College in the class

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of 1892, studied law, was admitted to the bar For eleven years he has been township aud- at Beatrice, Nebraska, in 1895, and continues itor, and he has taken a prominent part in the administration of all local affairs. He is a Republican, and has served on the town- ship committee of his party. Like many mem- bers of the family he is a leading member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. to practice his profession there. He married Angie L. Pollock, and they reside at Beatrice, Nebraska. They have three children, Fulton, Jr., Elizabeth and Mary Josephine. (2) Will- iam Bryant is mentioned below. (3) James P., born in May, 1872, married Mrs. Henriette Harrison. (4) Frank, born Jan. 28, 1874, died in September, 1889. (5) Mary Agnes, born Jan. 12, 1877, graduated from Grove City College in the class of 1900, and has since followed teaching. She spends her vacations with her brother William on the home farm.

(5) John Henderson Jack, fifth child of James Jack, married Mary Reed, of Clarks- burg. He died in 1897.

(6) Mary Ann Jack, sixth child of James which he is treasurer.

Jack, resided at the old homestead until her death, March 16, 1912.

Mr. Calhoun was born April 11, 1862, in West Lebanon, Young township, Indiana est ancestor in America was one of four

(7) Eliza Jack, seventh child of James Jack, county, and is of Irish extraction. IIis earli- died in the year 1876.

James Calhoun, grandfather of William R. Calhoun, died in Armstrong township, Indi- ana Co., Pa. He was a farmer hy occupation.

(8) William Jack, youngest child in the brothers who came from Ireland to this coun- family of James Jack, became a physician and try. surgeon. He served three years as surgeon in the Civil war, and then located in the village of Jacksonville, Indiana Co., Pa., near his old

birthplace, where he became acquainted with His wife, Nancy (Robinson), also died there. and married Mary J. Bruce. In 1875 he Alexander Harvey Calhoun, father of Will- iam R. Calhoun, lived in Armstrong town- ship, Indiana county, and was a wagonmaker by occupation. Later he located at West Leb- anon, in Young township. and he died at Blairsville, this county, Jan. 28. 1901. Mr. Calhoun served his country as a private in the Union army for twenty-four months dur- moved to the city of Allegheny, where he con- tinued to reside until his death, in December, 1892. He built up a fine practice there and won many warm friends. Dr. and Mrs. Jack had four children: William Bruce, who died in 1890; Mary Blanche, who died when two years old ; Emma Josephine, who died in 1901, wife of William Speedy; and James Arthur, ing the Civil war, enlisting twice, the second who died some time after his father.

time in the 206th Regiment, Pennsylvania

WILLIAM BRYANT JACK, son of James Mc- Volunteer Infantry. He married Mary Ann Henry, who survives him, and to them were born children as follows: William R .; Alma, Mrs. R. S. Coulter, of West Lebanon; Nancy, Mrs. W. J. North, of Blairsville; Lillian, un- married ; Oscar, of Blairsville, and Carrie, who is unmarried.

Comb and Elizabeth (Fulton) Jack, was born Sept. 30, 1870. in Blackliek township, and there obtained his early education in the dis- triet schools, later becoming a student at the Eldersridge Academy. Then he taught school for two years in Blacklick and Young townships before settling down to farming

William R. Calhoun attended public school

with his father on the farm which had been at West Lebanon, and later took a course at originally brought into the family by his the Curry business college, in Pittshurg, Pa. Learning the carpenter's trade, he followed it for a number of years. In 1894 he became a clerk in the office of the county prothonotary. and continued to serve as such for six years, in fact until he himself assumed the duties of prothonotary, to which office he was first elected in the fall of 1899. He was reelected at the end of his first term, in 1902, and thus

great-grandfather. The house built by his grandfather is still in first-class condition and in use. Mr. Jack helped his father with the farm work until the latter died, and he is now the owner of the home place of 136 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Telephone Company of Blacklick Township, being a citizen of broad public spirit and farsighted- filled the position for six consecutive years, ness in matters affecting the general welfare. giving high satisfaction to all concerned. Af-

WILLIAM R. CALHOUN, of Indiana, is a widely known citizen of Indiana county, which he served for six years in the capacity of prothonotary, from 1900 to 1906. He had previously served for a similar period as clerk in the office. Since his retirement from of- ficial life he has been engaged in business in the borough, being at present connected with the Penn Enamel Sink Company, of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ter his retirement from the office he spent six months in California, and upon his return to Indiana embarked in the insurance busi- ness. In October, 1911, he became associated with the Penn Enamel Sink Company, of which he is now treasurer. This is one of the progressive business concerns of Indiana. The product is white enamel kitchen sinks and similar goods, and its quality, which is equal to that of any concern in the country, has en- abled the company to compete in this locality with many larger organizations. The main office and works are at Indiana, Pa. Mr. Cal- houn is an able and energetic business man, a valuable member of the company, and does his full share in promoting its interests.

On July 18, 1900, Mr. Calhoun married Annie McCormick, of Blairsville, Pa., daugh- ter of the late William and Eliza McCormick, of Blairsville, and they have had one child, W. Carl.

Mr. Calhoun is a member of the I. O. O. of stones, and an overshot wheel sixteen feet F. and Woodmen of the World, and in re- ligious connection of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican in political mat- ters.

JAMES G. FINDLEY (deceased), for many years a highly esteemed resident of East Wheatfield township, Indiana county, where by reason of his ability, integrity and intelligence he held a prominent place among his fellow citizens, was a native of that town- ship and a descendant of George Findley, its earliest settler.

them, and that Mr. Findley was wounded through the left arm, but escaped, while the boy was captured by the savages and scalped, the Indians leaving the body along the run which adjoins the homestead. Mr. Findley settled permanently on this farm with his family as soon as conditions made it safe to do so, and continued to make his home there, althoughi frequently obliged to seek shelter at Fort Ligonier or Palmer's Fort. Here this brave pioneer rounded out his useful life, becoming interested along various lines, for in 1784-85the built a gristmill which is sup- posed to have been the second in the county, and in 1788 he added a sawmill to his plant. The first structure was a small, rude log mill, using a ten-foot undershot wheel, and had only one run of stones. The second was worn out in 1817 and was then using a breast wheel, and it too had only one run of stones. The third was erected in 1817 and had two runs

in diameter. Mr. Findley cleared off much of his land, and was noted for his energy and industrious habits; his thrift made possible the accumulation of a comfortable fortune. His death occurred on the farm he had re- deemed from the wilderness Sept. 7, 1814, when he was fifty-eight years old; his re- mains were interred on the homestead. His wife, Elizabeth, also died there, and is buried by his side. They were married near Hagers- town, Md. The children born to this worthy couple were: James, born in Franklin coun- ty, Pa., Dec. 16, 1777; Isabelle, born in Ha- gerstown, Md., who married Andrew Reyn- olds; and Elizabeth, born Jan. 28, 1784, who married in 1806 Archibald Mathews, and set- tled on a portion of her father's farm.

George Findley is supposed to have been of Scotch origin. He crossed the mountains and located in the Pumroy and Wilson settlement, in what is now Derry township, Westmore- land county, in 1764. The following year he James Findley, son of George, came to what is now East Wheatfield township with his parents when eight years old, and was there reared to manhood. During the war of 1812 he gave his country brave service and assisted in the construction of Fort Meigs. Like his father he was a farmer and miller, and spent his useful life in East Wheatfield township, where he died May 30, 1837; he was interred in the family burial ground on the farm, where a headstone still marks his last resting was spoken of May 29, 1769, as the "Findley place. The remains of the old mill which be- longed to him is still to be seen at Cramer. crossed the Conemaugh river to what is now East Wheatfield township, settling on a tract of land now owned by George H. Mathews, which comprised 200 acres of land. The selec- tion was "tomahawked," but his rights were as valid in those days as if he had gone through the more complicated methods now necessary. His visits to his land were as fre- quent and his stay each time as long as the troublesome times would permit. His home cabbins," in some application warrants of that year. When the Revolutionary war broke out On Jan. 1, 1812, James Findley married Permelia Dill, who was born in 1792 near the present site of Dilltown, Buffington town- ship, daughter of Matthew Dill and grand- daughter of Col. Matthew Dill, Jr., who was he had a clearing of about ten acres, on which his cabin stood. There is a tradition in the family that when he visited his future home with a bound boy named George Farmer, to look after some cattle, the Indians surprised colonel of a regiment in the Revolutionary

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

war. The children of James Findley and his Findley, was drowned, and her body was wife were: George, born Nov. 16, 1812; Ann, never recovered. One daughter, Essie, wife born Sept. 19, 1814, who married William R. of Jolin A. Keiper, and her infant son were Dill; Mary Jane, born March 30, 1816, who married Robert McCormack; Permelia, born July 11, 1818, married to William Wolf; James G., born May 19, 1820; Rebecca, born July 4, 1822, who married John Goddard; A. Mathews, born April 14, 1825; Eliza Jane, born June 16, 1827, who married Samuel McCune ; and Harriet A., born Sept. 28, 1829.

In his boyhood James G. Findley followed farming with his parents. Subsequently he learned the trade of millwright, in the pur- suit of which calling he became very well known, being considered the most skillful tradesman in his line throughout this section. He also did carpenter work, contracting and building, and was a reliable and conscientious workman. He was prominent in local affairs, serving as justice of peace of East Wheatfield township, and was also active iu church work. He built a small church at his own expense, where he held Bible class, prayer meetings, and Sunday school. He was a great reader and Bible student, being remarkable for his excellent memory, and will long be remem- bered for his many deeds of charity. During the war of the Rebellion, 1861-65, he joined the 83d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. In the year 1850 Mr. Findley married Phoebe Burkhart, who was born Aug. 5, 1828, in Jack- son township, Cambria county, daughter of Joseph and Ester (Goughenour) Burkhart, and a descendant of one of the earliest set- tlers of Cambria county. They had a family of twelve children, all born in Buffington town- ship, viz .: Alice, who died in infancy ; George, who died when twenty-one years old; Carrie, who married John H. Downing, and

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 41

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