Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 51

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 51

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David Ober, the maternal grandfather of Clark B. Widdowson, was born in Fayette county, Pa., and during the early days came to Indiana county, where he engaged in work- ing at his trade of plasterer and bricklayer, being so employed until his death, which oc- curred in Cherryhill.

Clark B. Widdowson attended public school in Cherryhill township, and as a lad followed farming. At the age of thirty-eight years, having decided upon a mercantile career in preference to an agricultural life, he came to Penn Run and established himself in the gen- eral merchandise business which he has since developed into the largest of its kind in Penn Run.

now living: Mary E., the wife of David Pol- lack, a resident of Grant township; Frank, who lives at Dixonville, Green township; Jen- nie, wife of Newton Barber, of Green town- ship; Grant, who lives in Chicago, Ill .; Mar- garet Anna, who married Mr. Widdowson; Melborn, a resident of Punxsutawney, Pa .; and Harvey, also living at Punxsutawney.

Mr. and Mrs. Widdowson have five children, namely : Jennie O., who married Earl Simp- tion. His death occurred July 25, 1910, while son, of Cherryhill township; and Mary, Susie, Ada and William, who live with their par- ents. Mr. Widdowson, with his wife and chil- dren, attends the Church of the Brethren.

SAMUEL WILSON EVANS, deceased, was born in Brushvalley township, this county, in March, 1839, a son of William Evans.

Hugh Evans, his grandfather, was born in Wales, and came to the United States in early manhood on the same vessel as his future wife although when they set out on the voyage they were not acquainted. Owing to a crippling of the crew on account of severe storms, the passengers were pressed into the service, and during the many weeks of the passage friend- ships were formed which in one case at least deepened into love. Hugh Evans married his fair fellow passenger and they settled in Brushvalley township, Indiana Co., Pa., where he became a heavy land owner. In addition to looking after his land he built a flourmill, manufactured woolen goods, and was a lumberman, operating his large inter- ests profitably and developing into one of the dominant men of his time and locality.

As his sons grew older he gave them farms. He died greatly respected by all who knew him. The children of his first marriage were: Hugh, Evan, James, John, William, Ann, Mary and Elisabeth. After the mother died he married Hettie Cresswell, by whom lie had Ellen, Rebecca and Lucy (wife of Rev. A. B. Runyan).

William A. Evans, father of Samuel W. Evans, spent the greater portion of his life on the property given him by his father, com- prising a portion of the homestead in Brush- valley township. A man of principle, he was a pioneer in prohibiting the use of whiskey

On Jan. 3, 1888, Mr. Widdowson was mar- ried to Margaret Anna Hess, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., Sept. 24, 1866. daugh- ter of George and Mary (Heflick) Hess. Mrs. Widdowson's parents were early settlers of Indiana county, where her father followed the trade of blacksmith until the outbreak of at any gathering of men at his home, when it the Civil war, at that time enlisting in the was the general custom to serve whiskey to Union service. On his return from the all workers, and when on raising his barn he army he retired from active life, so living un- made known to the men his principle they at

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

first refused to go on with the work, but when born in that township, Jan. 2, 1844, son of they understood that it was withheld on ac. David Thompson. count of conscientious scruples they good- The first of this family in Indiana county was John Thompson, known as "drover John," who married Mary Cain. To their union were born the following children: John; Rosanna, who married William Hanna; Sarah, who married William Hopkins; Mar- garet, who married John Crusan; William, who married Mary Brady; George C., who married Elizabeth Davis; and Robert. naturedly went ahead, honoring him for this proof of his strength of character. In 1833 or 1834 he married Susan Wilkins, a woman of Scotch-Irish descent, also a native of Brush- valley township, and to them were born the following children: John, a surgeon in Com- pany H, 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, during the Civil war, who afterward practiced medicine in Homer City until his John Thompson, son of John and Mary (Cain) Thompson, was a farmer of Blacklick township, where his life was spent. He mar- death; Andrew Wilkins, who died at his home at Washington, D. C., in 1911; Samuel

W .; William A., who lives at Reed station; ried Eleanor Davis, and had children : John; Mrs. Nancy Rhodes, deceased; Mrs. Sue Mc -. William; George; James; David; Samuel, Cormick, of Indiana; Elisabeth, who died in early life; and George, who resided until his death on a farm which is the present site of Lucerne, this county. who married Sarah Clawson; Christopher, who settled in Clarion county, Pa .; Jane, wife of Adam Creamer; and Margaret, wife of Dr. John Bennett, a prominent physician of Erie,

Samuel Wilson Evans grew to manhood in Pennsylvania.

Brushvalley township, and was engaged in

David Thompson, son of John and Eleanor farming when President Lincoln issued his (Davis) Thompson, was born Jan. 24, 1815. first call for troops, to which he responded by enlisting in a company made up of boys from Brushvalley and Wheatfield townships, under Captain Bolar. They were assigned to the 12th P. V. I., and he served three years. At the close of the war he returned to his farm in Brushvalley, where he lived until within a few years of his death, finally retiring to In- diana, Pa., where he passed away Sept. 26, 1908. In his younger days he worked on the Penn- sylvania canal, first as mule driver on the tow- path from Pittsburg to Johnstown. Later he was employed as bowman and still later as steersman. He subsequently took up farming on a tract of 100 acres near Muddy run, now owned by his son John D. Thompson, and also engaged in stock raising, etc. In time he added twenty-five acres to his original pur- chase, and he made extensive improvements On Oct. 27, 1874, Mr. Evans married Sarah Elliott, a native of Armagh, Indiana county. From boyhood, Mr. Evans was a Presbyter- ian, and he always gave that congregation loyal and generous support. Politically he was a stanch Republican, as were many of the men who risked their lives in fighting for the principles upon which the Republican party was founded, but he did not care for public office. Joining G. A. R. Post No. 144, of Me- chanicsburg, he took great pleasure in meet- ing his old comrades, and by them was made commander of the post, which office he held for years. He and his wife became the par- ents of three children : Margaret, Nellie and Mary. A man of principle, Mr. Evans al- ways lived up to his convictions of right and wrong. The name of Evans is linked with much of the history of Indiana county, and its representatives have ever been found worthy of their name. on his farm. He was noted for his industry and thrifty habits, and all of the large family he raised reflect credit on him, being citizens of standing and integrity. He died on his farm Nov. 20, 1867, and was buried in Hope- well cemetery. Mr. Thompson was interested in politics and a Democrat in his views, but took no active part in public life. He mar- ried Nancy Clawson, who was born July 6, 1823, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Done- heu) Clawson, and died April 25, 1905; she was buried in Hopewell cemetery. She was a devoted wife and mother, a woman of strong Christian character. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson : Mary Ann married Wellington Spires, of Blacklick town- ship ; John D. is mentioned below ; Ellen, born in 1845, died in 1881, unmarried; Sarah Jane married Albert Donahey and died in Arm- strong county ; Margaret married Columbus Repine and resides in Burrell township, In- diana county; Ruth married Milton L. Cun-

JOHN D. THOMPSON, veteran of the ningham, of Clarksburg, Pa .; Samuel is a Civil war and one of the well-known farmers resident of Blairsville; Elmer, who was for- of Blacklick township, Indiana county, was merly sheriff of Indiana county, resides in

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Blairsville; Rachel is the widow of Robert Armstrong county, Pa., Sept. 17, 1858, a son Repine and resides in Blairsville; Matilda of Stephen and Nancy (Graham) Hileman. married Thomas C. Smith and resides in The paternal grandfather, Frederick Hileman, Clarksburg; one died in infancy.

John D. Thompson, son of David and Nancy (Clawson) Thompson, attended school in his native township and worked with his parents. until he was nineteen years of age. It was then, in 1863, that he went west, to Rock Island county, Ill., where he became engaged in teaming, receiving a dollar a day for his services. While there he enlisted, in 1864, in the 9th Illinois Cavalry, Company C, under Colonel Hatch and Captain Smith, and served one year, being mustered out at Selma, Ala. From there he returned to Illinois, where he continued to work until 1866, coming back to the homestead on account of the illness of his father. His father dying a year later, he took charge of the farm, where he has remained ever since, carrying on general farming and stock raising. He made a great many im- provements on the property, including the erection of a barn and the present dwelling, and his progressive disposition and enterprise are apparent in all he undertakes. By hard work and foresight he has succeeded in attain- ing a creditable position, financially and per- sonally. He takes a deep interest in his town- ship and county, being always ready to sup- port anything for the general good. A Demo- crat in politics, he has taken considerable in- terest in party affairs and public life, and has filled the office of assessor continuously since 1897. He has also been school director for one term. He is a leading member of the Hopewell M. E. Church, which he serves as trustee, and was a member of the building committee. By virtue of his Civil war serv- ice he holds membership in the G. A. R., belonging to Findley Post.

In 1888 Mr. Thompson married Lettica Lawrence, a native of Blacklick township, sis- ter of William Stewart Lawrence, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Thompson is a member of Hopewell M. E. Church. One child has come to this union, Albert J., born Jan. 1, 1889. He was educated in the town- ship, and from early boyhood has worked with his father on the farm, being now in partner- ship with him. He is a member of Hope- well M. E. Church, and in politics a Repub- lican. He married Nov. 8, 1911, Margaret E. Hill, who was born in Burrell township, this county, daughter of James P. and Lottie Hill.

JAMES M. HILEMAN, a dairyman of White township, Indiana county, was born in

was one of the earliest settlers of Armstrong county.

Stephen Hileman, son of Frederick, was horn in Armstrong county, where he resided until his death, which occurred March 5, 1913, when he was aged eighty-seven years, five days. All his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Hileman came of stock that settled in Armstrong county at an early date. She died in September, 1896, the mother of six children: Margaret, who married John Rupert, of Armstrong county; William, who resides in Kittanning township, Armstrong county ; Frederick, who resides at Wilkins- burg, Pa .; James M .; Laura, who married Madison Walker of Rockville, Pa .; and Cham- hers, who resides at Garretts Run, in Manor township, Armstrong Co., Pennsylvania.

James M. Hileman worked on his father's farm during his younger days, and at the same time attended the local schools. In 1884 he came to Indiana county to engage in farming, and fifteen years ago he began spe- cializing on dairying. In 1901 he located on his present farm, which is well adapted for dairy purposes, and here he keeps fifty cows and twenty head of young cattle. The head of his herd, Prince, a registered Holstein, is one of the best in the county, weighing 1,608 pounds. He also has one of the largest cows in. the county, which has a capacity of eight gallons per day. The capacity of his herd is one hundred gallons of milk per day. In 1909 Mr. Hileman built his present splendid dairy barn, which is the exponent of the latest ideas in sanitary architecture, and complies in every way with State regulations.

On April 26, 1882, Mr. Hileman was mar- ried to Mary Campbell, a native of Butler county, Pa., daughter of John and Esther (Kealer) Campbell, both now deceased. The father was born in Butler and the mother in Armstrong county. Thirty-six years ago Mr. Campbell came to Indiana county, and bought a farm here, upon which he resided until his death, March 20, 1909; his wife passed away in June, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were the parents of nine children: Herchel, who is deceased ; Jane, who is the wife of J. D. Dickie, of White township; W. B., a resident of Vandergrift, Pa .; Mary, who married James M. Hileman ; Freeman, deceased ; Nan- nie, who married Albert Herr; Annie, who married Clymer Heilman, of Indiana county ;

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Elmer, who lives in Indiana, Pa .; and Ansley, township, where he became a large land who resides at Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

Mr. and Mrs. Hileman became the parents of the following children : Lenus, who re- sides at Ford City, Pa., married Marion Ma- han, of Indiana county, and they have one child, Mary Alice; Mabel, who is deceased, was the wife of Harry Clawson and they had three children, Royden, Mary and Lyndale ; Harriet is at home; Esther, at home; James, at home; Harry is deceased; Hazel, at home, is studying at the Indiana State normal school; Nancy is deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Hileman belong to the Metho- dist Church. For about nine years Mr. Hile- man has been a school director, and he has served as secretary of the board for some time. Fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World and is as popular in this connection as he is elsewhere, for he is a man who has many friends who admire him for his busi- ness acumen and excellent traits of character.

JOHN W. MORROW, M. D., of Marchand, is not only one of the most highly esteemed physicians in that section of Indiana county, but also one of its most popular citizens per- sonally. He has been closely associated with local interests throughout his long period of residence there, and has done his full share in starting and supporting movements for the general welfare and advancement. He was born in that part of the county, in South Ma- the South Penn Oil Company, embracing the honing township, son of David and Margaret (Lytle) Morrow, and grandson of John Mor- row.

John Morrow was a native of County Down, Ireland. In 1812 he came to Indiana county, Pa., where he settled at West Lebanon, in Young township, later in life removing to Armstrong county, where he died. He was an ardent Presbyterian. He married Mar- garet Gillespie, and their children were: An- drew, who married Mary Cochrane and after her death Isabella Rankin; James, who mar- ried Mary Meaner; William who married Martha Hutchinson; Martha, who mar- ried John Marshall and survived him; Eliza- beth, wife of Abel Stewart; John, who married Margaret Gibson: Margaret, who married Thomas Ormand; Nancy, who married Samuel Lytle; Wilson, who married Margaret Stu- chel; and David. Martha and Elizabeth were the last two survivors of the family.

Dr. Morrow's maternal grandfather, Robert Lytle, was born at Chambersburg, Pa., April 9, 1779, and died in West Mahoning township, Indiana county, May 4, 1867. His wife died April 9, 1864. He came to West Mahoning

holder. He was an elder in the United Pres- byterian Church. He was connected with the "underground railroad" and helped many slaves to reach Canada. He married a Miss Lytle (no relation) and their children were: William, who married Sarah Reed; Elizabeth; Robert, who married Eliza Smith (one of Rob- ert's sons became a missionary in India) ; Al- exander, who married Mary Smith ; John, who married Lovina Reed; Samuel, who married Nancy Morrow; Thomas, who married Rachel Miller; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of John S. Marshall; Mary, who died in her sec- ond year; Margaret, Mrs. David Morrow; Kc- turah, who married Thomas Watt; and Jane.

David Morrow was born in 1807 and died Jan. 6, 1852, in South Mahoning township. He lived for several years with Rev. John Hyndman, who gave him a good education, and he taught school for several terms. Pur- chasing a farm he resided there until his death. Politically he was a Whig and aboli- tionist, and took an active part in political af- fairs, serving a term of five years as justice of the peace, to which office he was reelected. He was a United Presbyterian in religion. He married Margaret Lytle, and their children were: Jane; Catherine, wife of Jesse Wil- liamson ; Robert, deceased ; Thomas, who mar- ried Nancy Stewart; Dr. John W. ; and David, now field manager of the middle division for

counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Venango, who married Clara Cochrane. Af- ter her husband's death Mrs. Margaret Mor- row married John D. Laney, whom she sur- vived over twenty years, returning to the home farm and living for a number of years with her son Thomas. From July 3, 1906, she made her home with her daughter Jane and her younger sister on the farm of her son Dr. John W. Morrow, dying Jan. 5, 1909, at the age of eighty-seven years, the last survivor of her father's family of twelve children. She was buried at Plumville, in the Beracha ceme- tery, beside her first husband, her funeral ser- vices being conducted by Rev. R. McGill, of Homer City. Five of the children of her union with Mr. Morrow survive, as well as six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

John W. Morrow obtained his early educa- tion in the public schools. He worked as an oil well driller and taught school for several terms to secure the means to attend Dayton Academy, one at Perrysville, Jefferson county, one in South Mahoning township, Indiana county, and two in Armstrong township, this

John At Mono

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

county. For two years he read medicine with John Henrich Risinger, Daniel Risinger and Dr. Christopher McEwen, of Plumville, and John Risinger. A full account of the earlier in 1871 entered Jefferson Medical College, generations will be found elsewhere in this from which he was graduated March 11, 1874. work. He had returned to Indiana county after his first term there and practiced for eighteen months at Marchand, going back to school Sept. 8, 1873. After graduation he returned to Marchand, where he has since practiced with the exception of his periods of service in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

He is a Republican and in 1890 was nomi- nated and elected as the candidate of his party, for the Legislature, by a majority of nine hundred over his closest competitor. He served in the session of 1891, and again in 1897, having been reelected in 1896. During his last term, in 1897, he was elected chairman of the committee on Public Health and Sani- tation. He made the last speech in the legis- lative chamber of the old State capitol at Harrisburg while the roof was burning, and shortly after he had finished the roll was called and the Legislature was dismissed ; the build- ing was destroyed.

Dr. Morrow has acquired various interests in his home locality. He owns much valuable real estate in the village, which he bought from the late Hon. T. B. Allison, and has about three hundred acres of farm land adjoining Marchand, underlaid with coking coal and situated in a productive gas belt. From 1886 to 1890 he was engaged in a general mercan- tile and drug business in partnership with Dr. W. C. Brown. He has been particularly zeal- ous in helping forward the cause of public education in his section, and was one of the organizers of the Marchand Normal Academy, giving his time and efforts without stint to its promotion and maintenance. When March- and held its Home Coming celebration, on Aug. 23, 24, 25, 26, 1905, he was president of the executive committee, and made the open- ing address. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and has held the office of elder.

Daniel Risinger was born in York county, Pa., and coming west with his family to In- diana county settled in Brushvalley township, where he acquired land and followed farming. He was among the first settlers in his section, and spent the remainder of his life there, dy- ing in the early fifties. He is buried in the Fry cemetery at Mechanicsburg. In religious connection he was a member of the Evangelical Association. He married Susanna Andrews, by whom he had four children: John; George, who settled in West Virginia; Jacob, a veteran of the Civil war, who died in Brush- valley ; and a child that died young.

John Risinger, son of Daniel, was born on the family farm in Brushvalley township, and there attended public school. He worked at home until he reached manhood, when he set- tled in Center township, on a tract of 136 acres which he improved notably, making a perma- nent home there. He followed general farm- ing. He associated with the Republican party in politics, and though he did not aspire to of- fice served as school director, displaying a public-spirited interest in the general welfare which proclaimed him a good citizen. In his religions views he was liberal. His wife, Mary (Hess), was born in York county, Pa., daugh- ter of Michael Hess, and died on the farm Jan. 5, 1907, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Risinger long preceded her, his death occur- ring April 3, 1871, on the farm. They are buried in Greenwood cemetery, at Indiana. Mrs. Risinger was a member of the M. E. Church. They were the parents of children as follows: Susanna, who married Edward Chesley and (second) Archibald Smitten, and is now a widow, residing in Indiana, Pa .; Elizabeth, who is married to Samuel Stewart, of Center township ; Catherine, wife of Joseph C. Long, of Indiana, Pa .; Michael Hess; Dan- iel Endrews; Mary, wife of Thomas S. Phil- lips, of North Homer; and Nancy, married to James B. Grover, of Homer City, Pennsyl- vania.

DANIEL ENDREWS RISINGER, farmer of Center township, Indiana county, is secre- tary of the school board of that township and Daniel Endrews Risinger, son of John, grew up on the home farm in Center township and received his education in the local public schools. General farming has been his life work. From early boyhood he worked on the farm for his parents, and for a number of years he has been operating the homestead place on his own account, at present, however, one of the most respected residents of his dis- trict. He was born there Feb. 26, 1856, on the home farm of his parents, John and Mary (Hess) Risinger, and is a grandson of Daniel Risinger, whose father, John Henrich Ris- inger, founded the family in Indiana county. He is descended from Hans Nicklans Risinger, the emigrant, through John Peter Risinger, having only the seventy-acre part lying east 67

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of the Twolick creek. The balance of the county, the agreement being that he was to property has been sold to the Rochester Pitts- remain with him until his majority, and to re- burg Coal & Coke Company. Mr. Risinger is ceive his board and clothing. He had few edu- a thrifty and enterprising agriculturist, but cational privileges, attending school only a though he takes the deepest interest in his few months in the year, and he worked hard home and family has also found time for pub- lic service, having been first elected school di- rector of Center township in 1903, since when he has served continuously as a member of the school board, of which he is now secretary. He has never sought office, and though a sin- cere Republican has not been active in the work of the party beyond casting his ballot. He is a member and trustee of the M. E. Church, and a strong advocate of temperance.

Mr. Risinger was married Feb. 9, 1887, to Hannah E. Robinson, who was born near Lon- don, England, daughter of John and Mary (Cunningham ) Robinson. They have had six a house, barn and other buildings, and brought children, born as follows: Myrtle, June 25, 1888; Olive May, Oct. 4, 1890; Florence Es- tella, Jan. 5, 1893; Bertha Virginia, May 3, 1896: John Anthony, April 12, 1900; and Daniel Ernest, May 30, 1905.

SIMON ANTHONY, justice of the peace and burgess of Jacksonville, Indiana county, was for a short time engaged in the mercan- tile business there and is one of the sub- stantial and highly esteemed residents of that place. He is a native of Armstrong county, Pa., born March 29, 1849, son of John An- thony and grandson of John Anthony. The latter came from Scotland, and according to family tradition was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. He settled in Armstrong county, Pa., where he engaged in farming until his death. He had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 51

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