Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 62

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 62

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Wilson Dillon, father of Mrs. Strong, was born and married in Pennsylvania, from which state he moved West to Wyoming, but subsequently returned as far East as Chicago, Ill., which city is the present family home.

WILLIAM RAMSAY, general superin- tendent of the Wharton Coal & Coke Com- pany, at Coral, Indiana Co., Pa., is a native of the Keystone State, born at Irwin, West- moreland county, Nov. 23, 1870, the eldest of thirteen children born to his parents, who were Morris and Sadie M. (Greer) Ramsay.

Morris Ramsay, father of William Ram- say, died in 1892. He was one of the best known mining engineers in western Penn- sylvania. For a time he was mine boss at Shafton, Pa., for the Shafton Coal Company, and later became superintendent for the Kittanning Coal Company, at Houtzdale. His next field of work was with the Loyal- hanna Coal & Coke Company, in Westmore- land county, as superintendent, and from there he went to Mount Pleasant as superin- tendent for the Morewood Coke Company, Limited, where he continued until 1884. In that year he became chief engineer for the H. C. Frick Coke Company, at Scottdale, in Westmoreland county, which position he filled so admirably for some years that Mr. Frick paid him the tribute of calling him one of the best men of his profession that had ever been in his employ. He resigned the position of chief engineer in order to ac- cept the general management of the South- west Connellsville Coke Company, which re- sponsible position he continued to fill until 1892, when failing health made retirement necessary, and his death occurred Dec. 29, 1892, at Suttons Hospital, Pittsburg, Pa. In every relation of life he met his duties hon- estly and efficiently, and his memory is re- spected by all who knew him. He married Sadie M. Greer, who survives him and lives at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

his father's business later called him to other Ramsay is a thorough business man and de- places, he also attended school at Mount

mands the best service that can be given by Pleasant and Scottdale. At the latter place those under his direction, but having worked he became a member of the engineer corps from the bottom himself, with hands and brains, he understands the problems that are always present in a great industry and knows how to be just, hence he is popular with the laborers and enjoys the confidence of his em- ployers. He is a valued member of the Ameri- can Institute of Mining Engineers and belongs also to some fraternal organizations. under his father, though then only fourteen years of age. After two years of training and experience he went with the Southwest Connellsville Coke Company, where he was under his father, who was general manager, and continued a member of the engineer corps until 1889, when he became chief engi- neer. This position of trust he filled until 1892, when, on account of his father's illness, he practically was general manager until his father's death, when he was appointed to suc- ceed him. Mr. Ramsay continued as general manager until 1896, when he, too, had to re- sign on account of ill health and for three years afterward did little except to work to regain his normal condition.

On Dec. 17, 1891, Mr. Ramsay was married to Jessie Thompson, a daughter of J. B. Thompson, of Mount Pleasant, Pa., and the following children have been born to them: Morris Byers; Olive, who was graduated from the high school at Knoxville, Tenn .; Frank Haskell, who died in infancy ; Katharyn, who is a student in the State normal school at In- diana; William Thompson, Lindsey and a Gates, who is a student at the Indiana normal school; Jessie, who is a normal school stu- dent; and Henry Weaver, Mary, Helen and Sarah Jane, all of whom live at home. Mr. Ramsay and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he has al- ways been associated with the Republican party.

In 1899 Mr. Ramsay went to Scottdale and daughter, all of whom died in infancy ; John for a short time was associated there with the H. C. Frick Coke Company, and then ac- cepted the responsible position which he held until 1900, with the Gorman Coal & Coke Company, to develop a small property at West End, W. Va. In 1900 he accepted the position of superintendent for the Kansas & Texas Coal Company at South McAlester, Indian Territory, and remained there during the next two years, when the business was sold out. In 1902, on the recommendation of the late John W. Gates, capitalist, he was appointed manager for the Weaver Coal & Coke Com- pany in the coal fields of Illinois and Indiana, and remained with Mr. Weaver until the lat- ter's death, in 1907. During this time Mr. Ramsay went to Knoxville, Tenn., where he continued to be connected with the Weaver in- terests until 1907, when he took charge of the Black Mountain collieries at Pennington Gap, Va. The president of that company was J. M. T. Kinnan, was born. By trade he was a car-

JOHN T. KINNAN, a resident of Green township, Indiana county, was born April 16, 1856, in Grant township, on the farm where his grandfather settled many years ago. The grandfather, William Kinnan, was a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., whence he first moved to Armstrong county, remaining there some years. In 1845 he moved to Indiana county, settling near Decker's Point in Grant (then Montgomery) township, where he bought the farm on which his grandson, John Barr, of Norfolk, Va., and Mr. Ramsay was a penter. He remained on that place until his death, which occurred in 1880. He married Nancy Gibson, a native of Indiana county.

stockholder in the same. He remained there for two years, when he resigned for personal reasons, and for two more years he was with Joseph W. Kinnan, son of William, was born in Armstrong county, Pa. He carried on farming and lumbering all his life, living on his father's home place until his latter years, when he moved to Decker's Point. There he died June 7, 1905. He married Agnes Gailey, who was born in Montgomery township, Indiana county, near Cherrytree, daughter of Cornelius Gailey, who followed farming and tailoring all his life. Mr. Gailey came to Indiana county in an early day, and settled near Cherrytree, remained there some the Rand Powder Company, a Tennessee cor- poration. In September, 1911, he accepted the position of general manager of the Whar- ton Coal & Coke Company at their plant at Coral, Indiana Co., Pa. A great improvement has been noticed since Mr. Ramsay took charge of the plant, he having brought a vitalizing influence into the business which is felt in every department, one feature being an in- crease of seventy per cent in the output over former figures. The enterprise is a large one and gives employment to 250 hands. Mr. years, thence moving to Clarksburg, this

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

county, where he remained until the death of been one of its leading members and most effi- his wife. Later he went to live with his cient officers. daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Kinnan, dying at their home. Mrs. Kin- nan died in 1909, at the home of her son John. She and her husband had a family of eight children, of whom John T. is the eldest, the others being : William, now deceased; George, who lives in Indiana county; Sarah, wife of Anderson Vanhorn, of Punxsutawney ; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of Walter Bell; Harvey; Grant, of Indiana borough; and Laura, wife of David Buterbaugh, of Deck- er's Point, this county.

John T. Kinnan passed his boyhood days in his native township and attended school there. He also went to the Purchase Line Academy, being one of the first students at that insti- tution, and made good use of his opportuni- ties, fitting himself for the teacher's profes- sion, which he followed for fifteen terms. He was engaged in Rayne, Grant and Green townships, and at Purchase Line. Remaining at home until he reached the age of twenty- four years, he married and began work on his own account, farming and lumbering, which he has carried on successfully ever since. He lived in Grant and Cherryhill town- ships until 1889, when he moved to his present home in Green township, which he bought, and he also owns property at Starford. He continues to engage in farming. Mr. Kinnan has found time to take part in the local gov- ernment, and has served his township ably and faithfully as auditor and road supervisor, proving his worth in every capacity.

On Nov. 22, 1879, Mr. Kinnan was united in marriage with Parmelia Langham, a sister of Congressman J. N. Langham, of Indiana county, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza (Barr) Langham, and six children have been born to them: Merrill W., the eldest, is at home; Vernie is deceased; Grace is the wife of George Barringer, of Lovejoy, this county, and has four children, Orvil, Lee, Jeannette and Elwain; Lela is married to Robert Henry, of Blue Island, Ill., and has two children, Florence and William; Albert and Gussie are at home. Mrs. Kinnan is a member of the Baptist Church of East Mahoning.

THOMAS B. CLARK, who has been en- gaged in business as a photographer at In- diana since 1878, has the leading establish- ment of the kind in that borough and is well known there and in the surrounding region. He was one of the organizers of the Pennsyl- vania Photographers' Association and has

Mr. Clark was born May 30, 1858, in Union- town, Fayette county, Pa., and belongs to the fourth generation of his family in America. His great-grandfather, William Clark, came to this country from the North of Ireland about the time of the Revolution-in fact, he earned his first money here as a soldier on the American side in that war. He settled in Fayette county, Pa., buying land near Union- town, and there lived until his death, which occurred in 1828, when he was eighty-five years old. His wife died the same year; she was also born in the same year as her hus- band.

Samuel Alexander Clark, son of William, became quite a wealthy man for his time, own- ing large tracts of land in the neighborhood of Uniontown. He died there. He married Agnes Miner and had a family of four chil- dren: William, John, Samuel M. and Re- becca (Mrs. Dixon).

Samuel M. Clark, son of Samuel Alexander and Agnes (Miner) Clark, was born in 1822 on the home farm in Fayette county, and learned the trade of carpenter. He followed that calling all his life, becoming quite exten- sively engaged in contract work, and was in partnership with A. B. Bryson. For many years he lived in Uniontown, where he died Oct. 14, 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a member of the Baptist Church, an Odd Fellow in fraternal connection, and a Republican in politics. Mr. Clark was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Craig, who was a daughter of John Craig, of near Union- town. By this marriage he had three chil- dren: Rebecca, Mrs. Lewis Williams, de- ceased ; John H., who lives at Uniontown, Pa .; and William, who moved out to Illinois. For his second wife Mr. Clark married Harriet Semans, daughter of Thomas Semans. She died in Uniontown Dec. 16, 1872, aged thirty- nine years, the mother of three children : Thomas B .; Ella, Mrs. Ira Johnson, of Union town; and Lizzie, Mrs. Harry Hagan, of Uniontown. Mrs. Clark was a member of the Baptist Church.

Thomas B. Clark grew to manhood in Uniontown, where he attended the public schools and began work as clerk in a grocery store. In 1874 he commenced to learn pho- tography there with E. A. Lingo, and served four years of an apprenticeship, in 1878 be- coming associated with his employer's brother, Albert Lingo, with whom he came to Indiana and established a gallery under the firm name

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of Lingo & Clark. They were in partnership vice presidents of the organization. Mr. Clark is a member of the Presbyterian Church and was formerly one of the trustees of his congregation.

three years, but since 1881 Mr. Clark has been in business on his own account. In his long residence in Indiana he has won high stand- ing among the local business men. He has dealt in pictures and picture frames in addi- tion to conducting his studio, and has become one of the substantial citizens of this place, having made a success of his business by con- scientious devotion to the best interest of lis patrons. He is always ready to experiment with new developments in his art, keeping thoroughly abreast of the times, which means that he is enterprising and alert, for few pro- fessions have advanced so materially or changed so thoroughly within the last decade or two. His attractive and artistic work draws customers from a large radius. In 1897 Mr. Clark was one of the promoters in the formation of the Pennsylvania Photogra- phers' Association, which held its first meet- ing at Harrisburg. He was elected its secre- tary for the following year, 1898. The second meeting was held at Bellefonte, and Mr. Clark served 'continuously on the executive board until he was elected president, at the annual meeting at Philadelphia, in 1904. He held that office for one year, during which time West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware were admitted into the association. His work in this organization has gained him high stand- ing among his fellow photographers, who ap- preciate his sincere efforts to advance its wel- fare and the good of the profession gener- ally.

Mr. Clark has been quite active in fraternal work. He has been an Odd Fellow for thirty years, belonging to Palladium Lodge, No. 346, Indiana, of which he has been treasurer for a period of twelve years. He is also prominent in the Improved Order of Heptasophs, hold- ing membership in Conclave No. 180, of In- diana, and was elected district deputy su- preme archon, serving nearly four years, over a number of lodges of Indiana, Westmore- land, Fayette and Allegheny counties. He has been a zealous worker for good govern- ment in his borough, and has a number of times been elected to office, having served five years on the school board; he is now a mem- ber of the city council, in which he has served for a number of years, and in the fall of 1911 was reelected for four years more. In polit- ical sentiment he is a liberal Republican. He was elected fifth vice president of the Cham- ber of Commerce at the organization meeting, held in July, 1912, making him a member of the executive board, which is composed of the

On June 15, 1882, Mr. Clark was married at Indiana to Laura Elizabeth Kline, daugh- ter of Wellington B. Kline, of Indiana, at one time a prominent dry goods merchant here. They have had two children: Wellington B., who married Marguerite Park, of' Westover, Clearfield county, is assistant cashier in the bank at Mahaffey, Clearfield county, Pa .; George K., a civil engineer by profession, lives at home with his parents in Indiana.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Clark comes from a family noted for longevity. On his father's side, his uncles, William W. and John Clark, died at the ages of ninety-three and eighty-seven, respectively, his aunt, Rebecca Dixon, at the age of ninety-six years, and his father, Samuel M. Clark, at the age of seventy-nine years. On his mother's side, his grandfather, Thomas Semans, was one of the three oldest men of Fayette county, Pa., at the time of his death.

ROBERT HENRY MILLEN, owner of ninety-four acres of land in Armstrong town- ship, was born on the homestead of his family in that township July 11, 1878, son of William A. and Martha (Miller) Millen, the latter being a daughter of Robert and Nancy (Henry) Miller.

William A. Millen was first married to Elizabeth Andrews, by whom he had children as follows : Matthew D. and Anna Mary (twins), Thomas Hamilton, and Margaret Ellen (now Mrs. William L. Brown, of Arm- strong township). After the death of his first wife William A. Millen was married to the mother of Robert Henry, who was the only child of this union, and after her death he married Katie McMillen.

Robert Henry Millen was taken by his ma- ternal grandfather after the death of his mother, and lived in Young township until he was sixteen years old. He attended public school up to the age of twenty. When he was sixteen years old he returned to his father, and lived at home until his marriage, follow- ing which he farmed the Madison Craig farm for a year, and then bought his present prop- erty.

On Jan. 19, 1905, Mr. Millen was married to Mary T. Calhoun, who was born on the farm now owned by her husband Sept. 16, 1879, daughter of Samuel and Annie R. (George) Calhoun. Mr. and Mrs. Millen

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

have had children as follows: Clarence was buried in Bethel Church cemetery in Meade, Arthur Claire and Herbert Roy. Mr. Burrell township. He was active in the vari- Millen belongs to the West Union United ous interests of his locality, serving as school Presbyterian Church. In political faith he director and taking considerable part in the is a Prohibitionist, as he believes that only through the reforms proposed by that party can the liquor traffic be wiped out. He is a good farmer and conscientious citizen, and his standing in his community has been fairly earned.

work of the M. E. Church, to which he be- longed, and which he served as class leader, steward, and in the various other local posi- tions. In politics he was a Democrat. On May 2, 1839, he married Margaret Coe, who was born in Allegheny county Aug. 17, 1818, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Shields) Coe and granddaughter of Benjamin Coe, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war;

SYLVESTER COE KENNEDY is one of the most prominent citizens of Young town- ship and widely known in that part of Indi- her father lived and died in Allegheny coun- ana county through his long and honorable ty. The Coes are of Scotch-Irish extraction. career as a public servant, particularly in the capacity of justice of the peace. His business is farming, and he has been successful in that line and known as one of the most enthusiastic advocates of modern methods and advanced ideas. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Jan. 17, 1843, being a native of Lower Burrell township, where his family has been settled for almost a century.

Mrs. Kennedy lived at Springdale, Allegheny Co., Pa., for a number of years before her death, which occurred Feb. 4, 1900, in her eighty-second year. She was buried in the cemetery of Bethel M. E. Church. Originally a Presbyterian in religious connection, she later joined the M. E. Church, holding mem- bership in the congregation at Springdale. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy had the following family : Araminta, born June 18, 1840, died Oct. 2, 1841; Sylvester Coe is mentioned be- 17, 1853; Joseph A., born Nov. 26, 1847, died Feb. 16, 1853; James E., born Aug. 8, 1850, died Feb. 17, 1853; Elizabeth M., born July 30, 1853, married David M. Clements, who is deceased and she now resides at Youngstown, Ohio; Anna M., born July 9, 1856, married James Shearer, who is now deceased, and she resides at Vandergrift, Pa .; John Shields,

The Kennedys are of Scotch extraction. Thomas Kennedy, grandfather of Sylvester Coe Kennedy, was born in Allegheny county, low; Thomas L., born Feb. 24, 1845, died Feb.

Pa., where he grew to manhood. He followed farming all his life, in 1819 locating in Bur- rell township, Westmoreland county, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying there in 1842, at the age of fifty-six years. He owned a farm there. During the war of 1812 he served as a soldier under Gen. Will- iam H. Harrison ; in politics he was a Demo- crat, in religion a member of the M. E. born July 15, 1860, is a lawyer.

Church. He married Catherine Fleck, who

was born in 1793 in Butler county, Pa .; she select school in his native township, and lived

was a member of the Bethel M. E. Church. Their seven children were: Joseph; James M., who died in Westmoreland county; Will- iam, who died in Allegheny county ; Elizabeth, who married Michael DeGroff and now lives in Allegheny county; John N., who died in Allegheny county ; Thomas, who died in West- moreland county; and Martha, who married tam, South Mountain and Chancellorsville, was Eli Shearer (both are deceased).

Sylvester Coe Kennedy attended public and at home until his enlistment, Aug. 9, 1862, at the age of nineteen years, in Company I, 123d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Robert Humes, of Tarentum, and Col. John B. Clark, who was a United Presbyterian minister of Allegheny county. He partici- pated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Antie-

in the service nine months, and received his discharge, at Pittsburg, May 13, 1863. Re- turning from the war he resumed farming and also attended school in 1864, and he taught one term in Westmoreland county in 1865, after which he became a student at Duff's commercial college, Pittsburg, graduating from that institution Jan. 19, 1866. After that he continued to farm in Burrell township until 1869, in which year he moved to Young township, Indiana county, where he has since

Joseph Kennedy, son of Thomas, was born in Allegheny county May 22, 1812, and was seven years old when the family moved to Westmoreland county and located in Lower Burrell township. There he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the local subscrip- tion schools, and he worked on the farm from early boyhood, later becoming a farmer on his own account. He owned a tract of one hun- dred acres upon which he passed the rest of his days, dying there Nov. 18, 1878, and he had his home. He bought the Ewing farm, a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tract of 135 acres, on which stood a log house he was adjutant for three years. He is a which had been built in 1800, and he has re- prominent member of the M. E. Church at sided there continuously to the present, en- Jacksonville, which he has served as steward, gaged in general farming and stock raising. trustee and teacher and superintendent of the In 1887 he built his present home, and he Sunday school, being active in all the lines of its work. has remodeled the barn and made numerous other improvements, by his thrifty manage- Mr. Kennedy was one of the organizers and first directors of the Ebenezer Mutual Fire Insurance Company, having been a charter member and the first secretary of the board, still continuing to fill that position. Of the ten members of the original board only four are now living. Besides Mr. Kennedy this board was composed of M. G. Sandles, J. N. Coleman, James Hazlett, William McCurdy, William G. Gilmore, R. E. Leard, William Kier, M. H. Henry and William H. Kennedy. ment and strict attention to details increasing the value of the property considerably. He is a man of keen intelligence and foresight, and was one of the early advocates of the Grange movement, becoming a member of Arcadia Grange, No. 176, Patrons of Husbandry, in which he has always maintained the deepest interest. The public schools have also had a good friend in him, and he served three years as school director of Burrell township while in Westmoreland county, while he has held that office for fifteen years in Young township, On May 5, 1868, Mr. Kennedy married Me- lissa E. Simons, a native of Allegheny county, born Feb. 24, 1851, daughter of William and Mary (Ireland) Simons. Mrs. Kennedy, like her husband, is a member of the M. E. Church. The following children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy : Albert Cookman, born Jan. 19, 1869, married June 24, 1897, Lou C. Barkley, and resides at New Kensington, Pa .; Elmer C., born Feb. 16, 1871, died Oct. 19, 1871; Nellie Gertrude, born Nov. 22, 1872, was a public school teach- er, and was married Nov. 3, 1898, to Christo- pher Rudolph Snyder, of Vandergrift, Pa .; a child born March 16, 1875, died the same day ; Nancy Jane, born July 12, 1876, married Oliver McKee, and resides at Homer City, Pa .; William J., born Aug. 21, 1878, married Nettie Fleming and resides at Vandergrift, during that time also acting as secretary of the board. In 1887 he was elected commis- sioner of Indiana county, taking office Jan. 1, 1888, and serving three years, having for his colleagues on the board J. W. Shields, of Rayne township, and J. M. Marshall of In- diana. During his term the Johnstown flood occurred, and the board had to look after re- placing the bridges destroyed in that catas- trophe, besides completing the county jail at Indiana. In 1882 Mr. Kennedy was elected justice of the peace in Young township, re- ceiving his commission from Gov. H. M. Hoyt; M. S. Quay was then secretary of the Com- monwealth. In 1887 he was reelected, being commissioned by Governor Beaver (Charles W. Stone was then secretary of the State), but he did not serve during his term as county commissioner. In 1895 he was again elected,

his commission being signed by Gov. Daniel Pa .; Edwin Knox, born Sept. 4, 1880, formerly H. Hastings and Frank Reeder, secretary, and a teacher, now residing at Vandergrift, mar- ried Annie M. Shrimp ; Silas Clark, born Nov. 14, 1882, married Blanche McKee, and resides at Vandergrift, Pa .; Mary Stella, born Nov. 22, 1885, married Ross McJunkin and resides in 1900 he was reelected, his commission being signed by Gov. William A. Stone and Secre- tary William W. Griest ; he has been reelected twice since, in 1905 and 1910, his commissions being issued respectively by Gov. Samuel W. at Vandergrift; John E., born May 3, 1888, married Minnie Keely and resides at Vander- grift; Paul, born March 27, 1893, is at home

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 62

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