Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 63

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 63

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Pennypacker and Gov. Edwin T. Stewart, Robert McAfee, secretary of Commonwealth. During his long incumbency of this office he on the farm.

has tried about forty civil cases, and only two appeals have been taken from his rulings. HUGH KEARNEY NEAL is a well-known business man and official of North Mahoning township, Indiana county, engaged in farm- ing, butchering and stock dealing, and long a justice of the peace. He was born May 22, He has administered the affairs of his office impartially and with recognized ability, and his high integrity and liberal disposition have made him universally liked and respected. He is a Democrat in politics, a firm believer in 1868, on the old Neal homestead in that town- the established principles of his party. As a ship, son of Col. William and Sarah Ann (Mitchell) Neal, and grandson of James Neal

veteran of the Civil war he holds membership in Indiana Post, No. 28, G. A. R., of which and of Sharp Mitchell, the latter a pioneer

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of Jefferson county, who at one time held the in the discharge of the various duties which office of sheriff.

have been intrusted to him by his fellow citi- Col. William Neal was born in Jefferson zens. He is well informed, abreast of the county, Pa., and there grew to manhood. He times in the conduct of his various interests, was married there, at Perrysville, and later and has made many friends in this section- northern Indiana and southern Jefferson counties. located in North Mahoning township, just across the line in Indiana county, where lie obtained a farm. By trade he was a stone- Mr. Neal has been active in local politics as a worker in the Republican party, has been justice of the peace for the last thirteen years, and has also served as school director. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., at Hamilton, Pa., to which lodge he has be- longed for the last twenty years, has held all the offices, having served as vice grand and noble grand, and has been treasurer for two terms. His religions connection is with the Lutheran Church. mason, and in the early days he was well known as a lumberman and raftsman. In his time few men of this region were better known. He held office as school director and tax as- sessor and collector, was active in the work of the Republican party, and was a member of the M. E. Church. He died Nov. 20, 1904. During the Civil war he served four years in the Union army, enlisting in Company A, 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was made first lieutenant of that company Sept. 9, 1861, and on April 25, 1863, was again made first lieutenant of that command ; on Sept. 8, 1864, he was made captain of Company O, 206th Regiment. He continued his activity in military life after the war, was captain of Company C, 2d Battalion, Pennsylvania State Militia, was made major of Provisional Bat- talion, No. 1, 21st Division, Indiana, Jefferson,

On Nov. 27, 1894, Mr. Neal married Alice Reits, of Perry township, Jefferson Co., Pa., daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (McHenry) Reits, farming people, of that county, who are still (1913) living at their old home there, in the enjoyment of excellent health, though they are eighty-four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Reits had nine children, namely: Frank, a section boss on the railroad, living at North- Cambria and Clearfield counties, Sept. 10, point, Pa., married Nancy Barmoy; Ann is 1872, and on Sept. 29, 1874, was made colonel the widow of William Cheatham and lives in Jefferson county ; Mary married Josiah Neal, of the 13th Regiment, Infantry, 9th Division, Armstrong, Jefferson, Indiana, Butler and of Indiana, Pa .; Nancy married William Cambria counties.

Nine children were born to Colonel and Mrs. Neal, and we have the following record of this family: Susie married D. L. Henry, of Punxsutawney, Pa., and has three children, Vane (a civil engineer), Olga and Eugene; Emma Bell (deceased) married Harry Sites, point, married Lillie Harrison.

Drummel, of Northpoint; Lee, a lumberman, of Lock Haven, Pa., married Ida Eisenhart ; Alice is Mrs. Neal; William, foreman in steel works, married May Rayback; Charles, of Northpoint, married Anna Snider; Clark, a section boss on the railroad, living at North-

who is also deceased, and they had one child, Margaret ; Ulysses Sidney, a farmer, living in Clarion county, Pa., married Anna Shick ; Hugh Kearney is mentioned below; William Wilbur, who is engaged in farming on the old homestead, married Mary E. Gould, of Jef- ferson county, Pa., and they have a family of seven children, James C., Winfield S., Viola

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neal: Minnie, who died when thirteen years old; May, who died when three months old; Merle; Martin and Margaret, twins; Eugene, and Vara. .

WILLIAM WALLACE IRWIN, a native and lifelong resident of Montgomery town- of that district and has been honored with election to the office of auditor, which he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He was born Feb. 12, 1843, son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Mccullough) Ir- win. His father came to Indiana county in the latter thirties, married here, and was en- gaged as a farmer and lumberman throughout his active years.

C., William G., Ruth E., Anna L. and Sid- ship, Indiana county, is a prosperous farmer ney G.

Hugh Kearney Neal was given common school advantages. He lived at home until his father's death, carrying on the farm until 1905, in which year he bought and moved to the David Stear homestead at Trade City, a tract of eighty acres, where he has since lived and worked, following farming, butch- cring and stock dealing. He is an excellent business man, proving himself capable and in- During his boyhood William Wallace Irwin telligent in all his private undertakings and attended public school, and when he became

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

old enough to work assisted his father in ally. He built a fine brick dwelling house on clearing the home farm, also helping him in the farm, the first of its kind in that section, his lumbering operations. Farming has been his life occupation, and he has done well, win- ning a substantial place for himself among his fellow citizens. He served as township audi- tor, and takes a real interest in the affairs of his locality, being public-spirited and ready to advocate all measures which promise to benefit the community. In political faith he is a Socialist.

On Sept. 18, 1879, Mr. Irwin married Nancy Jane Pardee, of Grant township, Indiana county, daughter of Edwin and Jane Ann (Walker) Pardee, the former of whom was a millwright and farmer. Of the twelve chil- dren born to this union eleven survive: Min- nie Maud (deceased) was married to Henry E. Miller, of Barnesboro, Cambria Co., Pa. (no children were born to this union) ; Ed- ward E., a school teacher, is living at home; Sherman P., a miner, is also at home; James M., a carpenter, of Du Bois, Pa., married Lola McMillen, of Montgomery township, and has had three children, Percy, Lucile, and Dorothy M. (deceased) ; Samuel, a miner, of Arcadia, Pa., married Carrie Anthony, of Arcadia, and has had three children, Robert B. (deceased), Mary J. (deceased) and Sam- uel E .; Mary J. married William P. Kime, of Cherrytree, Pa., and has two children, Charles S. and Gerald I .; May married Harry L. Brady, of Gipsy, Pa., and has three chil- dren, Nancy I., Harry L. and William E .; Harman Mc., a farmer, is living at home; Walter B., a farmer, is also at home ; Amanda A., Melda and William W. are at home.

NEWTON GRANT ALTEMUS, whose widow resides with her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Schultz, on the old Schultz farm in Buffington township, was himself a native of that town- ship, born May 15, 1865. He was a son of James Altemus, grandson of Nicholas Alte- mus, and great-grandson of Adam Altemus, the first of this name in Brushvalley township, Indiana county, where the family has been settled for considerably over a century, and it is still numerously represented there.

the brick being made on his place. He spent his active life on the farm, and when he re- tired from active labor moved to Mechanics- burg, where he owned a home and spent the remainder of his days, dying there in Sep- tember, 1863; he was buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery. He was blind some years before his death. Mr. Altemus was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and was a Whig and Republican in politics, and was known to all as a man who did his duty faithfully in his walk of life. He married Evaline (Eve) Shaffer, a native also of Northampton county, and she is buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery, near Graceton, in Center township. Children as follows were born to this pioneer couple : Nicholas; Margaret, who married Peter Steffy; Daniel, who married Elizabeth Hendrickson; John, who married Mary A. Drennen; Thomas, who was killed, with the horse he was riding, by a falling tree, while returning from Wakefield's mill; William, who married Prudence Peddicord; Susanna, who married Samuel Wolf; and David, who married Sarah Peddicord.

Nicholas Altemus, eldest son of Adam Alte- mus, was born in 1800 in Center township, and there grew to manhood. What education he received was obtained in the subscription schools of the day. He worked at home with his father until of age, when in 1823 he set- tled on Brushcreek run, in Brushvalley town- ship, and with his father's help built the first grist and sawmill in Brushvalley township (then a part of Wheatfield township), which he operated. In 1853 the old mill was re- placed by the present structure, and opera- tions have been carried on there ever since. In 1848 he built the frame dwelling house which is now the home of his son, William Wolf Altemus. Besides attending to the mill work he farmed a tract of 128 acres near the mill, aud was a successful business man, ac- quiring the ownership of over five hundred acres before his death; most of it is still in the possession of his sons and grandchildren. On Feb. 23, 1872, while leaving his home to attend a sale, the horse he was riding slipped on the ice and fell, and Mr. Altemus fell from the horse, his head striking the hard ground. He died from the effects of his injuries in a few hours, and was buried in the Lutheran Church cemetery in Brushvalley township.

Adam Altemus, the pioneer, was of Hol- land (Dutch) extraction and a native of Northampton county, Pa. Coming to Indi- ana county about 1798 he located in Center township, near the line of what is now Brush- valley township, on what is known as the Robert McPhetris farm, and here he settled He was a member of the Lutheran Church down to farming, having a tract of two hun- and active in its work. In politics he was a stanch Whig and Republican. He was promi- dred acres, which he improved very materi-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

nent in local affairs, serving as assessor, tax the home where Mrs. Altemus now lives Aug. collector and school director of the township, 4, 1899. There Mr. Altemus died Dec. 28, as well as in other public offices.

In 1821 Nicholas Altemus married Mary Wolf, who was born in Brushvalley township, in 1802, daughter of John Wolf, and died in that township. She is buried in the cemetery of the Lutheran Church, of which she was a member. Fourteen children were born to this marriage: Martha H. married Alexander Noble, and both are deceased; Margaret mar- ried Frank Burlinger and both are deceased ; Adam married Catherine Conrad; Elizabeth married C. R. Weaver and died in Brushval- ley; Susanna died in young womanhood ; David, born April 19, 1831, married Susan Dick, and resided in Buffington township, this county; James, born Dec. 27, 1832, is men- tioned below ; Evaline married Robert Pringle ; Sarah married Amos Knabb and resides in Colorado; Mary married George Paul; Char- lotte married John Shaffer; William Wolf and Mathias S. are residents of Brushvalley town- ship; John A. died when four and a half years old.

Newton Grant Altemus was born in Buf- fington township and first attended common school there, later going to select school. Af- ter following farm work for a time he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with which he remained eight years as engineer, running between Pittsburg and Altoona. He then moved out to Colorado, where he was employed by a gold mining and Subsequently he became engaged in selling mining stocks and real estate for the Edith May Real Estate Company and later went with the Edwin Booth Gold Mining Company in the Cripple Creek district ; he was a large stockholder in both these companies, his widow now retaining his rights in same. He was taken sick in Colorado, and he and his wife and son Leard returned East, arriving at

1899, at the early age of thirty-four years, and is buried in the cemetery at Strongstown, in Pine township, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.

Mr. Altemus married Terzah Pearl Schultz, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Graham) Schultz and granddaughter of Samuel and Mary (Marshall) Graham, all of Buffington township. Mr. and Mrs. Altemus had one son, Leard Reed, born Jan. 1, 1896, who is now attending the State normal school at In- diana, Pa. Since her husband's deatlı Mrs. Altemus and son Leard have lived in Buf- fington township, on the farm formerly owned by her father, now her property. She and her mother make their home together. The farm comprises 337 acres, and Mrs. Altemus oversees the work of cultivation, in which she has shown remarkable business ability and judgment. She has also dealt in real estate to some extent, owning property in Pittsburg, Seward and Indiana, Pennsylvania.

HARRY M. ELLIOTT, postmaster and

James Altemus, boru Dec. 27, 1832, mar- leading general merchant at Armagh, East ried Mary E. Dorney, who was born May 9, Wheatfield township, Indiana Co., Pa., was 1830, and he died in Buffington township. born at Armagh June 22, 1862, son of Alex- Nine children were born to them, as follows: ander Elliott, and grandson of James Elliott. Frank D., born March 11, 1854, married An-

James Elliott was a merchant and tavern- nie Lyons; Julie Belle, born May 11, 1856, keeper at Armagh, his hotel and store being died in 1859; James J., born June 10, 185-, in a log building on Philadelphia street. He spent his life in the village and died there married Ellie Minch ; Edward, born Aug. 18, 1860, died young; Charles E., born Aug. 14, in 1825. His wife, Sarah, died Jan. 26, 1839. 1863, married Margaret Davis; Newton Grant Alexander Elliott, son of James Elliott, was is mentioned below; Benjamin J., born Aug. born in 1799, and followed mercantile pursuits 8, 1867, married Lulu C. Smith; Ciero P., at Armagh, where the family has been repre- born Nov. 21, 1869, died young; Laura C., born April 18, 1874, married John Dick.

milling company in the shaft house for a time. ville during the time the Graff brothers were

sented for over a century. For a period he had a partner in his general store, his brother- in-law, Stephen A. Johnston. The business has descended to Harry M. Elliott, and is lo- cated in the building put up by Alexander Elliott. In addition to his mercantile inter- ests Mr. Elliott was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, and also dealt in cattle and horses, specializing on the latter, of which he was a very good judge. Another branch of his business was teaming to Blairs- engaged in business. Successful in all his undertakings, he developed into one of the leading men of his day and locality, and in- fluenced local history materially. His death occurred June 20, 1869, when he was seventy years old, and his remains were laid to rest in the cemetery belonging to the Armagh Pres- byterian Church.

Alexander Elliott was twice married, his

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

first wife being Elizabeth Wakefield, whom Lloyd and Lillian, the latter dying when five he married April 28, 1829. She was born months old. April 29, 1809, daughter of Robert Wakefield, and is buried in the Armagh Presbyterian CALVIN S. KUNKLE, of Homer City, In- diana county, now engaged exclusively in the real estate business, has been a resident of that borough for the last twenty-five years, during which time he has followed various occupations. He is a native of the county, born Oct. 11, 1867, in Young township, where his parents had settled a few years before. His grandfather Kunkle lived and died in Somerset county, Pa., where he was a farmer. He and his wife had two children, Caroline Aukney and John Peter. Mrs. Kunkle also had two children by a previous marriage, Jacob and Margaret Groft. Church cemetery. The children of this mar- riage were: Mary Elizabeth, born May 15, 1830, married Stephen Alexander Johnston, of Armagh; James, born July 10, 1835, died in 1840; and Sarah Jane, born May 6, 1841, married Samuel Evans. On July 11, 1842, Alexander Elliott was married (second) to Mrs. Margaret (Bell) Scott, widow of James Scott, and daughter of John and Rebecca Bell. By her first marriage Mrs. Elliott had one daughter, Mrs. William Lintner, of Burrell township." Mr. and Mrs. Elliott became the parents of the following children : Martha Ellen, born June 2, 1844, married John Cun-

John Peter Kunkle, father of Calvin S. ningham ; Rebecca Jane, born March 25, 1845, Kunkle, was a farmer all his life. He was died young; Emma Eliza married John born in Somerset county, Pa., and died Feb. Thompson, of East Wheatfield township; Hattie Bell married Samuel Cunningham, an attorney of Indiana, and died in 1910; Alex- ander Hanson, born April 3, 1852, died May 15, 1855; Roselia, born Nov. 20, 1854, mar- ried Isaac Wilson, of Wilkinsburg, Pa .; Mar- garet, born July 15, 1857, died Sept. 19, 1857 ; John, born Nov. 4, 1858, died in infancy ; Harry M. was born June 22, 1862. 16, 1900, at the age of seventy-two years. In 1865 he located in Young township, Indiana county, where he owned and operated a large farm, becoming one of the substantial and well-known citizens of that section. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Democrat. He married Lillie Ann Cochran, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cun- ningham) Cochran, and the following chil- dren were born to them: Clara, Mary, Emma, Calvin S., J. Edward, William and Albert.

Harry M. Elliott was but seven years old · when he had the misfortune to lose his father, but he was brought up by a careful Christian mother, and sent to school in Armagh, and to the Indiana (Pa.) State normal school. In 1882 he entered the store his father had con- ducted for so many years, buying an interest in the business from James W. Mack and Christopher E. Campbell, the firm name being changed to Mack, Campbell & Co. Eventu- ally he bought out his partners and since then has conducted the business alone, carrying a general mercantile line. For many years he has been postmaster, having been appointed successively under Presidents Harrison, Mc- Kinley, Roosevelt and Taft, and has been

loyal in his adherence to the Republican party. the present, although for four years he also In addition to serving as postmaster, Mr. Elliott has been a good school director, and is ever ready to aid in advancing the gen- eral good of his community. The Methodist Church of Armagh holds his membership and he is a trustee of same and superintendent of the Sunday school.

On Nov. 5, 1884, Mr. Elliott was married to Emma Holmes, born at Blairsville, Pa., daughter of Abraham Holmes. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are the parents of four children: Raymond Holmes, Alexander Scott, Harry

Calvin S. Kunkle attended common school in his native township and later became a student at the Eldersridge Academy, mean- time also helping at home with the farm work. In 1887 he left the farm and settled in Homer City, where he has since lived and worked. During his first four years there he drove a huckster's wagon, and then engaged in the teaming business, which he carried on suc- cessfully for a period of ten years, and for several years conducted a feed business. He then engaged in the real estate business, in which he has been interested continuously to had the leading livery establishment in the borough, embarking in that line in 1908 and selling out Oct. 24, 1912. He now gives all his time to his real estate transactions, which are steadily increasing in number and im- portance. Mr. Kunkle is one of the steady- going, reliable citizens on whom so much of the general welfare of a community depends, and he is thoroughly respected by all who know him. He is a Democrat in political connec- tion and a Methodist in religion.

On Sept. 10, 1889, Mr. Kunkle married Mag-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

gie Myers, of Carrolltown, Cambria Co., Pa., The Stewarts are of Scotch origin, and daughter of Henry and Mary (Donwody) proud of the good stock from which they Myers, and they have had six children, name- are descended. John Stewart, grandfather of Dr. Stewart, was a well-educated man. He was long a resident of Nova Scotia. ly : Sarah C., John C., Homer F., Ralph, Lisle H. and Arthur (who died when six years old).

RICHARD CLAIR CESSNA, of Glen Campbell, Indiana county, owner of the Cash Department Store, is one of the live young business men whose progressive methods and up-to-date standards are making that borough an important trade center in that section of the county. He was born Feb. 7, 1874, in Banks township, Indiana county, son of George W. and Sarah M. (Davis) Cessna, the former a native of Clearfield county, Pa., the latter of Montgomery township, Indiana county. The father moved from Clearfield to Indiana county, and was a farmer and lumberman by occupation,

Richard C. Cessna received his education in the public schools of Indiana county, and during his earlier manhood taught for a while. He then clerked in a general store, and was later employed in the lumber regions, work- ing in the woods and scaling lumber. Re- turning to clerking, he was engaged in a general store at Urey, Indiana county, until January, 1906, when he entered business on his own account, as proprietor of the general store at Glen Campbell, which he has since conducted. The Cash Department Store is one of the most popular and reliable estab- lishments of the kind in the borough, and Mr. Cessna's earnest desire to please his pa- trons and supply them with the most desir- able merchandise at reasonable prices has gained him a steady and increasing patron- age which promises well for the prosperity of his establishment. His interest in the wel- fare of the community has led him into public affairs, and he has served two years as coun- cilman of the borough, to which office he was elected in 1909. He is a Republican in his political associations. Fraternally he belongs to the I. O. O. F.

In June, 1906, Mr. Cessna married Mar- garet Divens, of Glen Campbell, daughter of William and Margaret (McCaully) Divens; her father was engaged in mining. Mr. and Mrs. Cessna have two living children, Marga- ret Melissa and Elizabeth Irene; two children died in infancy.

William Stewart, son of Jolin Stewart, was born in County Pictou, and became an opera- tor in the coal mines of his native place. In 1880 he came to Pennsylvania, locating first in Sullivan county and working in the coal mines of that section. Later he spent four years working in the plant of the State Line & Sullivan County Railroad Company at Bernice. In 1884 he went to Colorado and became a coal miner at Greeley, where he remained two years, from there going to Rock Springs, Wyo., at which point he was in the mines owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. After eighteen months he re- turned to Pennsylvania, and followed mining in Sullivan county until 1892. In that year he went to Jefferson county, where he worked in the Coal Glen mines, and in 1903 went to Center county, where he continued mining until 1905, that year coming to Indiana county and locating at Rossiter. He mined there for the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Com- pany until seven months prior to his death, which occurred July 27, 1907. He is buried in the cemetery attached to the Presbyterian Church of that place, having been a member of that denomination and served as elder iu his church. Fraternally he held membership in the Odd Fellows.

William Stewart married Jenette McDon- ald, who survives him and resides at Rossiter, this county. They had the following chil- dren: John Murdock; Alexander, who lives at Du Bois; Hugh, who died in childhood; William, who died in childhood; James, who is a coal miner, resides at Rossiter, Pa., and is married to Mary Mitchell, and Hugh Allen, who is a clerk in the company store at Ros- siter, Pennsylvania.

John Murdock Stewart shows forth in his useful life what a man can make of himself, for he is essentially a self-made man. He was only four years old when brought to Pennsyl- vania, and but six when the family went to Colorado. His childhood training was broken in upon by the frequent changes, but he at- tended school whenever possible, for he was an ambitious lad, and early began to make himself useful. When he was twelve years as a picker of slate, receiving fifty cents per day. After a year lie became his father's helper, so continuing until he became office

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 63

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