Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 68

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 68

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The maternal grandparents of William E. Barrett, George and Alice (Earl) Stacey, came to the United States in about 1848 or 1850, and settled first in New York. There Mr. Stacey contracted fever, was taken to a hospital, and all trace of him thereafter lost. His daughter, Mary Jane, mother of William E. Barrett, was born in 1840, came to America in 1854, and to Indiana county about 1857, here marrying Mr. Barrett.

William E. Barrett, son of Cyrus Eugene and Mary Jane (Stacey) Barrett, was edu- cated in the home schools and Glade Run as

Mr. Barrett is a Republican in his political views, and has served as a member of the school board for three years and as auditor for two terms. He assisted in organizing the Dayton lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, and was made a member of that society while a resident of Kansas. Mr. Bar- rett has always been a member of the Lu- theran Church, and in addition to being ac- tive in church work has taken much interest in the activities of the Sunday school, of which he has been superintendent. A suc- cessful business man, a citizen who takes an interest in all that affects his community and an excellent friend and neighbor, Mr. Bar- rett holds the regard of his fellow citizens in a high degree, and is justly considered one of his community's most representative men.

GEORGE HENRY ELBEL is one of the farmers of Banks township, Indiana county, who are trying modern methods in their work with excellent success. He was born April 21, 1867, in the northern part of the county, in Banks township, son of Charles William Edward and Regina (Renno) Elbel. Charles William Edward Elbel, the father,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

came to this country with his parents from the raising of good farm stock. He has made Saxony, Germany, in 1848, when fifteen

a specialty of the latter line, and has also years old, the eldest of the family of five given considerable attention to intensive farm- children, three sons and two daughters. They ing, with which he has experimented to ad- vantage. Mr. Elbel is recognized by all his fellow citizens as a thoroughly progressive and well-balanced man, and they have shown their faith in his ability by electing him to office. He was auditor of the township for three years and school director for three years, serving two years as president of the school board. In religion he is a Presbyterian, be- longing to the Union Church in Canoe town- ship, and he has been quite active in church work, serving as clerk of the session, of which he was a member for twenty-one years. He was the first president of the Christian En- deavor Society, organized in 1894, at the Union Presbyterian Church, served a number of years as superintendent of the Sunday school and was also assistant superintendent for several years. Mr. Elbel was originally a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of the United States, which in May, 1906, united with the Presbyterian Church of America, by the united action of their gen- eral assemblies in Des Moines, Iowa, and De- catur, Iowa. There were only two Cumber- land congregations in Indiana county. For many years Mr. Elbel held membership in the Knights of Pythias, but is not associated with that organization at present. He is a Republican on political questions, favoring the progressive wing of the party, and has always taken great interest in the Prohibition movement. made the voyage to Baltimore on a sailing vessel, the trip taking forty-nine days, and they remained in Baltimore one month. From that city they proceeded to Cumberland, Md., and thence by canal and stage to Pitts- burg, Pa., where they were three months. They then removed to Jefferson county, Pa., where the father bought land and started a tannery, his son Edward living there with him and in the neighborhood until about 1866. He settled in Banks township, buying a tract of 167 acres of woodland which he proceeded to clear, and meantime, for about ten years, continued to follow his father's trade, tan- ning, establishing the first tannery in the northern part of the county. He also car- ried on lumbering with considerable success, first stocking other mills, then building a water mill for cutting his logs, later a steam mill. He became a much respected citizen of his community, and was elected to the office of school director, in which he served efficiently. He died Feb. 8, 1905, survived by his wife and eight children. On Oct. 13, 1861, Mr. Elbel married Regina Reuno, who was born in Butler county, Pa., Oct. 2, 1838, daughter of John Renno, and is still living in Banks township, now (1912) aged seventy-four years. The Renno family came to America from Saxony, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Elbel had a family of ten children, of whom two are deceased, the survivors being : Charles William ; George Henry ; Mary ; Mag- On May 22, 1900, Mr. Elbel was married to Ida Ethel Lewis, of Home, Indiana Co., Pa., daughter of Stephen C. and Sarah Lewis, farming people, and they have a family of four children: Edward Clark. Melvin Park. Sarah Grace and Gussie Arveta. gie, wife of Herman Bowers, a contractor and builder of Clearfield, Pa .; Sarah Emma, wife of James A. McKee, a farmer of Banks town- ship; Theresa Jane, wife of Clyde Frampton, a stationary engineer, of Big Run, Pa .; Ber- tha, wife of Bert Bee, a carpenter, of Ros- siter, Pa .; and Ida M., wife of Earl V. Bow- ers, a merchant, of Banks township.

George Henry Elbel attended the common schools in his boyhood and youth, and later went to Duff's business college in Pittsburg. He began work as his father's assistant in his lumbering operations and farming, continuing with him practically until his death, though about two years before he had begun to follow lumbering and farming for himself, being thus engaged about nine years. He now devotes practically all his attention to farming, own- ing a fine place of 167 acres in Banks town- ship, about one hundred acres cleared, where he follows general agricultural pursuits and

WILLIAM DRIPPS BASH, of Indiana, Pa., is a veteran of the Civil war and an hon- ored and useful citizen of his State. He was born Jan. 22, 1846, on a farm in Grant town- ship, Indiana county. This farm, owned by his father, Jacob Bash, Jr .. furnished the site for the town Colfax, better known as Decker's Point.

The grandfather, Jacob Bash, Sr., came with his wife from Germany, bought a farm in Westmoreland county, Pa., and settled on it. There Jacob Bash, Jr., was born Dec. 28, 1806, and there he grew up. He married into the McKelvey family, Ang. 23, 1827, his bride being Mary MeKelvey. They purchased

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the Grant township farm already referred to, had walked fifteen miles to perform their and became one of the leading families of that vicinity. This farm was their home for many years, and the birthplace of their eleven chil- dren, namely: James M .; Jacob C .; Sarah A., who died in infancy ; John L .; a daughter that died in infancy ; Mary Jane; Isabella L .; Elizabeth E .; Rebecca A .; William D .; and Catharine. Nine of these grew up, married, and raised families of their own.

The father directed the work on his farm, and ran a brick kiln and pottery besides. While yet a young man, he taught English and German. In the fall of 1859, he removed with his family to Centerville, W. Va. He purchased a farm in the woods and cleared and cultivated it. There he lived and pros- pered until the period of the Civil war. Then he offered himself for Union service, but was rejected because of his advanced years. He tried to make up for his age by publicly ad- vocating loyalty and preaching against seces- sion throughout the disputed territory of West Virginia, and by furnishing three sons for the Federal army. He became known for his strong Union sentiments, and in 1863 was taken prisoner by the Confederates and thrown into Castle Thunder, Richmond, Va. There he died of abuse and starvation, Nov. 15, 1863. His farm was, of course, a part of the territory claimed by both North and South, and as such was of service to both armies. The women of the home voluntarily contributed supplies for the Northern troops. The Southerners confiscated all that was left. Their guerrillas overran the fields, taking erops, horses, cattle, and even household fur- niture. Necessary bedding had to be hidden in the woods by day so as to be safe for the family's use at night. The last horse was taken from under its rider. One of the daugh- ters, Rebecca, was dragged from its back when she was returning home from an errand to the nearest town. She fought for the horse but was overpowered and had to complete her journey on foot, triumphantly carrying the old saddle, a treasured relic from her Pennsylvania home.

mission, but were refused, being under size and under age for enlistment. Disappointed and footsore, they trudged back home, but not without hope, for they had left their names with General Westfall, asking that he send them to the company and regiment stationed at Beverly, W. Va. That night the parents of the boys gave them written permits to en- list. Armed with these, the two started out the next morning to walk to Beverly, more than fifty miles away. Arriving there at about eleven o'clock the following morning, Aug. 13, 1862, they were made soldiers, and as members of Company B, 10th West Vir- ginia Volunteer Infantry, did honorable serv- ice until the end of the war. The regiment was sent into the Shenandoah valley to help build fortifications and winter quarters. It remained at Beverly until the following spring, and then joined in the Shenandoah valley campaign under General Sheridan. The boy William Bash fought in the following battles: Beverly, July 3, 1863; Droop Moun- tain, Va., Nov. 6, 1863; Leetown, Va., July 3, 1864; Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 7, 1864; Snicker's Ferry, Va., July 17, 1864; Kerns- town, Va., July 24, 1864; Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864; Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 22, 1864. Soon after this last fight, he was smit- ten with typhoid fever, and sent back to Win- chester. For the whole trip of twenty-five miles he lay on the bare boards of a govern- ment wagon, and deep sores were rubbed on his back before the journey was ended. Two days later he was transferred to the hospital at Martinsburg, thence to Baltimore, and when he was able to sit up was sent to the Mower United States general hospital at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Here he con- tracted diphtheria, and while he was still sick the war ended. He was discharged from the service, with honor, May 23, 1865.

Meanwhile, news of the father's death in prison had reached the mother and daugh- ters; their farm stock and products had by this time all gone to the soldiers; the fields were constantly being devastated by guerril- las ; nothing of value seemed to remain of the

In the meantime her three brothers were doing patriotic service in the Union army. new home. So, vanquished by the ill fortunes Jacob C. and James M. were enlisted in the of war, the women left their place and came 67th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The back to Indiana county, Pa. The mother died latter was killed in the battle of Cold Har- March 13, 1886. bor. William D. Bash, the subject of this William D. Bash joined the family in In- diana county when the war was over, broken- in health under the hardships and exposure of his army life. He tried to engage in farm work, and even learned a trade after the local sketch, was the youngest of the brothers. He, with a neighbor boy, Noah Crawford, offered himself to a company of light artillery which was being recruited at Buchannon. The lads

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

custom, but was practically an invalid for cational organizations. Mr. Bash has a sol- many years. When his health returned in a dier's modest pride in being a member of the measure, he engaged with the Chase Broth- fast thinning ranks of the Union Veteran Legion, and the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Post No. 28. ers' Nursery Company of Rochester, N. Y., as salesman, and has been with them during all of his business life. They regard him as one of their most efficient and popular WILLIAM McMILLEN, a farmer of Grant township, was born in Montgomery township, this county, Nov. 4, 1853, son of Simon Me- men. For years he made the nursery busi- ness a real study and has attained to a knowl- edge of local conditions which renders him Millen.

valuable to both firm and customers. The latter rely upon his unfailing honesty and judgment and courtesy, and have come to re- gard him as a friend in all business dealings.

On Oct. 11, 1872, Mr. Bash married Mary Ellen Jamison, daughter of William and Han- nah Jane (Clowes) Jamison. Four children have been born of the union : Laura is a pub- lic school teacher in her home town, Indiana; Pearl, who was also a teacher, is married to Prof. Albert Kerr Heckel, Ph. D., of Pitts- burg; Thaddeus S., who married Gertrude Brand, of Indiana, is an employe in the office of the Steel Car Works at Butler, Pa .; and Gladys is a public school teacher at Cone- maugh, Johnstown, Pa. All of the children were.educated at the Pennsylvania State nor- mal school at Indiana, and the danghters have had college training. The son added to his regular normal school training the course of instruction provided in the commercial de- partment of that same institution.

Mrs. Bash's father, William Jamison, was married (second) Mrs. Sarah Ellen Wire, by born Jan. 10, 1829, in Washington township, whom he had no children, all of his family Indiana county, and died Jan. 9, 1901. He was a farmer all his life, a Republican in poli- tics, and a Baptist in religious connection. He married Hannah Jane Clowes, daughter of John and Sarah (Hicks) Clowes, well-to-do farming people of Washington township. The Jamisons came from Scotland, the Clowes family from England. Six children were born to William and Hannah J. Jamison: One died in infancy; John C., born Nov. 7, 1856, died when three years old; Sarah Catharine, born Oct. 24, 1858, married Charles C. Long, now of Glen Campbell, Indiana county ; Stewart was born Oct. 3, 1861; George T., born April 2, 1863, is principal of the Cen- tennial school at Mckeesport, Pa., and is mar- ried to Annie Edmundson, formerly a teacher in the same school; Mary Ellen, born Jan. 28, 1854, is the wife of William D. Bash.

Mr. and Mrs. Bash have been residents of Indiana for twenty-six years, and are worthy representatives of the town. They are promi- nent in the First Baptist Church, and are ac- tively affiliated with various social and edu-

Simon McMillen was a farmer of Montgom- ery township and became a heavy land owner in that section. Settling first on sixty acres of land, he built there a log house which served the family as a shelter until he re- placed it with a handsome frame residence and a barn of like value. After bringing his original holdings into a good state of cul- tivation he added to his farm, and became one of the leading agriculturists of his town- ship, carrying on general farming and stock raising. He died on his farm and was buried in Fairview cemetery. A consistent member of the Baptist Church, he lived up to its faith and was an excellent man. The Republican party had in him a stanch supporter, but he never sought office.

Simon McMillen married Leah Fridley, who was born in Center county, Pa., daugh- ter of Jacob Fridley, and died in May, 1874. She is buried in the same cemetery as her husband. After her demise Mr. McMillen

being born to his first marriage, viz .: Martin lost his life while in the service of the Union army during the Civil war; Sylvester, who is a farmer of Montgomery township, married Mary Minser, a sister of George A. Minser. of East Mahoning township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and they have nine chil- dren, Ella (who married James McCoy), Al- bert (who married May Biss), Charles (who married Margaret Rose), Mark (who mar- ried Estella Neal), Sadie (who married How- ard Hileman), Orange (who is at home), Ray (at home). Claire (at home) and Clarence (at home) ; William is mentioned below; John, who is a farmer of Montgomery township, married Mina Daugherty, a daughter of James Daugherty, of Grant township, and they have three children, Zeddie (who married Mary Flannigan), Lola (who married James Irwin) and James Blain (who is at home).

William McMillen attended the public schools of his native township during the winter months, and worked on the farm in the summers until he was of age, when he com-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

menced farming on a sixty-acre tract. This cellent qualities. Mr. and Mrs. McMillen are land was in a wild state and had no buildings, the parents of the following children: Effie but with the energy which has always charac- Alice, born July 5, 1875, married Matthew Hamilton, of Grant township; Vernie Pearl, born June 29, 1881, married Alexander Sterner, of Grant township; E. F., born May 18, 1886, who conducts the meat market owned by him and his father, married Bertha Kinter, a daughter of Porter Kinter; Stanley Q., born Sept. 15, 1890, is at home. terized him, he began improving his place, erecting a good frame residence and fine barn, as well as other outbuildings. He cultivated it as a general farmer and stock raiser for nineteen years, during which period he had very materially increased its value, so that when he sold it he was able to realize a hand- some figure. In 1892 he came to Grant town- Mr. McMillen affords an excellent example of the thrifty Pennsylvania agriculturist who, beginning with nothing, has developed his re- sources until he is now one of the leading men of his community. He has found no royal road to fortune, but has quietly and indus- triously pursued the road which lies open to every honorable man willing to work, and has reached the goal of his desires. ship, settling on his present farm of 106 acres, which at that time was only partly cleared. Since coming here he has changed everything, now having one of the best farms in the town- ship, fully supplied with all necessary build- ings, including a handsome residence and substantial and commodious barn. Later he added to his holdings until he now owns 140 acres, and is specializing on raising and deal- ing in horses, cattle and hogs. In 1905 he erected a slaughtering house on his farm, and since then has been engaged in butchering in addition to his agricultural pursuits. His meat market, which he built in the coal min- ing town of Wilgus, compares favorably with any in the county. Since he was sixteen years old Mr. McMillen has been interested in lum- bering, and has at different times worked in the lumber camps and rafted down the Sus- quehanna river to Lock Haven and Marietta. Until 1904 he was interested in taking con- tracts for lumber, operating in Indiana, Jef- ferson, Clearfield and Forest counties for nearly thirty-five years, with very gratifying results.

A stanch Republican, he has always been a strong supporter of his party and its prin- ciples and takes a deep interest in current events. For fourteen years he has been a school director, two of these years serving in Montgomery township, and is now treasurer of the board in Grant township. He has been inspector of elections upon many occasions. The Golden Rule doctrine is his religion, and he attends the Baptist Church. For some time he was a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M.

Mrs. William McMillen has taken consider- able interest in the early history of her grand- parents. Col. James Gardner, born in 1774, was a tailor by trade, and cut and made George Washington a suit of clothes. Mrs. McMillen has the iron and scissors that the clothes were made with and she has a room furnished with the old-fashioned articles- bedstead with old-fashioned curtains around the bed, bureau, chest, split-bottom chair, and rocking chair, clock and looking-glass. She also has a white sunbonnet that her Aunt Margaret Gardner made seventy years ago with her own fingers, and there is not a hole in it yet. Though she has been asked to sell the old furniture she would not part with it, for she always loved to go to her grandparents to visit in the old log house, with its old fire-place. But she did not like to stay all night, for next to the lower log in the house there was a hole cut to let the cats out and in, and they always talked about so many wild cats being around that when a child she was afraid they would crawl in at that opening and devour her.

D. DONALD PATTERSON, former prin- cipal of the school at Clymer, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Green township, Indiana county, Jan. 21, 1886, son of William E. and Jane M. (Griffith) Patterson, and a grandson of Thomas and Magdalena Patterson and of Thomas and Margaret Griffith. Thomas Pat- terson was born in Cherryhill township, In- diana county, July 7, 1814, and his wife Magdalena (Dunkel) was born in Brushval- ley township, this county, June 1, 1820. They were married May 9, 1844, and located near

William McMillen was married in June, 1874, in Grant township, to Loretta Ann O'Harrah, born in Grant township July 18, 1854, daughter of John and Nancy (Gardner) O'Harrah, and granddaughter of Col. James Gardner, who gained his rank during the Mexican war. Mrs. McMillen is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and is as popular in that organization as she is throughout the neighborhood, where she has gained many warm friends because of her ex- the Salem Church in Green township, where

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

they resided until his death, May 11, 1888. his family. Before his death he became the She still survives, being in her ninety-fourth owner of 300 acres of land. His first wife, Mary, died in August, 1794, aged twenty- seven years. The second wife of John Rob- inson bore the maiden name of Isabell Gas- ton, and she died March 11, 1822, aged forty- five years. year. Thomas Griffith and his wife Margaret (Williams) were both born in Wales, on Oct. 8, 1812, and Dec. 18, 1820, respectively. They were married Jan. 7, 1847, and came to this country in 1851, locating near the site of Salem Church.

William E. Patterson was born in Indi- in Armstrong township, Indiana county, and ana county Jan. 2, 1850, and has spent his life here, still carrying on agricultural oper- ations on his farm in Green township. On July 4, 1878, he married Jane M. Griffith, born Jan. 7, 1859, also a native and resident of Indiana county, and they have three chil- dren, namely: Leona Adeline, born June 11, 1879, who is the wife of H. W. Cameron, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Edna Evelyn, born Oct. 31, 1881, who is the wife of E. F. Parry, re- siding near Pineflats, Indiana county; and Dwight Donald.

D. Donald Patterson attended the country schools in Green township and as a youth worked on his father's farm. Later he was a student in the Rural normal summer school and prepared himself for teaching, entering the educational field in 1903, and since then has continued in what he has found to be congenial work. He taught two terms in the Griffith school in Pine township, later taught the East Branch school in Barr township, Cambria county, and the Gardner school in Susquehanna township, also in Cambria coun- ty, and afterward was principal of the Cherry- tree schools, in Indiana county. In 1910 he was called to Clymer to become principal of the Clymer school, and this position he filled very acceptably until he went to pursue higher studies in Juniata College, at Hunt- ingdon, Pa. He is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and is well known in the pleasant social life of Clymer. He is a con- stant student, and keeps well informed con- cerning all public affairs, taking especial in- terest in all movements that appear contrib- utive to educational advancement.

WILLIAM GIBSON ROBINSON, better known as William Robinson, a justice of the peace of Shelocta, was born Jan. 17, 1836, in Armstrong township, Indiana Co., Pa., a son of John Robinson, and grandson of John Robinson.

John Robinson, Jr., was born Dec. 15, 1788, died on his farm Aug. 29, 1865. He married Oct. 2, 1817, Jane Gibson, born April 20, 1790, who died in 1885, aged ninety-five years, twen- ty-seven days. Their children were: Polly, born Oct. 5, 1818, married Andrew Sharp ; Lydia, born Aug. 31, 1822, married John Stewart, and died March 12, 1900; Isabell, born Jan. 28, 1824, died unmarried; Nancy, born July 4, 1825, married William Brackan ; Margaret, born March 18, 1827, married John McCauslan and is deceased ; Eliza Jane, born Sept. 30, 1828, married James Dickson ; Sarah, born May 25, 1830, married John McClain; John Jamason, born May 1, 1832, died Aug. 17, 1824; Martha Ann, born March 17, 1834, married James Campbell; William Gibson is mentioned below; Caroline, born Oct. 21, 1837, married R. H. MeHenry, and resides in Hicksville, Ohio. John Robinson was a farmer all his life and became the owner of 126 acres of land. He was prominent in church work and a man of influence in his community.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 68

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