Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 7

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 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ZACHARIAH LEARD, son of John and Mary Ann (Elder) Leard, was born Jan. 3, 1823, in Young township, and was six years old when the family settled in Blacklick township, where he grew to manhood and received his early education, attending public school at Roaring Run. He studied surveying there. Settling on the homestead place, he engaged in general agricultural pursuits, but he also gave much time to surveying in Indiana and Westmoreland counties, and he was frequently called upon to settle up estates, draw up deeds, etc. His proved integrity held the con- fidence of all his fellow citizens, and he was not only called upon to help them adjust their personal affairs, but he was also honored with public trusts of various kinds, serving as school director, assessor, etc. He was active in everything with which he became identified. A Republican in politics, he was a valued sup- porter of that party in his neighborhood. In religious matters he was a Presbyterian, and a prominent member of the Ebenezer Church of which his family have been leading mem- bers for so long; he served as trustee and as a member of the building committee which had charge of the construction of the new church. He died on his farm Jan. 3, 1900, on the seventy-seventh anniversary of his birth, and was laid to rest in the Ebenezer Church cemetery. Few men in the locality were better known, and none more respected for high moral worth.

On April 8, 1852, Mr. Leard married Jane rank of major. At Eldersridge Mr. Leard. Kelly, a native of White township, Indiana county, daughter of Meek and Jane (Moor- head) Kelly, and granddaughter of Fergus Moorhead. Mrs. Leard died Feb. 10, 1863, while still in the prime of young womanhood, leaving three children: Sarah Augusta, who resides on the homestead; Meek Kelly, who is a member of the lumber manufacturing firm known as the C. P. Hough & Leard Com- pany, at Tarentum, Pa. (he married Mary Elizabeth Pownall) ; and Mary Jane, who lives at the old homestead with her sister. The Misses Leard are members of the Eben- ezer Presbyterian Church, to which their

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

mother also belonged. She is buried in the In his death Marion Center was deprived of cemetery of that church.

HENRY MARTIN FLECK, deceased, who was a man not only well known in Marion Center but also throughout Indiana county, was born Feb. 22, 1837, in Huntingdon county, Pa., son of George and Catherine (Noble) Fleck.

Conrad Fleck, grandfather of Henry Mar- tin Fleck, is the first of the family of whom Stitt. there is definite knowledge.

George Fleck, son of Conrad Fleck, was Pa., to Pittsburg at an early day, and there married in Sinking Valley, Huntingdon Co., died aged fifty-seven years. Pa., and in 1840 came to Indiana county, set- tling in North Mahoning township, where he and his wife died. He was a shoemaker by trade, and worked as such all his life. The children born to George Fleck and wife were: Samuel, who was a soldier in the Civil war, married, and died in the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio; Sarah Ann became Mrs. Frank Ramey, and died in Trade City, Indiana county; Mary Jane, who married Joseph Gates, is living at Johnstown, Pa., being now eighty-two years old (she has had sixteen children) ; Henry Martin is mentioned be- low; Martha Ellen married Taylor Ritchie, of West Mahoning township; Frank died in Johnstown, Pa .; Gabriel lives at Johnstown.

Henry Martin Fleck grew to manhood's estate in West Mahoning township, and there learned the carpenter's trade, following it during the summer and working in the lum- ber woods in the winter. He was crushed between two logs and so had to abandon hard manual labor, and hence embarked in the ho- tel business at Marion Center, in March, 1884, so continuing until his death, which occurred July 15, 1912. He was a Presbyterian in re- ligious faith, and a Republican politically.

On Jan. 29, 1863, Mr. Fleck was married to Elizabeth MeClusky, of West Mahoning town- ship, a daughter of Andrew and Eve (Ga- hagan) McClusky. The former was county commissioner and county treasurer of In- diana county and a man of importance. A brother of Mrs. Fleck, Benjamin Franklin Mc- Clusky, was county treasurer, and died while in office Ang. 15, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Fleck became the parents of the following children : Frank Earl, who is deceased; William, who is deceased; and M. Edith, who married John Adamson, and is living at home.

a reliable and honorable citizen, and his fam- ily of a valued member. It is such men as he who demonstrate that faithfulness and de- votion to duty pay in the long run.

WILLIAM H. STITT, a real estate dealer and insurance agent of Blairsville, Indiana county, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 8, 1846, son of Alexander and Anna B. (Lippy)

John Stitt came from Huntingdon county,

Alexander Stitt, son of John Stitt, and father of William H. Stitt, was born in 1820 in Huntingdon county, and moved with his father to Pittsburg, where he hecame a pros- perous plastering contractor. His death oc- curred in 1883 in Blairsville, Pa. His wife, who was a native of Maryland, was also born in 1820, and lived until 1904. Alexander Stitt joined the Republican party on its or- ganization and gave it his undivided support the remainder of his life. He was a man of energy, and not only gave valuable support to local affairs, but could be counted upon in matters relating to larger things, for there was never a big or wholesome movement ou foot in the State that he was not interested in. A thoroughly competent man in his special line, he developed a prosperous business and died a man of considerable means.

William H. Stitt attended the public schools of the Fourth ward in Pittsburg, Shafer's commercial college, and art school, being taught mechanical drawing in the latter institution. Following this he learned the carpenter trade with Slack & Sholes, remain- ing with this firm for six years. His business career was broken into by his service to his country during the Civil war, but in 1869 he began conducting a planing mill at the Fifth avenue extension to Pittsburg, thus continu- ing for two years. In the fall of 1871 he located at Blairsville, where he has since re- mained, at that time becoming a member of the planing mill firm of Walker, Stitt & Co., and so operating until 1874. In that year he sold his interest to his partners, and con- tinued to work at his trade until 1882, when he bought the "Silver Maple Hotel" in Blairs- ville, now the "Merchants' Hotel," and put it into first-class order, conducting it for six and a half years. In 1890 he leased this property, although he retained the ownership, and in 1898 he embarked in an extensive realty busi-

Mr. Fleck was a man of fine traits of char- acter, and developed into a citizen of sub- stance. His hotel was popular and he is still remembered by those who were his guests. ness, later adding the writing of insurance.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

His success along these kindred lines has been land county, and after three years there came very gratifying, and his holdings are given to Indiana. He is a young man of undoubted consideration by prospective buyers.

On Aug. 23, 1864, Mr. Stitt was mustered patronage.

into the Union service under Capt. George Dr. Wood was married May 28, 1907, in In- diana, to Mary M. Jones, of Latrobe, West- moreland county, daughter of Daniel W. and Mary Jones. Dr. and Mrs. Wood are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of Indiana Lodge, No. 313, F. & A. M., the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity which Morgan at Pittsburg, where he had enlisted, and among many engagements participated in the following : Weldon Railroad, Peebles Farm, Thatcher's Run, Dabney Mills, Quak- er's Road, Boydton Plank Road, White Oak Grove and Five Forks. He was honorably discharged at Columbia College hospital, he joined at State College, the Psi Omega Den- Washington, D. C., on account of a wound in tal Fraternity (at the Medico-Chirurgical the abdomen received at Quaker's Road, Va., college), and the Society of Stomatology. In March 29, 1865.

In 1868 Mr. Stitt was united in marriage with Anna E. McKinley, of Allegheny, daugh- ferment. ter of Samuel Mckinley. She died in 1869. In 1872, Mr. Stitt was married to Jennie M. Hoffman, of Parnassus, Pa. The following children were born of this marriage: Harry E., of Cleveland, Ohio; Millie I., who is the wife of William Spear, of Blairsville; Anua Blanche, who is deceased; Jean and Eugene, twins; and Arthur of Blairsville.

politics he is associated with the Republican party, but he has never sought public pre-

WALTER BATES GEORGE, who lives two miles west of Homer City, in Center township, Indiana county, is one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of that section. He was born Oct. 2, 1835, in Arm- strong township, Indiana county, son of John and Mary (Brown) George.

Mr. Stitt has been a member of the council James George, grandfather of Walter Bates of Blairsville several times, and has proved George, was the first of this family to come himself a very efficient man in that office. A to America. He was a native of Ireland, and charter member of Finley Patch Post, No. was only a small boy when he worked his way 137, G. A. R., he was its first quartermaster, and has been its commander as well. In 1866 he joined the Methodist Church and has been a generous supporter of same ever since. A man of progressive ideas, Mr. Stitt has lived in conformity with what he believes to be the best interests of his community, and no one stands higher in the public estimation than he.

EDWIN K. WOOD, D. D. S., engaged in the practice of dental surgery in Indiana bor- ough, Pa., was born in old West Indiana bor- ough, Indiana Co., Pa., Nov. 29, 1879, and is a son of William Hervey and Mary (Kim- mell) Wood.

over on a sailing vessel, landing in the New World with just one shilling in his pocket. Being entirely without friends, he was soon obliged to part with that, spending his last penny for a crust of bread and a tin of but- termilk, but he soon found work, and before long had succeeded in saving enough money to bring him over the Allegheny mountains into western Pennsylvania. He stopped near New Alexandria, on the Loyalhanna creek in Westmoreland county, where he obtained em- ployment chopping timber and clearing land, the region being then a wilderness. After working thus for a time he took up 300 acres of land for himself near Snodgrass's Mills, where he built a stone house, using the small stones found on the place. Working early and late he managed to clear a farm and make a home for his family, and he lived to enjoy the fruits of his labor, reaching a ripe old age. In religion he was a Presbyterian, in politics a Democrat. He married Mary Mc- Clure, of Westmoreland county, and they had eight children: Polly, who married Robert Woodward; Sally, who married William Trimble; Martha, who married William Cald- well, of Indiana, proprietor of the old "Gom- ter, of Westmoreland county; John, of Arm-

Edwin K. Wood received his preliminary education in the public schools of Indiana bor- ough, following which he became a student in the Indiana high school, being graduated therefrom with the class of 1896. He sub- sequently spent one year in the Indiana State normal school, for three years devoted his activities to civil engineering, and spent one year at State College. He next became a stu- dent in the Medico-Chirurgical College of Den- tistry, at Philadelphia, from which he received his degree and graduated with the class of 1903. He immediately engaged in the prac- pers Hotel"; Eliza, who married James Fos- tice of his profession at Smithton, Westmore-

ability, and has built up a large professional

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

strong township, Indiana county; Thomas, of class repair, but he is a thorough manager in Clarion, Pa .; James, of Brookville, Pa .; and William, who remained on the homestead, caring for his parents.

John George, son of James and Mary (Mc- Clure) George, was a young man when he lo- cated in Armstrong township, Indiana county, on a tract of 250 acres where he first erected a hewed log house. He cleared the land and continued to make improvements until by his industry and thrift he had established a good home, and there he spent the rest of his life as a farmer, dying at the age of eighty years. His wife Mary (Brown), daughter of Walter Brown, was born in England, and came to America with her parents when twelve years old. She was noted for her intelligence and many sterling qualities, and her fine penman- ship won much admiration. Mrs. George died on the homestead at the age of sixty-one years, and she and her husband are buried side by side in the Jacksonville cemetery. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. George was a Democrat. Nine children were born to this couple: Selina married Leasure Mckean, of Janette, Pa .; James Walter, twin of Selina, is deceased, and is buried in Oakland cemetery, at Indiana; Evaline Emma, now the widow of Elliott Thompson, resides in Pocahontas, Iowa; Wal- ter Bates is mentioned below; Hannah Mary married Ephraim Davis and (second) a Mr. Cunningham, and resides in Janette, Pa .; Phoebe died when six years old ; Wm. Harvey died at the age of nineteen years; Martha Ann died at the age of sixteen; Johu A., a retired railroad man, resides in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

trade of carpenter with Charles MeCracken, with whom he worked two years. While an apprentice he received a dollar a week, and for the six years following, when he was work- ing for himself, he earned from sixteen to eighteen dollars a month and his board. Dur- ing this time he was employed at Shelocta and Marion Center, Indiana county. In 1859 he came to Center township and purchased the Thomas Hamilton farm of 130 acres, upon which he erected a large frame barn, modern dwelling and other buildings. The barn was destroyed by fire July 31, 1909. As a busi- ness farmer Mr. George has few equals in his section. ITis skill as a carpenter has naturally aided him in keeping his buildings in first-

every respect, neglecting nothing that would add to the value or appearance of any of his holdings. He has been able to add to his landed possessions, having bought three farms, of 168 acres, sixty acres and sixty-nine acres, respectively, adjoining his original purchase, and he has also bought and sold three hun- dred acres near Josephine and sixty-eight acres east of Homer City. His practical methods and systematic work have made him very successful as a farmer and stock raiser, and though now in his seventy-eighth year he continues to direct the farm work, his property bearing evidence of his master hand in its well-kept buildings and altogether at- tractive surroundings no less than in its fer- tility. Though he has always worked steadily he is vigorous in mind and body, and as in- terested in the affairs of his family and com- munity as ever. He has been a man of strictly temperate habits, never using tobacco or spirits.

On March 3, 1859, Mr. George married Nancy Jane Hamilton, who was born March 1, 1835, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Johnson) Hamilton, of Center township, and died June 16, 1909. They celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding appropri- ately in March, 1909. Mrs. George was a woman of high Christian character, a lifelong member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church, and is buried in Greenwood cemetery, at In- diana. Mr. George became associated with the Presbyterian Church at Homer City in early manhood, helped to build a church there, and was elder for many years. He now at- tends the Bethel Church, of which he is an active member. In his political views he has always been a Republican.

Walter Bates George attended school in Armstrong township and worked on his father's farm until he reached the age of eigh- Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. teen years. Then he left home to learn the George: (1) Anna Mary, born April 14,

1860, married William B. Crawford, of Eld- ersridge, Pa., and has one child, Walter Ham- ilton. (2) James Harvey, born Oct. 1, 1861, married Elsie Baker, of Center township, and has one child, Leah Jane. (3) Thomas Frank- lin, born Oct. 3, 1869, who lives on a farm near the homestead, married Catherine Rob- inson, of Armstrong township, and they have five children, Wayne, Nancy Elizabeth, Wil- mer, Esther and Carl. (4) William Hamil- ton, born July 11, 1877, lives on the home- stead. He married Wilda J. Clark, of Center township, daughter of John R. Clark, and they have three children, Martha Jane, Elsie Genevra and Walter Clark.

HAMILTON. The Hamilton family of Cen-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ter township, of which the late Mrs. Walter ing as elder of the Bethel Church. He died Bates George was a descendant, is of Scotch Jan. 8, 1877, and is buried near his parents extraction, but this branch has been on this side of the Atlantic for over one hundred fifty years. The early home of the family was at Hawmilltown, Scotland, and the coat of arms was a sawmill.

James Hamilton, the first of this line to settle in Pennsylvania, came to America in 1750 and married a Miss Laughlin. They had three sons, Hugh, James and William, all of whom, according to family tradition, partici- pated in the Revolutionary war in defense of the Colonial cause. After the close of the war the family came to western Pennsylvania, lo- cating in that part of Westmoreland county which became Indiana county, William Ham- ilton (son of James) settling on what is now known as the Brookside farm, on Cherry run, owned by Walter B. George. He owned a tract of 130 acres which he cleared and culti- vated, built a house and a barn, and made other improvements, though his arm was crip- pled as the result of injuries he received while serving in the Revolution. He became one of

taking a deep interest and active part in pub- lic affairs of town and county. He was justice of the peace or trial justice for many years, holding his court on the farm, where he had an office constructed of round logs. He had charge of all the court work east of the river. He spent all his days on the farm, dying there July 8, 1839, at the age of eighty-four years ; he was born in 1755. His remains rest in the Bethel Church cemetery in Center township, where a fine marble headstone, erected by his granddaughter, Mrs. Walter B. George, marks his last resting place. In re- ligion he was a stanch Presbyterian, and a ruling elder of the church in which he held membership. Mr. Hamilton married Jane Allison, who was born in 1765, daughter of Robert and Beckie (Baird) Allison, and died Oct. 25, 1842, aged seventy-seven years. They had the following children: James, Robert and John, all of whom died in White town- ship, Indiana county ; Thomas; Mary S., who died unmarried; Margaret L., who died un- married; and another daughter whose name is not given.

Thomas Hamilton, son of William, was born . March 16, 1797. He settled on the homestead place, where he followed farming and stock raising all his life, and he became a the borough, having served as member of the well-known and highly respected man in his locality. He was a Republican in politics and in religious connection a Presbyterian, serv-

in Bethel Church cemetery. On Dec. 15, 1825, Mr. Hamilton married Anna Johnson, who was born Dec. 12, 1799, daughter of James Johnson, and died Oct. 11, 1870; she, too, was a member of the Bethel Church and is buried in the cemetery there. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton: Mary Ann, born Jan. 31, 1827, died Oct. 11, 1851; Jane, born Feb. 16, 1828, died Feb. 23, 1835; Sarah Tate, born Oct. 13, 1833, died June 25, 1875, was the wife of Robert Thompson, of Rayne township, Indiana county ; John John- son, born Oct. 13, 1833, died Nov. 5, 1834; Nancy Jane, born March 1, 1836, married Walter Bates George; William Wilson, born March 18, 1837, died May 16, 1842; Eliza- beth Margaret, born Oct. 29, 1838, married James George, of Armstrong township, In- diana county ; Euphemia, born Nov. 13, 1840, died July 14, 1842 ; James Johnson, born Sept. 9, 1842, died May 31, 1850.

WILLIAM HUDSON McQUILKIN, of the leading men of the township in his day, Glen Campbell, Indiana county, chief clerk and paymaster at that point of the Indiana Coal Company, and manager of the Mammoth Supply Company's general store in the bor- ough, has lived in this part of Indiana county practically all his life. He was born Oct. 3, 1876, in Montgomery township, son of John Thomas and Anna Elizabeth (Gardner) Mc- Quilkin. The father was a carpenter and mill- wright, and particularly skillful and well known as a barn framer. He died Aug. 27, 1908; Mrs. McQuilkin died in 1888.

William H. McQuilkin attended public school and acquired a good education, in his earlier manhood following the teacher's pro- fession, at which he was engaged for a few terms in Glen Campbell. Then he took a business course, 'attending the Tri-State Nor- mal College, at Angola, Ind. In 1903 he en- tered the employ of the Indiana Coal Com- pany, at Glen Campbell, in the capacity of chief clerk and paymaster, and has continued to fill that position ever since, in addition act- ing as manager of the general store of the Mammoth Supply Company at Glen Camp- bell. He is also interested in the Giant Elec- tric Light, Heat & Power Company and is one of the directors. Mr. McQuilkin has done his share in promoting good government in council. In fraternal connection he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F.

On June 14, 1904, Mr. McQuilkin married

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Lola Asenath Holman, of Friendsville, Md., seminary, and was reared to the life of an daughter of W. F. Holman, a blacksmith and agriculturist, a vocation which he followed wagon manufacturer, and they have had one son, John Holman, born Aug. 8, 1906. throughout his career. He held a captain's commission in the minute-men, and had com- Mr. McQuilkin is one of the most progres- sive and enterprising young business men in his part of the county, and his intelligence and foresight entitle him to rank among its most valuable citizens. mand of a company which participated in the activities of the war of 1812. His first wife, Mary Stewart, died without issue, and his second union was to Isabella McConahey, the widow of James McConahey. They located in Mahoning county, Ohio, where Mr. Imbrie REV. JAMES M. IMBRIE, whose long and faithful service has made him one of the best- beloved ministers of the United Presbyterian ministry in Indiana county, was born Jan. 22, 1841, in Mahoning county, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Isabella (McConahey) Imbrie. died at the remarkable age of ninety-five years, Mrs. Imbrie passing away when eighty years of age. They had a family of three children, as follows: Rev. James M .; Mary J., who mar- ried Isaac M. Justis; and Robert, deceased. The last named served for three years during the Civil war, first enlisting for nine months in the 134th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and at Chancellorsville he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was subsequently ex- changed and sent home, and later enlisted in the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

James Imbrie, his grandfather, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was married in Phila- delphia, Pa., to Euphemia Smart, also a native of Glasgow. They left America at the time of the outbreak of the Revolutionary war to re- turn to their native land and take possession of certain property which had been left Mrs. Imbrie by her father. They then again set sail for this country, but were caught in a shipwreck, and although their lives were spared they lost nearly all their earthly pos- sessions. Mr. Imbrie was in poor health and hired a substitute to serve in his place in the Continental army, but had a narrow escape from falling into the hands of the British sol- diers stationed at Philadelphia, who, hearing that he had been keeping powder in his little store to supply the Colonial troops, searched the place. Mrs. Imbrie, however, was more than a match for the Britishers, for she slipped around by a rear entrance, secured the powder and hid it in a pile of ashes. In later years Mr. and Mrs. Imbrie moved to Washington county, Pa., where both died, his wife meet- ing her death by being gored by a mad bull in the barnyard. They had the following chil- dren: David, a United Presbyterian minis- ter, at Darlington, Pa., who married a Miss Reed; James, who married a Miss Maloney, and died near Salem, Ore .; Robert ; John, who died in Beaver county, Pa .; George, who died at Wellesley, Ohio; Euphemia, of Holmes county, Ohio, who married a Mr. Beaver, and (second) a Mr. Guinn; Elizabeth, who mar- ried a Mr. Guinn; Jane, who married Henry Maloney ; and Mary, Mrs. Flack.

James M. Imbrie grew to manhood in Ma- honing county, Ohio, and as a lad attended the country schools in the vicinity of his father's farm. He was subsequently sent to Westminster College, where he had been a student two years when the Civil war broke ont, and he became a private in Company E, 23d Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the same regiment in which the late Presidents McKinley and Hayes served. Mr. Imbrie's service covered a period of three years, twenty-three days, his regiment being attached to the Army of the Potomac, and he served in such hotly-contested engagements as South Mountain and Antietam. At the conclusion of a brave and brilliant service he returned to college, but while he was in his junior year his brother died and he was obliged to return to his home. Subsequently he read law and was admitted to the bar, later going to Nebraska, where he was engaged in practice in Cass rounty for some time. While there he became interested in the work of the United Presby- terian Church, and later returning to Penn- sylvania entered Allegheny Theological Semi- nary, from which he was graduated during the following spring. While in that institu- tion he was a roommate of Rev. Samnel G. Fitzgerald, who now has a charge in Phila- delphia. Mr. Imbrie was first sent as pastor of the churches of Clinton and Shiloh, in But- ler county, later had charge of the Mt. Zion congregation in Armstrong county, and eventually was sent to Murrysville and Beu-

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 7

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