Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 73

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 73

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FRANK FISHER MOORE, M. D., physi- Iron Company at the Lucerne mines, in Center township, Indiana county, has been in practice since 1903 and at his present lo- cation since 1907. Dr. Moore was born in the State of Ohio Nov. 5, 1880, son of George and Margaret (Fisher) Moore, who were temporarily residing in Ohio. They were natives of New Jersey.

Dr. Moore was quite young when his par- ents moved to Bridgeton, N. J., and there he received his early education in the public schools, graduating from high school in 1897. He then entered upon a thorough course of preparation for his chosen profession, attend- ing the Medico-Chirurgical College, at Phil- adelphia, where he took the full courses in pharmacy and medicine, graduating from that institution May 23, 1903. For a short time thereafter he was engaged as a druggist at Atlantic City, N. J., thence going to Punxsutawney, Jefferson Co., Pa., where he became house physician at the Adrian hospital until June, 1904. He then took the State examination at Pittsburg, which he passed, and moving to Yatesboro, Armstrong county, was made assistant surgeon for the Cowan- shannock Coal & Coke Company, being thus engaged until he received his present appoint- ment, in 1907. As physician of the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company at the Lucerne mines, in Center township, he has care, and his conscientious disposition and thorough experience qualify him for this work in an exceptional degree. He is well liked personally as well as in his professional ca-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

community. He is medical examiner for the 1905. He purchased property upon settling Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a in the borough, and the comfortable home member of the Indiana County Medical his widow now occupies was erected in 1904. Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Mr. Mikesell was a Democrat in political con- nection, but took no active part in such matters. Society and the American Medical Associa- tion. Socially he is connected with the B. P. O. Elks at Indiana. In politics Dr. Moore is a Republican, and he has been associated with the local activities of his party, in whose welfare he takes considerable interest. Dr. Moore enjoys hunting and is a good sports- man.

On June 17, 1907, Dr. Moore married, at Pittsburg, Jean Craig, daughter of James and Margaret (Patterson) Craig, and they have one child, Francis Craig.

On March 10, 1868, Mr. Mikesell married, at Blairsville, Indiana county, Sarah (Sallie) Ellen Holmes, who was born in Brushvalley township, this county, and received a good education, attending public school and the academy at Pineflats. To Mr. and Mrs. Mike- sell were born two sons: Addison Holmes and Torrence. The latter, born Sept. 10, 1876, is deceased. The former, born Feb. 20, 1869, in Center township, was married June 13, 1888, to Monetta Ralston, daughter of Samuel Ralston, of Cherryhill township, this county, and they have two living children, Arthur Talmage and Helen Beatrice; they also had

JOHN P. MIKESELL (deceased) was a most respected resident of Center and White townships, Indiana county, where he was a prosperous farmer and stock dealer during sons John and Walter Gilbert, now deceased. his active years. For some time before his Addison H. Mikesell resides on his own farm death he lived retired at Indiana. Born Nov. in White township. 19, 1833, on his father's farm at Graceton, in Center township, he belonged to a family of German extraction, being a son of Adam Mikesell and grandson of Jonas Mikesell, of Brushvalley township, this county. The Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Mikesell is thoroughly alive to busi- ness activities in the borough of Indiana, in which she takes an intelligent interest. Broad- minded and highly respected for her many sterling qualities, she is an honored and in- latter married a Miss Altimus, of Pike county, fluential member of the community. She is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which her husband also belonged.

Adam Mikesell, father of John P. Mike- sell, was born in 1794 in Center township. He passed his life in agricultural pursuits in that township, where he purchased the tract of five hundred acres upon which he resided until his death. He died, however, in Wash- ington township, while on a visit, in Novem- ber. 1877. He was a citizen of worth and high character, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Mikesell married Margaret Bricker, who died in Center township, and they had children as follows: Israel, Mary, born in Milford, Kent Co., Del., and Mrs. Philip. Enos, Violet (married William Sut- ton). Jonas. John P. and George.

The Holmes family, of which Mrs. Sallie E. (Holmes) Mikesell is a member. came from Ireland, her father, George Holmes, being but three months old when brought to this . country. He was a carpenter by trade, doing fine woodwork principally, being employed in the construction of some of the best dwellings erected in his day in Indiana county. He died in Cherryhill township, this county, when his daughter Sallie was quite young. He married Eliza Ann Watterson, who was

Mikesell was the youngest of their thirteen children.

.John P. Mikesell was reared on the farm and received his education in the common THOMAS D. THOMAS, assistant superin- tendent of the Rochester Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company at Lucerne, in Center town- ship, Indiana county, is an experienced coal miner and a competent man for the respons- ible position he fills. He is of Welsh extrac- tion, his grandfather. William Thomas, hav- ing been a native of Wales, where he lived and died. schools of Center township. There he hegan life for himself as a farmer. and he remained in his native townshin until the fall of 1879, when he removed to White township. He was engaged in general farming and stork deal- ing. shipping stock to Philadelphia. He came into possession of 112 acres of his father's property in Center township. In 1890 Mr. Mikesell retired and moved to the borough of Thomas D. Thomas, father of Thomas D. Indiana. where he passed the rest of his davs Thomas, was born in Wales and was also a in retirement, his death occurring Dec. 31, miner by ocenpation. Upon coming to Amer-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ica he located at Morris Run, in Tioga Ireland, born about 1763. There he grew to county, Pa., where he followed that calling manhood and married Margaret Campbell, who was born about 1769, and four children were born to them in their native home: for many years, later moving to Punxsutaw ney, Jefferson county. There he remained until his death, which occurred Feb. 29, 1908, John, born about 1797; Robert, born about and he is buried at that place. He was mar- ried in his native country to Esther Jenkins, daughter of William Jenkins, a native of Wales, who also settled at Morris Run, Tioga Co., Pa. Fifteen children were born to them, of whom seven still survive, namely: Mar- garet, Daniel J., William G., Esther (Mrs. Davis), Thomas D., Evan J. and Lewis.

Thomas D. Thomas was born Nov. 3, 1874, at Morris Run, and educated in the public schools of the home district, and he was only a boy of eleven when he began work in the mines at Morris Run. After that he attended public school at night for a time, later enter- ing Duff's business college, at Pittsburg, from which institution he was graduated in the year 1900. He then became office man and accountant at Reynoldsville, Jefferson Co., Pa., where he was employed for a period of five years, at the end of that time going to DuBois, Pa., and taking a position in the office of the Falls Creek Coal Company, as bookkeeper. He continued there for the next eighteen month:, following which he was at the Big Run mines as superintendent, remain- ing there two years. He has since been with the Rochester Pittsburg Coal & Iron Com- pany, as assistant superintendent of the plant at Lucerne, in Center township, Indiana county. Mr. Charles Cronk is superintend- ent. Mr. Thomas is a trusted employee, and his work at Lucerne has been highly credit- able to his ability as well as to his faithful- ness in the performance of everything in- trusted to him. He is unmarried, and makes his home at Lucerne.

Socially Mr. Thomas is a Mason and Odd Fellow, belonging to John M. Reed Lodge, F. & A. M., and to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Lindsey, Jefferson Co., Pa. His political sup- port is given to the Republican party, and he is a Methodist in religious connection.

WILLIAM CRAIG MACK, farmer and coal operator of East Wheatfield township, is a member of the Mack family numerously represented in East and West Wheatfield townships, Indiana county, where it was es- tablished over a century ago by his grand- father, Robert Mack. He was born Sept. 1, 1843, on his father's farm near Garfield, in West Wheatfield township.

1799; James, born March 3, 1800; and Jean, born about 1803. In the early part of 1803 Robert Mack with his wife and four children left their native home for America. While they were crossing the Atlantic, on a slow- going sailing vessel, their little daughter Jean died and was buried at sea, the body' being placed in a sack, weighted at the feet with sand. The burial service was read by the captain. After landing in the New World the family made their way west of the Alle- ghenies, locating in Wheatfield township, In- diana county, Pa., where Mr. Mack settled down to farming on a 400-acre tract. He had to erect the log cabin for his family, and began a hard fight for existence in the wilder- ness which lasted many years. By steady industry and thrifty habits he managed to develop his farm and make many improve- ments, and he spent the remainder of his life on that place, dying there Aug. 2, 1850. He was buried in Bethel Church cemetery, in what is now West Wheatfield township, and a headstone marks the last resting place of himself and wife. Mr. Mack in religious principle was what was known as a Seceder, later joining the Bethel United Presbyterian Church. He was an old-line Democrat on political questions. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying on the farm Nov. 17, 1839, at the age of seventy years, and was laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. She, too, was a member of Bethel United Presbyterian Church. She was the mother of thirteen children, those born in Wheatfield township being : David; William; Samuel; Armstrong ; George; Jean (2), who married William Mc- Lean, and resides in West Wheatfield town- ship ; Margaret, who married Hugh St. Clair, and removed to Iowa; Elizabeth (Betsey), who married William Campbell, being his second wife; and another of whom we have no record.

David Mack, son of Robert and Margaret (Campbell) Mack, was born in 1802, and was reared in West Wheatfield township. He ob- 'tained his education at subscription schools, attending at an old log schoolhouse provided with plank desks and slab seats; the windows were of paper. The instruction was as prim- itive as the equipment, but he mastered the three R's. From early boyhood he assisted

Robert Mack was a native of County Down, with the farm work at home, and worked 74

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

on the Philadelphia and Pittsburg turnpike pany as carpenter, and also made barrel when it was in course of construction. Later staves and shooks in both Westmoreland and he worked with the railroad construction Indiana counties, doing such work for two years, at $1.25 a day. On Aug. 9, 1864, he enlisted at Pittsburg in Company G, 6th Heavy Artillery, under Captain Hadley and Colonel Barnes, and continued in the army until the close of the war, taking part in the grand review at Washington. After receiv- ing his discharge at Pittsburg he returned home and began farming, cultivating a tract of fifty-three acres for the next ten years. He then bought the Plowman farm of eighty acres in East Wheatfield township, and in 1910 he bought the Jolın Dick place (known as the old John Tomb farm), a tract of 142 acres on which he now makes his home. Farming and stock raising have always been his occupations, and with the help of his sons he now operates over two hundred acres. There is also a fine coal bank on his farm which he and his sons have developed and operate .. He has been elected to local offices, having served as supervisor, road boss, and overseer of the poor in his town- ship, and he is a substantial man, one whose influence and aid are considered beneficial to any cause he espouses. Originally a Re- publican in politics, he is now associated with the Prohibition party, being a strong advocate of temperance. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church at Armagh, of which he is a trustee. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school. gang. He settled down to farm in West Wheatfield township, near what is now Gar- field, on a tract now occupied by his son Samuel, and there followed farming the rest of his days. When he took up his residence there he erected a log house and barn, later putting up a frame dwelling and barn, and making numerous other improvements upon the property. He engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising, and also operated a sawmill on Germany run. He was one of the prominent citizens of the township in his day, not only active in business but also asso- ciated with the administration of public af- fairs. In politics he was a Democrat, in religious connection a lifelong member of the United Presbyterian Church and active in all its work. He and his wife are buried in the Bethel U. P. Church cemetery. Mr. Mack died on the farm in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. His wife, Matilda (Craig), who was born in 1809 near Indiana, died in 1895, at the age of eighty-six. They had a large family, namely : Robert, who married Elizabeth Brant- linger and (second) Sarah Adamson, died in West Wheatfield township in 1912; Jacob, who married Mary Jane Wakefield, died in West Wheatfield township in' 1909; John, a farmer of East Wheatfield township, married Elizabeth Murphy ; David, who married Mary Jane Kerr, now resides at Clyde, this county ; William Craig is mentioned below; Matilda (Tillie) married Samuel G. Walbeck and re- On Nov. 18, 1866, Mr. Mack married Sarah Elizabeth Mars, a native of Clearfield county, Pa., daughter of William Mars. She died in 1897, and is buried in Bethel Church ceme- tery in West Wheatfield township. Nine children were born to this union, as follows: William Edgar, who is a farmer and coal operator in East Wheatfield township : Emma Elizabeth, widow of Harry Campbell: Ma- tilda, who was the first wife of Harry Camp- sided at Heshbon, this county; Samuel, who lives on the old homestead in West Wheatfield township, married Charlotte Roof and their children are Bart, Charles, Theresa and Ew- ing; Thomas, who married Kate Roof or Ruth, died at Graceton, Pa .; and James W., a carpenter and contractor, lives at Johns- town, Pa. Few families can equal the record of this one for patriotism. Six of the sons served in the Civil war, Jacob and John in Company E, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry ; David in Company K, 177th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry; Robert, John and David were in Company H, 206th Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Greer and Col. Hugh J. Brady; William was in the 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.

bell, he marrying Emma E. after Matilda's death; Jesse Mars, a farmer in Buffington township, this county; Benjamin A., who is a storekeeper at Coral, in Center township; David Wellington, a farmer of East Wheat- field township; Leal James, living on the homestead, who married Zoe Ling; Gilbert. farmer on the David Kelmer place; and John, unmarried, who is engaged as a store- keeper.

William C. Mack grew up on the home farm, and spent his boyhood at work there and in attendance at the local public schools. JOHN W. WILLIAMS. who carries on Later he worked for the Cambria Iron Com- agricultural pursuits in Green township, Indi-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

iana Co., Pa., was born in that township Nov. the Christian Church. Mr. Williams has 21, 1833, son of Daniel and Mary (Waters) never married. Williams.

Rev. Daniel Williams, the paternal grand- father of John W. Williams, was born in the south of Wales, and was a Baptist minister. He never came to this country. He married Jane Matthews, also a native of that country, and they had a family of six children.

Daniel Williams, son of Rev. Daniel Wil- liams, and father of John W. Williams, was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, and came to the United States in young manhood. After a three months' voyage he landed at Baltimore, Md., and from that city came to Ebensburg, Pa., there for about two years following the blacksmith's trade, which he had learned in his native land. In 1831 Mr. Williams came to Indiana county, settling at Mitchells Mills, where he purchased land and engaged in farming, but never gave up his trade, at which he worked in connection with tilling the soil and lumbering until his death, in June, 1865 .. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, as follows: Gwen- nie, who is a resident of Pineflats, Pa .; Philip, Hannah and Mary, all deceased ; Jane, the wife of Dr. James Dinwiddie, of Phil- lipsburg, Pa .; Evan, deceased; a child who died in infancy; John W .; and Rachel, who is deceased.

John Waters, the maternal grandfather of John W. Williams, died in Monmouthshire, England, and his widow, Mary (Jones) Waters, subsequently came to the United States with her only child, Mrs. Williams, later marrying a Mr. Arthur, by whom she had. three children.

John W. Williams, son of Daniel Williams, was educated in the district schools of Green township, his boyhood being divided between the old log schoolhouse, surrounded by tim- ber, which he attended during the short winter terms, and the home farm, to the hard work of which his summers were given. He was reared to habits of honesty, industry and integrity, and thoroughly trained to the vo- cation of farming, in which he has been en- gaged all of his life. At this time he is the owner of a property whose general aspect of prosperity testifies mutely but eloquently to the presence of thrift and good management. For one and a half terms Mr. Williams has served on the board of school directors of Green township, and in every possible man- ner has demonstrated his public spirit when movements of a progressive nature have been advanced. His religions connection is with

JOHN H. McGUIRE, of Clymer, Indiana county, has in his work as contractor and carpenter done his share in the material up- building of that borough, in whose interests he has been active in various ways from the very beginning, having settled there about the time the town was founded. He was born Oct. 22, 1862, in Cherryhill township, where the town of Clymer is now located, and is a son of John and Mary E. (Kerr) McGuire, both of whom were natives of the State of Pennsylvania. John McGuire, the father, was an early settler in Indiana county, and followed farming there in his younger days. He continued to make his home there until his death, which occurred in February, 1897. His widow still survives. Their fam- ily consisted of six children : Levi, the eldest, who lives in Indiana county ; Jennie, wife of John Oligher, living in Indiana county ; Martha, who is deceased; John H .; Mary, wife of Luther Helmer, of Indiana county; and Clara, wife of J. S. Rowe, of Dixonville, this county.

John H. McGuire attended school near where the town of Clymer is now situated. When a boy he did farm work, which he continued to follow until 1893, at that time moving to Indiana, where he lived for two years. While there he was engaged at the trade of carpenter, which he had learned, but he returned to farming for a time, moving from the county seat to Rayne township, this county, where he purchased a farm upon which he lived for several years. From the farm he removed to Clymer, at the time that town was being organized, and he took an active part in the organization. He became a member of the first council of the borough, serving two years in that body and giving efficient service. He has taken the contracts for and built many of the residences in the borough, and he also acts as janitor of the schoolhouse, to which position he was ap- pointed by the school board.

On March 10, 1887, Mr. McGuire was mar- ried to Elmira Rowe, who was born in Rayne township, Indiana county, in June, 1869, daughter of John I. and Lucinda (Mence) Rowe, natives of Rayne township; they were early settlers in Rayne township, where Mr. Rowe engaged in farming and has continued to follow that vocation all his life. He and his wife are still living in Rayne township. They have had eleven children. Two children

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGuire:

Dr. Harmon was graduated from the high Ora, who is deceased, and John M. Mr. Me- school of his native place in 1902, and im- Guire and his family are members of the mediately thereafter began carrying out his Baptist Church.

ARCHIE J. STEWART, stockman and farmer of Cherryhill township, Indiana county, whose property is located near Penn Run, was born on the farm he is now oper- ating Oct. 31, 1854, son of Archie and Eliza- beth (Johnson) Stewart.

Archie Stewart, grandfather of Archie J. Stewart, was born in Center county, Pa., and came to Indiana county in 1839, settling on the farm which is now owned by his grandson. He spent the remainder of his life in farm- ing and became a well-to-do agriculturist.

Archie Stewart, father of Archie J. Stew. art, was born in Indiana county, and at the time of his father's death was given the old home property, on which he spent his active years. He and his wife, who was also a native of this county, and who died when still a young woman, had a family of three children : Miss Miranda, a resident of Indiana; Archie thusiastic over the sport. Professionally he J .; and a twin sister who died at the age of eight years.

Archie J. Stewart acquired his education in the public schools of Cherryhill township, and as a youth was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he has always followed. He inherited the old homestead from his father, and has made numerous improvements thereon. He was married Sept. 25, 1889, to Mary E. Thayer, who was born June 21, 1864, in Indiana county, daughter of Wil- liam and Catherine (Howe) Thayer, early settlers of the county, where Mr. Thayer was engaged in farming for some years; at this time he is living retired, making his home in Philadelphia. His wife is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have had children as fol- lows: Cornelia, Helen, Archie F., Robert, Virginia and Catherine, all of whom reside at home. The family is connected with the Presbyterian Church, its members being well and favorably known in church circles.

CLAIR GUY HARMON, M. D., a physi- cian of West Lebanon, Indiana Co., Pa .. was born at Sinclairville, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1882, son of James M. and Martha J. (Phillips) Harmon.

James M. Harmon comes of an old Con- necticut family, while his wife's people came from Vermont. He is a prosperous farmer of New York State, and is also interested in handling real estate.

ambition to become a physician by entering the medical department of the University of Kentucky, at Louisville, from which he was graduated in 1906, with the degree of M. D. After leaving college he practiced medicine for a short time at Bear Lake, Pa., and then became interne in the Braddock general hos- pital, at Braddock, Pa., in which connection he gained very valuable experience. Sever- ing his relations with the hospital Dr. Har- mon went to Vandergrift, Pa., where he was in active practice until the fall of 1908, in that year locating at Jacksonville, in Young township, this county. In 1909 he bought the practice of Dr. J. T. Cass, at West Lebanon, Pa., and here he has built up a large and constantly increasing practice, which reflects credit upon his skill as a physician and popularity as a man. Using an automobile in visiting his patients, Dr. Harmon has devel- oped a love for driving his car, and is en-

belongs to the county and State medical societies and keeps himself abreast of the progress made in his science. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, while his political affil- iations are with the Republican party. The Presbyterian Church has in him a valuable member.

Dr. Harmon was married in Indiana to Grace V. Learn, and they have two children, Robert Marvin and Martha May.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BUTLER, jus- tice of the peace, is a farmer in Burrell town- ship, Indiana county, residing on the prop- erty on the Huntingdon, Cambria and Indi- ana turnpike which has been the home of tlie family for the last forty years. He was born May 8, 1865, in West Wheatfield town- ship, this county, son of Washington Butler.

The Butlers are one of the oldest Irislı families in Pennsylvania, and their recorded history goes back over two hundred years. A very complete account of its members dur- ing that period, down to the present time, has been written and published ; George Washing- ton Butler made material contributions to the work, which was gotten up at great ex- pense. James Butler, father of William But- ler, who founded the family in America, was born in 1718 in the parish of Cookeny, County Wicklow, Ireland, and received his education in Dublin. He married in 1739 (wife's name not known), and his children were: Thomas.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 73

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