Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 75

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 75

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On Aug. 6, 1888, Mr. Campbell was mar- ried to Carrie Alcorn, who was born in West Wheatfield township, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Campbell) Alcorn. Five children have been born to this union: Edna (who has taught for three years, being engaged in Brushvalley township), Lester, Wilbur and

In 1901 Dr. Ackerson married Dora E. McCollough, a native of Cherryhill township, who died Oct. 13, 1903, and they had one son,

Doyle, all living at home, and one son who Dale. Ou Sept. 21, 1909, Dr. Ackerson mar- died in infancy.

LEWIS E. ACKERSON, D. D. S., has been settled in practice at Clymer since 1907, previous to which time he was at Penn Run, Indiana county. He was born in Cherryhill township March 23, 1867, and with the excep- tion of the time he has been away for study has spent his life there.

ried (second) Margaret Dixon, who was born Dec. 18, 1886, in Center county, Pa., daughter of George and Elizabeth (Houston) Dixon, natives of Scotland who came to Pennsyl- vania many years ago. Mr. Dixon is now en- gaged in farming in Cherryhill township. He and his wife had a family of twelve children, namely : Alexander, who resides on a farm; Roper H .; George, deceased; Margaret, wife

James P. Ackerson, father of Dr. Lewis E. of Dr. Ackerson; Thomas; Elizabeth, wife of Ackerson, was born in Sussex county, N. John Rumgay, of Clymer; John; Christina,

wife of Jay Gibson, of Clymer; Agnes; Adam; William G., and Anna.

J., where he married Emma M. Barber, also a native of that county. In 1866 they came to Indiana county, Pa., settling in Cherryhill Dr. Ackerson and his wife have one son, James Lewis, born July 16, 1912. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. So- cially he belongs to Indiana Camp, No. 40, Woodmen of the World. township, where Mr. Ackerson engaged in farming, following that occupation for sev- eral years. Later he engaged in the mer- cantile business at Pine Flats, which he car- ried on for two years, at the end of that time purchasing a farm near where he had first J. WILSON THOMPSON, health officer of Indiana borough, probation officer of the settled. There he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerson have had a family of seven Juvenile court, former deputy sheriff of Indi- ana county, is a well-known citizen of his town and county. He was born March 30, 1845, on his father's farm in Rayne town- ship, where the Thompson family has been settled for over a century.

children : Lewis E .; James Wesley, who is a farmer in Cherryhill township; Mary M., de- ceased; Judson, deceased; Ada B., wife of John L. Bence, a farmer of Cherryhill town- ship; Frank, who is a farmer near Marion Center, this county ; and Nora, who was mar -. Robert Thompson, the founder of the fan- northern part of Indiana county. He was ried in the spring of 1912 to Lewis Shaeffer, ily in this country, was an early settler in the of Brushvalley township, Indiana county.

Lewis E. Ackerson was the eldest child of born in 1737 in County Derry, Ireland, and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

came to America in 1789 with his wife Mary died June 13, 1829. He made his home on (Cannon) and their six children: Hugh, the middle portion of the tract where he set- tled in 1795 to the end of his days. In Sep- tember, 1791, in Westmoreland county, he married Martha Thomson, who was of Scotch descent but a native of County Derry, Ire- land, born in 1770. She was the fifth child of James and Mary Thomson, who moved from Westmoreland county, Pa., to Nicholas county, Ky. Mrs. Thompson died Sept. 10, 1848. Seven sons and two daughters were born to her and her husband, all natives of Rayne township but the eldest (or eldest two) : (1) Mary, born Oct. 10, 1792, was married Oct. 5, 1815, to John Fenton, and died Dec. 24, 1829. (2) Jane C., born July 26, 1794, died May 1, 1837. She married John B. Henderson, who was born in 1793 and died Nov. 5, 1844. (3) Joseph, born Jan. 12, 1797, died Oct. 27, 1882. He married in May, 1822, Euphemia Moorhead, who was born in 1800 and died Sept. 27, 1873. He was at one time associate judge of Indiana county. (4) James, born July 24, 1799, died May 9, 1837, in Philadelphia, while buying a stock of merchandise. On March 16, 1825, he married Ann E. Ayers, who was born Oct. 2, 1803, and died Aug. 28, 1889. (5) Robert, born Dec. 13, 1801, died Jan. 10, 1879. On June 9, 1825, he married Mary Leasure, who was born Feb. 29, 1804, and died Jan. 23, 1870. (6) John, born June 1, 1803, was a well-known and prominent citizen of Ebens- burg, Pa., where he died Dec. 5, 1879. He married Ellen J. Patton, who was born Feb. 19, 1806, and died March 6, 1872. (7) Wil- liam C., born April 12, 1807, was married near Mansfield, Ohio, to Harriet Ferguson, who was born April 10, 1819, and afterward removed to Steuben county, Ind., where he died May 31, 1890. (8) Hugh A., born April 1, 1810, was for two terms prothonotary of Clarion county, Pa., afterward clerk in the State department under Governor Curtin. and still later cashier of the First National Bank of Indiana, Pa. He died April 23, 1886. On Feb. 21, 1834, he married Elizabeth Mul- holland, who was born Oct. 29, 1816, and died Feb. 8, 1890. (9) Samuel Henry was Martha, James, John, Margaretta and Eliza- beth. They left Ireland May 29th. They first settled in Franklin county, Pa., thence moving to near Old Salem Church, in Derry township, Westmoreland county, Pa., where they remained for a few years, in 1795 re- moving to what is now Rayne township, Indi- ana county, and settling on Thompson's Run, nearly two miles above where Kelleysburg now is. The son Hugh and his young wife Martha, with their infant daughter, had at- tempted to settle there alone in 1793, but Indian hostilities compelled them to return to their former home south of the Conemaugh river. Their permanent settlement in 1795 was made comparatively safe by the defeat of the Indians by General Wayne in August, 1794. Robert Thompson and his wife, to- gether with their son Hugh and son-in-law Hugh Cannon, were among the founders of the Gilgal Presbyterian Church, about four miles from their home. Mr. ,Thompson se- lected his farm from the northern portion of the tract upon which the family settled, and after he and his wife died their son James and daughter Margaretta, neither of whom ever married, occupied it. Mr. Thompson died Oct. 13, 1809, and Mrs. Thompson on Jan. 25, 1815. They and all their children but Hugh lived beyond the allotted threescore and ten, and they are buried in the cemetery near Gilgal Church, where they all attended worship. Of the six children, Hugh is men- tioned fully below. Martha, born in 1775, resided with her husband, Hugh Cannon, upon a farm which was the southern portion of the tract settled in 1795, and died Sept. 5, 1848, in Rayne township, the mother of seven sons and one daughter, William, Robert, John, Fergus, James, Joseph, Hugh M. and Mary T. James, born in 1778, died Feb. 13, 1849. John, born in 1781, married Mary Mc- Cluskey April 26, 1810, and settled upon a farm west of his father where he lived until his death, March 27, 1859; his children were Mary Jane, Matilda, Eliza A., Robert and Margaretta. Margaretta, born in 1785, was

burned to death Feb. 23, 1864. Elizabeth, born March 5, 1814.

born in 1788, married Henry Van Horn in Maj. Samuel Henry Thompson, youngest 1815, and resided in East Mahoning township, of the family of Hugh Thompson, passed his where she died Feb. 13, 1858, her husband dying in 1877; their children were Mary C., Dorcas L., James T., Tabitha L., Robert T., Isaiah V. and Harry A. youth in Rayne township in much the same manner as other farmers' sons of the day. He received his education in the subscription schools. Soon after commencing life for him-

Hugh Thompson, eldest son of Rohert, was self he engaged in merchandising, but gave it born in 1767 in County Derry, Ireland, and up to return to farming because of the great

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

financial crisis. The farm on which he lo- August, 1865, arriving home just a few hours cated in East Mahoning township, and where he lived for nearly twenty-four years, was bought by Johnston Lightcap in 1861, and in 1862 he moved back to Rayne township, set- tling on a larger farm above Kelleysburg, on Thompson's run, which he had purchased from Daniel Stanard, Esq. His sons T. St. Clair and William Laird afterward owned and occupied the southern part of this farm; the former died March 31, 1912.

Major Thompson was one of the leading citizens of this section in his day. He gained his title in his connection with the State mil- itia. He became very prominent as an ardent Abolitionist, and was closely associated with Dr. Mitchell in the assistance of fugitive slaves, his place being a station on the "un- derground railroad." He took an active part in local affairs, serving as school director when the public school system was first inaugurated and being one of the original board of man- agers of the Marion select school. At the time home farm.

of his death, which occurred on his farm in

before the death of their father. He married May 22, 1866, Mary C. Owens, who was born Feb. 28, 1846, and died in July, 1904. He died July 25, 1909. (4) James Wilson, born March 30, 1845, is mentioned below. (5) Thomas St. Clair, born Sept. 13, 1846, was a member of the 206th P. V. I. during the Civil war, serving as a musician. On Oct. 13, 1869, he married Marietta Brady, who was born Feb. 19, 1850. He died March 31, 1912. (6) Edwin Reynolds, born March 5, 1848, died March 27, 1877, and is buried in Oakland cemetery. He was unmarried. (7) Robert Alexander is mentioned elsewhere in this work. (8) Elizabeth Hindman, born Aug. 10, 1851, was married Jan. 25, 1876, to George W. Simpson (who was born Jan. 26, 1847), and they live in Santa Barbara, Cal. (9) William Laird, born July 14, 1855, was mar- ried May 29, 1884, to Louisa Barber, who was born April 12, 1858, and they live on the

J. Wilson Thompson grew to manhood in

Rayne township Aug. 15, 1865, he was serving East Mahoning township, and was trained to as auditor of the county, to which office he farming. In January, 1864, he enlisted in had been elected on the Republican ticket. He the Signal Corps of the United States army was one of the founders of the Smyrna United Presbyterian Church, near Georgeville, served as ruling elder of that congregation for over twenty years and was long one of its main supporters. His wife also belonged to that church. They are buried in Oakland cemetery at Indiana.

for three years' service, and served twenty months, being stationed at City Point, Va., most of the time. He was with the Army of the James when the war closed. Returning to his native county, he entered the employ of A. M. Stewart & Co., hardware merchants of Indiana, by whom he was engaged as clerk for the next nine years, after which he served as deputy under Sheriff J. R. Daugherty. In 1884 he entered the employ of Henry Hall, in connection with the Auditorium, and sub- sequently, in addition to his duties there, took the responsibility of looking after the M. E., Presbyterian and First U. P. churches, having all these for five years. He still continues to act as janitor of the Auditorium and First U. P. church. In this and various other ca-

On April 12, 1838, Major Thompson mar- ried Flora A. Stewart, who was born June 1, 1818, daughter of John K. and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Stewart, the former an old-time merchant. She died May 11, 1869. We have the following record of the nine children, eight sons and one daughter, born to this mar- riage: (1) Hugh S., born Sept. 9, 1839, mar- ried June 10, 1863, Harriet N. Work, who died Ang. 21, 1896, in the Philadelphia German hospital, while undergoing an operation. On pacities he has become particularly well known Aug. 18, 1901, he married (second) Mary M. to his fellow citizens. Since 1875 he has been humane officer of the borough. Since 1875 he has been ticket taker at the main gate of the grounds of the Indiana County Agricultural Fair Society, and since 1875 he has been in charge of the door, as ticket taker, of the In- diana County Teachers' Institute, beginning his services as such under County Superin- tendent Craighead. McAnulty, who was born in 1846 and died April 29, 1911. (2) John Stewart, born in October, 1841, served in the Civil war. On May 6, 1866, he married Maggie T. Moor- head, who was born Oct. 5, 1843, and died June 3, 1867. His second marriage was to Frances A. Smith, who was born May 2, 1846, and died Sept. 8, 1885. (3) Archibald S., born Jan. 23, 1843, was a member of the On May 10, 1869, Mr. Thompson married United States Signal Corps during the Civil Virginia Keslar, of Indiana, daughter of Law- war, serving with the Army of the James. He rence and Eve (Boucher) Keslar, and she died and his brother Wilson were discharged in in 1884, the mother of seven children: Ger-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

trude, now the wife of H. A. Waddell, of general blacksmithing, and there continued Leechburg, Pa .; Lawrence K., of Vander- the remainder of his life, his death oc- grift, Pa., married to Lottie George; Mar- curring in 1873, when he was past sixty- garet, wife of Irving Ray, of Saltsburg, Pa .; Merle, of Youngstown, Ohio, married to Cath- erine Hollis; Reynolds, who died at Scottdale, Pa., when twenty-one years old; Ella, unmar- ried, who lives at home; and Wendell P., de- ceased, who married Flavia Smith. Wendell P. was but three days old when Mrs. Thomp- son died.

LUMAN GILBERT, a veteran of the Civil war, and retired blacksmith, of Homer City, Indiana county, belongs to one of the old and honored families of this section, and was born in West Wheatfield township, Indiana Co., Pa., Jan. 7, 1844.

The Gilbert family came from New Eng- land, and Luman Gilbert, the grandfather of Luman, was born in Connecticut, son of a Revolutionary soldier. He settled in the Wy- oming valley, in Pennsylvania, and there made his home for years. He was a soldier during the war of 1812, and was made blind by the explosion of a cannon, at the age of forty- five years, although he continued to operate his grist and saw mill. In 1858, in his de- clining years, he went to Burlington, Iowa, to make his home with his son Henry, who took care of him in his old age, and with whom he

Luman Gilbert was still an infant when his parents moved to Homer City, and here he died at the ripe old age of ninety-three years. secured his early education in the public He married Mary Ann Barkman, who was schools, this being supplemented by attendance of English and German descent, and they had at the Iron City College, Pittsburg. At an children as follows: Joseph; Henry, who died in Iowa; Luman, who died at Wilkes- Barre, Pa .; and George, who also died at that place.

Joseph Gilbert, son of Luman, and father of Luman Gilbert, of Homer City, was born in 1808 in the Wyoming valley. He obtained a public school education, and in his younger days was with the State Line Peddling Com- pany, traveling throughout the eastern part of Pennsylvania. He later settled in Frank- lin county and secured employment in Mann's axe factory, but subsequently removed to Mid- dletown, where he established himself in busi- through the dishonesty of a business associate was financially ruined and was obliged to start all over again in his struggle for in- dependence. Locating at Hagerstown, Md.,

four years of age. He was originally a Whig and later a Republican, and served as justice of the peace (for thirty years), county coro- ner, and auditor (for a long period), and was a strong antislavery man. He was first a member of the United Presbyterian Church, but later joined the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination. Mr. Gilbert was married near Chambersburg, Pa., to Ruth Krunkleton, who was born near that place, daughter of Samuel Newton Krunkleton. They had the following children: Sylvester Kline, a veteran of the Civil war, who died Jan. 16, 1911, at Quincy, Ill .; Mary Ann Barber, who married Solomon Kunkle, and died in Center township in 1874; Sarah Jane, who married Andrew A. Rager,. and is now a widow and a resident of Johns- town, Pa .; Milton, who died at Homer City in 1854; Luman; Aquilla, who died in 1861; Leander, a mechanic, living at Johnstown; Elza Belle, twin of Leander, who died in 1886; Lucinda, who married Hugh Nealy, and is deceased; and Loretta, who married Daniel Ferrier, of Homer City. The mother of these children died in Homer City, and was buried in the Fry cemetery, Brushvalley.

early age he learned the trade of blacksmith with his father, with whom he was associated in business for a period of thirty years, the firm being known as Joseph Gilbert & Son. After his father's death he continued the busi- ness alone in the same shop until 1892, at which time ill health made it necessary for him to retire. When Hon. Harry White was elected judge of the Indiana county court Mr. Gilbert was appointed tipstaff, a position he held throughout Judge White's adminis- tration of over ten years. Since then he has lived retired in his home in Homer City.

" In May, 1863, Mr. Gilbert enlisted in Com- ness. In this he met with great success, but pany D, 54th Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, under Capt. John H. Devers and Colonel Gallagher, and was out three months, serving in Ohio during the Morgan raids. He was mustered out at Pittsburg he engaged in general blacksmithing, and after the period of his enlistment was com- there continned for some time, but eventually pleted, but in March, 1865, again enlisted, at came to Indiana county and located in Homer City, Pa., becoming a private in Com- Brushvalley township. Two years later, in pany H, 103d Regiment, P. V. I., under Capt. 1844, he came to Homer City and resumed John Dougherty, of Hollidaysburg. He

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

fought with the Army of the Potomac, and was mustered out and received his honorable discharge at Newbern, N. C., at the close of hostilities. Although never wounded, Mr. Gil- bert contracted disease that has made him a great sufferer throughout his life. His army record is an honorable one, and he is fully entitled to the universal esteem in which he is held as one of those who sacrificed their young manhood and health in order that the country might live. A stanch and active Re- publican, Mr. Gilbert has served as a member of the election board for many years in Center township, acted capably as school director for six years, and was overseer of the poor for nine years, in addition to which he has filled numerous minor offices. In all his official capacities he has shown himself efficient, con- scientious and trustworthy, and at all times has labored faithfully for the welfare of his community. He belongs to Bolar Post, No. 553, G. A. R., of which he has been com- mander, having filled all the chairs. His re- ligious belief is that of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which he has ever taken an active part, at this time being class leader and steward. His wife belongs to the Metho- dist Church.

On April 25, 1869, Mr. Gilbert was married, bors, being a prominent man in his day, though by Rev. John S. Wakefield, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to Annie Pinkerton, who was born at Fairfield, Westmoreland Co., Pa., daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Weimer) Pinkerton. Mr. Pinkerton, a sol- dier in the Union army, was shot in October, 1864, at Woodpile Station, Va., by bushwhack- ers, while he was foraging for food with his companions. Mrs. Gilbert, who was a school teacher for some years, is a lady of culture and intelligence, much devoted to her home and family. She and her husband have had four children: Alonzo Pinkerton, born Sept. 11, 1870, who died Oct. 3, 1871; Annie Zora, born Jan. 7, 1874, who died Dec. 4, 1888; Edith Laurena, born Dec. 29, 1879, who died Feb. 1, 1881; and Leila Ruth Virginia, born Jan. 16, 1892, who was married Jan. 4, 1909, to Earl L. Mushrush, and has one child, Ln- man Gilbert, born July 12, 1910.

JACOB WILLIAM MILLER is one of the best-known men of Armstrong township, In- diana county, where he owns and operates a farm, has had business interests for many years, and is active in public and church work. He was born Dec. 3, 1853, in Washington township, Indiana Co., Pa., where his grand- father, Moses Miller, settled many years ago.

Moses Miller was born and reared in Bed- ford county, Pa., and came to this section of the State when the site of what is now Johns- town was nothing but a wilderness. He laid out the first foundation for a house within the present limits of that city. By trade he was a stonemason. He bought a tract of land in what is now the city of Johnstown. 227 acres, paying fifty cents an acre, but he subsequently moved to Indiana county. where he passed the remainder of his life. He married a Miss Sell, and their children were: Barnabas, Henry, Moses, William, Mrs. George Mitchell, Susan (Mrs. William Johnson). Elizabeth (Mrs. John Russell), Peggie (Mrs. Henry Frailey) and Annie. The father of this fam- ily died in 1877, at the age of eighty-nine years.

William Miller, son of Moses, was born and reared on the paternal homestead place in Washington township, Indiana county. His first purchase was a fifty-six-acre farm, to which he subsequently added fifty acres (this property is now owned by his son Barnabas), and there he followed farming to the end of his life, dying at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. Miller was an intelligent and successful farmer, and highly respected by all his neigh-

he had no aspirations for public honors. He was a member of the Dunkard (now the Ger- man Baptist) Church, which he served of- ficially as deacon. In political opinion he was originally a Whig, later becoming a Republi- can. His wife, Susan (Fisher), daughter of Jacob and Betsy (Fry) Fisher. died at the age of seventy-three years, and Mr. and Mrs. Miller are buried in the Jacob Fisher grave- yard on Dutch Run road, in Washington township, Armstrong Co., Pa. They had chil- dren as follows: John (deceased) married Carrie Jewett; Jacob William is mentioned below ; Jennie (deceased) married D. Schrec- enghost; George, who is in the butcher busi- ness in Indiana borough, married Rachel Cess- ney ; Barnabas, who resides on the homestead in Armstrong township, married Bella Penn- rod and (second) Mrs. Anna Hemphill ; Eliza- beth married Wilson Davis and lives at Van- dergrift, Pa .; William died when one year old.

Jacob William Miller attended common school near home, and worked with his father on the farm until he reached his majority, about 1875 buying a threshing machine and in partnership with L. G. Clark engaging in threshing. They were associated for a few years, Mr. Miller eventually buying out Mr.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Clark. He also sold farming implements, owned by his heirs. He married Elizabeth and for one year "cropped" the Joshua Val- Seibert, and they had the following children : entine farm in Washington township. Then Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of he moved to Armstrong township and Daniel Stonebarger; Rebecca, who married "cropped" the George Clark farm for eight Robert McConaghey, and had a son who be- came a Presbyterian minister; Frances, who married John Keener; Catherine, who mar- ried Isaac Keener; Nathaniel, mentioned be- low; Mary Ann, who married John R. Gal- lagher, who was a boat owner on the old Penn- sylvania canal and also engaged in milling and farming in this section (they had sons John, Nat and Isaac, all of whom served in the Civil war); Sarah, who married James Wherry and resided at South Bend, Armstrong Co., Pa. (their son James Elwood became a Pres- byterian minister and is now a missionary

years, at the end of that period buying one hundred acres of that place, to which he has since added thirty-eight acres. He. follows general farming, owns a half interest in sev- eral baling and threshing machines, and raises hogs, sheep and cattle. He has taken a promi- nent part in the administration of township affairs, having served as auditor, road super- visor, school director and member of the elec- tion board. Politically he is a Republican. For forty years Mr. Miller has been a member of the Bethel United Presbyterian Church, which he joined in 1872, and of which he is in India) ; Susan, who married Alexander now a deacon. He was formerly a teacher in the Sunday school.

Bell and lived near East Liberty, Pa .; and Jacob, a farmer in Conemaugh township, who married Margaret Irwin and had eight sons.

On Sept. 12, 1876, Mr. Miller married Sadie Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of Valentine and Maj. Nathaniel Nesbitt was born in 1808 on the present site of Clear Spring, Washington Co., Md., and came to Indiana county, Pa., Nancy (Lewis) Kerr, of Jacksonville, Young township, Indiana county, and the following children have been born to them: Maud is with his parents in 1816. The farm on which the wife of Harvey E. Miller, a farmer, and the family lived is near what is now Bow sta- tion, in Conemaugh township, and there he worked with his parents until of age, after which he engaged in farming and stock rais- ing on his own account. He was one of the resides near Dayton, Armstrong Co., Pa .; Charles died in September, 1895, aged four- teen years; Lewis Earl, who is a lawyer, lo- cated in the borough of Indiana, married Elizabeth Fleming; William Arthur is at notably prosperous and progressive farmers of home ; Bell married Wilber Stahl, a plasterer, his day. His farm comprised 268 acres, the of Indiana ; Lydia Olive married Morris Ruff- ner, a coal driller and tester; Paul is em- ployed as a sheet heater in the mill at Vander- grift.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 75

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