Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 78

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 78

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IIISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

old; Elizabeth married Hugh Williams, and obtained his education in the local public both are deceased.

William M. Williams was born Dec. 22, 1837, in Madison county, N. Y., and was a boy when the family came to Indiana county in 1845. Ile received a public school educa- tion in Green township. From an early age he assisted with the farm work and lumber- ing, and during several years of his young manhood conducted a water mill in this county which he bought from his grandfather. Later he bought a steam mill with which he was connected for over forty years, and which was conducted by William M. Williams & Sons. Meantime he had also become inter- ested in farming, which he continued until 1903 in Pine township. Then he removed to Grisemore, where he resided, enjoying well- earned leisure, until his death, Jan. 28, 1913. He is buried in the McDowell cemetery, in Green township. Though never a seeker after public honors or office Mr. Williams was will- ing to do his duty as a citizen, and he was long a member of the school board of Pine township, serving several years as president of that body.

On Dec. 31, 1861, Mr. Williams was mar- ried in Pittsburg to Sarah Jones, who was born in that city Aug. 3, 1841, daughter of John D. and Jane (Jones) Jones. Her father was a native of South Wales, and after com- ing to America lived in Pittsburg until his removal to Indiana county, where he bought land and engaged in farming until his death. He had a family of six children, of whom only Sarah (Mrs. Williams) and Jane (wife of David Oldham, of Beaver City, Pa.) now survive.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams: Elizabeth, wife of Arthur Jones, of Barnesboro, Pa., has one child, Ethel; John J., who lives in this county, married Eliza- beth Martin, daughter of .J. D. Martin, of Indiana county, and they have four children ; Mollie is the wife of G. M. Joiner, of Grise- more; Richard, who lives in Green township, married Mary Florence Bennett, and they have two children, Emma Mae and Mary Wilda; Jane, William W. and Margaret are at home; Emma Marian died in infancy. Mr. Williams was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Nebo, in Green township, to which his widow also belongs, and he helped to build the present edifice; he served as elder about twenty years until his death.

John J. Williams was born June 3, 1865, on the farm in Pine township where he spent his boyhood, and where he is now living. He

schools, and from an early age assisted his father with the farming and sawmill work, at the mill in Pine township which his father operated. Nine years ago he began farming on his own account at the place where he now lives, taking the farm upon his father's re- tirement in 1903, and in addition to general agriculture he engages in stock raising- cattle and hogs. He is a busy man, but he has found time for public affairs and matters of general interest to the community, and his fellow citizens have shown their confidence in his ability and integrity by electing him to various township offices, the duties of which he has discharged faithfully. He has served as member of the election board.

On May 20, 1897, Mr. Williams was mar- ried to Elizabeth Martin, a native of Green township, born Feb. 1, 1868, daughter of John D. and Maria (Askins) Martin, who settled in this county many years ago. Mr. Martin died in 1903, and Mrs. Martin is now living in Green township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams: John M., William Hay, Sarah J. and George M. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Pres- byterian Church at Nebo, which he serves at present as elder.

CLARK DUNLAP, farmer and dairyman of Burrell township. Indiana county, was born March 11, 1870, in Derry township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and is a son of Wil- liam R. and Nancy J. (Barr) Duulap.

Andrew Dunlap, paternal grandfather of Clark Dunlap, was brought to the United States from County Derry, Ireland, when he was but two years old, the journey taking thirteen weeks in a sailing vessel, and the family eventually settled in Westmoreland county, Pa. Besides Andrew, the youngest, the children were: Thomas; James; Wil- liam; Jane and Nancy, twins, who lived to old age and never married; and Mollie, who married a Mr. Stewart, of Washington town- ship, Westmoreland county, who went to serve as a substitute for Andrew Dunlap dur- ing the war of 1812, and never returned. Andrew Dunlap secured his education in a log schoolhouse situated at Warren (110w Apollo), Pa., and during his earlier years his home was a little log cabin. On reaching man- hood he settled on a tract of 200 acres on which he built a home and sawmill, on Beaver l'un. In addition to farming and Iumbering Mr. Dunlap followed teaming, hanling iron ore from Bellefonte to Pittsburg, with a six-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

horse team, it being necessary for him to Church. Formerly a Whig, he later became carry about fifty bushels of oats for feed. a Republican, and for a time, while a resident Later he sold his first farm and removed to of Westmoreland, acted as school director. Harrisville, Butler county, there purchasing another tract of 200 acres and continuing to engage in farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred when he was eighty years of age. Mr. Dunlap was laid to rest in the United Presbyterian Church cemetery at Harrisville. He married Mary (Polly) Robinson, daughter of William Robinson, who lived near the Salem Church in Westmore- land county, and she died in 1862. They had the following children: John, who married Anna Elizabeth Cook, of Butler county; Re- becca, who married Andrew Dunlap, of Butler county; Nancy Jane, who married James Davis, and resided in Illinois; Wil- liam R .; Andrew and Eliza, twins, the former of whom married Harriett Trump, and the latter died in Butler county, and James, who is living at Harrisville.

William Robinson Dunlap, son of Andrew and father of Clark Dunlap, was born Dec. 29, 1829, in Washington township, Westmore- land Co., Pa., and received but meagre educa- tional advantages, starting out to make his own way in the world when he was but thir- teen years of age, at which time his mother died. Following this he secured employment with Jesse Gray and S. Walters, his wages being three dollars per month, and he con- tinued to work as a farm hand until going to Warren county, where he spent about four years in the lumber business under Joseph Hall. In 1851 Mr. Dunlap went west to St. Louis and then Calhoun county, Ill., and after a short stay removed to the lead mines of Michigan. During all this time he had carefully saved his earnings, and on his return home was able to purchase 130 acres of land in Derry township, Westmoreland county, his uncle John Robinson assisting him in paying for it. This farm he sold in 1856 and bought a tract of 106 acres located in Salem township, which was underlaid with a rich vein of coal. He operated this land until 1866, when he sold it and bought a tract of 253 acres, which he divided into three parts, giving his son two of these and operat- ing the other himself. Mr. Dunlap continued to be engaged in farming for a number of years and carried on an extensive stock rais- ing business, but in 1898 retired from active life and moved to Blairsville, where he still lives. He was for some years a deacon in the old Salem Church, but at this time, with his wife, attends the Blairsville Preshyterian

In 1860 Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage with Nancy Jane Barr, who died Feb. 24, 1883, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sloan) Barr, and she was, buried at old Salem Church, in Derry township. They had the following children: John Barr, born Sept. 12, 1860, who is now a missionary in Siam; Mary Elizabeth, born Jan. 4, 1862, who mar- ried John Gilson, and resides in Derry town- ship; Robinson Edgar, born Dec. 19, 1863, who married Lucinda Mewherter, and resides in Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio; Martha Jane, born March 7, 1866, who married William Mew- herter; Charles Howard, born April 23, 1868, who married Elizabeth Kirkpatrick; Clark, born March 11, 1870; Louisa Hamilton, born March 30, 1872, who married William Lati- mer; Emory Eugene, born Sept. 27, 1874, who died in 1878; Nora Grace, horn March 25, 1877, who married James B. Dunlap, and resides in Derry township; and Hubert, horn March 30, 1879, who married Laura Stitt. William R. Dunlap's second marriage was to Martha Jane Kenly, daughter of David Kenly, of Derry township, whose wife's maiden name was Piper. Mr. and Mrs. Dun- lap reside at Blairsville.

Clark Dunlap, son of William R. Dunlap, attended the public schools of Derry town- ship, Westmoreland county, and there grew to manhood, assisting his father on the farm. In 1895 he was given the home farm by his father, and that he conducted until 1899, when he sold out and purchased the Lose farm, in Burrell township, Indiana county, a tract of 160 acres, where he has erected modern buildings and made numerous other improvements, one of which is a large silo. Mr. Dunlap is a progressive and enterprising agriculturist, and in addition to general farming and stock raising is engaged in dairying, marketing his products in Blairs- ville. He is a Sunday school teacher of the Presbyterian Church at Blairsville, has been deacon, and was elected elder in the fall of 1912. His wife and all of her family are also members of that church.

Mr. Dunlap married Anna Margaret Lose, daughter of George and Margaret Lose, of Burrell township, and to this union there have been born four children, as follows: George L., Wilma Jane, Martha Evelyn and Anna Margaret.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

JOSEPH G. SECHLER, postmaster at

Mr. Sechler was married at Ebensburg to Cherrytree borough, Indiana county, was Emma Stough, a native of that place, daugh- born at that place Feb. 24, 1855, son of John ter of John and Jane (Mills) Stough, the and Catherine (Gwinner) Sechler. Both the former of whom was of German ancestry, the parents were natives of eastern Pennsylvania, and the ancestry was German on both pa- ternal and maternal sides. Mr. Sechler's great-grandfather came to America in Colonial days, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

John Sechler, father of Joseph G. Sechler, passed his early life in the eastern part of this State, and learned the trade of miller. In 1855 he came to Cherrytree, Indiana county, and engaged in the milling business, remaining there until about 1856, when he re- moved to Diamond Mills, this county. Later he went from there to Ebensburg, Cambria county, where he conducted a mill for several years, finally locating at Altoona, this State, where he died when about eighty-four years old. Mrs. Sechler died at the age of eighty- seven years, in Conemaugh, Cambria Co., Pa., where she resided with her daughter, Mrs. Susan Rugh. Eleven children were born to

John and Catherine Sechler: William H., grandfather, Robert Weir, having been a

now deceased, who served about three years during the Civil war; Susan, widow of John Rugh, living at Conemaugh, Pa .; Theresa, who lives at Ebensburg, Pa .; Alice, wife of Allen Edelman, of Philadelphia ; George, de- ceased, who served one year in the Civil war; Maggie, wife of Benjamin James, of Ebens- burg; Joseph G .; Mary, deceased; Emma, deceased; Anna, deceased; and John, who died at Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Joseph G. Sechler was educated prin- cipally at Ebensburg, Pa., and he was but fourteen years old when he assumed most of the work in connection with the management of his father's mill there, his father having lost his sight. After conducting that mill for ten years he came to Indiana county and took the management of a mill at Cherrytree, being thus engaged for nineteen years, until,

in 1895, he was appointed postmaster at in 1806 in Brushvalley township, this county,

Cherrytree; he has since given most of his attention to the duties of this office, in which he has given the greatest satisfaction to all his fellow citizens. The postoffice at this point was first known as Canoe Place, then Newman's Mills and later Grant before it became known as Cherrytree. Mr. Sechler has served the community in other official capacities, having been a valuable member of the school board for twenty years, and he is at present holding the office of borough treas- urer. Politically he is a Republican.

latter of Welsh extraction. Mr. Stough was a painter by trade. He died when past seventy years old and his widow now lives at Ebensburg, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Sechler have had three children: Birdie, wife of R. D. Tonkin, of Cherrytree, has one child, Joseph ; Eva Emma assists her father in the post office ; Arthur J. is a merchant at Cherrytree.

Mr. and Mrs. Sechler are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Summit Lodge, No. 312, at Ebensburg and the Consistory at Wil- liamsport, and also an Odd Fellow, being a prominent member of the latter lodge at Cherrytree, in which he has held all the offices.

JOHN WEIR, now living retired, is a well- known citizen of Indiana, of which borough he has been a life-long resident. He was born there Nov. 1, 1836, son of Archibald Weir, and the family is of Scottish origin, his native of Scotland.

Robert Weir was a youth in college in his native land when the Revolutionary war broke out, and with a chum he ran away from college and came to America, enlisting in the Continental army. He fought under General Greene. After the close of the war he moved to western Pennsylvania, settling in Brush- valley township, Indiana county, where he took up a claim for himself as well as one for his eldest son. Here he followed farm- ing the rest of his life. He also enlisted for service in the war of 1812. He was twice married, having one son, Alexander, by his first marriage, and by his second wife, Mar- garet (Gordon), he had seven children, namely : James, Daniel, Jolın, Archibald. Mrs. Furrier, Mrs. Guier and Mrs. Beam.

Archibald Weir, son of Robert, was born and learned the trade of carpenter. In 1828 he settled at Indiana, and he was one of the early carpenters in the borough, and one of the most successful, keeping several crews busy in various parts of this territory, build- ing barns, houses, etc. He was also engaged in the mercantile business there among the old-timers. Mr. Weir was a stanchi Abolition- ist in principle, and a member of the Lutheran Church in religious connection. He died at Indiana in December, 1859. In 1831 he mar- ried Jane C. Coleman, who was born in 1809

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in Cherryhill township, Indiana county, School, when she was made assistant treasurer daughter of John Coleman, a farmer of that of that institution. (3) Cordelia lives at

township. They were the parents of five chil- home with her father.

dren: Mary Jane (Mrs. James Fenton), Robert H., John, Elizabeth and Margaret.

John Weir attended the common schools of the borough in boyhood, and when fifteen years old began to learn the trade of tailor, He followed it for some time thereafter. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union service, becom- ing a musician in the 3d Pennsylvania .Vol- unteer Regiment for three months. When that term expired he joined the 105th Penn- sylvania Regiment, under Colonel McKnight, in the same capacity. This command was known as the "Wildcats." Mr. Weir served in the army until honorably discharged, after which he returned home and resumed tailor- ing for a while. He then became engaged in the sewing machine business, and later em- barked in the grocery business, which he car- ried on until his retirement, in 1899. Mr. Weir showed considerable ability in the man- agement of his own affairs, and prospered by giving them the strictest attention and by observing the most honorable methods in all his transactions. He is favorably known to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in and around Indiana. In his earlier years he was prominent in public affairs, serving as member of the town council and for years as burgess. Politically he is now as he has been in the past-known as an independent. He was one of the charter members of the or- iginal G. A. R. Post No. 131, and is its old- est surviving past commander, the second to be elected to that position. He is the oldest past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Indiana county, and is custodian of the Odd Fellows hall. In religious con- nection he is a member of the M. E. Church.

In 1865 Mr. Weir was married at Indiana to Jemima E. George, of Armstrong county, Pa., daughter of John George. Mrs. Weir died at Indiana in 1907. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weir: (1) Mary Jane grad- uated from the Western Pennsylvania School for Nurses and then entered the service of the United States government as a trained nurse, being stationed at Manila for two years. Returning to the United States she resumed her profession here as superintendent of the hospital at Braddock, Pa., until her marriage to Dr. C. S. Kerr, of Emlenton, Pa. (2) Sarah Elizabeth is a stenographer, and was so engaged at the Carnegie steel works under every president from Mr. Carnegie down until the establishment of the Carnegie Technical

WILLIAM MARTIN UREY, retired farmer and lumberman, is a native of Ire- land, but has lived in Indiana county from childhood. Frank Urey, his father, was born in 1794 in Rathfryland, County Down, Ire- land, came to America in 1843 and first set- tled near Williamsport, Pa., where he worked on a farm for almost a year. He then came farther west, to Banks township, Indiana county, and bought 100 acres of woodland near the Clearfield county line, on which he built a log cabin and settled down to the work of clearing and cultivating. In mid- winter, three years later, when three feet of snow lay on the ground, the cabin home was completely destroyed by fire, and they had to cut trees for the hewed log house which took its place. This was in 1844-45. By hard work Mr. Urey made good progress in the development of his property, becoming one of the successful farmers of his section. He lived to the ripe age of eighty-three years, dying Nov. 22, 1877, and was laid to rest in the Urey cemetery in Banks township by the side of his wife, who died in September, 1871. In politics he was first a Whig, later becom- ing a Republican. He had married in Ire- land Ruth Dixon, of his home town, and they had a family of five children, all born in Ire- land, namely: John, who died when nineteen years old; David, now deceased, who married Lizzie McDermott and had children, John, Frank, Elizabeth, Ruth and Mary, who reside ·in Clearfield, Pa .; James, who married Eliza Dixon, of Pittsburg, and moved to Ireland, where both died; William Martin; and Mary Jane, who married Gilbert Graham, of Banks township, and had children, James, John, Gil- bert and Alexander, all residing at Fair Grounds, Oregon.

William Martin Urey was born Aug. 19, 1839, in Rathfryland, County Down, Ire- land, and was quite young when he came to America with his parents. He settled with the family in Banks township, Indiana county, where he attended the log school known as the Urey school and assisted his father with the farm work at home. In time he became interested in lumbering, in which he was engaged for over thirty years, rafting down the Susquehanna and marketing his lumber at Marietta. He handled principally pine, hemlock and oak. In 1885 he moved to his present location, buying the farm of

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ninety-six acres, known as the Rankin place, He and his wife and family are members of upon which he has since made his home. It the United Presbyterian Church in Cone- lies in three townships, Blacklick, Young and maugh township. Conemaugh, and the house stands at the point where these three townships adjoin, the front porch being in Young township, the back porch in Blacklick, and the side in Cone- maugh. In 1891 the former house, which had been built by William Rankin, was burned and Mr. Urey erected the present residence, a substantial frame dwelling with all avail- able improvements, commodious and comfort- ably arranged. His eldest son now conducts the farm, Mr. Urey having withdrawn from active work two years ago. In addition to general farming he raised a small amount of live stock, and the place is carried on in the same way now. The land is underlaid with a rich vein of coal, only about two hundred feet below the surface. In his earlier days Mr. Urey was a hard worker, and his in- dustry combined with keen business qualities brought him the competence which now en- ables him to spend his age in comfort. He is a home-loving man and takes great pleasure in his family.

On Jan. 5, 1872, Mr. Urey married Bessie Urey, daughter of John and Eliza (White) Urey, whose home was in Cadiz, Ohio. They have had seven children: James, born Feb. 19, 1873, who now has charge of the home farm; William John, born May 10, 1874; David Edward, born Jan. 8, 1876, a mason by trade; Robert F., born Nov. 24, 1877; Emmet G., born Nov. 22, 1879, who died Jan. 12, 1885; Preston G., born July 20, 1882, a grad- uate of the Indiana State normal school, who has taught school for seven years; and Mary Helena.

During the Civil war Mr. Urey enlisted in the Union army for one year, but served only ten months. He was a member of Com- pany C, 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, under Capt. William Brown and Colonel Brady. During his army experience he as- sisted in building a fort at Butler's canal, near Richmond. He saw some of the harrow- ing sights of those strenuous times, being pres- ent on one occasion when nine soldiers were shot at sunrise for desertion, and on another when two soldiers were hanged for contem- plated murder; they had planned to kill the sergeant of their company for the money he carried, but were overheard and caught be- fore they had time to commit the act.

Mr. Urey cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and he has continued to support the Republican ticket ever since.

PETER WESLEY KINTER, retired farmer, now living at Marion Center, passed all of his active years in Rayne township, In- diana county, where the Kinter family has been established for over a century. He was born there July 30, 1846, son of Peter and Margaret (McCall) Kinter, and grandson of Peter Kinter, the pioneer settler of the fam- ily here, who came from Huntingdon county, Pa., in 1808. He settled in Rayne township, where he followed farming the remainder of his life, becoming one of the well-known resi- dents of the locality in his time. He was twice married, first to Mary Findley and later to Elizabeth Jackson, and had children by both wives, those of the first marriage be- ing: Sarah, who married Josephus Osborn; Archibald, who married Catherine Hess and (second) Mary Colkitt; Peter; Mary, who married John Leasure; John, who married Margaret Riddle; Margaret, who married Robert Warden; and Isabella, who married John Jameson. There were three children by the second union: Samuel, who married a Miss Layton ; Catherine ; and Jane, who mar- ried Samuel Knox.

Peter Kinter, son of Peter and Mary (Findley) Kinter, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., accompanied his parents to Rayne township, Indiana county, and there made his home until his death, which occurred on the farm. By trade he was a blacksmith, and he also followed farming, owning the tract of 200 acres upon which he made his home. He was first a Whig in politics, later becoming a Republican, and in religion was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is buried in the cemetery of the old Wash- ington Church. Mr. Kinter was married to Margaret McCall, daughter of John McCall, of South Mahoning township; she died on the farm in South Mahoning township, and is buried in the same cemetery as her hus-

band. They had the following family : Hugh B., who married Emily Adelaide War- den, enlisted for the Union service during the Civil war, and died of smallpox while in the army; Jane married William Buchanan, and both are deceased; John T., who served in the Civil war and held the rank of lieutenant, now residing on the old homestead, married Sarah MeGara; Mary E. makes her home in Marion Center : Henry L., a Civil war soldier, who died at Apollo, Pa., married Annie E.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Shields; Margaret A. married Samuel Ste- prosperity, being thorough, conscientious, vens and resides in Armstrong township, this hard-working and intelligent, experienced, county; Peter Wesley is mentioned below; and a good manager. two sons died in infancy.

Peter Wesley Kinter grew to manhood in Rayne township, where he received a common school education. He did farm work from boyhood, and as his three older brothers en- tered the service during the Civil war he had to help at home as much as he was able. He continued to work with his father until the latter's death, after which he became owner of the home place, which he operated until his retirement, in 1906. That year he moved his home to Marion Center, where he put up a comfortable residence and is very pleasantly situated. Mr. Kinter has always been a citizen whose life commanded the respect of his fellowmen, and he is enjoying a well de- served rest.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 78

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