Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 81

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 81

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Mahoning township, locating on a tract of land which he later owned with Samuel T. Brady. The warrant for this tract was issued Jan. 15, 1802, and the patent dated Jan. 17, 1802, covering a tract of 369 acres, and both papers were made out in the name of John Leasure. Mr. Leasure was a noted hunter of his day, and from the proceeds obtained from wolves' pelts he paid for several valuable farms. He was also one of the scouts sent to guard the homes of the pioneer settlers along Crooked creek, in what is now western Indiana and eastern Armstrong counties. He died in 1844, at the age of eighty-two years. John Leasure was married in 1796 to Jane Culbertson, who died in 1837, at the age of sixty-five years, and both are buried in Gilgal cemetery. Their children were as follows: Catherine, who married Nathaniel Simpson ; Solomon, who married Mary Kirkpatrick; John, who married Mary Kinter; Jane, who married Solomon Hall; Rebecca, who married James Work; Mary, who became the wife of Robert Thompson; Elizabeth, who married Samuel T. Brady; Abraham J .; George and Culbertson, twins; Sarah, who married Wil- liam Mahon; and Margaret, who married An- drew Shields.

David C. Leasure was educated in the pub- lie schools of Canoe township and was engaged all his life in farming and lumbering in that region, being a very successful business man. He was a youth of eighteen when his father died, and from that time carried on lumber- ing operations on his own account, cutting all the timber on the 140-acre farm he had in Canoe township, and hiring help for the agri-

Evaline Hastings was born June 22, 1846, cultural work. He bought up coal lands and sold them, became a member of the firm which owned the Enterprise sawmills, at Enterprise, and a few years before his death acquired the sole ownership. He was a prominent man in the locality, though he did not care for public honors and never held office. In political sentiment he was a Republican. Mr. Leasure died Aug. 14, 1908, aged seventy years, and . was buried at Gilgal cemetery in East Mahon- ing township. He held membership in the Rocksbridge Presbyterian Church, in Canoe township. To Mr. and Mrs. Leasure were born two children: Luella M., now the wife of Harry Oberlin; and Quinn R., who died when six years old.

John Leasure, son of John the pioneer, was born in the Sewickley settlement, Westmore- land Co., Pa., and in young manhood moved WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS, late of Grise- to Armstrong township, Indiana county, more, Indiana county, belonged to a family

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

which came to this part of the county in the of Pineflats, this county, who survives; Rich- early half of the last century and has ever ard is deceased; Elizabeth married Hugh Wil- since been counted among its substantial and liams.

creditable citizens. Born Dec. 22, 1837, in Madison county, N. Y., he was a son of Wil- liam R. and Elizabeth (Morris) Williams, and a grandson of Richard W. Williams. The family is of Welsh origin.

William M. Williams was a boy when the family came to Indiana county in 1845, and he received a public school education in Green township. From an early age he as- sisted with the farm work and lumbering, and during several years of his young man- hood conducted a water mill in this county which he bought from his grandfather. Later

Richard W. Williams was born in 1796 on the island of Anglesea, Wales, and came to the United States in 1832, first settling in Madison county, N. Y. He then moved to he bought a steam mill with which he was Pittsburg, Pa., living in Allegheny county connected for over forty years, and which was conducted by William M. Williams & Sons. Meantime he had also become interested in farming, which he continued until 1903, liams lived and died. There he remained un- then locating at Grisemore, where his death occurred Jan. 28. 1913. He enjoyed the evening of his well-spent life. Though never a seeker after public honors or office Mr. Wil- liams was willing 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. for six years, and thence, in 1845, came to In- diana county, settling in Green township, on the place where his grandson William M. Wil- til his death in 1876, in his eighty-first year. He was one of the men interested in the es- tablishment of a Welsh Church and Sunday school in the vicinity. By his first wife, Jane (Davis), he had a family of seven children, all born in Wales, and all of whom came to this country, viz. : William R., Owen D., Ben- jamin and Catherine, Rowland, John and On Dec. 31, 1861, Mr. Williams was mar- ried in Pittsburg to Sarah Jones, who was Richard. For his second wife he married Sarah James, of Pittsburg, a native of Wales, 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 coming to America lived in Pittsburg until

who died in Green township, Indiana Co., Pa. There were no children by the second mar- riage.

William R. Williams, son of Richard W. his removal to Indiana county, where he and Jane (Davis) Williams, was born in bought land and engaged in farming until his Wales, and was quite young when brought to death. He had a family of eight children, of this country. He came with his father to whom Sarah (Mrs. Williams) and Jane (wife of David Oldham, of Beaver City, Pa.) are now the only survivors. Indiana county, and continued to live here until his death, which occurred Jan. 16, 1905. His wife, Elizabeth (Morris), also a native 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 John D. Martin, of Indiana county, and they have four children, John M., William Hay, Sarah J. and George M .; Mollie is the wife of G. M. Joiner, of Grisemore ; Richard, who lives in Green town- ship, 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, to which his widow also be- longs, and he helped to build the present edi- fice ; he served as elder for about twenty years, of Wales, was but a child when she came to America with her parents, Robert and Mary Morris. Robert Morris was a native of North Wales. Upon his arrival in this country he first settled in Madison county, N. Y., later, in 1840, settling in Indiana county, Pa., where he made his home in Green township, con- ducting a sawmill for some time and subse- quently devoting himself to farming, which he carried on the rest of his life. His family consisted of seven children. Mrs. Elizabeth (Morris) Williams died March 19, 1903. She was the mother of nine children, the eldest dying in infancy; William M. is mentioned below ; Robert is deceased (he was in the Union service throughout the Civil war, serving in Company A, 67th P. V. I., and was confined in Libby prison and at Andersonville) ; Jane until his death.

became the wife of Thomas Walter, of Ven- ango county, Pa., and both are deceased; CHARLES E. HILEMAN belongs to a Mary, deceased, was the wife of Henry Kelly, family of German extraction which has been

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

settled in Brushvalley township, Indiana Conrad, and died March 25, 1889. On May county, since the days of his grandparents.

George Hileman, his father, was a native of Blair county, Pa., born near Hollidaysburg March 17, 1829. There he grew to manhood, and he was a young man when the family moved to Indiana county, locating in Brush- valley township. Here he continued to farm with his father for two years, until he mar- ried and settled down to farming for himself, near Mechanicsburg, where he has ever since lived. By hard work and the strictest at- tention to his affairs he succeeded, becoming one of the prosperous farmers of his section. He is now living retired on the farm, which his' son Charles E. operates, and though over eighty has all his faculties except his hearing and enjoys excellent health. He has been a public-spirited citizen, serving on the town- ship school board for over twenty-five years, and there is no more respected citizen in Brushvalley. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Hileman married Catharine Stewart, of Brushvalley township, who is still · active for her years, and they had seven chil- dren, namely: Alice married Taylor Keller ; Mary T. married Hermon Ickes; Priscilla is deceased; Clara B. married Benjamin F. Evans, of Brushvalley township; Charles E. is mentioned below; Benjamin D. married Lizzie Conrad; Margaret E. married C. H. Getty.

Charles E. Hileman was born Dec. 8, 1862, in Brushvalley township, and there received a public school education. He worked on the farm with his father from early boyhood and has made farming his life occupation. He not only operates the homestead farm, but also other tracts of land in the township, being one of the largest land holders in Brushvalley and one of the most successful farmers there. In- dustry and intelligent management have been the causes which brought about his success, and he has the esteem and good will of all who know him. He takes particular pride in bringing his land to its highest efficiency, and has used 35,000 bushels of lime alone in im- proving his various properties. He has a fine orchard, which he planted himself, and there are many other evidences of his progressive and enterprising disposition to be seen on his property. Mr. Hileman is a Republican, has

On Jan. 25, 1888, Mr. Hileman married Emma A. Conrad, who was born in Buffington township, this county, daughter of William

19, 1890, he married (second) Lizzie B. Ma- bon, and they have had two children: George Mabon, born July 17, 1891, and Mabel, born in November, 1895, who is at home. The son met with a painful accident, being thrown from a horse while riding it, driving cattle, and died from his injuries the following day, July 5, 1900. The family are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS PATTERSON STEPHENS, re- tired farmer, contractor, hotel-keeper and mer- chant, now residing at No. 602 Railroad av- enue, Indiana, Pa., was born on a farm in Green township, Indiana county, May 16, 1845, and is a son of John M. and Letitia (Lytle) Stephens.

William Stephens, the grandfather of Thomas Patterson Stephens, was a resident of Cherryhill township, Indiana county, and there spent his entire life engaged in filling the soil. He married a Miss Weston, and they had the following children: Thomas W., a Methodist minister; Giles; Abraham; John M .; Abraham; Tipton, and Rachel, who mar- ried John Engle.

John M. Stephens, son of William, and father of Thomas Patterson Stephens, was born in Cherryhill township, and there fol- lowed farming throughout his life, dying in 1846, when he had not yet reached middle life. His widow followed him to the grave in 1850, and Thomas P. is the only survivor of their children.

Left an orphan at the age of five years, Thomas P. Stephens became a bound boy, and had the misfortune to have a very cruel mas- ter. He was shamefully mistreated and it was with little regret that he was thrown on his own resources when his master died, he being at that time thirteen years of age. Con- sequently he set about making his own way in the world, working on farms during the summer months, and in the woods in winters, and also rafting on the Susquehanna river. When he had reached the age of seventeen years he was a strong, husky lad. and was readily accepted by the recruiting officer when, in August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Union army. He became a member of Com- pany I, 67th Regiment Pa. Vol. Inf., under been quite active in local political affairs, and Col. John F. Staunton, of Philadelphia, and has served acceptably as tax collector of the township.

served with that regiment until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge at Washington, D. C., June 20, 1865. During his service Mr. Stephens had many thrilling experiences and his full share of the hardships

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

nizant of the horrors of Southern prisons. He was at the battle of Winchester under Milroy, and was there captured and sent to Libby prison, and subsequently to the horrible Belle Isle. He was confined at Libby thirty- one days, and his treatment was such that he lost sixty-one pounds. On being paroled from Belle Isle he was sent to Annapolis, Md., whence he walked to his Indiana county home, and after three weeks spent there rejoined his regiment at Culpeper, Va., in September, 1863. died in infancy. He was then under General Meade, partici- pating in every hattle from Culpeper, Va., to Cold Harbor, and while his regiment was home on a furlough Mr. Stephens and about 175 comrades who could not reenlist if they were given a furlough (being obliged to be out two years before being allowed to reen- list) were formed into a company and attached to the 148th Pa. Vol. Inf., until the regiment's furlough expired. He then fought in the cam- paign of the Wilderness and participated in of Indiana.

such hard-fought battles as Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, at the latter place being de- tached as a sharpshooter, being so engaged in the battles which followed in the Shenandoah campaign, under Sheridan. The battles in which he took part included Winchester (two engagements), Culpeper, Mine Run, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, Petersburg (three battles) Mono- cacy (Md.), Charlestown, Snicker's Gap, Flint Hill, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Sailors Creek, all in Virginia except Monocacy. Returning to Indiana after his brave and faithful service, Mr. Stephens attended school during two summers to S. M. Davis, at Pine- flats, and so readily did he learn that he quali- fied for teacher, and during the next fourteen years was engaged in teaching in Indiana and Blair counties. In the meantime he took up other occupations, engaging in lumbering and contracting in timber, and making a decided success of all his ventures.

Mr. Stephens was married in February, 1870, to Kate McFarland, daughter of James MeFarland; her mother's maiden name was McMullen. Mrs. Stephens died at Pineflats in August, 1886, the mother of the following children : Nellie, the wife of E. H. Phillips, of Vandergrift; Frank, of Vandergrift, who married Dora Cameron; Arthur, who mar- ried Gertrude Lutman; and Fannie (twin of Arthur), deceased. Mr. Stephens was mar- ried (second) in June, 1887, to Isabelle and lived in South Mahoning township; John

incident to army life, participating in many George, of Indiana, who was born in Arm- bloody engagements and becoming fully cog- strong county, Pa., April 13, 1853, and was reared in Armstrong township, Indiana coun- ty. She.was the daughter of Samuel and Isa- bella (McMillan) George, Mr. George, who was a stonemason, being deceased, while his widow still survives at the age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. Stephens had one brother, Dan- iel A., who was in the 14th Pennsylvania Cav- alry, was wounded in battle and subsequently died, being buried at Beverly, Va. The only child born to the second union of Mr. Stephens

Mr. Stephens moved to Indiana borough in 1900, and has since maintained his home there. A progressive Republican in his political views, while a resident of Green township he served capably as county commissioner. He is a faithful member and elder of the Christian Church, and also holds membership in the Missionary Society, while his wife belongs to the United Presbyterian denomination. He is a popular comrade of G. A. R. Post No. 28,

WESLEY B. COLEMAN, who has been a lifelong resident of West Mahoning township, is now engaged in extensive farming and stock raising operations on the old Coleman home- stead, where he was born March 10, 1858, son of Nathaniel Calendar and Lavina (Travis) Coleman.

Rev. Elijah Coleman, grandfather of Wes- ley B. Coleman, and the founder of the family in Indiana county, was born Nov. 15, 1774, in the State of Maryland, and as a young man came to West Mahoning township, where he settled on a tract of 300 acres, the remain- der of his life being devoted to its clearing and cultivation. A faithful worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, he became pre- siding elder, being made a minister in 1825, and elder in 1830, and for a number of years worked tirelessly in the service of the Master, riding horseback through Indiana, Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson counties. Rev. Mr. Cole- man belonged to that set of sturdy, courage- ous and conscientious men whose lives and activities were directed along the lines laid down by personal probity, and without whose services Christianity could not have been spread. On Sept. 21, 1800, he was married to Elizabeth Weston, and they were the parents of the following children: Mary Ann, born April 10. 1811, who married David Thompson and lived in Armstrong county ; Martha, born July 5, 1812, who married Andrew Rankin,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

T., born Jan. 18, 1815; Henry, born March cupation, for from 1892 to 1902 he was in the 18, 1817, who lived in West Mahoning town- sawmill and lumber business in Indiana and ship (his wife's name was Charlotte) ; Su- Jefferson counties, and for six years he con- sanna, born March 27, 1819, who married John Lias, living near Dayton, Pa .; Emily, born Aug. 11, 1821, who married John Travis, a merchant of Armstrong, Pa .; Dennis B., born March 8, 1824, who lived in Blairsville, Pa .; Wesley, born June 25, 1826, who married Mar. tha Haskell, and lives in West Mahoning town- ship ; Nathaniel Calendar ; and Elizabeth, born April 2, 1831, who married Joseph Allen, of Armstrong county.

Nathaniel Calendar Coleman, son of Rev. Elijah Coleman, and father of Wesley B. Coleman, was born Feb. 24, 1829, in West Ma- honing township, and received the educational advantages granted to the youths of his day and locality in the public schools. Essen- tially a farmer, he found "time to serve liis community in various offices of public trust and responsibility, among the offices he held being those of justice of the peace, school di- rector and overseer of the poor. He always On Sept. 2, 1880, Mr. Coleman was married to Maggie B. Glenn, who was born Sept. 26, 1849, at Phoenix, Armstrong Co., Pa., daugh- ter of William and Mary Jane ( Thompson) Glenn. Mr. Glenn was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., in 1824, was a carpenter by trade, and fought bravely during the Civil war as a private in the 148th Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry. He passed away in 1863, and his wife, who was born in 1829, died in 1910. voted the Republican ticket, and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the faith of which he died Dec. 18, 1904. On May 18, 1851, he was married to Lavina Travis, who was born March 20, 1835, and died July 20, 18-, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: (1) Horace B., born Oct. 5, 1852, was for a time a school teacher in Indiana county, while liv- ing on the old home place. Subsequently he He was buried at Alexandria, Va., she at moved to Kansas, where he still resides, and where he was married in 1870 to Agnes Low- man, by whom he has had two children, Clar- ence and Lizzie, the latter deceased. (2) Alfred K., born Dec. 1, 1854, a former mer- chant of Blairsville, Pa., now deceased, mar- ried Jemima Lias and had two children, Harry and Dorothea. (3) Wesley B. (4) Ida V., born Oct. 10, 1859, married James A. Gahi- gan, of Gibbon Glade, and has four children, Mabel, Clarence, Coffee and Jay. (5) Emma E., born July 18, 1864, married Clark Span- kle, of North Mahoning township. (6) Lil- lah F., born May 13, 1868, married Harry Harmon, and died in 1903, leaving two chil- dren, Floyd and John.

Wesley B. Coleman, son of Nathaniel C. Coleman, received only the advantages of a common school education. He has always lived on the home place, and now owns 138 acres of land, of which 100 are in a state of high cultivation. His versatile talents and en- ergetic nature, however, have not allowed him to be content with farming life as his sole oc-

ducted a mercantile business in Millstone, Elk county. The greater part of his attention has been given to his home property, which he has developed into one of the finest of its size in the township. In 1908 he erected a modern twelve-room, two and a half story residence, which is equipped with all modern conveniences, including gaslight and hot water, and in 1912 he erected a modern barn to replace the one he had built in 1908. He has specialized in raising draft horses, graded Jersey and Holstein cattle and Poland-China and Chester White hogs, and "Hillside Dairy Farm," as his place is widely known, turns out stock that brings top-notch prices in the markets. It is located near Goodville station, its convenient situation being but another evi- dence of the shrewdness and foresight of its owner, characteristics which have been re- sponsible for his success.

Phoenix, Pa. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living: T. G., a resident of Forest county, Pa .: Flora A., who married A. P. Simmons, of Jamestown, N. Y .; Myra G., who married Rev. W. E. Frampton, of Forest county ; Maggie B., who married Mr. W. B. Coleman; G. L., who is engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness at Punxsutawney, Pa .; and Elmer, a well-known sawmill man and lumber dealer of Phoenix, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have had the following children: Ora May, born July 22, 1882, died March 21, 1883; Ruth Vernon, born Sept. 2, 1883, married John W. Aiken, a farmer on the old Coleman home- stead, and has five children, Essie, Ella, Mar- tha, Anna Belle and John C. A .; Clinton C., born Oct. 7. 1885, is employed at the steel mills in Vandergrift, Pa .; Nellie F., born Aug. 28, 1887. married Ross Martin, of Echo, Arm- strong county; Leslie B., born March 20, 1891, who is assisting his father in the work of the old farm, married May 22, 1912, Olive Allshouse.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Coleman has ever been a friend of edu- Elmer Langdon, there having been forty-two cation, and has given his children advantages grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchil- dren, all yet living. along this line, all having pursued their stud- ies in the home schools and at Brookville, Pa. Like his father he is a stalwart Republican, and his abilities have been given substantial recognition by his fellow townsmen in his elec- tion to the office of supervisor, to the discharge of the duties of which he has devoted con- scientions energies during the past seven years. He is known as one of the wheelhorses of his party in his part of Indiana county, having served as county committeeman. Fraternally Mr. Coleman is connected with the Odd Fel- lows, and has many friends in Smicksburg Lodge, No. 891. He takes an active part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Smicksburg, and for some years has served faithfully as steward and trustee.

JACOB BOSTIC, late of Montgomery township, Indiana county, was a prosperous farmer there during his active years and for a number of years a popular official, having held various public positions. He was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., born June 21, 1830, son of Felix Bostic, with whom he came to In- diana county when twenty-two years old. Buy- ing a farm of 100 acres in Montgomery town- ship, near Hillsdale, he continued to engage in farming the remainder of his life. He had been reared to that calling, and was a miller by trade. At one time he owned 180 acres. He was honored with election to various local offices, serving as assessor. tax collector and school director. He died Dec. 24, 1892, at the age of sixty-two years, six months, three days.

Mr. Bostic married Charlotte Notley, who was born in Montgomery township, Indiana county, daughter of John Notley, a farmer, who was a native of Ireland ; he and his wife, Elizabeth (Flanigan). both died in Indiana county and are buried in the old Thompson cemetery at Cherrytree, Pa. Mr. Notley was a stonemason in his native country, and after coming to the United States was employed on the canal for a time. Mrs. Bostic died Sept. 20, 1911, aged seventy-five years. They had ten children, two sons and eight daughters. all of whom are living: Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Murphy; Nancy, wife of Luther Lewis; Sevina, wife of James Getty; Frank, married to Carry Saltsgiver; Emma, wife of Howard Wilson ; Mary, wife of Orren Wripp; Charlotte, wife of John Malcolm; Minnie, unmarried; Edward K .. and Gertrude, wife of

EDWARD K. BOSTIC, son of Jacob and Char- lotte (Notley) Bostic, was born April 29, 1876. on the old homestead farm in Montgomery township, and received his education in the locality, attending the Cooper and Irwin schools. For some time he was employed in iron mills, and later on the railroad, in 1902 returning to the homestead. where he has since continued to reside. He farms fifty- two acres, and is an intelligent, up-to-date worker, supporting all movements which prom- ise to advance agricultural interests and the condition of farmers generally. He is a lead- ing member of Schryhock Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, which was organized in his barn in 1906, and has heen one of the active work- ers in that body. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and active in the interests of his party. though he does not aspire to public office for himself; he has, however, served as school director. His church membership is with the United Evangelical denomination, and he is an active worker in the congregation to which he belongs, being steward, class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 81

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