Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 84

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 84

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Virtue Clark, father of Mrs. Hamilton, was born in Connecticut May 17, 1799, and on June 10, 1827, married Catherine Grove. They moved to Indiana county from York county, Pa., in 1841, and Mr. Clark died Feb. 7, 1863. His wife, Catherine, born in York county, March 5, 1807, survived him many years, dying Sept. 10, 1893. She was the daughter of Samuel Grove and his wife Han- nah (Reinhart), of New York, and grand- daughter of Samuel Grove, who came to this country from Holland and married Katy Ens- minger; his maternal grandparents were Jo- seph and Susan (Danner) Reinhart. Mr. and Mrs. Virtue Clark were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters.

JOHN P. GEORGE, a farmer of Buffing- ton township, and postmaster at Blaides post office, was born in that township June 7, 1858, son of Adam George and grandson of Nicho- las George.

Nicholas George came to Indiana county from Franklin county, Pa., in 1824, settling in Buffington township on a tract of 200 acres now owned by the Mardis family. He mar- ried Elizabeth Hellman, of Cambria county, Pa., and their children were: Charlotte, who married John Luke, of Ridders Furnace, Cam- bria Co., Pa .; Betsy, who married William Cameron, of Buffington township; Kate, who married John Pringer; Polly, who married Joseph Mardis, and had one child, George; Jerry ; Nicholas; Adam ; Jacob, and Cyrus.

Adam George was born Nov. 19, 1812, and died March 6, 1898. He married Elizabeth Paterson, daughter of Thomas and Martha Paterson, who was born April 5, 1812, and died Aug. 12, 1899. Both she and her hus- band are laid to rest in the Lutheran ceme-

tery in Brushvalley. They had children as follows: Nicholas, born in 1837, is deceased ; Jane married William Davis; Margaret, born in 1841, now deceased, was the wife of Frank- lin Campbell; Archie, born in 1843, is de- ceased ; Elizabeth, born in 1845, deceased, mar- ried George Orner; Agnes, who married Wil- liam Stiles, resides at Cramer, in East Wheat- field township, with her son Homer; Pris- cilla, who married John G. McCreery, re- sides in Pine township ; Matilda, born in 1855, now deceased, married William Orner; Mar- tin, who is deceased, married Christiana Wil- son ; Katie married a Mr. Sherwood; John P. is mentioned below.

Adam George came to Buffington township when twelve years old, and worked on the farm with his father until his marriage, when he bought a farm of 300 acres from Judge White, Sr., in 1833, and carried on farming the re- mainder of his life. He was also interested in stock raising and lumbering, developing into a successful business man and respected citi- zen. All during his life he discharged any duties laid upon him faithfully and consci- entiously, and he made an excellent overseer of the poor. The Lutheran Church of Brush- valley had in him a devout member, and he was active in its work until within a few days of his death, serving it as steward for many years. The principles of the Republi- can party appealed to him, and he gave it his allegiance.

John Pringle George married Anna Gil- lispee, daughter of Patrick and Martha (Stephens) Gillispee, and children as follows were born of this marriage: Blanche, born Feb. 19, 1883, married Simpson Long, and resides in Vintondale; James Alfred, born Dec. 7, 1884, lives in Chicago; Walter, born Feb. 11, 1887, married Cora Weaster; Katie, born March 28, 1890, died March 14, 1893; Arthur, born May 12, 1892, married Mary Foster, and resides in Strongstown, Pine township. The mother was born April 14, 1864, and died May 15, 1892, and is buried in Strongstown cemetery. Mr. George's sec- ond marriage was to Mary Nolf, who was born Oct. 4, 1872, daughter of John and Julia (Carbaugh) Nolf, and died Jan. 29, 1909, being buried in Strongstown cemetery. Their children were: Ida Gertrude, Merton Dean, Delmer Clinton, Annie and Edith, all of whom are at home. The third wife of Mr. George was Mrs. Minnie (Hill) Graham, daughter of William P. and Elizabeth (Flem- ing) Hill, and widow of Stewart Graham. There are no children by this marriage.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

When Mr. George was seven years old the 6, 1908. (6) Mary Ann, born Feb. 1, 1844, house in which he was born was burned, and married Richard Kelly, and died April 14. his father had to build a new one. The young- 1881. est of the large family, he remained with his parents, and gave them his tender care in their declining years. He operated the farm of 168 acres, and later cleared off other land, on which he erected a large barn and comfort- able frame house. Experience has taught Mr. George that there are large profits in market gardening, and he is specializing along this line, and in raising small fruits. He is one of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of his township, and is recognized as one of

Thompson Creamer attended school in Blacklick township, and during his youth and early manhood worked with his father on the farm and at the mill, until his enlistment, Sept. 6, 1862. He joined Company E, 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, under Capt. D. R. Coder and Colonel Jackson, was mustered in at Indiana, and served two years, nine months. He participated in the following battles: Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862; Bristoe Sta- tion, Oct. 14, 1863; Mine Run, 1863; Wilder- the advanced agriculturists of the county. ness, 1864; Laurel Hill, 1864; Weldon Rail- For fourteen years he has served very ac- ceptably as overseer of the poor, to which of- fice he has been elected on the Republican ticket. For the last four years he has been postmaster of Blaides post office and the Star route. road, Aug. 19, 1864. Taken prisoner Aug. 19, 1864, he was confined in Libby prison for three days, and then transferred to Belle Isle, where he remained until October, at which time he was removed to Salisbury prison. There he was held until February, 1865, after which he was confined at Richmond until THOMPSON CREAMER has lived for over forty years on the farm on Muddy run, in Blacklick township, Indiana county, where he is now spending his years in retirement. He is a veteran of the Civil war. March 10, 1865, on which date he was paroled, being exchanged in May, 1865, after being deprived of his liberty eight months. He went to Baltimore, Md., to hospital, where he was kept owing to his weak condition for six weeks. But desiring to get home, where he would be better cared for, his friend and neighbor James Dixon brought him back. Af- ter regaining his health he farmed for a period for James Dixon, and in 1869 settled on his farm on Muddy run where he has since lived. He became a very successful farmer, having extensive interests in his active years, and though he has worked hard he still enjoys good health and spirits. He has a fine mem- ory, recalling dates and events accurately. Mr. Creamer is a stanch Republican, but he has never been a politician. He is a member of the G. A. R.

Mr. Creamer is a native of the township, born July 4, 1839, and belongs to a family of German extraction. Adam Creamer, his father, was a native of Westmoreland county, this State, born Dec. 5, 1808. His father came from Germany, and settled in Westmoreland county. When a young man Adam Creamer came to Westmoreland county and located in Blacklick township, on the Charles Campbell farm of 100 acres, where he farmed for a period of a quarter of a century. Later he owned and operated the Campbell mills, on Blacklick creek, for seven years. His death occurred May 4, 1866, and he was buried in Hopewell cemetery, in Blacklick township. In

On Sept. 25, 1861, Mr. Creamer married politics Mr. Creamer was a Whig and Re- Sarah Ann Kelly, who was born in Blacklick

publican. He married May 14, 1828, Jane Thompson, who was born May 20, 1804, daugh- ter of John and Nellie (Davis) Thompson, and died May 14, 1889 ; she is buried in Hope- well cemetery, and was a member of the Hopewell M. E. Church. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adam Creamer: (1) George, born Aug. 24, 1831, died Feb. 9, 1858, in Blairsville. (2) Eleanor, born Feb. 2, 1834, married John Cowell, and died in Bur- rell April 8, 1864. (3) Margaret, born May 27. 1837, married Daniel Spires, and died July 25, 1895, in Lawrence county, Pa. (4) Thompson was horn July 4, 1839. (5) Camp- bell, born July 18, 1841, died in Burrell June

township, daughter of Archibald and Mary (Clawson) Kelly, and granddaughter of Rich- ard Clawson. They have raised a family of nine children: Adam, born June 27, 1862, died Sept. 30, 1891: Mary Jane, born Feb. 25, 1865, married H. H. Rabe, and resides at Vandergrift, Pa .; U. S. Grant, born Feb. 19, 1867, resides at Vandergrift; Charles, born Dec. 1, 1869, is now farming the Gere Claw- son farm; Elzora, born Feb. 14, 1871, mar- ried F. B. Pender, and is living in Blairsville ; James Davis, born April 29, 1873, lives in Blackliek township; Margaret Florena, horn May 22, 1875, married William Kenler, and lives at Appolo, Pa .; Hannah Gertrude, born

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Sept. 8, 1878, married Benjamin Clawson, of of William Devlin, was born in the Ligonier Blacklick township; George W., born March valley, and moved to Armstrong township with 28, 1880, lives in Los Angeles, California.

JOHN CHAMBERS THOMAS, station agent at Homer City, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Armstrong township, Indiana county, Jan. 28, 1869, son of Amos Thomas, of Arm- strong township.

Mr. Thomas grew up on his father's farm amid healthy rural surroundings and after completing a course in the local schools at- tended the Indiana normal school for five terms, following which he studied in a com- mercial college. Coming back home he worked with his father for a period, and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Indiana, in 1892, learning telegraphy. He was located at different points on the Conemaugh division as telegraph operator un- til he was appointed, in April, 1897, station agent at Edri, Pa. This he held until 1900, when he was transferred to Hyde Park, and in April, 1901, he was made station agent at Homer City. He now represents the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company at that point as station, passenger and freight agent, and is also agent for the Adams Express Company. A capable, trustworthy and efficient man, he not only conserves the interests of his com- panies, but serves the public in a manner that is acceptable to all concerned. He is a Mason and popular in the fraternity. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church.

On Sept. 17, 1901, Mr. Thomas was mar- ried to Clara Farnsworth, a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Buterbaugh) Farnsworth of Grant township, Indiana county. They have no children.

WILLIAM DEVLIN, who for many years has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Armstrong township, Indiana county, was born on the homestead farm in that township, Jan. 8, 1833, son of Richard and Nancy (Ram- sey) Devlin.

William Devlin, the paternal grandfather of William Devlin, was born in Ireland and came to the United States in young manhood, set- tling first in the Ligonier valley and later moving to Armstrong township, where he pur- chased the tract of land that had been set- tled by John Barr. Here he carried on farm- ing during the remainder of his life, and at the time of his death was the owner of 160 acres of good land. He had three children, namely : James, Matthew and Richard.

his parents. He settled on 160 acres of land which they had patented, and erected a log cabin in the woods, clearing a little of his land each year, although at times harassed by the hostile Indians. Eventually he became the owner of a good property and died in comfort- able circumstances, with the respect and es- teem of all.who knew him. Mr. Devlin mar- ried Nancy Ramsey, daughter of Hugh Ram- sey, of Armstrong township, and they had the following children: Jane, who died unmar- ried ; John R., who was a member of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, for four years dur- ing the Civil war; James, who was also a member of that famous regiment, with which he served three years, and is now living on a farm adjoining that of his brother Wil- liam; Hugh, who died at the age of twelve years ; and William.

William Devlin, son of Richard, received his education in the Armstrong township schools, and at the age of ten years began to work on the homestead place. He has fol- lowed farming and stock raising to the pres- ent time, making a specialty of fine horses, and in spite of his eighty years is hale and hearty and continues to do his own farm work. He has a tract of ninety acres, in a good state of cultivation, and he still owns the coal there. The present barn was erected in 1866 and the house in the following year, and both give evidence of good workmanship by still being in excellent condition. Mr. Devlin is a Democrat in his political views, and has served as road supervisor for seven years. He has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church all his life, and has been liberal in his support of its movements.

Mr. Devlin married Hanna J. Wacob, daughter of John and Susan (Elwood) Wa- cob, and to this union there have been born children as follows: Mae, who married Ed. Sharp ; Belle, who married Harvey McCurdy; Nancy, who married John Kerr; and James HI., the owner of a farm in Armstrong town- ship, who married a daughter of Elder Sharp. Mrs. Devlin has passed her sixty-fifth mile- stone, and like her husband is still in full pos- session of her faculties, and still does her own milking every day, keeps house for her husband, the family having all left home, and carries on her household duties in the same manner that she did years ago. Both she and her husband have numerous warm friends in

Richard Devlin, son of William, and father the township in which they have lived for so

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

many years, and are held in universal es- Ohio; Anna Jane married James E. Manner, teem. of Rayne township, Indiana Co., Pa., who is FREDERICK WEISS has occupied his present farm in Rayne township, Indiana county, since the year 1886, and has been a lifelong resident of the township, where he was born Feb. 27, 1858. engaged in farming; Eurilda E. married James O. Lewis and resides at Josephine, In- diana Co., Pa .; Thomas J., who married Agnes Stear, resides in Rayne township, Indiana county, and is engaged in general farming; Mary C. B. is mentioned above; Charles M., of Marion Center, Pa., is unmarried; Agnes E. married T. G. Alabran, of Punxsutawney, Pa., a diamond driller and contractor. Hugh Lawson, the father, died Dec. 16, 1888; the mother died June 24, 1909.

Henry Weiss, his father, a native of Alsace Lorraine, Germany, was brought to the United States in infancy by his parents, the family settling in New York City. Later he became a resident of Indiana county, Pa., where he engaged in farming and contracting. He died Nov. 18, 1888, and his wife, Mary A. (Minert), died Dec. 9, 1892. They became the parents of eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters, namely: Peter, who married Julia A. Kirkland, is a farmer in Rayne township; William, who married Phoebe Moor, is en- gaged in business as a merchant at Home sta- tion, this county; Frederick is mentioned be- low; Mary M. married John W. Edwards, a farmer, and died leaving four children; Mar- garet died at the age of seventeen years ; John died in infancy; Lewis, who married Ida Wheeler, is a farmer in Armstrong township, this county ; Susan C. is the wife of Lewis Ruf- ner, a blacksmith, of Tanoma, Indiana county.

Frederick Weiss was reared and educated in Rayne township. In 1886, the year after his marriage, he settled at his present place, having a fine farm of 150 acres under excellent cultivation, where he is successfully engaged in general farming. He has given strict at- tention to his private affairs, but has also found time to act as tax collector of the town- ship, in which office he gave acceptable service. In politics he has always been a Republican, lately espousing Progressive principles. He attends the Presbyterian Church at Marion Center.

On April 9, 1885, Mr. Weiss was married to Mary C. B. Lawson, who was born near Dayton, in Armstrong county, Pa., daughter of Hugh and Mary Ellen (Lydick) Lawson. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss have had four children, the eldest child dying in infancy ; Mary Anna is now the wife of M. C. Kissinger, of Indiana, Pa., assistant examiner in the patent office ; Wilda married Joseph F. Rissing, of Trafford, Westmoreland Co., Pa., who is engaged at the Westinghouse works; Don Emerson was born Sept. 14, 1898.

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Lawson had a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters: Orpha married Boliver Fisher, who is en- gaged in general farming in Adams county,

JOHN FARNSWORTH, who is now living retired from active business at East Run, Pa., where for upward of a third of a century he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, farming and stock raising, is a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., born near what is now Tyrone, Blair county, Aug. 2, 1834, son of John and Susanna (Smiley ) Farnsworth.

John Farnsworth, the father, was but a lad when he left his Virginia home to come to Pennsylvania, and here located in Hunt- ingdon county and worked out at farm labor- ing and as a lumberman. Later he operated a sawmill at Sinking run, which empties into the Juniata, and for many years continued in the manufacture of lumber, living for a time in Armstrong county, where he also en- gaged in farming, in Clearfield county, where he had a sawmill on Muddy run, and in Jef- ferson county, where he built a mill on the Big Mahoning. There he spent three years and died in 1852, at the age of sixty-three years. For a few years he also operated a still house, but concluding it was wrong to make and sell whiskey he took a pole axe and demolished the stills. In political matters he was first a Whig and later a Republican, but his interest in public affairs was mainly as an onlooker. He was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Diven, by whom he had children as follows: Susanna I., who married Ephraim E. Lewis of South Mahoning town- ship, and became the mother of Squire Enoch F. Lewis, of South Mahoning township; Joseph, who married Elizabeth Wymer; Enoch, who married Maria Turnbaugh; and Mary Jane, who married Jonathan Neff. For his second wife Mr. Farnsworth married Mrs. Susanna (Smiley) Turner, a widow, and they became the parents of five children: Eliza- beth, who married Dr. George Rowe; Henry, who married Nancy Wilson, and is deceased; Nancy, who married Martin R. Cooley ; John ; David, who resides in Nebraska; and Louise,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

who married Col. James Miller, colonel of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil war. Mrs. Farnsworth had four children by her first marriage: Daniel, Sam- uel, John and Joseph.

John Farnsworth, son of John Farnsworth, passed his boyhood days in Huntingdon, Arm- strong and Clearfield counties, where his op- portunities to secure an education were re- stricted to a few months in the winter terms spent in the district schools. He worked from boyhood with his father at farming and lum- bering, continuing with him until he was about nineteen years of age, at which time he came to Grant township and took up a tract of farming land, where he continued to be en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and lumbering until his removal to Cherryhill township. There, near Diamondville, he entered the em- ploy of Robert Mitchell, now of Indiana, be- ing engaged in farming, lumbering and team- ing, hauling lumber to Indiana, and contin- ued in that line of endeavor until July, 1863, when he went into the service in the Union army during the Civil war. Becoming a member of Company G, 102d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel McElwayne and Capt. James Coleman, he served in the Army of the Potomac, 1st Brigade, 2d Divis- ion, 6th Army Corps. Mr. Farnsworth par- ticipated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, North Anna River, Wel- don Railroad and Fort Stevens. Then under "Fighting Phil" Sheridan he went through the Shenandoah valley, fighting at Berrysville, Winchester, Flint Hill, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. After this battle he was pro- moted to corporal, and in December, 1864, went to Washington, D. C., and from there to Petersburg, where he was promoted to second sergeant of the Company. Eventually the men entered winter quarters at Patuck Sta- tion. He began the campaign of the spring of 1865 with his company, and continued to serve therewith until the close of the war. He was mustered out of the service at Pittsburg with the rank of sergeant.

erations. This primitive home, however, was not long thereafter replaced with a modern dwelling, substantial barns and outbuildings were erected, and numerous other improve- ments made. He continued farming and stock raising until 1884, in which year he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, having entered this line in a general store at East Run. There he continued until 1910, and by strict attention to business built up a trade that extended all over his part of the county, gaining the reputation of being a thorough man of business, and honest and fair in all his transactions. During this time he also continued to conduct the farm, with the aid of his son, and various other enterprises have also claimed his attention. A stanch Republi- can in politics, he has served his township as justice of the peace for ten years, as a member of the school board and treasurer thereof, as clerk of the election board, and was post- master from 1898 until 1906, when the rural free delivery system went into effect. He be- longs to the Baptist Church, and is deacon of the church at East Mahoning, a teacher in the Sunday school, and active in all religious work.

On May 7, 1860, Mr. Farnsworth was mar- ried to Mary Ann Buterbaugh, who was born in Green township, daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Langham) Buterbaugh. Mrs. Farnsworth was a school teacher in Montgom- ery township for some years, having received her certificate in 1857 from the old county superintendent of schools, S. P. Bowllman. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and for fifty years has been a teacher in the Sab- bath school. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth, as follows: Ida, born May 27, 1861, married July 3, 1877, Joseph Houk, resides in Green township, and has five sons, J. Howard, Harry Raymond, David Lee, Willis Alfred and Charles Clyde ; Azriah, born June 11, 1862, died Jan. 4, 1865; Eva, born Feb. 8, 1868, married July 4, 1888, Dr. Thomas B. Allison, of Tarentum, Pa., and has three children, Viola Zoe (a graduate of the West Penn College), Madge (a public school teacher), and Thomas; Clara, born Oct. 7, 1866, who was a teacher, married Sept. 17, 1891, John C. Thomas, station agent at Homer City, Pa., for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany ; Willis, born June 8, 1872, farmer on the homestead, married March 14, 1893, Ad-

On his return to the duties of peace, after a service marked with the greatest bravery and most faithful devotion to duty, Mr. Farns- worth took up farming on 100 acres of land known as the Woodford farm. During the following year, however, he sold out and came to Grant township, and for the last forty-six years that township has been his home. Lo- die McQuown, daughter of Squire James A. cating at East Run, on the George Buterbaugh McQuown, of Grant township, and has four farm of 112 acres, he made his home in the children, Gwen, Berna, Blanche, and John Mc- little log house and commenced farming op- Quown; Louise, born Nov. 5, 1877, married

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

June 28, 1898, Rev. C. F. Cornman, minister 1, 1850, married Oct. 4, 1875, Ella Faith; Rob- of the Baptist Church, and a resident of Ohio, ert Clark was born May 1, 1852; Margaret L., and has five children, Charles, Frederick, born Oct. 30, 1853, married Nov. 13, 1870, Rachel, Ruth and Louise; May, born Aug. 2, D. R. Houck; Sarah J., born May 1, 1855, 1880, and Bessina, born July 20, 1884, are both at home. married Aug. 22, 1877, George Nupp; Har- riet A., born Jan. 1, 1857, married Jan. 8, 1876, John W. Nupp; Esmeralda, born July 30, 1858, married Dec. 25, 1879, Philip Baker, and (second) Melvin Payne; Emma S., born Feb. 13, 1860, married July 1, 1880, J. L. Widdowson ; Benton, born Oct. 13, 1861, died young; and Samantha, born Oct. 30, 1863, also died young.

The Buterbaugh family is of German origin, the founder of the family in Indiana county being William Buterbaugh, who came here about 1825, from Huntingdon county. He and his eldest son journeyed on foot through the country, then a forest, as far as Kittan- ning, hunting a place to buy, but owners were harder to find than land. On their way home they heard of a man that wanted to sell, near where the town of Lovejoy is now, went to see him, and bought some land with a log house on it. At that time he was married and all of his eight children, seven sons and one daughter, had been born. His wife was Chris-

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 84

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