Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 86

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 86

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WILLIAM SYLVESTER LITTLE, a life- long resident of Rayne township, Indiana county, was born Sept. 13, 1851, on the home- stead where he is still engaged in farming.

Hugh Little, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, and coming to Pennsylvania settled in Rayne township, Indiana county, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, William S. Little. He had been a farmer in his native country, and he continued to follow farm work after taking up his home in the new land, though the task of clearing his tract was slow and discouraging. He had to cut out and clear a place for the double log cabin which he built

-a larger house than many of the early set- tlers attempted to put up. He was married in this country to Mary Hicks, who was of Irish and Scotch descent, and they had four children : Ann, Mary, Robert and Abraham. Hugh Little died at the age of seventy-six years, his wife at the age of sixty.

Robert Little, son of Hugh and Mary (Hicks) Little, was born March 4, 1816, in Pennsylvania, and was reared to farming, which he followed all his life. He passed all his life on his father's homestead, dying May 19, 1893. Mr. Little took an interest in the general welfare and was a public-spirited worker for the best good of the community, giving good service in the offices of school di- rector, supervisor, etc., to which he was elected by his fellow citizens as a mark of their re- spect and esteem. On July 8, 1847, he mar- ried Jane W. Speedy, of Rayne township, who died Feb. 5, 1901. They were the par- ents of three children: Evoline is the wife of Andrew Harman, a farmer, of Atchison, Kans .; William Sylvester is on the homestead ; Tabitha Jane is the wife of Ralston Dodson, of Morland, Kansas.

William Sylvester Little obtained his edu- cation in the public schools and farmed with his father until he reached maturity. He learned the carpenter's trade in his young

stead, which he now owns and occupies. He takes an interest in various local affairs, he and his family belonging to the Grange, and he is an Odd Fellow, holding membership in Lodge No. 676, at Wilkinsburg, and a member of the Grove Chapel Lutheran Church, in the work of which he has taken a prominent part, being an elder at present and having also served as trustee and deacon. His wife also belongs to that church. Mr. Little is a Re- publican and has taken quite an active inter- est in politics. He has served his township as supervisor.

On Sept. 19, 1872, Mr. Little married Su- san Matilda Wolf, of Rayne township, daugh- ter of David and Catherine (Horrell) Wolf. Mr. Wolf was a shoemaker and later a farmer. They have had one child, Mabel Clare, born Oct. 8, 1873, who lives at home with her par- ents. She received a high school education, attended summer school at Kellysburg two terms and at Plumville one term, and was formerly engaged in teaching school in Indi- ana county.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

HARVEY R. WIDDOWSON, a lumberman pose. A Democrat, he adhered to the prin- of Grant township, was born in Cherryhill eiples of that party, inheriting his sentiments township, this county, Nov. 1, 1861.

Joseph Widdowson, the founder of the fam- ily in Indiana county, was born in Plum Tree, near Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, where he grew to manhood. He married Mary Bexon, and in 1816 with her and a son, Wil- liam, then still an infant, came to the United States, landing in New York City, where they spent two years. In 1818 they came to Laugh- lintown, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where they resided for several years. Once more they made a change and settled in Cherryhill town- ship, where they found conditions that suited them, so Mr. Widdowson took up land, be- coming a heavy property owner. He died on his farm iu 1867, aged seventy-six years, his widow surviving until 1870, when she died aged seventy-five years. Their children were : William; Thomas, who married Jane Lydick ; Sarah, who married Daniel Howe; John, who married Anu Ober; Joseph, who is deceased ; Ann, who married John C. Connor; Josiah, who never married; and Ebenezer, who mar- ried Susan Ober.

William Widdowson, son of Joseph Wid- dowson, was born at Plum Tree, near Notting- ham, England, in 1815, and was still a mere lad when the family located in Cherryhill township. There he grew to manhood, and received a subscription school education. His winters were spent in school, but in summer he helped in farming. When he attained his majority he began milling, operating a grist- mill in Cherryhill township, not far from Dix- onville, which was one of the first to be oper- ated by steam power in Indiana county. Un- til 1868 he continued a resident of Cherryhill township, in that year coming to Canoe town- ship and embarking in a lumbering business. He erected a mill on the north branch of the Little Mahoning, which was equipped with a Burnham turbine wheel and a circular saw, the first of its kind to be used in Indiana connty. The mill had the then remarkable capacity of 6,000 feet of boards per day, and also turned out laths and shingles, and Mr. Widdowson developed into one of the largest manufacturers of these different kinds of lum- ber in that section of the county. He had 200 acres in his homestead, upon which he made the majority of the improvements, although he did not carry on farming extensively, his time being occupied with his other interests. He was a man far in advance of his times, possessing very progressive ideas, and had great business eapacity and strength of pur-

from his father. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and brought up his children in the same creed. The death of this excellent man occurred in 1881, when he was sixty-six years old, and he is buried at Richmond. William Widdowson married Louise Kime, who was born in York county, Pa., daughter of John Donaby and Louisa (Berridge) Kime, the former a native of Stickney, Lincolnshire, England, and the latter of Boston, Lincoln- shire, England, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Key) Berridge. Mrs. Widdowson survives her husband, living at White Oak Flats, in South Mahoning township. Her parents died at her old home in Canoe town- ship.

Mr. and Mrs. Widdowson had the following children : William was a lumberman and ho- tel-keeper at Richmond, where he died; John, deceased, married Jennie Hennigh ; Emma is the widow of Edward Hupp; Joseph L., who was a merchant and farmer in Grant town- ship, is now a lumberman of Idaho; Josiah E., who is deceased, married Keturah Simpson; Mary, who married Wilson Ditts, resides at White Oak Flats, in South Mahoning town- ship; Harvey R. is mentioned below; Electa, deceased, married John S. Ross, of Richmond ; Laura married George Hamilton, a farmer of Grant township.

Harvey R. Widdowson, sou of William Wid- dowson, was still a boy when the family went to Canoe township, and there he was educated in the public schools. He worked from his boyhood on the farm and in the lumber mill with his father, and after his father died con- tinned to operate both the farm and mill, be- ing thus engaged until 1892, when he located in Grant township, buying his brother Jo- seph's interest in the sawmill and land at what is now known as Ord. For twenty years he has operated the sawmill at this point. A man of unusual energy, he knows how to di- reet his work so as to attain the best results, and his success is the outcome of intelligent thought along progressive lines. While a Democrat, he reserves the right to act inde- pendently whenever he believes that the best interests of the community will be conserved by his doing so. Though belonging to no re- ligions denomination, he direets his actions according to the Golden Rule, and is chari- table in thought and deed. Neither does he belong to any fraternal association, taking his diversions with his family, for he is domestie in his tastes.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA-

Mr. Widdowson married Bessie L. Work, boro, Pa. After the death of her first hus- who was born in East Mahoning township, band Mrs. Susan Lewis was married (second) to John F. Stiteler, who was born Feb. 23, 1815, in Sinking Valley, Pa., and passed away at the age of eighty-eight years, two months. They made their home in Smicksburg. She was born March 9, 1815. daughter of William Alexander S. Work. A full and interesting history of the Work fam- ily, one of the leading families of Indiana county, will be found elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Widdowson is one of the most worthy women in her township, where she is well and favorably regarded, for she is a devoted wife and mother, an excellent housewife and home- maker, and a kind and charitable neighbor and friend. Mr. and Mrs. Widdowson have had the following children: Roxie L., who was graduated from the State normal school at Indiana, married Dr. Harry B. Neal, of Indiana, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere; Mary Gay is a student at the State normal ; William Work is now (1913) seven years old.

SAMUEL LEWIS, general farmer of Canoe township, Indiana county, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born May 17, 1844, on his father's farm in West Mahoning township, this county, son of George and Susan (Stear) Lewis.

John Stear, his maternal grandfather, was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and coming to Indiana county at an early date, settled east of Smicksburg, where he secured wild land, which he cleared and cultivated, making a comfortable home for his family. The rest of his life was spent there in agricultural pur- suits. Mr. Stear was twice married and be- came the father of the following children : George, who lived near Plumville, Pa .; Mary, who married Thomas Carr, and lived near Cherrytree, Pa .; Susan, the mother of Samuel Lewis; Margaret, who married John Carr, of West Mahoning township; and John, who lived on the old homestead.

Samuel Lewis had to go a long distance to the little log school, with its puncheon seats, slab desks and primitive equipments, pre- sided over by Capt. Evan Lewis. He was still a lad when the Civil war broke out, and in August, 1862, enlisted at Pittsburg in Com- pany A, 78th P. V. I., which he joined at Pulaski, Tenn. Subsequently he participated in its various engagements, which included such memorable and hard-fought battles as Stone River, Burnt Hickory, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta and Nashville, be- sides numerous skirmishes and minor engage- ments. He was a brave and faithful soldier and when his services were . completed re- turned to the duties of peace with an excellent record. He was discharged June 19, 1865, at Nashville.

Mr. Lewis was married Sept. 13, 1866, to S. E. Johnson, of South Mahoning township, Indiana county, daughter of James and Polly (Simpson) Johnson, and granddaughter of John and Sarah (Adamson) Johnson. James Johnson was a carpenter by trade, and also owned a farm in South Mahoning township. where both he and his wife died. Their chil- dren were as follows: Mary Jane, who mar- ried J. K. Stear, of Cozad, Nebr .; S. E., who married Mr. Lewis ; J. H., a farmer, who mar- ried Mary Kinter, and lived in South Ma- honing township; Martha, deceased, who was the wife of John Webster, and lived in Jef- ferson county ; Clara, who married T. W. Neff, of Altoona, Pa. ; and John B., a railroad bridge carpenter, of Pittsburg, Kans., who met an accidental death Feb. 20, 1905.

George Lewis, of Sinking Valley, Pa., father of Samuel Lewis, received only meager edu- cational advantages. He lived at home until his marriage, at which time he commenced To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born the following children : Austin Elmer, born April 23, 1867, a farmer in Forest ,county, Pa., married Ella Purdy and (second) Laura Bell Ekes, and had three children, Bell (who mar- ried Joseph States of Richmond, Pa., and has three children, Claire O., Joseph W. and An- drew J.), Preston C. and John F .; Nora B., born March 31, 1869, married John Love, of Jefferson county, and has three children, Harry A., Mabel E. and Mary B .; Arthur B., born Feb. 7, 1871, a miner of Onnalinda, Pa., married Agnes Lucas, and has ten children, farming on his own account, and was so en- gaged until his death, in 1846. He and his wife had four children, namely: Nancy mar- ried Anthony Wingrove, and lived in West Mahoning township (both are deceased) ; John enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Company A, 78th Regiment, P. V. I., at Smicksburg. was sent to Kittanning and on to Louisville. Ky., where he joined the Army of the Cum- berland, was taken sick at Chattanooga, Tenn .. sent to hospital at Louisville, Ky., and died Dec. 15, 1863 (he married Lizzie Moon- shower) ; Samuel is mentioned below; Jane Clair, Mary, William, Murray, Towner, married John B. Sowers, and lived at Yates- Thomas, Samuel, Amanda, Ethel and another

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

daughter ; John W., born Jan. 20, 1873, a vet- Jane, who married Richard Harwood; Becky, eran of the Spanish-American war, who was who married William Price; Mrs. Young; sergeant of Company M, 3d Pennsylvania Vol- James, who lives in Jefferson county, Pa .; unteers, is now living in Colorado; James A., Alex, who married a Miss Suydam; and born Oct. 29, 1874, a miner, married Mary Thomas. Jones, and has six children, Samuel Thomas, Thomas Davis, son of Isaiah Davis, settled in Buffington township, Indiana Co., Pa., when he was thirty years old. Prior to that he had learned the blacksmith's trade at Hope- well, Bedford Co., Pa., but after coming to Indiana county he devoted himself to farming on his 200-acre tract, where he died aged sixty-two years. Joining the Methodist Church early in life, he continued a member of that body, and died firm in its faith, having been a liberal supporter of the church at Blacklick, Cambria county; he was buried in the little cemetery attached to that church. Ida May, Timothy, Blanche, Margaret and Robert; Ida C., born Feb. 22, 1877, married A. E. Ross, of DuBois, Pa., and has two chil- dren, Lester and Grace; Ira B., born Oct. 18, 1878, died Nov. 13, 1878; Luther F., born Oct. 11, 1879, who was connected with a supply house at Ernest, met with an accidental death Feb. 24, 1913 (he married Sarah E. Work, and they had seven children, Bertha, Ernest, deceased, Ray, Francis, Blair, James and Eva) ; George F., born March 16, 1882, a carpenter, plumber and paperhanger living near Marchand, Pa., married Lulu Weaver Thomas Davis married Nancy Rainey, daughter of John Rainey, of Bedford county, and their children were: Sarah Jane married T. J. Bracken; James A. died at the age of twenty-two years; William is mentioned be- low; Ann married Thomas Hannah as her first husband, and later John Graham; Thomas Jefferson died while in service during the Civil war, as a member of the Union army ; Foster married Rachel Shealer and (second) Eliza Harbaugh; Charity died in childhood. and (second) Olive Loyd, and by his first mar- riage had one child, Earl, by his second two, Mona and Dale; Samuel, a painter, living at Madison, Pa., married Anna Bell Lewis, of Smieksburg, Pa., and has two children, Wil- liam Elkin and Mary; and J. Harvey, born Oct. 14, 1887, now farming the old home place for his father, married Goldie Potts and has had three children, Ralph, Ethel and Floy, the last-named dying when eight months old.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lewis settled on the Ritchey place, where they re- sided for two and a half years. In 1872 Mr. Lewis purchased his present property of fifty acres in Canoe township, formerly known as the Colgin place, at that time wild land, but which has all been cleared and put under cul- tivation by "Mr. Lewis, who follows general farming and stock raising. He is an industri- ous, thrifty worker, and a substantial and respected citizen of his community.

Mr. Lewis is a Republican in political views, and for thirteen years has served as a member of the board of supervisors of Canoe town- ship. He and his family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Richmond, Pa. He is a popular comrade of the G. A. R. post at Richmond.

ALVIN INDEPENDENT DAVIS, a farmer of Buffington township, was born July 4, 1867, son of William Davis.

William Davis, son of Thomas Davis, and father of Alvin I. Davis, was born Dec. 28, 1835, in Pine (now Buffington) township, this county. He attended the schools of his pe- riod and locality, and assisted his father with the farm work, learning it in all its details. Later he purchased the homestead, comprising 230 acres, and operated it, raising stock, spe- cializing on fine horses, and lumbering to a considerable extent. For many years he served as a school director, and after the for- mation of the Republican party adhered to its principles. The Methodist Church held his membership and benefited from his generosity from the time he joined it, many years ago. Having spent many years in useful employ- ment he retired, and now lives at Morrellville. Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

On November 18, 1858, William Davis was married to Cynthia Jane George, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Patterson) George. Mrs. Davis was born Dec. 11, 1839. Mr. and Isaiah Davis, great-grandfather of Alvin Mrs. Davis had children as follows: Mary Agnes, born Sept. 10, 1859. married Sept. 28, 1889, Charles Altemus, a dentist of Johns- town; Thomas Jefferson, born July 14, 1861, married Mary Ling. daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (MeFeaters) Ling, and has

Independent Davis, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and moved to Bedford, this state, where he built the first furnace, known as the Lynn & Davis furnace. There his children were born. He married a Miss Flanigan and (sec- ond) a Miss Steel, and his children were: had children, Norman, Stanton, Elton, Dal-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ton and Melvin; Ann Elizabeth, born Nov. county is noted, and sustains the high reputa- 8, 1862, died in childhood; Flora, born Jan. tion established by his forbears for honesty of 20, 1865, taught school for some years, mar- purpose and integrity of action. ried June 4, 1895, Sam C. Altemus, and died Aug. 6, 1893; Alvin I. is mentioned below ; JAMES STEWART CAMPBELL, a farmer of Armstrong township, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in that township Nov. 5, 1837, son of Cornelius Campbell. His paternal grandfather married the daughter of James Stewart. Edwin, born Nov. 5, 1869, is a dentist of New York City; William George, born Dec. 12, 1871, married July 8, 1896, Bell Hill, and is an engineer in the Cambria Steel Company works at Johnstown, Pa .; Ira, born Aug. 27, 1873, living with his parents, is a steel tester for the Cambria Steel Company; Gertrude, born Sept. 25, 1876, died Jan. 15, 1877; Fannie, born April 4, 1878, married Sept. 10, 1908, Homer Boyer, who is a banker of Jolins- town, Pa .; Sarah L., born Sept. 8, 1880, died July 22, 1884.

Alvin Independent Davis attended the Dun- can school, and at the same time was kept busy with work on the farm. After he left school he entered the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company as fireman, running between Derry, Pa., and points east and west. Later he came back to the farm, and buying the homestead settled upon it. This prop- erty comprised 120 acres of his father's or- iginal holdings, and contained a handsome residence, good barns and other buildings. He added seventy-six acres to this, which he bought from the McCartney brothers, and is now operating 190 acres, doing general farming and lumbering. Being a man of en- terprise, with progressive ideas, he conducts his operations according to modern methods, and has been decidedly successful.

Mr. Davis was married to Bell Wallace, daughter of James A. and Laura Bell (Clark) Wallace, of East Wheatfield town- ship. She was born Feb. 18, 18-, and died Sept. 10, 1909, the mother of four children, as follows: Jennie Bell, born July 3, 1901; William Alvin, born April 14, 1903; Harry George, born Aug. 4, 1904; and Bertha Agnes, born Aug. 27, 1909. For his second wife Mr. Davis married Mary C. Dill, daughter of Ben- son and Matilda (Tomb) Dill, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and to this union has come one daughter, Catha- rine Amanda, born Dec. 4, 1912.

Mr. Davis has been a Republican since casting his first vote, and has served as con- stable for five years, as township auditor for thirteen years, and as judge of election four years. The Methodist Church holds his mem- bership, and he gives its good work his earnest support. Thoroughgoing in every respect, Mr. Davis is an excellent example of the type of modern agriculturist for which Indiana

Cornelius Campbell was born in 1796, and died Dec. 14, 1843. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America when twenty-two years old, making the voyage in a sailing vessel that landed him in New York City, whence he later came to Armstrong township, taking up 140 acres in the then wilderness. On it he built a log house, on the site of the present residence of his son, James Stewart Campbell. In addition to at- tending to his farm this pioneer taught school held in a log cabin, receiving in payment for his services grain and other farm commodities. A man of more than ordinary intelligence and education, he naturally became a leader in township affairs, and his advice was asked in all matters of importance by his neighbors. A loyal member of the United Presbyterian Church, he was much interested in its wel- fare, having been one of its founders in this locality, and he lived up to its creed, which he carried into his everyday life.

On June 15, 1826, Cornelius Campbell was married to Nancy Gray, who died Jan. 6, 1828. They had one child, Jane, born April 26, 1827, who died Sept. 17, 1827. Mr. Camp- bell married (second) Dec. 23, 1830, Rebecca Stewart, who was born Oct. 10, 1801, and died Dec. 16, 1858. The children of this marriage were as follows: Mary, born Sept. 21, 1831, died March 31, 1832; Nancy, born Sept. 25, 1832, died Jan. 26, 1833; John, born Oct. 24, 1833, died Jan. 16, 1837; Esther, born April 17, 1836, married Andrew Duncan, a blacksmith, and died July 25, 1862; James S. is mentioned at length below; David, born Dec. 17, 1839, married Isabelle Miller, a daughter of Jacob Miller, of Jefferson county, Pa., and died Jan. 7, 1909. David Campbell's wife survives him, living on a farm in White township with her children. They had the following family: Mary Elizabeth, who is deceased; Rebecca Ann, who married Samuel E. Kaufman; James Wellington, who mar- ried Margaret Ellen Fleming and resides in Denver, Colo., where he is engaged in the' lumber business; Ella Milanda ; Martha Bell; Emory Edward, who married Mabel Zonia

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Peddicord; and Lawrence David, who mar- name was formerly spelled Dotey, Doty, Dote ried Alice Bracken. David Campbell served and Doten.

in Company G, 2d Battalion, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for six months during the Civil war.

James Stewart Campbell was the eldest liv- ing son of his parents when his father died, and upon his youthful shoulders fell the burden of operating the homestead and car- ing for his widowed mother and the remainder of the family. He nobly discharged the heavy duties life early brought him, and received the homestead in partial payment. He has made many improvements upon this property, and while the main part of his residence is the original log house erected by his father, he has so improved it that it would never be recognized. At present he is living somewhat retired, but until 1909 was actively engaged in operating his farm, specializing on raising fine horses and making butter. Mr. Camp- bell remembers many pioneer conditions long since passed away. When he was a lad, win- dow glass was a luxury none in the neighbor- hood were able to afford. Whenever a cover- ing other than the crude shutter of logs was desired, oiled paper was pasted in the open .. ing. His house is but ten rods from the old Indian trail, and he has found many re- ininders in his fields that once the red men used this locality as a hunting ground. In plowing he has come across beds of clay on which the Indians in bygone days did their cooking, while countless arrowheads testify to their methods of laying low the wild game or each other before firearms came into their possession.

In 1861 Mr. Campbell married Anna Eliza Miller, now deceased, a daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Moore) Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Camp- bell became the parents of two children: El- mer Elsworth, who died at the age of eighteen years, and Rebecca, who died when two years old. Mrs. Campbell and her children are buried in Oakland cemetery. Mr. Campbell is one of the most substantial men of his township, and his relations with the United Presbyterian Church, of which he is a mem- ber. are as important as they are in the out- side world. Politically he is an independent Republican.

JOHN DOTY, farmer of Grant township. Indiana county, and veteran of the Civil war, was born Dec. 16, 1841, near New · Salem, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and is a descendant of a family of English origin which was one of the first to settle in New England. The sylvania.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 86

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