Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 89

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 89

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John A. Bolar was born in East Wheatfield township and received his education in the public schools there. From boyhood he was occupied with the work on the home place, where he has spent all his life. He now owns and operates a tract of three hun- dred acres, having made some additions to the

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original farm. In 1880 he began giving special Hezekiah; Barbara, wife of John Hoover, attention to the growing of potatoes, in which of Armstrong county, Pa .; Elizabeth, de- ceased; Deborah, deceased ; Caroline, widow of William Prugh, of Indiana county ; Margaret, wife of G. W. McHenry, of Spangler, Pa .; Austin, of Johnstown, Pa .; and Jemima, de- ceased. line he was a pioneer in his section, and he has continued to make a specialty of their cul- ture since, being now the most extensive growér of potatoes in Indiana county. His yearly output amounts to over fifteen thou- sand bushels, which he disposes of at Johns- town and in other near-by markets. He also carries on general farming and stock raising, and has been highly successful in all his work, which is conducted in the most approved up- to-date manner, his progressive nature being evident in whatever he handles. He is a Republican, but takes no active part in polit- ical matters or public business.

Mr. Bolar married Catherine (Kate) A. Naugle, a native of Somerset county, Pa., daughter of Peter Naugle, and they have one child, Zoebeth (Lottie), now Mrs. Frank R. Kern. She received her literary education in the local public schools and a musical edu- cation at Johnstown, under Miss Emma V. Wallace, and taught music in East Wheat- field township. On June 6, 1900, she mar- ried Frank R. Kern, and they reside with her parents on the homestead; they have one child, Catherine Bolar, born Sept. 13, 1902.

Hezekiah Berkeypile spent his early life in Somerset county and received the greater part of his education there, also attending school after the family settled in Indiana county. He followed farming throughout his active years, and upon his retirement his son Steele took the management of the home farm in Cherryhill township, which he now operates. He has been a useful citizen of his community, having served seven years as school director and two years as supervisor of Cherryhill township. Politically he belongs to the Republican party. He is a member of the German Baptist Church.

On Sept. 6, 1861, Mr. Berkeypile married Rhoda Lydick, who was born Aug. 8, 1836, in Cherryhill township, daughter of Patrick Lydick, a lifelong resident of Cherryhill township, who married Elizabeth Evans and had three children: Crawford; Russell, who passed all his life in Cherryhill township; and Rhoda, Mrs. Berkeypile, who died June 6, 1901. John Lydick, Mrs. Berkeypile's great-

HEZEKIAH BERKEYPILE, who is now living retired on his farm in Cherryhill town- grandfather, was a native of Holland, and on ship, Indiana county, has been a resident of the county for almost sixty years. He is a native of Somerset county, Pa., born Jan. 20, 1838, son of Levi and Caroline (Fry) Berkey- pile, and grandson of George Berkeypile, one of the early settlers of that county. He was a farmer by occupation. The Berkey- piles are of English ancestry, the Frys of German origin. coming to America first settled at Hannas- town, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he en- gaged in farming. In 1760 he came to In- diana county, settling in what is now Cherry- hill township, and a fort was built on his property ; part of this historic old structure is still standing. The following year hostile Indians drove them back to Westmoreland county, where they remained for seven years before again venturing to live at the new lo-

Levi Berkeypile, father of Hezekiah, was also a farmer. He was born Sept. 29, 1815, cation. When they returned they settled in Somerset county, and moved thence with permanently in Cherryhill township, on the his family to Indiana county in 1853, first farm which is still in the family, and there John Lydick died at an advanced age. He served in the Revolutionary war. His sou Jacob, grandfather of Mrs. Berkeypile, grew to manhood in Cherryhill township, where he lived and died. He reached the ripe old age of ninety-four years. Part of the farm where these pioneers settled is now the Berkeypile homestead. settling in White township, where they re- mained for many years. In 1889 they moved to Cherryhill township, Hezekiah Berkeypile purchasing the place upon which he has since resided, and which is now cultivated by his son Steele. Levi Berkeypile married Caro- line Fry, whose family came from Germany ; she was born Oct. 28, 1814, in Somerset coun- ty. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Berkeypile both died Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Berkeypile: (1) Charlotte, who is deceased; (2) Russell. deceased; (3) Ellen, deceased ; in Indiana county, he on Oct. 10, 1890, and she Nov. 9, 1897. They had eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: (4) Josephine, wife of Hileman Long, of Charlotte, who is the widow of Jacob Peter- Rayne township, who has two children, Re- son, of Cherryhill township ; Levina, deceased; becca and Stewart ; (5) Wellington, of Cherry-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

hill township, who married Maggie Bennett, of Pine township, this county, and has six living children, Jay, Luella, Olive, Dorothy, Ralph and Ross (three died in infancy) ; and (6) Steele.

Steele Berkeypile, youngest of the family of Hezekiah and Rhoda (Lydick) Berkeypile, was born Jan. 1, 1875, in Cherryhill, and has passed the greater part of his life on his father's farm in that township, which he now conducts, his father continuing to live there also. He is one of the enterprising and pro- gressive young farmers of the locality, and is at present serving as president of the town- ship school board. On Aug. 3, 1898, he mar- ried Ida Stake, who was born June 23, 1877, in Cherryhill township, daughter of Josiah and Marion (Pittman) Stake, the former a na- tive of Cherryhill township, the latter of Brushvalley township, this county. In his earlier years Mr. Stake was a farmer, later en- gaging in lumbering. He served all through the Civil war, having enlisted in Company F, 55th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry. He and his wife had a family of six children, William and another being deceased. The survivors are: Angeline, wife of Her- man Rigger, of Brushvalley township; Ida, wife of Steele Berkeypile; Mary, wife of Oliver Stadtmiller, of Cherryhill township; and John, of White township, this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Steele Berkeypile have two children, Clay Ottis and Wade Elson.

JOSIAH G. EVANS, of White township, Indiana county, engaged in general merchan- dising, was born March 13, 1841, in Brush- valley township, this county, where the Evanses were among the eldest pioneer set- tlers. The family is of Welsh extraction.

Hngh Evans, grandfather of Josiah G. Ev- ans, and the founder of the family in this country, was a native of Cardiff, Wales, and crossed the Atlantic when a young man, work- ing to pay his passage on the vessel. Among the passengers was a young English girl with whom he fell in love, and they were married when they landed at Philadelphia. They came west to the Welsh settlement near Ebens- burg, in Cambria county, Pa., where they remained for a short time, until they came to Indiana county, locating in Brushvalley town- ship. They were among the first settlers there. Settling in the wilderness, Mr. Evans built his log cabin and set to work clearing up the land. He remained but a short time on his first farm, buying a. 400-acre tract, all brush and timber, near the site of Mechanics-

burg, upon which he settled down to farming. Much of this land is still in the family name. Here he built a dwelling house and barn, and also erected a saw and grist mill-the first of the kind in Brush creek valley. The mill was of stone, and stood on Brush creek about three quarters of a mile below the present site of Mechanicsburg, and for many years was a prominent landmark. He also owned a dis- tillery. He worked hard and faithfully, pros- pered in his own affairs and did his full duty as a citizen, being one of the enterprising and progressive men of his day and generation. He was a strong abolitionist. He died on his farm in 1849, at the age of seventy years, and was buried in what is known as the Evans graveyard in Brushvalley township. He was a member of the Baptist Church, the first Baptist to settle in the township. His first wife, Hannah, died leaving children as fol- lows: Ann, who married John Kelly and (second) James Stewart; John; Hugh, who died at Altoona; Mary, who married Henry Grumbling; Elizabeth (Betsy), who first married Joseph McNutt; Evan, who lived in Brushvalley; William, who married Susan Wilkins; and James, who died in Center township. Mr. Evans married for his second wife Esther Creswell, and she bore him three children : Ellen, Rebecca and Lucinda (who married Rev. A. B. Runyan, a well-known Baptist minister of Mechanicsburg).

Evan Evans, son of Hugh, was born in Brushvalley township, and lived to be over eighty, dying in Brushvalley township. He bought a farm and followed agricultural pur- suits, and also ran a mill in his earlier days. He married Sarah George, a native of White township, daughter of Jacob. George, who was born in Westmoreland county, this State, and came in an early day to Indiana county, set- tling in White township; Mr. George owned land and followed farming all his life. Mrs. Evans died before her husband, passing away when aged about seventy. They were the par- ents of three children, one son and two daugh- ters, one of whom, Elizabeth, became the wife of Elijah Peddicord, now deceased; she rẻ- sides at Franklin, Pa. Susanna died young.

Josiah G. Evans was educated in Brush- valley township. He began working on the farm for his father when a mere boy, and re- mained there until his enlistment, during the Civil war, for service in the Union army. He became a member of Company E, 211th Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Trimble, and was in the service about a year, taking part in a number of battles. He was

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

mustered out at Fortress Monroe, and after Church for many years. In political faith, he receiving his discharge returned home, con- was a Republican. tinuing to work on the old farm until 1904, Mr. Palmer was twice married and by his first wife, whose name was Margaret, he had these children : (1) Charles, born Dec. 4, 1845, married Feb. 27, 1868, Eveline Lydig, and lives at Decker's Point. (2) Samuel Foster, born July 7, 1847, married Aug. 20, 1868, Rebecca Brown, now deceased, and they had two children, Myrtle, Mrs. Archie Mikesell, and Pearl, who is living with Mrs. Palmer; he married for his second wife Sarah Long, by whom he has four children, Vina, Joseph, Fred and Nora. (3) Jane, born Dec. 2, 1848, married Sept. 24, 1868, Nelson Barr, by whom she had two children, Edmund and Earl. She died in 1885, aged thirty-seven years. when he embarked in the general mercantile business which he has ever since conducted, opening a store at Twolick in White township. He is located on Indiana R. F. D. route No. 4. Mr. Evans is an accommodating and enter- prising business man, and has acquired a profitable patronage in his vicinity, building up his business by honorable dealing and creditable methods. He is well known all over the township, having held various township of- fices. His religious connection is with the Baptist Church, and for several years he has been a member of the G. A. R. post at Indiana borough ; he was a charter member of Mechan- icsburg Post, G. A. R.

Mr. Evans married Mary Freet, a native of Indiana county, daughter of Louis E. Freet, an early settler in the county. Eight children were born to this union : Luna, Mae, Ella, Clara, Susan, Myrtle, Berilett and Evan E. The mother of this family died in the win- ter of 1904, and on March 24, 1906, Mr. Evans married (second) Mrs. Kate (Baldwin) Lynch, who was born in Armstrong county, Pa., daughter of Isaac and Charlotte (Roff) Baldwin. Mrs. Evans' father died in 1900, in White township. He was a carpenter by trade, and settled at an early day in Arm- strong county. Mrs. Baldwin now makes her home in Indiana. Kate Baldwin first married John Lynch, by whom she had one child, Joella, now the wife of Hollis Lockard, of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania.

JOSEPH PALMER (deceased) was a well- to-do farmer and highly esteemed citizen of East Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pa., born at Blacklick, this county, Nov. 16, 1821, a son of Charles Palmer.

Charles Palmer came of Irish stock, and it is thought that both he and his wife were born in Ireland. Their children were as follows : Jesse, born May 25, 1814; Elizabeth, born Aug. 29, 1815, who married a Mr. Livingston ; Samuel, born April 23, 1818; Jane, born Aug. 26, 1820, who married Johnston Palmer; Jo- seph ; and Susanna, born Nov. 25, 1826, who married a Mr. Griffin.

Joseph Palmer grew up as any farmer boy of his day and locality. Locating at Black- lick, he lived there until 1866, when he moved to Decker's Point, Indiana County, Pa., her home district, and remained at home until where he died September 5, 1906 .. He had been a faithful member of the Methodist

Mr. Palmer was married (second) on Oct. 27, 1880, to Martha MeLaughlin, who was born April 20, 1841, in Rayne township, this county, daughter of James and Margaret (Speedy) McLaughlin, and granddaughter of James MeLaughlin.

James McLaughlin, grandfather of Mrs. Palmer, came from Ireland with his wife and older children, the voyage, which was made in a sailing vessel, taking six weeks. He took up 1,000 acres of land in Rayne township, Indi- ana Co., Pa., where he died.

James McLaughlin, son of James, and fa- ther of Mrs. Palmer, was born in Rayne town- ship Sept. 2, 1802, and was a farmer all his life, operating 300 acres of his father's home- stcad. He was married Jan. 6, 1830, to Mar- garet, daughter of James Speedy, and died on his farm Aug. 31, 1858, while his wife died May 9, 1896. They had nine children : David, born Nov. 14, 1830, married Margaretta Kin- ter and is deceased; James, born June 13, 1832, married Isabelle Kinter; Johnson was born April 15, 1834; Mary, born Oct. 15, 1837, is deceased; Wesley, born Feb. 2, 1839, mar- ried Maria Rankin; Martha is the widow of Joseph Palmer; John Fletcher, born Sept. 4, 1843, married Louisa Ainsley ; Hester Ann. born Sept. 4, 1846, married Johnson Lough- rey; Eliza Charlotte, born April 20, 1848, died at the age of twelve. James McLaughlin was a man of high character and excellent business ability, and stood well with all who -knew him. He was a member of the Methodist Church. The Republican party had his vote and support.

Mrs. Palmer attended the public schools of her marriage, learning to be a good house- keeper and Christian woman.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

GEORGE WASHINGTON ROOF, of Indi- the Harmon school in Armstrong county and ana, who has been constable of that borough the Reed school in Center township, Indiana for thirty years and is now also serving as county. Remaining on the farm with his deputy sheriff of Indiana county, was born father until 1874, he was employed as brake- July 6, 1850, near Davis post office, in Wash- man on the Pennsylvania railroad for the ington township, this county.

John Henry Roof, his father, was born in Berks county, this State, and came to Indiana county when a young man, settling first in Sonth Mahoning township. Later he re- moved to Chambersville, in Rayne township, where he had a 150-acre farm, part of it, how- ever, lying in Washington township. Trading farms with John Lytle, he moved to Dayton, Armstrong county, but in 1862 returned to Indiana county, settling at Reed station, in White township. There for the next twenty- two years he was engaged in "cropping" the farm of William Banks, lawyer, at the end of that period buying a tract of 106 acres in Cen- ter township, at Edgewood. He continued to cultivate this place until his death, which oc- curred in 1891. Mr. Roof was an enterprising business man, and besides engaging in agricul- tural pursuits became largely interested in stock dealing. After the Civil war he bought twelve mules from the government. He was prominent in local affairs, serving as school di- rector and supervisor. He married Mary Jane Juart, whose father, Alexander Juart, of near Plumville and Dayton, Armstrong county, was an extensive farmer and land owner, owning over one thousand acres. Mrs. Roof died in November, 1912, at the age of eighty-eight years. She was the mother of twelve chil- dren: Jane married George Fredericks, a wagonmaker, and resides in Homer City, this county. Alexander died at the age of twenty- two years. George W. is mentioned below. Maggie, deceased, was the wife of Frank De- vinney, of Homer City. John Wesley is engaged in business as a merchant in Salts- burg, this county. J. Luther, born Jan. 7, 1857. a contractor and builder, and at pres- ent caretaker of the Indiana normal school, was married March 14, 1883. to Sadie H. Hendrickson. of Hempstead. daughter of Oliver and Mary Etta (Seaman) Hendrick- son ; Mr. and Mrs. Roof have adopted and reared two children, James W. Williams and Nettie MeClintock. Caroline married Robert Crawford and resides in Indiana. Elizabeth married Harry Walker, of Indiana. William Banks. William E. and Harry died young. and Catherine, twin of Jane, at the age of twenty.

George W. Roof first attended the Hang- ing Rock school in Rayne township, and later

next two years, and then returned to the farm for several years, at the end of which time he came to the borough of Indiana to live. Dur- ing the first three years of his residence there he was engaged in teaming for the Adams Express Company. In 1883 he was elected constable, which office he has held continu- onsly since, and for three years he also acted as street commissioner of West Indiana; he is now serving as deputy sheriff of the county in addition to performing his duties as con- stable. He is well known in the borough and one of its highly respected citizens.

Mr. Roof married Jennie Marshall, daugh- ter of Scott and Hannah (Ramsay) Marshall. and they have had a family of five children : John died of fever when twenty years old; Cora is the wife of Harry N. White, and re- sides in Indiana ; Bert C. married Laura Me- Coy; Frank Luther is married and resides at Iselin, this county; Mary W. is the wife of Charles Ebbey, and lives at Derry. Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Roof are members of the M. E. Church:

JOHN SMITH, a veteran of the Civil war, is the owner of 150 acres of farming land in Canoe township, Indiana county. He was born in Butler county. Pa., May 13, 1839, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sincon) Smith.

Henry Smith, father of John Smith, was born in Schlichter. Germany. For some years he served in the German army, and he also followed the trade of tailor. In his native country he was married, and in 1836 came to the United States. settling at Harmony. Butler Co .. Pa. There he spent something over two years engaged in farming, and then came to Canoe township, Indiana county. taking up fifty acres of timber land, and at once beginning its development. for it was covered with timber and wholly unimproved. The effort required in clearing a farm is long and laborious: Trees were cut down, stumps grubbed up. the land plowed, the seed planted, and in due season abundant harvests were gathered. but all this was the work of years. and unremittingly Mr. Smith labored on until he had transformed his wild land into a rich and valuable farm. Here he and his faithful wife, who cheerfully shared the hardships and privations of pioneer existence, spent the remainder of their lives, hoth dying in the

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faith of the Evangelical Association. They Jefferson county ; Prissie, who married Milton became the parents of ten children, as fol- Pease, a carpenter, and they live with Mr. lows: Catherine, deceased, married William Smith; and three children who died young. Smith, of Young township, Jefferson county ; Adam, who is engaged in farming near Cloe, Jefferson county, served in Company I, 162d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of Bull Run; John is mentioned below; Elizabeth, deceased, mar- ried George Smith, of Young township, Jef- ferson county ; Mary, deceased, married Jacob Dunmire, of Canoe township; Lavina, de- ceased, was the wife of George Smith, of Jefferson county; Maggie married Stewart Miller, of Canoe township; George, an agri- culturist of Canoe township, married Mary Bann; Henry, living on the old homestead in Canoe township, married Rachel Dunmire; a daughter died in infancy.

John Smith received but few advantages of an educational nature in his boyhood, and until he was eighteen years of age was en- gaged in assisting his father in the work on the home place. At that time he wandered from the parental roof to take up the battle of life on his own account, and for some years was engaged in working on various farms in the vicinity of his home. On July 13, 1863, he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a private in Company L, 102d Regiment, P. V. I., known as the old 13th Regiment. This organization was sent to Camp Reynolds, and on to Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863, Mr. Smith subsequently becoming a sharp- shooter of the 6th Army Corps. Among his engagements may be mentioned : Win Run, May 5-6, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12-18; North Anna River, May 24; Tolopotomoy, May 29; Cold Harbor, June 3; Petersburg, June 18; Fort Stevens, July 10; Charlestown, Aug. 15; Winchester, Sept. 19; Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22; Cedar Creek, Oct. 19; Fort Steadman, April 2, 1865; Sailor's Creek, April 6; and Appomattox. On Oct. 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, Mr. Smith was wounded in the right hand, and still carries the bullet. He was honorably discharged after brave and valiant service.

In 1863 Mr. Smith was married to Cathe- rine Binn, of Germany, who died in 1895, at the age of sixty years. They became the par- ents of the following children: John M., a miner of Canoe township, who married Mary Cochrain ; Albert, a miner of Island, Pa., who is married; William, a farmer and threshing machine operator of Canoe township, who married Amy Borts and (second) Laura his township and benefited accordingly. Hawk; Julia, who married Silas Baun, of

Mr. Smith began farming on a tract at Covode, Pa., where he purchased thirty acres of land, and two years later moved to Canoe township, where he bought 100 acres, all in the woods, at North Juneau. To this he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of 150 acres, about half of which is under cultivation. During the early days, Mr. Smith did a great deal of rafting as well as farming, but he now contents himself with his agricultural pursuits, and his efforts have been rewarded with satisfactory results. He is known as one of his community's good cit- izens, a man who will assist in every move- ment that promises to better the general welfare, and as one who, having succeeded himself, is willing to assist others to success. He is remembered as having been one of the strongest men of his command, during his army days, and he is still well preserved for a man of his years. He is a popular comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Punxsutawney, and his pleasant, genial man- ner has won him a wide circle of friends.

CYRUS STIFFEY, a farmer of Cone- maugh township, was born there July 29, 1860, son of David Stiffey, and grandson of Conrad Stiffey.

Conrad Stiffey was born near Livermore, Westmoreland Co., Pa., where he was a suc- cessful farmer all his life. He married Mary Connor, and they became the parents of the following children: David, John, Joseph, James, Azariah, William, Philip, Frank, Henry and Margaret (who married John Patterson).

David Stiffey was born Dec. 3, 1820, in Derry township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and after attending the common schools of his neighborhood learned the carpenter's trade and that of millwright, following them in conjunction until he had saved sufficient money to buy 145 acres of land in Conemaugh township, Indiana Co., Pa. Moving upon this property, he began farming and stock rais- ing, and developed a magnificent farm, mak- ing the improvements himself. Although at that time few farmers believed in the ef- ficiency of new methods in doing their work, he was ahead of his age, and so instilled his ideas iu his son that the latter has become one of the most progressive agriculturists of

A man of public spirit, Mr. Stiffey was

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called upon to fill several offices, acting as at Allegheny, Pa .; Herbert, born Dec. 12, overseer of the poor and road supervisor for 1889, is at home; Sadie Mazie, born March many years. He was elected on the Repub- 31, 1892, is teaching school at Nowrytown, lican ticket, as he was an ardent supporter Pa., and is living at home. The mother of these died Aug. 11, 1893. On April 30, 1896, Mr. Stiffey was married (second) to Edith Duncan, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Coleman) Duncan, of Conemaugh township. A full sketch of the Duncan family is given elsewhere in this work. of that party. A lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church at Ebenezer, his services to it were recognized in his election to the office of elder, and he discharged the duties pertaining to that position with dignified capability. In addition he acted as superin- tendent of the Sunday school connected with the church, and made that organization a powerful factor in bringing the young into the church.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 89

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