Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 884

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of about then, but the time came when there half million; and three million dollars' worth was less opportunity to buy low and throw of fire insurance is carried by the company. out bargains with profit, and besides a desire to control more stores made it necessary to dis . continue handling the higher priced goods, as the chance to lose by leakage on perishable and seasonable goods became greater each time an additional store was acquired.

The first store handling 5 and 10 cent goods exclusively was opened at Lawrence, Mass., about the year 1891, and a little later the second one was opened at Jamestown, N. Y. From this beginning to the present the busi- ness lias had a record of unbroken prosperity. After he had established a number of stores in Pennsylvania, Mr. McCrory found oppor- tunities in neighboring States. His activity brought him again and again to the discovery of available sites and fields for business too good to be ignored, and the accumulated prof- its of each new store gave him capital to widen his interests constantly.

To save continual renewing of leases, also safeguard against chance to undermine on same, it became necessary to rent for long periods and today the property not owned outright is generally leased on twenty-one- year terms, or longer.

Thus he kept adding to his string of estab- lishments until now they are to be found in most States east of the Mississippi. Hardly power. a year passed but several new stores were opened, and the growth in recent years has been so rapid as to be phenomenal. Yet the increase has been normal in every respect, its wonderful expansion within the last few years being only the result of the system which has been undergoing steady improvement un- til its workings now seem to be practically perfect.

In 1912 the J. G. McCrory Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, and the business was turned over to same by Mr. McCrory. The following of- ficers are now in control: J. G. McCrory, president; J. H. Mccullough, first vice presi- dent; B. L. Horner, second vice president ; F. D. Jolly, third vice president and treas- urer; P. A. Prior, secretary ; W. M. Cleaver, comptroller. The board of directors consists of J. G. McCrory, B. E. McSheehy, W. W. Mclellan, B. L. Horner, W. M. Cleaver, E. E. Holmes and W: J. Maloney, with J. G. Mc- Crory, B. E. McSheehy and W. W. MeLellan as members of the executive committee. Most of the men in whom the administration of the business rests have, like the founder, devoted the better part of their lives to its advance- ment, and have long been associated with him. Each is a specialist in his own line. The concern has now an authorized capital of $10,000,000, common stock $7,000,000, pre- ferred stock $3,000,000, practically all of the common stock being owned by Mr. McCrory. The fact that he is willing to keep the princi- pal part of his own investments in the busi- ness is the best evidence of his faith in its stability and prospects of continued earning

The MeCrory headquarters for some years was at DuBois, Pa., but when the stores were about fourteen in number offices were opened at Johnstown, Pa., and when about forty in number, trips to the cities were so frequent that it became necessary to move the offices to New York.

About three thousand people are now on the company 's pay roll, and more than a hun- dred in the general offices and purchasing de- partment, which is situated at No. 621 Broad- way, New York City. Mr. McCrory has al- ways been liberal in his treatment of em- ployees, and the relations between them have been cordial.

To illustrate the remarkable expansion of late years, we quote from a statement issued in 1912, showing forty-eight stores in 1907 ánd 1908, forty-nine in 1909, sixty-one in 1910, sixty-nine in 1911 and eighty-one in operation early in 1912. In May, 1913, there are 112 stores, and eight new locations en- Mr. McCrory has also been very active in real estate and it is a question if the natural increased value on real estate, together with rents collected from same (up to within the last few years) was not equal to the profit from stores. Early he discovered the close re- lation existing between inside (or best) real estate and the up-to-date retail store and came to know that in order to locate retail stores and make each a sure success, meant to ac- gaged; annual volume of business abont $8.000,000. The sales for the first half of 1912 (fiscal year) showed an increase of thir- ty-six and a half per cent over the same period in 1911-the greatest increase known in this line of business. Neither is there anything small about the expenses. For instance, taxes paid into the different towns where stores are located run at least $35,000 annually, not in- cluding the corporation and other taxes. An- quire a correct knowledge of city real estate nual rent bills alone amount to more than a and actual value of same. The vast fields

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to be covered gave unlimited opportunity for Lawrence Co., Pa. Two children have been thorough knowledge which was not overlooked, born to this marriage, Lois Jean and Eunice Marjorie. but comparisons of location, value and prices for best spots in various towns of the States was continually going on, and many fine prop- erties in thrifty, rapid growing towns were WILLIAM HARVEY GEORGE, a well-to- do farmer of Armstrong township, Indiana county, was born in that township April 2, 1869, son of James Walter George, and he is a great-grandson of James George, who was the first of this family to come to America. purchased outright instead of being closed on a rental basis. Establishing his own store al- ways made that portion of rent sure and col- lections easy. At the time of incorporating, twenty-odd, but not all, of these city prop- erties were turned over to the company.

Coal and timber lands have also had their attractions, in some cases appealing to Mr. Mc- Crory so that heavy investments have been made. One of the Florida purchases is es- pecially interesting. Some years ago ninety- eight thousand acres of pine and cypress tim- ber lands located in Orange and Osceola coun- ties, Fla., were jointly purchased by him and his brother-in-law, Mr. J. H. Mccullough, embracing a continuous tract six miles wide by. more than twenty-seven miles in length. Later, twenty thousand acres were put under fence, now being used as a cattle ranch. The timber still remains in its virgin or original state.

The Florida East Coast Railroad (known as the Henry M. Flagler Road) has just com- pleted a new line to Lake Okeechobee within the last year, passing over this tract for a distance of twenty miles, locating three sta- tions about six miles apart. Mr. McCrory and Mr. McCullough at the same time built a rail- road of their own, starting at one of the sta- tions mentioned and extending a distance of ten miles toward the town of Orlando (county seat of Orange county). It is intended to continue the road later on to Orlando.

Mr. McCrory has always been interested in churches and the cause of religion, and he has been a most liberal contributor, not only to churches in the place of his nativity, but in many other localities. He has also given generously to the Y. M. C. A. in many lo- calities.

On April 26, 1893, Mr. McCrory married Lillie May Peters, daughter of Rev. Cering and Hanna (Ryde) Peters, of DuBois, Pa., and she died April 16, 1902, leaving one son, Van Clair, now (1913) seventeen years of age; he is attending school. On Dec. 8, 1904, Mr. McCrory married (second) Carrie May McGill, daughter of Rev. John Anderson and Belinda (Clark) McGill, of New Wilmington, to America with her parents when twelve

James George was a native of Ireland, and was only a small boy when he worked his way over the ocean, on a sailing vessel, landing in the new world with just one shilling in his pocket. Being entirely without friends, he was soon obliged to part with that, spending his last penny for a crust of bread and a tin of buttermilk, but he soon found work, and before long had succeeded in saving enough money to bring him over the Allegheny moun- tains into western Pennsylvania. He stopped near New Alexandria, on the Loyalhanna creek in Westmoreland county, where he ob- tained employment chopping timber and clearing land, the region being then a wilder- ness. After working thus for a time he took up 300 acres of land for himself near Snod- grass's Mills, where he built a stone house, using the small stones found on the place. Working early and late he managed to clear a farm and make a home for his family, and he lived to enjoy the fruits of his labor, reaching a ripe old age. In religion he was a Presby- terian, in politics a Democrat. He married Mary McClure, of Westmoreland county, and they had eight children : Polly, who married Robert Woodward; Sally, who married Wil- liam Trimble; Martha, who married William Caldwell, of Indiana, proprietor of the old "Gompers Hotel"; Eliza, who married James Foster, of Westmoreland county ; John, of Armstrong township, Indiana county ; Thomas, of Clarion, Pa .; James, of Brook- ville, Pa .; and William, who remained on the homestead, caring for his parents.

John George, son of James and Mary (Mc- Clure) George, was born Jan. 30, 1799, and was a young man when he located in Arm- strong township, Indiana county, on a tract of 250 acres where he first erected a hewed log house. He cleared the land and continued to make improvements until by his industry and thrift he had established a good home, and there he spent the rest of his life as a farmer, dying at the age of eighty years. His wife, Mary (Brown), daughter of Walter Brown, was born Dec. 28, 1808, in England, and came

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

years old. She was noted for her intelligence Emma, born Jan. 27, 1864, lives at home; and many sterling qualities, and her fine pen- manship won much admiration. Mrs. George died on the homestead at the age of sixty-one years, and she and her husband are buried side by side in the Jacksonville cemetery. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. George was a Demo- crat. The following children were born to this couple : Selina, born April 4, 1830, mar- ried Leasure Mckean, of Janette, Pa .; James Walter, twin of Selina, is mentioned below;

Thomas H., born Oct. 17, 1865, a farmer, mar- ried Jennie Davis; Martha Jane, born Nov. 23, 1867, married G. C. Devinney, a farmer of Armstrong township ; William H. is mentioned below ; John Alexander, born April 28, 1870, died in September, 1870; Lizzie M., born July 21, 1872, is at home ; James W., born Aug. 10, 1873, is at home; Robert Gill, born Aug. 25, 1875, is at home; Harry Milton, born Sept. 22, 1876, is at home; Maggie Bell, born Feb. 5, 1879, died March 7, 1880; Murray Henry, Eveline Emma, born Sept. 5, 1833, is the born May 27, 1883, is at home. The mother widow of Elliott Thompson, and resides in of this family continues to reside at the home- Pocahontas, Iowa; Walter Bates, born Oct. 2, stead with her children, who are caring for 1835, is fully mentioned elsewhere in this her tenderly in her declining years.

work; Hannah Mary, born Feb. 5, 1838, mar-

William Harvey George grew to manhood ried Ephraim Davis and (second) a Mr. Cun- in Armstrong township, where he attended ningham, and resides in Janette, Pa .; Phebe public school. In his early manhood he did Elizabeth, born Dec .. 24, 1840, died March 17, 1847; William Harvey, born April 29, 1843, died Dec. 31, 1862; Martha Ann, born June 3, 1846, died Jan. 1, 1863; John Alexander, born Feb. 22, 1850, a retired railroad man, is now residing in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. farm work for others, being in the employ of G. H. Cribbs, in Blacklick township, one year, and afterward with N. S. Rankin in Center township until Feb. 16, 1893, when he bought a tract of forty-five acres, part of the Barkley tract, known as the William Barkley farm, in Armstrong township, to which he removed, residing there until 1905. In that year he settled upon the Michael Lowman farm of 140 acres in Armstrong township, which he pur- ing. Mr. George has made numerous improve- ments on his place, adding steadily to its value during his ownership. Like his father he has been active in public affairs and church work, having been school director of the town- ship for the last five years, and being a mem- ber and trustee of Bethel Presbyterian Church. In political sentiment he is a Progressive Re- publican.

James Walter George, son of John, was born April 4, 1830, in Armstrong township, Indiana county, and there received his educa- tion in the common schools. He did farm work until his marriage, after which he chased, and here he has since engaged in farm- "cropped" part of his father's farm until he bought the place upon which he settled, erect- ing a log house and barn as his first improve- ments in the way of buildings. Later he pur- chased the Alexander Lucas farm of 110 acres, and subsequently acquired 221 acres more, be- coming extensively interested in farming, which he followed there the remainder of his days. He not only managed his own affairs with notable success, but was prominent in On Feb. 16, 1893, Mr. George was married to Mary Schurr, who was born Aug. 26, 1864, all township matters, acting as supervisor of roads, and school director, and was one of the daughter of John Frederick and Christina (Walker) Schurr, and they have four chil- dren, born as follows: Lizzie C., Dec. 22, 1893; James Walter, Nov. 27, 1895; Harry Lawrence, Oct. 13, 1897; and Annie May, Aug. 19, 1900. founders of Bethel Presbyterian Church, which he served as elder and member of the building committee. Politically he was a Re- publican. His death occurred Sept. 9, 1906, and he was buried in Oakland cemetery.

Mr. George married Elizabeth Hamilton, who was born Oct. 28, 1838, in Center town- ELBIE E. CREPS was born on a farm in Rayne township, Indiana Co., Pa., Feb. 20, 1886, and is the son of J. A. and Minnie A. Creps, nee Ray, the daughter of Robert Ray, of Rayne township. Jacob Creps, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was prominent in the affairs of Indiana county during his lifetime, having held the office of sheriff of the county, was a member for two ship, where she grew up on the farm now occupied by W. Bates George, mentioned else- where in this work. Her parents were Thomas and Ann (Johnston) Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. George had the following family: Mary Ann, born Jan. 28, 1861, married William M. George. a carpenter. and resides in Spring- dale, Pa .: Nancy Ella. born June 4, 1862, married William Barkley, deceased; Sarah terms of the Legislature of the State, and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

having served with distinction in the Civil now deceased; Harriet, who first married Wil- war as captain of Company A, 61st Penn- liam Caldwell (deceased) and is now the wife of J. W. Starry, a resident of Jeannette, Pa .; Sarah, the wife of David Watt, of Windber, Pa., and Margaret, the wife of Rev. J. W. Shaffer, of Homer City, Pennsylvania. sylvania Volunteers, besides being connected with many business enterprises in the county. He died in 1891, at the age of fifty-four years. His son, J. A. Creps, father of Elbie E. Creps, died April 8, 1913, aged fifty years, while in Henry White, the maternal grandfather of Rev. Harry W. Maguire, was of English descent, and was born in Indiana county, a member of a pioneer family of this section who settled on the present site of Saltsburg, in Blacklick township, where Mr. White was engaged in farming all his life. the auditor general's department of the State, with which he had been connected for a period of eight years. His widow, Minnie A. Creps, and these children survive him: Mrs. James Manners, Elbie E., Howard D. and Florence Creps.

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the old "Creps school" in Rayne township, and upon removing to Indiana, Pa., with his family, entered the high school, from which he graduated in 1901. He completed the course at the Indiana State normal school in 1904, and later attended Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, Pa., for two years. He was for two years a student in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and in October, 1912, was admitted to the bar of the Supreme court. He is now engaged in the practice of law at Indiana, Pa., being a member of the firm of Langham, Elkin & Creps.

REV. HARRY WHITE MAGUIRE, pas- tor of the Lutheran Church at Cookport, Indiana Co., Pa., was born in Young town- ship, this county, Feb. 26, 1873, son of Elliott and Sarah (White) Maguire.

William Maguire, his paternal grandfather, burg Commandery, Knights of Malta.

was one of the early settlers of Indiana county, a pioneer school teacher and subse- quently a farmer.

Harry W. Maguire was educated in the public schools of Eldersridge, in Young town- ship, and at Eldersridge Academy, and as a young man was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Subsequently removing to Pittsburg, Mr. Maguire was there associated with the Bell Telephone Company for fifteen years, meantime also engaging in missionary work in that city. In this way he became interested in ministerial work, and eventually he be- came a student at the Susquehanna Uni- versity and prepared for the ministry. His first charge was the Lutheran Church at Yatesboro, in Armstrong county, but after two years there, in 1910, he came to Cook- port as supply pastor, a position which he has since filled to the entire satisfaction of his congregation. He belongs to Shinley Park Lodge, No. 1036, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand ; is a past chief patron of the I. O. O. F., at Pittsburg; and belongs to Pitts-

JAMES CHAPMAN, who for many years has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in North Mahoning township, was born Sept. 15, 1839, in County Tyrone, Ireland, son of James and Mary (Rogers) Chapman:

Elliott Maguire, son of William, and father of Rev. Harry W. Maguire, was born in Green township, Indiana county, and during his early years followed the business of tanning. James Chapman, the father, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, there grew to manliood, and married Mary Rogers, of County Tyrone. He was engaged in farming in his native land until 1849, in which year he emigrated to the United States, locating first in Pittsburg, Pa., where he was em- ployed by Zugg, Lindsay & Company until 1856. In that year he went to Porter town- ship, Jefferson county, where he secured seventy acres of land, and this he continued to cultivate until his retirement, in 1895, after which he made his home with his son James until his death, in 1899, at the ad- vanced age of ninety years. His wife passed away in April, 1898, when eighty-eight years Eventually he took up a farm and located at Eldersridge, in Young township, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in March, 1901. He was a personal friend of Judge Harry White, after whom his son Rev. Harry White Maguire was named. Mr. Maguire married Sarah White, and she died in 1889, the mother of seven sons and four daughters, the eldest of the family being Joseph, a resident of Apollo, Pa., where he is chief of police; the others were: Scott, James and John, who are deceased; David, a resi- dent of Salina, Westmoreland county; Mat- thew, a resident of Loxley, Ala. ; Rev. Harry White; Mary, wife of Benjamin Shearer, and of age. They were members of the Fourth

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg. Ten children were born to them, as follows: Eliza, who died in 1850; Margaret, who mar- ried David Elkin, of South Mahoning town- ship, both now deceased ; John, twin of James, who served in Company I, 78th Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862; James; Robert and William, who both died of cholera while at sea on the family's journey to this country; Mary, who died in infancy ; Henry, who served in Company F, 9th Penn- sylvania Reserves, during the Civil war, and was killed at the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Andrew Fleming; and Ellen, who died in infancy.

the homestead place; Mattie, the widow of Thomas Ralston, of Brockwayville, Pa .; and John, living on a part of the old place.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Chap- man were as follows: (1) John, M. D., edu- cated in the Cleveland, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky., schools, has practiced medicine at Fly, Ohio, Shirley, W. Va., and Jacksonburg, W. Va., at which latter place he is known as a leading physician and surgeon. He married Rosie Underwood, and has two children, Anna and Walter. (2) William died at the age of seventeen years, eleven months. (3) James F., a graduate of the normal school, class of 1896, was for sixteen years a teacher, and is now county superintendent of schools of Indiana county and a resident of Indiana borough. He married Bessie Cunningham, and has one child, Harriet. (4) Ellen M. was formerly a teacher until her marriage to

James Chapman was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and while residing in Pittsburg was employed as a nail cutter by the firm of Joseph H. Wingert, of Caneadea, N. Y., by Graff, Bennett & Company. In 1869 he came whom she has one son, Wallace. (5) Joseph, to West Mahoning township, Indiana county, a farmer of Caneadea, married Grace Burr, where he purchased a farm, but five years and has three children, Lawrence, Averell and Zelda. (6) Anna resides with her par- ents. (7) Wallace C., living at Indiana, Pa., graduated from the Indiana State Normal school in 1899, taught school four years, at- tended Dickinson Law School, at Carlisle, Pa., and was admitted to the Indiana county bar in 1905. He married Lottie Smith, and has two children, Martha and Charlotte. (8) David, who is assisting his father in the work later sold it and purchased the Hoover place, in North Mahoning township, a tract of 100 acres on which he has since made his home. In 1884 he erected a modern house, and in 1905 built the large substantial barn, in addi- tion to which he has made numerous other improvements. His land is well cultivated and he is justly considered one of the leading agriculturists of his township.

On Jan. 12, 1865, Mr. Chapman was united of the home farm, was married Dec. 30, 1908, in marriage with Sarah Elkin, of County to Ella Blose, of Perry township, Jefferson county, daughter of Addison Blose, and has one son, Arthur C., born March 22, 1910. Tyrone, Ireland, daughter of William and Martha (Beattie) Elkin, of that county. Mrs. Elkin died in Ireland, and her husband Mr. Chapman has been residing on his present property since 1874, and during that long period has gained and maintained a reputation for the strictest integrity. A man of high principles, with profound respect for the value of hard work, he has conducted himself in such a manner as to gain the good will and friendship of a wide circle of ac- quaintances. He has lived a clean, upright life, and in spite of his seventy-three years is in full possession of his faculties and attends to his business matters in the same able man- ner that brought him success in his younger days. In political matters he is a Republican, and his fellow citizens have honored him with election to public office, he having rendered his community valued services as a member of the school board of his township. With his family he holds membership in the Lutheran subsequently came to the United States and located in the Loop, in West Mahoning town- ship. By his first marriage Mr. Elkin had ten children, namely : Francis. father of Judge John P. Elkin, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work; Eliza, who married John Bond and (second) Benjamin Barrett, and both are deceased; William, liv- ing in West Mahoning township; James, also a resident of that township; Henry, who died in August, 1912, in Pittsburg; Annie, who married Spencer Barrett, of Wendell, Idaho; John, who died in infancy; Sarah, who mar- ried Mr. Chapman; John (2), who died in infancy; and Mary, who is deceased. Mr. Elkin's second marriage was to Jane Rippey, of County Tyrone, Ireland, who died in 1892, and he followed her to the grave in May; 1896. They were the parents of three chil- dren. as follows: David, who is living on Church, and has many friends in the con-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

gregation of that faith at Trade City, of Dr. William A. Simpson, residence and Pennsylvania:

ELSWORTH M. LOCKARD, who does the most extensive business in his line, contract- ing and building, in Indiana, is a native of Indiana county, born in 1862 in Cherryhill township. His grandfather, Robert Lockard, was born in Indiana county, of Scotch par- entage, was a shoemaker by trade, and died in 1869. He married Naomi Bagley.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 9

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