Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 95

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 95

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ing the violin ; his music is in demand on many . occasions and thoroughly appreciated in the neighborhood. He has taught singing schools, about twenty-five years, and is often called upon to sing at funerals and on other oc- casions.

BROWN. William Joseph Brown, farmer of Center township, Indiana county, and his sons, Harry Y. Brown and Chester A. Brown, of Burrell and Blacklick townships, respec- tively, are representatives of a respected fam- ily of Irish extraction which has been settled in this section of Pennsylvania for over three quarters of a century.

Charles S. Brown, father of William Jo- seph Brown, was born in Ireland, where he grew to manhood and married Jane Kirk. They crossed the Atlantic, landing in Quehec, Canada, and coming into the States made their way west of the Allegheny mountains in Pennsylvania, first locating in Redbank township, Clarion county, where he became the owner of fifty acres of land in what was then a wilderness. After making a number of improvements on that place he bought and moved to another farm in Clarion county, thence moving to Jefferson county, this State, where he farmed for three years. From there he moved out to Ohio, in which State he re- sided for three years, and returning to Penn- sylvania again farmed in Clarion county a short period. Then he bought a farm in Jefferson county which he cultivated until his removal to Indiana county, where he lo- cated in North Mahoning township, farming there for the next twenty years. At the end of that time he sold out and located in Rayne township, Indiana county, where he spent the remainder of his life, continuing to farm throughout his active years. He died there Oct. 24, 1891. His first church connection was with the Methodist denomination; later he became a Seceder, and when he located in Rayne township joined the M. E. Church. Politically he was a Republican. By his first wife, Jane (Kirk), he had a family of six children : Elizabeth Ann, who died in 1856; Mary Alice, who married Lewis Townsend;

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Margaret Jane, who married Thomas McKins- Presbyterian Church in Center township. bury, of Vandergrift, Pa .; William Joseph ; John Alexander; and Martha Malinda. For his second wife Mr. Brown married Elizabeth Thomas, by whom he had four children : Nancy Josephine, wife of Adam Black; Susan, wife of John S. Storer; and two who died in infancy. By his third marriage, to Nancy Little, there were no children.

WILLIAM JOSEPH BROWN, son of Charles S. and Jane (Kirk) Brown, was born Dec. 18, 1837, in Redbank township, Clarion county, Pa. He was a young child when he went with his parents to Ohio, and attended school there. His mother died when he was but nine years old, and he went out into the world to make his own way at an early age, doing farm work, at first for his board and clothes. Later he received eight dollars a month besides his board, working at farming and lumbering in various localities of Clarion and Jefferson counties. In 1855 he settled in Redbank town- ship, Clarion county, continuing to farm there until 1860, in which year he went to the oil fields, remaining there until the Civil war broke out. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, 57th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. C. S. Chase and Colonel Max- well, and the command was attached to the 3d Army Corps, Mr. Brown seeing active service in battle near Yorktown, at Yorktown, Seven Pines, in the Seven Days' Fight, in front of Richmond, at Charles City Cross Roads and in a number of other engagements. He was discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., July 4, 1865, after serving three years, ten months with the same company and regiment, during which period he was never wounded or in hospital.

After his return from the army Mr. Brown was in the oil territory in Crawford county until 1867, when he resumed farming, living in West Mahoning township, Indiana county, one year. Then he moved to Plumcreek town- ship, Armstrong county, where he made his home for twenty years, farming and stock raising, and from there went west to Illinois, spending two years in that State and Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Coming back to Pennsylvania he farmed two years in Low- er Burrell township, Westmoreland county, and then came to Indiana county, locating in 1896 in Center township, where he bought the Alexander McGaughey farm of 119 acres upon which he has since resided. He has engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing, and has become one of the valued citizens of his section. He is a member of Bethel

Mr. Brown was a Democrat originally, but after the Civil war changed his allegiance to the Republican party, which he has since supported. While in Armstrong county he served as a member of the election board. He was married in North Mahoning township, this county, to Martha Jordan, daughter of Robert and Martha (Pounds) Jordan. She, too, is a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church. Nine children have been born to this union: Laura Aurelia, now the wife of Herman Nichols; Ada Elcie, married to Wil- liam H. Kirkwood, of Clarion county; Harry Y .; Chester A .; William L., who resides in Armstrong county; John LeRoy, now of In- diana, Pa .; Walter H., also of Indiana; Belle, who is at home; and a daughter that died in infancy.

HARRY Y. BROWN, eldest son of William Joseph Brown, was born Dec. 18, 1872, near Elderton, Armstrong county, Pa., and at- tended school at Elderton. He was only a boy when he commenced to work out among farm- ers, receiving very small wages at first. When he reached his majority he rented the farm of Henry Graff, in Blacklick township (now owned by William P. McCrea), a tract of 280 acres which he operated for two years. From there he moved to Allegheny county, farm- ing a tract of 400 acres in Penn township for two years, after which he spent two years in Penn township, Westmoreland . county, working on a farm for wages. In 1899 he went to Blackliek township, Indiana county, where he farmed the Wainwright place five years, the first three years of that time for the family and the other two years on his own account. In February, 1905, he bought the Kenny farm, a tract of fifty acres in Burrell township, located along the Blacklick creek, and he has devoted his time and attention to the cultivation of that property since, farming and stock raising, and quite exten- sively interested in dairying. He markets his dairy products in Blairsville. Mr. Brown is a hard-working man, but he is also far- seeing and intelligent, and makes his labors count to such good purpose that he is succeed- ing in every line. He is up-to-date in his methods, and his thrifty and enterprising policy has placed him among the prosperous farmers of his locality, where his judgment is approved on all matters pertaining to agri- cultural work. All the credit for his pres- ent substantial position is due to his own ef- forts.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

On Nov. 30, 1892, Mr. Brown married Rebecca (Bricker) Clawson, of that township, Cardin Margaret Wainwright, who was born both of whom are now deceased. They have had Feb. 8, 1873, in Blacklick township, daughter three children: William S., who died March 26, 1912, at the age of sixteen years; Mary Blanch, and Charles Lloyd. Mrs. Brown and the family belong to the M. E. Church. She has been a valuable helpmate in all her hus- band's work, and he appreciates the encour- agement and assistance she has given him. of George and Jane (McGee) Wainwright, a full account of whose family may be found elsewhere in this work. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown: Milton Lycurgus, who is now in Indiana, Pa .; Ella Jane, at home; and Eva Belle, at home.

Mr. Brown is a Republican and interested in the success of the party, and he lias served as inspector of elections. He is a member of the Hopewell M. E. Church.

CHESTER A. BROWN, second son of William Joseph Brown, was born March 4, 1874, near

Elderton, in Armstrong county, Pa., and re- He held the office of school director for one

ceived such educational opportunities as the local public schools afforded. He began to help at home when very young, and has been on his own resources since he was thirteen, at which age he went to work in Ligonier township, Westmoreland county, Pa., for his board and clothes. He was there one year, and was next employed by Robert Foster, at New Alexandria, that county, where he also worked one year as farmer's boy, receiv- ing his board and clothes. From there he went to work for Ralston hrothers near Elder- ton, spending two years with them, during which time his wages were fifty cents a day. The next year he was employed on the Sadler farm, at nine dollars per month and board, and he subsequently worked for his father in Westmoreland county, farming for one year. In 1896 he located in Blacklick town- ship, having rented a tract of ninety-three acres of the Samuel Clawson farm, which he

cultivated on that basis for two years. He in Company F, 105th Regiment, Pennsylvania then bought the place, and continued to farm there until 1903, when he sold it and pur- chased his present home property in Black- lick township, a tract of 140 acres on which he has made extensive improvements. He has since bought another tract of thirty acres, adjoining, now cultivating 170 acres, which under his thrifty management is in prime condition. He has built a fine hay barn, and

is constantly making changes which increase gaged, remaining in the army until after the

the value of his place, of which he may well be proud. He has accomplished much by hon- esty and hard work, being a self-made man whose success has come to him as the result of well-directed labor and perseverance. His home and surroundings are kept in excellent order.

Mr. Brown belongs to the L. O. O. M. lodge at Blairsville, of which he was one of the first members. He is a Republican and takes con- siderable interest in politics, having served as judge of election, and also as member of the Republican committee of his township. term.

CAPT. WILLIAM KIMPLE, formerly a merchant of Chambersville, Indiana county, and for many years postmaster at that point, is one of the best known residents of Rayne township. His long career as business man and public official brought him into contact with most of his fellow citizens in that sec- tion, and his honorable life has won universal esteem from them. Captain Kimple is a native of New Jersey, born July 4, 1835. His parents, John and Mary (Sigler) Kimple, both natives of New Jersey, came to Indiana county, Pa., in 1840, and passed the rest of their lives on a farm here. Mr. Kimple was always a farmer. They reared a family of eighteen children.

William Kimple was reared. at home on the farm, where he remained until twenty- five years old. On Aug. 17, 1861, he enlisted Volunteer Infantry, was sent to Washington, D. C., and saw much active service, taking part in many important battles. He was at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Bris- toe Station, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kelly's Ford, Mine Run, Wilder- ness, Weldon Railroad, Sailors Creek and the other actions in which his regiment was en- close of the war. On May 5, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, he was wounded in the thigh and sent to hospital, where he remained for six weeks. Rejoining his regi- ment, he was again wounded Aug. 22, 1864, in the Weldon Railroad engagement, this time in the foot. Mr. Kimple rose from the ranks

On March 28, 1895, Mr. Brown married to a captaincy, being promoted in turn to Lottie Blanch Clawson, who was born in corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, second Blacklick township, daughter of Samuel and lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain; he

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was given the latter rank May 24, 1864, for reclaiming the wilderness, but at length his meritorious conduct, and continued to serve indefatigable labors were crowned with suc- until his discharge, July 11, 1865. He is an cess, as his abundant harvests brought him honored member of Indiana Post, No. 28, good financial returns. He was very progres- G. A. R.

In the latter part of the year 1865 Captain Kimple opened a general store at Chambers- ville, where he carried on business for the following twenty-six years, and for the same length of time served as postmaster at that place. Since giving up his store he has lived in comparative retirement, though he con- tinues to cultivate his farm in Rayne town- ship, a fine tract of 114 acres, where he makes his home.

On Aug. 15, 1865, Captain Kimple married Maria Crissman, of Indiana county, daughter of Hezekiah and Elizabeth Crissman, the lat- ter of whom was born in Blair county, Pa., the former in Akron, Ohio. Four children have been born to this marriage: Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of I. C. Winecoop, a merchant, of Larimer, Westmoreland Co., Pa .; Lottie, who lives at Larimer; J. Clay, a merchant, of Beaver, Pa., who married Ver- nie Bell; and Gertrude, wife of W. O. Bu- chanan, the leading merchant of Larimer. Captain Kimple and his wife and family are members of the Baptist Church.

GEORGE S. BRAUGHLER, who is car- rying on general farming operations in Canoe township, was born on the old Braughler homestead place in that township, May 1, 1848, son of Tobias and Jane (Miller) Braughler.

sive, and in addition to following farming he was for some years engaged at cabinet- making. A man widely known and highly esteemed, he was one of his township's rep- resentative citizens. He and his wife had the following children: Daniel, a farmer and lumberman of Cherrytree, Pa., married Agnes Leasure, and had nine children, Sam- uel, Adam, Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah, Katie, Eliza, Jane and Nancy; John, a farmer, who lived at Greensburg, Pa., also married; Solo- mon, born Dec. 27, 1803, died in May, 1870, a farmer who lived on the old homestead, married Nancy Boyle and had seven children, Maria (who married David Knox and lived in North Mahoning township, where both died), Adam C. (who married Sarah Dona- hey, and lives in Indiana), David J. (a Grant township farmer, who married Elizabeth Doty; she is now deceased), Martin (who married Hannah Hartshorn and resides at Santa Rosa, Cal.), Nancy J. (who died young), Aaron H. (farming on the old home- stead in Canoe township, who married Cor- delia Johnston; she is deceased) and Annis (who married Miles Spencer and second Cap- tain Ewing) ; Nancy married George Shields, of Canoe township; Lydia married Joseph Taylor, of Canoe township, and has four children, Joseph, James, George and Jane; Ann married Jeremiah Brown, of Indiana county, and has five children, William, John, Solomon, Mary and Ann; Tobias is mentioned below; the other five children of this family died in infancy or childhood.

Adam Braughler, the paternal grandfather of George S. Braughler, was born in Ger- many, whence he emigrated. to the United States, settling first in Bucks county, Pa., Tobias Braughler, son of Adam Braughler, and father of George S. Braughler, was born Dec. 20, 1814, in Bucks county, Pa., and was married May 22, 1838, to Mrs. Jane (Miller) Rumbarger, widow of James Rumbarger, and daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Slasman) Miller. Mrs. Braughler was born July 14, 1815, in Mifflin county, Pa., whither her par- ents had moved from Maryland. Later they moved to Huntingdon county, then to Jef- ferson county, and finally to Indiana county, where Mr. Braughler died Oct. 3, 1904; his wife had passed away March 30, 1894. They had the following children: (1) Adam Mil- ler, born March 13, 1839, in 1859 went to Illinois, where he became a farmer and lum- and later moving to Indiana county. He died in Canoe township, June 21, 1841. He was married to Lydia Snyder, of Bucks county, and in 1815 they drove through to Indiana county with a team and yoke of oxen, Mr. Braughler taking up 250 acres at what is now the site of A. H. Braughler's home. This was a tract of wild land entirely destitute of improvement, and Mr. Braughler erected a rude cabin, this being the beginning for a finely developed and richly improved prop- erty. He cleared his land, planted crops, and in those early days passed through the usual experiences and hardships incident to the development of a farm in a wild region. Economy, industry, personal sacrifice and berman. He enlisted in the 91st Illinois Vol- strong determination all characterized his unteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and career through that period in which he was was killed at the battle of Champion Hills,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

May 16, 1863, leaving a widow, Ruth ( Logan), lantic Refining Company in Clarion county, who is now deceased, and a daughter, Esther married Ella Shugarts, and has one son, Jack ; Jane, who subsequently married Capt. J. P. Jennie Maude, born Dec. 14, 1888, is engaged Eaton; (2) Nancy Malissa, born July 21, in teaching in Indiana county ; G. Clark, born June 24, 1890, is assisting his father in the management of the homestead; Mary Beat- rice, born July 7, 1893, is a teacher in the Indiana county public schools. These chil- dren have all been given good educational advantages, and have been fitted for what- 1842, is living near Pittsburg, the widow of James Simpson, by whom she had two chil- dren, Bertha and Effie; (3) George Sylvester is mentioned below ; (4) Martha A., born Dec. 16, 1849, died Oct. 4, 1854; (5) Emma E., born Feb. 4, 1855, died Feb. 9, 1875; (6) Phoebe Jane, born Nov. 13, 1857, married ever positions they may be called upon to John Focht, of Fulton, Ohio, and is the fill. mother of one daughter, Nellie.

Like his father Mr. Braughler is a supporter

Peter Miller, the maternal grandfather of of Democratic principles and candidates, and George S. Branghler, died July 22, 1852, and also like him has held various township offices, having served on the election board, as judge of election for the past twenty-five years, as school director, as auditor and as assessor three terms. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and attends with his wife at Covode, Pennsylvania.

In addition to following general farming George, a merchant in Punxsutawney, Pa., and stock raising, Mr. Braughler has a large pear, peach and apple orchard, and devotes a great deal of time to raising fruit. He is strictly honorable in all things, and owes his success to energy, industry and perseverance.

his wife, May 28, 1876. They were the par- ents of the following children: Joseph, of Canoe township, married Elizabeth Gensmer, and had six children, of whom all are de- ceased except J. Stewart Miller, who is farm- ing the old place in Canoe township; John, deceased, a carpenter, married Marjorie Cox ; for many years, married Jane Saltsgiver, and had one child, Elizabeth, who married J. L. Hayes ; Henry, living in Indiana, Pa., married Harriet Webster; Jane became Mrs. Tobias Braughler ; Martha, deceased, married Thomas Means, and had four children, Thaddeus, Miller, Orin and Harriet; Eliza, deceased, married Douglas Shields, of Juneau, Pa., and had seven children, William, Hugh, Joseph, Alvin, Ella, Jane and Marjorie; Nancy mar- ried James Fitzgerald (both are deceased) and had two children, John and James.

EPYRUS COBLE, a farmer of Green town- ship, Indiana county, was born in that town- ship Nov. 7, 1860, a son of Dr. Samuel and Maria (Boring) Coble, the former a native of eastern Pennsylvania, the latter of In- diana county.

Dr. Samuel Coble came to Indiana county

George 'Sylvester Braughler received his in young manhood, settling in Green town- education in the public schools, and always ship. However, he lived there with his family only for a short time, comparatively, moving west to Missouri, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, dying in 1872. He was a physician and surgeon, practicing his pro- fession in eastern Pennsylvania and also after coming to Indiana county, and in the West. After his death the family returned to In- diana county, Pa., where his widow still re- sides, at Uniontown. Her father, John Bor- ing, was an early settler of Indiana county. Eight children were born to Dr. Samuel Coble and his wife, namely: The eldest died in infancy; Epyrus is mentioned below; Elmer is deceased; Emma is deceased; George is deceased; Thenis is a resident of St. Louis, Mo. ; Harry is deceased ; William is the young- est. remained at home, tenderly caring for his parents in their declining years. On January 27, 1872, he married Isabelle C. McConaughey, of North Mahoning township, daughter of Thompson and Eliza (Hall) McConaughey, the former a well-known farmer of North Mahoning township, now deceased; the latter is still surviving, making her residence on the old homestead. Mrs. Braughler died April 27, 1874, without issue. On March 26, 1876, Mr. Braughler was married (sec- ond) to Sarah Ann McConaughey, the sister of his first wife, and six children have been born to this union, namely: Lester, born Oct. 17, 1876, a farmer in Clarion county, married Mary Shilla, and has one child, Tuila ; Clarence, born Oct. 1,.1880, who is engaged in the draying business at DuBois, Pa., mar- Epyrus Coble was educated in the common schools in Indiana county, and when a youth went to Missouri with his parents. Return- ing to Indiana county in 1873, he did farm ried Nellie Snyder, and has three children, Ernest, Owen and Catherine; John M., born Aug. 3, 1883, who is connected with the At-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

work for others for a time, in 1886 buying the place in Green township which he has occupied ever since. In addition to general farming lie engages in stock raising, espe- cially horses, and by industry and careful management he has become one of the pros- perous and substantial agriculturists of his locality. His honesty in all transactions and reliability have made him regarded with con- fidence and respect by his fellow citizens, and he has been elected member of the township school board several times, having served nine years on that body.

On Oct. 30, 1884, Mr. Coble married Re- mail for the United States government, from

becca C. Garman, who was born in Indiana county, Jan. 10, 1862, on the farm where she and her husband are now living, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Berringer) Garman ; her father was born in eastern Pennsylvania, her mother in Indiana county. Upon coming to this part of the State Mr. Garman first set- tled in Cambria county, whence he came to Indiana county and bought the farm where Mr. Coble now lives, remaining there until his death, which occurred May 13, 1898. Mrs. Garman survived him, dying July 16, 1906. They were the parents of ten children, namely : Martha Jane, who is deceased ; Ada, wife of Marlin Cameron, of Oregon; Jeremiah, deceased; Rebecca C., Mrs. Cohle; John D., a resident of Washington, D. C .; Barto, deceased; Sidney, living at Union- town, this county; two who died in infancy ; and Grant.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coble: John, the eldest, now living at Homer City, this county, married Mabel Brewer, of Indiana county, and they have two children, LeRoy and Wendell; Floyd, also a resident of Homer City, married a Miss King, of Indiana county, and their chil- dren are Ord and Delmont; Vallie, who lives at Cherrytree, this county, married Ola Buter- baugh, and they have one child, Rhuell; Harry is deceased; Cecil lives in Indiana county. Mr. and Mrs. Coble are members of the Church of God at Pine Grove.

SAMUEL S. LUCAS, general farmer and citizens.

proprietor of the Littster Mineral Springs, in White township, Indiana county, was born in Washington township, this county, May 27, 1870, son of William B. and Sarah (Cribbs) Lucas. John Lucas, his grand- father, was one of the early pioneers of Wash- ington township, where he purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his life in agri- cultural pursuits.

William B. Lucas, son of John Lucas, and father of Samuel S. Lucas, was born in Washington township, on his father's farm, and there continued to reside until 1866, in which year he bought the farm that is now operated by his son. Although past eighty years of age he is still hale and hearty, and is actively engaged in farming.

Joseph B. Cribbs, the maternal grand- father of Samuel S. Lucas, was one of Wash- ington township's earliest settlers, and was engaged in farming during the early years of his life. In his latter years he carried the

Advance to Atwood, in Indiana county, and was widely known and highly esteemed.

There was ten children born to William B. and Sarah (Cribbs) Lucas, as follows: James, who resides in Buffington township; Alonzo and Clarette, who are deceased; Maggie, also deceased; Clara, who married Henry Dorr and is now deceased ; William I., who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo .; Joseph C., who lives on the old family homestead in Washington township; Samuel S .; Etta, who is the wife of Edward Peterman, of South Bend, Arm- strong county ; and Alva, who is deceased.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania; her people, past and present, Volume II, Part 95

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