Bios: Hi-Hy Surnames: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA
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Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia
of Fayette County, Pennsylvania
editorially managed by John M. Gresham
assisted in the compilation by Samuel T. Wiley, A Citizen of the County
Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Co. Chicago: 1889
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/fayette/gresham.htm Table of Contents.
______________________________________________________________________
NOTE: "Brnv & Bdgpt" stands for "Brownsville and Bridgeport"
NAME LOCATION PAGE
Hibbs, Lacy Menallen 350
Higginbotham, George Redstone 504
Higinbotham, John Brnv & Bdgpt 274 listed, but no biography in book.
Higinbotham, R W Springhill 276
Hill, Dr R M Dunbar 440
Hiller, W W Luzerne 550
Hixon, Amos Tyrone 348
Hogg, F T Brnv & Bdgpt 278
Hogg, G E Brnv & Bdgpt 278
Hogue, S F Uniontown 243
Holbert, J F, Dr Georges 504
Holland, Ellis Uniontown 181
Hood, W S Connellsville 441
Hope, Martin Springhill 279
Hopwood, R F Uniontown 182
Hopwood, W H, Dr Menallen 349
Hostetler, D F German 505
Howell, Alfred Miscellaneous 578
Hubbs, J A, Dr Brnv & Bdgpt 279
Hugg, Antony Washington 351
Humbertstone, J H Henry Clay 551
Hunt, William Uniontown 183
Hunter, Henry Springhill 280
Huntley, Levi Uniontown 183
Hurley, Micheal Connellsville 442
Hutchinson, George B Uniontown 185
Hutchinson, J C Nicholson 506
Hutchinson, Joseph Menallen 352
Hyndman, Edward K Miscellaneous 596
p350
LACY HIBBS was born November 7, 1826, in Redstone township, Fayette
county, Penna, on the old Hibbs farm where he was raised and attended
schools of the township. Educational advantages were quite limited in
those days, and the course of study was even more so. The first business
he followed was that of farming in North Union township, and has
continued at that business all of his life and now owns one hundred and
twenty six acres of land near Searights in Menallen township. He is a
member of the Presbyterian church of New Salem, and his wife and family
are also members of the same church. He is an exemplary man and a good
citizen, and is firm in the democratic faith. He was elected poorhouse
director in 1868.
His first wife was Mary Margaret Poundstone, a daughter of Philip
Poundstone of German township. They had two children: Eunice Violet
Hibbs, born in 1852 and living with her father; and John Newton Hibbs,
born June 9, 1859, married Lizzie Ball and has one child, Earnest Hibbs.
His second wife was Mrs Harriet A Kerr; they were married March 8, 1866.
They have one child: Olive Hibbs, born May 28, 1869, who is a teacher.
Mrs Hibbs was the daughter of Samuel Cochran, born in Fayette county in
1788, and Elizabeth Porter Cochran, his wife, a daughter of John Porter
who lived near Dunlap's creek. Her maternal grandmother was Margaret
Baird.
Lacy Hibbs is the son of John Hibbs and Jane Finley Hibbs, who were
married April 12, 1821. John Hibbs was born January 1, 1791, and died
January 14, 1881. Jane Finley Hibbs was born June 7, 1802 (for her family
see Ebenezer Finley).
Lacy Hibbs, grandfather of the subject of sketch, was born in 1768 in
Cumberland county, Penna, afterwards Bedford county, then Westmoreland
county, and now Greene county. He married Sara Craft, a member of the
Fayette county Crafts.
p504
GEORGE HIGGINBOTHAM of Redstone is an earnest republican and a
thorough-going farmer. He is the fourth of a family of six children, was
born at Masontown, Fayette county, Penna, October 31, 1846, and is a son
of James C Higginbotham. George Higginbotham was educated in the common
and select school. Leaving school, he engaged in his present business of
farming and stock raising.
On May 15, 1869, he was married by Rev W W Hickman to Miss Emma Colvin,
daughter of William Colvin of Redstone township. They have seven children
living, born and named as follows: Minnie M Higginbotham, May 27, 1870;
William J Higginbotham, April 29, 1872; Ella Higginbotham, September 13,
1873; Samuel F Higginbotham, April 11, 1875; Mary Higginbotham, September
29, 2876; Walter Higginbotham, July 5, 1878; and Robert G Higginbotham,
August 29, 1880.
Mrs Higginbotham's father is descended from William Colvin, a pioneer
settler and ancestor of one of the old and well-known families of Fayette
county. He was in Redstone township in 1766, but did not permanently
locate until 1768.
Politically he is an ardent republican, and is a conspicuous worker in
his party. He owns ninety five acres of good farming land, underlaid with
rich veins of coal and limestone, and well-watered. Mr Higginbotham is
mainly engaged in farming, yet gives considerable of his attention to
whatever is useful or advantageous to his section of country.
p276
R W Higinbotham was born August 27, 1849, at Point Marion, Fayette
county, Penna, and is of English and Dutch descent. He is the son of
Thomas H Higinbotham and Malinda Maple Higinbotham.
Thomas H Higinbotham was born in Carmicheals, Greene county, Penna,
December 7, 1824, was the son of a merchant and brought up in a store. He
attended the subscription schools of the his county and acquired a good
education in the lower branches of study. During vacations he clerked in
his father's store. At the age of sixteen he engaged as a salesman in the
mercantile establishment of Robert Maple where he remained for nine years
on a salary of ten dollars per month and saved five hundred dollars of
his earnings.
In 1848 he married Miss Malinda Maple, a native of Greene county and the
daughter of Robert Maple of Mapletown, Greene county, Penna. He at once
came to Point Marion, Fayette county, and opened a store the first one of
the place. He remained there until 1850 when he purchased a store at Ross
Cross Roads in Dunkard township, Greene county, where he remained until
1857 when he sold the store. He then purchased a farm of 120 acres of
land in Redstone township, Fayette county, on which he is at present
located.
At various times he has added to this farm and now has a farm of over
six hundred acres. It is valuable land, underlaid with coal and is well
improved, having four good dwelling houses upon it, in which live
himself, two sons and one married daughter. He is still hale and active
at the age of sixty five years and cultivates ninety acres of the farm
himself. Malinda Maple, his mother, was born December 14, 1822, at
Mapletown, Greene county, Penna, and is the mother of four sons and three
daughters, all living except one son and one daughter. She is still
living at the age of sixty seven.
Samuel Higinbotham, the paternal grandfather of R W, was born near
Uniontown, Fayette county, March 2, 1789. He was a blacksmith by trade
and followed that business till his health failed him. He then went into
the mercantile business at Carmicheals. He married Esther Cowden, August
8, 1810. He is an earnest Christian and a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was tall and straight, and had a peculiar movement
in walking, by which he was always readily recognized. He was successful
in life and died March 19, 1861, at the age of seventy two years.
Robert Maple, the grandfather of R W, was born in New Jersey, August 1,
1780, and came to Pennsylvania in 1801. He married Jane Hall, daughter of
William Hall, December 25, 1802. He traded cloth for land, giving one
yard of cloth for one acre of ground until he had a farm of three hundred
acres. He was a natural mechanic and followed the business of a
wheelwright, a sicklesmith, and afterwards was a cooper. He manufactured
linseed oil and built a grist mill and a carding machine. It was upon
his farm that the Dunkard Creek oil excitement of 1863-1864 had its
start. A town was built up in six months time containing five hotels. He
sold one eighth interest in one well for $10,000 and at one time was
offered $250,000 for his farm. He accumulated a large fortune and died at
the advanced age of ninety two years.
Robert W Higinbotham was brought up on a farm with his father, and had a
great predilection for horses. He went to school but little before he was
seventeen years old after which time he attended constantly till he was
twenty one. Leaving the common schools he went to Waynesburg College for
one term and two terms to a select school. He then engaged in farming
with his father.
October 28th, 1875, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of
David and Caroline Morgan of Springhill township. Three children were
born to them: Malinda A Higinbotham; Carolina Higinbotham; and David
Morgan Higinbotham, all living. He immediately moved upon his father's
farm and lived there till April 1st, 1880.
In January, 1880, the poor house directors selected him as the steward
of the County Home of which he took charge on April 1st, 1880, and
remained in that position until 1885 declining the appointment for
another term. While in charge of the Home he reduced the annual expense
of the place from $33,000 to $16,000. In 1883 he purchased the somewhat
noted Tom Morris farm near Morris Cross Roads; April 1st, 1885, he
removed and is now residing there.
Mr Higinbotham was born and reared a republican and remained with that
party till Horace Greely was nominated for president by the democrats in
1872. Being a great admirer of Mr Greely he voted for him, and continued
to vote the democratic ticket till 1888. He was an advocate for a high
protective tariff and voted for Harrison, and is again on the side of the
Republican party.
p440
Dr ROBERT M HILL, a soldier, useful citizen and a successful physician,
is a son of David and Elizabeth Hill, and was born near "Little
Washington," Washington county, Penna, November 14, 1842.
His grandfather Hill came from Scotland and settled in Washington
county. One of his sons, Alexander Hill, was an extensive South American
traveler, who finally settled in Iowa, where he became very wealthy.
His father, David Hill, was born in Washington county in 1800. He
learned the trade of saddler but employed the most of his time in
wagoning; he was a "Pike boy" when that grand old thoroughfare of a
nation was in the meridian of its glory. He was killed in 1854 by a horse
falling on him. He married Miss Elizabeth McComb. One of their daughters,
Isabella Hill, married J D Melhorn, D D, of Pittsburg, an able minister
of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
Mrs Hill's father, Robert McComb, was of Scotch Irish extraction, and a
native of Cross Creek, Washington county. He was a Presbyterian and
removed to Iowa.
Dr R M Hill attended the common schools; studied at Hogue's and Georges
Creek academies, and after the close of the Civil War completed his
education at Conequessing and Millsboro academies. He taught twice in the
common school before entering the army, and several terms after the war.
On August 1, 1862, he entered the Union service, enlisting in Company C
of the One Hundred and Thirty Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded
by Colonel Matthew Stanley Quay, now U S Senator from Pennsylvania. He
participated in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Sheppardstown
and Fredericksburg; was slightly wounded in the right side and left arm
at Chancellorsville.
In 1866 he began the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr C D
Chalfant. After the latter's removal to Illinois in 1868, he completed
his reading with Dr S Chalfant. In 1869-70 he attended lectures at the
Western Reserve Medical College, and in 1875 took a special course at
Jefferson Medical College.
On February 15, 1870, he located at Farmington, Wharton township, where
he practice his profession successfully for twelve years. In 1882 he
removed to Layton, and from thence to Vanderbilt in 1886, where he is now
successfully engaged in the practice.
Dr Hill has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Eliza Jane Rush,
daughter of Sebastian Rush, deceased, a prominent business man of the
county in his time. To this union were born three children: Robert W L
Hill, Flora Adella Hill, deceased; and Lidie Gertrude Hill. Mrs Hill died
October 8, 1877. For his second wife he married, June 17, 1880, Miss
Lilly Strawn, a well-educated and highly accomplished daughter of Joel
Strawn of Perry township. Unto this union have been born two children:
Annie Hill, dead, and Jesse Cleveland Hill.
Dr Hill has always been an active democrat. He is a skilled
parliamentarian, and has been called to preside at democratic conventions.
In 1876 he was elected to the legislature by a large majority; ran ahead
of the ticket and served very creditably in the legislative sessions of
1877 and 1878.
He is a member of the Odd Fellows, K of M C, and is Crown Head of Yougho
Castlemetic Sporting Club of Vanderbilt. He is genial, courteous and
gentlemanly, is public-spirited and a careful and skilled physician.
p550
WILLIAM W HILLER, a highly progressive farmer and stock raiser of
Luzerne township was born in Greene county, Penna, March 28, 1822, and is
a son of John Hiller and Catherine Hughes Hiller. His grandfather,
William Hiller, was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Greene county,
where he engaged in farming until his death.
His father John Hiller was born in about 1790. He was an extensive
farmer and also engaged in the mercantile business in various parts of
Greene county, and for a while conducted a hotel at Jefferson. He was a
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, served several terms as
justice of the peace, and was a whig in politics. He married Miss
Catherine Hughes and reared a family of ten children. Of these, Margaret
Hiller married Sheriff W R Mulligan of Illinois; Thomas Hiller, a
merchant in Kansas; and John T Hiller (dead), a soldier in the late war.
Mrs Hiller was a daughter of Thomas Hughes, an old settler and for
many years a justice of the peace.
William W Hiller attended the old subscription schools; on leaving
school he engaged with his father as a clerk and later became a pilot on
the Monongahela river for four years when he came to Luzerne township,
where in 1844 he engaged in farming and raising fine sheep, and later
engaged in raising fine stock of all kind. During the past few years he
has devoted his attention exclusively to raising fine and blooded horses.
He owns two fine farms, aggregating about 350 acres of choice land.
He was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Luce of Greene county,
Penna, and has three children: Elizabeth Hiller, wife of John M Garrard,
now in the oil business at Mt Morris, Greene county, Penna; Artimace
Hiller, wife of W B Conwell, and Mary Alice Hiller.
W W Hiller is a republican and has served several terms as assessor and
also as school director. He is an elder in the C P Church at Hopewell. He
is a stockholder in the Natural Gas Company at Brownsville, and is one of
the substantial and advanced farmers of the county.
p348
AMOS HIXON, a farmer of Lower Tyrone township, Fayette county, Penna, is
the son of Moses Hixon and Bridget Dogan Hixon.
Moses Hixon, the father of Amos Hixon, was a native of East Huntingdon
township, Westmoreland county, Penna, where he lived all of his life of a
farm and died in 1877, aged eighty six years. He was married in that
township to Miss Bridget Dogan, born and raised in the same township and
died.
Joseph Hixon, grandfather of Amos, was also a native of East Huntington
township, Westmoreland county, Penna, where he lived and died a farmer.
Amos Hixon was born in East Huntington township, Westmoreland county,
Pena, June 27, 1835, brought up on a farm and attended the common schools
of the township.
On September 1, 1859, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Freed, daughter
of Peter Freed. The latter born in Bullskin township and lived many years
in Lower Tyrone township on the farm at present owned and occupied by his
son-in-law. He died in 1861 at fifty years of age.
From this marriage were born twelve children: Annie E Hixon; Mary B
Hixon; Clark F Hixon; Joseph F Hixon; Albert S Hixon; Flora Hixon; Katie
Hixon; Freed Hixon; Willie Hixon; May Hixon; Odie Hixon; and Lizzie
Hixon.
Annie E Hixon is married to H R Ober and living in Tryone township; Mary
B Hixon is married to James L Strickler and lives in Dawson borough; the
rest are all unmarried. The twelve children now are all living except
Albert S Hixon who died January 30, 1889.
In 1862 Mr Hixon removed to Fayette county and located upon the farm
where he now resides; it contains 125 acres of moderate land well
improved. His wife was born on this farm in 1837.
Amos Hixon is a democrat, has served several times as school director in
his township, and as auditor, tax collector, supervisor, assessor and on
the election board.
p278
FRANK T HOGG is a native of Brownsville, Fayette county, Penna, and was
born May 19, 1862. He was reared at Brownsville, and attended the public
schools. He finished his classic education at LaFayette College where he
graduated in 1884 and took a subsequent course at the same college in
mining and engineering.
Leaving college he formed a partnership with C L Snowden of Brownsville
under the firm name of Snowden & Hogg and engaged in the coal mining
business; they ship their coal to the lower river market, Cincinnati,
Louisville, Memphis and New Orleans. They still continue in this
business and ship about two and one half millions of bushels of coal each
year. They employ one hundred and fifty men at their works. Their mine is
located one mile down the river from Brownsville just below the mouth of
Redstone Creek on the site of the old Albany Glassworks and is called the
Albany Mines. This firm owns the working parts of the mine, the ground
and coal belong to Mr George E Hogg, the father of the subject of this
sketch.
This firm also operates at times coke ovens in connection with their
other business. Their coke is pronounced by the Edgar Thompson steel
works to be equal in quality to any other that they have ever used. Their
slack and dust have preference in the Pittsburgh market.
He received the nomination for county surveyor in June, 1889. He is a
member of the Protestant Episcopal church and is also a member of the
vestry. He was married in 1887 to Miss Alice Bosler of Dayton, Ohio. They
have one child: Sarah Elizabeth Hogg.
Frank T Hogg is the son of George E Hogg. His wife is the granddaughter
of William Chatland.
p278
GEORGE E HOGG was born in Fayette county, Penna, September 7, 1815, and
is the son of George Hogg and Mary Breading Hogg, born respectively in
Northumberland county, England and in Fayette county, Penna. They were
married in 1812 and raised a family of six children. Mrs Hogg died in
September, 1855, at the residence of her son, the subject of this sketch.
John Hogg, the grandfather of George E Hogg, was born in Northumberland
county, England and came to the United States in about 1800 and settled
in Licking county, Ohio, where he died about the year 1835. His wife was
also a native of Northumberland county, England, and died in Licking
county, Ohio, in 1836.
George Hogg, the father of George E Hogg, settled at Brownsville,
Fayette county, Penna, in about 1804 and engaged in a general merchandise
business which he continued until 1843 when he removed to Allegheny City
and lived there in retirement until his death in 1849. He was for many
years one of the leading directors of the Monongahela Bank of
Brownsville, and was warden of Christ Episcopal Church. He was a very
successful businessman and a most useful and highly respected citizen.
George E Hogg was educated and graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio,
September 6, 1836. He returned to Fayette county, Penna, where he engaged
in farming which he has carried on extensively ever since. He has also
been concerned in a general mercantile business at various times for over
forty years. He was elected president of the Monongahela National Bank of
Brownsville in March, 1874, which position he continued to hold for about
fourteen years when he resigned and was re-elected but declined to accept
on account of his private business requiring his whole attention and
time. He is one of the most successful and public spirited citizens that
has ever lived in Brownsville.
He was married March 28, 1843, to Miss Sarah A McClung of Brownsville
and has raised seven children: George Hogg, Mary Hogg, Sarah Hogg,
Elizabeth Hogg, Nathaniel Hogg, Frank Hogg and Caroline Hogg.
He is still a very active man for one of his years.
p243
Prof SOLOMON F HOGUE, one of Pennsylvania's leading educators, is a son
of Solomon Hogue and Rachell Huss Hogue, and was born at "Hogue's Mills"
near Waynesburg, Greene county, Penna, April 1, 1848.
His grandfather, Solomon Hogue, was a consistent member of the Society
of Friends. He was born at Winchester, Virginia, and came to the vicinity
of Waynesburg in an early day. He was a farmer by occupation and a
democrat in politics.
His father, Solomon Hogue Jr, was born in 1803 and died in 1877. He
learned the wagon-making trade at Winchester, Virginia, and engaged in
that business for some time at Waynesburg. He next erected the first
steam grist mill in Greene county (now Lippincott's distillery), engaged
extensively in manufacturing and exporting flour to Philadelphia and
other important markets. With two others he built a steamboat to carry
his flour to market on the "Western waters." His partners ran away with
the boat and sold it. He married Miss Rachel Huss, daughter of John Huss,
a distiller, miller, democrat and member of the Baptist church. John Huss
married Miss Elizabeth Eaton, a distant relative of General R E Lee.
Mr and Mrs Hogue had eight children: John H Hogue, merchant at
Waynesburg; Jacob Hogue, farmer; Asa B Hogue, merchant at Waynesburg;
William H R Hogue, farmer; Martha Hogue, dead, was the wife of William
Ingraham, uncle of Judge Ingraham; Mary Hogue, wife of Benjamin Ruehart,
a wealthy farmer; Elizabeth Hogue, wife of J K Scott of Crow's Mills; and
Professor S F Hogue.
Professor S F Hogue was educated in the common schools, Waynesburg
College, and Edinboro Normal School, where he graduated in the class of
1872. He afterwards spent three years at Cornell University. He is also a
graduate of Waynesburg College and the University of New York. He began
teaching at the age of nineteen years, taught when not attending school
in common and private schools until 1878, when he was elected
superintendent of common schools of Greene county, Penna.
"During his administration as county superintendent, his county was one
of the best managed in this part of the State, and his work was quoted as
a specimen of what a faithful superintendent could do."
Dr Geo P Hays
Ex-President of W & J College
In 1881 upon solicitation, Professor Hogue became principal of the
Tidioute Union and Normal School and there he built up the first
industrial school in the State outside of the cities. In June, 1885, he
resigned and became professor of Latin and higher mathematics at Edinboro
Normal School, remained until February, 1886, when he accepted the
presidency of Defiance Normal College, Ohio.
In May, 1887, he became principal of the training department of
California Normal School. In July, 1888, he came to Uniontown and
organized Redstone Academy, a select private school for young men and
young ladies, and for boys and girls, in a suite of rooms in the First
National Bank building; but owing to the growth and prospects of the
school, larger and more suitable rooms have been secured for it in the
new Commercial block, centrally located at the corner of Church and
Morgantown streets.
The following is a just tribute to Professor Hogue: "Professor S F Hogue
is a most efficient instructor and educator." Dr J W Scott
Dr J W Scott is President Harrison's father-in-law.
In 1875 Professor Hogue was married to Miss Etta Bell, a teacher in the
high school of New Castle and a native of Grove City. She died, and he
was remarried in 1880 to Miss Emma Downey, teacher of French in
Waynesburg College. She died in 1881, and in 1886 he was married to Miss
Lydia Lee Evans of Tidioute. They have one child: Frank W Hogue. Mrs
Hogue is a graduate of Chamberlain Institute, New York, Edinboro Normal
School, and of the first class of the Chautauqua L S C. Mrs Hogue is now
a preceptress and teacher of French, English language, literature and
gymnastics in Redstone Academy.
Professor and Mrs Hogue (Hoge) are members of the Presbyterian church.
He is a democrat in politics, is an efficient, active school worker,
successful teacher, thorough scholar, and a polished gentleman.
p504
Dr JAMES FRANCIS HOLBERT, a prominent physician and surgeon of
Fairchance, is a son of Joseph A Holbert and Margaret P Stone Holbert,
and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, November 28, 1850.
His grandfather, Joseph Holbert, was a native of Scotland, emigrated to
New York City and subsequently removed to Westmoreland county where he
died. He was a farmer, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, served
as an officer in the War of 1812, and was a very conscientious, upright
man.
His father, Joseph A Holbert, was born in Westmoreland county, Penna, in
1820. He learned the trade of tailor in Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland
county, and in 1845 came to Uniontown where he worked with John
Carpenter, an extensive merchant and tailor.
Joseph A Holbert was a whig, a consistent member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and industrious and estimable man, a charter member of
Fort Necessity Lodge, I O O F, died in November, 1850, and sleeps in the
old Baptist cemetery at Uniontown. He was married to Miss Margaret
Priscilla Stone, a daughter of Squire Aaron Stone and Priscilla Black
Stone. Squire Stone was a large landholder, justice of the peace, a
prominent citizen of Greene county, Penna, afterwards removed to
Uniontown where he kept the Eagle and Fulton House, and died at
Smithfield. His wife was of English descent, and was a sister of Hon
Charles A Black.
Joseph A Holbert and Margaret Stone Holbert had two children: Aaron C
Holbert, born in 1847; and Dr J F Holbert.
Aaron C Holbert was engaged in teaching in Pennsylvania and the West,
removed to Somerset county, Penna, married Miss Nettie Cummings, has one
child: Francis Aaron Holbert, and is a promising attorney at the Somerset
county bar.
Mrs Margaret P Stone Holbert was a woman of estimable character, a
consistent member of the Baptist church, and died at Smithfield in 1869.
Dr J F Holbert was reared at Smithfield, educated in Georges Creek
Academy, received a State permanent certificate and taught twelve years
in the common schools. He read medicine under Dr B F Brownfield of
Smithfield in 1782, and afterwards with Dr John A Stone, uncle, of
Greensboro, Penna. He attended lectures at the University of New York
City, and graduated with honors from that celebrated institution in 1878.
He made an average of ninety nine percent in his studies and won two
prizes for high class standing.
In 1879 he located at Ruble's Mills near Smithfield and began practice,
but in one year came to his present location, Fairchance, and engaged
successfully in the practice of medicine.
On April 4, 1879, he was married to Miss Sallie J Ruble, who was
educated in Georges Creek Academy and California Normal School, taught
school several years and is skilled in painting and fine art needlework.
Dr Holbert has been for several years physician in charge of Redstone
Coke Company's and Bliss Marshall's Coke Works, is a prominent Odd
Fellow, belongs to Pine Knob Lodge No 559, is a Knight Templar in
Masonry, a member of the Uniontown Commandery No 49. He is also a member
of K of P, P O of Sons of America, and the Royal Arcanum. He is a
democrat, has served repeatedly as school director, is president of the
school board of Fairchance borough, and is the democratic nominee for
coroner of Fayette county. Dr Holbert has been a member for twenty years
of Mr Moriah Baptist church, and is thoroughgoing, energetic and
successful in whatever he undertakes.
p181
ELLIS HOLLAND was born on the old Holland farm in North Union township,
Fayette county, Penna, July 29, 1827, and on the same farm his father,
James Holland, was also born in 1792.
James Holland was married to Mary Ann Ellis, daughter of M P Ellis who
came to Fayette county from Maryland in early manhood. To their marriage
seven daughters and one son, Ellis Holland, were born. James Holland has
been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church since he was
thirteen years of age. He was a member of the old whig party until it was
supplanted by the republican party in 1857 when he became a republican.
Holland was a native of Maryland and came to Fayette county in an early
day, and bought the farm on which all of his children were born.
Subsequently he sold the farm for thirteen dollars per acre.
Ellis Holland was married to Rachel Hogsett, daughter of James Hogsett,
and sister of Robert Hogsett of Fayette county. She was born in Menallen
township, April 17, 1831, and was married January 27, 1853. Seven
children were born to this union: James W Holland, born April 20, 1854;
Elisabeth Ann Holland, January 30, 1856; Frank M Holland, March 6, 1864;
Charles S Holland, August 14, 1866; Robert H Holland, January 30, 1868;
and John H Holland, October 31, 1870.
Ellis Holland was reared on a farm in North Union township and learned
the trade of cooper, but soon abandoned his trade and began farming. He
is a staunch republican and in 1874 was appointed postmaster at Mt
Braddock by President Grant and still holds the office.
p441
WINFIELD S HOOD, one of the successful and leading hardware and grocery
merchants of Connellsville, was born at Connellsville, Fayette county,
Penna, September 22, 1841.
His father, David Hood, of Scotch origin and was a native of Franklin
county, Penna. In 1785 he was married to Mary Shelto, whose father was
born in Ireland. Daniel Hood was a soldier in the War of 1812, was
wounded in battle, returned home, but soon re-enlisted in the same war.
He removed to Fayette county in about 1833 where he lived till his death
in 1861. His wife died November 14, 1886, in the ninety first year of her
age.
W S Hood was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion as were also three of
his brothers: David Hood, now deceased, a member of the One Hundred
Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, company H; Walter S Hood was in an
Indiana regiment of infantry; and Albert W Hood served in the
Pennsylvania Cavalry. Alexander Hood, an older brother, was in the
Mexican army, and remained out during the entire war; he died just after
the City of Mexico was taken, of yellow fever. He was a member of Captain
Quail's company of Connellsville.
W S Hood joined the One Hundred and Forty Second, Company H, as a
private soldier and was in active service for three years. In the battle
of the wilderness he was twice wounded: received a ball in the right knee
joint, and a finger of his left hand was shot off.
At the close of the war he returned home, and in 1874 was married to
Miss Mary C Hensel of Martinsville, West Virginia. They have two
children: J Frederick Hood and Anna Eliza Hood, aged seven and five
years, respectively.
Soon after the close of the war, Mr Hood engaged in the mercantile
business at Connellsville with J D Frisbee as partner and continued with
him until 1881. In 1881 he and Mr Frisbee dissolved when he engaged in
his present business. The style of the first is W S Hood & Co. Mr Hood is
a member of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian church at
Connellsville, and is one of the representative business men of the
county.
p279
MARTIN HOPE was born August 8, 1839, at Brush Creek, Beaver county,
Penna, and is of German descent. He was brought up on a farm near
Pittsburgh. Although his advantages for procuring an education were
limited, yet he acquired sufficient education to transact all ordinary
business. He lived on the farm until he was twenty one years old, when he
enlisted in the Army under Captain C T Ewing, of Company G, First
Virginia Light Artillery, at the first call for troops in 1861. He served
in the company under Captain Ewing for three years, and fought in all of
the engagements under McClellan and Rosecrans in Virginia in the early
part of the war, and afterward in the Shenandoah Valley under Freemont
and Pope.
He was in the famous raid of General W W Averill, in which his company
was within the Rebel lines almost a month. In getting out of their lines
he had to cross a river seven times, and was badly frozen. In this raid
he was eight days without provisions, and traveled two hundred miles in
the midst of winter without pants or shoes. When he reached the Union
lines, he was sent into the hospital at Grafton, where he remained till
he fully recovered. He and seven others of his company were taken
prisoners by enemy. He broke through the enemy's lines, and was chased by
them one mile across Jackson river, but fortunately he ran into a
regiment of Union soldiers, and successfully made his escape. At the
expiration of his term of enlistment he re-enlisted in 1864, in the
Eighty eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers under Lieutenant Robert
Heron. During this year he did but little fighting, but a great deal of
hard marching. He was present at the surrender of Lee's army at
Appomattox Court House.
After four years active service for his country, Mr Hope was mustered
out at the close of the war (1865) at Philadelphia. He returned to Greene
county November 19, 1867, and was married to Miss Leah Keener, a daughter
of David Keener of Greene county. They are the parents of three
children: Lora H Hope, David M Hope, and Leah M Hope, all living and at
home. His wife died August 30, 1874, and his oldest daughter is keeping
house for him. In 1869 he removed to Fayette county and bought a farm of
112 acres of land, where he has since resided.
His parents were Casper Hope and Elizabeth Schaffer Hope, both natives
of Pennsylvania. His father was a musician in the garrison at Pittsburgh
for several years. He died with cholera at New Orleans while on a southern
tour with a troupe. They had five sons, only two of whom are living.
p182
ROBERT F HOPWOOD, one of the leading lawyers of the Uniontown bar for
some years past, was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, July 24,
1856, and where he grew to manhood. He attended the public schools till
at the age of twelve years, and from twelve to the age of eighteen he was
a clerk in the different stores of the place. Leaving school, he attended
night schools, and there took limited courses of Latin and higher
mathematics. He has continued his studies till the present time, and is
now possessed of one of the best libraries in the town, a glance at which
shows his special fondness for historical and poetical works. He can, at
a moment's notice, turn to the page and paragraph in any of his books
that has specially impressed him, and can quote copiously from them.
At the age of twenty he commenced the study of law with Charles E Boyle,
and was admitted to the Uniontown bar July 25, 1879. He immediately began
the practice, has since continued, and now has a very large and lucrative
practice. He was elected attorney for Uniontown in April, 1882, and has
held the office ever since his first election.
In 1886 he was the republican candidate for District Attorney, and was
only defeated forty five votes out of a total of 12,000. He was the
chairman of the republican county committee in 1883 and 1884, and for
several years was secretary of the same committee. He has been secretary
of the Fayette County Agricultural Association since 1881, and treasurer
of the same association for several years past. (IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING
IS MISSING HERE)
The company was organized in 1879. In having the glass and steel works
located at Uniontown, he was instrumental in soliciting the money to buy
the ground upon which to locate the plants. He was also largely
instrumental in establishing the natural gas works at Uniontown, and sold
four-fifths of the stock for the company. He has been the attorney for
the Knights of Labor, of the Amalgamated Association for three years, and
was their attorney in the Jimtown riot case. He has been engaged in a
large number of criminal cases of more or less importance during the last
few years. On the 27th of May, 1889, he was nominated by his party, the
republicans, for district attorney.
He was married in June, 1880, to Miss Emma S Miller, daughter of Mr W H H
Miller. They have five children: Samuel C Hopwood, Ruth Hopwood, Frank P
Hopwood, Edith M Hopwood, and Elizabeth Hopwood. He is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and is superintendent of the sabbath school.
At the time he became superintendent the attendance was about 150, and
now the average attendance is about 300 children.
Robert F Hopwood is the son of Rice G Hopwood and Ruth Jackson Hopwood.
His father was a lawyer, and he died August 17, 1880, at the age of
seventy one years. His mother is still living. His two brother, David J
Hopwood, and Frank P Hopwood, reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota, connected
with the wholesale dry goods house of Wyman, Mullen and Co, the largest
house of the kind west of Chicago.
R F Hopwood is of the fifth generation of the Hopwood family in Fayette
county. His great great grandfather John Hopwood came from Lancashire,
England, to Fayette county in 1761, located on a large tract of land and
laid out the town of Hopwood. On the mother's side of the family, Mr
Hopwood is of English and Scotch Irish extraction. The Jacksons have been
in the county as long as the Hopwoods.
p349
WILLIAM H HOPWOOD MD, a son of William Hopwood and Eleanor Hudson
Hopwood, was born in the town of Monroe, Fayette county, Penna, October
10, 1850. Few are the families who can trace their lineal history so far
back as the Hopwoods. In 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded England
and won the kingdom at the Battle of Hastings, the De Hopwoods were with
him. The manor of Middleton was held by the De Hopwoods at an early date
after the conquest.
In the northern portion of the churchyard of the manor of Middleton is a
monument erected to the Hopwood family. It is so old that the
inscriptions are somewhat indistinct. Robert de Hopwood was rector of the
church of Middleton from 1421 to 1457. The Hopwood chapel is enclosed
with rails of the period of the Restoration and contains the Kiscina and
a mural monument to Robert Gregg Hopwood of Hopwood Hall. It was built by
John Hopwood in the reign of Henry VIII soon after 1500. About this time
the Norman Frence prefix de was elided from the name.
About 1700 Moses Hopwood, the great, great grandfather of W H Hopwood MD,
came to America from England and settled in Virginia. He was then a young
man and soon after coming he married a most estimable Virginia lady. Of
this union were born fourteen children, eleven being sons. The father had
received superior training in England and was remarkably religious, and a
member of the Church of England. He was the head of the family in America.
His son, John Hopwood, was born in 1745, and was the great grandfather of
William H Hopwood MD. He married into the family of Governor Humphreys of
Virginia, and six children were born, five daughters and one son. He
removed from Stafford county, Virginia, to Pennsylvania soon after the
close of the War of 1776. Before moving he liberated his slaves but some
of them followed him to his new home.
His son Moses Hopwood was educated at old Canonsburg College,
Pennsylvania, and in 1795 was married to Hannah, daughter of Colonel
Thomas Gaddis, so prominent in the early history of Western Pennsylvania.
John Hopwood, like Colonel Gaddis, had been in the Revolutionary War.
John Hopwood had been one of Colonel Washington's aids, and was by him
selected to choose a suitable site for winter quarters for the
continental army, which duty he performed and then acted as escort in
conducting them to their quarters.
The son, Moses Hopwood, was born at Dumfries, Virginia, April 22, 1772,
and died in Hopwood, March 21, 1857. Moses Hopwood and Hannah Gaddis
Hopwood had fourteen children, ten sons and four daughters.
One of these sons, William Hopwood, who died August 3, 1889, at the age
of eighty two, was the father of William H Hopwood MD. In 1838 he married
Eleanor, daughter of George Hudson of Huntingdon county, Penna. She was a
woman of great worth of character and a devoted mother. He was an
architect and builder by profession. He possessed excellent business
qualifications and acquired a valuable estate. For many years he was a
director of the First National Bank of Uniontown. Intellectually and
morally he was of a high standard.
To William Hopwood and Eleanor Hudson Hopwood were born seven children,
five boys and two girls. Walter Hopwood died in youth. Thomas Hudson
Hopwood served through the civil war of 1861 to 1865 and received a
brevet for bravery. He was a major in the regular army until he died from
injuries received in the war. In 1865 he married Sarah, daughter of
General James G Anthony and niece of United States Senator H B Anthony of
Rhode Island. Major Hopwood died December 31, 1867.
Dr William H Hopwood has a sister, Mrs Jennie H Fenner, living in
Providence, Rhode Island, and another sister, Miss Julia E Hopwood of
Uniontown, Penna. George Hopwood, a brother, is a prominent and leading
citizen of South Union township, and Monroe Hopwood, another brother, is
a rising young attorney-at-law of the Uniontown bar.
The Hopwoods have been tall and muscularly powerful men. No greater
athletes have lived in western Pennsylvania than some of the members of
this family. They have fair complexion and blue eyes with few exceptions.
William H Hopwood, the subject of this sketch, received his first
education at Hatfield's schoolhouse in South Union township. After
leaving the common school, he attended Madison College at Uniontown,
Mount Union College, Ohio, and after completing his literary training, he
read medicine under that eminent physician, Smith Fuller MD, and entered
the medical department of the University of Michigan in the class of
1875. Completing the prescribed course there, he attended Jefferson
Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated with honor from that
celebrated institution in the class of 1877. He located at Upper
Middletown on the P V & C Ry, five miles below Uniontown, and his
untiring energy and great skill have placed him among the most eminent
physicians and surgeons in Fayette county. His practice is large and
remunerative, and he enjoys the highest esteem of all who know him.
Through purchase and inheritance, he has acquired valuable possessions,
and is ever free to give to charitable and religious objects. He is a
member of the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church. He has been connected with
the Fayette County Medical Society for several years, and is ever willing
to contribute his share in advancing the medical, scientific and material
interests of his native county. He is a young man who has been the
arbiter of his own good fortune, and his labor and talents have wrought
out marked success, and assure for him an unusually bright future.
p505
DANIEL F HOSTETLER, a prosperous farmer of German township, is a son of
George Hostetler and Barbara Franks Hostetler and was born in German
township, Fayette county, Penna, September 23, 1839.
George Hostetler, father, was born near Sheppardstown, Virginia, in 1804
and died in German township in 1873. He married Miss Barbara Franks,
daughter of Micheal Franks. Unto their union were born three children:
Elizabeth Hostetler, dead; Daniel F Hostetler; and Lydia A Hostetler,
dead.
Mrs Hostetler's grandfather, Micheal Franks Sr, came from France to
Maryland in 1773. He removed to Fayette county and in 1785 assisted to
build St Jacob's church which has been rebuilt three times. He was a
devoted member of the German Reform church.
Samuel Hostetler, paternal grandfather, emigrated from eastern Virginia
in about 1815 to Fayette county, was a farmer by occupation and died in
1861. Micheal Franks, maternal grandfather, died in 1846.
Daniel F Hostetler was reared on a farm, and was educated in the common
schools. He has been engaged in farming ever since leaving school. In
1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Leckrone, daughter of
Jacob and Mary Leckrone Newcomer.
Mr Hostetler owns a small but very productive farm of fifty acres, well
improved and in a fine state of cultivation. He is a deacon in the
Evangelical Lutheran church and secretary of the council, is master of
German Grange, No 743, Patron of Husbandry, and is one of the energetic
business men and reliable citizens of German township.
p578
ALFRED HOWELL. Prominent among the lawyers of Fayette county stood
Alfred Howell for a period of thirty five years identified with the
interests and progress of Uniontown where he resided.
Mr Howell was a native of Philadelphia and was born in the year 1825 of
Quaker stock; both his paternal and maternal ancestry tracing their lines
through the time of William Penn back for an indefinite period among the
Quakers of Wales.
Benjamin B Howell, his father, then a merchant, removed with his family
to New York City in the year 1830-31 where young Howell was sent to
preparatory school and eventually at the age of fourteen entered Columbia
College and there continued until well advanced in the sophomore class.
Meanwhile his father had quitted merchandise and entered upon the
development of iron and coal industries near Cumberland, Maryland, having
enlisted with himself several English capitalists. Having occasion to
visit England on business, he took passage in March, 1841, on board the
ill fated ocean steamer "President" which foundered at sea, no tidings of
her or any of her human cargo having ever been had. The sudden and great
calamity of the loss of his father necessitated young Howell's withdrawal
from college after which he soon entered as a student at law in the
office of Graham & Sandfords, counselors at law and solicitors in
chancery, a distinguished firm, the Sanfords [sic] afterwards having been
both elevated to the bench.
With these gentlemen and their successors in partnership with Mr Graham,
Messrs Murray Hoffman and Joseph S Bosworth, both subsequently becoming
judges, Mr Howell remained till 1845 enjoying the good fortune of the
eminent tutelage of this remarkable combination of legal talent, when he
migrated to Uniontown and finished his legal studies in the office of his
uncle, Joshua B Howell, then a leading lawyer, and was admitted to the
bar in 1847. In 1851 he entered into partnership with Mr Howell and
continued with him until the fall of 1861 when Mr Howell, having raised
the Eighty fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers and being commissioned
its colonel entered into the War of the Rebellion wherein he became
exceptionally distinguished and was killed near Petersburg in September,
1864, by being thrown from his horse in the night time.
After Colonel Howell's entry into the army, Mr Howell succeeded to the
business of the partnership and continued till his death in the practice
of law conducting a large and laborious business with conscientious
fidelity to his clients, earning honorable distinction and a goodly
fortune.
He was more or less engaged in important business enterprises, among
which may be mentioned the projection in 1866 about what was then known
as Dawson's Station on the line of the Pittsburgh and Connellsville
Railroad of a village, now incorporated as the borough of Dawson, on a
tract of land there lying and of which he about that time came into
possession. He caused the tract to be duly surveyed and laid out into
building lots and so conducted his enterprise as in the course of a few
years to erect a prosperous and desirable village with churches, public
schools, etc, upon what was before and but for his business foresight and
energy would have remained merely an uninhabitable portion of an old
farm. He has occasionally engaged in the purchase and sale of real
estate, particularly dealing in coal lands with profitable results and
taken active part with others in supplying the county with local railways
which have been the means of developing the treasures of rich coal mines
and of otherwise enhancing the wealth of the county.
Mr Howell became a communicant in his early manhood of the Protestant
Episcopal church and has ever since continued active connection therewith
and occupied the position of senior warden.
Mr Howell was in the year 1853 united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth
Jennings Dawson, daughter of Mr George Dawson of Brownsville, Fayette
county, Penna. Mrs Howell died in 1869 leaving six children, one of whom,
a daughter, died in 1878. Of the five now living, the elder son, George D
Howell is at this time a member of the senior class of Trinity College,
Hartford, Connecticutt.
p279
J ALLEN HUBBS, MD of Bridgeport is a gentleman in the fullest sense and
the word as used in connection with his name is not merely an idle term
of complaisance but one definitive of the man and of his character and
life.
He is the son of William G Hubbs and Elizabeth McFee Hubbs. His father
was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, born in 1811 and in 1818 he came
with his father, Charles Hubbs, to Mt Pleasant, Westmoreland county,
Penna.
Charles Hubbs, MD, was a native of New Jersey born in 1767. He practiced
medicine at Mt Pleasant from the time he moved there till his death in
1847. William G Hubbs read medicine with his father, practiced his
profession at Fayette City from 1830 to 1867 and had a large and
successful practice. In 1867 he removed to Bridgeport and practiced
medicine till April 6, 1881, when he died at the age of seventy years.
Since 1850 he had practiced the physio-medical system. He was a member of
the Christian church.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was a native of Freeport, now
Fayette City, and was born in 1818. She died at her home in Bridgeport in
1881 at the age of sixty three years.
J Allen Hubbs was born in Fayette City, Fayette county, Penna, February
13, 1840. He commenced reading medicine with his father when he was
sixteen years of age, graduated at the Physio Medical College of
Cincinnati, Ohio, in the winter of 1857, and at the Physio Medical
Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1860. This institute is now located at
Chicago, Illinois. In 1860 he commenced practice in Fairview, Greene
county, Penna, where he continued till 1867 when he came to Bridgeport
and with his brother, M G Hubbs, engaged in the drug business, the firm
being Dr J Allen Hubbs & Co. He continued successfully at this until the
death of his father, when he commenced the practice of medicine again,
and has followed it ever since. He is a general practitioner but gives
special attention to the treatment of diseases of the stomach and liver,
also dropsy and female weakness in which he has been very successful. He
is a member of the American Associaton of Physio Medical Physicians and
Surgeons.
Dr Hubbs was married in 1861 to Miss Sarah J Titus, daughter of Eli
Titus of Greene county, Penna. She died in 1880 leaving one child,
Cherrie T Hubbs, now twelve years old.
He married the second time Miss Maggie A Adamson of Greene county,
daughter of Thomas Adamson, a farmer of that county. By this marriage he
has no children living. The second wife died May 21, 1889.
Dr Hubbs cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and his last
presidential vote for President Harrison.
p351
ANTONY HUGG, one of Belle Vernon's reliable citizens and by travel has
seen something of life in the old and new world, was born March 5, 1841,
in the Department of Loire, France. He is a son of John Baptiste Hugg and
Victoire Louvet Hugg, both natives of France.
John Baptiste Hugg was an excellent glassblower and had no trouble in
finding employment in England and in France. He was a consistent member
of the Roman Catholic church. His wife's people were interested in glass
manufacturing.
Antony Hugg was educated in the boarding and high schools of France. He
alternately resided in France and England until fourteen years of age
when he entered an English glass works under his father where he remained
three years. At the age of seventeen years he went to Spain but remained
only eight months on account of the natives of that country refusing to
let him finish his trade. He then returned to England and completed his
trade of glassblower.
Concluding to seek his fortune in the western hemisphere, he sailed for
New York August 11, 1865, where he landed on the 25th of the same month.
He pursued his trade at Boston and Berkshire, Massachusetts, Bernard's
Bay, New York, and New Albany, Indiana. In 1870 he removed from Indiana
to Belle Vernon where he has successfully continued up to the present
time at his trade.
When twenty three years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Kelly, daughter
of Peter and Margaret Kelly, natives of Ireland. They had five children:
John Hugg, born in 1864; Margaret E Hugg, born in 1865, on shipboard;
Victoria Hugg, 1867, Massachusetts; Elizabeth Hugg, 1868, New York;
Matilda Hugg, 1869, Indiana, deceased. Margaret, Victoria and Elizabeth
are married and reside in Belle Vernon.
His wife died in New Albany. He married in 1870 for his second wife Miss
Elizabeth J Wilkinson of that place. By his last marriage he has two
children: Ida May Hugg born in 1871; and Ernestine B Hugg born in 1873.
Mr Hugg is a member of the Sons of Temperance, Royal Arcanum, and the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. At one time in England he belonged to
the Foresters. He and his family are Protestants in religious beliefs. He
has derived a valuable experience from his extended travels, and is an
honest and upright citizen.
p551
Joseph H Humberstone, one of the young, steady and industrious farmers
of Henry Clay township, is a son of Jacob Humberstone and Louisa Shaw
Humberstone, and was born in Henry Clay township, Fayette county, Penna,
November 26, 1861.
His paternal grandfather, William Humberstone, was a native and resident
of Frostburg, Maryland. He was a republican and a member of the Lutheran
church and a farmer by occupation.
His maternal grandfather, William Shaw, was born at Barton, Maryland,
was a carpenter by occupation, a republican in politics and a Methodist
in religion.
Jacob Humberstone, father of Joseph H Humberstone, was born at
Frostburg, Maryland, in 1826 and at thirty years of age removed to his
present location on the National Road in Henry Clay township. He has
principally been engaged in farming and is of the same political faith
and belief of his father.
Jacob Humberstone enlisted in 1862 in the Two Hundred and Twelfth
Pennsylvania Regiment of the Line, heavy artillery, and served nine
months.
He owns a good property including the old Brown wagon stand on the
National Road which was established by Thomas Brown about 1798. Brown's
log building was replaced in 1826 by the present large and fine two story
stone house in which a hotel was kept as late as 1865.
Joseph S Humberstone (? H or S) was one of a family of eight children,
and received his education in the common schools of his native township.
He has always given his time to farming except eighteen months that he
served as a telegraph operator at Marshalltown, Iowa.
He was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Tharspecken of Marshalltown,
Iowa.
J S Humberstone is a republican and was a delegate to the republican
State Convention which met at Harrisburg on the 7th of August, 1889, and
nominated Boyer for state treasurer. Mr Humberstone has a comfortable
home, and is kept busily engaged in the management of his farm and the
care of his business interests.
p183
WILLIAM HUNT. There is a quiet unassuming worth of character that often
but slowly works its possessor into public notice. There are men who
grasp not at high position in the initial efforts in the race of life,
but how willingly and cheerfully accept the duties that come to them; and
quietly yet faithfully and effectively discharge every duty that other
more important ones are reposed in them. Such character is portrayed in
William Hunt, born February 2, 1836, in Dunbar township, Fayette county,
Penna. In 1850 he went to learn his trade with H W S Rigdon of Uniontown
(now of Ottawa, Illinois) and at that time the leading jeweler of
Southwestern Pennsylvania. He remained with this eminently practical
workman for four and a half years, mastering every detail of the
business, gaining the entire confidence and receiving the highest
encomiums of his employer. In 1858 he engaged in business at Uniontown,
and by close attention to business and honesty in his work, built up the
largest trade and has the most extensive jewelry store in the county. His
store is now located at 530 Main Street.
William Hunt is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows; of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commander of the Ancient York
Masonic fraternity; is past officer in each and holds membership in the
Royal Arcanum. He was elected in January, 1886, as jury commission on the
democratic ticket, and served for three years. Recognized as a man of
sound financial views, he was appointed a director of the First National
Bank of Uniontown, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles E
Boyle.
He is the son of Isaac L Hunt and Hannah Lincoln Hunt. His father was a
native of Fayette county, Pa, was an industrious farmer and shoemaker in
Dunbar township, and at the time of his death, in 1836, was county
commissioner. His grandfather Jacob Hunt was born in New Jersey, and came
to Fayette county in 1790. His mother's father, Benjamin Lincoln, was a
native of Reading, Pa, and came to Fayette county in 1790. Benjamin
Lincoln was a first cousin of President Lincoln. Hannah Lincoln Hunt was
born in 1795 in Fayette county, Pa, and died February 10, 1889, at the
advanced age of ninety four years. Her father was a civil engineer and
was also a farmer to some extent.
William Hunt was married in 1861 to Miss Margaret Simbower, a daughter
of Mrs Mary Simbower of Uniontown, but a native of Maryland. Mr Hunt has
twelve children: Isaac Hunt, Robert W Hunt, Mary Frances Hunt, Ellen
Hunt, Margaret Hunt, Hannah Hunt, Sarah Hunt, Lucy Hunt, Lottie Hunt,
Elizabeth Hunt, Eve Hunt, and Benjamin L Hunt.
p280
HENRY HUNTER was born May 15, 1806, of German and Irish parentage in
Chester county, Penna, and is a son of Hiram Hunter and Margaret
Ashaphelter Hunter. His father was a native of the same county. He was a
stone mason and followed the business all of this life. He was the father
of seven children, four sons and three daughters, two of whom are now
living. The father came to Fayette county in 1818 and remained until
1827. He then removed to Kentucky, where his wife died, after which he
returned to Fayette county, Penna. He died at the age of seventy five.
Henry Hunter was brought up on a farm, his opportunities to obtain an
education were very limited, having attended the old time subscription
schools only about six months. He remained on the farm with his father
until he was twenty one years of age. He then commenced to work among
strangers wherever he could obtain employment at twenty five cents a day.
He early learned to save his earnings, small as they were. He soon became
renowned as a careful, hardworking, prudent man and commanded better
wages.
He was a lover of good horses and became a skillful teamster. Being
strictly honest himself, he reposed confidence in his fellow men and
loaned his money without requiring security and lost all his hard
earnings after he had accumulated several thousand dollars. He bore his
loss philosophically, and never ceased to work. Before old age came upon
him, however, by dint of industry and care he replenished his fortune and
now has a competence and lives in comfort.
Henry Hunter was never considered parsimonious and his accumulations
have been an enigma to many. He was always dressed neatly and comfortably
and in company with his friends spent money liberally. He has lived a
retired life for the last eight years. He never was married.
At the age of eighty three years, he reads without glasses and writes
well and legibly though he has had three paralytic strokes recently. It
is pleasurable to say that it is the universal testimony of his neighbors
and acquaintances that a more honest or upright man than Henry
Hunter never lived, though not a member of any of the church
organizations.
p183
LEVI HUNTLEY was born near Smithfield, Georges township, Fayette county,
Pena, January 18, 1834, and is a son of Robert Huntley and Mary McKean
Huntley, the former a native of New Jersey. Mary McKean was a daughter of
James McKean, the latter an early settler of, and probably the first
manufacturer of iron in Fayette county.
Stoddard Huntley, the grandfather of Levi Huntley, came with the
Connells early in life from New Jersey and settled near Connellsville. He
was a shoemaker by trade, a strong democrat, and served in the official
capacity of justice of the peace and constable for many years previous to
his death, which occurred at the advanced age of ninety one years.
Levi Huntley is the sixth of ten children born to his parents. On the
14th of August, 1861, he was married to Lavina Richards, daughter of Adam
Richards of Uniontown.
To their marriage have been born five children, four boys and one girl:
William Searight Huntley, born June 18, 1863; Orella Huntley, born
December 4, 1864, she was graduated from California State Normal School
and a teacher for eight years past; Thomas Allen Huntley, born January 4,
1866, a blacksmith; Isaac Newton Huntley, born July 8, 1869, educated at
Madison College and is also a teacher; Robert Hogsett Huntley, born June
3, 1876.
Levi Huntley began life as a farmer; later he learned with trade of
blacksmith with Henry Nycum of Uniontown, and has, excepting a short
interval during the war, worked at it ever since.
In March, 1864, he volunteered in the First Kentucky Regiment of
Cavalry, which became a regiment of veterans, under the command of
General Sherman. He fought at the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, and around
Atlanta, Georgia, and was fighting Johnston when Sherman was making his
famous march to the sea. He was principally engaged as a raider while in
the service, and at the close of the war in 1865 he was honorably
discharged. He is a school director, and takes a deep interest in
educational matters. In politics he is one of Jackson's strong adherents.
p442
MICHEAL HURLEY was born in Ireland, June 9, 1842, and is a son of Peter
Hurley and Nora Hennessey Hurley.
Micheal Hurley, paternal grandfather, was a native of County Curry,
Ireland, followed farming, married Miss Nora McGraw, and had the
following children: John Hurley; Nellie Hurley, married to Jeremiah
Shaughnessy, lives in Columbus, Ohio; Bessie Hurley; Mary Hurley, married
to Timothy Kelley, lives in Indianapolis, Indiana; Nora Hurley, married
to James Connor, llives in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Peter Hurley.
Peter Hurley, father, was born in 1813 and is still living in Ireland.
He was well educated, and being very apt was a very successful
businessman in his day. During the "Panic of 1849" he was steward and
general manager for Stephen Samus, a large landowner. He is now a butcher
and jobber. He married Nora Horrigan, daughter of Edward Horrigan, and of
several children born to them, Micheal Hurley is the only one living.
Micheal Hurley was educated in Ireland and came to the United States May
11, 1864. He engaged in the oil region of Pennsylvania as a common
laborer. He moved to Ursina and kept a hotel for three years. In 1874 he
came to Connellsville and engaged in the hotel business, and is now the
proprietor of the Trans-Allegheny Hotel.
He was married to Nora Hennessey, a native of Ireland and a daughter of
Thomas Hennessey. They have eight children: Nora Hurley, Birdie Hurley,
Ellen Hurley, Catherine Hurley, Bessie Hurley, Sarah Hurley, Pearl Hurley
and Micheal Hurley.
A fact worthy of mention in the hotel experience of Mr Hurley is that he
has never been refused a hotel license since he began the business-a
period of twenty two years. In all of this time he has never taken a
drink of liquor although he sells it every day. He is a member of the
Holy Roman Catholic church.
p185
GEORGE B HUTCHINSON, a successful young lawyer of Uniontown, was born in
South Union township, Fayette county, Penna, January 25, 1855, and is a
son of Isaac Hutchinson and Mary Brownfield Hutchinson.
His father, now in his seventy second year, resides near Smithfield and
has been for the most of his life a miller by occupation, but quit that
business in 1877 and bought the farm where he now resides. The flouring
mill he owned was located in South Union township, know yet as Hutchinson
mill, but is now abandoned.
Isaac Hutchinson, the grandfather of George B Hutchinson, was a native
of New Jersey and when at the age of nineteen years, came to Fayette
county and was one of the earliest settlers here.
George B Hutchinson was reared principally in South Union township and
at the age of eighteen years in 1873 he entered Waynesburg College, but
in 1876 abandoned the full college course on account of his failing
health. He entered the office of Robinson F Downey of Waynesburg as a
student at law, and was admitted to the bar to practice in the courts of
Greene county in June, 1878.
In September, 1878, he came to Uniontown and was admitted to practice in
the courts of Fayette county and at once opened an office and has been
successfully engaged in the practice of law ever since. July 12, 1884, he
formed a partnership with Thomas Wakefield of Uniontown, the partnership
expiring July 12, 1889.
George B Hutchinson was married to Miss Mary M Gorley of Fayette county
and a daughter of Alfred M and Lucinda Gorley, both natives of the
county, June 24, 1879. To their union have been born five children:
Howard S Hutchinson; Herschel Hutchinson; Della Pearl Hutchinson; Helen M
Hutchinson and Mary Hutchinson. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias
and on June 26, 1889, was elected by Madison Lodge No 419, Knights of
Pythias, to represent it at its last sessions of the Grand Lodge that met
in Lancaster, Penna, August 20, 1889.
p506
JOHN C HUTCHINSON of English and Irish descent and a prosperous farmer
of Nicholson township, is a son of Samuel Hutchinson and Rosanna Hagan
Hutchinson and was born in South Union township, October 5, 1841.
Samuel Hutchinson was born near Uniontown in August, 1815, died December
29, 1882, and is interred in the cemetery at Uniontown. He was a miller
early in life but afterwards engaged in farming near Hutchinson's Mill.
He owned a farm of eighty seven acres of well improved and twenty seven
acres of heavy timber land. Mr Hutchinson was a whig and later a
republican; served one term as poor house director; and filled the office
of school director for several terms.
He married Miss Rosanna Hagans of near Walnut Hill. They were the
parents of seven children: John C Hutchinson; James M Hutchinson, a
prosperous farmer in Illinois; Isaac Hutchinson, on the home farm; Mary M
Hutchinson; William Henry Hutchinson, dead; Albert B Hutchinson; and
Elizabeth Hutchinson. Mr Hutchinson was a Baptist while his wife was a
Cumberland Presbyterian.
His father was born in Mercer county, New Jersey, and came to South
Union township in 1802 where he built the mill that bears his name. He
was a millwright and miller; belonged to the Baptist church; was an old
line whig; and enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors. Mrs Hutchinson's
father, John Hagan, came from Ireland; was a contractor on the "Old
Pike;" owned a farm of 250 acres of choice farming land underlaid with
coal; and now valued at $100,000 by its present owners. He was a good
businessman and was quite wealthy when he died.
John C Hutchinson spent his early years on a farm and received a common
school education. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, First Virginia
Cavalry and participated in the battles of Carnifex Ferry, South Mountain
and Antietam. Afterwards at the fight of Wytheville, he was taken
prisoner by the Confederates and confined in Libby prison, Belle Island,
and in several other prisons. After six months prison experience, he was
paroled and sent North. He rejoined his regiment after being exchanged,
was with his regiment in several engagements and was honorably discharged
at Wheeling, West Virginia, September 12, 1864. The year following he was
a clerk in the quarter master's department at Nashville, Tennessee.
On February 17, 1867, he was married to Miss M B Core, daughter of
William F Core; to their union have been born two children: Jennie May
Hutchinson, wife of John Weaver, a miller of Smithfield; and Harry Lee
Hutchinson, now a student in Washington and Jefferson College.
Since his marriage Mr Hutchinson has been engaged in farming and stock
raising. His farm contains over four hundred acres of well improved land
and is one of the finest bodies of farming land in Nicholson township. He
is an Odd Fellow and a strong republican, a member of Post No 541, G A R,
and was a faithful soldier in some of the severest campaigns of the Civil
War.
p352
JOSEPH HUTCHINSON was born near Round Hill church, Elizabeth township,
Allegheny county, Penna, March 21, 1828. His father, John Hutchinson, was
born in New Jersey and came to Pennsylvania with his father Joseph
Hutchinson. He afterwards on his return East, died from the effects of
the measles. His wife, Ann Bennett, who lived to be 105 years of age, was
a daughter of a captain of the War of the Revolution. The Bennetts were a
most remarkable people for their longevity and physical endurance, and
were noted for their abstemious and temperate habits. John Bennett, a
brother of Mrs Ann Hutchinson, was a soldier under General Markle in the
War of 1812-15.
The Hutchinsons are of English stock. John Hutchinson was a leading
farmer and speculator of Allegheny and later of Westmoreland county, Penna.
Joseph Hutchinson, whose name heads this sketch, was married March 21,
1849, to Ann E McDonal, a daughter of John McDonal of Sewickley township,
Westmoreland county, Penna (the great grandfather of the latter was one
of the heroes of the Revolution), and has had seven children of whom two
are dead: John M Hutchinson, a well-driller by occupation was born in
1850; Margaret Jane Hutchinson, now the wife of Amos Shrum, formerly of
Westmoreland county; Travilo W Hutchinson (deceased); Elizabeth
Hutchinson, wife of Harvey Knox; Huldah Belle Hutchinson (deceased); H D
Hutchinson, and Minnie B Hutchinson.
Joseph Hutchinson worked on the farm until he learned the blacksmith
trade, and has since worked at this and the oil drilling business. He
removed and located in Menallen township in 1882.
p596
Edward K Hyndman, though a native of Carbon county, Penna, and present
resident of Pittsburgh, resided in Fayette county for a period of about
eight years and holds large business interests therein.
My Hyndman is of Scotch Irish descent being the son of Hugh Hyndman, who
was born in the north of Ireland in 1800 and Catherine Huff, a native of
Danville, Penna, born in 1805, both still living in vigorous old age.
He was born in Mauch Chunk, Penna, the great anthracite coal region, in
1844 and growing up there became a civil engineer at about eighteen years
of age and was engaged more or less in the construction and operation of
railroads in their various departments until at twenty five years of age
he became the superintendent of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad from
Easton to Scranton, now a part of New Jersey Central Railroad system, in
the superintendency of which he continued till 1872 when he resigned his
post to take the superintendency of the Pittsburgh and Connellsville
Railroad, now the Pittsburgh Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
in charge of which he remained, residing in Connellsville for the period
of eight years.
In his official position while living there in charge of the railroad,
Mr Hyndman enjoyed peculiar opportunities for studying the Connellsville
coke business and the extent and position of the coking coal field and
was so impressed with the vast present and future importance of the
business that he took measures to secure some eight thousand acres of the
best coal lands in one body, and organized a company under the same of
the Connellsville Coke and Iron Company with Hon John Leisenring as
president and other of his old Eastern anthracite coal friends as members
with a capital stock of one million two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars for the purpose of developing the coal property.
He then resigned the superintendency of the railroad and accepted the
position of general manager of the above named company. Mr Hyndman
remained in that position until the company was thoroughly established
and in working order, he finding meanwhile that his early experience in
the anthracite district availed him much in the new field. He then
resigned the management of the company, though still its consulting
engineer, and removing to Pittsburgh accepted in June, 1881, the office
of general manager of he Pittsburgh and Western Railroad which office he
now holds together with that of president of the Pittsburgh Junction
Railroad.
Mr Hyndman is also largely interested in various enterprises in and out
of the State. Among these may be mentioned that of the Virginia Coal and
Iron Company and the Holston Steel and Iron Company, having their center
of operations in southwestern Virginia and in which Mr Leisenring and
others of the Connellsville Coke and Iron Company are also interested.
The above named Virginia Coal and Iron Company possesses over 70,000
acres of coal and iron lands upon the development of which they have
already entered, having commenced the construction of a railroad seventy
miles in length in order to reach their new fields from Bristol,
Tennessee. The coke to be manufactured in this field will readily supply
markets not accessible from the Connellsville coke region.
February 25, 1873, Mr Hyndman married at Philadelphia, Miss Gulielma A
Brown, daughter of the late William Brown Esq of Bethlehem, Penna, and
Mrs Susan I Brown, his widow, who now resides in Philadelphia. Mr and
Mrs Hyndman have two sons.