Bios: I - K Surnames: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marta Burns. marta43@juno.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ______________________________________________________________________ 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 Jackson, H B Menallen 352 Jacobs, Adam, Capt Luzerne 551 Stewart Jefferies, J W Brnv & Bdgpt 281 Jefferis, H C Uniontown 184 Jeffries, Taylor Menallen 353 Jennings, Henry J Uniontown 185 Johns, Thomas Bullskin 553 Johnson, Andrew Springfield 552 Johnson, N D Nicholson 506 Johnston, Frederick Morgan's Stat 602 Johnston, J F Bullskin 552 Junk, Robert Uniontown 190 Kaine, Daniel Uniontown 186 Kaiser, E Brnv & Bdgpt 281 Keck, Christian Tyrone 353 Keffer, A B Bullskin 553 Kelly, S S Dunbar 442 Kennedy, J W Tyrone 354 Kennedy, Robert P Uniontown 189 Kerr, J H Uniontown 191 Kessler, Frank Washington 354 Keyser, Ira H Springhill 282 Kilpatrick, Worth Connellsville 460 King, John H Uniontown 192 King, Nathaniel Tyrone 355 King, T G Uniontown 191 Kirk, John Uniontown 192 Krepps, J P Washington 355 Kromer, Nicholas Tyrone 356 Kurtz, John Connellsville 461 I SURNAMES NONE J SURNAMES p352 HIRAM BENTON JACKSON, an industrious and successful farmer of Menallen, is a son of Zadock Jackson and Lydia Woodward Jackson, and was born on the Jackson farm in Menallen township, Fayette county, Penna, October 8, 1855. Zadock Jackson of Irish extraction was born in Menallen township in 1805 and died May 7, 1861. His father, Robert Jackson, settled in 1790 on the John Dearth Farm. Zadock Jackson married Miss Lydia Woodward. They had eight children, three of whom are living: Robert Jackson; Hiram B Jackson; and Elizabeth Jackson, wife of Ewing Searight. Mrs Jackson was born August 17, 1811, and resides at New Salem. Her father, Caleb Woodward, moved from Chester county at an early date and was a noted and skilled blacksmith whose good work secured him all the custom of the country for nine miles around. He was very pious and well beloved by all who knew him. Hiram B Jackson was reared on a farm, was educated in the common schools, Uniontown public schools and Waynesburg College. Leaving school he engaged successfully in his present business of farming and stock raising. He has been married three times. His first wife was Miss Ellen Dow Burnsworth, daughter of Lorenzo Dow Burnsworth and Margaret Craft Burnsworth, the former a religious man and a farmer of Stewart township, the latter a daughter of John S Craft of Redstone township. Mrs Jackson died February 16, 1886, and left three children: Lydia Jackson, born December 12, 1882; Lyman R Jackson, born February 9, 1884; and William Zadock Hopwood Jackson, born January 23, 1885. He was again married November 16, 1887, to Mrs Nannie Fouch Jacobs, widow of William Jacobs and daughter of Charles Fouch of South Union. The second wife died August 6, 1889. September 10, 1889, Mr Jackson married for his third wife, Miss Sophronia Eagle, daughter of Nelson and Eliza Eagle. Mrs Eagle resides in Merrittstown. Hiram B Jackson owns a well improved farm which is heavily underlaid with coal and limestone. He is a democrat, delights in the success of his party and was elected township auditor but declined to serve. He is a member of Ft Necessity Lodge No 254, I O O F at Uniontown. He is well situated to enjoy life and its substantial comforts. In religious views he is favorable to the doctrines and practices of the Christian or Disciple church. Mr Jackson is in the prime of manhood and has the respect and esteem of the community in which he resides. p551 Captain ADAM JACOBS, deceased. The late Captain Adam Jacobs was in his day one of the most prominent and energetic businessmen of western Pennsylvania. He was a son of Adam Jacobs and Elizabeth Reiley Jacobs, and was born at Brownsville, Fayette county, Penna, January 7, 1817. His grandfather, Adam Jacobs, was a native of Maryland, emigrated to Lancaster county, Penna, removed to Allegheny county, and subsequently to Brownsville in about 1794, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until his death in 1818. He sleeps in the old Episcopalian cemetery. He had one child, Adam Jacobs, the father of Captain Adam Jacobs. Adam Jacobs, the Captain's father, was born December 3, 1794, educated at Washington College, and was married January 16, 1816, to Miss Ann Reiley of Bedford county, and died June 29, 1822. He was a dry goods merchant. Captain Adam Jacobs, while learning the trade of coppersmith with G W Bowman, obtained a very limited education. After two or three business ventures he engaged in the steamboat business which he followed until 1872. He commanded several and built 125 steamboats that plied upon the western waters. During this time he was interested more or less in milling, banking, mining, farming, merchandising and railroading. In 1865 he purchased 1,000 acres of land on the Monongahela river, eight miles southwest of Brownsville, which he named "East Riverside." Washington's birthday, 1838, he married Miss Ann Snowden, daughter of John Snowden. They had ten children, of whom eight are living: Mary Jacobs, wife of William Parkhill, cashier Second National Bank; Adam Jacobs, Captain of the James G Blaine; Catherine Jacobs, wife of S S Graham, superintendent of P B & New Geneva packet line, and engaged in wholesale and retail grocery business; Carrie S Jacobs, wife of J H Bowman, banker and real estate dealer; Annie Jacobs, wife of Joseph McBurney of Chicago, and engaged in white lead business; Martin B Jacobs, a broker of Chicago; George R Jacobs, a farmer in Greene county, Penna, and John N Jacobs, farmer in Luzerne township. After a long and eventful career, Captain Adam Jacobs died on December 18, 1883. He was for over forty years one of the prominent, active, useful and leading businessmen of western Pennsylvania and whose boats plied all the navigable waters of the Mississippi valley. p281 JAMES WITHRINGTON JEFFERIES of English lineage and a highly respected citizen of Brownsville, the second son of Evan Jefferies and Rebecca Withrington Jefferies, was born in the city of Bristol, England, August 29, 1806. Evan Jefferies was a native of the city of Cambridge, Glamorganshire, Wales, born February 2, 1766 and was a son of Evans Jefferies of a family of the ancient Briton fathers. He married Miss Rebecca Withrington of London, the latter born June 2nd, 1787. James Withrington Jefferies was reared in Bristol, England, receiving a good education in the schools of that city. He studied at the Mechanical Institute and learned the trade of general painter. In March, 1832, he came to the United States. He first located in New York City, but remained only four months there on account of the prevalence of the cholera and then removed to Pittsburgh. He remained eight years in the latter city in the successful prosecution of his trade. In 1840 he removed to Brownsville and until he retired from active business in 1874 was successfully engaged in painting. On October 12, 1828, he was married in St James Church, Bristol, England, to Miss Sarah Case, daughter of John Case and Sarah Sawyer Case. Unto this union were born ten children: Ellen Jefferies; Mary Jefferies, deceased; Maria Jefferies; Anna Jefferies; Caroline Jefferies; Isabella Jefferies; George Jefferies, deceased; Nelson Jefferies; Charles Jefferies; and Frank Jefferies. Since twelve years of age Mr Jefferies has been a consistent member of the Protestant Episcopal church. He has been a vestryman of Christ's church, Brownsville, for over forty seven years. For half a century he has been a prominent member of St George's Society, also of the orders of A Y M. At eighty four years of age, Mr Jefferies is now as active in mind and body as most men of sixty. He has always been an upright and successful businessman and an exemplary citizen, worthy of the esteem and respect which he enjoys. p184 HARVEY C JEFFERIS was born near Barton's Mill, now the present site of the Chicago and Connellsville coke works in South Union township, Fayette county, Penna, January 25, 1832. His father, Nathan Jefferis, was born on the Brandywide at a point known now as Jefferis Ford, Chester county, Penna, December 28, 1790. He was a miller by trade, came to Fayette county in 1800 and enlisted in the War of 1812 and 11815 near its close. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a whig in politics. In 1819 he married Mary Cloud, a daughter of Joel Cloud of Greene county, Penna. She was born July 16, 1799, and is still living, has remarkable memory and is now in the ninety first year of her age. She is the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are living: Elizabeth Jefferis, wife of W T Basser of Urbana, Ohio; Susannah Jefferis, wife of Harvey Coburn of Uniontown, Penna; Mary G Jefferis, whose first husband was Captain Jacob G Coburn of West Virginia, and after his death became the wife of James H Lewis of this county; Elias C Jefferis, now of Clayton county, Iowa; and Harvey C Jefferis. The grandfather, Elias Jefferis, was born about 1768 in Chester county, Penna, was a farmer and weaver and came to Fayette county in 1800. He married Elizabeth Woodward and had ten children. Harvey C Jefferis was married to Nancy Morre, a daughter of Evan Morre of South Union township, April 2, 1856, by Rev W F Hamilton of the Presbyterian church of Uniontown. To their union were born ten children: Mary Elizabeth Jefferis, born 12th of January, 1857; Evan Morre Jefferis, born January 1, 1859, married a daughter of Elijah Crossland; Susannah J Jefferis, born September 8, 1860, wife of Thomas E King; Elias Biddle Jefferis, born January 31, 1862; Hannah Morre Jefferis, born December 3, 1864, a teacher; Salina F Jefferis, born December 11, 1866, a graduate of Uniontown public schools and is a teacher; Blanche Jefferis, born December 21, 1868; John W Jefferis, born September 19, 1870; Mabel Jefferis, born October 26, 1872, died February 18, 1885; and Nancy Etta Jefferis, born November 2, 1877. Mr Jefferis is one of the highly respected and one of the substantial farmers of the county. Since 1852 he has been a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and is now one of the church's ruling elders. He has held several township offices and for twelve years served on the school board, is a republican in politics and voted for the prohibitory amendment to the State constitution in June, 1889. p353 TAYLOR JEFFRIES, one of Menallen township's reliable farmers, was born on the homestead farm, Menallen township, Fayette county, Penna, December 22, 1843, and is a son of Taylor Jeffries and Jane Buchanan Jeffries. His grandfather, Elias Jeffries, was born in Chester county, Penna; came to Menallen about 1800; and settled on the farm now owned by Taylor Jeffries. His wife was Elizabeth Woodward of Chester county, Penna. His father, Taylor Jeffries Sr, was born March 9, 1806, married Miss Jane Buchanan, daughter of Christopher Buchanan, a native of Ireland. He was a farmer of Menallen, where he died June 2, 1888. Taylor Jeffries was reared on the farm where he was born, and was educated in the common schools. One of his old teachers was Lewis Hess. Leaving school, he devoted himself to farming and has continued successfully in that business up to the present time. On February 13, 1873, he married Miss Martha Frederick, daughter of Samuel Frederick. Their union has been blessed with four children, of whom two are living: Taylor Jeffries Jr, born April 20, 1878, and Elmer W Jeffries, born February 24, 1881. Taylor Jeffries is a democrat; has served as central committee-man of his township; and cast his first vote for Seymour and Blair in 1868. He owns the old homestead farm, is deeply interested in whatever benefits farming, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of New Salem. p185 HENRY J JENNINGS, proprietor of the Jennings House, was born November 23, 1827, in Greene county, Penna, and was reared on a farm and attended the common schools. He remained on the farm till the age of eighteen years, when he went to learn the blacksmith's trade under James C Neal at Carmicheals, Greene county; and continued with him for three years and a half. In 1849 he started a shop for himself at Carmicheals, and worked at blacksmithing till 1857. In 1857 he engaged in keeping hotel, and for seventeen years ran a hotel at Carmicheals. I the spring of 1875 he came to Uniontown, and took the hotel he is now keeping-then known as the Seaton House-but the name was afterwards changed to the Jennings House. He was married in 1851 to Miss Caroline Hart, daughter of Levi Hart, a farmer of Greene county, who resided near Pierceville, Penna. He has two living children: Salome J Jennings and Mary Jennings. The former is the wife of James I Feathers of Uniontown. Henry J Jennings is a son of Jeremiah Jennings and Jane Ewart Jennings, natives of England and Ireland, respectively, and both came to America when quite small with their parents. Jeremiah Jennings was a carpenter by trade, and died at Carmicheals in 1834. Jane Jennings died in the spring of 1875 at the age of ninety three years. Mr Jennings has been quite a successful businessman. p553 THOMAS JOHNS is a son of Thomas Johns and Mary Ross Johns and was born December 30, 1830, in Greene county, Penna. Thomas Johns was one of the substantial farmers of that county. He left Greene county and removed to Illinois where he died in 1858. His wife was a daughter of Timothy Ross. Colonel Timothy Ross was a soldier in the War of 1812 at the close of which he returned to Pennsylvania. Jacob Johns, the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch and the founder of the Johns family in the United States, was a native of Wales. During the War of the Revolution he was forced to come to this country as a soldier in the British army. After his arrival here, he deserted the British at Philadelphia and joined Washington's army at Valley Forge; he was made lieutenant and fought bravely until the war successfully closed. Thomas Johns was educated in the subscription schools of Greene county and at Carmicheals Academy, and attended three years at the Academy completing the scientific course. In 1854 he went to Kansas where he remained eight years; while there he was in the Kansas border warfare and was personally acquainted with the famous John Brown, having slept with him under the same blanket. While in the west he acted as land agent with headquarters at Des Moines, Iowa. Leaving there he settled in Illinois and farmed for twenty years when he removed to Wheeling, West Virginia, and operated in coal in Ohio near the West Virginia line. He successfully continued at this for seven years when he came to Fayette county and took charge of W J Rainey's coal works at Moyer and has acted as superintendent of these works ever since. He was married to Sarah Rainey of Belmont county, Ohio, a daughter of William Rainey, December 29, 1875. He is a member of the Mystic Chain, No 84, at Moyer and is a member of the National Union. He is a democrat, and while living in Illinois was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of La Salle county. p552 ANDREW JOHNSON, a soldier in the late Civil War and a citizen of Springfield township, was born near Columbia, Washington County, Pa, January 25, 1844. He is a son of William and Margaret Davison Johnson, who were born respectively in Fayette and Westmoreland. His grandfather, Joseph Johnson, was a native of Maryland. Andrew Johnson was married October 21, 1865, to Nancy C Stricklin, a daughter of Jesse Stricklin of Perry township. To their marriage have been born sixteen children, of whom are living: Charles E Johnson, born March 31, 1870 at Brownsville, Fayette County; Frank Johnson, born November 20, 1872, in Washington County, Pa; William Johnson, born February 5, 1873; Margaret Johnson born March 8, 1877; Anna Johnson, born May 30, 1879; Lucretia Johnson, born May 18, 1881; Cynthia Johnson, born August 29, 1883; Andrew Johnson, born January 24, 1885; Eddie Johnson, born April 18, 1887; and Grover Cleveland Johnson, born May 15, 1889, all born in Springfield township, Fayette County, Pa. Mr Johnson enlisted as a soldier in the War of the Rebellion August 2, 1862; he was at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the battle of the latter place, he was severely wounded, July 2, 1863; and was finally discharged from the service April 16, 1865. Mr Johnson is a respected member and past officer of the I O of R M, Tribe No 260; member of K of P, Lodge No 310 in Belle Vernon, and also a member of the G A R, T Campbell Post, No 375, at Springfield. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Springfield, and is a democrat in politics. p506 NICHOLAS D JOHNSON of German and Scotch-Irish descent and one of the substantial farmers of Nicholson township, was born October 18, 1826, in the above-mentioned township, and is a son of Peter Johnson and Barbara Honsaker Johnson. His great grandfather Johnson was a native of Scotland. At the age of fourteen he sold several years of his time for "passage money" to a German coming to America. The German paid for his passage; both came to Eastern Pennsylvania, where the young emigrant served his time and afterwards married a daughter of his German friend. One of Johnson's sons, the father of Peter Johnson, came to what is now Nicholson township at an early day. Peter Johnson, father, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and was brought to Fayette county when two years of age. He became a prosperous farmer, owned a farm of 250 acres, and operated a foundry, a saw-mill and a grist mill. He was engaged in the mercantile business in Masontown for ten years. He married Miss Barbara Honsaker January 1, 1825. They had thirteen children, of whom nine are living. Mrs Johnson was born August 22, 1801, and is a devoted member of the Mennonite church. Peter Johnson was a whig and later a republican, served as school director, and filled several other township offices. His death occurred April 14, 1864. Nicholas D Johnson was employed on a farm at an early age, and received but limited education. January 25, 1855, he married Miss Catherine M Hayes, daughter of Micheal Hayes, a farmer of Westmoreland county. To this union were born seven children: Wilfred H Johnson, Susan H Johnson, Alice E Johnson, Sarah H Johnson, Emma Johnson, Henry H Johnson (dead), and Franklin F Johnson (dead). Mr Johnson rented land and farmed until 1865 when he came into possession of his father's farm where he now resides in a pleasant and comfortable home. He is a republican, has served as school director and inspector of elections. He is a member and deacon in the Mennonite church, to which his wife and four of his children belong. His family for four generations were also members of the same religious denomination. p602 FREDERICK JOHNSTON of Morgan's Station was a brave soldier during the late war, has been an extensive traveler, and is a remarkably good business man. He is a son of Thomas Johnston and Susan Grindle Johnston, and was born in Connellsville township, Fayette county, Penna, February 18, 1844. Thomas Johnston, father, is of German descent and a native of Somerset county, Penna. He came to Connellsville and engaged in farming, but soon moved to his present farm in Tyrone township. He is a republican and is in his sixty ninth year. His wife is a daughter of John Grindle, a Fayette county farmer. Mr Grindle moved to Kentucky, but soon removed to West Virginia where he died. Frederick Johnston was reared on a farm and attended the common schools until seventeen years of age. He then learned the trade of blacksmith, and a year later he was the first man to enlist in Company B, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Mr Johnston was mustered into the Federal service, September 18, 1862, and was mustered out of the same at Lynchburg, Virginia, June 26, 1865. He was at Chancellorsville, fought through the Wilderness, served with Phil Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and then was with Grant from Petersburg to Appomattox. He was one of those veterans who by hard fighting won for the Army of the Potomac its magnificent war record. After the war, Mr Johnston resumed work at his trade, and in 1868 he opened a shop at Morgan Station. He did a paying business until 1887 when he ceased working at his trade and engaged in his present general mercantile business. He has a good storeroom, carries a large and well assorted stock of notions, groceries, hardware and provisions, and enjoys a substantial and remunerative patronage. Mr Johnston has traveled in twenty one States and six Territories of the Union, and also in Canada. He is a Free Mason, a K of P and an Odd Fellow and Encampment Odd Fellow and G A R. He is a republican, and is a trustee, steward and class leader in the M E church. As a citizen and a business man, he stands well with the public. p552 JOSEPH F JOHNSTON, one of the enterprising young farmers and businessmen of Bullskin township, was born in the same township, Fayette County, Pa, September 18, 1861, and is a son of John R Johnston, and a grandson of Alexander Johnston. The latter was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. In an early day he came to the United States and settled at Connellsville, a strict Presbyterian, and was chiefly instrumental in building the first Presbyterian church at that place. John R Johnston was born at Connellsville, Pa, and died December 11, 1877, at Sandusky, Ohio. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Taylor, of New Haven. Joseph F Johnston was married to Miss Netta Lerch, of Easton, Pa, May 28, 1885. He received his rudimentary education in the schools of his native township, afterwards attended commercial college at Eastman (?Easton), Pa, and graduated in 1882. The farm where he now resides in Franklin township, contains 313 acres of well-improved land, underlaid with coal. The McClure Coke Company have a plant of some seventy ovens erected on his farm and are using his coal. The land also contains rich deposits of limestone and iron ore, and it is among the most valuable land in the county. Mr Johnston's mother died July 12, 1879, at her home in Bullskin township, at the age of fifty two years. p190 ROBERT JUNK is a prosperous farmer and estimable citizen of North Union township, where he was born February 12, 1818. He is the son of John Junk and Sarah Preston Junk. Thomas Junk was a native of Ireland where he married Elizabeth Small, and had five children: Thomas Junk, Robert Junk, James Junk, Mary Junk and Elizabeth Junk. Thomas Junk came from Ireland to New Jersey, and subsequently removed to North Union township. He married Miss Mary Preston, daughter of Samuel Preston, a farmer of Dunbar and a native of Ireland. Unto this union were born: James Junk (dead); Samuel Junk (dead); Thomas Junk (dead); Robert Junk; Mary Junk; Eliza Junk; Margaret Junk (dead); and Sarah J Junk. John Junk was engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1869. Robert Junk was educated in the subscription schools of his township. Leaving school he engaged in farming and stock raising on the same farm he now owns in North Union township. He was married March 10, 1857, to Miss Rebecca Jane Humbert, daughter of Peter Humbert. To their union were born six children: John S Junk; Louisa Junk, wife of Albert Bryson, a farmer in North Union township; Mary Eliza Junk, wife of J J Dixon, also a North Union farmer; Annie Junk, Sarah Junk and Catherine Junk. Mr Junk has devoted his time and attention for years to farm and stock raising. In politics he takes a considerable interest and is a prohibitionist. A law-abiding and order-loving citizen, he is interested in whatever benefits his township. His family are all members of the United Presbyterian church at Laurel Hill. His farm has been in possession of the Junk family for over 113 years. K SURNAMES p186 Hon DANIEL KAINE (deceased). Rising from an obscure position to a prominent station in life by sheer force of will, Daniel Kaine is presented as one of a distinguished class of men of intellect and indomitable will, who not only deserve but who win it. He was born December 10, 1811, at Lebanon, Penna, and was the son of Daniel Kane and Nancy Little Kane (the subject of this sketch changed the spelling from Kane to Kaine), both natives of Ireland, and were raised near the Giant's Causeway. Daniel Kane Sr was a revolutionist in the rebellion of 1797 that sought to free Ireland and was, for that reason, driven out of his native country. He came to Philadelphia, and thence he removed to Cornwall Iron Works, Lancaster county, Penna. Barely escaping with his life from Ireland, he was poor and accepted the first work that was offered him and became a collier. He died in 1817, leaving his wife with several children, one of whom was Daniel Kaine, who came to Connellsville in 1820. He learned the shoemaking trade under Joseph Herbert; after learning the trade he soon abandoned it, and engaged for a short time as a clerk in a store. He next engaged in the furnace business at Finley or Break Neck Furnace, and by the time he became well versed in the business, the company was dissolved. He was a great student and acquired a good knowledge of French, Latin and Greek, learning without a teacher while on the shoe bench in the store and at the furnace. Daniel Kaine began to read law with General Joshua B Howell in 1839, and was admitted to the Fayette county bar March 18, 1842. His political career commenced in 1837 when he was elected clerk of the State senate. Afterwards, in 1842 he was elected prothonotary of Fayette county. Near the close of his term of four years, he was re-elected and served until 1850. In 1850 he was a candidate for the democratic nomination for congress in the congressional district then composed of the counties of Fayette, Greene and Washington. He ran against the Hon John L Dawson and was unsuccessful. In 1861 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, and was made chairman of the judiciary committee over such talented and eminent lawyers as Charles R Buckalew and James Hopkins. Daniel Kaine was considered the finest lawyer in the house, was an active member, and an acknowledged leader. In 1863 he was chairman of the investigating committee which considered the case of Hon Simon Cameron, charged with bribing members of the Pennsylvania legislature to secure his election to the United States Senate. Daniel Kaine was a candidate for president judge of this judicial district in 1865, but was defeated. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention of 1872, served as chairman of the judiciary committee; and in this body his services were both conspicuous and useful. In 1874 he was a candidate for lieutenant governor of the State but was defeated in the convention assembled at Pittsburgh. In all these positions Mr Kaine discharged his duties in a manner that was alike creditable to himself and his constituents. It may be truly said of him that in whatever position he was placed, whether in the legislative halls, in the constitutional conventions or in educational and councilmanic deliberations, he labored assiduously to advance the interests and elevate the condition of the people whom he served and represented. To the public spirit, energy and perseverance of Mr Kaine probably more than any other man, the citizens of Uniontown are indebted for one of the finest public school buildings and one of the best public schools in Western Pennsylvania. He always manifested a deep interest in the general welfare and prosperity of his adopted town, and ever took a leading part in every movement inaugurated for its improvement. His attainments as a legal counselor and attorney at law are well known and acknowledged, not only in this county where he practiced for over forty years, but also in other counties as well as in the higher courts to which his practice extended. He practiced law from 1850 to 1861, acquiring a large and lucrative practice, and applying the most of its proceeds to paying the debts of those whose paper he had previously indorsed. From 1861 to the time of his death in 1886, he acquired a large competency from his extensive law practice. He was married in 1842 to Eliza Jane Irwin, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia (then Virginia). He had seven children, three living and four dead: George B Kaine, Charles Kaine and Lyman P Kaine, living; William Kaine, Mary Kaine, Katie Kaine and Elisha Kenty Kaine, deceased. Daniel Kaine died in 1886 in Uniontown, Penna, aged seventy four. His life was one of activity and event. He was a self-made man; he enjoyed none of the educational advantages of the present era, nevertheless he was a man of scholarly attainments, a student of industry and research, the hewer out of his own fortune and the honest architect of his own fame. p353 CHRISTIAN KECK, a successful merchant at Everson, was born at Liderengin, Sulc county, Wurtemberg, Germany, September 13, 1837, and is a son of Christian Keck and Rosina Swartz Keck, the former a farmer and weaver who came to Westmoreland county in 1867, and died October 10, 1881, aged seventy five years; the latter died in Germany in 1855 aged forty six years. Christian Keck was a farmer's son and enjoyed for eight years the privileges of the fine system of the German primary schools and at intervals he worked on the farm. He emigrated to the United States in 1865, landing in New York, November 29th, locating at Paintersville in Westmoreland county December 3rd of the same year. he engaged in salt boiling until April 12, 1870, when he removed to Morgan Station, Fayette county, and worked at the coke works of the Morgan mines for Colonel Sydney Morgan and H C Frick until August 12, 1878, and then entered the service of Keister and Cochran at the Summit mines, remaining with them until February, 1879, when he took sick and was rendered unfit for labor during the remainder of that year. In 1880 he engaged in the grocery business at Scottdale but in the following year came to Everson and engaged in the general mercantile business at which he has continued successfully up to the present time. He owns his store room and residence and has built up a splendid trade. On October 16, 1866, he was married to Miss Annie Hunker, a native of Germany. They have three children: Annie U Keck; Christian M Keck, clerk for his uncle Leonard Keck at Greensburg; and Fred L Keck. He has two brothers in the mercantile business; Leonard Keck, the proprietor of four stores in Greensburg; and J M Keck, located at Kecksburg, Westmoreland county, Penna. Christian Keck is an ardent democrat and is always interested in the success of that party. He is a consistent member of the German Lutheran church and by his honest, energetic and persistent labor, has made his business life a success. p553 ALEXANDER B KEFFER, carpenter and prominent contractor of Bullskin township, was born in the same township, Fayette county, Penna, June 30, 1846. He received only the advantages of a common school education in his native township. Leaving school he engaged in coal mining and was partly instrumental in the building of the coke ovens in the coke regions of Connellsville. He left the mining business and went to the carpenter's trade; he is now engaged at his trade and is a contractor for building houses. His wife was Sarah Walford of Maryland to whom he was married September 19, 1864. She at the time resided in Bullskin township. To their union have been born ten children, eight of whom are living: Eliza Keffer, born July 1, 1865, she is the wife of Benjamin Breakiron of the same township; Charles Keffer, born September 4, 1868 in Bullskin township; Mary Keffer, born February 15, 1870, in the same township; Albert Keffer, May 30, 1875, in the same township; Harry Keffer, born September 8, 1881 in the same township; Roy Keffer, born September 24, 1883, in Bullskin township; and Dora Keffer, born July 22, 1885, in Bullskin township. Alexander B Keffer is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men of the J O of A M Lodge No 166 at Moyer. He is a democrat in politics and supported the prohibitory amendment to the constitution of 1889. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men Moyer Tribe, and is a member of the J O of A M, Moyer Council, No 166. His son Charles Keffer is also a member of the same council. p442 SNYDER S KELLY was born April 25, 1842, in South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Penna. His grandfather, Charles Kelly, was a native of Ireland and came to this county at the beginning of the present century. His paternal grandmother came from Scotland in about 1802 at the age of seven years. They had the following children: Samuel Kelly, a contractor on the National Pike during its construction; James B Kelly; William Kelly; John Kelly; Jane Kelly, Dorcas Kelly and Louisa Kelly. James B Kelly, father, was born in 1812 in Westmoreland county, Penna. He married Christina Lowe, daughter of George and Mary Lowe, both born in Pennsylvania and were of German descent. His first work was on the Kiskemmeta canal of Pennsylvania, afterward went to Somerset county and learned the trade of blacksmith, returned to Westmoreland county and was in business there till quite recently when he retired from labor and lives in South Huntingdon township. The children of this union were: George L Kelly; Charles C Kelly; Snyder S Kelly; John W Kelly; Emmeline Kelly, deceased; Mary J Kelly; Franklin P Kelly; and Melissa E Kelly. Snyder S Kelly was educated in the public schools and at the Mount Pleasant Institute. He taught school in South Huntingdon township three terms, two terms in Beaver county, and three terms in West Virginia. He went to the oil fields of Kenawha Valley in West Virginia in 1863 and remained there until 1868. In 1878 he came to Dunbar and engaged in the jewelry business in which he is at present engaged. Mr Kelly was married to Chelsie Frantz, daughter of Thomas Frantz of Selbysport, Garret county, Maryland. He married a second time, Maria W Mather of Trenton, New Jersey. He has five children: William E Kelly; James E Kelly; Cora V Kelly; Lucy E Kelly; and Buma C Kelly. Charles C Kelly, brother of Mr Kelly, served in the Civil War for three years in the One Hundred and Forty second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Mr Kelly is a member of the Knights of Pythias, was elected justice of the peace of Dunbar in 1886, and is the present incumbent in that office. p354 JOHN W KENNEDY, the popular proprietor of the leading house at Everson, is a son of John Kennedy and Julia Leaky Kennedy and was born in Wales, June 29, 1858. John Kennedy of Limerick, Ireland, married Julia Leaky of Cork and removed to Wales. From there he emigrated in 1866 to Huntingdon county, Penna, where he remained for twelve years. In 1878 he removed to Upper Tyrone township and located at Everson, his present place of residence. John W Kennedy came with his parents to Huntingdon county, Penna, where he received a good education in the schools of that county. In May, 1881, he engaged in the hotel business at Everson. In two years his patronage became so large as to necessitate larger buildings than he possessed for the accommodation of the traveling public and in order to meet this want he erected his present fine hotel in 1883. This hotel is located at the corner of Brown and Railroad Streets and is the finest and best equipped house of the kind at Everson. It is a large three story brick structure containing twenty five rooms neatly fitted and well furnished. It is perfect and complete in every particular, provided with all modern conveniences, including an ice house conveniently near, and so arranged and conducted as to fully meet every want of the traveling public. In addition to the erection of his hotel, he has built two large three story double tenement houses, one of brick and the other a frame. He owns the square upon which his hotel stands, together with sixteen of the finest building lots on the town. In November, 1882, he was married to Miss Ella O'Conner of Connellsville. They have three children: Robert Kennedy; Margaret Kennedy; and Mary Kennedy. J W Kennedy is a democrat. He is a member of the Catholic church and is one of the stirring, enterprising citizens of northern Fayette county. Mr Kennedy is in the early prime of life and is destined to hold a prominent position for years to come in the business of his adopted town. p189 ROBERT PLAYFORD KENNEDY is one of the most dashing and brilliant attorneys of Fayette county or indeed of Pennsylvania herself; and as a criminal lawyer is without a peer among the younger attorneys of the State in his consummate skill and admirable tact in preparing and presenting a case to a jury. He is truly a fit representative of the professional young men of the day whose future is bright before them. He is of Scotch Irish and English extraction and was born at Brownsville, Fayette county, Pena, August 14, 1856. His father, the Rev Dr David Kennedy, is a native of Paisley, Scotland, educated broad and received his collegiate and theological degrees in Scotland and Ireland. He came to this country when a young man and while living in Philadelphia studied medicine and was graduated at Jefferson Medical College. Dr Kennedy married Miss Caroline Playford, a daughter of Dr Robert W Playford, the latter a native of London, England, a graduate of Oxford University, and for many years one of the most successful and able physicians of Western Pennsylvania. Robert P Kennedy was reared at Brownsville at the home of his grandparents and received his rudimentary education in the schools of his native town. He became, as it were, one of his grandfather's family and after the death of Dr Playford in 1867, continued to make his home with his grandmother, Mrs Margaret A Playford, until he came to Uniontown in 1878 to finish his legal studies. In 1873 he entered Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Penna, and for two years stood at the head of his classes when he left and went to Lafayette College, Easton, Penna, where he graduated in 1877, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later he had the honorary degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him by the same institution. He read law at Uniontown with his uncle, the Hon William H Playford, one of the ablest and most eloquent jurists of the day; was admitted to the Fayette county bar in 1879 and immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession. One the retirement virtually of Mr Playford from professional work in 1883, Mr Kennedy succeeded to much of his large and remunerative clientage and of late years has been prominently identified with many of the most important cases tried in the county. His practice is not confined to the courts of Fayette alone, but in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as in counties adjacent to Fayette and other points in the State. He has successfully engaged in the trial or argument of causes and whenever heard is recognized as one of the brightest exponents of his profession. At home he has a large civil and criminal practice and in the latter branch of the law may be safely said to be without superior in Fayette county where he has the largest criminal practice of any attorney at the bar. He has often defended with astonishing success, men and women who have had testimony submitted against them that seemed to warrant their conviction. On August 14, 1883, Mr Kennedy was married at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, to Miss Ratie C O'Neil, a daughter of Captain W W O'Neil, a prominent businessman of Pittsburgh and the president of the Marine Bank there. They have three children: O'Neil Kennedy; Harold Kennedy; and Ralph Kennedy. In stature Mr Kennedy is tall and commanding; of mind he is broad and liberal; by temperament he is genial, quick and sympathetic, which infused into his clear cut, forcible and eloquent addresses gives him great influence and power over his hearers. Sanguine and cheerful, free and unselfish, he is at once attractive and engaging. As an advocate he wins a case by careful and searching examination of witnesses, followed by an earnest and masterly presentation of their testimony in his argument to the jury. His future is bright for continued honors in his chosen profession. p191 JOSEPH HENRY KERR, the efficient, gentlemanly and accommodating cashier of the "Peoples Bank of Fayette County" was born at Mansfield, Allegheny county, Penna, December 13, 1853, and is a son of Rev R M Kerr and Margaret A McKaig Kerr. Joseph H Kerr is a lineal descendant of Sir Walter Kerr who fled from Ireland to the United States on account of religious persecution. At fifteen years of age, Joseph H Kerr entered a bank at Ebensburgh, Penna, where he remained for three years. Leaving the bank he attended the graded schools of New Castle and Mercer and in February, 1878, entered the banking house of Burd & McClure of Mercer, Penna, with which he was connected for about three years. June 11, 1877, he was elected as cashier of Clintonville Bank and served acceptably until June 15, 1887, when he resigned to accept his present position as cashier of the "Peoples Bank of Fayette County." Its president is James A Searight and teller T J Kerr, the latter a brother of the subject of this sketch. September 14, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice I E Van Name of Mercer, Penna. They have three children: Lu Estelle Kerr; Alice Josephine Kerr; and Joseph Henry Kerr. Joseph H Kerr is a member of the Presbyterian church and is treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Knights and Ladies of Honor. Mr Kerr is a good cashier and is well qualified for that important position by natural abilities, years of experience, and a special aptitude for banking pursuits. p354 FRANK KESSLER, one of Belle Vernon's industrious citizens and a faithful soldier in the late war, was born in Allegheny county, Penna, March 12, 1838. He is a son of John Kessler and Lavinia McClain Kessler. John Kessler was born in Westmoreland county, and died in about 1848. He married Miss Lovence McClain, daughter of Samuel McClain, of German descent and was a soldier in the War of 1812. John Kessler was of Swiss extraction and his father was a native of Lancaster county, Penna. When Frank Kessler was ten years of age, both of his parents died, and he was taken and reared by his grandfather, Samuel McClain. Frank Kessler was educated in the common schools; at nineteen years of age he engaged with George Whiting to learn the carpenter's trade. After remaining for some time with his trade, he enlisted in 1861 for three months in Company D, First Virginia (afterwards West Virginia) Cavalry. At the expiration of his three month term he re-enlisted and entered the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers. He was with his regiment in all its battles, and was with Sherman on his "March to the Sea" and with him in his Atlanta campaign. He was discharged in August, 1865. He was married in 1862 to Miss Eliza, daughter of Kinney Harris and Rachel Burgar Harris, the former a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a son of Daniel Burgan, a Revolutionary soldier, who was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, the latter was born in Westmoreland county. Mr and Mrs Kessler are the parents of four children: Mary E, Samuel A (died in infancy), Florence L and Harry Lee. Mr Kessler located in North Belle Vernon, where he engaged in carpentering and boat-building, and in this business he is at present engaged. He has held all the offices of the borough, and discharged their duties in a very satisfactory manner. p282 IRA H KEYSER was born in Greene county, Penna, July 13, 1827, of German and Irish parentage, he is a son of John Keyser and Sarah Dilliner Keyser. His father was a native of Fayette county, Penna and born in 1802. He was educated in the subscription schools of his day when there were but three months in the year taught. He early manifested a disposition for the mechanical arts and learned the millwright trade, possessing naturally a fine mathematical mind which peculiarly fitted him for the intricate duties of the profession of his choice. He was taciturn and unobtrusive in disposition and manner, strictly honest and conscientious in his dealings which marked characteristics, together with his acknowledged ability as an artisan, commanded all the principal contracts in his line within the wide range of his acquaintance. He erected an elegant mansion on Cheat River at the point known then as McFarland's Ford. His wife, Sarah Dilliner, was a daughter of George Dilliner, one of the early settlers of Greene county, who heard the war whoop of the savage and battled with the forces of nature in preparing the earth to yield her bounties for man's subsistence. He pre-empted a large tract of land on the Monongahela River and by industry and frugality amassed a considerable fortune. Mrs Keyser died in September, 1841, leaving but one child, the subject of this sketch. John Keyser remained a widower several years then married Miss Esther Gans, an estimable and accomplished woman. Of this union four children were born, two sons and two daughters. After the children were grown to man and womanhood, they went West and settled near Bloomington, Illinois. The mother, true to her maternal instincts, wanted to be with her children and induced her husband to leave the home he had built with his own skillful hands for the new and untried society of strangers, much against his will. He lived but a short time after going West. He died in the winter of 1874. Ira H Keyser was educated in the common schools. He inherited in an eminent degree the leading traits in his father's character and learned the same trade. At the age of nineteen, he was so proficient and skillful in his profession that his father entrusted him with the superintendency of all his mill contracts. Before arriving at his majority, he took the contract for building two large grist mills in the State of Illinois, for a man by the name of Baily who reposed so much confidence in him that he gave him $500 and instructed him to go to Pittsburgh, Penna, to purchase the necessary machinery for the mills. After completing the mills, he returned to his native county. He was married to Miss Hannah E Morris, April 5th, 1852. Of this union there were born seven children, three sons and four daughters: Louisa Keyser; Alva Keyser; Mary Keyser; Alice Keyser; William Keyser; Ida Keyser, and John Keyser. The sons are all dead; the daughters are all living, two of whom are married. Mr Keyser continued actively engaged in his profession until 1866 when Ambrose Dilliner, A D Frankenberry, B R Crow, and he entered into a co-partnership in the saw mill, planing mill and lumber business in Point Marion. Dilliner and Crow dissolved their connection with the company a few years ago, and the business which is very extensive and lucrative is carried on by Keyser & Frankenberry. Mr Keyser lives in the old homestead, which is a beautiful and picturesque place. Every summer the mansion is crowded with city boarders. He owns one hundred acres of land, lives comfortably and enjoys in the fullest sense, the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr Keyser is a member of the Disciple congregation at Point Marion and takes a lively interest in all religious movements. Ira H Keyser is an excellent civil engineer and draughtsman, and one of the best mechanics in the country. p460 WORTH KILPATRICK, one of the leading operators in the manufacture of fire brick in Fayette county, is a son of John P Kilpatrick and Mary Marietta Kilpatrick and was born in Connellsville, March 31, 1847. Thomas Kilpatrick, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from New Jersey to Connellsville in about 1795. He married Elizabeth Barnhart, a native of Lancaster, Penna. At about fourteen years old she left her home in Lancaster and walked across the mountains to Connellsville where one of her brothers, John Barnhart, resided. John P Kilpatrick, father, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Kilpatrick and was born at Connellsville, October 5, 1821. He enlisted in January, 1847, in Company H Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers and served till the close of the Mexican War, received no wound, and for his bravery in the field was elected lieutenant of his company. He was with General Scott at the battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Chapultepec, Belen Gate, City of Mexico and at other important engagements. He returned home and engaged in the manufacture of fire brick at which he continued successfully up to 1873. The panic of that year caused him to fail in business and has since acted as manager of the same works. In 1846 he was married to Mary Marietta, daughter of George Marietta of Connellsville. To them were born eleven children, of whom eight are living. Samuel Kilpatrick, one of the sons, was born at Connellsville, is an artist and paints portraits from life. His education was received at the New York schools of art and later at Paris where he prosecuted his art under the great artists of France. He is now engaged in his profession in Pittsburgh. John P Kilpatrick was elected county commissioner of Fayette county in about 1876 and was elected to the office of justice of the peace in 1886 for the borough of Connellsville but did not serve. He has served several terms as a member of the Connellsville council. Worth Kilpatrick attended the public schools of his native town till the age of fifteen ears when he went to the carpenter's trade and is now an extensive contractor and builder. In 1879 he with Joseph Soisson as partner began the manufacture of fire brick under the firm name of Siosson [sic] & Kilpatrick, and the name has since been changed to Siosson, Kilpatrick & Co. They run four plants in making fire brick, one at Connellsville, one at Moyer, one at White Rock and one at Braddock, employ about two hundred hands and make from ten to twelve million brick per year. Mr Kilpatrick also owns a half interest in the New Haven Red Brick Works which is operated under the firm name of James Stafford & Co. He is director of the Connellsville Flint Glass Co which runs a ten pot furnace. He has served one term in council of Connellsville. He has passed through all the chairs of K of P, I O O F and was district deputy of the former order for one year. As deputy he organized lodges at Belle Vernon and Brownsville. On June 11, 1884, he was married to Miss Christie Kurtz, daughter of Josiah Kurtz, an old and well-known citizen of Connellsville. They have three children: George Kilpatrick; Nell Killpatrick; and Paul Kilpatrick. Mr Kilpatrick is one of the live and successful young businessmen of the county. p 192 JOHN H KING, an "Old Pike" wagoner and well-to-do farmer of South Union township, is a son of Upton King and Polly Bates King, and was born on what is now the Colley farm in Menallen township, Fayette county, Pa, May 8, 1820. Upton King was born near Georgetown, Maryland, October 11, 1797, and came to Fayette county about 1817, where he lived for many years on the Miller farm. For a long time he was a contractor on the "Old Pike." His wife was Polly Bates, born about 1797 or 1798. They had seven children. John H King, on leaving home engaged in wagoning on the "Old Pike," a business he pursued for several years. His next employment was in the coal trade, in which he continued for some time. In 1859 he purchased his present farm of fifty acres in South Union township, and since then has given his time to its improvement and cultivation. In 1844 he married Miss Nancy Byers, daughter of John Byers and Catherine Grier Byers of Menallen township. Mr and Mrs King have six children: Ann Eliza King, born April 1, 1844 died May 7, 1862; Sarah M King, May 27, 1849, wife of Johnson Roderick; Charles W King, September 17, 1852, married Sarah A, daughter of John Williams; Darlington J King, October 27, 1854, married Mary Hess; Thomas E King, August 4, 1859, married Jennie Jeffries, and John A King, September 12, 1862. John H King and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Uniontown. He has been all his life an active and hard working man. p355 NATHANIEL KING, one of Upper Tyrone's worthy farmers and good citizens is a son of David King and Eliza Graft King, born in Milford township, Somerset county, Penna, Mary 23. 1838. Samuel King, grandfather, was born in Schuylkill county, was a wagon maker by trade, removed in 1844 to Athens county, Ohio, where he bought a farm and died in the ninety first year of his age. David King, father, was a native of Somerset county, removed to Upper Tyrone township in 1852, engaged as a day laborer and died in 1870, at sixty two years of age. His widow, a very active old lady, is living at seventy five years of age. She is a member of the United Brethren church, Her father, John Graft, was a tailor by trade, and removed to Westmoreland county where he died in 1855 at sixty years of age. Nathan King came to Tyrone township at nine years of age, where he received a good farm training and a practical common school education. He was engaged in farming up till 1862, when he enlisted in Company B (sharpshooters), Seventy seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was wounded in his left hand at the Battle of Liberty Gap. He fought under Sherman in Georgia, marched with Stanley after Hood, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. After the war, Mr King engaged in farming on shares until 1881 when he purchased his present farm, one mile south of Scottdale, containing 117 acres of well-improved good farming land. It is bounded by three public roads, and underlaid with the Connellsville vein of coking coal. He was first married in 1862; his wife died in 1869, leaving two children: Norman King and William King. In 1870 he married Miss Rachel, daughter of Jacob Ridenour. Unto this second union, twelve children have been born, of whom ten are living: Jefferson King, Nelson King, Rogers King, Mitchel King, Blanche King, Carrie King, Laura King, Kate King, Allen King, and Wade King. Nathaniel King is a democrat, has been tax collector, and has served twelve years as school director. He is a member of the United Brethren church, a good farmer, and stands well as a citizen wherever he is known. p191 THOMAS J KING was born November 25, 1822, at Connellsville, Fayette county, Penna. He remained at home till the age of fourteen years and attended the public schools. At fourteen years of age he came to Uniontown and engaged to work for W L Stockton, proprietor of the blacksmith shops of the old stage yard. As Mr King's father was a blacksmith, Thomas G King almost grew up in the shop and naturally became an expert in a knowledge of tools and their use. He continued to work for the stage company as long as they ran on the road. He was one of the men who ironed the stage which General W H Harrison and family rode in from Wheeling to Cumberland on Harrison's trip to Washington just previous to his inauguration as president. Mr King went into business for himself long before the stage line went out of existence, but the stage men followed him up, however, and had him do their work. He was working for the stage company when the great Dr Bradley stage or mail robberies were committed at Uniontown. Mr King has continued here ever since, has a large trade and has accumulated considerable property. In 1855 he was married to Miss Emily Marietta of Connellsville and five children have been born to them, three boys and two girls: Jennie King; Ida King; Frank King; Edward King; and Thomas King. Mr King is a member of the Masons, of Fort Necessity Lodge No 254, of Odd Fellows; of the latter he became a member in 1847. During the war he did all he could in raising recruits for the Union service at Uniontown. His parents were Charles King and Phebe White King. His father was a native of New Jersey and came to this county to assist in starting a nail mill for a company below Connellsville, the first factory of the kind started in this section of the country. He was so pleased with the new country that he never returned east to live. He died at his home in Uniontown in 1865 at the age of seventy four. His wife died of cholera in 1852. p192 JOHN KIRK, although a son of Scotland, yet so intimately has he identified himself with the development of Fayette county that she claims him by right of adoption. He was born at Barrwick, Scotland, January 24, 1845, and is a son of John and Agnes Kirk, both natives of Scotland. John Kirk (father) was born at Dumfires, in the Midlands of Scotland and was a miner by occupation. In politics he was a chartist, in religion a Catholic, and was a man of sterling worth and integrity. He came to the United States in 1862 and located in Westmoreland county, Penna, where he remained till 1871, locating at Dunbar, in the same year, where he died in 1875. Agnes Kirk was born in the Highlands of Scotland, and died at Dunbar in 1878. She was originally a Protestant, but became a Catholic after marriage. Their children consisted of three sons: James Kirk, Peter Kirk and John Kirk. James was a soldier in the English army; Peter was a private of Company H, One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the late war, volunteered in 1863, served till the war ended, and died six months afterward and died six months afterward. John Kirk, whose name heads this sketch, at the age of four years with his parents, emigrated to Northumberland county, England, lived there until 1862, when he with his parents came to the United States. At the age of nineteen he entered the Union army as a private in Battery K, Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, which belonged to Uniontown, and was commanded by Captain Amzi Fuller. He was discharged from the service in February, 1866, at camp Cadwallader at Philadelphia, returning to Westmoreland county, he began mining and continued to reside there until 1869, when he moved to Dunbar and took a contract with the Dunbar Furnace Company, to mine iron ore. He continued there till 1871, when he went to California, Nevada, Arizona, and spent about five years on the Pacific slope. In 1875 he returned to Dunbar, and was principally employed in mining ore for the same company. In 1887 he was elected county commissioner on the republican ticket and is now filling that office. He was married in 1875 to Miss Celia Quinn, a native of Limerick, Ireland, and has six living children: Agnes M Kirk, Catherine Kirk, Lucy Kirk, Della Kirk, James E Kirk (dead), Mary Kirk, and Jane Kirk. John Kirk's early education was of a limited character, attended school only a short time while he resided in England. But he has read and studied all of his life, and is now much above the average man in information obtained from books, and extensive travel. He displays ability in the administration of the county business, going to the bottom of each case as presented to the board, and by his strict honesty and close attention to business is discharging the duties of his office acceptably to everybody. p355 JAMES P KREPPS was born at Fayette City, Pa, July 23, 1846. His parents were William Krepps and Sophia Bortner Krepps. James P Krepps is able to trace his paternal ancestors back to Joshua Ludwig Krepps, his paternal great grandfather, born January, 1718, died in York county, Pa, in 1784. Jeremiah Krepps, his paternal grandfather, was born May 26, 1775. William Krepps, his father, was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, December 27, 1799, and died August 10, 1866. He married Sophia, daughter of Philip Bortner, the latter a son of a Revolutionary soldier. William Krepps' children are named and born respectively: Martha M Krepps, December 8, 1833, lives in De Kalb county, Indiana; Anna C Krepps, August 26, 1835, lives in Allegheny county; Mary M Krepps, February 23, 1837; Sarah E Krepps, born November 27, 1838; William B Krepps, July 26, 1841, died January 28, 1842; Sophia C Krepps, October 2, 1843, lives in Allegheny county; James P Krepps; Ellen B Krepps, January 16, 1849; Aaron B Krepps, November 18, 1851; Edna J Krepps, March 8, 1854, died January 1, 1855. James P Krepps was educated in the common schools; at twenty years of age he engaged in operating a sawmill, and has continued in the same business ever since, excepting one year spent as a carpenter in Indiana. He operates the only sawmill in Fayette City. He was united in marriage on his twenty sixth birthday to Miss Tillie, daughter of William Valentine, a native of Philadelphia and a hatter by trade. Three children were born to this union: William A Krepps, Martha S Krepps, and Frank Krepps. Mrs Krepps died in 1881. Mr Krepps on December 25, 1888, was married to his second wife, Miss Nancy J Masten, daughter of Levi Masten and Elizabeth Snider Masten, the former a native of Fayette county and the latter of Westmoreland county. Mr Krepps is an industrious citizen and one of the businessmen of Fayette county. He is a member of I O O F, R A E A U, and Order of Solan. p356 NICHOLAS KROMER, the popular proprietor of the Kromer House at Everson is a son of Jacob Kromer and Catherine Morth Kromer, and was born in France in 1839. Jacob Kromer is a native of Lorrintz, France. He was a farmer, emigrating to America and settled at Baltimore. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is in the seventy seventh year of his age. His wife, of the same nativity and religion as himself, died in 1889 aged seventy two years. Nicholas Kromer was raised in Lorrintz, educated in the French schools, and emigrated to Connellsville where he mined coal for seven years. Leaving that business he learned photography, in which he was successfully engaged until 1885, when he removed to Everson and engaged in the hotel business. In 1865 he married Miss Katie Wybell, a native of France. They have six children: Katie Kromer married Nicholas Kaff, a blacksmith of Scottdale; Jacob Kromer; Harry Kromer; Charlie Kromer; Lizzie Kromer; and Philip Kromer. He belongs to the Uniformed Rank of the K of P; Red Men and K M C. He owns a good house in Connellsville, besides several other buildings and a hotel. He is a democrat and is a member of the German Lutheran church. p461 JOHN KURTZ at a very early date settled in Somerset county, Penna, where for many years he was an honored and highly respected citizen. He served as associate judge of that county and was a member of the legislature from that district. He was a strong admirer of President Jackson, but his veto of the United States Bank measure changed him to a whig. At one time of his life he was a strong anti-Mason. He was married to Christina Dively of Somerset county, who as well as her husband lived to a ripe old age. Of twelve children born to them but two now survive: Josiah Kurtz of Connellsville: and Mrs Kate Walter of Somerset county. Josiah Kurtz was born in the borough of Somerset, Pennsylvania, in October, 1801. He attended the ordinary pay schools of that day and received a very good education, excelling in arithmetic and writing. He learned the hatting business with his father and worked with him at home until he was about twenty four years of age when he located at Connellsville. In about one year he returned to Somerset county, married Elizabeth Reisinger of Somerset, and with his young wife he returned to Connellsville where he has since resided. For fifty years he annually visited Somerset with his wife and children making the trip overland across the mountains. He made hats at Connellsville until about 1860, setting his own kettles, making his own hat blocks and everything needed in his business. He also made silk hats without teacher or instructions from anyone and for years sold nearly all the hats within five miles of Connellsville as well as to many of the surrounding counties. He frequently took a boatload of hats, paper, plows, hat bodies, etc, down the river as far as Cincinnati and Louisville. He made large quantities of woolen hats in the winter season and sold them at wholesale to Pittsburgh merchants who sent them south for use of slaves. He dealt extensively in furs, both foreign and domestic. In about 1860 he gave his hat business over to his son John Kurtz and engaged in the mercantile business with Henry Shaw; the firm was Shaw & Kurtz. In a few years their safe, containing several thousand dollars, was blown open and robbed. This so crippled the firm it shortly afterwards dissolved. The firm of Kurtz & Sons was then formed and began a general mercantile business. Mr Kurtz was burgess of Connellsville and served two terms more than fifty years ago. He was frequently made executor, administrator, assignee and settled many estates. He served as justice of the peace for two terms 1856 to 1866. He was appointed notary public by Gov Pollock but refused to accept his commission. For many years he was a school director and a member of the town council. He voted for Jackson but later became a whig for reasons above mentioned. He was all his life a leading temperance man and belonged to the "Total Abstinence Society" formed at Connellsville but he was never a member of any secret order. In religion he was originally a Lutheran but there being no Lutheran church at Connellsville, he united with the Protestant Methodist church. Four of his sons were volunteer soldiers in the Civil War and a fifth son was drafted but he paid the required amount and did not go into the army. One of his sons was supposed to have been killed at the battle of Fredericksburg as he was never seen or heard of afterwards and in his honor the William Kurtz Post, G A R of Connellsville was named. Of the immediate Kurtz family there have been no natural deaths and of the surviving five sons and four daughters, except William Kurtz lost in battle, all live at Connellsville except Mary Kurtz who resides at Pruntytown, Virginia. Joseph M Kurtz is the cashier of the First National Bank at Connellsville; Henry Kurtz is a member of the firm Kurtz & Freed, engaged in the mercantile business; Samuel Kurtz is engaged in the tinning business; Ellen Kurtz in the millinery business, member of the firm of Porter & Kurtz; Christie Kurtz is married to Worth Kilpatrick; Caroline Kurtz is the wife of J D Stillwagon. Josiah Kurtz has eighteen grandchildren and one great grandchild living. John Kurtz, the eldest son, was born at Connellsville, October, 1826. He attended the public schools of his native town and later learned the hatting business but never followed it to any great extent. He afterwards engaged in the general sale of hats, a business he has followed ever since. For sixteen years he has been notary public and was burgess of Connellsville just fifty years after his father filled the same office. He has belonged to the Odd Fellows for forty years and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of which he has been a trustee for seven years and is now treasurer of the board of trustees. He enlisted for one year in Company C Sixth Heavy Artillery, Two Hundred and Twelfth Regiment, but the war closed nine months after his enlistment. As his company was not called into active service, he principally did guard duty. In 1850 he was married to Kate Keepers, daughter of Joseph Keepers of New Haven. To their union have been born five children: the eldest son, J B Kurtz is a member of the firm Kurtz & Freed; the second son, Isaac W Kurtz, is a locomotive engineer and master mechanic on Lake Erie & Western railroad and resides at Peru, Indiana; the third son, J C Kurtz, is a cashier of the Yough Bank; the fourth son, Harry L Kurtz, is assistant book keeper at Leisenring Coal and Coke Works; and the daughter, Elizabeth B Kurtz, is the wife of George B Freed, the latter of the firm of Kurtz & Freed.