Month: August 2025

William McBryar, M.D. The subject of this sketch was born of a generous strain of sturdy Scotch-Irish blood, both of his parents being descended from those races, though both natives of Pennsylvania. His father was born July 18, 1784, in Westmoreland county, and his mother, Elizabeth Dickey, near Carlisle, Franklin county. They were married June … Read more

Thomas Marshall The subject of this sketch, second son of Robert and Mary (Hindman) Marshall, was born July 29, 1824, about one and one-half miles from Dayton. When he was about twenty years of age, his father purchased the land on which a part of the village of Dayton now stands, and six years later … Read more

Robert Marshall In the year 1803, William and Catharine Marshall came to Wayne township, Armstrong County, and settled upon Glade Run, near the present town of Dayton, being the first settlers upon the stream named, and having no neighbors nearer than five miles. They had a family of six sons and three daughters, of whom … Read more

John Wilson Marshall The parents of the subject of this sketch, John and Elizabeth (Stewart) Marshall, were natives of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and were among the early settlers in Wayne township, Armstrong county. John Marshall and his father, Archibald Marshall, are known to have located here in 1812. John Marshall was born in 1794; married … Read more

Christian Mardorf This gentleman, one of the prominent manufacturers of Freeport, was born in the city of Melsungen, province of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, January 23, 1847. In 1852 the family came to this country and located in Butler borough, Butler county, Pennsylvania, where the father followed his trade, that of a tanner. His son Christian was … Read more

KITTANNING TOWNSHIP   David Shoemaker was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1828; moved to Armstrong county, Pennsylvanian, 1844; is of German descent. James Hielman [sic], a son of Jacob Hielman [sic], of Germany. James H. was born on his present farm in 1829. Isaac Hielman [sic]. Son of Daniel Hielman [sic]. Who died in … Read more

David Keppel The paternal grandfather of our subject, Nicholas Keppel was born in Germany, and came to this country early in the eighteenth century. His son Daniel, who was David Keppel’s father, was born in this state in 1767, and died in 1824. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Yearyan, of Westmoreland county; born in 1770, … Read more

JOHN WANAMAKER The parents of John Wanamaker, the old and well known resident of Leechburg, were Henry and Susannah (Silves) Wanamaker. The former was born in this state in 1792, and died August 7, 1860, and the latter born in 1794, and died January 14, 1880. They had ten children: John, Elizabeth, Annie, Cyrus, James, … Read more

William Fream Johnston William Freame Johnston, the third Governor of Pennsylvania under the constitution of 1838, was born at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1808. His paternal ancestors were originally from Annandale, Scotland, where they at one time held valuable estates. The head of the house, Alexander Johnston, however, being killed at the battle … Read more

Jacob Lias The man whose name heads this sketch was born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1811, where he spent his youth. In the spring of 1831, his mother having died, he came with his father to Wayne township, Armstrong county. In the fall of the following year, October 4, 1832, he married Miss … Read more