…bringing our past into the future
JOSEPH SHOEMAKER The parents of the subject of this sketch, Solomon and Elizabeth (Uncafer) Shoemaker, came to this county from Loudon county, Virginia, at the beginning of the present century, and settled in Kiskiminetas township, where Spring church now is. Mr. Shoemaker, having entered 335 acres of land, built upon it a comfortable stone house, … Read more
The Shoemaker Family – Solomon Shoemaker  Solomon Shoemaker, father of George Shoemaker, the well-known old resident of this county, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1770, and emigrated from there to Armstrong in the fall of 1799. Prior to his becoming a pioneer here he had married Miss Elizabeth Uncafer, who was also … Read more
Col. William Sirwell William Sirwell, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Graham) Sirwell, both natives of England, was born in the United States army, at the Allegheny arsenal, on August 10, 1820, his father, who had been principal musician, at that time being armorer at the arsenal. Of a military turn of mind he entered the … Read more
George B. Sloan His grandfather lived and died in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. His family consisted of four sons — Samuel, James, William and David. Two of the children of Samuel — John, afterward Col. John Sloan, and his sister, afterward Mrs. Gibson — were carried away by the Indians and held for some time in … Read more
Dr. Samuel S. Neale Dr. Samuel S. Neale was born in Burlington, New Jersey, on January 15, 1792, where he received the usual education afforded by the excellent academy of that city. Afterward he commenced the study of medicine in the city of Philadelphia, under such eminent physicians as Dr. Rush and Dr. Physic, and … Read more
SOUTH BEND TOWNSHIP Â William H., son of William and Margaret Wilson, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, in 1835; resides on a farm of 160 acres, purchased by his father in 1844; was married in 1857, to Lenna A., daughter of William and Mary Armstrong, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He is a farmer and … Read more
Robert Townsend The man whose name heads this sketch, until late years a resident of South Bend township, was born in this county, December 3, 1796. The lady whom he afterward married, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Eva B. (Miller) Hine, was born August 27, 1797. They were joined in wedlock by Squire Paul, in … Read more
Smith Neal The grandfather of the subject of this biography, Smith Neal, after whom he was named, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1764. As a lad he enlisted in the colonial army and served one day in the Revolutionary war. In 1796 he settled in Butler county, being one of its earliest pioneers. … Read more
General Robert Orr Robert Orr was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania (probably in Hannahstown), upon March 5, 1786. His father, (a sketch of Robert Orr, Sr., appears in the chapter devoted to Sugar Creek township) whose name descended to the subject of our sketch, had been one of the defenders of the Pennsylvania frontier; had … Read more
PLUM CREEK TOWNSHIP Â Rice Henderson, son of Brice and Anna Henderson, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1829; came to this county in 1846 and settled at Elderton, where he now resides. He followed blacksmithing twenty-five years; has since followed farming; was for six years county commissioner; was married in 1848 to Nancy … Read more