Philo N. Pyatt

PHILO N. PYATT. The ancestor of Philo N. Pyatt came to the United States from France about 1786. He was a Baptist and an earnest worker in behalf of Christianity as he interpreted its teachings. Taking part in. the French revolution, he was deported by his government and became an. American citizen. The family name was originally spelled Payette.

Rev. James P. Pyatt, father of Philo N. Pyatt, was born in Pittsburg Pennsylvania, where his father was engaged in contracting and building. The former was reared in his native city and after completing his literary education he prepared for the ministry as a student in Bethany College, in Virginia, after which he was ordained as a preacher of the Disciple church. After filling pulpits in connection with several different churches, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the church at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he remained for several years, and about 1882 he went to Los Angeles, California, where several members of the family had preceded him. There he died when about eighty years of age. He filled the pulpit there on Sunday prior to his demise, and continued his active work in behalf of the church throughout the years of his man- hood. During the Civil war he was chaplain of the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, and was one of the well known and honored Christian men who joined the army to administer religious teachings among the soldiers. He had a brother, Joseph O. Pyatt, who was one of the noted educators of the United States, and was also an author of note. For years he and his wife were instructors in the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. and his reputation along educational lines extended throughout the United States. Rev. James B. Pyatt married Mary C. Stevenson, and they had eight children, but only two are living, the daughter being Maggie, wife of William Horner, of Los Angeles. California.

Philo N. Pyatt was born in Evansburg Pennsylvania. June 9, 186. and lie attended the public schools between the ages of six and sixteen years, when he began earning his own livelihood. He took up the study of telegraphy, and is 18i3 was assigned to duty in an office in Johnstown. Pennsylvania. In 1878 he left the telegraph service, and for eight years was a trainman in the passenger service of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, being located at Harrisburg. In 1886 he went to Scottdale where he again entered the telegraph service, and in February, 1902, he removed to Youngwood. where he established himself in the mercantile business, but left the active management of his store to his son, while he continued his duties as a telegrapher. He was promoted to the position of train dispatcher of the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad in July, 1902, and is now acting in that capacity. He votes with the Republican party, and is influential in political circles. He served two terms as councilman of Scottdale, and during the last year was president of the council. He is a member of Westmoreland Lodge, No. 518, A. F. and A. M.; Scottdale Council, No. 807, R. A.: and also belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Pyatt married, in 1880, Harriet E. Strickler, a daughter of Isaac Strickler, of South Huntingdon township. Westmoreland county. Their children were: Caleb F., now deceased ; Thomas Earl, manager of his father's mercantile business, and postmaster of Youngwood; and Oscar, still in school.  

Source: Page(s) 198-199, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed August 2008 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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