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Warren Aggas

 


 

 

WARREN AGGAS, one of Center Township's substantial and representative citizens, interested both in farming and in oil well contracting and drilling, resides on the fine farm of 212 acres, on which he was born, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1866. His parents were James and Catherine (Andrews) Aggas.
In tracing the ancestors of Mr. Aggas, the reader comes to one of those tragedies which marked the advance of civilization, but a few generations ago, when the white man contended with the savage. The great-grandfather of Warren Aggas was killed by the Indians, in Westmoreland County, in 1796. His widow fled into the forest of what is now Center Township, accompanied by her two little boys, Sylvanus and Abner, aged eleven and ten years respectively. It was her intention to chose a home there, hidden as she believed herself, from the cruel savages that had shed the blood of her husband, and with this end in view, a pitiful story is told of her getting lost and separated from her children and neighbors who had also sought a refuge in the woods. For three days she wandered lost and alone, but subsequently was reunited to her children and together they established a home on the land which has ever since remained in the family, no division ever having been made.
James Aggas, father of Warren and son of Sylvanus, was born on the above named farm and continued agricultural pursuits through life, both he and wife passing away in the old home. The old residence built by Sylvanus Aggas almost seventy years ago, still shelters his descendants. There were other buildings and the barn, a still substantial structure, was put up in 1859, a second barn being built in 1885. James Aggas married Catherine Andrews and they had six cliildren, namely: Warren; Loyal, who lives in Center Township; Sylvanus, who resides in Illinois; William John, who lives at Ellwood City; Elizabeth Belle, who died aged about twelve years; and an unnamed infant.
Warren Aggas was reared to farm life and has always been interested in agriculture. In addition to managing his large estate, he is in partnership with a Mr. Hamilton in contracting and drilling oil wells, the latter being a practical driller.
Mr. Aggas married Miss Sarah Belle McCandless, who is a daughter of Reddick McCandless, and their children are as follows: James, who dresses the tools used in oil well drilling, and who married Bessie Barkley; and Stella E., Huldah, Laura Muriel, Samuel Claud, Evelyn and Leroy. Mr. Aggas is a member of the Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 1154, of West Sunbury.
Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 607.

 

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