USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 1
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Gc 974.801 AL51j v.1 412216
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
m
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01200 3569 E
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William Penn.
GENEALOGICAL AND
PERSONAL HISTORY
OF THE
ALLEGHENY VALLEY
PENNSYLVANIA
UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF JOHN W. JORDAN, LL.D.
Librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
VOLUME I
LLUSTRATED
Gc 974.8 J76g v.1 NEW YORK LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1913
FOREWORD
412216
HE present work, "Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Penn- sylvania," presents in the aggregate an amount and variety of genealogical and per-
m sonal information and portraiture unequalled by any kindred publication. No sim- ilar work concerning Allegheny Valley Families has ever before been presented, and it con- tains a vast amount of ancestral history never before printed. The object, clearly defined and well digested, is threefold :
First. To present in concise form the history of Allegheny Valley Families of the Colonial Days.
Second. To preserve a record of its prominent present-day people.
Third. To present through personal sketches the relation of its prominent families of all times to the growth, singular prosperity and wide-spread influence of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, and its tributary region.
There are numerous voluminous histories of the State, making it unnecessary in this work to even outline its annals. What has been published, however, relates principally to civic life. The amplification necessary to complete the picture, old and nowaday, is what is supplied by these Genealogical and Personal Memoirs. In other words, while others have
00 1939
OCT
COURTHOUSE, FRANKLIN.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, FRANKLIN.
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FOREWORD.
written of "the times," the province of this work is to be a chronicle of the people who have made this magnificent region what it is.
Unique in conception and treatment, this work constitutes one of the most original and permanently valuable contributions ever made to the social history of an American com- munity. In it are arrayed in a lucid and dignified manner all the important facts regarding the ancestry, personal careers and matrimonial alliances of those who, in each succeeding generation, have been accorded leading positions in social, professional and business life. It is not based upon, neither does it minister to, aristocratic prejudices and assumptions. On the contrary, its fundamental ideas are thoroughly American and democratic. The work everywhere conveys the lesson that distinction has been gained only by honorable public serv- ice, or by usefulness in private station, and that the development and prosperity of the region of which it treats have been dependent upon the character of its citizens, and in the stimulus which they have given to commerce, to industry, to the arts and sciences, to education and religion-to all that is comprised in the highest civilization of the present day-through a continual progressive development.
The inspiration underlying the present work is a fervent appreciation of the truth so well expressed by Sir Walter Scott, that "there is no heroic poem in the world but is at the bottom the life of a man." And with this goes a kindred truth, that to know a man, and rightly measure his character, and weigh his achievements, we must know whence he came, from what forbears he sprang. Truly as heroic poems have been written in human lives in the paths of peace as in the scarred roads of war. Such examples, in whatever line of endeavor, are of much worth as an incentive to those who come afterward, and as such were never so needful to be written of as in the present day, when pessimism, forgetful of the splendid lessons of the past, withholds its effort in the present, and views the future only with alarm.
Every community with such ample history, should see that it be worthily supplemented
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL, WARREN COUNTY.
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FOREWORD. 1
by Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of its leading families and prominent citizens. Such a work is that which is here presented. And it should be admitted, the undertaking possesses value of the highest importance-in its historic utility as a memorial of the development and progress of the community from its very found- ing, and in the personal interest which attaches to the record made by the individual. On both these accounts it will prove a highly useful con- tribution to literature, and a valuable legacy to future generations. Out of these considerations the authors and publishers have received the encouragement and approval of authorities of the highest standing as genealogists, historians and litterateurs. In the production of this work, no pains have been spared to ensure absolute truth-that quality upon which its value in every GEN. EDWARD BRADDOCK. feature depends. The material comprising the genealogical and personal records of the active living, as well as of the honored dead, has been gathered by men and women experienced in such work and acquainted with local history and ancestral families. These have appealed to the custodians of family records concerning the useful men of preceding generations, and of their descendants who have lived useful and honorable lives. Such custodians, who have availed themselves of this opportunity of hav- ing this knowledge placed in preservable form, have performed a public service in rendering
CHAPEL AND SCIENCE HALL, CLARION STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
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FOREWORD.
honor to whom honor is due, and in inculcating the most valuable and enduring lessons of patriotism and good citizenship.
No other region in the United States presents a field of more peculiar interest for such research. Its history reaches back to the beginning days of the Nation. It is exceed- ingly rich in Indian antiquities, and here the aborigines have left many of their most indel- ible marks. It was the scene of historic events during the French occupation, and here the Great Washington, as a young man, came to take part in scenes which led to the French expulsion. The immigrant settlers in this region were of the best blood and sinew. They fought valiantly and endured the most dreadful privations in the early days, and later they were a part of the very backbone of the Patriot Army in the Revolution. Later yet, the sons of these worthy sires bore their full share in the maintenance of the Union, shedding their blood upon many a glorious field, including that of Gettysburg, in their own State. destined to form a brilliant page in the history of the Nation to the end of time. The restoration of peace after the close of the Civil War witnessed a remarkable development, and has made this region one of the most wonderfully valuable in the whole land, its natural resources and the products of its labor entering into every phase of commercial and industrial life.
These records are presented in a series of independent genealogical and personal sketches
STATUE OF GEN. JOSEPH WARREN. Inscribed to the Memory of Soldiers of the Revo- lution buried in Warren County, Erected at Warren by the Tidioule Chapter of the D. A. R.
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT, WARREN.
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FOREWORD.
relating to lineal family heads, and the most conspicuous representatives in the present gen- eration. There is an entire avoidance of the stereotyped and unattractive manner in which such data is usually presented. The past is linked to the present in such style as to form a symmetrical narrative exhibiting the lines of descent, and the history of distinguished members in each generation, thus giving to it a distinct personal interest. That these ends have been conscientiously and faithfully conserved is assured by the cordial personal inter- est and recognized capability of the supervising editor, and his associates, all of whom have long pursued historical and genealogical investigations with intelligence and enthusiasm.
In this connection the publishers express their obligations to Dr. John W. Jordan, LL. D., Librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, supervising editor ; also to Mr. William Temple Bell, of Venango county ; Mr. Rufus Barrett Stone, of Warren county; the Rev. Andrew A. Lambing, LL.D., of Allegheny county ; and the Rev. Benjamin F. Delo, of Clarion county.
A special feature has been made of the illustrations-portraits, etc. In these respects much of the adornment of the pages of the proposed work is entirely original with this publication.
This work comprises a carefully prepared genealogical history of several hundred rep- resentative families of the region treated. The editors and publishers desire to state that they have adopted a different method for collecting and compiling data than has heretofore been pursued in this country. Time and expense have not been spared in making the pub- lication a valuable work for reference. The value of family history and genealogy depends upon accuracy, and the thoroughness of research in public and private records ; also, upon the use of old and unpublished manuscripts, supple- mented by a careful gleaning and compiling of information to be found in the various printed works in public and private libraries. It has been the aim of editors and publishers to utilize all such material, connecting the same with the American progenitor, where possible, and present in a narrative form the family line down to and including the present generation, weaving in the military and civic services of the subject treated.
In order to ensure greatest possible accuracy, all matter for this work, after careful prepara- tion, has been submitted in typewritten manu- script to persons most interested, for revision and correction.
If, in any case, a narrative is incomplete or faulty, the shortcoming is usually ascribable to the paucity of data obtainable, many families being without exact records in their family line; while, in some cases, representatives of a given family are at disagreement as to the names of some of their forbears, important dates, etc.
COURTHOUSE AND SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, CLARION.
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FOREWORD.
It is believed that the present work, in spite of the occasional fault which attaches to such undertakings, will prove a real addition to the mass of annals concerning the historic families of the Allegheny Valley, and that, without it, much valuable information would be inaccessible to the general reader, or irretrievably lost, owing to the passing away of custo- dians of family records, and the consequent disappearance of material in their possession. THE PUBLISHERS.
John It. Jordan.
ALLEGHENY VALLEY
This name . occurs in early MELVIN Massachusetts records as Mel- vin, Melvil and sometimes as Melville. There is a record of John Melvin, a tailor of Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1684, when he was then twenty-eight years of age. He moved to Concord, married (first) Hannah Lewis, (second) Margaret Shannesburg. It is no doubt from this ancestor that Patrick Mel- vin sprang, but no connection can be shown from existing records. John seems a persist- , ent name in the family, which fact proves noth- ing except to show a desire to perpetuate a name honored in the family. John seems to be with but little doubt the grandfather of Patrick, probably the son of a second John Melvin, born August 29, 1679.
(I) Patrick Melvin's name first appears on the records of Chester, New Hampshire, as a signer of the Presbyterian protest of June IO, 1735, though probably he was in that town earlier. His will was proved April 28, 1759. He devised to . his wife Mary and children Benjamin, Abraham, Elizabeth, Mary, John and Jane. Mary, his wife, died October I, 1795.
(II) Benjamin, son of Patrick Melvin, was born December 9. 1733, died December 29, 1802. He married, July 13, 1762, Mehitabel, born December 27, 1745, daughter of Samuel Bradley, who was killed by the Indians at Con- cord, August 11, 1746. She survived her hus- band and married (second) Deacon John S. Dearborn. She died February 14, 1825. Chil- dren : 1. Anna, born March 27, 1763; married Lieutenant Joseph Underhill. 2. Samuel, born 1765; settled in Maine. 3. Sarah, married James Orr. 4. Polly, born 1770, died 1824. 5. Benjamin, married Elizabeth Sargent and set- tled in Maine. 6. John, of whom further. 7. Josiah, married Sally Blanchard. 8. Mehita- ble, born April 14, 1781 ; married John Fol- som. 9. William, born 1783; went south. 10. Richard, born February 14, 1786; married (first) Ann Patten, (second) Jane D. Carr.
(III) John, son of Benjamin Melvin, was NP-1
born January 8, 1776, in Chester, New Ilamp- shire, died there June 11, 1814. He lived on the old homestead and served in the war of 1812. He married, November 13, 1800, Susan- nah, daughter of Abraham Sargent, who sur- vived him and married (second) Richard Dearborn. Children of John Melvin : Luther, born 1801; John F., of whom further; Lydia, R., married David Currier ; Thomas J., born April 11, 1808, married Harriet Tenney.
(IV) John F., son of John Melvin, was born in Chester, New Hampshire, December 2, 1802, died in Mckean county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the country schools, settled in New York state, and in 1826 came to Mc- Kean county, Pennsylvania. He was a promi- nent man in the early days of the county; a pioneer merchant and an extensive dealer in lumber. He owned large tracts of land and also engaged in agriculture. Few men did more for the early development of Mckean county than Mr. Melvin. Although he had no known oil property, after his death his land was part of the extensive Bradford oil field. He married, July 12, 1828, Lucretia Farr, born at Bellows Falls, Vermont, October 11, 1810, daughter of Isaac and Pantha (Clark) Farr, both of Scotch-Irish descent. Six children reached maturity, four dying in childhood. The former are: Charles C .; Adaline E., married Judge Loyal Ward ; Evaline A., married Hon. C. H. Foster ; Thomas Jefferson, of whom fur- ther ; John S., who was killed in the civil war; Mary L., married L. A. Smith, and died in Dunkirk, New York.
(V) Thomas Jefferson, son of John F. Mel- vin, was born in Bradford township, McKean county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1847, died February 29, 1904. He acquired a good edu- cation in the country schools, finishing with a course at Bryant and Stratton's Business Col- lege at Buffalo, New York. He began business life as a clerk, continuing until 1869, when he established a mercantile business in his own name, which he successfully operated until 1876, when he became an oil operator and pro-
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ALLEGHENY VALLEY
ducer. He was one of the founders of the Aluminia Shale Brick Company and engaged in many of Bradford's earlier enterprises, in- cluding the organization of the First National Bank of Bradford. He was a Mason, an Elk and a member of the Edgewood and Country Clubs.
He married, September 28, 1869, Marian Belle, born at Russellburg, near Warren, Pennsylvania, 1850, daughter of Horatio Nel- son Parker, a merchant and large lumberman of New York and Pennsylvania. She was ed- ucated at Irvine Mills, New York, and War- ren, Pennsylvania, finishing at boarding school in Clinton, Oneida county, New York, in 1867. She survives her husband, a resident of East Bradford, Pennsylvania, a member of the Uni- versalist church, the Woman's Literary Club and the Country Club, all of Bradford. Chil- dren of Thomas Jefferson Melvin: 1. John Parker, of whom further. 2. Charles C., born in Limestone, New York, June 10, 1872, now (1912) treasurer of Mckean county, Pennsyl- vania ; he resides in Bradford with his parents, unmarried. 3. Milton F., born in Bradford, May 10, 1876; founder of a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients at Bradford; married, February 13, 1898, Mabel L. White, and has a son, Milton F., born April 9, 1908. 4. Thomas Jefferson, born in Bradford, July 29, 1878; he prepared for the profession of the law, but is now superintendent of Melvin & Peterson's brick works at Bradford. Two other children died in infancy.
(VI) John Parker, son of Thomas Jeffer- son Melvin, was born July 17, 1870, at Lime- stone, Cattaraugus county, New York, the home of his grandparents. The home of his own parents at that time being Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public school. He entered Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) whence he was graduated, class of 1888. After a year spent at Harvard University he began the study of law, under George A. Berry, of Bradford, Pennsylvania. He passed the necessary examination and in 1895 was admitted to the bar. He at once be- gan the practice of his profession in Brad- ford, where he is firmly established as a bril- liant and reliable attorney and counsellor. He is interested in business outside his profession, being a director of the Aluminia Shale Brick Company, and a partner of Melvin & Peterson, brick manufacturers. In politics he is a Re- publican ; was chairman of the Mckean county
Republican committee in 1898; in 1899 was elected district attorney; re-elected in 1902, serving most efficiently for six years. He is prominent in the Masonic order ; is past mas- ter of Bradford Lodge, No. 334, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and now district deputy grand master of the twenty-second district of Penn- sylvania. In Capitullar Masonry he is past high priest of Bradford Chapter, No. 260; in Cryptic Masonry he is past thrice illustrious Master of Bradford Council, No. 43, and deputy grand master of Council District, No. 3. He is also a devotee of Templar Masonry, and is an officer of Bradford Commandery. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Heptasophs and the Royal Arcanum. His club is the Bradford Country ; his church : Universalist.
He married, at Bradford, Pennsylvania, July 5. 1892, Adda Laney, born at Spartans- burg, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1871, was grad- ' uated from the Bradford high school, later en- tering Lake Erie Seminary at Painesville, Ohio, continuing until 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin have a son, Parker L., born May 27, 1895, now a student in Bradford high school.
Adda (Laney) Melvin is a daughter of William K. Laney, born in Germany in Octo- ber, 1844. When he was a mere infant his father died, and when but six months old his mother came to the United States, settled in Venango county, Pennsylvania. He remained with her until his fourteenth year, then left home and began working in the oil fields dur- ing the summer, obtaining his education during the winter months in the public schools. He was careful of his earnings which he invested in oil wells, and was also engaged in contract- ing for drilling of wells, having fulfilled large contracts in different states. In 1862 he enlist- ed in Company I, One Hundred and Forty- second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, serving until the close of the war. He participated in many of the famous battles fought by the Army of the Potomac, including Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was captured on the first day of the Gettysburg fight, but shortly afterward released. He re- joined his company and was present at the sur- render of General Lee. After the war he re- turned to Bradford, where he died in Febru- ary, 1892. He was an active member of the United Veteran Legion, which he served as lieutenant-colonel of Bradford Post. He was a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to
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PENNSYLVANIA
Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery. He married, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in July, 1870. Flora, daughter of Charles Hunt- ley, who survives him, a member of the Pres- byterian church of Bradford, her home. Chil- dren : 1. Adda, of previous mention. 2. Grace E., born at Parkers Landing, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, now resides at Palo Alto, unmarried. 3. Charles. W., born Novem- ber II, 1878, married Effie Smith, resides at Independence, Kansas, and has Elizabeth, born June, 1907. Grandfather Laney lived and died in Bremen, Germany, where his children were born. Charles Huntley was of Welsh descent. He married - Catlin ; he died in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, leaving two children: Flora. married William K. Laney, and Elsie.
POTTER The emigrant ancestor of the Potters of Bradford, Pennsyl- vania, was John Potter, born in England in 1607, died in Fairfield, 1643. He came to America in 1632. He was granted a tract of land in Fairfield, Fairfield county, Connecticut, provided he would build a mill and grind mace. His widow Elizabeth married (second), in 1646, Edward Parker.
(II) John (2), son of John (1) Potter, the emigrant, was baptized at New Haven, Con- necticut. October 17, 1641, died December 24, 1706. He married, 1661, Hannah Cooper. Children, all born at East Haven: Hannah, born 1661, died young; John, born June 13, 1663. died August 10, 1664; Hannah, born June 26, 1665; John, of whom further; Sam- uel, born July 23, 1669, died November 16, 1669; Samuel, born December 25, 1670, died January 1. 1671; Samuel, born February I, 1672, died same month; Mary, born March 6, 1673, died in childhood ; Samuel, born January 2, 1675. died November 26, 1707, married Abi- gail Hill.
(III) John (3), son of John (2) Potter, was born at East Haven, Connecticut, August 14. 1667, died March 12, 1712. He married, February 23, 1691-92, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Thomas) Holt. Chil- dren : 1. Joseph, of further mention. 2. John, born June 14, 1695 ; married Abigail 3. Elizabeth, born September 12, 1697, married John, son of William and Mary Luddington. 4. Gideon, born June 3, 1700, died December 30, 1756; married Mary, daughter of Nathan and Mary Moulthrop. 5. Daniel, born June 15, 1701-02, died January 20, 1747 ; married, Sep-
tember 12. 1728, Hannalı Holbrook, who died 1742. 6. Enos, born December 12, 1706, mar- ried (first) Hannah Robinson, (second) Sarah llenningway. 7. Samuel, born 1708, married, 1738, Dorothy, born 1712, daughter of Nathan and Mary Moulthrop.
(IV) Joseph, son of Jolin (3) Potter, was born at East Haven, Connecticut, October 6. 1691. He married, March 11, 1729, Thankful Bradley. Children, born at East Haven: I. Joseph, born August 9, 1730, died April 10, 1800; married Jemima Smith, who died 1801, aged sixty-six years. 2. Timothy, born Feb- ruary 17, 1732, died aged sixty years ; married, August 2, 1765, Susanna Penderson. 3. Titus, born April 1, 1734. 4. James, of whom fur- ther. 5. Philemon, born March 31, 1738. 6. Thankful, born August 6, 1739. 7. Sybil, born September 1, 1741. 8. Jesse, born May 21, 1743. 9. Elizabeth, born August 1, 1745.
(V) Dr. James Potter, son of Joseph Pot- ter, was born at East Haven, Connecticut, Sep- tember 26, 1736, died February 10, 1804. He was a practicing physician of Fairfield county and prominent in the public life of his town. He married Abigail -, born 1744, died 1817. Children: 1. Meranda, born November 2, 1760, died December 21, 1782. 2. Milton, born March 6, 1763, died July 2, 1840. 3. Armido, born June 4. 1765, died August 7, 1798. 4. Abigail, born July 27, 1767. 5. Libertus, born August, 1769, died December 8, 1769. 6. James Addison (Honorable), born January 23, 1771, died January 11, 1809. 7. William Cicero, of whom further. 8. Philomela, born January 28, 1776, died August 17, 1836. 9. Joel Baldwin, born October 20, 1778, died October 7, 1806. 10. Jared C., born June 18, 1781, died 1857. II. John Lock, born December 27, 1783, died July 28, 1784. 12. Herman B., born October 23, 1785, died January 30. 1804.
(VI) William Cicero, son of Dr. James Potter, was born in Fairfield county, Connecti- cut, August 22, 1773, died August 21, 1856. He married, July 20, 1793, Nancy Anna Hub- bell, born 1776, died 1854, daughter of Eleazer and Anna (Noble) Hubbell. Children, all born in Sherman, Connecticut : 1. Charles F., born March 8, 1795, died February 3, 1881 ; mar- ried (first), March 20, 1816, Hettie, born 1793, died 1843, daughter of David and Jerusha (Bull) Noble; married (second), April 17, 1844, Caroline Noble, born 1803. died 1864; married (third), August 27, 1864. Amelia Stewart. 2. Lucretia Emma, born February
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ALLEGHENY VALLEY
27, 1797, died November 14, 1857; married, January 8, 1818, Simon, son of John Lyman. 3. James Addison, born July 10, 1798, died No- vember 25, 1878; married (first), December II, 1821, Phoebe Gelton, born 1803, died 1841, daughter of Rev. Maltby Gelton; married (second), August, 1841, Mrs. Mary (Denio) Atkin, daughter of John A. and Harriet (Stiles) Denio. 4. Laura Ann, born Novem- ber 18, 1800, died February 12, 1837. 5. Mary Abby, born September 27, 1802, died March 13, 1868; married, April 20, 1828, Matthew Gregory. 6. Herman B., born June 9, 1804, died March 19, 1880; married Mary La Homi- dee. 7. Eleazer, of whom further. 8. Will- iam Burr, born May 11, 1808, died February 17, 1877 ; married, February 17, 1836, Marcia, born 1808, died 1879, daughter of Amos and Mary Gregory. 9. Joel Baldwin, born July 25, 1810, died November 30, 1880; married, July 13, 1836, Adeline, born 1813, daughter of Ad- gate and Martha (Moss) Lathrop. 10. Henry N., born October 28, 1812, died November 3, 1814. II. Jane Eliza, born October 27, 1814; married, June 14, 1855, Henry, born 1804, son of Adgate and Martha (Moss) Lathrop. 12. Henry Noble, born April 16, 1817, died September 3, 1862; married, June 12, 1854, Fontaine. 13. Mark Milton, born May 2, 1819, died October 5, 1863; married Helen S., daughter of Judge John F. Errett.
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