USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume I > Part 42
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(III) Dr. Charles Hutchison Brisbin, son of Will John and Anna Maria (Mann) Brisbin, was born at Mann's Narrows, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1867. He was educated in the public schools and Lewistown Academy, Hackettstown (New Jersey) Academy and New Bloomfield Academy. After completing his academical courses he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, whence he was grad- uated M. D., class of 1890. He at once began the practice of his pro- fession in Yeagertown, remaining there seven years. He then prac- ticed one year in Middleburg, Pennsylvania, thence in 1898 coming to Lewistown, where he established a lucrative general practice, and so continued until 1908. He then took special courses in the diseases of the lungs, which specialty he has followed in connection with his general practice ever since. For the past five years he has been in charge of the State Free Tuberculosis Dispensary and is Mifflin county's medical in- spector. He is an authority on lung diseases, but is constantly pursuing study and experiment, and has taken the advanced work at Philadel- phia, under state supervision. He is a member of both state and county medical societies, is at present (1913) president of the Mifflin County Medical Society, and stands high as a lung specialist. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church.
He married, August 27, 1896, Anna Shirey, born in Snyder county, daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Lehr) Shirey. Children: Will John (2), born July 4, 1897; Isaac Lehir, August 2, 1903, and Harriet Isabel, born January 31, 1913.
The Russells of this record descend from James Russell,
RUSSELL who came from Ireland, about 1750, with his brothers, William and Joshua. Joshua settled on a farm about four miles north of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was the father of twenty children, only one of whom reached adult years, all dying in in- fancy. William settled near Brownsville. James Russell owned and cultivated a farm four miles northwest of Gettysburg, and two miles west of the estate of his brother, William. He died about 1805, leaving eight children : Sons-Samuel, Alexander, John and James ; daughters-
CHt. Brisbin, M.L.
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Hannah, married David Hosack, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylva- nia; Elizabeth, married James Speer, of Indiana, Pennsylvania; Jane, married John Dickson, of Adams county, Pennsylvania; Mary, married Achison Laughlin, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Samuel, one of the sons, lived on his own farm adjoining his father's, later selling it and moving to Huntsville in the same county, thence to Connellsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he died leaving several sons and daughters. John, another son, lived for many years on the homestead, then moved to an adjoining tract, where he lived until death, leaving issue. James, another son, was in mercantile business in Alexandria, D. C., in 1808, married and left issue. Alexander, one of the four sons of James Russell, the emigrant, mentioned below, is the ancestor of the Lewistown branch.
(II) Alexander, son of James Russell, was born February 25, 1758, in York county, Pennsylvania, in that portion out of which Adams was later created. He grew to manhood at the homestead farm near Gettys- burg, Pennsylvania, and when the war for independence broke out was a student at Princeton College, preparing for the ministry in accordance with the wishes of his father. He left school to enter the service. He was commissioned second lieutenant in Captain William Alexander's company, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was promoted first lieutenant Sep- tember 1, 1777, and resigned April 16, 1779. After the war he settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in merchandising. About 1785 he moved to York, Pennsylvania, and was a merchant there until 1787, when he moved to a farm on Marsh creek, about three miles west of Gettysburg, continuing there until 1796, when he moved to Gettysburg, where he was a merchant and iron manufacturer until his death, April 15, 1836. The following notice of his death is from a paper of the time :
"Died, at his residence in the Borough of Gettysburg on the morning of Friday last (April 15, 1836), in the 79 year of his age, Alexander Russell, Esq. The deceased left the quiet pursuits of Princeton Col- lege at an early age and united himself with the destinies of his country in the battle field. From his regiment in the Pennsylvania line, com- manded by Col. Irvine, into which he first entered, he was commissioned Ensign and subsequently First Lieutenant in Capt. Alexander's Com- pany, and continued in the service until 1779, having borne his part in the battles of Brandywine, White House, Paoli, Germantown and Mon- mouth; and having long been permitted to see his country free and
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happy, has laid down the burden of his years peacefully to rest in her bosom. As a public officer and a citizen he was faithful and perse- vering in duty; as a friend, constant and sincere; as a husband and father, it would be a futile attempt of the writer to speak. The scenes of his dying chamber proclaimed in the bursts of grief, what he had been to those he had long cherished and loved. 'Mark the good man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.'"
Alexander Russell married, in York, Pennsylvania, Mary, born Sep- tember 27, 1763, daughter of Robert McPherson, of a place near Gettys- burg. She survived him and continued her residence in Gettysburg until her death, at the age of eighty-seven years. Children : 1. James McPher- son, born November 10, 1786 ; a lawyer by profession ; married, Febru- ary 8, 1812, Rebecca Lyon, who died September 11, 1863, aged seventy- seven years. 2. Nancy, born August 6, 1788; married September 5, 1815, John M. Stevenson, of Baltimore, who died June 8, 1870; she died June 14, 1873. 3. Robert Gier, born August 20, 1790, died February 18, 1855; he married (first) June 21, 1815, Sarah C. Bean, who died June 29, 1816; he married (second) September, 1818, Susan H. Worthington, and resided in Rockville, Maryland. 4. Hannah, born September 22, 1792, died March 25, 1836. 5. Alexander, born August 31, 1795, died April 15, 1836. 6. Maria, born February 28, 1797, died July 3, 1888; married, February 21, 1822, Robert W. Wilson. 7. John, born February 13, 1799, died December 27, 1825, a physician. 8. Sam- uel Riddle, born June 21, 1801, died August 15, 1894. 9. William, of whom further.
(III) William, youngest child of Alexander and Mary ( McPherson) Russell, was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 30. 1803, died in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, in July, 1886. He received a fine education, including a wide knowledge of Latin and Greek. In earlier life he was engaged in the manufacture of iron as a member of the firm, Paxton, Stevens & Company, one of his partners being the later celebrated Aboli- tionist, Thaddeus Stevens, who was also his personal friend and politi- cal mentor. Later, however, Mr. Russell became interested in banking, being employed in the old Lancaster Bank and in a similar institution in Columbia, Pennsylvania. In 1848 he located in Lewistown, coming as agent of the Lancaster Bank to establish a branch of that institution. This branch was known as Longnecker-Grubb & Company, bankers, and
William Russell
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so existed until the failure of the Lancaster Bank in 1852. Mr. Russell then continued in business under his own name, and as William Russell, Banker, conducted a private bank at the corner of Brown and Market streets in the building erected in 1837 by the Lewistown Bank, and he also had his residence in the house built on the rear of the same lot. It is believed to have been at that time the only bank between Harrisburg and Williamsport. He continued business as William Russell, Banker, until January 1, 1883, when the firm name was changed to William Russell & Son, the present title and location being the same as when first started. Mr. Russell was a wise financier, successful in business, and, while he surrendered the leadership and burden to his son, did not retire until death claimed him at the age of eighty-three years. He did a great deal for the development of Lewistown, organized or assisted in the organization of many industries ; was borough treasurer, also treas- urer of the Gas Company and the Water Works Company. He was high-minded and honorable in business and a warm friend of church and school. He was a member of the Presbyterian church ; his wife of the Episcopal. In politics he was a Republican and, as stated, a friend of Stevens and ardently supported the principles of that party.
He married (first) May 10, 1853, Mary Grace Mayer, who died in May, 1872, daughter of George Louis and Esther (Clarkson) Mayer, both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, of German and Scotch descent. George Louis Mayer was a hardware merchant and president of The Farmers' Bank from 1829 to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1837. This institution was merged and is now the Farmer's Trust Company of Lancaster. He died in middle age; was the father of fourteen children; a Whig in politics and both he and his wife were members of the Episcopal church. William Russell married (second) a widow, Mrs. Molly Myers, daughter of Joseph Milliken. Children, all by first marriage: I. William Clarkson, died unmarried, September I, 1890. 2. George Louis, of whom further. 3. Esther Clarkson, married Rev. Henry E. Cooke and resides in Cleveland, Ohio. 4. Samuel Riddle, now assistant cashier of the Western Reserve National Bank of Warren, Ohio.
(IV) George Louis, second son of William and Mary Grace ( Mayer) Russell, was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1858. He was educated in the Lewistown Academy and Cheltenham Academy,
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beginning business life in his father's bank, when sixteen years of age, in 1874. In 1883 he was admitted a partner and the firm name .changed to William Russell & Son. At his father's death he became sole owner and continued as a private banker. In 1900 the Belleville National Bank of Lewistown was organized with Mr. Russell as president, a position he has most capably filled to the present time. He continues his resi- dence in the large red brick building that also contains the bank. Al- though built in 1837 the building is still in good condition and must, at the time of its erection, have been far in advance of the needs of that early day. Mr. Russell is a Republican in politics; has served as borough treasurer and as a member of the school board. He is one of the substantial and highly respected men of his town. The family belongs to the Presbyterian church and he is a member of the Lewis- town Lodge, No. 203, Free and Accepted Masons.
He married in 1880, Anna Leah Brisbin, born in Lewistown, dauglı- ter of Samuel J. and Catherine (Blymeyer) Brisbin, formerly of Center county, Pennsylvania. Children of George L. Russell: I. Mary Grace, born in July, 1881 ; married Walter Fosnot. 2. Samuel Brisbin, born January 7, 1883, engaged in banking with his father; married Carrie Swanger, deceased. 3. Catherine McPherson, born April 15, 1885, died June 30, 1911 ; married M. T. Jones. 4. Esther Clarkson, born May 16, 1887, married D. C. Pomeroy and resides at Port Royal, Pennsylvania. 5. William, born May 13, 1888, married Estella Dreese and resides in Los Angeles, California. 6. George Louis, born May 6, 1896, now a student at Lawrenceville Preparatory School, class of 1913. 7. Anna, twin of George Louis, residing at home.
The Russell and Buchanan families were early connected by mar- riage, the father of President James Buchanan, and Alexander Russell (of the second generation) having been either first or second cousins. This relationship was well understood, as President Buchanan in a letter to James McPherson Russell signs himself "Your kinsman." These two men were about the same age and classmates at school.
LOTZGESELLE For fifty-five years Adam Lotzgeselle was a resi- dent of Lewistown, coming from his native Ger- many at the age of twenty-one years. He was born in Wattembach, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, July 11, 1836, died Janu-
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ary 3, 1913. He was a son of Sebastian Lotzgeselle, a farmer and small landowner, who lived and died in Germany, as did all his family of seven children, except Adam. Descendants, however, of Sebastian later came to the United States and are found in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and in the state of Washington.
Adam Lotzgeselle received a good education in the German schools, and while a minor worked with his father. On attaining his majority he sailed for the United States, embarking from Bremen in September, 1857, arriving at Baltimore, Maryland, October 9, following. Soon after his arrival he located in Lewistown, where he obtained employ- ment as a freight handler for the Pennsylvania railroad at the Lewis- town station, which was then located on the opposite side of the river, all freight being hauled from there to town in wagons and drays, over the old plank road, leading from what is now Lewistown Junction to the wooden covered bridge, crossing the Juniata on the site of the present railroad bridge. He was identified with the interest of the Pennsylvania railroad for over twenty years, holding the same position on this side of the river, when the freight station was transferred to the borough depot in 1872. In later years he became a merchant, deal- ing extensively in groceries, also in salt fish and fresh vegetables, at his well known store and warehouse on Chestnut street. Soon after coming to the United States, Mr. Lotzgeselle became a naturalized American citizen, in the Mifflin county courts, and always took an active interest in state and national issues. He was a quiet, retiring man, his German energy keeping him well abreast of the times and his honest business methods holding the respect of his associates.
He enlisted in Company C, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain A. B. Selheimer, it being the last company to enter the civil war from Mifflin county. He was a member of Colonel Hastings Post, No. 176, Grand Army of the Republic, of Lewistown; was the second oldest Odd Fellow in Lewistown, having joined the order in 1865, the senior member being William N. Hoffmann, who became a member in 1863. Mr. Lotzgeselle was active in the work of the order and served as trustee four years.
He was an attendant of the Lutheran church, of which his family were members. He married in Lewistown, March 8, 1860, Anna C. Heineman, of Wattembach, Germany, daughter of Henry Heineman,
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who died in Germany. She and her mother came to this country on the same ship as Mr. Lotzgeselle. They made their home with a son, Sebas- tian Heineman, a farmer; his widow resides on Valley street, aged eighty-six. Children of Adam Lotzgeselle : 1. George C., died in infancy. 2. Alfred, died aged four. 3. John, died April 5, 1905, aged forty-seven, unmarried. 4. Harry J., custom house employee in Philadelphia; mar- ried Ida C. Pearson; two children, Ethel and Bessie. 5. Annie C., married John Decker, a resident of Lewistown; children: Gertrude. Ralph and Paul. 6. Mary; married Robert Bearley and resides in Lewistown ; children : Katherine, deceased; Edward, Jeanette and Marie. 7. Carrie, married Harry Dippery and resides in Lewistown; children : One died in infancy; Eugene. 8. Catherine, married Carl Weber, of Lewistown; children : Helen and Carl. 9. Bessie, died aged seven years.
SHULL The Shulls are of German descent and trace to Abraham and Elizabeth Shull, of Perry county, Pennsylvania. She was born in Perry county where they were married and reared their five children: I. Thomas, a contractor, unmarried. 2. Eliza, married Christian Beck, a tailor, and died at Millerstown. 3. Margaret, died at Millerstown, Pennsylvania ; married Christian Hoover, a tailor. 4. Abraham (2), died at Lewistown, a carpenter; married Ellen Wonder. 5. Chauncey M., of whom further.
(II) Chauncey M., youngest son of Abraham and Elizabeth Shull, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, 1829. He learned tailoring, and when yet a single man came to Lewistown, where he married and worked at his trade until his death. His shop was located at the Five Points for many years, on the site now occupied by Heading's Drug store. He finally retired late in life and devoted himself entirely to his office of justice of the peace, holding that office twenty-five years. He was an enlisted member of the Logan Guards and during the civil war enlisted in the Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, participating in many of the im- portant battles of the war. He was a Republican; a member of the In- dependent Order of Good Templars; the Grand Army of the Republic ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, with his wife, belonged to the Presbyterian church. He married Elizabeth Moore, born in Ireland in 1825, and brought to the United States by her parents when a child.
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Her parents, John and Elizabeth (Karns) Moore, were both born in Belfast, Ireland, where they married and about 1835 came to the United States, settling in Philadelphia (Kensington), where they died. Both were members of the United Presbyterian church. Children: I. Jane, died in San Francisco, California, unmarried. 2. Agnes, died in San Francisco, unmarried. 3. James, lived and died in Philadelphia ; owner of the Bush Hill Iron Works, located on the present site of the United States Mint. 4. Sarah, married Enoch Swayne and died in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. 5. Elizabeth, lived in Philadelphia until her parents' death, then joined her sister Sarah in Lewistown, and there married Chauncey M. Shull. 6. Mary, married Edward Thatcher and died in San Francisco. Children of Chauncey M. Shull: I. Elizabeth (Betty), married Joseph L. Mckinney and resides in Lewistown. 2. James, died in infancy. 3. Blanche, married William H. Rodgers, whom she sur- vives, a resident of Juniata, Pennsylvania. 4. Chauncey E., of whom further.
(III) Chauncey E., son of Chauncey M. and Elizabeth (Moore) Shull, was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, March II, 1861. He was educated in the public schools and Lewistown academy and, after ob- taining his education, learned the tinner's trade. He followed his trade until twenty-three years of age, then in 1884 formed a partnership with his father, one a merchant tailor the other dealing in ready-made clothing in the same building, at No. 110 East Market street. After the retirement of his father, Chauncey E. continued in the same business and now has a well stocked, modern clothing and furnishing store and a well established, prosperous business. He has now transacted business in the same building for over a quarter of a century, and has built up a reputation for honorable dealing that insures him the patronage and respect of his community. He is fond of outdoor life and is an active member of the Lewistown Rod and Gun Club. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. In political faith Mr. Shull is a Presbyterian.
He married, June 24, 1891, Catherine E. Sherlock, born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Kate (Colcher) Sherlock, he born in Philadelphia, she in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. Chil- dren of Chauncey E. and Catherine E. Shull : I. Leland S., born June 3, 1893, educated in high school, now in business with his father. 2.
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Maurice, born November 29, 1894, educated in Lewistown high school, also in his father's store. 3. Catherine, born October 2, 1900. 4. Chaun- cey E. (2), May 9, 1902.
SWIGART This family name, also spelled Swigert, was brought to Mifflin county at an early day by John Swigart and his brothers, Peter and Christian. They were sons of Adam and Eve Swigart, who came to Eastern Pennsylvania from Ger- many, settling in Berks county, Pennsylvania.
(II) John, son of Adam Swigart, was born in Berks county in 1757. On May 29, 1792, he bought one hundred and fifty acres of land of William Harper, adjoining land of widow Talor and James Bratton. It was described as being in the upper end of John Brown's Narrows along Jack's Mountain. He also purchased lands in Oliver township, where, in 1836, John Swigert was assessed on two hundred and fifty acres. Peter and Christian Swigart lived and farmed in Fergu- son's Valley. John Swigart erected a stone house, on his Oliver town- ship farm, which is still standing. He died in 1806, leaving a large family, including several sons, who settled on and near the homestead.
(III) John (2), son of John (1) Swigart, was born in Oliver town- ship, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1786. He was born on the old homestead which he inherited, passed his life upon and there died in 1858. He was a member of the Church of The Brethren, a branch of the German Baptist church. He was a Democrat in politics ; held several local offices and was a man of substance as well as influence. He mar- ried (first) Catherine Miller, who bore him daughters, Catherine and Mary. He married (second) Margaret Hood, of Irish descent. Chil- dren, all deceased : Amanda, Margaret Ann, Levi, Eve Elizabeth, Sam- uel, Rachel, Martha, James, and Abram Rothrock, who is further men- tioned below.
(IV) Abram Rothrock, son of John (2) and Margaret (Hood) Swigart, was born in Oliver township, March 4, 1847, died February II, 1902. He was a carpenter and also a molder, working for a time in the machine shops near McVeytown, but carpentering was his princi- pal occupation. He owned a farm of thirty acres near McVeytown, on which he lived until late in life. He was a Democrat and served three years as road supervisor and six years as tax collector. He was
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a member of the Church of The Brethren, and a man of clean, upright, honorable life.
He married, October 4, 1870, Jane Rupert, born in Warriors Mark township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1853. She survives her husband and resides in Lewistown with her son, Samuel W. Swigart. Children: I. John Rupert, born July 10, 1873, now a fireman in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, residing at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania; married Ella Bortell and has Edith, Howard and George. 2. Marian Allen, born January 1, 1875; married Harry Cros- son and resides in Oliver township on part of the Swigart homestead; children : Vaughn, Berenice, Samuel and Mildred. 3. Samuel Wakefield, of whom further. Jane (Rupert) Swigart, mother of these three chil- dren, is a daughter of John Rupert, born in Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, May 14, 1823, died in Oliver township, Mifflin county, February 5, 1881, son of Adam and Catherine (Foust) Rupert, of Franklin and Huntingdon counties. Adam Rupert, a shoemaker and farmer, died in Huntingdon county, aged ninety-six years. John Rupert was for thirty years a deacon of the German Baptist church and, until 1852, was a resident of Henderson township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He resided in Warriors Mark township three years, then in Brady town- ship until 1860, when he married a widow, Rebecca (Kinsel) Allen, and settled on her farm in Oliver township. By this second marriage there were six children. His first wife, Martha Wakefield, was born in Crom- well township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1823, died in Brady township, same county, October 7, 1857. Children of John Rupert by first wife: I. Elizabeth, married Samuel James Swigart, a minister of the Church of The Brethren. 2. Eli W., a school teacher of Pennsylvania and Illinois; married Martha Curlee. 3. Samuel G., a minister of the Church of The Brethren; married Rebecca Elizabeth Raney. 4. Adam P., married Minnie Rhoads. 5. Jane, widow of Abram Rothrock Swigart. 6. George C., a teacher and farmer of Osborne county, Kansas; married Emma Galbraith. 7. Mary, married Samuel WV. Allison and resides in Oliver township, Mifflin county. Children of John Rupert by second wife: Rebecca, William, Christian, Anna, Ed- ward and Frederick, twins. Martha (Wakefield) Rupert was the eldest child of Eli Wakefield, born in Oliver township, Mifflin county, Penn- sylvania, April 15, 1795, died in Brady township, Huntingdon county.
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He married Elizabeth Way, born in Half Moon township, Center county, and both are buried in the family burying ground on his farm in Brady township; they had nine children, all of whom reached adult age, married and reared families. Eli Wakefield was a son of George Wakefield, born April 13, 1758, died November 24, 1826; married, May 8, 1788, Rebecca Passmore, who died 1826, daughter of Augustine and Hannah (Howard) Passmore. They had five children, all married and heads of families, except one, who had no issue. George Wakefield was a son of John Wakefield, born 1727, a member of the Society of Friends. He had by wife Martha ten children. The mother and children, after the death of their father, received a certificate from Nottingham Monthly Meeting. Cecil county, Maryland, but as the certificate was never de- livered. and George Wakefield and Rebecca Passmore marrying "out of Meeting," they were disowned by Nottingham. After several years they made an acknowledgment and received a certificate to Warrington Monthly Meeting, dated 8 mo. 27, 1803, which was endorsed to the latter to Center county (Pennsylvania) Meeting 9 mo. 8, 1804.
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