USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume II > Part 17
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(II) Alexander Brown, son of John MeNitt, inherited the old home- stead, upon which, after 1800, he erected a substantial stone dwelling that is yet used as a residence by his descendants. He was an industrious, prosperous farmer, and bore his part in subduing the forest and bringing prosperity to his section. He married Nancy Sterrett, born in Armagh township, daughter of David and Elizabeth Hannah Sterrett. Children : 1. Elizabeth Hannah, married Samuel Sharp and moved to Logansport, Indiana, where both died. 2. Mary Jane, married John McNitt, son of her uncle Robert MeNitt and his wife Sarah Glasgow. They lived and died on the homestead he settled upon, near Salem Church. 3. Sarah. married Robert Ross and lived at Spring Mills, Center county, where both died. 4. Brown, married Vesta Marston, lived and died on a farm, adjoining his father's, now owned by his son John A. McNitt. 5. Mar- garet Glass, married Samuel I. Mitchell and both died on their farm near Vira, now owned by their son John Mitchell. 6. John (see sketch below). 7. David Sterrett, made his home with his brother John and there died; unmarried. S. Agnes, married Sterrett Cummins and both died in Stone Valley, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. 9. Catherine Ann, married Robert Cummins, lived in Stone Valley, but died in Reeds- ville. 10. Martha, married Jolin Mitchell, and lives in Dry Valley, the
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only survivor of this family of eleven. II. Alexander Brown, of whom further.
(III) Alexander Brown (2), youngest child of Alexander Brown (I) and Nancy (Sterrett) McNitt, was born in the stone house on the homestead erected by his father in Armagh township, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1837, and died August 30, 1900, in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. He obtained his education in the public schools of the township and became a prosperous farmer. After the death of his father he bought out the other heirs and became sole owner of the homestead to which he added materially by the purchase of adjoining acres. He also owned other lands in the township and had considerable real estate in Center county. He was a thoroughly upright and capable business man, but steadily refused all offers to enter into large business enterprises, always remaining a farmer and conducted all his business alone. He was noted for his honorable, upright dealing and was held in highest esteem. He was a Republican in politics, but beyond local offices, had no desire for public life, and although a devoted, active inember of the East Kishacoquillas and later Milroy Presbyterian Church, would not accept the office of elder, modestly asserting he did not think he was a suitable person to hold that position. He married, December 21, 1865. Sarah Reed, who survives him (see Reed line). Children: I. Abner, died aged three years. 2. David Sterrett (see sketch following). 3. Nancy Margaret, resides with her mother. 4. Andrew Reed, graduate of Bucknell University, class of 1891, and of Princeton University, class of 1895, department of electric engineering. now a lumberman, residing in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania; unmarried. 5. Rhoda Mckinney, educated at Bucknell University, resides with her mother. 6. Alexander Brown, died in infancy. 7. Alexander Brown. educated at Millersville State Normal school and now resides on the old homestead. He married Edna Elizabeth Close and has: Eleanor Frances, Catherine, Elizabeth, Alexander Brown and Anna Grace. 8. Mary Taylor, educated at Millersville State Normal School, married Rev. William E. Steckel, a minister of the Presbyterian church and re- sides in Doylestown, Pennsylvania ; child: Sarah Elizabeth. 9. Ogleby James, educated at Bucknell University, now a quarry operator and resides with his mother in Reedsville, Pennsylvania: unmarried. 10. Robert Cummins, educated at Norristown ( Pennsylvania ) Academy and
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Pierce Business College, at Philadelphia, resides at home and is engaged in lumbering enterprises in Maryland; unmarried. II. John Reed, died in infancy.
In 1906 Mrs. Sarah (Reed). McNitt, with her unmarried children, moved to Reedsville, Pennsylvania, where she erected a substantial brick residence on Main street, which is now her home. This residence stands on land which was sold by her father, Abner Reed, in 1839 and after a lapse of sixty-seven years returned to his daughter. Mrs. McNitt and her daughters are members of the Milroy Presbyterian Church.
(The Reed Line).
The coming of the Reed family to Juniata Valley was coincident with that of the MeNitts, 1755, although the American ancestor, James Reed, first visited the valley in 1751, but did not long remain. James Reed, of Scotch ancestry and perhaps born in Scotland, came to the Kishacoquillas valley about 1751, and about one year later he was accompanied by his half-brother William Brown, who held a commission as justice of the peace from the English crown. They are said to have been the first white settlers in the valley. which they thoroughly explored before choosing a location and fixing a permanent residence. He met the famous Indian chief. Logan, at a point now known as Logan Spring, about one mile north of Reedsville, and formed a lasting friendship. James Reed returned eastward in the fall, locating at Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, where he married Jane Ogleby and the following spring returned to the Kishacoquillas valley, where their son James was born during the summer, the first white child born in the valley. William Brown, who afterward became Judge Brown, gave his name to Brown town- ship. in which James Reed took up government land with others. The Indians gave signs of hostility toward the few whites in the valley and. acting on the advice of Chief Logan, James Reed and others returned to Carlisle, remaining there until 1755, when he returned to the valley and had land patented to him in Brown township in 1755, consisting of five hundred acres, on which the town of Reedsville now stands. He cleared and improved his land, but always lived in Reedsville, his home being about in the center of the present town. He was one of the signers to a call for the first church built in the valley, now known as East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church. The first church was built
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of logs and at the early services held there the men came armed with their rifles, as the Indians were still hostile. The log church was suc- ceeded by one built of stone, then one of brick and finally the congrega- tion built in Reedsville, where the church is now located. In all the plans for improvement and upbuilding his community. James Reed bore a prominent part and his long life of eighty years was filled with good deeds. He died in 1803, and is buried in Church Hill Cemetery. Chil- dren : 1. James, the first white child born in the Kishacoquillas valley. lived and died near Reedsville, a farmer. He married Nancy Milroy. 2. Mary, married John Thompson and died in New York. 3. William, married Abigail Kerr and died in Ohio. 4. Sarah, married Henry Steely, and both spent their lives on their farm at the east end of the valley. 5. Thomas, moved to New York state, where he died. He married Margaret Van Houten. 6. Andrew, married Hannah Conklin and also died in New York. 7. Alexander, lived and died in Reedsville, as did his wife Jane. 8. John, died in infancy. 9. Joseph, died in Reeds- ville after 1840, aged twenty-seven years; unmarried. 10. John, died aged thirty-four years : made his home with his brother Abner. II. Jane, died young. 12. Abner. of whom further.
(II) Abner, twelfth child of James and Jane (Ogleby) Reed, was born October 1, 1787, died October 13, 1855. He was educated in the public schools, which then existed in his neighborhood and passed his entire active years engaged in agriculture. He became possessed of a large amount of improved and unimproved land and to the development of his estate he devoted his life. He lived in Reedsville many years, but spent the last ten years of his life on his back mountain farm. Both he and his wife were devoted Presbyterians and liberal supporters of the East Kishacoquillas Church. He married ( first) Rebecca Henry Brown, who died in 1826, leaving three children: 1. Joseph, died in 1861. 2. Nancy Margaret, married Abner Thompson and had children : Mary, John, Ella, Walter and Edward. 3. Alexander, a farmer, married Mary L. Taylor, lived and died in Reedsville. Abner Reed married (second) Rhoda, daughter of John and Mary ( Taylor) Mckinney, and widow of John Brown. By her first husband she had a son who died in infancy and a daughter Mary (Polly) Ann Brown, who married Samuel W. Taylor and had a daughter, Rhoda Mckinney Taylor. After being widowed a second time Mrs. Rhoda (McKinney-Brown) Reed lived
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with her children until her death in 1877, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. "Polly" Ann Taylor. Children of Abner Reed and his second wife : 1. John, now president of the Reedsville National Bank and of the Farmer's National Bank of Belleville. He married Elizabeth Taylor; children : Henry Taylor and Rhoda M. 2. Andrew, graduate of Dart- mouth College, a lawyer of Lewistown until his death at the home of his sister, Rebecca; unmarried. 3. Ogleby James, a farmer of part of the homestead until his death in Reedsville. He married Agnes Jane Cummins ; children : John Milton, Mary Brown, Anna Cummins and James Andrew. 4. Rebecca Jane, died on shipboard en route from Japan to America and is buried in Reedsville. She married John (2) Hayes, of Brown township; children: Jane A., died young; Rhoda M., John Francis, .1. Reed and Anna W. 5. Sarah, of previous mention, educated in the public schools, Ercildoun Seminary, at Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and Kishacoquillas Seminary. She married Alexander Brown McNitt, whom she survives, a resident of Reedsville ( see McNitt III).
(III) John McNitt, son and sixth child of Alexander
McNITT Brown McNitt (q. v. ) and Nancy ( Sterrett ) McNitt, was born at Siglerville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, February 7. 18244, died near Reedsville, Pennsylvania. December 9, 1900. He was educated in the public schools near Siglerville and grew to manhood at the home farm. After his marriage he purchased a farm of two hundred acres in Brown township, Mifflin county, near Reedsville, where his after life was spent. He was an energetic, capable business man, a worthy descendant of his Scotch paternal ancestor, John ( 1) McNitt, the founder of this branch of the MeNitt family in the Kishacoquillas valley. Both he and his wife were members of the East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church, and in political faith he was a Republican, hold- ing several township offices. He married in December. 1858, Nancy Martha Cummings, born February 19, 1837, died November 18, 1907. She was the daughter of Colonel William Cummings. an old resident of the Kishacoquillas valley, whose farm was near the center of the valley. The Cummings family descends from William (1) Cummings, of Scotch-Irish parentage, who came to America during the latter part of the eighteenth century, settling first in Lancaster county and later came to Mifflin county, where he purchased three hundred and sixty-four acres,
John Mchift
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on which he built a cooper shop and followed his trade. Both he and his wife Sarah died on the farm. They had children: James, Robert. Charles, Margaret, William and David, the latter of whom died young.
Col. William Cummings was a prominent farmer, a very religious man and a leader in the Seceder Church.
Children of John and Nancy Martha (Cummings) McNitt : I. Agnes Young, born October 31, 1859, educated in Kishacoquillas Seminary, lived many years on the home farm and now resides on Walnut street, Reedsville, Pennsylvania. 2. William Alexander, born June 12, 1861, a farmer and stock raiser at Cedar Hill. He married Margaret Utts, born January 5. 1865: children: i. Plum- mer Elder, born March 23, 1883, married Mary Heim. ii. June Estella, born June 15, 1887. iii. Blaine Hampson, December 1, 1889. iv. Helen Cummings, September 22, 1892, married Banks Seiber. v. Hazel Margaret, September 23, 1896. vi. John Stewart, May 27, 1898. vii. William, died in infancy. 3. Jane McElheney, born January 7, 1863. died May 30, 1865. 4. Martha Alice, born January 26, 1865; married Rush Alexander Gibboney, a woolen manufacturer of Cedar Hill. Chil- dren : i. Ora Jeannette, born May 2, 1888. ii. An infant, died unnamed. iii. Dell Harrison, died in infancy. iv. Stella Webb, May 4, 1891. 5. Rhoda Henry, born September 30, 1866, married (first) Foster Taylor, who died September 10, 1900: married (second) Daniel Snyder and moved to Ohio. Children by first marriage: Mabel Cummings, born May 27, 1891 ; Robert Williamson, 1893. 6. Janet McElheney, born De- cember 6, 1867, married Wilson Maxwell and resides in Logansport, Indiana. 7. Sarah Cummings, born May 15, 1869, resides in Reedsville, Pennsylvania. 8. Margaret Mitchell, born January 16, 1871, resides with her sisters in Reedsville. 9. David Homer, born June 23, 1872, a farmer near the old homestead; married Rhoda Henry. Children : John Henry, born January 9, 1899; Earl Cummings, December 28, 1901 ; Garver Milliken, October 7, 1910. 10. Laura, born February 25, 1874, married, February 23, 1898, Dr. Cassius Wilson and resides in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. 11. John Arthur, born October 5. 1876, a farmer near the McNitt homestead. He married Anna Elizabeth Creighton ; children : John Creighton, born May 8, 1904; Paul Eugene, born March 1, 1911, died November 20, 19II.
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(IV) David Sterrett McNitt, second son of Alexander
McNITT Brown (2) McNitt (q. v. ), and Sarah ( Reed ) McNitt, was born near Siglerville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1868, died January 25, 1913, from the result of an accident at the quarries of the National Limestone Company, at Shraders, Penn- sylvania. He was educated in the public schools, Lewistown Academy and new Bloomfield Academy and spent the years preceding his marriage engaged in farming. After marriage he purchased a farm of two hun- dred acres near Siglerville, where he resided for fourteen years. In 1898 he became interested in the lumber business, operating alone in Mifflin and Center counties and at various points in Central Pennsylvania until 1902, when he admitted his brother, Andrew Reed McNitt, to a partner- ship and in 1903, formed with E. M. Huyett, the McNitt, Huyett Lum- ber Company, which yet continues, operating chiefly in Center county, their own stores, mills and railroads. In 1907 Mr. McNitt moved his residence to Lewistown and in 1909 was one of the organizers of the Juniata Lumber Company, the firm consisting of H. C. Hower, R. C. McNitt and the McNitt, Huyett Lumbe. Company .. The mills and tim- ber land of this company being locat .- at Midlothian, Maryland. He also became interested in and was a director of the Maryland Lumber Company, located at Denmar, Pocahontas county, West Virginia. This company owns seventeen thousand acres of timber land and manufac- tures one hundred thousand feet of lumber daily, employing two hun- dred and twenty-five men. He also was president of the Dana Lumber Company of Lombard, Powell county, Kentucky. While his initial en- terprises, and perhaps his most important, were connected with the manu- facture of lumber, he also acquired important connections with other large corporations and firmns. He was president of the Lewistown Foun- dry & Machine Company; director of the Citizens National Bank of Lewistown; director of the Sunbury Bridge Company; the Sunbury Amusement Company: the Sunbury and Selinsgrove Electric Railway Company and was largely interested in the National Limestone Com- pany with quarries at Naginey, near Milroy. Although one of the most active influential business men of his county, Mr. McNitt was not a man of one idea or purpose. He recognized his duties as a citizen and his obligations to his fellow men, neglecting nothing in the way of duty, nor the welfare of his community. He was chairman of the executive
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committee of the Lewistown board of trade, an elder and trustee of the Lewistown Presbyterian church, a teacher in the Sunday school and a member of the public morals committee of the Mifflin County Inter- Church Federation. In political faith he was a Republican, but never sought public office. He rose to a leading position in the business world by honorable, energetic effort and his success was fairly earned. His nature was sympathetic and generous, responding to every call from those less fortunate than himself, but in a quiet, unostentatious way that effectually conccaled his many benefactions. Mr. McNitt was a great church worker and when the new church edifice was erected he con- tributed very liberally to the fund and in other ways assisted in clearing the indebtedness. Viewed from whatever point, the short life of Mr. McNitt was a successful one and worthy of emulation.
David Sterrett McNitt married, December 22, 1892, Catherine Ann Cummins, of McAlevys Fort, daughter of Sterrett and Agnes Cummins, who survives him, a resident of Lewistown. Sterrett Cummins was a son of Robert and Mary ( Sterrett ) Cummins, and grandson of William and Sarah Cummins. William Cummins, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, came to this country prior to the year 1800 and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was a cooper by trade and after moving to the Kishacoquillas valley, followed his trade in connection with farming, having a shop on his farm. He prospered and in addition to liis home farm of three hundred and sixty-four acres owned a large tract in Huntingdon county, Jackson township, on which he placed his son Rob- ert as manager. Robert Cummins was also a successful farmer and an elder of the United Presbyterian church of Jackson township. He died May 27. 1858, aged about seventy-three. He married Mary, daughter of David Sterrett, who died aged seventy-two years. Children: Rev. Cyrus, married Nancy Collins: William David, died young; Samuel. died young; James, died aged thirty-two years; Elizabeth, died aged twenty-two years; Sarah, married George W. Porter: Samuel, married Catherine Smith : Nancy, married John A. Wilson ; Sterrett, of previous mention, married Agnes McNitt: Jane, married Ebenezer Magill. Chil- dren of Sterrett and Agnes Cummins : Mary Alice, born May 24, 1853 ; Nancy Martha, September 17, 1854; Elizabeth Jane, January 22, 1856; Frances Anna, January 15, 1858; Margaret Magill, August 30, 1859; Mila McNitt, March 12, 1861 ; Robert Alexander, March 14, 1863:
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Sarah Armetta, December 12, 1864; Catherine Ann, December 9, 1868, married David Sterrett McNitt; Adolphus McNitt, January 2, 1870; Cora, February 1, 1871; and three children died in infancy. Children of David Sterrett and Catherine Ann (Cummins) McNitt: 1. Sarah Reed, born April 17, 1894, now a student at college in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. 2. Allen Cummins, born October 17, 1895, now a student at preparatory school. 3. Alexander Brown, died aged three years. 4. Berenice. died aged 20 months. 5. David Sterrett, born December 22, 1904. 6. Frances Anna, born September 21, 1909.
The family of Arnolds have long been settled in Penn- ARNOLD sylvania. They originally came from England, and many of the name are widely scattered over the United States. Thomas Arnold was among the early land owners in Perry county, Pennsylvania. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in 1806. He married Mary Folk, daughter of John Folk, of Mifflin county : she was born in Mifflin county, in 1810. He eventually moved to Mifflin county, where he lived for forty years, dying at the age of eighty-three. Among his children was George, of whom further.
(II) George Arnold, son of Thomas and Mary (Folk) Arnold, was born in Perry county in 1836, died in 1898. He married Elizabeth. daughter of John Will, who was born in Germany and came to Mifflin county, where he died. Elizabeth ( Will) Arnold was born in 1847 and died in 1889. George Arnold received his education in the common schools and was brought up on the farm. He was a Democrat, voting with and working for the party; and both he and his wife were devout members of the Lutheran church. Children : Isaac ; Amanda ; Daniel J., of whom further ; John T. : Anna ; Margaret E. ; George H.
(III) Daniel J., son of George and Elizabeth (Will) Arnold, was born October 5, 1867, in Mifflin county. He received his education in the common schools. On leaving school he farmed, then turned his attention to railroading. In 1889 he secured a position as brakeman on the Pennsylvania road. He was made fireman and worked at this for some time. In 1898 he was promoted to the engineer's place on the locomotive, which he has held ever since. He has accumulated quite a handsome property by economy and wise investment. In 1903 he built a handsome residence at 23 North Grand street, Lewistown, where he
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now resides. He also built nine other houses, seven of them he still owns, including a double one at Lewistown Junction, all of which he rents. He is a Democrat and a prominent member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married. November 7, 1889, Mary Kitting, daughter of John and Mar- garet ( Yearick) Kitting ; she was born April 12, 1872, in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Children: Grace, born October 27, 1890; Ruth, No- vember 19, 1893: Grant, March 30, 1895.
(The Kitting Line).
Abraham Kitting and his wife, Mary (East) Kitting, were born in Reading, Pennsylvania, there grew up, were educated and married. After marriage they moved to Lewistown, and he was a painter and chairmaker. He established a large chair factory on Valley street, in Lewistown, and superintended it until his death in 1892. He was suc- cessful in his business ventures and accumulated much property. He was a staunch Democrat, and was a member of the city council, and a devout member of the Lutheran church. Children: Kate, married John A. Loque, now dead; William, married Sallie Mathers, dead; John, of whom further ; Charles, a cigar manufacturer : Abraham, cigar manu- facturer on Chestnut street, married Sophia Bossinger; Mollie, dead, married Frank Wearam: Maggie, died unmarried.
John Kitting, son of Abraham and Mary (East) Kitting, was a cabinetmaker and painter; much of his cabinet work is to be found in Lewistown to-day, where it is greatly prized because of its beauty of finish. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran church. He married Margaret Yearick and to them were born six children : Mary, wife of D. J. Arnold (see above ) ; Harry; Annie; Margaret, dead; Elizabeth ; John.
Benjamin Sharp, of Belleville, Pennsylvania, descends on SHARP the paternal side from hardy English, and on the distaff side from sturdy German stock-a combination that has made great the state of Pennsylvania, and has forged it to the front rank in the sisterhood of states of the Union. They were of that important class of citizens so necessary to the stability and upbuilding of any nation-farmers; and they have performed their duty well in the main-
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taining of their section of the country. His forefathers from the first immigrant, Benjamin, landing in 1732, were farmers, and he remains one to-day. The Sharps for generations have played their part in Penn- sylvania, where the original American ancestor migrated after landing. They were detailed to watch the Indians, and were appointed to garrison duty ; a Sharp was in the war of the English against the French, and there were many of them in the revolutionary war. Taken all in all it is a fine record for an American family to have.
(I) Peter Sharp is the first of the immediate family of whom there is any definite record. He was born about 1752, and enlisted in the Con- tinental army in 1776. He was in many battles, and was at Valley Forge with Washington. He married Gertrude -, probably of German descent, as several of the children bore German names, notably that of Christian. They settled at Back Mountain, where he was a small farmer. He took up wild land, cleared and tilled it, and built thereon a substantial house of logs, and there reared a large family under many difficulties. The Indians were still troublesome and he was away from home in the war for years, during which time his heroic wife and small sons carried on the farm, provided for the family, and gave assistance to less fortunate neighbors and contributed to the revo- lutionary cause. He was a good, honest, upright man, and a patriot. He was highly esteemed by his neighbors. Among his sons was Chris- tian, of whom further.
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