USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume II > Part 36
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He was held in high esteem, and was chosen by his neighbors for the offices of tax collector, supervisor and school director. H was an active, devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he served as class leader and trustce. Samuel Pheasant married (first) Annie Snyder, who died at the homestead in Trough Creek Val- ley, September 22, 1853, aged fifty-eight years. He married (second) Mary Baumgardner. Mary, the eldest daughter of Samuel Pheasant by his first wife, married Levi Smith (of previous mention). Samuel was the son of Samuel Pheasant, of Sheffield, England, who to escape military service was smuggled in a barrel on board a ship bound for America. He landed in Baltimore, settling in Queen Anne's county, Maryland, where he married, and there his son Samuel (2) was born. Two of the eleven children of Samuel Pheasant by his first wife arc yet
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living-Samuel, a farmer of Union township; and Christian, living in Trough Creek Valley. Mary Pheasant Smith died in 1910, aged ninety- three years two months and three days, having been a widow for thirty- eight years. Both she and her husband are buried in Mapleton ceme- tery.
Children of Levi and Mary ( Pheasant) Smith: 1. Samuel Pheas- ant, of whom further. 2. George, a physician, died in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. 3. John, a farmer, died in Huntingdon county. 4. Annie, married Abram Swope. 5. Rosa Belle, married Joseph Pheasant, whom she survives, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska. 6. Elizabeth, married John Bookheimer, and resides in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. 7. David, killed in a railroad accident. 8. James, a physician, died in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. 9. Miles, now living in Huntingdon county. 10. Abra- ham, killed in the battle of the Wilderness. II. Isaac, now living in Manhattan, Kansas. 12. Mary, died in Kansas; married William Chil- coot. 13. Leonard, now a farmer on the old homestead.
(IV) Samuel Pheasant, eldest son of Levi and Mary (Pheasant) Smith, was born in Union township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1832. He attended the public schools, finishing his studies at Cassville Seminary. He grew to manhood on the home farm, and there became proficient in the occupation he ever followed-farming. After his marriage he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Union township, where he built a fine home and otherwise im- proved. In 1859 he sold his farm and moved to Huntingdon, to fill the office of county commissioner, to which he had been elected. After his term expired he returned to the farm in Smith Valley, where he resided until 1895, when he sold and purchased another of three hun- dred and twenty acres in Brady township, where he conducted farming and stock raising operations until 1907, when he disposed of his farm property and moved to Huntingdon, where he now lives a retired life. He is a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America. He is a man of high standing in the community: was justice of the peace in both Union and Brady townships, in the latter serving in all township offices, and in 1881 was chosen county commissioner on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his younger days took an active part in church affairs.
Ho & Smith
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He married, November 15, 1853, Catherine W., daughter of David and Isabella (Wright) Swope, of German descent. Children : 1. Ralph P., born in Union township, Huntingdon county, September 7, 1854; a teacher in his youth ; now a farmer of Cass township, where he has resided since 1872; married, September 10, 1872, Amanda Fisher, and has issue : Elmer, Lottie, Clem, Beulah, Denver and Carrie. 2. Isa- bella, married Madison Swope; children: A. Dennis and May. 3. Jane, married James Kidder, and resides in North Dakota; no issue. 4. Josephine, married Milton Mierly, a farmer, and resides in Porter township, Huntingdon county; children: Mamie, Maud, Lillian, Oscar and John. 5. Harrison S. (Harry), of whom further. 6. Catherine, married Andrew Neff. and lives at Alexandria, Pennsylvania; by a previous marriage she has a son, Fred M. Laird. 7. Samuel, a farmer of the Kishacoquillas Valley; married Currie Bumgardner ; children : Lloyd, Clair, Sam, Anna, Edith. Margaret, Alma. 8. Julia, married Charles Streightiff, and resides in Huntingdon; 110 issue. 9. Edgar, a farmer of Alexandria, Pennsylvania; married Rebecca Huly ; children : Mary A., Cora, Edna and Samuel. At this writing ( 1913) Samuel P. Smith and his wife have fourteen grand- children.
(V) Harrison S. (familiarly known as Harry), son of Samuel P. and Catherine W. ( Swope) Smith, was born in Union township, Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1862. He was educated in the public schools, and remained at home as his father's assistant until he was twenty-one years of age. He was then for several years in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, continuing until 1897, when he was appointed guard at the Huntingdon State Industrial Re- formatory. In 1909 he was elected sheriff of Huntingdon county, an office he filled with credit and yet holds. He is a member of the Patri- otic Order of Sons of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Huntingdon ; is a Republican; and both he and his wife are members of the Reformed Church.
He married, May 1, 1884, May L., daughter of William and Mary (Helsell) Snowden, both born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania; chil- dren : Grace, born January 5. 1886, married Ray Goddard, a mechani- cal draughtsman, and resides in Alton, Illinois; Ethel. Isabel and Robert, at home.
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The Garretts, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, descend
GARRETT from German ancestry, the emigrant, Jacob Garrett, coming at an early day, and settling in what is now York county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer, married and left issue, including a son Jacob.
(II) Jacob (2), son of the emigrant, Jacob (I) Garrett, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, there lived and died. He was a farmer of York county, but lived in the Juniata Valley for some time. He married and had issue, including a son John W.
(III) John W., son of Jacob (2) Garrett, was born about 1812, learned the millwright's trade, and when a young man located in the state of Ohio. While dressing a mill-stone in a mill at Cincinnati, his home, he was crushed to death. John W. Garrett married Mary Shultz, born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, died 1892, daughter of John Shultz, a pioneer of the Juniata Valley, who had the following children: Christina, died in Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, in her ninety-seventh year; Elizabeth, died in Lewistown, Penn- sylvania, aged eighty-five years; Mina, died aged eighty-eight; Mary, married John W. Garrett and died aged seventy-seven years; Hannah, died aged seventy-eight years; George, died in his ninety-ninth year. The average age of the six children was eighty-six years. John W. Garrett, at the time of his death, left an infant son, John S., of whom further.
(IV) John S., only child of John W. and Mary (Shultz) Garrett, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 26, 1843, only a few months prior to the accidental death of his father. His mother returned with her babe to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, where she lived with her father, John Shultz, until her marriage to Henry Kemerling, who died in 1865, leav- ing a daughter Margaret, now the widow of Henry S. Jacobs, of Perry. John S. Garrett attended the public schools in his early boyhood, but at the age of seven years drove a team on the tow path of the canal and continued a canal boatman until the war, working summers and attending school in the winter months. In 1861 he joined the second company of Logan Guards, later enlisting in Company A, 46th Regi- ment Pennsylvania Infantry. He served with credit until September, 1864. then was honorably discharged at Atlanta, Georgia, returning to his home in Lewistown at once. He was in railroad employ a short
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time, then reenlisted at Philadelphia, March 6, 1865, in Company E, Third United States Volunteers, for one year, discharged March 6, 1866, at Springfield, Illinois. He served during his military service with the Army of the Potomac, was with Sherman in the west, and engaged in the battles of Nashville, Chattanooga, Marietta, Reseca, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, and was within seven miles of Washington the night of President Lincoln's assassination, his regiment acting as guard over prisoners. After his final discharge Mr. Garrett returned to Lewistown and for two years again worked on the canal. He was then elected head constable of the township and appointed chief of police of Lewistown, serving six years. He was then in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad for two years. In 1881 he was elected sheriff of Mifflin county, serving three years, returning to the railroad in 1885. Since that year he was continuously in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, up to 1913, when he was retired, his last capac- ity being joint yardmaster at Lewistown Junction. He resides in Lew- istown, where he erected, in 1884, a good home at the corner of Wayne and Fifth streets. He is a Democrat in politics; a member of Lewis- town Lodge, No. 97, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Improved Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 67; the Brotherhood of Railroad Train- men; Huling Post, No. 176, Grand Army of the Republic, and is an attendant of the Episcopal church. Mr. Garrett was for eleven years a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, connected with the Fifth Regiment, as private, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and lieutenant- colonel. Mr. Garrett has the record of never having tasted any kind of intoxicating liquor in his life.
He married, December 25, 1867, Mary E. Peters, born in Mifflin county in 1850, daughter of Daniel and Rachel (Jones) Peters. Daniel Peters died in 1896, aged about eighty years; his wife died September 7. 1872, aged forty-seven years. The family, after their father's death. moved to Clyde, Sandusky county, Ohio. Daniel and Rachel Peters had thirteen children, four now living: Frank, Leonard, Solomon and Mary E. Children of John S. and Mary E. (Peters) Garrett : I. William H., born November 12, 1868, died May 16, 1869. 2. Oliver Perry, born March 13, 1870, married Lila Owens, and has children : Joseph Shultz, John Howard, Robert Hughes, Harry Owens, Oliver Perry (2), Richard Paul and Enslow Beale. 3. Samuel Henry, born
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August 31, 1872, died January 16, 1873. 4. John Lewis, born Decem- ber 4, 1873, married Harriet E. Briner, and has children: Charles Briner, John Shultz and Thomas Hooker. 5. Daisy Grace, born Feb- ruary 12, 1876, at home. 6. Elsie Platt, born July 18, 1879, married Oliver P. Smith. 7. James Albert, born May 1, 1881, married Elva Crissman, and has children: Esther C. and Catherine Elizabeth. 8. Edward Smith, born January 8. 1883, died February 13, 1884. 9. Anna Webb, born August 15, 1884, died January 20, 1889. 10. Rufus Elder. born November 16, 1886, married Bessie Thornburg, and has : Mildred, Elizabeth and Margaret Robinson. 11. Mary Elizabeth, born February 11, 1888, married Harry C. Stuck, and had child, John Gar- rett. 12. Catherine Strang, born July 16, 1890, married Harold Law- rence Wampole, and has Elizabeth Garrett. 13. Robert Jacobs, born January 16, 1895. died May 7. 1898.
MILLER One of the first of Ireland's sons to come to America was Matthew Miller, the founder of the Miller family in Pennsylvania. Coming from Donegal county, Ire- land, soon after the revolution, he settled in Juniata county, then mov- ing to Huntingdon county and there purchasing a large farm in Miller township. This was all virgin forest, and before a building could be raised, the mighty work of reclaiming the land from Nature's sway had to be performed. No buzzing-toothed wheel could be used here, no power could be utilized but that in the strong right arm, and for weeks the only sound rising above the low rustling murmur of the forest was the steady ring of axe upon wood. Here in the home he had made for himself in the country he had adopted as his own Mat- thew Miller died at the marvelous age of one hundred and ten years. His wife, Mary (Dunn) Miller, died there, also, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. Both had been lifelong members of the Presby- terian church. Children: 1. Margaret, born in Ireland, died in Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania; married Robert Stewart. 2. James, born in Pennsylvania, died in Ohio. 3. David, died in Huntingdon county. 4. Samuel, of whom further. 5. Thomas, died in Huntingdon county. 6. John. a Methodist minister, died in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Il) Samuel, third son and fourth child of Matthew and Mary (Dunn) Miller, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1791,
-
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died there 1855. He inherited a large portion of the old homestead and spent his entire life thereon. When his sons attained man's estate he turned the entire care of the farm over to them and a few years later retired. He was a Democrat in politics. He married, October 3. 1816, Charlotte Graffius, born in Huntingdon county, January 31, 1794, died April 11, 1877, daughter of Nicholas, born 1746, died 1822, and Elizabeth Graffius, born 1753, died 1845, natives of Germany, who emigrated about 1800 and settled in Huntingdon county. Children of Samuel and Charlotte (Graffius) Miller: 1. Graffius, a merchant, sher- iff, and assistant judge of courts of Huntingdon county; born July 14, 1817, died in Huntingdon, 1885. 2. Matthew, a physician of McAl- veys Fort: born March 4, 1819, died December 6, 1884. 3. James, born May 4, 1821, died November 19, 1894. 4. Jacob C., a farmer ; born June 10, 1823, died June 9, 1898. 5. John S., a hotel proprietor of Huntingdon ; born October 6, 1825. 6. Abraham, a farmer of Hunt- ingdon county ; born February, 1828, died September 2, 1895. 7. Ben- jamin F., a physican : born April 16, 1830, died in Fairmont, West Vir- ginia, January 29, 1855. 8. Samuel, born July 3, 1833, died March 15, 1861. 9. David P., of whom further.
(III) David P., son of Samuel and Charlotte (Graffius) Miller, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1836. Hav- ing received a thorough preliminary education, at the age of twenty- six he began the study of medicine in the office of his brother Mat- thew, later entering Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, whence he was graduated in 1864. Recognizing the great need of surgeons in the military service of that time, he at once enlisted and was stationed as assistant surgeon in a hospital at Washington, D. C. During the winter of 1864-65 he was on duty on a hospital steamer, and was re- tained until the last patient had been removed from Dupotfield Hospital at City Point, when he entered Columbia College Hospital at Washing- ton, remaining there until July, 1865. Returning to Huntingdon he began practice there, continuing until 1910, when he retired, having completed nearly half a century of continuous and active practice. He was a member of the County, State and American Medical associations, and fraternally is connected with the Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons, and Standing Stone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. In politics he is a Democrat.
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He married, September 20, 1880, Alice C. Anderson, died July, 1897, daughter of John P. and Margaret Anderson, natives of Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania. Child of David P. and Alice C. (An- derson) Miller: Charlotta, educated at Gilman school for girls, Cam- bridge, Massachusetts.
The Watts family, of Belleville, Pennsylvania, descend
WATTS from the English family of that name that has produced so many men famous in art, science and religion, includ- ing Rev. Isaac Watts, an English independent minister and hymn writer, born July 17, 1674: Alaric Alexander Watts, a journalist and poet : George Frederick Watts, a painter and sculptor ; Henry Watts, a noted chemist, and others. In the United States a well-known public character was Thomas Hill Watts, born 1819, died 1892, a lawyer and statesman of Alabama. He exerted himself continually to keep his state from seceding, but later joined with the Confederacy and served as colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment, Alabama Infantry, but in 1862 was chosen as attorney-general in the cabinet of Jefferson Davis. In 1863 he was elected governor of Alabama, serving until the close of the war.
The history of this branch begins with Samuel Watts, born in Eng- land prior to the year 1700, settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He married and reared a family, including a son Thomas.
(II) Thomas, son of Samuel Watts, was born in England, came to Pennsylvania with his father, and became a farmer of Caernarvon township, Lancaster county. He married Maria Snyder, of Swiss parentage, and both died in Lancaster county. Children: I. George, married and moved to Holmes county, Ohio, where he has descendants. 2. Philip, twice married, moved to the Kishacoquillas Valley, and left two children: Franklin, who became a priest of the Roman Catholic church, and Sarah, who became a Sister of Charity, going to an institute in Paris. 3. Samuel, of whom further. 4. Catherine, married (first) a Mr. Lapp, (second) a Mr. Silknitter.
(III) Samuel (2), son of Thomas and Maria (Snyder) Watts, was born in Fairville, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1822. He was educated in the public school and remained at home as his father's
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assistant until 1840, when he came to Belleville to become a clerk in the store of his uncle, Daniel Overholtzer. He continued his studies under private tuition, at the same time, but later returned to his father's home, where he found means to acquire a thorough education, attending the academy at New London Cross Roads, Chester county. There he had as classmates two men later famous in Lancaster county, J. Smith Frithy and Robert Emmet Monaghan. Again he returned home and studied under private tutors at New Holland. He next established a private school near his home, where he taught for several years. In 1844 he began his long and successful career as merchant and financier. He first opened a store at Galtsville, Lancaster county ; later established in the flour and feed business at Pottsville, Schuylkill county. In 1850 he exchanged his Pottsville store for that of his uncle, Daniel Over- holtzer, in Belleville, Mifflintown, taking possession in 1851. Although starting with little capital, he so used his powers of youth, perseverance, economy and business acumen, that he became one of the most substan- tial and useful men of his borough. As his business grew he enlarged and expanded in many ways. He was one of the principal organizers of the Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad Company, and aided largely in the construction of that road in 1892, and was its first president. He was also one of the organizers and a charter member of the Kishacoquil- las Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; charter member of the East Kisha- coquillas Turnpike Company ; a director and for several years its presi- dent. He was one of the leading incorporators of the Reedsville Na- tional Bank ; its first president, serving until his death. He was also an organizer and president of the Farmer's National Bank of Belleville and of the Citizens' National Bank of Lewistown, filling these responsible positions with honor and credit until his death. IIe aided in the im- provement of Belleville, by the erection of several modern residences, and also made large investments in farm lands in Iowa, South Dakota and Illinois, placing these in charge of his son, Samuel Henry Watts. He abandoned mercantile life in 1895, then devoted himself to the in- terests of the banking institutions over which he presided. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and generous contributors to all churches, regardless of creed. He was very liberal in his own church and a willing worker. He built the present Methodist Church at Belleville, and presented it to the congre-
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gation, and there with them worshiped and labored for the cause of religion until his death. In politics he was an ardent Republican, deeply interested in public affairs, but never sought or accepted office for him- self. While Mr. Watts' life was an eminently successful one, he did not gain prominence by favor. He faced many discouragements and difficulties that would have defeated a less resolute, determined man, and fairly won the high standing he attained. When wealth was gained he used it justly, and there was never a man to say it was not fairly won. He aided in every public enterprise presented to him and much of the prosperity of his section of Mifflin county can be traced to his initiative or cooperation. Samuel Watts married, February, 1852, Ma- ria, daughter of John and Margaret (Kurtz) Overholtzer, and grand- daughter of Jacob Overholtzer, of Lancaster county. Children: I. Elizabeth, died October 4, 1854, aged four months. 2. Martin O., de- ceased. 3. Samuel Henry, now living in Iowa. 4. James Kurtz, a farmer of Belleville, Pennsylvania. 5. Mary Elizabeth, married Wil- liam H. Oldt, whom she survives. 6. Levi Metzler, a traveling sales- man of Belleville, married, October 28, 1896, Sue Stroup, daughter of Samuel and Sue (Stroup) Killian. 7. John, of whom further. 8. Isaac Sturk, educated in the public schools, now member of the firm of Watts Brothers and interested in other Belleville business concerns.
(IV) John, son of Samuel and Maria (Overholtzer) Watts, was born in Belleville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1866, now member of the firm of Watts Brothers, of Belleville. He was edu- cated in the public school and began business life as clerk in his father's store. In 1895, in company with his brother Isaac, under the firm name Watts Brothers, he succeeded to the mercantile business founded by Daniel Overholtzer and conducted by Samuel Watts since 1851 in Belle- ville. The business, general merchandise, under their management has prospered and increased, both partners being able, energetic men of affairs. John Watts is also a director of the Farmers' National Bank of Belleville, and interested in other lines of business activity, including the senior membership of the firm Watts & Yoder, extensive grain dealers and millers of Belleville. He is a Republican in politics, but has never accepted public office ; belongs to Belleville Lodge, No. 302, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a communicant of Belleville Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Watts is unmarried.
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The Vuille family, of Huntingdon. descends from a VUILLE French Huguenot ancestor who fled to Switzerland when religious liberty was denied him in France by the revoca- tion of the Edict of Nantes. This record dates to Onesime Vuille, a descendant of the French Huguenot emigrant. Onesime Vuille was a watchmaker, and had a shop at Locle, in that part known as French Switzerland. He was active in military affairs and was a leader in the demonstration against Napoleon when he attempted to invade Switzer- land. For his courage and determined stand he was presented with a medal by his grateful countrymen. He married Louise Emma Rosalie Perrnoud : children : Paul Emile, of further mention; Marie, married James Geneell, and resides at Lausanne, Switzerland: Elise, married Herman Vuille, came to the United States and settled in New York City and had children now living on Staten Island, New York.
(II) Paul Emile, son of Onesime Vuille, was born in Locle, Switzer- land, was there educated, grew to manhood, and married. In 1881 he came to the United States, settling first in New York City. He later resided in Watertown and Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, finally settling in Greentown, Pennsylvania, where he died. He was an expert watch- maker and the inventor of several attachments to watches that gave him a high standing in his trade. For many years he was connected with the Waltham Watch Company, and ranked as one of the masters in the delicate art he practiced. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States. and acted with the Republican party. Both he and his wife were members of the French Evangelical church ( Presbyterian). He mar- ried (first ) in Switzerland, Elise Girard, born in that country, died in the United States, in 1883. He married (second) Lisa Perrett, who for several years was instructor to the present Czar of Russia and his brothers and sisters. Children by first wife: 1. Emile, now residing in Greentown, Pike county, Pennsylvania, on the old Vuille homestead farm: he is a prosperous farmer, prominent in political life and in edu- cational work. 2. Amelia, married Paul Heine, cashier of the banking firm of Müller, Schall & Company, No. 44 Wall street, New York City. a large and prominent German banking house : they reside at Stapleton. Staten Island, New York, and have five children. 3. Emma, married Albert M. Price, and resides at Bushkill Falls. Pike county, Pennsyl- vania. 4. Charles A., of whom further.
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