USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume III > Part 5
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(III) Maria Duffield Peebles, daughter of Thomas Sr. and Martha (Norris) King, married Andrew Jackson Africa (see Africa I).
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The Wright family herein recorded was founded in WRIGHT Huntingdon county at an early day by John Wright, who was of the Maryland family of Wrights, a promi- nent family of Eastern Shore. They stood at the head of political affairs in Maryland from the time of their first arrival from England, and served their state faithfully in peace and in war. The ancestor, Solomon Wright, emigrated to Maryland in 1673. He was a justice, member of the legislature, 1709-II ; vestryman of "Old Chester Church," and deputy of the province. His wife's name was undoubtedly Hynson, daughter of Thomas Hynson, also an early settler. Solomon Wright had issue, Thomas Hynson, Nathaniel, Charles, John, Edward, Fauclough, Ann and Rachel. From these sprang the numerous Wright family of Mary- land, ever illustrious in church and state. Nathaniel Wright in 1694 was one of the vestry of "Old Wye," and with other members of the family ordered a "pulpit and reading desk" to be placed in the church. In 1727 Solomon and Solomon Wright Jr. were the "only members present at a meeting of the vestry of Old Chester Church." In 1722 Thomas Hynson Wright was vestryman at both "Old Wye" and "Old Chester churches." Solomon Wright was present at a court held in Queenstown in 1714, and General Samuel Turbutt Wright was chosen as the best qualified person in his county to take charge of the public magazine and to lead the troops of his country in the event of military operations. In 1771 Thomas T. and Solomon Wright represented their company. In 1774 the delegates were Turbutt and Solomon Wright, who were also appointed to try all persons for treason on the Eastern Shore, and many Wrights fought in the army of independence. Since revolutionary days the Maryland family has been prominent in every walk of life. This record follows the branch that shortly after the revolution settled in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where in busi- ness, church and public life they have maintained the high reputation of their ancestors.
(I) Some time prior to the formation of Huntingdon county, 1787, John, Abraham and William Wright, three brothers, settled in what is now Clay township, coming from Baltimore township, Maryland. Abra- ham lived for many years in Hare's Valley, northeast of Saltillo, where he was a well-known justice of the peace; later he moved to the west. John Wright brought with him his wife, a Miss Hendon, or Hynson,
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whom he had married in Baltimore. He settled on a tract lying along Three Springs Creek, in Union township, where he resided several years. Later he purchased from Samuel Lilly a tract of about three hundred acres, lying on both sides of Trough creek, between the Dean and Chil- cott farms, which had been improved in 1773 by Samuel Dean. Children of John Wright: Thomas (2), married a daughter of Joshua Gosnell, and moved to Ohio; Temperance, married John Shaw ; Betsey, married Robinson Chilcote; Jemima and Amelia, who married Estep brothers; Abraham, of whom further.
(II) Abraham, son of John Wright, was born September 7, 1785, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and there died September 28, 1866. After his marriage he bought a farm in Trough Creek valley, which he cultivated until his retirement on account of old age. He was a man of honorable character, industrious and prosperous. Both he and his wife were devoted Methodists and active workers in the church. He mar- ried, in 1810, Catherine Mireley, born in Baltimore, Maryland, Septem- ber 6, 1792, died on the home farm, in Trough creek valley, March 16, 1881. Children : I. Isabel, born April 2, 1811, married David Swope, a farmer, of Trough creek valley, but late in life moved to Mapleton, where she died. 2. Jordan H., born September 28, 1812; lived and died in Union township, a farmer. 3. Michael, born August 28, 1814, died in Union township; was a farmer. 4. Levi, born July 4, 1816; was a farmer of Union township, and hotel keeper at Mapleton; married Rachel Chilcott. 5. Simeon, born April 28, 1818, died in Union town- ship, a farmer. 6. Eliza, born October 16, 1821 ; married Richard Chil- cott, and died at their farm in Trough creek valley. 7. Catherine, born September 7, 1823; married Samuel Foust, a farmer of Henderson township, where both died. 8. Elizabeth, born December 29, 1825 : married George W. Pheasant, and died in Trough creek valley. 9. Matilda, born January 25, 1828; married John S. Pheasant, and died near Mill Creek, Union township. 10. Abraham W., of whom further. II. James C., born April 19, 1839; died at the Wright homestead.
(III) Abraham W., son of Abraham and Catherine (Mireley) Wright, was born in Trough creek valley, Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, February 4, 1835. He there was educated and grew to manhood and married. After his marriage he still continued farming in the valley, but in 1870 moved to a farm about two miles away, where he
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yet resides. He has been a landowner ever since he was a young man, having bought and sold several farms in Huntingdon county, near his present home. From 1876 to 1879 he was a commissioner of Hunting- don county and has served as school director several years. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years Mr. Wright was a steward and trustee. He has prospered in his undertakings, and now is enjoying an honored old age at his farm on and near which his entire life has been passed. He married Mary Matthias, born in Huntingdon county, January II, 1834, and now, after passing a happy married life of over fifty years, she resides in good health and contentment at the old farm with her aged husband. She is the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Taylor) Matthias, early settlers of Huntingdon county and of Trough creek valley. He was a farmer during his life, which ended while still a young man, his widow mar- rying (second) Abraham Elias, whom she also survived, spending her last years with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham W. Wright. By first husband she had three children: Henry, died young ; Catherine, married James Kirkpatrick, who lost his life in the Union army; and Mary, wife of Abraham W. Wright. Children of Abraham IV. Wright and wife: Hutchison H., died in infancy; Watson W., born March 24, 1857, now a farmer of Trough creek valley; Margaret, born April 27, 1860, married W. T. Boring, and resides at the Wright home- stead; George Wilson, of whom further; William L., born January 15, 1865, now a farmer of Trough creek valley.
(IV) George Wilson, son of Abraham Wesley and Mary (Mat- thias) Wright, was born in Trough creek valley, April 27, 1862. He was educated in the public schools and spent his early life at the home farm. He early began teaching in the public schools, continuing for thirteen terms, the last three years being spent as principal of the schools of Mapleton borough. In 1884 he married, and soon afterward estab- lished a mercantile business in Mapleton, which he successfully con- ducted until 1911, when he retired, having been elected prothonotary of Huntingdon county. During the administration of President Har- rison he was appointed postmaster of Mapleton, serving a term of four years. During his mercantile life he engaged in other activities, includ- ing the organization of the First National Bank of Mount Union, of which later he became a director. His term as prothonotary began
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January 1, 1912, and will continue for a term of four years. He has always been an active worker in the Republican party, and has held the offices of school director, chief burgess, councilman and justice of the peace, resigning the latter office when elected prothonotary. In all these positions he has served with honor and fidelity, holding to an unusual degree the confidence of the electors of his borough, regardless of poli- tics. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; Mount Moriah Lodge No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons : the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
Mr. Wright married, March 14, 1884, Mary A. Dell, born in Union township, daughter of Jonathan and Emmeline (Chilcote) Dell, of an old county family (see Dell). The only child of George Wilson and Mary A. Wright is Myrtle, married William A. Foster, resides at Columbus, Ohio, and has a son, George David Foster.
The Steel family, of which Harry E. Steel is a represen- STEEL tative in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, at the present time ( 1913), have been identified with the history of that section of the country almost from the time of its first settlement. They have frequently filled public positions with credit to themselves and benefit to the community.
(I) Samuel Steel, the American progenitor of the family, was born in Ireland about the year 1770, and came to America in his early youth. He was among the very early settlers in Huntingdon, where he achieved a position of influence in the community, and where his death occurred in 1853. For many years he was engaged in a mercantile line of busi- ness, and his name appears on early receipts in 1795. From 1800 until 1825, a quarter of a century, he was the postmaster in Huntingdon, and under his régime everything was conducted in a most systematic and satisfactory manner. He married and had several children.
(II) George, son of Samuel Steel, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and there his entire life was spent. He was a Republican in his political ideas, and at one time filled the office of postmaster. He married Elizabeth McMurtrie Steel, and both he and his wife were con- sistent members of the Presbyterian church. Children: Elizabeth, married Milton S. Lytle, and now resides in Philadelphia; Martha, mar- ried (first ) Howard Cruitt, (second) E. T. Swain ; Mary Ellen. married
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J. C. Carroll, deceased ; Samuel A., see forward ; George G., now retired, was prothonotary.
(III) Samuel A., eldest son and fourth child of George and Eliza- beth (McMurtrie) Steel, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1843, and died December 20, 1903. During the civil war he was employed in a storehouse in Louisiana, and upon its close he re- turned to his home and was engaged in farming for a period of two years. He then established himself in the lumber business, operating a saw mill, and this concern was known as the Samuel A. Steel Lumber Company of Huntingdon County. He kept one mill constantly busy and the company was in a most flourishing condition. He served as a commissioner's clerk from 1887 until 1893, and he held the office of prothonotary from 1896 until 1902. When he was succeeded by his brother he served in the office for one year as a clerk. In 1903 he was made a member of the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Indus- trial Reformatory, and was still filling this office at the time of his death. He was a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Steel married Elizabeth A., daughter of Jacob and Mary Landis, both natives of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred, while his wife died in Huntingdon county. Mr. Landis was a miller and merchant at Middletown, and at one time represented his section in the legislature. They had children: Minnie F., married J. C. Fezell, and lives in Grand Island, Nebraska; Robert, who was a soldier in active service during the civil war, was a machinist, and is now living retired in Middletown, Pennsylvania; William, is a cabinet maker and lives in Toledo, Ohio; Elizabeth A., mentioned above. Mr. and Mrs. Steel have had children : George L., is in the employ of the J. C. Blair Com- pany, and lives in Huntingdon; Harry E., see forward; Samuel McCul- lock, born September, 1869, and died June 25, 1872; Robert M., lives in Huntingdon, where he is the proprietor of a grocery store, and is a veteran of the Spanish-American war; Chalmers A., is a druggist in Tyrone; Mary, married Fay E. Colony, a civil engineer, at present en- gaged in state highway construction work; Elizabeth, married Elias G. Phillips, and lives in Huntingdon; Cora, married Frederick D. Bayer, resides in Huntingdon.
(IV) Harry E., second son and child of Samuel A. and Elizabeth
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A. (Landis) Steel, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 11, 1867. The public schools of his section of the country supplied him with a sound, practical education, and he left them at the age of fifteen years. At this time he commenced to learn the drug business, and, in the course of years, acquired a very thorough and satisfactory knowledge of this profession. In 1896 he established him- self in this line of business, purchasing the store and good will of H. W. Leister, of No. 418 Penn street, and has been identified with this since that time. Mr. Steel is very careful and painstaking in his methods of doing business, and so successful has he been that, in 1904. he was enabled to remodel the entire place, which has greatly added to its attractiveness. By many this is now considered the finest store of its kind in the place, and the town is justly proud of it and its courteous and capable proprietor. Mr. Steel is active in all that concerns the public welfare of the community, and politically is identified with the Republican party. He has served very ably as a member of the school board, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The fraternal affiliations of Mr. Steel are with the Improved Order of Heptasophs and the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, and the Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Steel married, September 9, 1890, Lola C., born in Huntingdon, daughter of Simon P. and Martha J. Wensel, and they have children : Gaynelle and Max Wensel. Mr. Steel is a director of the Juniata Val- ley Street Railway Company.
The Bergan family of Huntingdon county, Pennsyl-
BERGAN vania, is represented in the present generation by Patrick H. Bergan, superintendent of the Huntingdon Water Supply Company, and came to this country originally from Ireland. They belong to that class who have brought to the United States the numerous traits of industry, energy, frugality and perseverance, which have been main factors in building up the prosperity of the country.
(I) Kiren Bergan, grandfather of the Mr. Bergan mentioned above, was born in Queens county, Ireland, and his entire life was spent in his native land. He married and had a number of children, of whom the four mentioned here came to this country : John, who made his home in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred; Ann, who
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married John Whalen, and now resides in Wayne county, Pennsyl- vania; Susan, married Patrick Banks, and died in Carbondale, Pennsyl- vania ; Patrick, see forward.
(II) Patrick, son of Kiren Bergan, was born in Ireland in the year 1830, and died in Mayfield Boro, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1900. At the age of seventeen years he emigrated to the United States, settling at Waymart, Pennsylvania, and found employment as a railway en- gineer on the old Delaware & Hudson Gravity railroad. After his marriage he removed to a suburb of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, and there formed a connection with the Hillside Coal & Iron Company, his position being that of superintendent of their supply house. Some years prior to his death he retired from active employment. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, was of considerable prominence in politics locally, and served for many years as tax collector of the dis- trict. He married Mary Farley, born in Ireland in 1842. She is the daughter of Patrick and Ann (Caffery) Farley, both natives of county Cavan, Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1848, and settled at Way- mart, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where he became a prosperous farmer, retiring with a considerable fortune. All the male members of his wife's family were wheelwrights in Ireland. They had children : Thomas, was a canal man and later a farmer, died at South Canaan, Wayne county, Pennsylvania; Mary, mentioned above; Elizabeth, mar- ried Charles Quinn, and resides in Mayfield, Pennsylvania; Andrew, is a railroad man, and now lives retired at Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bergan had children: William J., died at Scranton, Penn- sylvania, where he was the superintendent of the Temple Iron Com- pany of Scranton; Patrick H., see forward; Anna, married P. F. Hughes, and died at Carbondale, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, deceased, sister of the Immaculate Heart, was an instructor at Mount St. Mary's, of which she was one of the seven organizers; Kiren C., is the man- ager of an ice plant at Ithaca, New York; Thomas F., died in Phila- delphia ; Mary, died unmarried; John, lives at Dunkirk, New York, where he holds the position of inspector for the Pennsylvania railroad at the American Locomotive Works; Andrew, died in childhood; Nel- lie, also died in childhood; Gerald, died in infancy.
(III) Patrick H., son of Patrick and Mary (Farley) Bergan, was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1865. He acquired a
G.N. Bergan
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reasonably good education in the public schools of his district when one takes into account the fact that at the early age of ten years he was obliged to commence to assist in contributing to the family sup- port. His first position was as a mail boy in the employ of the Hillside Coal and Iron Company, and he remained with them until January 15. 1901, having in these years risen to the responsible position of engineer. The general manager of the company was also the president of the Huntingdon Water Supply Company and, having formed a clear judg- ment of the value of the services of Mr. Bergan from personal observa- tion, he offered him the position of superintendent in the Huntingdon Water Supply Company, an offer which was accepted, and Mr. Bergan has had an opportunity since that time to show his true metal. His executive ability is of an unusually high order, and he has a grasp of detail which is truly remarkable. The company whose work he superin- tends furnishes its water from Standing Stone creek, and they now (1913) have about thirteen hundred customers. The officers of the company are as follows : James D. Stocker, of Jermyn, Pennsylvania, president ; Frank R. Stocker, secretary and treasurer ; Albert J. Walker, chief engineer. The political affiliations of Mr. Bergan are with the Democratic party, and he has served as a member of the common council of Mayfield, Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife are members of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and he is a member in the fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus, also of the Huntingdon Club, the Royal Arcanum and the Improved Order of Heptasophs.
Mr. Bergan married, June 20, 1899, Margaret J., born in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Patrick Collins. They have had children : Raymond ; Mary ; Frank, deceased; Anna.
The Dorris family, distinguished in the business and pro-
DORRIS fessional life of Huntingdon for several generations, springs from Thomas Dorris, who came from Ireland in 1809 with wife and children. He made settlement at Alexandria in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and there lived and died, leaving an only son and five daughters, all born in Ireland.
(II) William (I), oldest child of Thomas Dorris, was born in Ire- land, prior to the year 1800, died in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, in 1867. He came with his parents in 1809 and spent his early life on the home
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farm near Alexandria, Huntingdon county. After attaining his ma- jority he entered the mercantile business, first at Hollidaysburg, but soon after moved to Huntingdon, locating at the northwest corner of Fourth and Penn streets, where in 1826 he erected the building yet standing on that corner. There he remained in successful business until his retirement about 1855, his last years being spent in full enjoyment of the fruits of his years of labor as a merchant. He was a Presbyterian and taught his family according to the tenets of that faith. He affiliated with the Democratic party until the war between the states, then transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. He was a notary public for many years, but sought no political office. He married Nancy Stitt, who bore him a large family of children, only three, however, surviving infancy: 1. Margaret, married Zachariah Gemmill, and moved to Philadelphia, where both died. 2. William (2), of whom further. 3. Anna, married Robert Dorsey, and died in Spruce Creek township, Huntingdon county.
(III) William (2), only son of William (I) and Nancy (Stitt) Dorris to survive infancy, was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 10, 1822, died there September 2, 1904. He was educated in the public schools and academy of Huntingdon, then entered Lafayette Col- lege, whence he was graduated, class of 1840. He then began the study of law in the offices of Miles & Taylor, of Huntingdon, at the same time acting as clerk in the office of the prothonotary of Huntingdon county. After passing required examination, he was admitted to the Huntingdon county bar, August 15, 1843. Six years after his admis- sion, Judge Taylor, of the law firm of Miles & Taylor, was appointed president judge of the newly created twenty-fourth judicial district and withdrew from the firm, Mr. Dorris taking his place, the new firm practicing as Miles & Dorris. This association continued many years, until the removal of the senior partner, John G. Miles, to Peoria, Illi- nois, about 1870, Mr. Dorris continuing in practice alone, having his offices and residence at the northwest corner of Fourth and Washington streets, within two hundred feet of his birthplace. He continued to practice until 1887, when he was joined by his son, John D., the firm name then changing to W. & J. D. Dorris. In 1895, after continuously practicing in Huntingdon for over half a century, the old veteran re- tired to a well-earned rest which covered a period of nine years before
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he entered upon an eternal rest. The firm of Miles & Dorris had been resident attorneys for the Pennsylvania railroad during the time of its construction, and until the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Dorris continued in that capacity until his retirement, the same position now being held by his son, John D. William Dorris was a learned lawyer, honor- able and upright in his practice, never lowering the dignity of his pro- fession nor violating its ethics for a temporary advantage. He was highly honored by the members of the bar, who chose him as president of the Huntingdon County Bar Association. He was one of the oldest practitioners in the county, and his long career but shed lustre upon the profession he adorned. During the war between the states he was appointed, in 1862, colonel of the Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, and as such served during the threatened invasion of Pennsylvania that was repelled at Antietam, where his regiment was held in reserve. He was a Republican in politics, but never accepted public office, the law being to him all in all. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, which he served as an elder. Colonel Dorris mar- ried (first) Elizabeth Davidson, born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1818, married, at "Locust Hill Farm," near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, died in Huntingon, September 3, 1860. She was the only daughter of Elias Davidson, a farmer near Greencastle, in the Cumber- land Valley, Pennsylvania. She had two brothers : William W., a whole- sale dry goods merchant of Philadelphia, who died in 1867; and John, who died in youthful manhood. After the marriage the young couple resided on Third street, Huntingdon, in a stone house once owned by Governor Porter. Colonel Dorris married (second) Julia Miles. Chil- dren of first marriage: 1. William W., born in Huntingdon, March I, 1852; admitted to the bar April 12, 1876, practiced many years; now living in Huntingdon, retired. 2. John Davidson (of whom further). Children by second marriage: 3. Anne, married W. W. Chisolm, and resides in Huntingdon. 4. Julia, resides in Huntingdon. 5. Mary H., married Herbert Miller, and resides in Huntingdon.
(IV) John Davidson, second son of Colonel William Dorris and his first wife, Elizabeth Davidson, was born in Huntingdon, Pennsyl- vania, October 14, 1858. He was educated at the Huntingdon Academy and Lafayette College, graduating from the latter institution, class of 1878. He studied law with his honored father, and in 1880 was ad-
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mitted to the bar. In 1887 he was admitted to a partnership with his father, practicing as W. & J. D. Dorris, until the retirement of the senior partner in 1895. John D. Dorris then formed a partnership with Judge Austin O. Furst, a former judge of the forty-ninth judicial district of Pennsylvania, then comprising. the counties of Centre and Huntingdon. The firm of Furst & Dorris continued in successful prac- tice until dissolved by the death of Judge Furst in November, 1906. Since then Mr. Dorris has practiced alone. He makes a specialty of the law of corporations, and is local counsel for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company; general counsel for the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company, and general counsel for the Rock Hill Iron and Coal Company. He is learned in the law, and his opinions carry the weight of authority on points of law. He is a director of the First National Bank of Huntingdon; director of the East Broad Top Railroad Com- pany; director of the Shade Gap Railroad Company; and has other business connections of importance. He is a member of the American Bar Association, of the executive committee of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, and member of the Huntingdon County Bar Asso- ciation, taking active interest in the work of each. In December, 1903, he was appointed a member of the board of managers of the Pennsyl- vania Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon, a position he yet holds. His college fraternity is Sigma Chi (Lafayette) ; his political faith is Republican, and his religious belief, Presbyterian. He is a member of the Art Club of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Altoona Cricket Club; Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club; and the Pennsylvania Society of New York.
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