USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 12
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Our subject, as this history shows, comes from a family that has had much to do in the building up of the Keystone State, and he mar- ried into a family no less distinguished. His early attainments in the school of travel and ex- experience have been more than those of the or- dinary man, and he has in the course of his life been thrown in close contract with many phases of life and with many kinds of men. This has so developed his judg- ment and understanding, that he wields a
large amount of influence wherever he is known. In politics, his fortunes were early cast with the Democratic party, of which he has al- ways been a faithful and reliable member. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Grand Lodge, having filled chairs in both. Several offices to which he has been elected by the suffrage of his fellow-towns- men testify to his popularity. He is that stamp of a man and a citizen, who, wherever their lines may fall, are ever a positive force, making to- ward good government and stability. Before he reaches the allotted three score and ten, the twentieth century will have dawned, and his hundreds of friends, who have come to love and respect him, hope that his life will be spared them many years after he has rounded that hon- orable mark.
SETH R. KING, an engineer in the employ of the Pennsylvania R. R., residing at Mahon- ingtown, was born in Erie, Pa., June 21, 1855, and is a son of James L. and Laura (Bliss) King; the latter was born in the town of North East, Pa., a daughter of John Bliss, who was a resi- dent of that place. James L. King was born in Venango County in November, 1822, and is now residing in Erie, Pa., where he is employed in the shops of the E. & P. R. R. He is of Scotch- Irish descent, although for four or five genera- tions back the ancestors have been citizens of the United States. He is a stanch Republican in politics.
Seth R. King was brought up in Erie, Pa., where he attended the schools until he was four-
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teen years of age, when he commenced work in the service of the E. & P. R. R., in the capacity of fireman. After three years as a fireman, though only a boy in years, being but seventeen years of age, he became an engineer, at which time he was employed on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R. R. He came to Mahon- ingtown April 4, 1884, and after a period as fireman on the Pennsylvania R. R., he became an engineer, and has continued in that capacity, giving the best of satisfaction, and performing all his duties in a manner very creditable to himself.
He was married in Chicago, Ill., March 2, 1892, to Bertha E. Rose, a native of Geneva, Ohio, and a daughter of Milton F. and Jennie Rose. Mr. Rose was a soldier in the late war, is a contractor by occupation, and has taken Masonic orders. Mr. and Mrs. King are faith- ful attendants of the M. E. Church. Mr. King is steadfast in his allegiance to the Republican party, and uniformly supports it whenever it is possible for him to get to the polls. He is a loyal member of the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers, Erie Division, No. 298.
WILLIAM C. CHAMBERS, ex-postmaster and a leading grocer of Mt. Jackson, North Beaver township, was born in the same township in which he now makes his residence March 20, 1841, and is a son of John H. and Mary (David- son) Chambers, and grandson of William and Mary (Hazlett) Chambers. Our subject's grand- parents were both born, brought up and married in County Down, Ireland; they came to Amer-
ica to seek a new home and better their fortunes in 1812, and settled directly after their arrival on the shores of the New World in North Beaver township. He built the first house in Mt. Jack- son and gave the location that name. Mr. Chambers purchased 220 acres of unimproved timber land, and soon after took steps to build a structure that should house them temporarily, and to clear and prepare the land, so as to pro- vide their daily food from the resulting crops. He was active and progressive and at his death he left a good farm, well-improved, cleared, and provided with excellent buildings, adequate to the needs of the farm. He reached the age of seventy-five years, and left behind him a splen- did record for honorable dealings, and noble life. His wife was called to her home to enjoy the re- ward that comes after a life well spent, at the age of sixty-five. Their children were: Samuel; Robert; Isabella; Alexander; James; John H .; Elizabeth; Mary; and William.
John H. Chambers followed farming all his days, and accumulated a good property; he was a sturdy and industrious tiller of the soil, and a very practical man in his agricultural methods. In political belief, he clung to the principles ad- vocated by the Democratic party. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church since early manhood, and died in the faith of a future resurrection at the age of seventy-one. His wife Mary, who is still living, was born Oct. 20, 1820, and was a daughter of William David- son of County Down, Ireland, who came to America in 1837, and settled on a farm in North Beaver township. The children who composed the parental family were: Margaret; William C., our subject; Mary Jane; Isabella; James,
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who died in his youth; John D .; Samuel J .; Liz- zie B .; Joseph E .; George; and Rebecca. Six of the foregoing family are living to-day.
William C. Chambers assisted his father on the farm until April 26, 1861, when he enlisted for the defense of his country in the Mt. Jackson Guard, later known after it had been mustered into the U. S. service as Battery B, First Pa. Light Artillery, and served three years to a day; he was slightly wounded in the Second Bull Run and Spottsylvania Court House. He is a mem- ber of Post No. 100, of New Castle, G. A. R. and is also a member of the Union Vet- eran Legion, so as to keep in close touch with his comrades of the late war, and in banded union to assist in commemorating in a fitting manner the noble sacrifice of those who were not so fortunate as they, but who gave up their lives and their all in the defense of the Union. The war being over, he returned home and fol- lowed farming assiduously until October, 1885, when he was appointed postmaster, which posi- tion he has since acceptably and honorably filled, besides serving one year as a constable. In his mercantile establishment he carries a full line of groceries, confectionery and tobacco, and enjoys a liberal patronage from his neighbors and fel- low-citizens. Mr. Chambers lives in a comfort- able residence of his own in Mt. Jackson. He is a liberal giver to all enterprises which are calcu- lated to benefit the community or the country at large, and has never been known to turn a deaf ear to true charity. He has, by his energy and perseverance, made himself what he is, and is recognized as one of the foremost business men as well as respected and honored citizens of Mt. Jackson.
HIRAM WATSON, a prominent and well- to-do farmer of Neshannock township, was born on the farm he now owns and operates, Oct. 13, 1822. He is a son of Lot and Margaret (Hous- ton) Watson, the former of Penn Valley, Pa., and the latter of Mercer Co., Pa. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, but came to this country when a young man, and settled in Penn Valley about 1765 on a tract of land, which he brought into cultivation, and where he made his home, engaged in agricultur- al pursuits the remainder of his life, being high- ly esteemed as a sober, industrious citizen, and as one who by unceasing toil and good foresight had accumulated a comfortable competence. He enlisted and fought in the War of Independence. He was a Whig in respect to his political views. He and his family were United Presbyterians in religious attachments. To him and his first wife were born the following children: William; Thomas; John; James; Nancy, who was the mother of Gen. Irvin; Margaret; and Lot. He married a second time and added three children to his family: Nellie; Robert; and Joseph.
Lot Watson was educated in the schools of Penn Valley, and in 1805, settled on the farm, now owned by his son, which he cleared and put in a high state of cultivation. The farm contains 157 acres, 100 of which are yearly put to various farm crops, and is admirably adapted to general farming and stock raising; it is situated about three miles north of New Castle. Our subject's father fought in the War of 1812. He was a Whig in his politics, and served the township of which he was a citizen as school-director, audi- tor, assessor, as well as in several minor capaci- ties. He was twice married. His first wife,
MILTON S. MARQUIS.
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who was Margaret Cunningham of Neshannock township, bore him four children: James; Isa- bel; William; and Samuel. After the death of his first wife, he entered into a second matri- monial alliance with Margaret Houston, daugh- ter of Col. Houston, an officer in the Revolu- tionary Army, and by this union he became the parent of eleven more children: Hiram; Har- riet (Fisher); Nancy; Dixon; John; Margaret (McCreary); Lot; Thomas; Sarah (Garrett); Julia (Boyd); and Elizabeth (Love). In his re- ligious leanings he was a United Presbyterian. His death occurred in 1863, when aged seventy- seven years; his second wife departed her life in 1877, aged seventy-five years.
Hiram Watson attended school and worked on the farm till he was twenty-eight years old, and then left home, but still followed the same occupation of farming. In 1863, he returned to the paternal estate, which he purchased at that time, and has since been very successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a Re- publican in his politics, and has held the offices of school director, assessor, supervisor, and took the census of the township in 1880.
Mr. Watson was married in 1850 to Rebecca Gibson, daughter of William Gibson, and this union has been abundantly blessed with eleven children: Harriet Jenevra, who married first Os- car Hazen, and had one child, Roy, and on the death of her first husband married James Mar- tin; Margaret, who married Frank Maitland of Youngstown, Ohio; William A., who married Edith Mitchell, and has seven children-Frank, Mary R., Howard, Irene, Edgar, Albert, and an infant unnamed; Sarah; Thomas, who married Alfretta Bowles of Topeka, Kan., and has one
child, Walter B .; Alice, who married Charles Donaldson of Neshannock township, and has three children, J. Roscoe, Harold W., and Carl H .; Harry I .; Rebecca B., and two that died in infancy. The family are strong Presbyterians, and Mr. Watson has been a member of the ses- sion since 1853. He was a member of the Gener- al Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which was held in Saratoga, N. Y., in May, 1896. He is sincere in his convictions, forms his opinions with deliberation, and adheres to them with manly courage and fidelity.
MILTON S. MARQUIS. The history of every city of progress and enterprise always in- cludes the biographies of certain of its enterpris- ing citizens, who have made themselves espe- cially prominent in forwarding the growth and development of the place, and these men of in- domitable will and unconquerable energy almost invariably have arisen from honorable though humble walks of life, and have surmounted the ladder of success step by step till they reach a position that is the cynosure of the eyes of their fellow-citizens. To this class of citizens, whom the. people denominate as self-made, we must surely include Mr. Marquis, who is a manufac- turer of brick and dealer in limestone, and also connected with many of the important manufac- turing interests of New Castle. His record offers a splendid example of what may be accom- plished in an up-hill struggle by one to whom no discouraging obstacle offers a complete barrier to progress.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Our subject was born in Beaver Co., Pa., March 15, 1830, and is a son of John and Eliza- beth (McMillen) Marquis. John Marquis was a native of Washington Co., Pa., and a descen- dant of a family of French Huguenots, who were driven by religious persecutions to Scotland; thence they emigrated to Virginia, then a new- ly-organized colony, and landed at the head of the James River in 1706; from there in succeed- ing years they made their way westward, and finally came into Washington Co., Pa., where they permanently settled. John Marquis early in life supported himself by teaching in the district schools. He never allowed himself to lose the advantages of his good school-training, but studied very much and was a great reader. He learned the carpenter's trade, and settled in Beaver County, where he bought a farm, and became a very popular man, well known for his good judgment, and was often called upon to give his advice in medical matters. He was a clerk in the church, and held many of the town offices, retiring in his later years to Lisbon, Ohio, where he became nearly ninety years of age; his wife died some years his junior. Their children were: David; James; Martha; Samuel; William; and Milton S., the subject of this per- sonal narrative.
Our subject started out in life at a very early age, with only a district school education, but splendidly equipped with an ambitious spirit and an exceptionally fine judgment, which need- ed only the school of experience to adapt it to every need and to broaden its powers and capa- bilities. His first pursuit was in boating on the old "Cross-cut" and Beaver Valley Canals, and at the age of nineteen years we find him a cap-
tain of a canal boat. With a prudent thought for the future he saved his earnings and invested his money, buying a one-half interest in a canal boat, and later secured the entire interest; he so well managed his interests and took advan- tage of the prosperous times on the canals, that he at one time owned seventeen boats and car- ried on a large freight and packet business. In 1860, with O. H. P. Green he built and put on the canal a propeller or packet boat, and ran
from Warren, Ohio, to the Ohio River, and down the river to Wheeling, West Virginia. When the canal was finally abandoned, he en- tered into the limestone business with Mr. Green, and bought and operated limestone quarries at Mahoningtown; later on the com- pany became Green, Marquis & Shinn, then Shinn was succeeded by Geo. W. Johnson, and still later the company became Marquis & John- son, which continued until 1888, when the part- nership was dissolved, and the property divided, Mr. Marquis taking the plant, where he is at present located in New Castle, and where he has since manufactured brick and dealt in limestone. He started in to manufacture brick with a ca- pacity of 5,000 a day, and now turns out an aver- age of 90,000, employing in and around his limestone quarries, brickyard, mullers, presses and kiln upwards of 125 men; since 1888, he has manufactured nearly all the brick that has been needed for building purposes in New Castle, and also ships large quantities outside; besides or- dinary building brick, he also manufactures a fine quality of fire brick, and buff and red pressed brick, and street-paving brick. He is a stockholder in the Shenango Valley Steel Co., Lawrence Glass Co., and Thompson Run Coal
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Co .; he is also president and sole proprietor of the New Castle & Butler R. R., a stockholder in the New Castle Steel & Tin Plate Co., and in the Shenango Valley R. R. Co. During the eon- tinuance of the firm of Green, Marquis & John- , son, Mr. Marquis and Mr. Johnson engaged ex- tensively in the cattle business, buying large droves aggregating as high as 9,000 head, driv- ing them through the Indian Territory to Ne- . braska, where the cattle, were fattened and put in shape for the market; this business continued about two years under the supervision of Mr. Marquis.
Our subject married Miss Martha Stoffer, daughter of John and Nancy Stoffer, and has eight children, seven of whom are living. The record is as follows: Elizabeth, who married F. W. Biddle, who is now deceased, leaving sev- . decided success of his efforts in introducing prac- en children; Laura is a clerk in her father's office; William H., who married Carrie Jones, is superintendent and manager of the briek works, and has one child, Harold E .; Charles D. is a bookkeeper in the brick works; Graee Greenwood is the wife of Charles Greer; Ida lives at home; Harry, deceased; Frank W. mar- ried Luey Miller, and is an assistant at the works. Mr. Marquis was originally a Whig in politics, then became a Republican, and is at present affiliated with the Prohibition party. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F.
In connection with this narration of Mr. Mar- quis' successful life; the publishers of this Book of Biographies esteem it a great pleasure to pre- sent his portrait, which appears on a preceding page in proximity to this.
ESQ. WILSON W. MICHELTREE. This gentleman, although well advanced in years, is . still prominent in the business circles of the vil- lage of Edenburg, Mahoning township, and in addition to carrying on a large and prosperous 1 drug business, has also discharged the duties of the federal office of postmaster. He was born near Sharon. Mercer Co., l'a., Aug. 8, 1831, and was a son of Thomas and Grace (Ervin) Michel- tree, and grandson of Jamcs Micheltree. The latter was born in the northern part of Ireland, and became a citizen of the United States early in life, supporting himself and family at his occu- pation of farming; he located in Mercer Coun- ty, where he rounded out his career as an es- teemed, upright and patriotie citizen. His son Thomas suceceded him on the farm, and made a
tical agricultural methods, and at his death there at the age of sixty-six left one of the best farms in the vieinity to his heirs. His wife lived to en- joy ninety-six years, and was active and in the ; full possession of her faculties to the last. Our subject's parents were highly esteemed in the wide circle of thir acquaintances as people of true and earnest lives, and as kindly and agree- ! able friends and neighbors. This union was fruitful in the birth of the following children: James, M. D .; Ervin; Montrose; J. Calvin, M. D .; Wilson W., our subjeet; Fullerton; and Grace E.
Wilson W. Micheltree lived with his father on the farm in Mercer County, until 1858, attending as a boy the district schools, and then giving his whole time and strength to the care of the farm when he became old enough. When he was twenty-seven years of age he came to Edenburg,
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
where his older brother, Dr. James Micheltree, had been located, engaged in building up a medical practice for the six years previous. Put- ting their resources together, they built a store, stocked it with a full line of drugs, medicines, toilet articles, and other such accessories of a complete drug store, and embarked in business; they also dealt in groceries. From that date, 1858, until Dr. Micheltrec's death in 1893, they were associated in business as equal partners. Dr. Micheltree's practice was general in its char- acter, and large in its dimensions. He was one of the best and most successful physicians and surgeons in his part of the county, and won the confidence of a greater part of the population in the township, and the townships adjoining. His death was a great loss to many families, who had employed him for years as the family physi- cian, and had learned to depend entirely on his efforts for success in battling disease. Since his partner's and brother's death, our subject has carried on the business alone, giving a large part of his time to maintaining the aforetime high standard of the store.
Mr. Micheltree married Lovina Part, daugh- ter of James Part of this county, and to them was born one child, Mary M., who married Frank S. Patterson, a bookkeeper at Lawrence Junction for the Fort Wayne R. R. He is dc- cided in his opinions on political subjects, and fearless in the expression of his views; he has been a life-long Democrat, and served the town- u ship as a justice of the peace from 1874 to 1889, when his health compelled him to resign and to return the commission. He has also performed his full share of public duties as the postmaster, a position he acceptably filled, leaving no ground.
for complaint, for many long years until his res- ignation in 1897. He is a faithful member of the Disciples Church, and belongs to the local Knights of Pythias Lodge. He built the home where he lives and dispenses hospitality and good cheer to his many friends and acquaint- ances, and is althogether a very public-spirited citizen, and one who is deeply interested in the growth and development of the township, and the county at large. He is one of the oldest, most reliable and enterprising citizens resident within the borders of Mahoning township. He is popu- lar both socially and from a business point of view, his genial politeness and his sterling integ- rity and worth winning him a hearty patronage and a large circle of friends. No druggist has been so long in the business in the township, or understands better the fundamental principles of the pharmaceutical profession.
LUTHER H. SAMPLE, Esq., a leading resident of Mahoningtown, was born in Alle- gheny City, Pa., July 13. 1833, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Logan) Sample, whose marriage occurred in 1816.
Thomas Sample was the second white child born north of the Allegheny River in Pennsyl- vania-Gen. William Robinson being the first; when Allegheny City was incorporated under a city charter, Gen. Robinson was the first mayor and Thomas Sample the second. The latter's birth took place Jan. 8, 1791. He made Alle- gheny City his home from 1812 to 1843, during which period he served twenty years as justice of the peace. In 1843, Mr. Sample leased his
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IZBAPY
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
mainder of his life, devoting much of his time to the cultivation and propagation of fruits and flowers. His business interests in Allegheny City kept him no small portion of the time en route between his farm and the city. He was a son of James Sample, who married Christiana Tag- gart, daugliter of James Taggart, an early set- tler of Cumberland County. Our subject's mother, Margaret (Logan) Sample, was born March 5, 1794, and died in 1882; she was a daughter of Jas. Logan, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and married a Miss Watt, whose relative, James Watt, will ever be remembered for his services to the world in the discovery of the expansive powers of steam, and his proposi- tion for the utilization of this great force in the sciences and manufactures. Although Miss Watt was small of stature, the rest of the fam- ily were very tall, the total heighth of three brothers aggregating nineteen feet; most of the family settled in Virginia. James Logan, whose mother was a Miss Wilson, came from Ireland and settled in the Allegheny River Valley eigh- teen miles above Pittsburg, locating on the banks of the river, and establishing Logan's Ferry. He also purchased some six or eight hundred acres of land, and opened an inn for the refreshment of travelers near a basin in the river, known as Logan's Eddy. It was a favorite place for the river men, who made it a stopping place for meals and lodging. He also kept and dealt in household necessities, having a well- furnished general store in connection with his tavern. These various interests, with what prof- its he made in his farming operations, conspired
to yield him a comfortable income and enough
extensive tannery, and bought a large farm near Mahoningtown, and here made his home the re- more, so that he accumulated a large fortune for that time and locality. Ilis death occurred on his estate at an advanced age in 1842. Of the ten children born to our subject's parents five survive, namely: James T., a veteran of the Mexican War; Mary, the widow of William P. Eichbaum, now residing. in New Castle; Thomas, who is engaged in farming at Ashville, Ohio; Luther Il., our subject; and Rev. J. Logan. The latter is an able and eloquent di- vine, who has a record for one of the most unique trips through the West of any preachier, living or dead. Having located a claim at Stur- gis, Dakota, he started out with his team and carriage for an evangelizing tour through the mountainous regions, and during this journey the traversed the States and Territories of Dako- ta, Wyoming, Idalio, Oregon, California, Neva- da, Arizona, Colorado, and then back through Wyoming to his starting-point, Sturgis.
Luther H. Sample lived in Allegheny City un- til he was nine years of age, when his parents moved to the farm, which is now his home with- in the present borough limits of Mahoningtown. After completing a district school education he advanced a step farther by pursuing an extended course of instruction in the New Castle Acad- emy under the tutelage and supervision of the Rev. Robert Audley Brown. When eighteen years old, he went to Allegheny City, and en- tered a drug store to learn the profession of a pharmacist, but after three years he gave up his situation to come home and run the home farm, which has father proposed selling. Luther H. and his youngest brother, the .Rev. J. Logan Sample, purchased the farm, and Luther H. has
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