USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 14
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WILLIAM DAVIS, one of the prominent citizens of Hillsville, Mahoning township, and actively engaged in carrying on farming opera- tions, was born Nov. 18, 1823, in Northumber- land Co., Pa. He was a son of Elijah and Mary (Banghart) Davis, and a grandson of David and Nancy (Thomas) Davis.
The grandparents were among the early resi- dents of this section, moving in with their son, Elijah, when he came to the township about 1829. Elijah Davis purchased one hundred acres in Mahoning township, a farm which is now in the hands of Andrew Love. This place he improved, making it a home for his beloved parents, who both lived to an extreme old age. Elijah followed farming all of his life, but was only permitted to round out a life of fifty-six
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years. His widow, however, lived on until she was seventy-six years old, when she succumbed to the inevitable fate of mortal man. They had four children: Rebecca, deceased; William, the subject of this writing; Hunter, now a farmer of Mahoning township; and Robert, also a far- mer of the same locality. Elijah Davis was in politics a stanch Democrat of the Jeffersonian school; in religous matters, his family and him- self were of the Disciples faith.
William Davis was given all of the education available at that time, and until his seventeenth year worked on the farm for his father. At that age he determined to strike out for himself. His natural bent seemed to be in the line of agricul- tural pursuits, and these he followed. Later on he purchased a threshing outfit, and for many years in the proper season carried on this work. Accumulating some means, he bought the Sam- uel Boies farm, which had two log houses, one log barn and a single lone apple tree on it. As time went on and the rewards of hard work and good management were won, Mr. Davis erected an exceedingly handsome residence and ample barns. His one apple-tree increased to a fine, large orchard, and many other kinds of fruit are growing in abundance on the place. A grace- ful and tasty arrangement of shrubbery and hedges about the buildings gives the home acre an exceedingly pleasing appearance. The whole estate of over one hundred acres is to-day one of the best tended, and consequently one of the best-looking, farms in all Lawrence County.
Mr. Davis contracted his first matrimonial alliance with Sarah Patterson, daughter of Will- iam Patterson. She was removed from his side at the age of twenty-five, leaving him two chil-
dren-Effie, who married Dr. C. M. Porter of Hillsville, but is now deceased, and Mary A., the wife of J. P. Harvey. Mr. Davis' second wife was Elizabeth Henley, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Morgan) Henley, and granddaughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Pitt) Henley. Mat- thew Henley, the elder, lived in the west of Eng- land, where he followed his trade of a butcher. His son followed him in this trade, continuing until the year 1841, when he came to America. He settled at first in Ohio, but later on, liking the land and people better in the Keystone State, he came into Lawrence County, and located in the western part of Mahoning township. He purchased the farm of 117 acres from William Strain, which is now owned by John Henley. It was but little improved when he took posses- sion, but the soil was of the very best, and it was comparatively level. The fine orchard, now on the place, grew from apple-seeds which he
brought from England and planted himself. He died here on this farm four years after he had located on it at the age of fifty-one; his wife reached the age of sixty-five. Their children were: Matthew, who died in youth; Thomas; John; James; Joseph; William, deceased; George; Elizabeth, our subject's wife; Annie, deceased; and Maria. Mr. Davis' union with Miss Henley has been productive of eleven chil- dren, five of whom survive, namely: Annie E., who wedded Samuel Hervey, and is the mother of three children, Walter W., Ella E., and Kate; Olive M., a teacher, resides at home; William R. is a student; Carry J. lives at home, as does also Joseph H., the youngest of the family.
William Davis is a man and a citizen whom it is good to know. He is a well-informed gen-
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tleman, and though far along in life, he keeps in touch with the times. Politically he has always been a Democrat of the old school. Patriotic and alive to the needs of the nation, his voice has always been raised on the side of justice and humanity. He has held many offices and has filled them well. He is now enjoying the fruits of his hard work, that was performed when he was a younger man. His handsome home al- ways affords a hospitable welcome to the friend or guest who may go that way. Mr. Davis is in church affiliations a Disciple. In all the affairs of life he is a man whom his townsmen rely upon, and thoroughly respect.
GILBERT LAFAYETTE RENO is a rep- resentative of one of the oldest families in Law- rence County, and is engaged in farming in Shenango township; he was born in North Sewickley township, Beaver County, Feb. 6, 1843.
The Reno family is said to be of French ori- gin, and the original orthography is said to have been Renault, which was pronounced the same as it is now. It is on this ground that the claim of the family is based to large tracts of land in and about Peoria, Ill., which were granted to Renault, one of the early explorers and mission- aries of the Valley of the Illinois River.
Our subject is a son of Martin and Hannah (Iddings) Reno. The latter was born near West Chester, Pa., in the year 1820, and was a daugh- ter of Joseph and Hannah (Hoopes) Iddings, both of Quaker stock, of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Notwithstanding his Quaker prejudices and beliefs, Joseph Iddings was a participant in the War of 1812. Martin Reno was born in Sewick- ley township, Beaver County, July 11, 1816, and died on Feb. 28, 1891. He was a farmer by occupation. Martin Reno was a son of Ben- jamin and Catherine (Swick) Reno. Benjamin was born in Beaver County about 1785 and died about 1860; he was a farmer, and was also versed in the chemist's profession. In the War of 1812, he was present at the Battle of Lake Erie. Benjamin Reno was a son of William Reno, a farmer and bridge-builder, who lost his life at Beaver Dam by falling from a bridge he was constructing and breaking his neck.
Our subject was reared in Shenango town- ship since his third year, at which time his father moved to the township and bought a large tract near the township's center from John Reno, his brother, one of the pioneers of the county, to whom a patent for the land was issued April 6, 1787, before the adoption of the Constitution, and signed by Benjamin Franklin. This old parchment is still extant and is owned by a . brother of Mr. Reno, who is living on the old farm, and is considered a valuable old relic of early days. Mr. Reno attended district school until he was eighteen years of age, and supple- mented this elementary education with collegiate work at the college at Edinburg until he was twenty-one years of age. He commenced teach- ing school at the age of eighteen, and thereafter taught several winter terms, his summers being occupied in farm work. When he attained his majority, he bought his present farm, and two years later married and began a successful and thus far happy career. He owns seventy-eight
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acres, which are for the most part utilized in growing fruit and vegetables, for which ready market is found at New Castle, some five or six miles away. During the late war at the time of the raids in Pennsylvania by the irregular rebel general, Morgan, Mr. Reno served in the State militia some three months.
Mr. Reno was married Nov. 2, 1865, in Shen- ango township, to Mary W. Allen, who was born in that township, a daughter of John M. and Esther (Miller) Allen, the latter a daughter of Moses Miller, a soldier of the War of 1812. Moses Miller was a miller by trade as well as by name; his wife's name before her marriage to him was Jane Gaston. John M. Allen, a son of Jacob and Eleanor (Munson) Allen, the former a soldier of the War of 1812, was a farmer of Shenango township, and died in the above town- ship where he had spent his life March 12, 1897, aged eighty-four years and six months. Eight children constitute the family of Mr. Reno and his wife, as follows: Charles B., who is farming in Shenango township; Ellis C., who is farming in Slippery Rock township; G. Laurice; Eva Josephine, the wife of Daniel W. Ferree of Slip- pery Rock township; A. Curtis; Francis H .; Cora L .; Verna Mary. Mrs. Reno and family are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Reno is a Prohibitionist, and has served as auditor for the township. He is a member of the P. of Husbandry, and of Hazel Dell Grange, No. 333. Our subject entertains decided opin- ions on all subjects of national or state-wide interest; these opinions are reached with delib- eration, and the conclusions arrived at after much thought, consequently when once formed they are not liable to change, and he advocates
them with the courage of one who believes he is right and dares to maintain his belief. He is considered an important factor of the business and industrial interests of the township, aiding materially in developing its resources, and re- ceives his reward in the esteem and confidence of its citizens.
DR. CASSIUS M. PORTER, a disciple of Esculapius, within the length of time during which he has followed his chosen profession among the people of Lawrence County, especial- ly of Mahoning township and its vicinity, has made for himself a place and won a standing that may well be envied. Belonging to a class of men whose duties compel them to be not only healers, but also to be counsellors and advisers as well in matters of the most delicate nature, he has done well by his large clientele. That his name is respected and his individuality esteemed is but a well-earned reward for his faithful efforts.
Dr. Porter came into this life July 7, 1846, in Pulaski township, Lawrence Co., Pa. His grand- parents were born east of the Allegheny Moun- tains, but in the first days of the development of Western Pennsylvania, they crossed those bar- riers and were among the pioneers of this region. The parents of the Doctor were Nathaniel and Martha J. (McCready) Porter. Nathaniel Porter's father bore the same given name. Nathaniel Porter, Sr., entered the new country from his eastern abode with a steady determina- tion to hew out of the wilderness a home for
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
himself and his descendants. The long journey over the mountains was performed on horse- back, as wagon roads over those routes were then in the first stages of construction. He came into Lawrence County, and located on a 400-acre strip of land, all of which was practi- cally a virgin forest. The first duty of the new- comer was to fell some trees and erect a habit- able log-cabin. This done, he began to clear the farm-a task that engaged his labors for many succeeding years, with the result that he ultimately became the possessor of a fine tract of arable land, which owns not an equal in a county which is noted for its grand agricultural resources. He became as time advanced one of the prosperous and well-to-do men of the local- ity, having much influence and a high position as a citizen in the township.
To the son, Nathanel Porter, Jr., fell a por- tion of the original farm. On this place, which he had helped his father to clear of trees, he settled with his wife, who was a Miss Martha J. McCready. He lived a long and industrious life here, spending all of his time in tilling the soil, and died in June, 1893, at the age of seven- ty-six years. His widow still survives him, resid- ing with her son, the Doctor, who was the only one who survived out of a family of several chil- dren born to Nathaniel Porter and his wife.
The subject of our sketch attended the district schools of the township, where he laid the solid foundations of his education. Next he took a full academic course at the Canfield, Ohio, Acad- emy, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. Davis of Poland, Ohio, as his preceptor. He then entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Philadelphia, Pa., and was graduated
with honor in the spring of 1871. He came im- mediately to Hillsville, where he spent two years, practicing his profession. The three sub- sequent years were spent in Sharpsburg, Mercer Co., Pa., but at the end of that period he re- turned to his native town, and located again in Hillsville, where he has since resided.
Dr. Porter is essentially a broad man. While a thorough student and an up-to-date practi- tioner, he finds ample time to handle a large practice and to look after many other interests in a satisfactory manner. His profession has yielded him good returns, and he is considered one of the solid men of his section. His beau -. tiful home, one of the best in the village of Hills- ville, he himself erected. Our subject was wed- ded at the outset of his professional career to Miss Effie Davis, a daughter of William Davis, a resident of Mahoning township. She was taken from her sorrowing husband in 1895, hav- ing reached the age of forty-five years. Two children were born to them, Fred W., who at this writing is a student, and lives at home, and Anna M., who died aged two years and six months.
Dr. Porter is a gentleman who fully appre- ciates the duties of his profession, and at the same time does not forget the claims which the public has upon him as a citizen. He is a firm advocate of the best of educational facilities, and for nine years has been a member of the board of school directors. In politics, he is a Repub- lican of the strongest convictions. Active in thought and movement, possessed of keen fore- sight, and endowed with exceptional executive abilities, the Doctor is, apart from his calling, a man of influence and force. As a physician,
HARRY HOWARD.
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Dr. Porter is on all sides trusted as well as loved. Well-read in all that pertains to the well-being of the human body, keen and correct in his diag- noses, cool and collected under the strain of a , severe surgical operation, it is no mistake to aver that he is an instance of the right man in the right place. The severest test to which one can subject a man's personality is to lay it open to the criticism of those who have seen him grow from childhood to manhood, and in manhood expand his career each year. This test Dr. Por- ter stands exceedingly. well, for no more popu- lar, well esteemed, or respected gentleman than he, has ever grown up among the sturdy sons of Lawrence County.
HARRY HOWARD, freight conductor on the Pennsylvania Co.'s lines, and residing in Mahoningtown, was born Nov. 10, 1866, in Lowellville, Ohio. His father was born in Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa., Oct. 7, 1825, and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he fol- lowed industriously until recent years, support- ing his family in respectability, and providing them with many of the luxuries and comforts of life. In 1880 his railroad service had a begin- ning, accepting in that year a position on the Pennsylvania R. R., and since that date has been employed as flagman and in other like capacities in the company's yards at Lawrence Junction. He was a soldier of the Civil War, serving three years in Co. E, 105th Reg. O. V. I., and was in Sherman's Army when it made its renowned march to the sea; he was severely wounded at
the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and received hospital treatment for quite a long period. He was a son of Prosper K. and Cecelia (Corrigan) Howard. His wife, Sarah J. (Lane) Howard, was born in Mt. Jackson, Lawrence Co., a daughter of William Lane. Edward L Howard, our subject's father, is a Democrat in his poli- tics.
Harry Howard passed his boyhood years in Lowellville, Ohio, where he resided until he attained his majority, attending the schools whenever opportunity was given him until he was twenty years old. During these years he worked through the summers in a brickyard, and also for a time on the railroad as a member of a section gang. It will be noted from this that he began at the bottom of the ladder, and has made a steady climb toward the top, his honest endeavor to please, and to make his services valuable and well-nigh indispensable, meeting with a reception due them. At the age of twenty-one he became a brakeman on the Penn- sylvania Co.'s lines, and in two years left off "braking" to assume the added cares and re- sponsibilities of a conductor. Shortly after this he worked some six weeks for the P. & W. R. R, and an equal period for the P. & L. E. R. R., and then returned to the Pennsylvania Co., with which he has since remained. In May, 1895, he was again appointed conductor, in which capacity he is now employed.
Mr. Howard on Dec. 18, 1889, led to the Altar of Hymen Hannah M. Anderson, and made her his wife; she is a daughter of John R. and Salina F. (Warfel) Anderson. Salina F. was a daughter of Emmanuel Warfel, who married Sarah Shade, both of them natives of Hunting-
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don County, the former a son of Henry Warfel, and the latter a daughter of Henry Shade Of six children born to her parents, Mrs. Howard was the second. Their two sons were named William Ellis and Edwin L. Mrs. Howard is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Howard is a Republican in his politics, and socially is a mem- ber of Amazon Lodge No. 336, Knights of Pythias of Mahoningtown; and Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen No. 471, Evening Star Lodge of Mahoningtown.
We present Mr. Howard's portrait on a pre- ceding page as one of the foremost representa- tives of employees on the railroad.
JOHN D. PATTERSON, a representative and eminent citizen of the borough of Mahon- ingtown, where he is held in high regard and esteem by his neighbors and acquaintances, was born in Lowellville, Mahoning Co., Ohio, May 22, 1847, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Ann (Buchanan) Patterson. The latter was born in 1821 near Lowellville, Ohio, and died May 2, 1854; her father was a farmer of Ohio for many years, and lived and died near Lowellville. William Patterson was born in North Beaver township, Lawrence Co., Feb. 25, 1815, and is living at this writing on his homestead in that township at the venerable age of eighty-two years; it has been his home since 1852. When a young man he taught school for a while, and was as successful in that vocation as he was in farming, in which he was engaged since the date of his marriage. He was a son of John Patter-
son, who married a Miss Clendenin. Mr. Pat- terson is a Democrat in respect to his politics, and is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Mt. Jackson, North Beaver township. He has served his township as supervisor and as assessor. Of three children born to our sub- ject's parents two survive; the record reads as follows: Walter B. of Shenango township; John D., our subject; and Mary E., who was taken home at the age of fifteen.
Our subject's parents moved to North Beaver township, when he was an infant in arms, and so he grew to manhood in North Beaver township, attending its excellent district schools until he was sixteen years of age, at which period in his career he joined the army, enlisting in Co. A, First Battalion of Pennsylvania Cavalry. He served six months in the cavalry arm of the service, was then for two years a member of Co. B, 204th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf. He followed farm- ing on rented land in North Beaver township seventeen years, after his return from the war and his resumption of peaceful pursuits. He then bought a farm, which he operated for six years, and then sold it and moved to Mahoning- town in the fall of 1889, and since that time has been a respected citizen of that borough. Since 1890, for three years he traveled in the interest of the National Stockman and Farmer of Pitts- burg. Commencing with the fall of 1895, he has been connected with the schools of Mahon- ingtown, and has had charge of all the school property. He has also served three years as assessor of the borough. He is now in the prime of life, enjoying the comforts of a beautiful home, and surrounded by a large and happy family. His strict attention to business has
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secured him a fair share of this world's goods, while his uprightness in all his dealings, com- bined with his genial deportment, has won him the respect and affection of all who know him. Socially, he is a member of Shenango Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F .; and Marietta Lodge, No. 337, Knights of Pythias, of Mt. Jackson. In his political views he is strongly Democratic.
His marriage to Nancy C. Brothers, who was born in North Beaver township, a daughter of David and Martha (Copper) Brothers, took place in New Brighton, Pa., March 21, 1866. This marriage has been fruitful of nine children, as follows: David I., wo married Miss Mar- garet Wettich; William W., who married Eliza- beth Clark; Charles W., deceased; Mary M .; John B .; Dale B .; Ella J .; Clara E .; and Silas E. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Presbyterian Church.
CRESS PITZER, the leading merchant of the village of East Moravia, Taylor township, was born in Shenango township, two miles east of New Castle, Feb. 24, 1839, and was a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Cameron) Pitzer, and grandson of Michael Pitzer, Sr., who was born in the Fatherland, and followed the vocation of a farmer all his life, dying at the age of eighty- two in 1835 or 1840. Our subject's father was born in the State of Virginia in 1802, and fell into that last deep sleep that knows no waking in 1881, at his home in Dickinson Co., Tenn. He was what might be termed a born mechanic, for to whatever trade he turned his attention he
mastered it easily, adapting himself to new and peculiar tools with wonderful rapidity; he was first a cooper by trade, but was equally well a shoe-maker, and could perform as good work at carpentry as the best of them. He became quite well-to-do in Pennsylvania, and in 1868 moved with most of his children and their families to Dickinson Co., Tenn., where he purchased 530 acres of land, intending to have all his children live around him. His wife, who died at the age of seventy-three, was a native of Pittsburg, and a daughter of Allan and Elizabeth Cameron. Allan Cameron, who was born in the bonny land of Scotland, served on the American side in the conflict for American Independence.
Cress was reared in Shenango township, and went to Austin School-house until he was ten years of age, and thus acquired his education. He was apprenticed at an early age to the trade of a shoe-maker, but he did not long continue to follow the cobbler's art, for the work dis- agreed with his health. He then sought more rugged and out-door employments, and decided on boating on the canal; he bought a canal boat, the McFarland, which plied between Pittsburg and Erie, Pa., and Meadville, Ohio, and was engaged in carrying freight until the canal was closed to navigation. In 1867, he moved with his father and other members of the family to Dickinson Co., Tenn., and farmed for thirteen years near Charlotte, also operating a thresh- ing-machine. In 1880, he returned to Law- rence County, and in the spring of 1881 built a store-room in East Moravia on the east side, where he carries as well-selected a stock of gen- eral merchandise as is to be found in any village in the county. His spare time is taken up with
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job work in repairing shoes. He is building up a large trade as well as lucrative, for he has good business qualifications, and his integrity goes unquestioned among his fellow-townsmen.
Mr. Pitzer was married in Shenango town- ship, March 1, 1860, to Elizabeth Shaffer, daughter of Joseph and Eva (Pitzer) Shaffer, and she has borne him the following family of nine children: Joseph, a farmer of Washington township, who married Minnie West, and has four children --- Byron, Luther K., Melvin, and Cress; Albert, a car inspector, living near his father in Taylor township, who married Mary Jones, and has a family of three-David, Esther, and Ralph; David; Emma; Frank, a conductor and brakeman on the P. & L. E. R. R .; John, who is employed at the tube works in Ellwood City; Samuel; Ida; and Doris. Mr. and Mrs. Pitzer are members and regular attendants of the M. E. Church. In politics, Mr. Pitzer is a firm Republican, and does all he can in a legit- imate way to advance the interests of that party.
JOHN M. MCGINNIS, who is a representa- tive and leading farmer of North Beaver town- ship, was born in Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 23, 1847. His grandfather, James McGinnis, was the son of William McGinnis, who was born about the middle of the eighteenth century in County Down, Ireland. In 1780 William Mc- Ginnis wedded Martha Wilson, an estimable lady of Scotch ancestry, and two years later they came to America and settled in Carlisle, Cum- berland Co., Pa. After a short sojourn there,
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