USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 46
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Our subject is a son of Matthias and Hattie (Stevenson) Hess, and a grandson of Martin Hess. The grandfather, a native Pennsylvanian, was among the early settlers of Fayette Co., Pa .; he filled out a long and prosperous life in his chosen vocation, that of tilling the soil of his native land, and died full of years and honor at the age of ninety-three. He reared four sons, that were a credit to their bringing up; they were: John, Washington, Matthias, and Lewis.
Matthias Hess, the father of our subject, was the son to whom fell the care of the parents in
their later years. He inherited the home place on which he was born-a fine one by the way- and continued the work laid down by his father. During all of his life he was a valuable and hon- orable citizen. In politics, he belonged to the good old Democratic school, but above all party considerations was a patriot and an American. He held many places of trust in his day, and his influence was wide-reaching. He and his wife were consistent members of the Christian Church. Mr. Hess was united, early in life, to Hattie Stevenson, who was the beloved mother, teacher and guide to a large family of children, who were named: Martin, deceased; William; John; Enoch; Aaron; Fremont; George; Eliza- beth; Rosalia, deceased; Jennie; Carrie; Lydia; Mary; and Isabella. Mr. Hess was removed from the scene of his activities in this world in 1894, when aged eighty-four, and his wife in the succeeding year, aged eighty-three.
The subject of this history married Miss Anna Ryan, daughter of Mr. Jonathan Ryan of West Brownville, and to them has been given one child, Gaches Elrick, who came to bless their home at Edenburg, June 26, 1890. Since com- ing to Edenburg, Mr. Hess has steadily won his way into the confidence and respect of the peo- ple. He has a keen appreciation of how import- ant the interests which he has in charge are to the public, and conducts his office along the right lines. With all the duties of his position, which must be performed with as much regular- ity and punctuality as the stroke of a clock, Mr. Hess is able to look after many other interests. He is an active and ready member of the Demo- cratic party, a member of the Knights of Pythias and other like societies, and in public affairs is
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ever willing with talents and time to labor for the general good. In religious matters, he is tol- erant and liberal, having little patience with nar- rowness of creed or bigotry. To the traveling and shipping public, Mr. Hess is ever obliging and painstaking. The high esteem in which he is held not only by the corporation he repre- sents, but by the public of the whole section which makes use of the Edenburg station, is the best evidence in the world that he is an instance of the right man in the right place.
ROBERT DICKS, a highly respected and honored citizen of Lawrence County, en- gaged in carrying on farming operations in Washington township, was born in the above township, on the eighth day of December, 1844. He came from ancestors who fully earned the name of Ameri- cans, and who took active part in the struggles of sword and plow that have given our citizens in the nineteenth century the liberties and the abundance they daily enjoy.
The great-grandfather of Robert Dicks was by name John Dicks. He was trained in the rugged colonial school of experience, and was one of those valiant men who, under the leader- ship and prowess of George Washington, dared to hurl defiance at King George and his mer- cenary soldiers, and entered a life and death con- test, which forever freed this country from the British yoke. After the sanguinary struggle of the sword and musket had terminated, the young soldier took up his axe and began to do his part in the battle for prosperity. He came into the
western part of the Keystone State among the first settlers of the region, and for many long years waged a constant warfare out the forces of nature; the struggle, with no loss of blood, par- took of the nature of a triumph with each suc- ceeding year. He died at the age of eighty-five years, leaving a name that will live forever in the hearts of his worthy descendants.
Aaron L. Dicks was a son of the above, and grandfather of our subject. He located in Hick- ory township, and worked in the canal business in addition to carrying on his farm, and rounded out a career which exceeded by five years the allotted three score and ten. His son, Aaron L. Dicks, Jr., began his active life as a farmer, as soon as he was out of school. He located on the farm in Washington township, now owned by his son, Robert, in 1844, cleared it of trees, and made considerable improvements that more than doubled its value. On this farm he resided up to the time when he was taken from life in 1858 at the age of fifty-five. His wife's name before marriage was Elizabeth Michaels, and to them five children were born: Aaron E., deceased; Robert, our subject; Elizabeth A., now deceasd; Peter M .; and William J. In his lifetime, Mr. Dicks was a very enterprising, wide-awake citi- zen, and upheld the standard of the Democratic party. His church leanings were with the United Presbyterian Church.
Robert Dicks from boyhood was taught in- dustry and thrift. After leaving the district schools, he labored with his father and in time became the owner of the estate himself. On this excellent property he has erected a new house and suitable buildings, and has his life through been a farmer of merit and painstaking methods.
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He has made quite a reputation as a careful breeder of fine stock, and made many a tidy sum of money in that line. His faithful and true wife was a Miss Mary J. Brennaman, before he met her and made her his life-companion. Five chil- dren have been born of this union; Solomon B., William A., Mary E., Elizabeth A., and Henry J., deceased. The family are in religious belief Presbyterian. Mr. Dicks has always paid much attention to the civil affairs of his State and Nation. Born of a family that has had much to do with public affairs, he is a sturdy exponent of true Democracy. He keeps in step with mod- ern progress and has full faith in the destiny of the nation for which his forefathers suffered so long and toiled so hard.
HUGH L. MEANS of Wilmington township, Lawrence County, Pa., has, although still a middle-aged man, attained a place of prominence and standing among the agri- culturists of his native section, that may well be envied by many older men. Since his birth, April 16, 1848, many changes for the better have come over this part of Pennsylvania, and from the days of his young manhood, Mr. Means has played well the part that has fallen to his lot in the progress and growth that are now in evidence on every side.
Hugh Means, senior, the grandfather of the subject of our writing, was of good, reliable Irish stock, being born on the sea-girt Emerald Isle. Full of life, energy and ambition he struck out for America, when a young man, to seek his for- tune. Wide-awake and willing to work, he soon
after his arrival here had mastered the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed in various localities for some years. Laying by a little competence, he bought a farm in Wilmington township, a tract of land that lay in an unimproved state. Mainly by his own efforts, he built first of all a house, then some outer buildings including a barn, and finally a grist-mill; with incessant toil, he put his land in good, productive shape, at the same time profitably conducting his milling busi- ness. He had become a true citizen of his adopt- ed country, and in the War of 1812 served hon. orably in the army which gave England her sec- ond whipping, and taught her to respect Amer- ican rights as equal to any nation's rights on the globe. Our subject's grandfather departed this life in 1838, having accomplished far more than the ordinary man, and leaving behind him a sturdy and well-reared family of boys who were named in order: Henry; Thomas; Daniel; Hugh; and William. Mr. Means, during his busy life, was a member of the United Pres- byterian Church, and bore a prominent part in many other walks of life. His political leanings were with the Democratic party, in whose coun- cils he was always a valued adviser. He was twice elected to the office of sheriff of Mercer Co., Pa., an office calling for in those days the greatest amount of hardihood and dauntless en- ergy.
Hugh Means, son of the preceding and the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., where his early training was received. He started out in life as a farmer, and followed that vocation as a means of securing a livelihood . and acquiring a competence for his old age in various places, finally purchasing an improved
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REV. JOHN A. BAILEY.
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farm of 120 acres from his father. This place he put in the best shape that hard work and the liberal expenditure of money could accomplish, building new houses, barns and sheds through- out. He was a man who was in advance in re- gard to his ideas on agriculture, and made a suc- cess of raising high-bred stock of all kinds, his reputation as a wise and reliable breeder going out far and wide. He had an admirable consti- tution, which carried him through to his ninety- second year. He married Mary Livingstone, the daughter of one of his most respected neigh- bors, Hugh Livingstone. Mr. Means was a United Presbyterian, and a stanch Democrat. Ten children, named below, were born to Mr. Means and his wife: Hannah J .; Milton; Ros- anna; Elizabeth; Mary; Emma; Sarah; Perry; Hugh L., the subject of this history; and Ben- jamin Franklin.
Our subject was born in Wilmington town- ship, and spent all his younger days there, either busy at home or in the district school. As soon as he was able he bought out the other heirs of the home estate, and has followed the peaceful pursuits of the gentleman farmer since. If the condition in which a country place is kept is any guide, Mr. Means is certainly a careful and painstaking tiller of the soil; every rod of his farm, from the orderly home acre to the farthest back lot, shows method, economy and skill. So it is no wonder that Mr. Means is everywhere rated a successful and well-posted follower of his chosen vocation. The many specimens of his well-bred stock that pasture in his fields show that he has his father's talents in that line.
Before her marriage with our subject, Mrs. Means was known among her associates as
Sarah Moore; she was a daughter of D. B. Moore of Huntingdon Co., Pa. Two children have blessed their union: Mary E. and David M. True to his family teachings, Mr. Means is an active Democrat, and stands high in the local political circles. He and his family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Means has a keen appreciation of the fact that our farming population is the very bone and sinew of the nation. He knows, too, that those whose fortune it is to be the advisers and leaders of this vast class must attain, themselves, the most careful, cool and conservative judg- ment. He shapes his daily life with the aim al- ways in view of being of the utmost value to himself, his friends, his townspeople, and his country.
REV. JOHN A. BAILEY, the revered pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Mt. Jack- son, Pa., was born near Candor, Washington Co., Pa., May 22, 1835. His great-grandfather, Alexander Bailey, was a Highlander, living near old Billie Castle, Scotland; on account of his pronounced religious views, he was driven from his native country, and settled in the north of Ireland, where he lived with his family a few months, and then emigrated to America, taking up his residence in Carlisle Barracks, Cumber- land County. There he lived until about 1773, when he moved farther west to Washington Co., Pa., where he died at the age of ninety-seven. It is a rather curious fact that his wife lived to be one hundred and seven years old, thus ex- ceeding his own very advanced age by ten years.
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The names and years of the births of their chil- dren as found in the old family register are as follows: Matthew, born 1749; William, 1752; Ann, 1753; Mary, 1755; Jeanette, 1758; Alexan- der, 1761; James, 1763; and John, our subject's grandfather, who was born Sept. 24, 1765.
John Bailey took up the occupation of farm- ing, and lived on his farm in Washington Coun- ty all his life, dying at the age of eighty-seven. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Gailey, married him June 18, 1799, and lived to enjoy sixty-seven happy years of life. Their children were: Jane; Matthew; Nancy; James; Marguerite; Alexander; Mary; John; Ann; and William.
Matthew Bailey, the father of Rev. John A., was born in Washington Co., Pa., and married Ann Smiley, daughter of William and Sarah (Brownlee) Smiley. He inherited a farm adjoin- ing his father's estate, and became a very pro- gressive and well-to-do man, following general farming all of his days, his death taking place when he was aged seventy-five years. For many years he occupied the responsible position of el- der in the Associate and United Presbyterian Church. His wife was taken to the world be- yond in her seventy-seventh year. Their chil- dren included these members: Rev. John A .; William S .; Sarah; Alexander; James P .; Mar- garet; Samuel M .; and Matthew C.
Rev. John A. Bailey passed his early years on the farm, and perfected by hard work that rug- ged manhood that has descended to him from his Highland great-grandfather. When nineteen years of age, having already completed the course of studies required in the district schools, he entered the Westminster College, from which
he graduated July 7, 1859. Immediately there- after, he became a student in the Allegheny Sem- inary of the United Presbyterian Church of Alle- gheny City, Pa., where he took a full theological course of four years, and was licensed to preach the Gospel Sept. 3, 1862, by the Lake Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, and was or- dained and installed June 23, 1863, as pastor of the churches at Sheakleyville and New Vernon, Mercer Co., Pa., and continued over that charge for six years, giving entire satisfaction as a teacher of the Gospel, and proving his ability as a winner of souls to the Standard of Christ by increasing the membership of the churches in large measure. He was then called to Sidney, Shelby Co., and to Wellsville, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and on Jan. 1, 1883, assumed the duties of pastor of the U. P. Church at Sharon, Pa., where he officiated until Nov. 8, 1892, when he came to Mt. Jackson, and began his work in the U. P. Church with one hundred and twenty-five members, and by his earnest efforts has increased the membership to one hundred and sixty-six. The church was organized about 1820 or 1822, and the first church home was erected in 1825; this structure was replaced with a frame edifice in 1857, in dimensions 40x50, which is still occu- pied, and is located a half a mile south of the village. Mr. Bailey has also been instrumental in beautifying and remodeling the parsonage. He is a man of great power, of exceptional or- ganizing ability, and merits well the esteem in which he is held; he is popular among all classes, the rich and the poor and the old and the young, for he has always a friendly greeting ready for everyone, and ever looks on the very brightest side of life.
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His life-partner, with whom he was united in marriage bonds Oct. 19, 1860, was before her marriage Belle Porter, a daughter of John M. and Isabella (Guy) Porter. She was born in Mahoning township, this county, but passed the most of her years of young womanhood at - in Paisley, Scotland, passed to the better land Clarksville, Mercer County.
It affords us great pleasure in being able to present the portrait of Mr. Bailey which appears in connection with this sketch on a preceding page.
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ROBERT D. PATTISON. This solid and substantial citizen and farmer of Union town- ship was born on the farm that is now the scene of his agricultural operations July 29, 1841, and is a son of David and Jane (Stewart) Pattison. David Pattison was born in Glasgow, Scotland, where he worked at his trade of cotton-spinner before he came to America when a young man. He came to Western Pennsylvania, and found employment in quarry work, building the old canal. Being industrious and filled with the de- sire to provide a home to which he might ask his sweetheart whom he had left in Scotland, he soon accumulated sufficient property to be able to purchase fifty acres of land that now consti- tues the farm of his son, the subject of this sketch. He built a log-cabin and cleared a plot for a garden, and then sent for Jane Stewart, to whom he had been engaged before coming to this country, commencing his married life on the new farm. The clearing of the land went on when he had no other work. Through their ob- servance of the rugged Scotch principles of
thrift, honesty and independence they won the honor and admiration of all they came to know. Mr. Pattison's last years were devoted to garden- ing, and his death took place when he was eighty-four years old. His wife, who was born beyond the river of death at the age of eighty- six. Their children were: David C .; Mary; William S .; Jeanette; Robert D .; Alexander S .; and two that died in infancy.
Our subject stayed at home and cared for his parents, and assisted his father in building a new frame house and barn, inheriting the same with forty-four acres of choice land. In 1855, he en- larged the barn, and has brought about great im- provements in the condition of his property since it came into his possession, and he now owns a home which is replete with comfort. Everything is neat and in excellent repair,denoting an owner who knows the value of good appearances. In years past he was accustomed to utilize the sum- mer and fall seasons in doing threshing for the grain-growers of the township, for he owned the only thresher; in late years, however, he has de- voted his time to general farming, and has also raised many barns in the surrounding country.
Mr. Pattison married Miss Maggie E. Mc- Creary, daughter of Thomas McCreary, who re- sides with Mr. Pattison, and this union has been fruitful of five children: Thomas M., a machinist of New Castle, who married Lillian E. Daggart, and has one son, Paul; Adella J., who married David Wilson, and has one child, Cleda; John D .; Nanny P .; and Robert H. The three young- er children live at home. Mr. Pattison affiliates with the Republican party; he is decided in his opinions, brave and courageous in the expression
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of them, and conscientious in the endorsement of everything he believes to be just and right. It is hardly necessary to add that he is one of the most valued citizens of Union township, whose growth and development he has been at pains to foster. Mr. and Mrs. Pattison are members of the old Covenanter's Church; they are highly esteemed in their community, and are admir- ably filling their position as useful members of society, being the promoters of intelligence, edu- cation, and the highest of moral principles.
HARRY M. MOORE, one of the foremost citizens of Wilmington township, Lawrence Co., Pa., who fully knows the power and influence which the farming community has in the affairs of this county of ours, and who has made it his life work to be an upright, respected and worthy member of that community, was born on the place where he now resides Dec. 6, 1861. He is a son of Hon. A. P. and Rebecca (Junkin) Moore.
The grandfather was a native-born Pennsyl- vanian, and followed farming up to the date of his early decease, when forty years of age. He was the father of six children, who were named as follows: William; David; Jonathan; Alexan- der P .; Nancy, deceased; and one that died in infancy.
Hon. A. P. Moore, father of the subject of this writing, first saw the light of day in Hunting- don Co., Pa., where he spent his early days. He was educated in the schools of Alexander, of the above-named county, and while still a youth
went into the stock business at the age of six- teen in partnership with his uncle Alexan- der Patterson. Becoming very prosperous and well-to-do, he invested his surplus profits in real estate, buying about the year 1830 in Wilming- ton township, this county, the estate known as the Buckwater place, a farm that contains up- wards of 1,000 acres. This is the property which our subject now owns and operates. In 1847, he built the handsome and substantial residence, which stands on the place. In 1873 the spacious barns now in use were added, thus making the equipment of the farm complete in every respect. Mr. Moore had in his day probably as extensive an acquaintanceship with the people of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio as any man in Lawrence County ; his business interests carried him over a great area of country, and he became very familiar with the people and the resources of many sections. He was energetic in all af- fairs of life, and twice in his history was pre- vailed upon to represent this district in the State Legislature at Harrisburg. This position he filled so well that he could have held higher of- fices in the State or Nation had he so willed, but his interest in the stock business was too keen to permit any political ambition to control his actions. His whole life was one of active work and well-directed effort. That he prospered was a logical result. He died on the home estate at the advanced age of eighty years. Hon. A. P. Moore was twice united in the bonds of marriage. First to Rebecca Junkin, to whom seven children were born: John Agnew; Anna; Mary; Benjamin; David; Harry M .; and Oliver, now deceased. After four years of widowerhood, he married
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Anna Saterfield, but no children resulted from this union.
Harry M. Moore received the best training that our schools could afford. He finished the common school course, and then attended the State Normal School at Edinboro for two years, finally finishing with a business course, pursued at Duff's Business College at Pittsburg, Pa. At his father's death he came into possession of the home estate, and has followed agriculture in all its varied phases ever since. It goes without saying that a man who has the care of such a vast stretch of cultivated land as does Mr. Moore must be a busy person, and he is. The whole estate, however, bears undisputed marks of pains- taking care and nice management. Mr. Moore has a decided talent for details and the ability of accomplishing a great deal of work in a mini- mum period of time. He finds leisure sufficient to keep well posted on what is transpiring at home and abroad, and his methods are those of a modern farmer. His specialty is stock-raising, though his place is well fitted to raise anything that grows in this climate.
Mr. Moore married Rachel McCreary, daugh- ter of William and Nancy (Cunningham) Mc- Creary of New Wilmington, the latter a daugh- ter of the well-known Stewart C. Cunningham. Mr. McCreary and his wife were the parents of eight children: Rachel Lavena, wife of our sub- ject; James Scott, deceased; Stewart C., who married Agnes Hamilton, and has one son, Harry Warner; Ida, who became the wife of G. D. Hoffman, a druggist of Williamsport, Ly- coming County, Pa .; Sarah, who lives at home, and who is known in musical circles of the coun-
ty as a proficient and artistic warbler and whis- tler; Eva Mary, a graduate of the Westminster College of Music, and a music teacher of wide experience since 1892, lives at home; Myrtle, now attending Westminster College; and Mary Edna, who is studying for the career of an elo- cutionist. The McCreary family are Methodists in their church leadings, and have always occu- pied a prominent and respected place in the com- munity. Along with the many excellent quali- ties which our subject inherits from his honored father is a strain of true Republican spirit, with which is commingled a great amount of real patriotism. Mr. Moore is proud of the nation, and proud of the Keystone State. He lives in what he is convinced is the best county in the State, and his neighbors say that he has one of the best, if not the best, tract of land in that county. His prosperity is gratifying to all, and his ready, good-natured ways have won him many friends and well-wishers on every side.
ALVAH S. VAN GORDER is not only a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Perry town- ship, Lawrence Co., Pa., but he is also a grand- son of one of the men who, with brawny arm, ready axe and fixed resolve, came into the wil- derness that once existed, where there are pros- perous and productive farms to-day, to build homes and to found families. Mr. Van Gorder was born on the farm of his present residence, March 27, 1839. He was a son of Jacob and Nancy (Elliott) Van Gorder. The grandfather referred to above was the old and well-known pioneer, Jacob Van Gorder, Sr., who was born
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