USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 57
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ine; J. Wesley; and one that died in infancy. Our subject's father lived until 1834, when he was removed from the midst of his sorrowing family by the cruel hand of Death at the age of forty- five years. Mrs. Rhodes, after her husband's death, having a large family of small children to support and educate, married Robert Sample, a Presbyterian clergyman, who was a pioneer of that faith in this part of Pennsylvania. Her death finally took place in 1879, when she had round- ed out a well-spent life of eighty-four years.
J. Wesley Rhodes, after completing a district school education in the schools of Neshannock township, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and farming, in connection with min- ing coal, has been his chief occupation through- out the greater part of his life. He has lived ever since 1832 on the farm, which was purchased by his father, until 1887, when he moved to prop- erty near, but still owning the farm; on this farm there is a valuable quarry, leased to the Atlan- tic Iron & Steel Co., and extensively worked by them, the product being used as a flux in the manufacture of steel. Mr. Rhodes is now living in partial retirement, not paying so much per- sonal attention to the agricultural operations on his farm as in years past when his health would have better permitted it, but rather living in peace and plenty, enjoying the fruits of many years of toil, and the friendship of his scores of intimate acquaintances, by whom he is held in the highest esteem and regard.
It was in 1857 that his marriage with Louisa Thomas, grandmother of Morgan Thomas of New Castle, Pa., was solemnized, and this union has been blessed with seven children; the five of whom are living are: Charles W., who mar-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
ried Agnes Aiken; Mary, who married Robert Thompson of Hickory township; Sarah E., who became the wife of William Brenneman of Scott township; Fred L .; and Walter W. Mr. Rhodes is a Republican in his political affiliations, and has been honored with a place on the school board, but this was only at the solicitations of his friends who knew with what credit he could serve the township, for he is naturally a home man, and desires nothing better than to enter- tain his friends at his own fireside, and dislikes . all forms of notoriety. The family are regular attendants of the United Presbyterian Church and different members of the household may be found in responsible positions in the various church societies.
JAMES A. MCMILLIN. Of the sturdy farm- ers who furnish for the nation the supplies of food products "Lawrence County has its full quota. Its men are known as citizens of long residence, who are closely bound to the grand old Keystone State, believing that it holds a po- sition that is second in importance to no other commonwealth. Of such a stamp is James A. McMillin of Scott township, who is a farmer, descended from an ancestry of farmers.
Mr. McMillin laid a broad foundation for his life work, seizing every available advantage and raising himself to a high plane of manhood. For some time he was engaged in educational work, being well fitted to train the pliant mind of youth by his general character and preparation. . He gave up this employment at the call of the Nation for its stanch supporters, choosing to
put individual interests in the background and to serve his bleeding country first. Consequent- ly his enlistment was a matter of formality soon ended satisfactorily, and on Aug. 6, 1862, Mr. McMillin became a member of Co. B, 134th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., under Capt. James McCune and Col. M. S. Quay. Day after day he-toiled with his fellow-soldiers in the ranks, hoping and pray- ing that right might not be forever on the scaf- fold and wrong forever on the throne. With the faith of disciplined obedience the soldiery of the North beheld "God within the shadows, ever watching o'er his own." Mr. McMillin's dis- charge came on May 26, 1863. He returned to his former vocation in which he achieved suc- cess, applying himself diligently to the great problem that faces every man-to earn a living for himself and those dependent on him; by do- ing farm work in the summer months Mr. Mc- Millin accumulated the means to purchase a farm and become independent. In accordance with his early spirit of ambition Mr. McMillin did not drop from all connection with the outside world beyond the limits of his daily toil, but kept himself informed on the topics of the day, especially in the political field, evincing the true American fidelity to candidates of his party, the Republican. For ten 'years our subject dis- pensed justice in the official capacity of justice of the peace, and he was known as a man of probity and fairness. The same intelligence displayed in material affairs extended to those of spiritual well-being, and the McMillins have ever meas- ured their lives by the standards and conformi- ties of the United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. McMillin entered into a matrimonial al- liance with Sarah Emery of Scott township, and
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
their home life has been blessed in the births of two children: Jennie, who resides at home, and John L., who is attending the Normal School of Slippery Rock. The young people inherit the mental activity of their parents, and are favor- ites in the neighborhood of their home.
Some information in regard to the parentage of Mr. McMillin may be gleaned from the fact that his father grew up in Westmoreland and Beaver counties, Pa., where he was esteemed a man of more than ordinary attainments and his life work ran on parallel lines with that of his son, as he, too, was an instructor and devoted himself to agriculture. About 1820 Archibald McMillin came to Beaver County and in a short time pur- chased a farm in Shenango township, where he remained thirteen years, at that time becoming the proprietor of an estate in Slippery Rock township, which became his permanent resi- dence, being well located near Princeton. In addition to the routine of farming, Mr. McMillin surveyed section after section of land in his vicinity. At the disruption of the Whig party Mr. McMillin naturally fell into the ranks, marching under Republican banners, and worked effectually to further that party's power. In his official capacity of county surveyor Mr. McMillin displayed his public spirit and devo- tion to business, and for some years he laid down the law as justice of the peace, and also served as county commissioner of Beaver County be- fore Lawrence was formed, in which position he gave general satisfaction. In the person of Jane Aiken of Wayne township Mr. McMillin found a companion in every way worthy of her posi- tion in his affections; to the pair were born six children, five of whom endured life's struggle
and grew to mature years. Mary was united to Anderson Gardner and a quartet of children came to their family circle, Archibald W., How- ard, Jennie, and Catherine. The second daugh- ther, Catherine, became the wife of James A. Ray of New Castle. Edward M. espoused Sarah Johnson of Allegheny City. He was a gallant follower of "Old Glory" in many engagements of the late war, serving four years in the 100th Pa. Vol. Inf., known as the "Roundhead Regi- ment." Their home is now in the State of Illi- nois. Martha became the helpmeet of John E. Forbes of Slippery Rock township, and she bore two daughters, Annie and Jennie, afterwards re- sponding to the summons of death when still a young woman. The McMillins held tenaciously to the usages of the U. P. Church, conforming their lives to its standards and many times ob- serving the great law of kindness toward others less fortunate than themselves. Mr. McMillin lived until 1889, rounding out eighty-two years of existence; and Mrs. McMillin survived until 1894, passing away at eighty-four years of age.
Edward McMillin, father of Archibald and grandfather of James A. McMillin, was a Penn- sylvanian, who loved the State next to his home and loved ones; about 1820 he located in Beaver County, where he operated a farm for twelve years, becoming a highly valued resident. As he was shrewd and energetic in business affairs, Mr. McMillin held a responsible position as a lo- cal leader of the Whig party. For his wife Mr. McMillin selected Agnes Lamont, a lady of Scotch parentage, and to them were born this family: Archibald, our subject's father; Sarah, deceased; Edward, who married Jane Leslie of Shenango township and has a daughter, Agnes
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
(Chambers); James espoused Eliza Frew of Slippery Rock township, and they have two sons, Edward A. and J. Milton; Margaret be- came the wife of Joseph M. Burton of Scott township, and they have two children, J. Mans- ford and Mary (Balf) of New Castle; William married Ellen McMillin of Shenango township, and they have a large family of bright young people-Emma, Wesley, Dr. Herman E., Jennie M., Adaline, John C., Ellen, Matilda, and Mar- tha C. As their descendants have clung to the U. P. Church, the family tendency to upright- ness is manifested in an unusual degree. Few people gain such an honored place in the society in which they move, and few are as worthy as the McMillin family.
WILLIAM D. ELLIOTT. In giving a list of the prominent and representative citizens of Lawrence County it would be a greivous mis- take on the part of the publishers of this Book of Biographies to omit mentioning the name of the leading farmer and miller of Scott township, William D. Elliott, who is entitled, both by reason of his own eventful life and present po- sition and by the leading part his father and grandfather took in the settlement and develop- ment of this section of the country, to honorable mention. From the time that our subject first struck out for himself his lines were cast in many different occupations over widely separated stretches of country, until at the age of thirty- five he returned to his native State and county and settled down in his present position. His grandfather was one of the early surveyors of
Mercer, and what is now Lawrence County, and performed valuable work in inducing settlers of the better class to come to this undeveloped country and take up homes.
Our subject was born Jan. 2, 1832, and was a . son of James P. and Margaret (Dennison) Elli- ott, the former of whom was born in Scott town- ship in 1800, and the latter was born in Spring- field township, Mercer County, in 1805. William Elliott, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Pittsburg or its vicinity. He took up the civil engineer's profession and fitted himself for fron- tier work. About 1791 he came into Mercer County and surveyed the country for miles around, and took a hand in building up the country and developing its wonderful resources. He was one of the very first men to settle in Mercer County, and it was through his efforts that many pioneers attracted by his accounts of its excellent features, resolved to make that their home, and so became valued citizens and the ancestors of many of our best people. He became a very prosperous man of that time, and although he died when only thirty-eight years old, about 1812 or 1813, he owned at one time 1,000 acres of land. He did not follow his trade continuously, but settled down on a farm and followed the steady, well-tempered life of a tiller of the soil. The homestead is now owned by his grandson, William D., the subject of this writ- ing. He was liberal and not at all exacting in his religious belief, and was a Whig politically. He married Agnes Perry, a native of Scotland, and to them were born five children: James P., the father of our subject, deceased, July, 1884, aged eighty-four years; Cyrus; Benjamin F .: Nancy, deceased; and Eliza, deceased. Our sub-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
ject's grandmother departed this life in 1848, dry goods store. He remained in that city aged sixty-five years.
James P. Elliott, the father of our subject, early took up the occupation of an agriculturist, and followed that most independent of all call- ings for the rest of his life; he also carried on an extensive milling business, which is now one of the chief sources of income of his son, our sub- ject. In his political belief he was originally a Republican, but of late years before his death he voted with the Democratic party. He was a live, energetic, public-spirited man, who was never found lacking in interest in any movement that was calculated to better the condition of the community and result in its advancement from a business, educational, social or religious point of view. He married Margaret Dennison, daughter of William Dennison of Springfield township, Mercer County, and to them were given five children, whose record is given below: Eliza married John Elder and reared a family of five children-Margaret, William J., Lillie, Mary, and John; Caroline married Albert G. Courtney of Emsworth, Allegheny Co., Pa., and made him the father of three children-James P. E., Clarence C., and Margaret; Rebecca is de- ceased; as is James also; and William D. is the subject of this writing. In his religious belief James P. Elliott was liberal in general tendency, and did not belong to any church organization. His wife survived his death one year, passing away to rejoin those gone before, in 1885. .
As soon as his schooling was completed, our subject engaged as a clerk in a retail dry goods store in New Castle, where he worked and be- came acquainted with the business until he went to Philadelphia, where he clerked in a wholesale
about two years, and from there went to Pekin, Ill., where he became bookkeeper for a grain and lumber firm, in whose employ he remained for a year and a half. He then engaged as man- ager and head bookkeeper for a large distilling company in the same place. His next location was in St. Louis, Mo., where he was employed one year as a bookkeeper. He later engaged in the commission business with a Mr. D. B. Mar- tin, continuing in that connection for about three years. He then went aboard the Mississippi steamboat, the Polar Star, which ran from St. Louis to Memphis, Tenn., and was employed on the boat as clerk for about two years. In 1867, having seen enough of a wandering life and de- siring to settle down and enjoy the rest of his life, he returned to the old homestead, and has since devoted his attention to farming and mill- ing. He has found the latter business very prof- itable, and Elliott's mills have a wide reputation among good housewifes for the excellent char- acter of the flour, which is considered to be with- out an equal in this section. In his political views he adheres strongly to the Democratic principles, and he has held the office of postmas- ter of Elliott's Mills, besides divers township offices.
In 1878 our subject was joined in marriage with Margaret J. McNair, daughter of William McNair of Erie, Pa., and to them have been given two children-James B., who died when four years and a half of age, and Gertrude, who was born April 9, 1883. In his religious belief our subject is liberal. Socially he is a Mason, being a member of Mahoning Lodge, No. 243, F. & A. M., of New Castle, Pa.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
JOHN McGRAW is the bearer of a name of one of the best and most productive places that is well and favorably known throughout Lawrence Co., Pa. He is one of the tillers of the soil of Mahoning township, who has, by his own efforts, secured a place in the list of solid and prominent men of the western end of the Key- stone State. The birthplace of our subject was in Armstrong Co., Pa., and he came into life Nov. 22, 1832. His parents were John and Eliza (Brown) McGraw.
The senior McGraw was a native Pennsylva- nian, and in his younger days learned the stone- mason's trade. This craft stood him in good stead the most of his life, which was not a long one, for he died at forty years of age, at the Great Western Iron Works, Bradley's Bend, Pa. Typhoid fever was the immediate cause of his early demise. Six children, all of whom are liv- ing at this time, survived him; they were: Fran- cis; John; Cynthia; Thomas; Lydia; and Silas. His widow wedded as her second husband Mr. John Johnson, and by him had two children- Emma and Sadie. The latter is now deceased.
John McGraw, our subject, when only eigh- teen years of age, entered the rolling mills at Wood's Run, Allegheny County, near Pittsburg, and spent two years learning the secrets of that vast industry which has made Pittsburg re- nowned over the whole world. Not finding this line of work quite to his taste he turned his at- tention to agriculture. In 1875 he bought part of the Thomas Williams farm in Mahoning township, an estate which he holds and on which he makes his residence at the present time. He erected a new house in 1876, and before many years had elapsed he had the series of improve- ments under way that have made him the owner
in this fine farming section. The excellent orchards, which are now in their prime, were . set out and carefully tended by him. He de- voted his time to general farming, but his land is especially well adapted to grain and stock-rais- ing, two lines in which he excels.
John McGraw was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Ella Cole, daughter of Ensor Cole, a well-to-do citizen of Eastern Pennsylva- nia. In the month of August, 1895, she was re- moved from the scenes of this life, when aged sixty-four years. She was the mother of eight children, who were born in the order given be- low, and were named: Samantha Jane; Frank M .; John C. F .; Duira A .; William E .; Thomas W .; Mary Ellen; and Silas E. Samantha Jane became the wife of William Holliday of Brown Co., Kansas, and has borne her husband these children: L. Gertrude; John M .; Willie; Cora; Eva; and two deceased. Frank married Mary Shaffer, and is a well-to-do farmer of North Beaver township; they have two children-Clar- ence and Glennie. John C. F., who resides in Mahoningtown, married Lizzie M. Ripple and has four children-Lee, Fred, Ella, and Ada. Duira is the wife of a merchant of Ellwood City, Pa., L. S. Randolph; they have two children- Lloyd and Wilbur. William E. espoused Eliza- beth Mitchell, and has two children-Gay and Willie; he is a farmer of considerable means of Hilltown, Pa. Thomas married Lucy McGuire and resides at home. Mary Ellen lives at Wam- pum and is the wife of Clarence Webster, a miner; they have three children-Grace, Ethel and Edith. Edwin is a clerk in a store at Ell- wood City, Pa.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
John McGraw is a man of sterling worth, un- Lake Erie. Of his thirteen children, Sarah Ann questioned integrity and steady reliability. He ` was the third in order of birth. Joseph Kannel was a son of Casper and Barbara Kannel, both of Welsh origin, born Aug. 23, 1787, died Sept. 13, 1877, at Middleton, Ohio, where Canton, O., now stands. Caspar was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War in Capt. Hickman's Co. of the 17th Regiment of Infantry.
has always been a prominent member of the lo- cal organization of the Republican party, his convictions in matters of public interest being based on accurate information and correct con- clusions. He is especially well posted on all that is transpiring at home or abroad, and is a fair and impartial judge of men and affairs. He has for six years served on the board of school di- rectors, and is at present the supervisor of Ma- honing township. As a man, a citizen, and a public officer he is everywhere esteemed, re- spected and trusted.
JOHN H. SNIDER. The subject of this biography is a telegraph operator in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, stationed at New Castle, where he has been kept in continuous service for over twenty-three years. He was born in East Fairfield, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1842, and is a son of Martin and Sarah Ann (Kannel) Snider. Our subject's mother was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Altdoerfer) Kannel, and was born near Elkton, Ohio, Nov. I, 1816, and died July 13, 1874; Elizabeth was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, where she was born Feb. 3, 1793; her death occurred June 9, 1860; her mother came from Basil, Switzer- land. Joseph Kannel was of Welsh origin and followed farming. He was a soldier in Capt. J. Gilbert's company of Ohio Volunteers in the War of 1812, and was in the service at the time of Commodore Perry's victory on the waters of
Martin Snider, the father of John H., was born near Clarkson, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1812, and was a saddler and harness-maker by trade. He lived in East Fairfield and plied his trade until 1855, when he removed to Rutland, Meigs Co., Ohio, where he resided until Oct., 1859, and removed to Mantua, Collin Co., Texas, where he resided during the war, suffering many inconveniences because of his early associations and ties in the North, and was also many times in danger of his life in that turbulent period, and on several occasions only the fact of his being a Mason saved him. He followed his trade many years in McKinney, Collin Co., Tex., and died in Denton County, the same State, Aug. 28, 1881. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Ferrall) Snider. Elizabeth (Ferrall) Snider was born in Lowden Co., Va., April 27, 1793, and was a daughter of William and Mary (Bangham) Ferrall, both of whom were of English birth and members of the Quaker sect; William Ferrall was a farmer by occupation. Henry Snider was born Jan. 27, ¿ 1790, and was a son of John and Theodocia Sni- der, who were natives of Lowden Co., Va.
John H. Snider lived in Columbiana Co., Ohio, till 1855, and for the four following years in Meigs County, attending school at every oppor- tunity in each county. In 1859 he moved with the family to Texas, where, on the outbreak of
SHUBAEL T. WILDER.
MRS. SHUBAEL T. WILDER.
BOOK OF, BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY. 601
the war, he was conscripted into the Rebel Army but was detailed to serve as a teamster. Learn- ing that the teams were to be conscripted, and because he owned his own team, he determined to desert with his oxen to save himself and them from aiding the traitors' cause. After his first desertion he was conscripted again and mustered as a private into Co. A, 29th Texas Cavalry, serving three years as soldier and bugler; and again he deserted, and was this time held a pris- oner on Pelican Island in Galveston Bay until the close of the war, and came very close to per- ishing by starvation. After the war he journeyed on horseback nine hundred miles to Mahaska Co., Iowa, where he attended school through the winter, and in the succeeding winter was en- rolled as a scholar in the schools of Ashley, Ohio. In 1870 he went to Alliance, Ohio, learned tele- graphy, and was afterward stationed at Monteith and Muskegon, Michigan, and Alliance, Louis- ville, Canton, Orville, Crestline, Loudonville, and Youngstown, Ohio, and Homewood and Enon Valley, Pa. From the latter place he came to New Castle on April 22, 1874, and has since served the company efficiently at this point, leav- ing no ground for a complaint.
On Dec. 6, 1873, at Homewood, Pa., Mr. Sni- der was married to Laura V. Johnson, who was born at Enon, Pa., and was a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Snyder) Johnson; the latter died Oct. 13, 1859, aged fifty-one years and five months. David Johnson, who died May 21, 1877, was a hotel-keeper at Homewood, Pa. Mr. Sni- der's marriage has been blessed with four chil- dren, who are: William H., a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad; David M., a machinist; Charles F., a telegraph operator; and Ira R., who
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is still attending school. On April 18, 1887, oc- curred the death of Laura V. (Johnson) Snider, our subject's wife, and as there is no home without a mother, Mr. Snider married Mrs. Maria Davis March 3, 1892. Mr. Snider has a strong liking for secret societies and fraternities, and is a member of the following Masonic orders : Lodge of the Craft, F. & A. M., No. 433; Delta Chapter, No. 170; Lawrence Commandery, No. 62; Consistory Valley of Pittsburg, 32d degree; and Zem Zem Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Erie, Pa. He is also an Odd Fellow, and holds a membership in the following societies: Shenango Lodge, No. 195; Encamp- ment, No. 86. He is also a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 160, K. of P. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics. He attends the Disciples Church, and is a Republican when it comes to voting at local, State, or National elections.
SHUBAEL T. WILDER, deceased. The de- velopment of the iron industry in Western Penn- sylvania is of comparatively recent years; a half century ago, the small progress that had been made in utilizing the vast stores of native iron would not have warranted the most sanguine be- liever in the future of this part of the country in predicting the tenth part of the present indus- trial development in the working and manufac- ture of iron and steel. Among the foremost of the promoters of the iron industry, concurrent opinion places the subject of this sketch, who was born in Middleboro, Mass., Oct. 8, 1810, and died in Massachusetts in 1888. He had
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