USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania > Part 7
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
ated a tannery; during twenty years of the time he was justice of the peace. In 1843, he leased his tannery, and retired to Mahoningtown, where he bought a large farm, and made it his home the remainder of his life, devoting his energies to the cultivation of fruits and flowers. His father was James Sample, who married Christiana Taggart, daughter of James Taggart, an early settler of this part of the State. John G. Smith's wife, Eliza W. (Sample) Smith, was born March 5, 1794, and died in 1882; she was a granddaughter of James Logan, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and married a Miss Watt, a relative of the famous James Watt, who discovered the wonderful expansive power con- tained in the steam. James Logan, whose mother before her marriage was a Miss Wilson, came from Ireland, and settled on the banks of the Allegheny River, eighteen miles above Pitts- burg, and establishing Logan's Ferry. He also purchased some six or eight hundred acres of land, and opened an inn for the travelers near a basin in the river, which was known as Logan's Eddy. It was a favorite place of resort for the rivermen who made it a point to stop there on their trip for meals and a good night's lodging. He also had a well-furnished general store in connection with his tavern, and the income that came in to him from these diversified interests, together with his profits in his farming opera- tions, amounted to no inconsiderable amount, and enabled him to accumulate a large and inde- pendent fortune. His death took place on his estate at an advanced age in 1842. Five of the ten children, born to Thomas Sample and wife, live and following is a record of their names and employments: James A., a veteran of the Mexi-
can War; Mary, the widow of William P. Eichbaum, now residing in New Castle; Thomas, who is engaged in farming at Ashville, Ohio; Luther H., whose sketch appears else- where in this book as a resident of Mahoning- town; and Rev. J. Logan. To John G. and Eliza W. (Sample) Smith were born twelve children, of whom four survive; Annie E .; John D .; Mar- garet Agnes; and William Henry.
John D. Smith continued to live in Pittsburg for a year after his father died, and then at the age of fourteen years came to Mahoningtown; his early education was received in Pittsburg, and after he became a resident of Mahoning- town, he continued to attend school in the win- ters until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1873, he went to Pittsburg to learn the carpen- ter's trade, but the panic of '73 stopped all building, and he was forced to return home. From 1874 until 1889 he worked at his trade in New Castle, and then came to Mahoningtown, where he entered into partnership with his brother, William H., in the lumber and hard- ware business, in which they still continue to be associated.
William H. Smith was born in Pittsburg, Oct. I, 1859, and lived there untl he was seven years old, when he came to Mahoningtown, which has since been his home, although absent from it for considerable lengths of time. He attended the Mahoningtown schools, and Geneva College of Northwood, Ohio, until he was nineteen years of age, when he began teaching, and presided at the desk for some three winters. He next was employed in Pittsburg by the Allegheny Valley R. R. for some six months, and then secured a position with the Chautauqua Lake Ice Co. at
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Pittsburg, with which company he remained three years. After a few months in Virginia with the Norfolk & Western R. R., he left for Robins, Tenn., where for two years he enjoyed steady employment in the lumber business. Returning to Mahoningtown in the spring of 1887, he opened a lumber yard on Cherry Street, which he conducted alone two years, and then formed the parnership with his brother, before spoken of. The firm deals in all the staple lumber, hard- ware, and other customary building material, for which there is so great a call in a growing com- munity; contractors and builders recognize in them an exceptional pair of keen business men, who make it a chief aim of their business to keep everything needful, and have that of the best. William H. was married in East Brook, Law- rence Co., Pa., Nov. 20, 1895, to Nannie Angus, daughter of Robert and Jane (Sankey) Angus, and to them has been born one daughter, Kath- leen. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church, and he is a member of Amazon Lodge, No. 336, Knights of Pythias of Mahon- ingtown.
John D. Smith is a member of Lodge of the Craft, F. & A. M., No. 433 of New Castle, and is included among the members and willing work- ers of the Presbyterian Church.
Both brothers are Republicans in their polit- ical tendencies. When the Mahoningtown bank was established, both brothers took stock, and William H. was appointed cashier, a position he still holds.
A portrait of William H. Smith appears on a preceding page and will be viewed with interest by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
ARCHIBALD D. NEWELL and JOHN D. F. NEWELL, prominent citizens and influential residents of Mahoningtown borough, are sons of Archibald and Mary L. (Frisbee) Newell. Their father was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1815, and when twenty years of age came to this country, making his way to Pittsburg, where he became employed on the surveying corps of the canal through the Mahoning Valley. Event- ually, he settled in Mahoningtown as one of its earliest citizens. He was for many years the proprietor of the leading store in that place, but at last retired from active work, leaving his busi- ness to his sons, and calmly passed away from earthly scenes in 1887, with a consciousness of having lived his life nobly and well. His father, Archibald Newell, Sr., lived the whole of his life in Ireland, where his death took place, when he was aged ninety-nine years. Of six children born to Archibald Newell, Jr., but two survive --- Archibald D. and John D. F.
The mother of our subjects was born in Pitts- burg, and was a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Davis) Frisbee. Samuel Frisbee was a native of the State of Connecticut, where he was born in 1772; he was married the first time in New Haven to a Miss St. John, and after her decease. he came to Pittsburg in 1809, in the interest of Robert Fulton, and was instrumental in building the first fleet of steamers that plied the Western rivers. In Pittsburg, he was united to Jane Davis, whose father, William Davis, owned the land on which stands the village of Davisville, now a suburb of Allegheny City, but then located what seemd a long distance in the country. William Davis was the proprietor of some 600 acres of land in the rich bottoms, and provided each of
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his four sons and three daughters with a valu- able farm. He married Jane Johnson, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, whose brother, Samuel Johnson, was the first silversmith to lo- cate in Pittsburg. Samuel Davis, a son of the aforesaid William Davis, learned the trade of silversmith in the shop of his uncle, Samuel Johnson, and afterwards took to manufacturing clocks, and many fine, old specimens of tall hall clocks, bearing his name, are in existence at the present day through the Ohio Valley. William Davis was a native of Ireland, and came to this country in 1801, landing at New York City, after a long and tedious sea voyage. On the passage the vessel sailed by a far southern route, and touched at Fayall, the largest of the Azores, and while there the Consul presented Mrs. Davis with a plume of spun glass of a rich wine color, that is treasured very highly by her grand- daughter, Mrs. Newell, the mother of our sub- jects.
Archibald D. Newell was born in Mahoning- town, Jan. 3, 1858, and was reared in his native borough, securing a practical education in the schools of Mahoningtown, and in the private schools of New Castle; this splendid foundation was supplemented with a course in the New Cas- tle Business College. At an early age he took his place behind the counter in his father's store, and upon the latter's retirement from business, Archibald D. became one of the firm of Newell Bros., which succeeded to the former firm. He did not long retain his interest in the store, but sold out, and took a trip to Colorado for his health, from which place he returned to Penn- sylvania after several months "roughing it" on a hunting expedition. He then became a clerk
in the store of his uncle, J. D. Frisbee, at Cor- nellsville, where he remained six years. On his return to Mahoningtown at the expiration of his stay in Cornellsville, he was employed a few months in the offices of the Pennsylvania Co. at Lawrence Junction. On July 12, 1893, he was appointed postmaster of Mahoningtown. He was married in Youngstown, Ohio, June 17, 1895, to Miss Minie Lemlie, daughter of G. Lemlie, the proprietor of the large carriage works of Youngstown. Mrs. Newell is a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. Politically, Arch- bald D. Newell is a stanch and loyal Democrat, and socially is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has been advanced to the Uni- formed Rank.
John D. F. Newell was born in Mahoning- town, April 28, 1860. His childhood was passed in Mahoningtown, and his education included the instruction imparted to him in the pub- lic schools, in the high school of New Castle, and in Geneva College of Northwood, Ohio. As a last finishing touch, and as a fitting prepar- ation for a business life, he took a course in Duff's Business College of Pittsburg. When but a mere lad of but ten or twelve summers, he began clerking in his father's store, and has grown up in the business, his whole career hav- ing been identified with mercantile pursuits. In 1882, with his brother, he purchased his father's store and business, which was conducted under the firm name of Newell Bros. until 1888, when John secured the entire control of the store, and has since figured as its sole proprietor. The store is the largest of its kind in Mahoningtown, and the stock carried, in quality and neat dispo- sition, would do credit to stores in cities of many
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
times Mahoningtown's size, and, in consequence, Mr. Newell enjoys a large patronage from his fellow-townsmen and the residents of the sur- rounding country. He was married in Mahon- ingtown, Oct. 24, 1889, to Miss Helen Sword, a native of New Castle Junction, and daughter of John and Nancy (Shields) Sword, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. To Mr. Newell and his wife has been born one daughter, Sarah S. Mrs. Newell is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Newell is a Democrat in politics, and a member of Amazon Lodge, No. 135, Knights of Pythias, of Mahoningtown.
Messrs. Newell have distinguished themselves as excellent business men, and public-spirited citizens, for whom nothing is more pleasant than the performing of some useful service for the community. They are blessed with excep- tional talents in every branch of a broad culture and so take a high place in society and politics.
A. TALCOTT SCOTT, a resident of Mahon- ingtown, and an employee of the P. & W. R. R., is a native of Keene, N. H., where he was born March 6, 1859. His parents were Benjamin and Caroline (Smith) Scott, the latter born in Lon- donderry, Vt., July 30, 1825, a daughter of Hiram Smith, a farmer of the Green Mountain State, who was born in 1800, and died at the age of seventy-five. Benjamin Scott was born in Crafts- bury, Vt., Aug. 2, 1824, and was a contractor of railroad work the most of his life. He had contracts in all of the States east of the Missis- sippi River, and in a period of thirty years
moved his family thirty-one times. At the out- break of the war, he was in North Carolina, and lost all of his property because of the war. When peace was established, he worked for the Fort Wayne R. R. at Wooster, Clinton and Massil- lon, Ohio, and in 1871 went to Arkansas, and from there to Maryland. He then prepared the road-bed for the Pittsburg & Allegheny R. R. In 1873, he ceased his work as a contractor, and bought a farm and hotel at Eden Mills, Vt., where he resided until the death of his wife. He then sold his property in the Green Mountain State, and made his home in Wooster, Ohio, from which he moved to Oakmont, Pa., where he lived until his death in 1889. To our subject's parents were born six children, of whom only two are living now; the record reads as follows: Clara, deceased; John, deceased; two that died in infancy; A. Talcott, the subject of this brief personal history; and Nellie, who lives in Ver- mont.
Our subject's childhood and youth knew no special locality as home, for it was spent in sonie thirteen States, in which his father was at vari- ous times engaged in railroad work; he attended school in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Vermont. At the early age of twelve he began work with his father, and was assoicated with him from then until the latter's retirement from active work in contracting. From the time already indicated, when father and son ceased contracting, Mr. Scott lived in Vermont until 1882, when he came to Pennsylvania, and has been connected with work on the railroad in Oakmont, Youngstown. and Akron, Ohio. Since 1886, he has been in the employ of the P. & W. R. R., and has had. his residence in Mahoningtown, where he has
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won an enviable position in the minds of his fellow-citizens, and bears an unblemished record for integrity and faithful performance of duties. He is an enthusiastic advocate of organization in railroad circles, and holds a membership in Anchor Lodge, No. 217, Order of Railway Con- ductors.
He was joined in marriage Sept. 3, 1882, to Ella O'Brian, who was born in Montgomery, Vt., a daughter of Thomas and Isabel (Stratton) O'Brian. One child, A. Talcott, Jr., is the sole issue of this union. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Scott is affiliated with the Democratic party in his political views, and takes a lively interest in local matters of interest. He is a member of Amazon Lodge, No. 336, Knights of Pythias, of Mahoningtown.
JACOB COLNOT, master mechanic at the works of the Norway Iron and Steel Co. of New Castle, and residing at No. 121 Pearson Street, that city, was born Sept. 7, 1858, and is a son of Julian and Marian Colnot, both of whom were born in Germany, but reared in France. Julian Colnot was born May 31, 1826, the son of John and Anna Maria Colnot, and came with his wife to America in 1854. John Colnot was seven years in the French Army, and served under the great Napoleon. Our subject's father learned the tailor's trade, at which he worked many years in New Castle; he is now retired from active working, enjoying a well-earned rest in his declining years at the home of his youngest son, Nicholas, on Oak Street, New Castle.
When Jacob was an infant, his parents moved to Allegheny City, which continued to be his home until he was six or seven years of age, when his father and mother moved to New Cas- tle, where our subject attended school. When about ten years of age, he entered the nut and bolt factory at New Castle as a helper in many subordinate capacities, and for three or four years continued to occupy inferior places, as his age did not fit him to take more responsible positions. When about fourteen years of age, he became a bolt cutter in the factory at a satis- factory increase of wages, and for five years worked as a cutter. When nineteen years of age, he learned engineering, and in the year fol- lowing went to St. Ignace, Mich., on the Straits of Mackinac, where for ten years he was em- ployed at his trade. New Castle, as the place of his boyhood years, and as the home of his par- ents and brothers and sisters, continued to be very dear to him, and his interest in the city was kept alive by frequent visits home during this period. In 1892 he returned to New Castle, and secured remunerative employment at the Aetna Furnace, where he worked two years. Since that time he was employed about two years as a master mechanic in the Arethusa Iron Works, owned by George W. Johnson of New Castle. In 1897 he accepted a position with the Norway Iron and Steel Co. as master mechanic.
Mr. Colnot was married Jan. 20, 1887, at St. Ignace, Mich., to Mary Agnes Martin, of Arte- misia Co., Pa., daughter of Agnes and Christine (McLean) Martin, both natives of Scotland. Mrs. Colnot is an attendant 'of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is an independent Demo- crat in politics.
DR. MONTGOMERY LINVILLE.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
JOHN C. MILLER, well-known resident of Moravia, Taylor township, and agent for the P. & L. E. R. R. at that point, was born in Shen- ango township, March 7, 1861, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Wilson) Miller. Samuel Miller was born in Moon township, Beaver Co., Pa., March 17, 1834, and was a son of John Miller, a shoe-maker by trade, who married Mary Minor, daughter of Samuel and Jennie (Grimes) Minor, the latter a native of Ireland. John Miller was a son of Henry and Eva (Rider) Miller. Henry Miller was born in Germany, where he served in the army. The mother of our subject was born in Beaver County, near the village of Aliquippa, Feb. 15, 1840, and was a daughter of John and Jane (Laird) Wilson. John Wilson was a son of John Wilson, Sr., who married Nancy Irwin. Jane Laird was born in Ireland, a daughter of Aleaxnder and Elizabeth (Hawthorne) Laird. There were born to our sub- ject's parents eleven children, namely: Mary Ida, the wife of James F. Sankey; John C., the subject of this personal sketch; Harry W., a farmer near Moravia; James, who died at the age of two years; Clara J. (Mrs. W. A. Mc- Mahon), now deceased; Thaddeus, who died in infancy; Homer S., a telegraph operator on the P. & W. R. R .; Ellen, who married Harry Het- tenbaugh; Nettie B .; Roy C .; and Grace.
John C. Miller was reared in Shenango town- ship, attending the schools in Warnock district, and in Wurtemberg, and the Princeton and Grove City Colleges until he was twenty-two years of age. He turned his attention to tele- graphy and at the age of twenty-three set out to master it in the railroad office at Moravia. When he had become sufficiently adept at the
art, he worked extra for a year and a half, and on Nov. 17, 1886, was appointed operator at Car- bon, where he was two months, and then at Wampum, where he was kept six months. He was transferred to Moravia in August, 1887, as agent, and has acceptably filled the office ever since, in a manner highly pleasing to both employers and the patrons of the station, and his wise adjustment of affairs and intelligent service in the interests of the company reflect greatly to his credit. He is a member of the O. R. T. The family all attend the Presbyterian Church. In political belief he is a Republican and holds the office of township auditor.
DR. MONTGOMERY LINVILLE, a lead- ing and very successful physician of the city of New Castle, was born near Independence, Washington, Pa., March 9, 1854, and is a son of Jeremiah P. and Martha J. (Montgomery) Lin- ville, and grandson of Joseph Linville.
Our subject's father was reared and educated to agricultural pursuits, and followed the same the greater part of his life, spending the last twenty years of his life in retirement in New Castle, Pa. He died at the age of seventy-three, survived by his wife, Martha, who was a sister of William Montgomery, and one son, our subject.
Dr. Linville obtained his preliminary educa- tion in the district schools of Washington, com- pleted a collegiate course of study in Bethany College, and pursued his medical studies at Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
graduated as a member of the class of 1873, and although but nineteen years of age he at once commenced the practice of his profession, locat- ing in Princeton, Pa., and remaining there five months and a half, when he came to New Castle, where he has made his home since.
In 1873, he married Della Chapman, and they were permitted to enjoy two short sweet years of happy married life, she dying in 1875, and leaving him to bear life's trials and disappoint- ments alone.
He is a fit representative of the medical pro- fession of Lawrence County, and a gentleman who has attained prominence as a practitioner by carefully diagnosing his cases, and bringing that skill to bear in their treatment, which he is enabled to do by years of careful study and constant practice. His indisputed and profound knowledge of his profession, and the large suc- cess, which he has won by his persevering indus- try and attention to business, have given to him the standing and prestige he so richly merits. His office is at No. 35 North Mercer. He is railway surgeon for the W. N. Y. & P. R. R., and is a member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society, and the State Association of Physicians and Surgeons. He is prominent in Masonic circles, and is a member of the Knights Templar of New Castle, Mahoning Lodge, No. 243, F. & A. M .; Delta Chapter No. 170, R. A. M .; and New Castle Commandery. As a leading exponent of correct medical practice, and as a man in every way worthy of the most unqualified esteem and regard, we have placed Dr. Linville's portrait on a preceding page.
SAMUEL A. BARNES, an engineer in the. employ of the P. & W. R. R., residing at Mahon- ingtown, was born in Fredericksburg, Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1858, and is a son of Henry Clinton and Matilda A. (Hutchinson) Barnes. Henry C. Barnes was born in Fred- ericksburg, Ohio, in 1832, and at this writing is leading a retired life on the outskirts of Freder- icksburg, where he owns a large and well-im- proved farm, over which he still has the super- vision. Besides taking a prominent place among his fellow-townsmen as a successful and progres- sive agriculturist, he has for many years dealt in all kinds of farm machinery as a special agent. During the latter part of the War, he served in the army as a recruit under the hundred days' call. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Frederciksburg. In his political views he is a Republican. In religious matters he affiliates with the Congregational Church, although reared as a Presbyterian. He was a son of Peter and Margaret (Guthrie) Barnes, the latter a daughter of Joseph Guthrie, who attained the age of ninety years. Peter Barnes, who was a farmer by occupation, was a native of West- moreland Co., Pa., and died in Fredericksburg, at the age of seventy-seven. He was a son of Henry Barnes, who it is thought was of Scotch- Irish descent. Our subject's mother was born in Fredericksburg, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jimpsey Hutchinson, who was a carpenter by trade, but supported himself in the latter years of his life by farming. He died at the age of seventy-eight, after a life singularly free from illness; the sickness that preceded his death was the only sickness he ever had; at his death every tooth was in his head, sound and perfect. He
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, LAWRENCE COUNTY.
moved from his birth-place in Pennsylvania to Wayne Co., Ohio, about 1811 or 1812, and was one of the first settlers of that county. He was descended from a sturdy and robust line of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
Our subject attended the district schools of Fredericksburg until he was nineteen years of age, when he went to Jacksonville, Fla., where he was engaged in the hardware business until 1880. Returning to Ohio in that year, he inter- ested himself in the lumber business in Freder- icksburg, where he remained in business until 1888, when he disposed of the stock and trade, and came to Mahoningtown to accept a position as fireman on the P. & W. R. R. After two years in that position, in which time he made the best of his opportunities and rendered himself capable of running an engine himself, he took his place at the throttle in 1890, and has since that time acceptably and creditably fulfilled the work expected of him, serving as engineer on different divisions of the road. The locomotive engineers are among the best citizens of the country, for their vocation demands staid, sober habits, a high order of intelligence, combined with a readiness to solve knotty problems, and a wonderful adherence to duty, which often leads them to risk or even sacrifice their own lives that the lives of those placed in their charge may be safe.
Mr. Barnes was united in marriage in Fred- ericksburg, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1883, to Miss Rosetta Miller, who was born in Waverly, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Mary Miller. Mrs. Miller died Aug. 28, 1897, age 70. Mrs. Barnes has borne her husband an interesting family of six children: Frank; Robert M .; Beatrice;
Dora M .; Belle, deceased; and Sylvia. Our subject and wife attend religious services in the M. E. Church. Mr. Barnes has been a life-long Republican, and always stands ready to aid his party, when it is in his power. He is a member of Amazon Lodge, No. 336, Knights of Pythias, of Mahoningtown; and Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, Mahoningtown Division.
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