Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 148

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 148

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Claude Gerard attended the schools near his home through boyhood and assisted to cultivate the home farm, and until he retired from active work, continued to be interested in general farming in the section in which he was born. During the Civil War he served for eight months in the Union army, as a member of Company F, One Hundred Seventh Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and at the time of General Lee's surrender, was stationed near Petersburg. He is a member of A. G. Reed Post, No. 105, Grand Army of the Republic, at Butler.

Mr. Gerard was married to Margaret Schleigh, a daughter of William Schleigh, of Penn Township. Mrs. Gerard died November 23, 1903, when aged nearly sixty years. She was a most estimable woman and was a consistent member of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. To this marriage nine children were born, namely: Mary, residing in Penn Township, is the widow of John Charles; Stephen, who resides at Benwood, Virginia; William, who lives at McDonald, Pennsylvania; Joseph, who operates the home farm; Magdalene (Mann) ; Louisa, who married Everett Albert, of Pittsburg; and Katherine, Ellen and John C., all deceased.

Mr. Gerard retired from the management of the farm, which included its agricultural development and also oil production, there being five producing wells on the place, in the spring of 1908. When relieved of all care he decided to take a leisurely pleasure trip through the West and left Pennsyl- vania on April 19, 1908, and returned July 4, 1908, having spent a pleasant season in Kansas and Oklahoma. He will return to Kansas in April, 1909.

ZENAS McMICHAEL, a well known real estate and fire insurance dealer of Zelienople, who is now serving his third term as justice of the peace of the borough, is a native and life long resident of Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was born Sep- tember 11, 1847, in what is now Center Township, near Unionville, and is a son of Christopher and Barbara (Curry) McMi- chael.

Christopher McMichael was a farmer by occupation and at an early period came from the eastern part of Pennsylvania to Butler County, where he settled on a farm near Euclid Station in Clay Township. He has served here as a justice of the peace for some time and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. He married, in 1833, Elizabeth St. Clair, who died in 1845. They were the parents of the follow-

MR. AND MRS. SAMPLE C. DUNCAN

1233

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ing children: Joseph, who is engaged in farming, and resides near West Sunbury; Japhia, engaged in farming near Euclid; Rev. E. S. McMichael, died near Spring- field, Illinois; and Jane, wife of James Milford of Witchita, Kansas. Christopher was married the second time to Barbara Curry, to whom was born Zenas, the sub- ject of this sketch, and R. J., a practicing physician of Eau Clair, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Zenas McMichael was reared on a farm near Unionville, Center Township, and attended the common schools of that town- ship. Until twelve years ago, Mr. McMichael devoted his time to agricultural pursuits, in 1896 removing to Zelienople, where he has since been successfully engaged in the fire insurance and real estate business.

In politics, our subject is a Republican, although in local politics, where no issue is up before the people, he votes for men whom he regards best qualified to care for the business affairs of this locality. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Royal Ar- canum. He holds membership with United Presbyterian Church.

In 1870 Mr. McMichael was married to Sarah D. Williams, a daughter of Robert and Susanna Williams of Plain Grove, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The fol- lowing offspring were born of their union, namely : Laura, wife of Lawrence Stoner, has five children; Clyde G., a resident of New Brighton, married Conway Meeks and has one child; Helen, resides at home; and Clarence B., a resident of Zelienople, mar- ried Winnie Powell.

ELIAS SEATON, who has a splendid farm of seventy-five acres. located about one mile east of Boyers, in Venango Town- ship, Butler County, Pennsylvania, comes of an old and respected family of this local- ity. He was born on the home farm in Venango Township, February 20, 1848, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Vander-

lin) Seaton, and a grandson of Robert and Margaret (Davis) Seaton.

Robert Seaton and his wife had a large family, namely : Alexander, Thomas, Eliza, Robert, William, James, Polly, Margaret and Anna. William and Rebecca (Vander- lin) Seaton also had a large family, the names of its members being Catherine, Margaret, Caroline, John, William George, Hattie, Elias, Lewis and Amos.

Elias Seaton received his early schooling at the Log school in Marion Township, after which he attended the Seaton school in his native township. He helped his father on the farm, which has always been his home, it having passed into his hands at his parents' deaths. He has seventy-five acres, of which forty are in good tillable shape, and the improvements are excep- tionally good. The barn was built by Elias and his father, and the house was erected by the former. He has never taken an active part in politics, but is a Republican and served three years as a member of the school board.

December 13, 1871, Mr. Seaton was unit- ed in marriage with Mary Ann Wasson, a daughter of John Wasson of Cherry Town- ship, and the following are their issue: Roy, who married Emma Lowther; Elmer, who married Gwen Davis; Parker; Clara; Merritt; and Amos. Religiously, they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Boyers.

SAMPLE C. DUNCAN, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, has a farm of sixty-one acres, all under cultivation. He was born on this farm October 20, 1871, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Gilland) Duncan, coming of an old family in Pennsylvania.

James Duncan was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and learned the trade of a ship carpenter in his younger days. For some years he followed his trade in various parts of the country, then

1234

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

settled down on a farm in Middlesex Township, Butler County, where he fol- lowed farming the remainder of his days. Ile died in 1886 at the age of sixty-nine years. He first married Belmina Tawney, and their children were: Belmina, who married James Elliott; Lizzie, who mar- ried John Garvey; and James, who died in 1888. His second marriage was with Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, widow of James Thompson, and a daughter of Robert Gil- land of Middlesex Township. As a result of her first marriage, Mrs. Duncan had four children, three of whom grew to ma- turity, namely: Ephraim O. Thompson of Middlesex Township; Alfretta, wife of William McKibben of Clinton Township; and Eva, who keeps house for the subject of this sketch. James and Elizabeth (Gil- land) Duncan became parents of four chil- dren, of whom three grew to maturity, as follows: George; Sample C .; and Jennie. Of these, Sample C. Duncan is the only one now living. Religiously, James Duncan and his wife were members of the Middle- sex Presbyterian Church.

Sample C. Duncan was reared on the home farm, which his father had settled on a few years before his birth, and was educated in the public schools of that vi- cinity. He has always engaged in farm- ing on this place and has sixty-one acres of highly improved land, all under culti- vation. He raises corn, oats, wheat, hay and potatoes, and has also met with suc- cess in stock raising. He keeps thorough- bred Berkshire hogs, all of which are eligi- ble for registration. He is a man of en- ergy and enterprise, and occupies a place high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Clara Thompson, a daughter of Will- iam Thompson of Clinton Township, But- ler County. She died without issue on No- vember 3, 1906, at the age of thirty-five years, a loss which fell heavily upon Mr. Duncan. Religiously, she was a member of the Middlesex Presbyterian Church, of

which he is a trustee. He takes an earnest interest in all questions of public import- ance and gives his support to the Repub- lican party, but is in no sense a politician.

TIMOTHY SWEENEY, whose valuable farm of 140 acres is situated in Donegal Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, not far from Chicora, was born in an old log house then standing on the farm on which he lives, November 5, 1833. His par- ents were Michael and Sarah (Mclaugh- lin) Sweeney.

Michael Sweeney left his home in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1819, and sailed for Què- bec, Canada, where he lived for a short time and then joined an uncle, the latter of whom was already established at Oil Creek, Pennsylvania. In 1824 he was married at Sugar Creek, to Sarah MeLaughlin, and they had five children, namely: William, James, Michael, Mary Ann and Timothy, the latter being the only survivor. Shortly after his marriage, Michael Sweeney came to Donegal Township, Butler County, and bought 200 acres of land, including the farm now owned by his son. He purchased the property from a Mr. Sanders, who was the first settler on the place, and on this farm Michael Sweeney and wife passed the remainder of their days. He lived to be seventy-five years old but his wife died in her sixtieth year.

Timothy Sweeney has spent his life on the present farm with the exception of one year during which he worked at Brady's Bend and one year which he spent in the State of New York. He attended school in an old log building not far from his home, but in his boyhood farm youths had many duties to perform, and helping his father on the farm was one of the most important ones. His well cultivated land gives evi- dence of the care he has given it, and the many improvements he has made at differ- ent times. He has two producing oil wells on the place and more may be developed.

On April 23, 1861, Mr. Sweeney was mar-

1235

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ried at Sugar Creek, to Miss Sarah Agnes McFadden, and they have had eleven chil- dren, as follows: Philometo, Hugh, Anna, Joseph, Michael, Vincent, James, Mary L., Frances E., Albert and Sarah A. Of the above family, Philometo married John Kreagin and they live at Rockport, New York. Hugh was accidentally drowned in July, 1908. Anna married Ernest Kirtch- ner and they live at Pittsburg. Mary L. married Thomas Cosgrove and they live at Middletown, New York. Michael and Sarah live at home. Joseph lives in West Vir- ginia. Albert married Ella Kain and they reside with Mr. Sweeney and have one child, Marie E.

Mr. Sweeney is one of the township's representative citizens and has served as overseer of the poor and also as judge of elections. Both he and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church at Chicora.

C. FOSTER WICK, owner and pro- prietor of the hotel at West Sunbury, But- ler County, Pennsylvania, is a well known citizen of the county and the establishment conducted by him is one which enjoys great popularity with the traveling public. He was formerly engaged in buying and sell- ing and training horses, producing some with low marks, which established his rep- utation in that business.

Mr. Wick was born in West Sunbury in 1853, and comes of a prominent old fam- ily of Butler County. He is a son of Jere- miah C. and Rebecca (Glenn) Wick, and a grandson of Jeremiah Wick, Sr. The last named came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Butler County at a very early date and purchased 1,000 acres of land, just north of West Sunbury. He was a man of wide prominence in those days and was extensively engaged in the cattle business. With Christopher Foster, who married Jane Glenn, an aunt of the subject of this record, he made many trips with cattle across the mountains to Phila- delphia. Mr. Foster was born and reared

in Armstrong County, and also was a man well known in this vicinity. In those early days, the Glenns and Wicks were the lead- ing families of the community. Jeremiah C. Wick married Rebecca Glenn, a daugh- ter of Samuel Glenn, who died in middle life. Mr. Wick died in 1876, and was sur- vived many years by his widow, whose death occurred at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908, at the age of eighty-four years. They had eight children as follows: Clarissa, wife of Rev. Malsein Rhodes, who is well known in Butler and now resides in St. Louis; Laura, widow of Homer Adams; Walker, who was widely known through the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and who died in Colorado in 1904; Carr, who died in West Sunbury in 1905; C. Foster, whose name heads this record; Dr. J. Warren Wick of St. Louis; Jennie, widow of C. Bunn of St. Louis; and Nettie, who died in June, 1908, and was the wife of Walter Hughes of St. Louis.

C. Foster Wick was reared in his native borough and received his intellectual train- ing in the public schools. When about twenty years old he began buying and sell- ing horses, and training young horses for the track. Among the best horses trained by him were Juliet, Sunbury Boy, Mattie Price, Harry W. and Captain Roll, all of which were well known to the racing public in their day. The last year Captain Roll was trained, he won eleven races out of thirteen starts, an exceptional record. Mr. Wick moved to St. Louis and continued in the same line of business for a period of fifteen years, then in 1890 returned to West Sunbury. He at that time became owner of the hotel, in which he had pre- viously owned an interest and which had been conducted by his brother, Carr Wick. He placed the establishment on a good paying basis and continued it with suc- cess until 1902, when it was destroyed by fire. The business he had built up war- ranted him in the erection of a new and modern structure, which he refurnished

1236

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

new throughout and in handsome style, and it was not long before the place was enjoying greater popularity and patronage than before.

Mr. Wick was united in marriage with Miss Anna Cowden, a daughter of Dr. Cowden of Portersville, and they became parents of the following children: Dr. Frank C., who died in March, 1906; Bessie, wife of William McCarrier; Lela, wife of Prof. L. L. Lock of Brooklyn, New York; Pauline, wife of Clyde Russell; and Helen, wife of Henry Goeddel. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch became a charter member of Parker Lodge, Royal Arcanum, to which he still belongs.

JOHN A. BURK is located on a fine farm of sixty acres in Venango Township and is engaged in the butchering business, visit- ing the trade throughout this section of the country in a wagon. He was born on the farm on which he lives, September 30, 1883, and is a son of John and Samantha (McFarlin) Burk, and a grandson of John Burk, Sr.

John Burk, Jr., was united in marriage with Samantha McFarlin, a daughter of Andrew McFarlin, and five children were the issue of their union: Sarah, wife of Montgomery Hutchinson; Della, wife of Lewis Ray; Margaret, deceased; Clarence, deceased; and John A.

John A. Burk received his schooling at the old Seaton school, and in the mean- time assisted his father in the work about the farm. He later engaged in teaming in the woods until his marriage, when he settled down on the home place and fol- lowing farming. He has fifty-five acres under cultivation, five acres in pasture land and a two-acre orchard. All of the build- ings on the place were erected by his fath- er. He does all his own butchering and has a well established meat trade.

March 29, 1900, Mr. Burk was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Wright, a

daughter of Stephen Wright of Mercer County, and the following children have blessed their home: Lawrence, Otho, Lena, Thomas and Margaret. Politically, he is a Republican. He and his wife are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. They have a well-located home, being three miles northwest of Hil- liard and four miles southwest of Eau Claire, and attend church at the latter place.

JOHN A. LEWIS, for a quarter of a century one of Venango Township's rep- resentative citizens, resides on his well cul- tivated farm of sixty acres, which he de- votes to general agriculture. He was born July 21, 1836, in Armstrong County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of William and Fan- nie (Blaney) Lewis.

Mr. Lewis comes of Revolutionary stock, an ancestry of which every American citi- zen is proud. His grandfather, Ezekiel Lewis, came from Wales to the colonies be- fore they had secured their independence and assisted the patriot army to obtain American freedom. Later he settled in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, where he prospered and had many descendants. William Lewis, father of John A., was born in Armstrong County but a large part of his life was passed in Washington Town- ship, Butler County, where he died in 1859. Four of his children survive, name- lv : John A .; Fannie, who resides in Wash- ington Township; Robert O., a grocery- man at Annisville, Washington Township, Butler County ; and Finley E., a farmer in Washington Township, Butler County.

John A. Lewis was two years old when his parents moved to Butler County and he was reared in Washington Township, in boyhood attending the neighboring district school. He then learned the carpenter's trade and also worked at lumbering, there being much standing timber at that day where now can be seen miles of cultivated

1237

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

farm land. The Civil War turned the at- tention of many of the young men to a mili- tary life and in 1862 Mr. Lewis enlisted for service, entering Company F, One Hun- dred Thirty-fourth Regiment, Penna. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Third Di- vision of the Army of the Potomac. He saw much hard service before he was hon- orably discharged, in June, 1863. He took part in the memorable battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and participated in the weary marches which fell to the lot of the soldiers on the raid through Maryland. Mr. Lewis was always a courageous soldier and often endangered his life, but he escaped all serious injury and was permitted to return to his home practically unharmed. Shortly afterward he removed from Butler to Clarion Coun- ty, but in 1873 returned to Butler County and settled on his valuable farm in Ve- nango Township.

On December 23, 1880, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Firzah Alsworth, of Park- er Township, a daughter of James Als- worth, and they have three sons: Edward J., residing in Venango Township; Eljia F., residing at Franklin; and Herbert B., living in Illinois.

Mr. Lewis is a Republican in politics but he lays no claim to being a politician. He has always been interested in all that concerns the well-being of his community and when elected road commissioner of Venango Township, gave his fellow citi- zens efficient service. With his wife he belongs to the Mount Vernon United Pres- byterian Church in Washington Township, of which he is a trustee. As a member of the Samuel J. Rosenberg Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Eau Claire, he often recalls, with his comrades, the dan- gers and triumphs of the great Civil War. On November the 11th, 1908, Mr. John A. Lewis went to Fredericksburg to take part in the unveiling of the monument of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry of Hum- phrey's Division.

WILLIAM KENNEDY, an elderly resi- dent of Penn Township, now living retired from the active occupations of life, was born in Winfield Township, Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, son of John and Annie C. (Smith) Kennedy. He is a descendant in the fourth generation of John Kennedy, born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1722, who came to America, settling in Mary- land in 1848. John's son, John Kennedy second, served under Washington in the Revolutionary war, and subsequently drew a pension from the Government up to the time of his death, which took place in 1835. In 1786 he married and then moved to what is now the site of Mckeesport, Penn- sylvania, and thence, in 1801, to what is now Winfield Township, Butler County.

John Kennedy, third of the name and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and at the age of seven years came to Butler County with his parents, they being early settlers in Winfield Township. He was there reared to manhood, but in 1832 he bought a farm in what is now Penn Township, on which he resided for the rest of his life, passing away at the age of sev- enty-five years. Although quite young at the breaking out of the War of 1812-15, he served as a soldier therein, taking part in the battle on Lake Erie. He and his wife were among the original members, and were active workers in the Methodist Epis- copal Church in Penn Township. He died January 4, 1869.

William Kennedy when a young man learned the trade of blacksmith, at which he worked for about twelve years. He then bought a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits in which he continued until the spring of 1908. He has three producing oil wells on his property and for a number of years he has been interested in oil and gas production. He is a Republican in politics, but has always been averse to ac- cepting township office, though frequently urged to do so. He was elected a justice

1238

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

of the peace, but declined to qualify. He is a member of Thorn Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has held the office of trustee and class leader for many years.

Mr. Kennedy married Matilda Graham, a daughter of Robert Graham, of Penn Township, and they have been the parents of ten children, as follows : William J., now deceased; Annie C., who is the wife of Bert McCandless, of Butler; Charles L., who resides in Butler Township; Lulu M., who is the wife of Morris Flarshem, of Minne- sota; Clara, who is now Mrs. Clara Rob- bins; L. Clyde, a farmer and dairyman of Penn Township; George Lewis, who re- sides with his elder brother; Ada, wife of Nicholas Mangel, of Penn Township; Eva, and Frances M. All the living representa- tives of this family are worthy and useful members of the respective communities in which they reside.

ANDREW LEMMON, whose death oc- curred July 29, 1908, on his farm in Butler Township, on which he had resided for many years, was a veteran of the Civil War and a well known and esteemed citi- zen. He was born on the farm on which he died, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1829, and was a son of Colonel Robert and Nancy (Fleming) Lemmon.

The father of the late Andrew Lemmon was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to America when he was twelve years of age, in company with his widowed mother and one sister. He died in 1861, aged seventy-six years. At Hagerstown, Maryland, he learned the trade of wheel- wright and chairmaker, after which he set- tled in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and bought the home farm in Butler Town- ship, of a squatter named Lenhart. Prior to moving on the farm, he raised a com- pany of soldiers at Butler, and went out as its captain, during the War of 1812. He was a man of mark, naturally a leader and

was prominent in politics. He served as county commissioner. He married a daughter of John Fleming, who was an early settler in Allegheny County, and they had ten children, all of whom have since passed away. The only survivors of the Lemmon connection are: E. K. Lemmon and William Lemmon, of Canton, Ohio; Miss Emma Lemmon, of Parker's Landing, Pennsylvania, and her sister, Lena Bovard, of Butler County; David Lemmon, of Bevier, Macon County, Mis- souri, and Clay Boggs, of Evans City.

The late Andrew Lemmon was reared on the home farm and with his brothers helped to clear it and later came into pos- session of the property. It contains fifty acres of excellent land, well adapted to the growing of grain and the raising of stock. Until within the past seven years, Mr. Lemmon operated the farm himself, since which time he has lived retired and rented his land. For two years prior to his death he was in failing health. From early youth he was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Butler and was a consistent Christian. For seventy-nine years he lived a life that was good and useful and his work in this world was well done in every particular.

In 1864, Mr. Lemmon enlisted for serv- ice in the Civil War, in Company K, One Hundred Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer. Infantry, and served until the close. Early in life he was a Whig and later became a Republican.

Mr. Lemmon married Maria Barrick- man, a daughter of Peter Barrickman of Butler Township. She was born May 8, 1832, and when she died, February 21, 1902, had been married fifty years lacking one month. She left no issue. Both she and her aged husband were laid to rest in the North Cemetery.

When six years old William James A. Beatty became a member of the household and remained with Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon

MR. AND MRS. ANDREW LEMMON

1241

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

until he married in 1882. Mr. Beatty's wife died in 1890 and Mr. Beatty returned and was with them continually till their death.

WILLIAM G. SEATON is a prominent resident of Venango Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, where he has a good farm of seventy-six acres, and comes of a pioneer family of the community. He was born in this township July 4, 1833, is a son of William and Rebecca (Vanderlin) Sea- ton, and a grandson of Robert and Mar- garet (Davis) Seaton.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 148

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526