Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 100

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 100

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).

John G. MeKim attended the public schools of Franklin Township and in 1892-93 the Slippery Rock Normal School. His first industrial position was that of shipping clerk in a glass manufacturing concern. In November, 1905, with his brother, Frank C. MeKim, he embarked in the furniture business at Ellwood City, where, through their enterprise and honest dealing, the firm has built up an enor- mous trade, the volume of business ag- gregating in the past year some $10,000.

In polities Mr. MeKim is an ardent Re- publican and he takes much interest in civic affairs. devoting time and money to pro- moting the general welfare. He is serv- ing as president of the Board of Health of Ellwood City. He is fraternally connected with the Knights of the Golden Eagles. For the past seven years he has been an elder in the United Presbyterian Church at Ellwood City.

SAMUEL A. WHITE, farmer and fruit- grower, in Shenango Township, where he owns an excellent farm of ninety-five acres, is a representative citizen of this section. He was born November 30, 1847, in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Milo and Maria J. (Scott) White.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. White were Samuel and Sarah (Harvey) White, and they lived at the time of marriage in what was then Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania. They had seven sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Robert, Harvey, James. John,

Anson, Allen, Milo and Margaret. None of these survive at the present writing (1908), but they have numerous descen- dants. Addison White, who is a son of Allen White, is cashier of a bank at Wash- ington, Iowa. Many other direct descen- dants occupy equally responsible positions in Lawrence County and at other points.

Milo White was born on his parents' homestead in Perry Township, Lawrence County, and he devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits. He died in 1865, at the age of forty-six years. He married Maria J. Scott, who is a daughter of Will- iam and Martha (Adams) Scott, and a granddaughter of William and Elizabeth (Gourley) Scott, the latter of whom was a daughter of Achibald Gourley. The grand- parents came to America from Scotland. In those early days the voyage was neces- sarily a long one, and during the passage a daughter was born to them. She was the second child, a son being the first, and born in Scotland. Mrs. White was born in Perry Township, Lawrence County, and still sur- vives, being a resident of New Castle. Six children were born to Milo White and wife, namely: Samuel A., Lavinia, who is the wife of George Casewell, of Kanapolis, Kan .; William, who resides in Mahoning Township; Sarah, who is the wife of Sam- uel Mick, resides in Pulaski Township; Amelia, deceased, is survived by her hus- band, Oliver Crow, and Margaret, who married William Winger and resides at Mercer. The parents of this family were members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Samuel A. White obtained his education in the district schools in his home neigh- borhood, and in the spring of 1862 he ac- companied the family in its removal to Shenango Township. He was the oldest of the family and after his father's death was forced to assume heavy respon- sibilities as the head of the family. He remained on the home farm as its manager until his marriage, and one year later bought the property. In the fall of 1874

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he sold that farm and in 1876 bought his present one, on which he has resided ever since. Mr. White raises grain and pota- toes, but devotes the larger part of his land to his fruit orchards, growing all kinds of small fruits, together with apples, peaches, quinces, cherries and plums, his soil seeming to be particularly well adapt- ed to bringing these to perfection. He has a comfortable, well-ordered home, and a very pleasant family. He married Mary White, who is the daughter of Ason White, of Beaver County, and they have had seven children, namely: Bertha, de- ceased; Maude, Carrie E., who is a popular teacher in the public schools; Ada, who is the wife of Samuel Black, of New Castle; Bessie, deceased, Wilbur, and Asa, who died in infancy.

Mr. White has been very active in poli- ties for a number of years and has served both as trustee and treasurer of his town- ship. In 1900 he was chosen by the Repub- lican party as its nominee for the State Legislature, and his defeat was caused by party quarrels, he receiving the united support of all the better element. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

JAMES HENRY STEWART, a prom- inent manufacturer of Wampum, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, is superin- tendent and director of the American Ce- ment Tile Manufacturing Company, a con- cern of magnitude, whose product is wide- ly sold throughout the country. So far as known they are the only manufacturers of this particular style of tile, who do not use the steel wire reinforcement, and as a result are without competition in that respect. Mr. Stewart was one of the early stockholders and the organizer of the company, but it was not until a year after its organization that he became superin- tendent and devoted all his energies to the business. Mr. Isadore Myers serves as president, and Mr. Joseph Freeund as vice president. The main building of the plant,

constructed by Mr. Stewart, is 565 by 65 feet in dimensions, and the offices on the ground floor are separate. The plant cov- ers twelve acres of ground and maintains an average pay roll of sixty persons.

James H. Stewart was born on the old home farm in Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1851, is a son of James and Eliza (Alcorn) Stewart, and a grandson of William Stew- art, whose surname was spelled "Stuart" prior to his coming to America. He was of Scotch birth and came of a prominent family of Scotland. When a young man he came to the United States, and located on a farm near Pittsburg. He was there married, and a few years later moved to Beaver County, locating on the farm which became known as the old Stewart home- stead. William Stewart followed farm- ing all his days, and lived to reach an ad- vanced age. He was the father of the fol- lowing children : Jane and James.

James Stewart was born on the old home place in Beaver County, and also was a farmer throughout life. In the spring of 1873 he sold the old homestead and moved to Lawrence County, where he purchased an improved farm of eighty acres, in Shenango Township. This he subsequently sold, and moved to Wam- pum, where he spent the declining years of his life, dying in 1904, at the age of eighty-one years. His widow survived him two years, dying June 22, 1906, at the age of eighty years. Her maiden name was Eliza Alcorn, and they were married in Beaver County. The following children were born to them: William; Sarah, who married Joseph Granden, both now being deceased; James H .; John; Isabella, wife of Howard Tilbaugh, both deceased; Ida, wife of John Zainer; Eva, wife of Jacob Pitts; Dove, wife of F. M. Inks; and Me- linda.

James H. Stewart spent his boyhood days on the farm in Beaver County, and received meager educational training in the public schools. He accompanied his

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parents to Lawrence County, and then took up the trade of a carriagemaker with Lewis Etter, with whom he continued three years. He then moved from Mount Jack- son to Wampum, and for six years con- ducted a shop, at the end of which time he learned the trade of a carpenter, and took up contracting, meeting with a high degree of success. He next built the hotel at Wampum, which he conducted for four years, then sold out to Casper N. Trunk, and gave his attention to the tile business, as superintendent. He was also one of the organizers, stockholders and directors of the First National Bank at Wampum, but is not now connected with that institution.

In 1872 Mr. Stewart was united in the bonds of matrimony with Maria J. MeAn- lis, a daughter of Alexander McAnlis, who was one of Lawrence County's pioneer families. Six children were born to them, as follows: Clarence, who conducts his father's farm of 100 acres in Shenango Township; Lena; Wade, who lives at Wampum, married Verna Martin and has a son, Vinson James; Ella, wife of Charles Roberts, of Dickerson, Pa., has the follow- ing children: Oland and Iva. Fraternal- ly Mr. Stewart is a member of Wampum Lodge No. 865, I. O. O. F. He is Repub- lican in politics, and is serving as a mem- ber of the School Board. He has a com- fortable home which he built on Kay Street, in Wampum. Mr. Stewart is a man of large business capabilities, a substan- tial citizen, and takes an earnest interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his home community.

HON. M. LOUIS HAINER, mayor of New Castle, was born in the city which has honored him with the highest position in its gift, in January, 1871, and is a son of John Adam and Elizabeth L. (Bayha) Hainer.

John Adam Hainer has been a resident of New Castle for many years, but he was born in Germany, and after coming to America learned the trade of wagonmaker.

He has been prominent in the political af- fairs of New Castle and of Lawrence Coun- ty, and has served as county treasurer and in other offices. At present he fills the of- fice of Director of the Poor at New Castle. He reared a family of nine children.

M. Louis Hainer was educated in the public schools of New Castle. When he reached man's estate he embarked in a grocery business in this city, later in the clothing business and continued interested in the latter line until he was elected to his present office in 1905, on the Republican ticket. Mr. Hainer has made a good may- or. He is broad-minded and liberal, but has always stood firmly for genuine re- form and for law and order in all municipal affairs. He is one of the most popular public officials in Lawrence County.

Mayor Hainer has been actively con- nected with a number of the leading fra- ternal organizations for many years. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, an Eagle and an Elk. In the latter order he has filled the office of Exalted Ruler, and is a trustee of the New Castle lodge. He is a man of genial presence and frank manner and counts his loyal friends by many a score.

WILLIAM B. MILLER, whose well cul- tivated farm of 250 acres is situated in Pu- laski. Township, is a man of prominence in Lawrence County, which he served three years as sheriff, and he is also a veteran of the Civil War and still bears the hon- orable marks of his valiant service there- in. Mr. Miller was born July 16, 1837, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William and Bathsheba (Fullerton) Miller.

The grandfather, William Miller, was born in 1769, in Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania, came to North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, prior to 1801, where he lived until his death in 1863. He acquired 640 acres of land, a whole section. For many years he served as a justice of the peace and few people in North Beaver

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Township at that time had not heard of 'Squire Billy Miller. Many had benefited through his advice, not a few through his charity, while he was one of the heartiest promotors of township improvements and a founder of both school and church in his neighborhood. For years he was a leading member and ruling elder of the United Presbyterian Church, which was then lo- cated near Mt. Jackson and was known as Reverend Neal's congregation, the latter being a pioneer preacher whose life was spent traveling through the forests from one lonely charge to the other. Justice Miller was a tower of strength to this or- ganization and was connected with it un- til the end of his life. He engaged in farm- ing and raised live stock and also operat- ed a grist-mill, all of these industries serv- ing to add both to his fortune and his prominence in the community.

William Miller (2), father of William B., was born in North Beaver Township in 1801, and was a life-long resident, dying there in 1872. In large measure he con- tinued his father's activities. He married Bathsheba Fullerton, who died August 25, 1858. Three children survive them: Will- iam B .; Robert R., residing in Seattle, Wash., and Ann J., wife of Frank Lane, residing in Mahoning County, Ohio.

William B. Miller was reared to man- hood in North Beaver Township and en- joyed excellent school advantages. In ad- dition to receiving instruction in the pub- lic schools of the township and in select schools at various points, he had academic training at Canfield, Ohio. Following the completion of his education, he taught school for a number of terms before set- tling down to an agricultural life. In for- mer years Mr. Miller was a very extensive dealer and shipper of cattle and sheep and yet is largely interested in stock raising. His farming operations are carried on af- ter modern methods and his farm is one of the best equipped, in the matter of machin- ery, in Pulaski Township.

In August, 1862, Mr. Miller enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a mem- ber of Company I, One Hundred and Thir- ty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, under Capt. John W. Hague. He served for nine months, being attached to the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. He participated in a number of engagements, and in the terrible battle of Fredericksburg he was wounded in the right arm, an injury which confined him to two hospitals, for a period of four months, entailing great suffering. He was dis- charged from the Philadelphia Hospital, March 29, 1863, by reason of surgeon's cer- tificate of disability.

On October 3, 1872, Mr. Miller was mar- ried to Catherine A. Swisher, who was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Jacob and Harriet (McGuire) Swisher, and to them were born nine chil- dren, as follows: Charles C., who is prin- cipal of the High School at Brighton, Ohio, is a graduate of the Normal College at Ada, Ohio; Mildred M., who is a popular teacher in Pulaski Township, is a graduate of Poland Seminary, at Poland, Ohio; Amy L., who is the wife of George M. Young, of Wilmington, Pa., is a graduate of Poland Seminary ; Willis B. and Mabel G., both of Pulaski Township, the latter a teacher of music, and Mark B., Mary L., Bathsheba and Gladys E., all of Pulaski Township, re- siding at home.

Mr. Miller has been identified with the Republican party since he reached matur- ity. In 1876 he was elected sheriff of Law- rence County and assumed the duties of the office in the following year, serving through three years in that responsible position. He has filled numerous local of- fices both in North Beaver and in Pulaski Townships. In the former township he took all the degrees in the order of the Patrons of Husbandry, and he belongs to Enon Lodge, No. 916, Odd Fellows. He is member of Hopewell Presbyterian

a Church at New Bedford.

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JORDAN NYE MATHENY, a repre- sentative citizen of Wayne Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, was born in the old home opposite his present place, June 13, 1857. He is a son of Elijah Gad and Sarah Ann (Nye) Matheny. The Mathenys and Nyes have long been estab- lished on American soil, and were pioneers of Wayne Township.

The Mathenys were originally French Huguenots, and fled to the shores of Scot- land in 1685 to seek safety from persecu- tion. They later were located in Ulster, North of Ireland, where they remained un- til they joined the tide of immigration of the Scotch-Irish and Huguenots to America because of religious intolerance. The date of their arrival is not known, but it was some time prior to 1770. They were in- duced by the William Penn Colonists to locate in Western Pennsylvania, and after the explorations of Governor Spottswood in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, joined the outpouring into that territory. The family was located in Augusta, Lou- doun, Rockbridge and Botetourt Counties, Virginia, but the only ones of the early family of whom there is any knowledge were Nathan, Joseph and Andrew. Andrew Matheny was born in 1751, came to Vir- ginia from Scotland, and was a soldier of the Revolution, being awarded a medal for bravery. He had a son, Stephen, to whom many in Virginia and elsewhere trace their lineage.

Joseph Matheny, great-grandfather of Jordan N. Matheny, was married to Nancy Bradley, by whom he had the following children: John; Absalom; George; Moses ; Israel, who was drowned at Brownsville on the way to Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania; Isaac; Aaron; Rachel, and Mahala.

Moses Matheny was the grandfather of Jordan Nye Matheny. He was born Au- gust 13, 1780, in the Shenandoah Valley, and was young when he accompanied the family to Wayne Township. In his youth he learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. He was in 1806 married to Hannah Nye, of

Wayne Township, and moved to a farm which he had purchased near the old Nye home place. In 1817 he moved to near Wooster, Ohio, but after a short stay there returned to Lawrence County, purchasing a farm in Wayne Township, where his son, Elijah Gad, was born. It was but slightly improved and for a number of years his labors were directed toward clearing the land. In this his trade proved of great as- sistance, exchanging furniture which he made for his neighbors' assistance in the woods. In 1820, in company with Judge Hemphill, he purchased a 300-acre tract on the present site of Wurtemburg. There were indications of salt on the place, and as that was a very valuable commodity in those days and none being obtainable with- in a distance of hundreds of miles, he and his partner drilled to a depth of 586 feet. A small amount of water was all there was to reward their efforts, producing one bar- rel of salt in twelve hours, it being at that time worth $4.00 per barrel. As on this place was the only salt liek in the commu- nity, cattle strayed to the place from many miles distant. Moses Matheny built and operated a mill near Wurtemburg, which he subsequently traded for the farm which Elijah G. Matheny inherited. At that time it contained 373 acres of valuable land. He also was the owner of what is known as the Blanchard farm, and was a very pros- perous man of his time. In 1839 he built the old stone house at Rock Point, which was used as a hotel for the canal. He died in 1841 at the age of sixty-one years. His wife died August 19, 1854, at the age of sixty-five years. They were parents of the following children: Joseph, who was born October 15, 1808, and died April 18, 1838, was first married to Mary McGregor, and afterwards to Jane Sterrit; Nancy, born May 19, 1810, died September 19, 1872, un- married; Aaron, born October 31, 1812, married Elizabeth Hickman and died April 26, 1855; Rachel, who was born August 2, 1813, and died near Scioto, Ohio, was first married to Michael Nye and subsequently

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

to Jackson Deevers; George, born Febru- ary 2, 1817, married Rebecca Biddle and died in 1878; Mahala, who was born Oc- tober 22, 1818, died June 10, 1838; Elijah Gad, father of Jordan Nye; Amanda, who was born February 8, 1823, died July 10, 1838; James Parker, born April 19, 1825, and died October 2, 1899, married Nancy Bannon; Hannah Lenora, born July 25, 1827, married a Mr. Reynolds and lived at Adrian, Mich., at her death, March 3, 1860; Moses Erskine, born July 3, 1829, died in October, 1864, at St. Louis, Mo., and John Deemer, who was born July 11, 1832, and died August 28, 1906, married Caroline Shoemaker.

Elijah Gad Matheny was born March 30, 1821, in Wayne Township, and died on what is known as the old Nye farm, on which his wife was born, February 9, 1904. He was united in marriage February 12, 1846, with Sarah Ann Nye, who was born June 24, 1824, and is now living at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. She is a daughter of Jordan Miller and Hannah (Plant) Nye, and comes of one of the very earliest families of this vicinity. Her pa- ternal grandfather, Andrew Rose Nye, was born January 6, 1750, and died March 21, 1821. He came with his family from Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, and located on the present site of Ellwood City, in 1793. He married Rachel McDonald, and had three sons who were prominent in the pioneer days of Wayne Township, namely : Andrew, Thomas and Jordan M. Jordan M. Nye was born March 10, 1789, and died June 17, 1867. He married Hannah Plant, and they reared three children: Cynthia Jane, who became the wife of John C. Johnson; Sarah Ann, wife of Elijah G. Matheny, and John, who died as he was entering manhood.

Elijah G. and Sarah Ann Matheny be- came parents of the following children : Calista I., who was born November 12, 1847, and resides with her mother in Wayne Township; Melissa Jane, born Oc- tober 30, 1848, died October 11, 1850; Al-

bert Tobias, born January 24, 1851, died in February, 1872; Alice Arazina, born Oc- tober 15, 1852, married Francis M. Davis in 1883; Alma Diadema was born Decem- ber 25, 1854, and is unmarried; Jordan Nye; and Sherman Marshall, who was born March 22, 1862, was married June 9, 1896, to Miss Nettie Grove, daughter of Captain Grove, of Ellwood City.

Jordan Nye Matheny was reared in his native township, and has always en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He has fifty-eight acres of valuable farm land, the southwest corner of the old home place, which he inherited from his father. He and his father erected the commodious resi- dence which adorns the farm, in 1892, and also built the barn to replace the one de- stroyed by fire in 1903. He is a man of superior ability and has met with consid- erable business success.

November 30, 1882, Mr. Matheny was united in marriage with Anna Mary Gilles- pie, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Martin) Gillespie. Henry Gillespie was born in Belfast, Ireland, February 25, 1817, and died in 1894. He came to America with a cousin, John Elliott, when twenty- eight years of age. His wife was born in County Antrim, North of Ireland, and was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. She was a daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Dodds) Mar- tin, who came to America at an early date and settled in Hickory Township, Law- rence County, at that time Mercer County. John and Margaret Dodds Martin had the following children: Elizabeth, born Sep- tember 26, 1825; Ann, deceased, was wife of William McConaghey; Margaret, who married Robert Armstrong, of Leesburg; Mary, deceased, was the wife of Ezekiel Wilson, of Slippery Rock Township; James Dodds, who married Letitia Harris, resides in Lamar, Colo .; William is a vet- eran of the Civil War, who resides in Kan- sas, was first married to Sarah Stewart, and subsequently to Margaret Dodds; George Martin was first married to Mary Hope, and subsequently to Rose Douthitt;

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Daniel Cargill was married to Lucretia McIntosh, of Allegheny; and Thomas, a resident of Kansas and a veteran of the Civil War, married Jemima Davis, de- ceased.

Henry and Elizabeth Martin Gillespie became parents of four children, as fol- lows: Margaret, born June 29, 1855, mar- ried Ernest Rodenhoffer and resides near O'Fallen, Mo .; John Martin, who was born November 17, 1857, and died July 27, 1895, married Miss Dana Noggle; Anna Mary, who was born January 1, 1860; and Will- iam Henry, who was born January 12, 1867, and resides in New Castle, married Miss Leonora Eperthuer. The parents of these children were married April 14, 1853; the mother died January 7, 1879, and the father March 17, 1879.

Mr. and Mrs. Matheny are parents of two children: Alice Arizina, who was born September 1, 1883, and is a teacher in the public schools; and Joseph Gillespie, who was born February 15, 1891, and lives with his parents. Mrs. Matheny is a member of the Covenanter Church, and her daugh- ter is a member of the United Presbyte- rian. Mr. Matheny was a member of Glen Park Lodge, No. 1016, I. O. O. F., and later became a charter member of Refuge Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in politics.

ROBERT W. MCCRACKEN, a repre- sentative farmer and stock raiser of Scott Township, was born on the farm on which he resides May 3, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wallace) Mc- Cracken.

Jacob McCracken was born in Ireland and accompanied the other members of the family to America while young. They bought a farm in Scott Township, on Slip- pery Rock Creek, in Lawrence County. It contained 200 acres, and as fine water power was afforded, the family built and operated a grist-mill for many years. Ja- cob McCracken was reared on this farm and in early manhood married Elizabeth

Wallace. She was born in Scott Township, on the Slippery Rock Creek, April 4, 1814. She was reared through childhood and at- tended school at Washington, Pa. There were ten children born to this marriage, namely : George W., Elizabeth, Jacob W., Robert W., Isabel V., Mary Jane, Sarah M., William P., Rosanna H. and Margaret A. George W. was born January 30, 1838, married Mary E. McCreary. He served in the Civil War, in which he was wounded. Elizabeth, born April 15, 1839, never mar- ried. Jacob W., born February 2, 1841, is deceased. He served as a member of the Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Artillery, during the Civil War. Isabel V., born August 17, 1845, married William C. Stewart. Mary Jane, born March 1, 1848, married David W. Stewart. Sarah M., born April 9, 1850, never married. Will- iam P., born February 2, 1853, married Catherine Peebles. Rosanna H., born Oc- tober 22, 1855, and Margaret A., born Sep- tember 19, 1858, never married. All the above children were born and reared on the present farm to which Jacob Mc- Cracken came when he married, buying at that time 300 acres. To his original pur- chase he added until he owned 550 acres, a large part of which he was instrumental in clearing and on which he made improve- ments. In 1883 he retired from active life and moved to New Castle, where he bought a home in which he lived at ease until the time of his death. He was a leading mem- ber of the United Presbyterian Church. In polities he was a Republican. He was a man held in the highest esteem by his fel- low citizens.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 100

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058