Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 108

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

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SETH RIGBY, one of the best known citizens of New Castle, who is a repre-

sentative of the oldest pioneer family of Lawrence County, was born on the old Rigby homestead, on which he still lives, in 1837, and is a son of Seth and Margaret (Brady) Rigby.

Seth Rigby, father of Seth, was also a son of Seth, and was born July 7, 1793, in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, two and one-half miles northeast of Winches- ter. In 1800 he accompanied his father to Lawrence County, where the latter bought 300 acres of government land, which father and son subsequently cleared. In 1801 the home was established on the farm which the present Seth Rigby owns. Seth Rigby II. served as a soldier in the War of 1812. In his early days he was a strong Whig, but became an equally ardent supporter of the Republican party after its organization. He married Margaret Brady, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and they had twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. The eldest son, Isaac, lost his life at the battle of Resaca, Ga., during the Civil War.

Seth Rigby, the present bearer of the old family name, is the only survivor of his parents' large family. During his early manhood he worked in the mills, but since the death of his father he has been engaged in farming, market gardening and quarrying limestone. He has ever been a loyal and patriotic citizen, and demon- strated the same in 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Com- pany B, Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Cavalry. He served faith- fully for two years and eleven months under General Sheridan, that fearless com- mander who never spared either himself nor his soldiers when dangerous duty was to be faced. On two occasions, Mr. Rigby had his horse shot from under him, but fortunately escaped injury to himself. He entered the army as a private, but for about one year of his service he acted as sergeant of his company. He was honor- ably discharged May 28, 1865, and imme-

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diately returned to the old homestead, where he has lived quietly and usefully ever since.

In 1871, Mr. Rigby was married to Elizabeth Carson, who died December 11, 1899. She was a daughter of Alexander Carson, who was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, during the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Rigby had seven children, name- ly : Ida May, deceased; Harvey, who works as a heater in the Shenango tin mill; Luella, who married Richard Parks, who works as a fireman in the steel mill ; Robert Perry, residing at Potter Valley, Cal., is an electrician; Hugh Carson works as a mill man in the heating department ; Susan Irene is the wife of Thomas Phelps; and Frank, deceased. Mr. Rigby has reared his family in the faith of the Disciple Church, and has set them a good example, being an official of the Central Christian Church for the past nine years. He united with the Christian Church at Pumpkin Town in 1856, prior to the Civil War. He has ever since been active in mission work, both at home and abroad. Mr. Rigby's reminiscences of early days in what is now the southern part of New Castle are very interesting. He has survived not only the members of his own family, but those of many others who were once prominent in this section, but are now only honored names.

ALEXANDER HAWTHORNE came from Cumberland County, near Carlisle, about or shortly after 1800. He built the first hotel in New Castle, which he called the "Exchange Hotel," at the southwest corner of what is now Mercer and North Streets, about 1804 or 1805. The hotel was boarded on the sides and was one of the first buildings built of sawed stuff in this section of the country.

Buildings were generally left unpainted in those days, so when the newly finished building was painted with a purplish paint made from iron ore found near by, it caused much comment. The peculiar hue

soon earned for the hotel the name "Poke- berry Exchange," which it carried for many years. The hotel was finally sold to one of the Reinholts. Mr. Hawthorne pur- chased a farm in Neshannock Township, about 1804, and finally moved from town to the farm, probably about 1840, where he remained until his death.

In 1807 Mr. Hawthorne was married to Mary McMurray, daughter of Joseph Mc- Murray, a Revolutionary soldier, who had settled in what is now Taylor Township about 1800. From this union was born: James, 1808; Eliza J., 1810; Joseph, 1813; Alexander S., 1821; and Samuel Sample, 1823. The oldest son, James, married and lived in Mercer County until his death. James's only son, Samuel Wilson Haw- thorne, is now living in New Wilmington Borough.

Eliza J. Hawthorne married Rev. J. R. Locke and later removed to Decatur, Ill., where her descendants are now living. Joseph Hawthorne died unmarried in Cali- fornia. Alexander S. Hawthorne married Salina Leilla Boies, and removed to Illi- nois, where his children now reside. Sam- uel Sample Hawthorne, after spending a number of years in California and other Pacific Coast States, returned to Pennsyl- vania and married Mattie F., daughter of Frederick Halle, of Taylor Township. His son, Louis Halle Hawthorne, is now living in Taylor Township. Mary, wife of Alex- ander Hawthorne, died in 1854. Mr. Haw- thorne later married Cynthea Locke, hav- ing no children from this marriage. His second wife died in 1860, and Mr. Haw- thorne in 1864.

BENJAMIN C. SMILEY, who for many years has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, comes of an old and well known family of that section. He was born on his father's farm near Slip- pery Rock Church, in Wayne Township, February 28, 1841, and is a son of John and Anna (Cunningham) Smiley.

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Hugh Smiley, paternal grandfather, was born in Ireland, and early in life became a resident of Wayne Township, locating on what in later years was known as the Levi Ward place, a part of the old Chew estate. He and his wife were buried in the old Center Church cemetery. Religi- ously he was a member and elder of the United Presbyterian Church, He and his wife became parents of the following chil- dren: John; William; Andrew; Boyd; Samuel; Jane (Chambers) ; Ann (Don- nen) ; Eliza, wife of Samuel McFate, of Mt. Jackson; Mary, wife of Joseph Me- hard; and Rachel, who became the wife of Dr. Robert Cunningham, of North Se- wickley.

John Smiley was born on the old Levi Ward property, now owned by R. B. Ward, January 14, 1805, and his wife, in maiden life Anna Cunningham, was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, at that time in Beaver County, May 14, 1803. Her father, Benjamin Cunningham, arrived in that township from Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, in 1796, whither he returned after locating a farm and erecting a cabin. In the spring of 1797 he moved with his family to his new pos- sessions in Shenango Township, the jour- ney being made on horseback. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian Church at Slippery Rock, which he helped to or- ganize, and he and his wife, Margaret, lie buried in the cemetery at that place. They were the parents of the following children : John T .; Joseph; William; Ben- jamin; Anna ; Nancy, wife of Jacob Houk; and two sons who died in infancy.

John and Anna (Cunningham) Smiley were married August 30, 1827, and became parents of the following children: Nancy, born September 18, 1828, married Elias Cunningham; Jane, born January 30, 1830, married Edward Yoho, who at one time was one of the commissioners of Lawrence County; Hugh Boyd, born September 18, 1833, married Mary Houk, was a soldier in the Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil

War, and was a resident of North Sewick- ly; Margaret, born December 20, 1835; Martha, who was born May 9, 1838, was the wife of James Ramsey ; Benjamin Cun- ningham ; a twin to Benjamin C., who died unnamed; Ezariah, born May 20, 1843, was a soldier during the Civil War, and now resides in Mexico. He married a daughter of David Wilson; and Ann Eliza, born July 28, 1845, married William Cotterson, and resides in California.

Benjamin C. Smiley was reared on his father's farm, but at an early age became apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, which he followed some years. Prior to his marriage he spent several years at Rouse- ville, in the oil fields, and at that time was required to pay as high as $1 per bushel for coal. After his marriage he located upon his present place, setting up house- keeping in a log house. He later erected his present commodious residence, which at one time was struck by lightning, but not destroyed. The first barn built by him was fired by lightning and burned, and was replaced by his present barn. He is an up-to-date farmer and a successful business man.

Mr. Smiley was married January 1, 1870, to Miss Esther McQuiston, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth McQuiston, of Wayne Township, and the following children blessed their union: John, born Septem- ber 7, 1871, married Anna Holtsbrook, and resides in Ellwood City; Nancy, born Feb- ruary 28, 1873, married William Goodman, and has a son, Benjamin; F. F. Smiley, born April 23, 1875, resides in Oil City, Pa .; Mary, born September 6, 1876, mar- ried Lawrence Shaffer and has the follow- ing children: Archie, Esther, Walter, Clarence, John Viola, and one who died in infancy; Esther Smiley, born May 30, 1878, died May 4, 1881; Sylvester, born August 4, 1882, lives at home; and Mat- tie, born May 17, 1885, married James Duncan and has two children, Clifford and Kenneth. They reside at Hazel Dell. Fra- ternally Benjamin C. Smiley is a member

JOHN HENLEY.

MRS. ANGELINA B. HENLEY.

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of Wampum Lodge No. 865, I. O. O. F. In namely: Charles, William Almeda, Loy, politics he is a Republican. Dora, Harold, Levi and Otis. Mr. Fox and family belong to the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In politics he is a Republic- an, and has served on the School Board since 1904.

JAMES WALKER FOX, a prominent citizen of Little Beaver Township, a mem- ber of the School Board and a general farmer, was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1858, and is a son of Andrew and Catherine (Pence) Fox.

Andrew Fox came to Lawrence County from the eastern part of the country, and bought the farm on which his son, James W., was born, in Slippery Rock Township. In his earlier years he operated a grist mill, together with farming, in Slippery Rock Township, but later in life he moved to a farm near Hillsville, where he died November 3, 1890. Prior to coming to Lawrence County he married Catherine Pence, who survived him for six years. They had the following children: William, deceased; Jacob, who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War, on a boat at Vicksburg; Rebecca was the first wife of Lee McComb; Elizabeth was the wife of Robert Martin; Martha was the second wife of Lee McComb; Samuel; Lydia, who is the wife of C. O. Stacy; Abraham; El- len, who died young; and James Walker.

James Walker Fox was seven years of age when his parents moved near Hills- ville, and thus he had excellent educational advantages through boyhood. He remained on the home farm until 1888, when he vis- ited California, and spent two years on his brother William's fruit farm there. After he returned to Hillsville, he man- aged his father's farm until the latter's death, and then bought his own farm, which belonged formerly to the Robinson estate. It contains 210 acres, and is sit- uated on the Ohio State line. The large farm house and barn were standing when he took possession, but he has made many improvements.

In 1890 Mr. Fox was married to Laura Hoffmaster, who is a daughter of Levi Hoffmaster, and they have eight children,

WILLIAM HAMILTON COLE, a rep- resentative citizen of Wayne Township, carries on farming to some extent, and is also in the employ of Lewis Weinstein, in a grocery business at Hazel Dell, a part of this village standing on land which was once owned by his grandfather. Mr. Cole was born June 4, 1863, in an old log house which then stood on the present Cole home farm, and is a son of Andrew C. and Mary Ellen (Marshall) Cole.

William Hamilton Cole attended the Hazel Dell public schools and has resided in Wayne Township all his life, with the exception of two years which he passed with an uncle, William Marshall, in Mer- cer County. In 1888 Mr. Cole was mar- ried to Miss Theresa Jane Tillia, who is a daughter of Peter and Clorinda (Craven) Tillia, the former of whom was a native of France and the latter of Wayne Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have had five children, namely : Clara Ellen, John Ham- ilton, John Bistis, Gladys Jane and Will- iam C., the latter being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church. They enjoy the comforts of a beautiful home, Mr. Cole building his residence in 1889. Politically he is a Republican. While he is no seeker for office, he takes an active interest in all public matters, particularly those pertain- ing to the welfare of his own community. Since 1885 he has been a member of Lodge No. 1016, Odd Fellows, at Ellwood City, being one of the charter members.

GEORGE HENLEY, a prominent citi- zen of Mahoning Township, in which is situated his valuable farm of eighty-eight acres, was born October 24. 1864, in Ma- honing Township. Lawrence County, Penn-

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sylvania, and is a son of John and An- gelina (Brown) Henley.

The father of Mr. Henley was born in Herefordshire, England, and the mother in Lawrence County, the former about 1827, the latter about 1837. John Henley was brought to America by his parents in his boyhood. The paternal grandfather set- tled at Hillsville, Pa., where he took part, with other pioneers, in the development of the country. John Henley, who died in 1906, was a man of considerable promi- nence in Lawrence County and held many township offices. At one time he was the candidate on the Democratic ticket for membership in the Pennsylvania Legisla- ture. , Although not elected, he was a man whose personal character would have re- flected honor on that body. He was a worthy member and liberal supporter of the Baptist Church, and was one of the founders and charter members of the church at Hillsville. Of his children, the following survive: John W., residing at Lowell, Ohio; Lizzie A., widow of Samuel Paden, residing at New Castle; George, Brown, residing in Mahoning Township; Thomas J., living at Struthers, Ohio; Reese, residing at Hillsville, and Jane, wife of Samuel Gilmore, residing at Cleveland, Ohio.

George Henley grew to manhood on the home farm and obtained his education in the public schools of Hillsville and at Po- land Seminary, Poland, Ohio. His inter- ests have always been connected with farm matters and he is recognized as one of the representative farmers of his township. On February 29, 1888, he was married to Aurie C. Miller, who was born near Hills- ville, in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, and who is a daughter of the late Isaac and Mary Miller. The mother of Mrs. Henley, who still survives, has two other children-Harry B., residing at New Castle, and Maggie, the wife of C. A. Stew- art, residing in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County. Mr. and Mrs. Henley

have had five children-Irvin M., Mar- garet, John R., Carl and Mabel, the last three mentioned being deceased. The fam- ily belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Edenburg. Mr. Henley is a Democrat in his political sentiments.

JOHN M. BRIGHT, foreman of the hot mill of the Shenango Tin mill plant, at New Castle, is a thoroughly experienced man in his line of work, having been identi- fied with that and kindred industries dur- ing the whole course of his working life. He was born in England, in 1842.

Mr. Bright's first introduction to mill work was early in youth, when he was only a boy, and he spent several months in a boiler plate mill, going from there to a tin mill, and later worked in iron. After four- teen years of iron working, in 1871 he re- turned to tin mill work, which he has con- tinued up to the present time. In April, 1896, he came to America, and to New Castle, and for two years and two months was a roller in the Greer tin mill. On March 22, 1899, when the Shenango mill started, he became foreman of the hot mill, one of the most responsible and exacting positions in the whole plant. He has other interests, having served as president of the Cash Buyers' Mercantile Company, and he is also a stockholder in the United States Steel mill.

In April, 1866, Mr. Bright was married to Miss Mary Ann Jopson, who died leav- ing one child, Miriam, who resides in Eng- land. Mr. Bright was married (second) to Ann Jane Williams, and they have the following children: Mary, who is the wife of Harry Clark, residing at New Castle; and Walter, Charles, Blanche, Stanley, Frederick, Vernon and John, all residing at home. Mr. Bright and family belong to the Central Presbyterian Church, he being a member of the board of elders. He is identified with the order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and in Eng- land united with the order of Foresters.

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ZACHARIAH TINDALL, one of Perry Township's substantial farmers and repre- sentative citizens, resides on his valuable farm of seventy-seven acres, carrying on general farming and threshing. Mr. Tin- dall was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1848, and is a son of William and Sarah Jane (Stevenson) Tindall.

The Tindall family was established in Lawrence County by the great-grandpar- ents of Zachariah Tindall, who came from New Jersey. Zachariah Tindall, the grand- father, was born in Lawrence County and was a farmer in Shenango Township.

The late William Tindall became one of the leading men of Shenango Township, one of large possessions, excellent judg- ment and fine citizenship. He enjoyed only the opportunities offered by the district schools in his day, and then helped his father on the farm. Later he bought a farm of his own, on which he resided for seventeen years, and later another farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life. At the time of his death he owned 300 acres of some of the best land in this section of Lawrence County. He married Sarah Jane Stevenson, who was a daugh- ter of Samuel Stevenson, and they had twelve children born to them, namely : John, Zachariah, Elizabeth Newswander, Fannie McCart, Nancy Fowler, Jane Wetherby, William, James, Samuel, Jacob Anna and Miff.

Zachariah Tindall went to school in She- nango Township, and grew to manhood on the home farm. For several years after reaching maturity he rented land of his father, and in 1890 he purchased his farm, on which he lives, from Ebenezer Hogue. Mr. Tindall owns also a half interest, with his son John, in a farm of 144 acres. Mr. Tindall has devoted himself to agricul- tural pursuits exclusively, and has always met with adequate returns from his in- dustry and intelligent methods.

Mr. Tindall married Margaret Jane Carnes, who is a daughter of William

Carnes, of Lawrence County, and they have six children, namely : William, who mar- ried Sarah McCartney, has two children, Walter and Sarah Jane; Sarah Jane, who married Hosea White, has had five chil- dren, Franklin Benton, Leone, Mary, May and Arthur John; Dora Huldah, who lives at home; and John, Mary Nellie and Jose- phine, all of whom live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Tindall are valued members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and he has served as supervisor in his township.

ELISHA HOUK, who has a highly im- proved farm of fifty-two acres in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, has resided on his present farm all his life. His father had some 400 acres of land in the township, and Elisha was born in a little log cabin just above the present residence of William Houk, May 6, 1848. He is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Hazen) Houk.

Benjamin Houk was born on the old homestead in Wayne Township, and there resided until his death. He was a large land owner, and one of the most substan- tial citizens of his time. He was buried at Harmony Baptist Church. His wife, in maiden life Nancy Hazen, also was born in Wayne Township, and was a daughter of John and Rebecca Hazen, pioneers of the county. Benjamin and Nancy Houk were parents of fifteen children, namely : Matilda, deceased wife of Thomas Carter; Nancy (Lynn), deceased; Polly, who mar- ried Samuel Houk, both being now de- ceased; Rebecca, wife of William Lynn, resides in Wayne Township; Betsy, widow of Jonathan Wiley; Margaret, who mar- ried David Fry, both deceased; Joseph, de- ceased, who married Mary Ann Lutton; Philip, deceased, who married Elizabeth Houk: John, deceased, who married Eliza- beth Newton; Gilbert, who died at the age of eighteen years; Franklin, a physician, who resides on the old Hazen farm in She- nango Township, married Sarah Newton,

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deceased; Elijah, married Lydia Houk, and both are deceased; Elisha; Albert, who resides near Harmony Church, in She- nango Township, first married Annie Wiley, and subsequently Mary Van Emon; and William, who resides on the old home- stead in Wayne Township, married Me- lissa Lisnet.

Elisha Houk was reared on the home place and attended the schools of that dis- triet. He has always followed agricul- tural pursuits, in which direction he has attained a high degree of success. He has always lived on the farm he now owns, and in 1878 erected his present home and the substantial barn and other outbuildings. He is a man of advanced ideas, and stands high among his neighbors and fellow cit- izens.

In 1872 Elisha Houk was united in mar- riage with Asceneth Wiley, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Wiley, and they reared three children: Clarissa, who married El- mer Conner and resides in Ellwood City, had the following children: Ralph, Carl, (deceased), Gerald, Paul, Gladath and Raymond: Loren W., of Wilmerding, Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, married An- nie Porter and they have three children- Tina Marie, John and Lawrence; and Tina Luella, who married Howard Parker, died leaving two children-Harold and Ken- neth. Mr. Houk was married a second time, in 1880, to Miss Elzeda Powell, who was reared in Perry Township, Lawrence County. Religiously they are members of the Harmony Baptist Church. In politi- cal affiliation Mr. Houk is a Democrat, and served his township two years as overseer of the poor.

ANDREW J. NEWTON, a successful and highly respected farmer, of Shenango Township, who has also had much practi- cal experience in carpenter work and other handicrafts connected with the building trade, was born on the place he now occu- pies. December 20, 1865. He is a great-

grandson of John Newton, who settled at an early date on 300 acres of land in Wayne and Shenango Townships, this county, of which property Mr. Newton's present farm forms a part. This early settler, by his wife, Margaret, whose maiden name was Houk, had a family of eight sons and four daughters, of whom the second-born child was John, born March 4, 1801; died December 3, 1880. John Newton was a farmer, carpenter and stone mason. He married Mary Wilson, daughter of William Wilson, and had twelve children, of whom he and his wife reared eleven. The record of this family in brief is as follows: Nancy is the widow of William Montgomery, and resides in Shenango Township; Margaret married John Houk, and is now deceased, as also is her husband; Philip, now deceased; Christina, mother of the subject of this sketch, born January 21, 1830, who is liv- ing in a good state of health, on the old homestead with her sister, Euphemia; William, John N., and Mary Ann, who are deceased; Euphemia, mentioned above, who is residing on the old homestead; Elijah, a resident of Wayne Township; Sarah, now deceased, who was the wife of B. Franklin Houk, of Shenango Township; and Arthur, who is now deceased.

Andrew J. Newton was educated in the schools of Shenango Township, and has always resided on his present property, which is a part of the old Newton home- stead. Besides operating this farm, he also takes care of that part of the old es- tate belonging to his mother and her sis- ter, having the entire property under ex- cellent cultivation. His principal prod- ucts are corn, oats, wheat and hay. When a young man he picked up a knowledge of carpentering, mason work and brick-lay- ing, at all of which he has worked at dif- ferent times, being a skillful workman at almost any of the building trades. Since 1892, in addition to farming, he has been engaged in operating a coal bank, having

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a three-foot vein, and hauling to New Cas- tle yearly about 1,000 bushels of the "black diamonds."

Mr. Newton married Ida L. Newton, who, though having the same surname, is no relation of his. Of this union there have been three children: John Thurman, Lillie Ellen, and Leander.

Mr. Newton is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and, it may be added in particular, a citizen who is respected throughout the township and beyond for his sterling in- tegrity, industry, and life-long devotion to duty and principle.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 108

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