Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 58

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 58

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for his services. For several years after- ward he worked as a journeyman miller and then embarked in the business for himself, at New Wilmington. Later he bought a mill at Neshannock Falls and con- tinued in the milling business there for some eighteen years. He then conducted a flour and feed business for a time, at New Castle, but in 1903 he came to Pulaski and purchased the well known mills at this place, which he has continuously operated ever since. He has equipped his mill plant with the roller process and turns out a fine grade of flour, which he sells locally and also ships to Pittsburg and other points. His mills have a capacity of seventy-five barrels a day. He deals in flour, grain and mill feed.

Mr. Swogger was married (first) to Miss Jennie Dodds, of Mercer County, Penn- sylvania. They had five daughters, and three survive her, namely : Blanche, who is the wife of J. S. Young, of Hickory Town- ship, Lawrence County; Gail, who is the wife of R. M. Blair, of Plain Grove Town- ship, and Daisy B., who is the wife of Ed- ward Iven, of Youngstown. Mr. Swogger was married (second) to Mary Tinker, who was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and died in Lawrence County. He was married (third) to Josephine Allison, of Pulaski Township.

Mr. Swogger is a member of the Pres- byterian Church at Pulaski. He takes a hearty interest in public affairs, especially those pertaining to the development and government of his own town, and never fails to cast his vote with the Republican party. He has always lived a busy life, has made his own way in the world, and has won the confidence and respect of his fel- low-citizens.

JOSEPHS. McWILLIAMS is the owner of a fine farm of 110 acres in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, located on the Mount Jackson- Springfield road, about three miles west of the former village. He was born in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1845, and is

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a son of Robert and Jane (Donnelly) Mc- Williams.

Robert McWilliams was a tinner by trade and conducted a tin shop in Pitts- burg for many years. He later moved to North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, in the vicinity of Westfield Church, and there passed the remainder of his life, engaged in farming. He was three times married, his first wife being the mother of Joseph S.

Joseph S. McWilliams was four years of age when his mother died and he was reared by a step-mother. He attended the public schools for some years, and at an early age became identified with the fur- nace and tank manufacturing business. He later learned iron structural work, and for a period of eleven years was foreman for James M. Riter, of Pittsburg. He gave up that line of work in 1873, and lived on his father's place four years, then for eleven years engaged in farming in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, being lo- cated on the farm of his father-in-law. In 1890 he moved to his present farm of 110 acres in North Beaver Township, which he purchased of Samuel Martin, and there he has since engaged in general farming with satisfying results. He has one of the best improved places in his vicinity. In 1906 he erected a large and substantial barn, the main part being 40x60 feet, and the T extension 40x50 feet in dimensions. They have a commodious two-story home.

Mr. McWilliams was joined in marriage with Rebecca Rose, who was born and reared in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of John Rose. They are parents of the following children : William H., who is a motorman in the street railway service at New Castle; Jane Rose, who is the wife of John Wallace, of New Castle, by whom she has a daugh- ter, Helen; John R., who attends school at Grove City and is preparing for the Presbyterian ministry, and W. Howard, who lives at the home place. Religiously, the family belongs to the Westfield Pres- byterian Church.

Mr. McWilliams is a man of estimable qualities, and enjoys the respect and es- teem of his fellow-citizens.

JAMES A. VAN GORDER, one of the progressive and substantial citizens of Slippery Rock Township, is the owner of a valuable farm of 140 acres located about eight miles southeast of the city of New Castle. He comes of an old and respected family of Lawrence County, and is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Elliott) Van Gorder, and a grandson of Jacob Van Gorder, Sr.

Jacob Van Gorder, Sr., was born in New Jersey, and early in life moved west to Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he lived for a time. About the year 1800 he moved to Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and settled on a small farm which has since been known as the Van Gorder homestead, being at the present time owned by Alvi S. Van Gorder, grandson of this pioneer. The latter died on that place in the seventy-seventh year of his age.

Jacob Van Gorder, Jr., was born on the farm in Perry Township in 1805, having resided there all his life. He assisted his father in clearing the home place, and in 1839 bought an adjoining farm, which had been originally settled by a Mr. Allen. That same year he built a stone house of material quarried by a Mr. Maulin, and had one of the best residences in that vi- cinity for many years. He finished clear- ing the farm, set out a large orchard, and made his place one of fine improvements. He was a man of great energy and excep- tional business ability. In 1844 he built a dam across Slippery Rock Creek and erected a sawmill, which he operated with unvarying success the remainder of his days. It was a day of development and improvements, and the demand for lumber for some years was very great. In 1859 he built a grist mill, which also flourished during the remainder of his career. He died in 1887, at the age of eighty-two years. He was united in marriage with Nancy Elliott, a daughter of Andrew Elliott, of

JAMES A. VAN GORDER.

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Perry Township, and she lived to reach the age of seventy-four years, dying in 1884. Nine children were the issue of this union, namely : Andrew E., Israel, Marga- ret, Louisa, Elmira, Alvi S., James, Nancy Belle, and Robert S. Religiously, the par- ents of this family were Presbyterians. He was a Republican in politics subsequent to the war of the Rebellion, but prior to that time was a Whig.

James A. Van Gorder was born in Perry Township, Lawrence County, April 20, 1844, and was reared on the home farm, which is now owned by Joseph A. Van Gorder, a nephew. He attended the old schoolhouse in that district, it being equipped with the benches and desks run- ning along three walls of the room, as characterized the schools of pioneer days. This schoolhouse was but twenty feet square and was much crowded, the enroll- ment of pupils reaching forty ; his instruc- tor during most of his time in school was Mr. J. R. Miller. After leaving school he turned his attention to farming operations, and upon the death of his father he in- herited an interest in the home farm. In 1886 he settled on his present place, which he purchased in 1880. He erected a mod- ern dwelling house and a complete set of buildings on the place, his barn being one of the largest and best in this section of the county. During his younger days he operated a saw and grist mill one mile above Wurtemburg with much success, but has since given his attention to general farming. He is now drilling an oil well on the farm, it being the second drilled in the neighborhood.

James A. Van Gorder was joined in mar- riage with Narcissa N. Frew, a daughter of James and Eliza Frew, of Slippery Rock Township, they being old settlers and large landowners here. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frew, Narcissa N. is the only one living. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Gorder were born six children, as follows: Wil- liam I., who is unmarried; Louisa Agnes, wife of Edwin F. Menser, by whom she has

two children-Louisa Elma and James Jo- seph; Emma Elmira, wife of Charles Wil- son, by whom she has a son, Warren; Thomas J., and George Sherman, who died in infancy; and Theresa Jane, who died at the age of five years. In politics, Mr. Van Gorder is independent, casting his ballot for the man he deems best fitted for the office at issue. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

A. M. JACKSON, a prominent farmer and dairyman of Slippery Rock Township, has a fine farm of 103 acres, located about seven miles east of New Castle. He was born in North Sewickly Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1862, is a son of Orville R. and Mary A. (Ewing) Jackson, and a grandson of James Jack- son.

James Jackson was a soldier of the War of 1812, serving under General Scott, at Lundy's Lane. He later settled in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and farmed the re- mainder of his days. He married Margaret Colson, who was born in Beaver Falls, Beaver County, and they had the follow- ing children: Thomas, Robert, James, Or- ville R., A. Sharp, and Margaret, the lat- ter of whom is the wife of J. D. Perrott. of Beaver Falls. Of these, Thomas and Mrs. Perrott are the only survivors.

Orville R. Jackson was educated in the common schools of his native county, and assisted his father in the work on the farm. He continued to reside in North Sewickly Township until 1872, when he moved to Slippery Rock Township, in Lawrence County, and there passed the remainder of his days. His accidental death occurred at Beaver Falls May 4, 1901, when struck by a train on the Lake Erie road. He mar- ried Mary A. Ewing, who was born and reared on the farm now owned by Alexan- der McClaren, in Slippery Rock Township, and was a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ewing. Her maternal grandfather, John Manning, was a soldier of the Revolution, and was with Washington's Army during

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the winter at Valley Forge. Mrs. Jackson died April 3, 1901, preceding her husband one month and a day. They became par- ents of three children: Margaret, who is unmarried; Olive, wife of W. L. Aiken, and A. M.

A. M. Jackson, after completing the pre- scribed course in the public schools, at- tended New Castle College and later Grove City College. He was a teacher in the public schools of Slippery Rock Township for fourteen years and was very success- .ful as an educator. He then turned his attention to farming, and during the past sixteen years has made a specialty of dairying. He worked for his father until the latter's death, and then purchased the farm of the heirs. He is a man of enter- prise and public spirit, and takes a deep interest in all that relates to the welfare of his community and county. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist.

ALONZO S. PADEN, a well known resi- dent of Mount Jackson, comes of a promi- nent old family of Lawrence County. He was born in Little Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Susanna (Wortman) Paden.

Robert Paden was born in that part of Beaver County which is now included in Lawrence County, and was a son of Hugh Paden, who was one of the earliest settlers of that section. Some years after his mar- riage, Robert moved to a farm near the present town of Bessemer, which consisted of 186 acres, having purchased it of a Mr. Fowler. There the family lived for more than forty years, and in addition to general farming, they operated a lime kiln for many years. This property was finally dis- posed of to the Bessemer Limestone Com- pany, and from it was taken the first stone quarried in this vicinity. Robert Paden was married to Susanna Wortman, who was born near Petersburg, but in North Beaver Township, and was a daughter of Jacob Wortman, who was of German de- scent. They became parents of eleven chil-

dren as follows: a daughter who died in childhood; Jacob, of North Beaver Town- ship; Melissa (Stanley), of Mahoning County, Ohio; Zimri R., of North Beaver Township; Angelina (Nelson), of North Beaver Township; Alonzo S .; Etta (Metz), of Mount Jackson; Mary, Della, Hugh and Ross, both deceased. Mrs. Paden passed from this life in 1888, and was sur- vived by her husband, who died in 1893.

Alonzo S. Paden was reared on the old home place at Bessemer and received his educational training in the public schools of that vicinity. He has always engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1900 pur- chased his present valuable farm of 1021/2 acres of John Martin, in North Beaver Township, it being known as the old Ar- thur Rogers farm. He farmed this place and resided upon it until March 28, 1906, when he rented the farm and moved to Mount Jackson, where he now lives.

In November, 1901, Mr. Paden was united in marriage with Alla Eudora Dix- on, a daughter of William K. and Mary Jane (Sloan) Dixon, she being a native of Cheshire, Ohio. They have a comfortable home in Mount Jackson, and are sur- rounded by friends of many years' stand- ing.

OTIS L. ROSE, one of the most promi- nent farmers of Shenango Township, re- siding on his excellent farm of 160 acres, was born February 1, 1861, in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Isaac P. and Mar- garet (Gibson) Rose.

In the death of Isaac P. Rose, in 1899, Shenango Township lost a citizen of ster- ling worth and a man of more than the usual distinguishing qualities. He was born in Wolf Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in February, 1815. In his youth he worked on a farm and found amusement in hunting and fishing, at the age of fifteen years, being an ex- pert with the rifle. Up to that time he had received but three months of school- ing. He continued on the farm, but in

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listening to the stories of trapping and fishing told around the old stove in the leading New Castle general store, he be- came so inspired that the homely duties of the farm grew distasteful. He was nine- teen years old when he left his plough and, in company with a companion, Joe Lewis, he made his way to Pittsburg. The boys had cherished the hope of securing em- ployment as stage drivers but, as they found no opening in that direction, they accepted berths at $15 per month as deck hands on a steamboat that was then load- ing for St. Louis. When they reached the latter city, Rose found employment as a hack driver in a livery stable, and Lewis a job of attending to the horses. Here the boys became acquainted with a number of "Rocky Mountain Boys," as they were called, and became fascinated with their stories of mountain life, of fights with bear and adventures in buffalo, elk and deer hunting, together with skirmishes with the Indians. Soon after this he joined a company formed by Nathaniel Wyeth, which started from Independence for the Rocky Mountains, with an outfit worth $100,000, sixty men and 200 horses and mules heavily loaded with goods. No novel was ever written depicting more thrilling encounters with Indians or hair-breadth es- capes than were experienced by Isaac Rose and his companions. These are fully re- counted in a volume entitled, "Four Years in the Rockies," the authorship of which is accredited to James B. Marsh, but is practically the work of Mr. Rose himself. It is a work full of interest for all readers and but brief excerpts can be repeated in the limits of the present biographical sketch.

At the Gallatin River Isaac Rose and his party were joined by some trappers be- longing to the American Fur Company, one of whom was Kit Carson. For years this noted trapper and Mr. Rose were closely associated in their adventurous life. Later, Mr. Rose became so expert a trapper him- self that he won a prize of $300 as a trap- per of beaver. In 1836 he had a thrilling

experience with Indians, which almost caused the loss of his arm and was the real reason for his final return to civiliza- tion. The injury to his arm was so serious that the wild life he was then leading, with its dangers and hardships, could scarcely be continued and he finally re- turned to St. Louis. He there was re- united with his old friend, Joe Lewis, and they decided to go back to the old home, having had quite enough of adventure. Mr. Rose had accumulated some means and the first use he made of it when he reached Mercer County was to erect a comfortable dwelling, for his aged parents, on land he bought in Croton, land which he subse- quently sold to advantage in town lots. He immediately set about, also, to repair the defects in his education, and in Novem- ber, 1838, started to school and applied himself so closely that in the following winter he was accepted as a teacher and made school-teaching his main work in life. For forty-seven consecutive winters he con- tinued to teach school, his services being given in all the wards in New Castle and in Neshannock, Hickory, Slippery Rock, Big Beaver, Taylor and Shenango Town- ships. He was very successful, for he had not only acquired the necessary book learn- ing, but his experience had given him knowledge and his hardships had broad- ened his views so that he knew human na- ture better than years of collegiate train- ing could have taught. These qualities served him well, also, when he was called on to administer the office of justice of the peace, enabling him to judge fairly and wisely and frequently to adjust differences without recourse to the law. He undoubt- edly exerted more influence in his com- munity than any other man of his day. In his political sentiments he was a Repub- lican and held many local offices, elected on the ticket of that party. For many years he served as school director in Neshannock and Shenango Townships and belonged to the board of examiners of teachers. In 1849 he was elected county auditor and served as such for three years, and for

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

fifteen years he was justice of the peace in Shenango Township. There are many resi- dents of Lawrence County who recall him as he was in the prime of life, his sturdy strength, his compelling eye, his quiet but determined manner. On every side may be found his old pupils and all remember him with respect and affection.

Isaac Rose married Margaret Gibson, who was a daughter of George and Ann (Vincent) Gibson, and nine children were born to them, namely: Mary J., who is the widow of Hugh H. Warnock, of New Castle; Anna, deceased, was the wife of D. C. Mayne; James B., who resides at Sharon; Lemira, who is the wife of J. Watt Davidson; Willis, deceased; George G., who resides at New Castle; Otis L., Olive., who is the wife of Edward Gard- ner, of Hickory Township, and Elmer E., who resides at Beaver, Pa. For forty-five years Isaac Rose was connected with the Center United Presbyterian Church, being an elder and an officer in the Sunday- school.

Otis L. Rose was reared to manhood in Shenango Township, and under the guid- ance of his father obtained a superior edu- cation. His pursuits have always been of an agricultural character and his meth- ods scientific and up-to-date. In 1900 Mr. Rose purchased his present farm and has almost the whole of it under cultivation, keeping four men constantly employed. His main crops are corn, oats, wheat and hay. For the past fifteen years he has operated a milk route through New Castle, and pro- duces all his own milk, keeping about twen- ty-five cows for this purpose. His farm is one of the most modern in this section, and his dairy the best equipped. The lat- ter handles sixty gallons of milk a day.

Otis L. Rose married Matilda Hartzel, who is a daughter of M. Hartzel, and they have seven children: Charles W., Clar- ence and Clare, twins; Ethel, May, Lida Marie, Herbert D. and Raymond Wesley. Mr. Rose and family belong to the Center United Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Republican and since 1905 he has

been serving as justice of the peace in Shenango Township, repeating his father's efficient administration of the office. Fra- ternally, he is connected with the P. H. C. and the Tribe of Ben Hur, both of New Castle.

JOHN C. OFFUTT, head of the firm of Offutt & Co., leading undertakers of New Castle, Pa., has been a resident of the city continuously for the past twenty-three years. He was born in Plain Grove Town- ship, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1847, and is a son of John Offutt. The lat- ter was born in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, and became one of the early set- tlers in Plain Grove Township, Lawrence County, where he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. He was a prominent and aggressive Abolition- ist in the ante-bellum days.

John C. Offutt was reared and educated in his native township, and resided on the home place until he was nineteen years of age. He then went to Youngstown, Ohio, for a brief period, after which he embarked in the mercantile business at Volant, Law- rence County. He continued there a few years, then sold out and moved to Sharon, Pa., where he resided until 1875. He was next located in the oil regions one year, after which he returned to Lawrence Coun- ty and conducted his father's farm for three years. At the end of that time he bought out a mercantile establishment in Clarksville, Mercer County, Pa., which he successfully conducted until 1887, the year which marked his arrival in New Castle. In the latter city he engaged in the fur- niture and undertaking business in part- nership with William G. Dunn. After a partnership of two years, he purchased the interest of Mr. Dunn and for a period of twelve years continued the business. He then disposed of the furniture branch of the establishment, and has since confined his attention to undertaking. He is ac- corded the patronage of the leading citi- zens of New Castle and the tributary country, and enjoys the confidence and

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highest esteem of the people. He has in association with him one son, Frank B. Offutt, under the firm name of Offutt & Co., the latter being a graduate of Trinity Hall College, of Washington, Pa., and of the Pittsburg School of Anatomy.

John C. Offutt was united in marriage in 1873 with Miss Louise E. Bovard, of Plain Grove, and they are parents of two children : Martha M., wife of John H. Mitchell, of New Castle, and Frank B. Fraternally, Mr. Offutt is a member of the Masens, Knights of Pythias and Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. Socially, he is a member of the Lawrence Club of New Castle.

FRANCIS WILSON COCHRAN, a prominent farmer of North Beaver Town- ship, is the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres, located about a mile and a half from Moravia, on the Moravia and Mount Jack- son road, which in the early days was the old Western Trail. He was born two miles south of Wampum, in Big Beaver Town- ship, September 26, 1854, and is a son of James and Hannah (McKim) Cochran.

James Cochran was born in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, to which his father had come from Ire- land, in pioneer days. He was reared there, and after his marriage moved to Big Beav- er Township, Lawrence County, where he became a large landowner. A valuable vein of coal underlaid his land and was de- veloped and he became one of the substan- tial men of the community, and was ever among the foremost in advancing its in- terests. He died on his farm there in 1898, having survived his wife some years. They were parents of seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Margaret, wife of Thomas Gill, who lives on the old Cochran homestead; Sarah, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Francis Wil- son, James, who lives in Columbiana Coun- ty, Ohio; Samuel, deceased; Daniel H., and Lettuce, who died as a child.

Francis Wilson Cochran was reared on the home farm and attended the district

schools of that neighborhood. Farming has been his chief occupation since boy- hood. He and his wife set up housekeep- ing on the farm now owned by David H. Cochran, on the Moravia-Mahoningtown road, it being one of his father's farms, and they continued to reside there some seventeen or eighteen years. At the end of that time they sold out and moved to California, where one year was pleasantly passed. They then returned eastward, and for a short time lived in Moravia. In 1904 they located upon their present farm, which comprises 125 acres, and he engages in general farming and dairying, usually keeping from twelve to fourteen cows.

Mr. Cochran married Emma Pratt, a daughter of John Pratt, whose farm lies in both Beaver and Lawrence Counties, being located on the line. Two children were born to them: Carl and James. In religious attachment they are members of the Moravia Presbyterian Church.

CAPT. MILTON S. MARQUIS, presi- dent of the Home Trust Company, an im- portant enterprise of the city of New Castle, is identified also with a number of the leading industries of this section. Captain Marquis was born March 15, 1830, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (McMillen) Marquis.

The family of Captain Marquis is of Huguenot origin. His ancestors were driven from France during the severe per- secutions that followed the Protestant Ref- ormation. The date of their flight is some- what uncertain. One tradition has it that it was just after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1689, but that is hardly probable, as the branch of the family that came to America was thoroughly anglicized when they emigrated here thirty-one years later, in 1720. It is also known that some time had been spent in Ireland before ven- turing to the unsettled world across the ocean. There is a persistent tradition, also, of a more or less extended residence both in England and Scotland, and of suffering

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 58

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