Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 60

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 60

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John C. Houk was reared in his native township, where he attended school and learned to be a practical farmer on the home place. In 1886 he purchased his pres- ent farm, which was the property of his father-in-law, and here he has resided ever

since. In addition to raising corn, oats, wheat and hay, Mr. Houk grows many strawberries and raspberries, finding a ready market for his fruit. He raises fine stock and feeds about twenty-five cattle for the market annually.

Mr. Houk married Louisa Klein, who is a daughter of Conrad Klein, of Shenango Township, and they have the following children: Jennie, who is the wife of Will- iam Forrest, of New Castle; Margaret, who is the wife of William Wellhauser, of Wayne Township; Ella, who is the wife of W. C. McConnahy, of New Castle; Sarah, who is the wife of James Gibson, of Slip- pery Rock Township, and Conrad, Edith, Samuel, Edna and Hazel, at home. Mr. Houk and family belong to the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM T. DOUGHERTY, secretary of the New Castle Mutual Building and Loan Association ever since its organiza- tion in 1887, has been identified with the interests of New Castle since 1866. He was born in 1845, in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, but was reared in Jefferson County, Ohio, and was educated at Har- lem Springs, in Carroll County.

When eighteen years of age, Mr. Dougherty enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company B, One Hundred Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and served for sixteen months in the Twenty-third Army Corps, participating in the Georgia campaign from Chatta- nooga to Atlanta, following General Hood's forces through Tennessee and tak- ing part in the battle of Franklin. He has been very active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic and has served as commander of the post at New Castle through eight separate terms. When he was elected commander in 1868 he was the youngest member of the or- ganization in the United States filling that office.

In 1866, after the close of his military service, Mr. Dougherty came to New Castle, accepting a position as bookkeeper

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for one of the city's large lumber com- panies. Later he was engaged for four years in newspaper work, subsequently serving twelve years again as bookkeeper and then became interested in insurance and in looking after his investments in city enterprises. He has been secretary of Western Pennsylvania Mutual Fire In- surance Company since its organization in 1895. He was active in the organizing of the New Castle Mutual Building and Loan Association.

On July 14, 1868, Mr. Dougherty was married (first) to Miss Cornelia B. Morse, of Lawrence County, Ohio, who died in June, 1884, survived by three children, namely: Jennie M., wife of S. W. Arm- strong, of Wilkinsburg, Pa .; Nellie G., wife of J. F. Harrison, of Los Angeles, Cal., and James E., also of Los Angeles. Mr. Dougherty was married (second) to Miss

Mary L. Jones, who was born and reared in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty are members of Central Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder. Fra- ternally, he is a Mason.

JOSEPH A. B. WALKER, residing on a valuable farm of 105 acres, belonging to On January 1, 1879, Mr. Walker was himself and wife, which is situated near - married to Miss Elizabeth Patterson, who the Bethel United Presbyterian Church, in North Beaver Township, was born in Al- legheny County, Pennsylvania, fifteen miles west of Pittsburg, June 29, 1848. He is a son of James G. and Martha (Bell) Walker. is a daughter of James and Susan (McAn- lis) Patterson. They have one daughter, Grace L. She is a highly educated and ac- complished young lady, being a graduate of the Mt. Jackson High School and of Geneva College at Beaver Falls. For the past five years she has been a school teacher, giving four years to the district schools and in 1907-8 teaching the High School at Har- lansburg. The family belong to the West- field Presbyterian Church. Mr. Walker is a Democrat.

The Walker family originated in Scot- land, and from that land three brothers came to America. One settled near Rich- mond, Va., on the James River, and a de- scendant of his was General Walker of the Confederate Army, during the Civil War. A second brother settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the third was a pioneer in the Western Reserve, Ohio.

The second brother was the great-grand- father of Joseph A. B. Walker, and he moved from Chester to Allegheny County, where he established the family home.

There, James G. Walker was born and reared, and subsequently married a daugh- ter of Alexander Bell. The latter was a native of Ireland and the only one of his family to emigrate to America. One of his brothers was killed at the battle of Waterloo. In 1872 James G. Walker and wife moved to North Beaver Township and bought a farm of 130 acres, a part of which is the farm of Robert Hope. Mr. Walker engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1893. His wife died in 1879. They had six children. Mary and Eliza- beth died in infancy, and Reuben G. on April 27, 1897. He resided for a time in North Beaver Township, but moved to Petersburg, Ohio, where he died shortly after. Three survive, namely: Joseph A. B .; Martha, Mrs. W. L. Douglas, and James M., residing at Duquesne, Pa.

Joseph A. B. Walker was twenty-four years of age when he came to North Bea- ver Township, and at the time of his mar- riage, in 1879, he and wife settled on the present farm, where he has since been en- gaged in general farming and dairying. In 1895 he built his handsome residence, which is in keeping with the other substantial im- provements which he has placed here.

ROBERT WALLACE, a representative citizen of Union Township, where he has engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section. He was born July 2, 1837, in what is now Scott Township,

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Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William R. and Isabella (McCrack- en) Wallace.

In tracing his remote ancestry, Mr. Wal- lace has found that in all probability he be- longs to the same family from which sprung the noble chieftain, Sir William Wallace, whose descendants left Scotland and settled in County Antrim, Ireland. From there came the founder of the family in America, Robert Wallace, who settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where his son, Robert, the grandfather of Robert Wallace, was born. Grandfather Robert Wallace settled in what is now Scott Town- ship, Lawrence County, when all this sec- tion was practically a wilderness. Here he reared his family and one of his sons, Will- iam R., subsequently became the father of Robert Wallace. William R. Wallace died in 1896. He was a man of useful life and was held in high esteem by his fellow citi- zens. For over a quarter of a century he served as a justice of the peace and was also elected a county commissioner of Law- rence County. In his political views he was a Republican. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. He mar- ried Isabella McCracken, who was born in the north of Ireland. To them were born the following children: Robert; Jacob, re- siding at New Castle; William, John R. and George M., all residing in Union Town- ship, and Mary E., wife of George Thomp- son, residing at Edenburg, Pa.

Robert Wallace obtained his education in the country schools. From his youth he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. On November 2, 1859, he was married to Sarah Young, who was born in Union Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, December 12, 1836. She is a daugh- ter of David and Jane (MeGuffey ) Young. Her father was born in Cumberland Coun- ty. Pennsylvania, a son of William Young, who was an early settler in Union Town- ship. The mother of Mrs. Wallace was born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have the following children: Jennie M., who married Nathan Offutt, of Plain Grove

Township; Isabella, who married Clark A. McCombs, of Struthers, Ohio; David Y. and Willey W., both of whom reside in Union Township, the latter being a U. S. mail carrier at New Castle; Lizzie G., who married John B. Brewster, residing in North Beaver Township, and Frank H., who lives in Union Township.

Mr. Wallace is a Republican in his polit- ical views. For over a quarter of a century he has served as a school director in Union Township and in other ways has demon- strated his interest in the welfare and ad- vancement of his section. With his wife he belongs to the Central Presbyterian Church at New Castle.

DAVID ROBERTS, who is engaged in a real estate and insurance business at No. 20 East Long street, New Castle, is one of the leading men in his line on the south side of the city. Mr. Roberts was born in Wales, November 22, 1857, and he arrived in the harbor of the city of New York on March 2, 1895.

Mr. Roberts went to Baltimore from New York, where he was employed in the tin mill for about three years and then reached New Castle, and he has worked in the hot mill departments of both the tin mills here. He is an experienced man, hav- ing learned the processes of tin making in his own country, where he was manager of a tin mill prior to crossing the Atlantic Ocean. On and off, Mr. Roberts worked about seven years in the New Castle mills, but the time came when he was obliged to give that labor up on account of the injury it did to his throat. Since then he has been dealing in real estate and insurance and also collects, manages and rents property. He handles a large amount of valuable realty in both city and county and is one of New Castle's representative business men and good citizens.

Mr. Roberts was married in early man- hood, in Wales, to Sarah Phillips, and they have four children: Anna, who married Thomas M. James, resides at Homestead; Richard Rufus, who is a tin roller, resides

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at New Castle; Thomas, who is a member of the U. S. Marines, is now stationed at Brooklyn, N. Y., after a term of service at Panama, and Charles H., who is a clerk in the offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Mr. Roberts is a Republican in his polit- ical views and he takes an active interest, particularly in local politics. He was one of the founders of the Emmanuel Baptist Church at New Castle. His fraternal con- nections are with the Knights of the Golden Eagle and with the Pathfinders.

FRANCIS MARION SWISHER, gen- eral farmer, residing on his farm of ninety- two acres, situated in North Beaver Town- ship, near Hope school-house, was born on the old Swisher farm in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, April 22, 1833. His parents were John K. and Mar- tha (McClure) Swisher.

John K. Swisher was born on his father's farm, situated along the Susquehanna River, not far from the capital city of Har- risburg. Prior to his marriage he visited North Beaver Township and secured his land and then returned to Eastern Penn- sylvania, where he married Martha Mc- Clure, and by wagon, brought his bride to the new home. He became a man of large substance and much prominence. He was one of the first county commissioners of Lawrence County and his name appears on the court records as serving when the court house was built. He owned 200 acres of land, and on his farm both he and wife died.

Francis M. Swisher grew to manhood on the old farm, which is now known as the Gwin farm. Before his marriage he went to the Territory of Kansas, much as his father had come to North Beaver Town- ship, and there took up 162 acres of gov- ernment land and ten acres of timber land, after which he returned to Lawrence Coun- ty, married and went back to Kansas, where he lived for five years. His father became sick and he returned to give him filial care, as the two older brothers, John and Alfred, were in the army. The father

made him a present of fifty acres off the home farm, and with this incentive to stay at home, Mr. Swisher consented and sold his Kansas land. During his residence in that then troubled State, he had many ex- periences with the Indians, and one of these might have proven fatal to him. An in- toxicated Indian one night shot him with his bow and arrow and then escaped. After he settled again in Lawrence County he cultivated the old homestead farm until 1867, when he moved to his present place, where he has made all the fine improve- ments that mark it as the home of a suc- cessful agriculturist and careful manager.

On September 1, 1857, Mr. Swisher was married to Ellen Calwell, who was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, and when eight years of age was brought to North Beaver Township by her parents, Daniel and Jane (Huff) Calwell. Mr. and Mrs. Swisher have had the following children : Martha Jane, who was born in Kansas, March 7, 1861, married William P. Hogg; Julius Calwell, born in Kansas, died Sep- tember 20, 1861; Salem Town, born Feb- ruary 27, 1863, died October 28, 1868; Liz- zie Calwell, born October 21, 1865, married Frank Hayes, both deceased; George Washington, born September 9, 1872, is a mail carrier at New Castle ; John Jay, born August 11, 1875, resides at home, and Bes- sie Edith and Jessie Edna, twins, were born September 8, 1879. Bessie Edith married James Buchanan and died in February, 1908. Jessie Edna is the wife of Rev. C. C. Chain, a minister in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and they are located at Mata- moras, Ohio. Mr. Swisher is a member of the Petersburg Methodist Episcopal Church and is president of its Board of Trustees.

REV. WILLIAM TAYLOR, D. D., who, for forty-two years, was the devoted and beloved pastor of the Westfield Presbyte- rian Church of North Beaver Township, was born in a log cabin near Enon Valley, Pa., March 4, 1834, and passed out of life, crowned with deeds well done, at midnight

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of December 30, 1902, when aged almost sixty-nine years. His parents were Sam- uel and Charity (Mercer) Taylor, farming people, and representatives of old and prominent families.

William Mercer Taylor was reared on his father's farm and enjoyed the advan- tages which come to children growing up in a family where the father is a man of ample mears and of social prominence. Samuel Taylor served Lawrence County two terms as associate judge. The youth easily completed the district school course and a course of study in Hiram Eclectic Institute, under James P. Garfield's tutor- ship, afterwards President Garfield, and then taught a few terms in country schools, after which he entered Jefferson College, later Washington and Jefferson, where he was graduated in 1858. Following this came his graduation from the Allegheny Theological Seminary, in 1861. Direct from the seminary he went to the Westfield Pres- byterian Church at Mount Jackson, and, although urged time and again to accept calls in important and growing towns, he remained with the people of his first choice, devoting his life to their well-being. On June 12, 1861, Mr. Taylor was installed pastor of the Westfield Church, which re- mained his only charge throughout the period of forty-two years of ministerial life, receiving 500 into the church, 300 of whom united on profession. During the Civil War he served as a member of the Christian Commission, in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Cumberland. In 1868 he received the honorary title of D. D. from his alma mater. Before the consolidation of the synods of Pennsyl- vania, he was elected moderator of the Synod of Erie, in 1878. He was the recip- ient of many honors, but none of these turned his course from the simple, faithful performance of duty as he saw it. In 1894- 95 he made a tour around the world, hav- ing spent six months profitably in the Holy Land in 1878. He was a man of erudition and was engaged for many years in literary work, and published many papers in the

religious press, including "Letters of For- eign Travel." He also published a book- let, "Historical Sketch of Moravian Mis- sions Among the Delaware Indians," and a diary of Dr. Dilworth. As a pastor he will long be remembered and the helpful influence he exerted can never be measured by words. Washington-Jefferson College has been made the repository of the large collection of valuable relics and curiosities collected in Dr. Taylor's visits in his own country and abroad.

Dr. Taylor was married (first) to Miss Lorinda Packer, of Hiram, May 21, 1861, who died in 1883. On September 24, 1885, he was married (second) to Miss Sophy Loring, a daughter of Dr. William Loring, a prominent physician of Springfield, Mass.

GEORGE DEAN, a prominent citizen and prosperous farmer of Slippery Rock Township, residing on his well cultivated farm of sixty-three acres, which is situated six miles east of New Castle, was born De- cember 30, 1852, near Harlansburg, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Enoch and Nancy Scroggs (McNich- ols) Dean.

Noah Dean, the grandfather, was a re- spected citizen of Scott Township, Law- rence County, where he engaged in farm- ing for many years. Enoch Dean, his son, and the father of George Dean, was born in Scott Township, Lawrence County, al- though at that time it was included in Mer- cer County. He assisted his father in farm- ing during his early manhood, but subse- quently purchased a farm of his own, on which he lived during the remainder of his life, with the exception of four years when he resided near Harlansburg. He married a daughter of John McNichols, an old resi- dent, and they had children, the two sur- vivors being George and one daughter, Elizabeth.

George Dean obtained his education in the schools of Scott Township and when he reached manhood he managed the home farm for a time, but in 1870 he bought his present farm. For five years he was en-

DAVID S. MORRIS.

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gaged in a creamery business and still car- ries on a dairy industry together with gen- eral farming and trucking. His farm is favorably situated for these activities, New Castle affording a fine market for all his produce. In large measure, Mr. Dean is a self-made man, having been left father- less when twelve years of age.

In 1870 Mr. Dean was married to Mary Hunt, who is a daughter of James Hunt, of Slippery Rock Township, and they have a happy, united, intelligent family of twelve children, namely : Vernon R., who married Catherine Michaels, has two children, George Wilson and Mary Jane, and resides in Susquehanna County; Araminta, 'who was a popular teacher for seven years, married Samuel Fox; Emma Grace, who is in the employ of the Gillespie Lumber Company, resides at New Castle; James E., who is engaged in the creamery busi- ness in Bradford County; Nancy, who is a successful teacher, resides at home, and Eliza, George, Chadwick, Theodore Roose- velt, Lela, Mary and Nellie, all are at home, the two youngest being twins.

In politics, Mr. Dean is a stanch Repub- lican and a hearty supporter of the pres- ent administration. On numerous occa- sions he has been elected to office by his fel- ·low citizens and he has served acceptably as constable and as justice of the peace and for ten years has been a member of the School Board.

DAVID S. MORRIS, attorney, at New Castle, is numbered with the old and hon- ored members of the Lawrence County bar. He was born in 1824, at Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Levi L. and Nancy (McKnight) Morris.

The father of Mr. Morris was born in Wales in 1810, and was brought to Craw- ford County, Pennsylvania, in 1811 or 1812, where he lived until his death, in 1840. He was a carpenter by trade. He married Nancy McKnight and they had five children.

David S. Morris attended the schools of Crawford County, and when ready to choose a profession, he entered upon the study of law under Hon. H. S. Richmond. In 1845 he was graduated at Allegheny College, and in 1854 he was admitted to the bar, in the interim having been en- gaged in business enterprises. In 1847 he organized the Croton glass manufacturing business at New Castle, and built the first works of the kind here, and continued in the business until September, 1851. He has been a very prominent figure in the business of the courts of Lawrence Coun- ty for the past half century, and has pro- fessional standing of the highest order.

Mr. Morris married Lida A. Loy, and they have one daughter, Anna L., who was reared at New Castle, and married John Butz, of this city. Mr. Morris has a pleas- ant home at No. 27 Grant Avenue. With his family, he belongs to the First Presby- terian Church.

Mr. Morris has taken a good citizen's interest in the public affairs of New Castle ever since he has lived here, and for some twelve or fifteen years served as a member of the city council, during a part of which time he was chairman of the street com- mittee, and during all the time he was in the council he was president of the select council.

ZENAS W. McCONAHY, a prominent citizen and representative agriculturist of Pulaski Township, operating his own farm of 155 acres, and that of his wife, which contains ninety acres, was born in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, March 15, 1851, and is a son of John and Martha C. (Smith) McConahy.

The MeConahy family is of Scotch ex- traction and it was founded in Western Pennsylvania by Robert MeConahy, the grandfather. He was a pioneer in Pulaski Township and when he came had to clear a site in the big woods on which to build his log cabin. There he reared his family and lived to the end of his days.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

The father of Zenas W. MeConahy, Rev. John McConahy, was one of the best known, respected and beloved men of his time in this section. He was born in the little log cabin, grew up amid pioneer sur- roundings and spent his life visiting widely separated communities, traveling on horse- back and performing the duties of a pastor of the Baptist Church. He had settled charges at Hillsville, Sharon and other places, but calls came to him which he never disregarded, to visit many a lonely cabin and isolated farm. He died from an attack of typhoid fever, in his forty-seventh year. He was a strong Abolitionist in his earlier years and later was a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He married Martha C. Smith, was was born at Columbus, Ohio, and two of their children survive: Mary V., who is the wife of John F. Mitch- ell, of Pulaski Township, and Zenas W.

Zenas W. McConahy was reared to man- hood in Pulaski Township and there was mainly educated. On June 12, 1879, he was married to Miss Mary E. Fulkman, who was born in Pulaski Township, June 3, 1860. She is a daughter of John N. and Jane (Paden) Fulkman, the former of whom was born in Pulaski Township and the latter in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. John N. Fulkman died November 27, 1907, but his widow survives and is a beloved member of Mr. MeConahy's family. The grandfather of Mrs. McConahy was Chris- topher Fulkman, who was born in Ger- many. He was a well educated man both in German and in English, and later held office in Pulaski Township. He married Sarah Standly, who was of English extrac- tion, and had relatives in the ranks of the English nobility.

Mr. and Mrs. McConahy have had four children, namely: Rose M., who is de- ceased; Chauncey F., John Q., and Maud L., who is the wife of Herbert Hoover and resides at New Castle. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Conahy are members of the Pulaski Pres- byterian Church. In politics he is a Re- publican. He belongs to the order of the Knights of Maccabees, at Pulaski.

EDWARD J. KEMM, auditor for Law- rence County, and a leading citizen of New Castle, where he occupies a comfortable residence at No. 330 Pittsburg street, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 30, 1858. His parents were John and Margaret (Parry) Kemm.

John Kemm was born in Leicestershire, England, and came to America in 1844, sub- sequently settling in Lake Township, Mer- cer County, where he engaged in farming for many years. His death took place there in December, 1879. He married Mar- garet Parry, of Mercer County, and six of their children survive, namely: Thomas P., residing in Cool Spring Township, Mer- cer County ; Edward J .; Samuel H., resid- ing in Lake Township, Mercer County; Ida M., and Amy J., both residing in Mercer County, and Ella, wife of Frank Ringer, residing in New Castle.

Edward J. Kemm spent his youthful days in his native township and attended the public schools with his brothers and sis- ters, none enjoying the advantages now of- fered on every side to the children of mod- ern days. He was not very old when he started to learn the plastering trade, later became a contractor in the same and fol- lowed it for twelve years after he discon- tinued farming in Mercer County. In 1896 he came to New Castle from New Wilming- ton, to which place he had moved from Plain Grove Township. In 1905, Mr. Kemm was elected to the important office of coun- ty auditor and at the present writing is completing his first term. In politics, he is a zealous Republican and is a faithful and influential party worker. He is a mem- ber of the order of Modern Woodmen of America, at New Castle.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 60

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