Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 67

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 67

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

of seventy-five years. The grandmother of Mrs. Woods, Sarah Watson Poak, also died on that farm, and John Poak died in Mt. Jackson at the age of seventy-five years. The mother now resides near Coitsville, Mahoning County, Ohio. David W. Poak, brother of Mrs. Woods, was a first lieuten- ant in the Thirtieth Regiment, Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, during the Civil War, and was made adjutant of his regiment. He was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea and was awarded a medal for brav- ery at Vicksburg. While at Atlanta, the colonel and most of the other officers of the regiment were taken captive, and Lieu- tenant Poak, then twenty-one years old, acting in the capacity of adjutant, took command of the regiment. In a special order issued by the commander appears the following : "First Lieutenant David W. Poak, Co. A, 30th Ill. Vet. Vol. Inf., awarded a silver medal of honor for gal- lant conduct on the 22d of July, 1864, at Atlanta." Returning from the war, Mr. Poak went to Missouri, thence to Texas, where he engaged in the banking business, and finally returned to his old home at Mt. Jackson, where he died.

Mr. and Mrs. Woods became parents of the following children: Nettie, wife of Harry Crawford, by whom she has the fol- lowing children: Florence, Margaret, Ed- win and Harold; William L., who lives at home; David Watson, married Mame Reed and resides on the old William Woods homestead; John Frederick, and Sarah. Mr. Woods is a Republican in politics and has filled nearly all of the township offices. Religiously he is an active member of the Westfield Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for many years.

SAMUEL R. BALDWIN, general farmer, residing on a well cultivated tract of land which he owns in Shenango Town- ship, was born October 6, 1853, in She- nango Township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Warnock) Baldwin.

Samuel and Mary Baldwin were the

grandparents of Samuel R. Baldwin, and they came among the early settlers to this township. They were good people and passed out of life with the respect of all who knew them. They had eight children and the names of six have been preserved, as follows: Nathaniel, Samuel, Joseph, Sarah, Susan and Huldah.

Joseph Baldwin, father of Samuel R., was born December 14, 1813, in Shenango Township, where he passed his whole life. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and took a mild interest in public affairs. For a protracted period he was township as- sessor. He married Sarah Warnock, who was born in 1815, in Shenango Township, where both died. Mrs. Baldwin was for- merly married to Henry Hazen and was the mother of the editor of this his- tory, Judge Aaron L. Hazen. They had six children, namely: Lafayette, Mary Jane, John W., Lucy A., Samuel R. and James H. Lafayette was born July 2, 1846, married Rebecca Dinsmore and they have four children: J. Ross, Nellie M., Charles H. and Frank G. Mary J. was born November 19, 1848, and died in 1896. She married D. C. Mayne and they had one son, Wilbur. John W. was born Septem- ber 2, 1850, and died July 7, 1851. Lucy A. was born August 22, 1857, and died July 20, 1892. She married Uriah C. McClaren and they had the following children: Min- nie, William, Joseph, Edna, Frances and Roy. James R. was born February 5, 1856, and died September 15, 1857.

Samuel R. Baldwin was educated in the district schools, the public schools at New Castle, the Edinburg State Normal College and at what is known as the One Study School at New Castle. In the meanwhile he engaged in teaching, usually passing his summers in study and his winters as a pedagogue, and for thirty-one years Mr. Baldwin continued to teach, in later years all the year. In operating his farm he pays especial attention to producing milk, be- lieving this to be a remunerative branch of farming. He owns sixty-three acres of land.

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In 1877, by Rev. R. N. Moore, Mr. Bald- win was married to Martha J. Dinsmore, who is a daughter of Ross and Sarah Dins- more. Mrs. Baldwin was born October 7, 1853, her age exceeding that of her hus- band by one day. They have had seven children, namely: Harry D., Fred L., Jo- seph C., Carl R., James Lynn, Clare M. and a babe that died. Harry D. was born June 26, 1876. He married Eva Rapp and they have two sons, Chester R. and Arthur L. They live in Shenango Township. Fred L. was born February 10, 1879, and resides in this township. He married Susan Ram- sey and they have one child, Helen. Jo- seph C. was born September 20, 1881, and lives in Shenango Township. He married Mary Aiken and they have three children, Margaret, Martha and Paul J. Carl R. was born December 16, 1884, and is a grad- uate of Grove City College. He has made a success of teaching and is principal of the Eau Claire schools of Butler County. James Lynn was born January 30, 1887. He attended the Slippery Rock State Normal School and has taught school for two years. Clare M. was born April 29, 1889, has special talent and has been studying architectural drawing since com- pleting her attendance at the New Castle High School. Politically Mr. Baldwin is a Republican and served fifteen years as township auditor. He is a member of the Red Men, Tribe of Ben Hur, at New Castle. Both he and his wife belong to the United Presbyterian Church, in which he is an of- ficial. He is a representative man of this section.

HENRY M. ROBINSON, a prominent citizen of Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, of which he is the present assessor, was born in this township December 27, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Rachel (Cox) Robinson.

The Robinson family is numbered with the old and honorable ones of this section and it was founded here by Grandfather Henry Robinson, who secured 400 acres of wild but productive land, which was sit-

uated about two miles from the present town of Edenburg. On that land, sur- rounded by pioneer hardships and made thereby sturdy and strong, the first Henry Robinson reared his children. His son, Henry Robinson, became a citizen of Ma- honing Township, where his life was bene- ficial, and whose death in 1876 left a vacant place among her most reliable men. For many years he served capably in various offices and he lent his influence to the build- ing of churches and schoolhouses, to the improvement of the highways and to pro- gressive methods in farming and stock- raising. In like degree his son, Henry M. Robinson, has been a useful man in his community. The latter, with one sister and one brother, comprise the survivors of the family. The former, Emma, is the wife of John Henderson, of New Castle. The lat- ter, Amzi C., resides at Edenburg.

Henry M. Robinson obtained his early education in the schools near his home, many of his classmates being still his neighbors and friends. He has devoted the larger part of his life to agricultural pur- suits. For twenty years he engaged in threshing over Lawrence County, and Ma- honing County, Ohio, owning his own out- fit, traveling with it from place to place during the season. During his following of this industry Mr. Robinson kept abreast of the times and a great difference existed between the threshing equipment he used at first and the expensive and improved machinery which took its place.

On March 31, 1844, Mr. Robinson was married to Elizabeth J. Miller, who was born August 15, 1839, in Fairfield County, Ohio. Her parents were Joseph and Syd- ney (Wellington) Miller, who moved to Wayne County, Indiana, when she was a child. They remained there for ten years and then settled in Union Township, Law- rence County, where she was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have had three chil- dren: Edson M. and Harry D., both resid- ing in Mahoning Township, and Mary S., who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the United Presbyterian

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Church. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. For fifteen consecutive years he has been assessor of Mahoning Township.

ALEXANDER RUSSELL, a well- known citizen of North Beaver Township, resides on a farm of ninety-six acres about twelve miles southwest of New Castle, on the Small's Ferry road. He has lived in this township the greater part of his life, takes rank among its foremost citizens, and has a host of friends and acquaint- ances throughout the community.

Mr. Russell was born in Ohio July 4, 1834, and is a son of Johnson and Mar- garet (Kyle) Russell. He was but ten years of age when he lost his mother by death, and was reared by his maternal grandfather, William Kyle. The latter came from Ireland, where Mrs. Russell was born, and in 1817 located in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Alexander continued with his grandfather from March, 1844, until 1856, when he went out to make his own way in the world. He worked by the month for about a year, after which he rented farms in Lawrence County, and across the line in Ohio, at different times, until 1865. In that year he purchased a farm of 100 acres, on a part of which the town of Bes- semer is located, and continued to reside there until 1893, when he moved to his present farm. He owns forty-three acres of this farm and his wife fifty-three acres, and the house in which they live was erected by her father in 1874. It was struck by lightning in 1876 and, although it did not burn, it was badly damaged.

Mr. Russell was first married in 1857 to Miss Margaret Johnson, daughter of David Johnson, who died leaving five children, as follows: Margaret Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-six years; Serepta Jane, married James Smith and died at the age of twenty-six years, leaving two children, Edward and Harry, the former of whom married a Miss Murphy of Pittsburg and has a daughter, Margaret Jane, and the latter, residing at Philadelphia, married

and also has a child; Mary Ellen, the third daughter, married Harvey Leslie and died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving two children, Essie and John; Ida, the only one of the family now living, married Levi Flickinger and has five children: Edward, John, Mabel, Margaret and Robert; and Eva Belle, who died at the age of nineteen years, was the wife of John Kerr, and left two children, Elsie and Jessie.

Mr. Russell was married (second) in 1888 to Miss Margaret McCance, who was born on the farm on which she now lives and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Elder) McCance. Her father was also born on a part of this farm and was a son of James McCance, who came from Ireland at a very early day. He located upon the home farm in North Beaver Township, cleared and cultivated it, and also followed blacksmith- ing at the same time, for many years. Her parents and her grandparents all lived on this place at the time of their respective deaths. The father died in August, 1893, and the mother in April, 1894. Joseph and Mary McCance were parents of seven chil- dren, four of whom are now living, namely : Margaret (Russell); Easter (Phlew) ; James and Hunter. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have one son, Wylie Kennedy, who mar- ried Mary Swisher, daughter of Philip L. Swisher, and Mr. and Mrs. Wylie K. Rus- sell have one child, Margaret Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are devout members of the Bethel United Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS C. ELLIOTT, who holds an important position with the Elliott-Blair Cold Roll Steel Company, as superintend- ent of their annealing department, is an experienced worker in this line, with which he has been identified during all his business life. Mr. Elliott was born in 1858, at Blairsville, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Thomas Elliott, father of Thomas C., was once prominent in both Blairsville and Pittsburg, between which cities he op- erated boats on the canal, many of which were his own property. In his day a vast

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amount of traffic was done on the old ca- nal.

When scarcely beyond boyhood, Thomas C. Elliott entered the Crescent Steel works and there learned his trade of steel ham- merer and subsequently worked at the same in practically all the steel mills of Pittsburg. In 1897 he came to New Castle and entered into partnership with his brothers in steel manufacturing, under the firm name of Elliott Brothers Cold Roll Steel Company. Later the name became the Elliott-Washington Steel Company, and when Mr. Blair entered the firm, pur- chasing Mr. Washington's interest, the name became the Elliott-Blair Cold Roll Steel Company, Thomas C. Elliott contin- uing his interests through all the changes. When the business was started the plant had but one pair of rolls, but the subse- quent expansion has made necessary twelve pairs of rolls, while the works run on double time. This is one of New Cas- tle's important business enterprises, one that has prospered from the very begin- ning, having practical, experienced men as its founders and promoters. As a stock- holder, Mr. Elliott has additional interests in this city.

In September, 1902, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Martha Moore. They at- tend the Park Christian Church. In his position as a representative citizen, Mr. Elliott has made himself thoroughly ac- quainted with civic needs and, although absorbed in business, consented to serve three terms on the city council, during which period he endeavored to promote the best interests of the municipality. He is very prominent in Masonry, having at- tained the thirty-second degree, and is identified with Blue Lodge, No. 484, Pitts- burg, the Chapter and Council at New Castle and Penn Consistory at Pittsburg. He belongs also to the Masonic club.

WILLIAM P. KELSO, who is exten- sively engaged in general farming, dairy- ing and stock raising on a highly culti- vated tract of eighty-five acres, located

nine miles southwest of New Castle, on the Mt. Jackson and Mt. Air road, is one of the progressive and representative cit- izens of North Beaver Township. He was born April 28, 1844, in Mahoningtown, then located in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James and Nancy (Patterson) Kelso, and a grandson of George Kelso, an early settler of Lawrence County who came from the eastern part of the State. James Kelso was a native of Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania.

Until twelve years of age William P. Kelso lived with his parents near New Castle Junction. During the winter of 1856, the family moved to Mr. Kelso's present farm, where, with the exception of two years spent at Beaver Falls, he has since continued to reside. Mr. Kelso has always devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits and has made vari- ous improvements on the home place, in 1900 having built his present large and commodious residence, the barn having been erected in 1859.

Mr. Kelso enlisted for service in the Union Army August 1, 1862, for nine months, and was discharged in May, 1863. He re-enlisted in February, 1864, in the Third Pennsylvania Artillery, and was honorably discharged in November, 1865, having served almost three years.

Mr. Kelso was joined in marriage with Nancy J. Fullerton, a daughter of Robert and Eliza (Wilson) Fullerton, and of their union were born the following children : Charles Clyde, who is a graduate of Ge- neva College, also spent some time at Westminster College at New Wilmington, and is now principal of the Sharpesburg schools. He married Margaret Jane Mc- Kinley and they have four children, namely, Charles Sharp, Willis Elbert, Daniel McKinley and George William; Mary, who lives at home, operates the Mt. Air exchange of the Independent Tele- phone Company, the exchange being lo- cated in Mr. Kelso's residence; Robert

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Mark, married Rachel E. Gilmore and has two children, Rachel Jane and William David, who is superintendent of the Vul- can Crucible Steel Mills of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; and James, who resides at home, is secretary and treasurer of the Independent Telephone Company. He married Myrtle Iva Kyle.

Mr. Kelso is a man of public spirit and enterprise and is ever ready to support those measures which tend toward the ad- vancement of his community. He holds membership in the Bethel United Presby- terian Church, of which he is and has been an elder for a period of twenty-five years.

MRS. JANE A. CLARK, one of Pulaski Township's most esteemed residents, was born at Hillsville, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, November 14, 1839, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary J. (David- son) Brown, and a granddaughter of Jo- seph Brown.

The grandfather of Mrs. Clark served in the War of 1812 and probably was a res- ident of Western Pennsylvania before that time. His son, Joseph Brown, was born in Lawrence County, where he spent a long and exemplary life. He was survived by his widow, who passed away in March, 1907, aged over ninety years. Of their chil- dren there are six survivors, as follows: Jane A., who is the widow of John D. Clark, formerly of Pulaski Township; George D., who lives in Pulaski Township; Rebecca E., who is the widow of MeCurdy Stevenson, late of Pulaski Township; Sam- uel M., who resides in North Beaver Town- ship, and Belle B. and Emma B., both of whom live at New Bedford.

When Mrs. Clark was a small child she came with her parents to Pulaski Town- ship. They settled in its northern part and there she attended school as she grew to womanhood. She was married June 1, 1871, to John D. Clark, who was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Daniel Clark, who moved from Lawrence County to Virginia, where he died. To John D. Clark and wife were

born two children, namely: Joseph B., who resides in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, and Emma B., who is the wife of Clarence Turner, of Pulaski Township. The late John D. Clark was married (first) to Phebe Chapin, of Lawrence County, and two of their children are living: Rebecca, who is the wife of Henderson Furl, of Lawrence County, and James W., who resides in Mercer County. Mr. Clark was married (second) to Margaret Ervin, a native of Mercer County, and they had three chil- dren, namely: Margaret, who married George Bell, residing at Sharpsville, Penn- sylvania; John Ervin, residing at West Middlesex, and Elizabeth, residing at New Castle.

The late John D. Clark followed the car- penter and also the stone mason trade for a number of years and then engaged in farming. He left a valuable farm of sixty acres on which his widow resides. In pol- ities he was a Democrat. He was a quiet, home-loving man, a good husband and kind father, and a neighbor of whom every one had an appreciative word to say. During his lifetime he was pleased to welcome friends to his home, and Mrs. Clark is equally hospitable. She is a valued mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Pulaski.

WILLIAM BAUDER, owner of a beau- tiful farm of thirty-two acres adjoining the village of Rose Point, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is a well known and highly esteemed citizen of that community. He was born in Allegheny County, Pennsyl- vania, May 18, 1843, and is a son of John and Anna (Willama) Bauder, and grand- son of Abraham.

Abraham Bauder was born in Switzer- land, and rather late in life emigrated from that country to America, taking up his res- idence in Allegheny County. He spent the declining years of his life in Butler County, dying at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His widow died two days later, aged seventy-four years. They had three children : John, Jacob and Maria.

John Bauder, father of William, was

S. CLARK McCREARY AND FAMILY. (Showing four generations.)

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born in Switzerland and first came to America in 1828. He subsequently returned to his native land, was married there, and in 1832 returned to this country, accompa- nied by his wife and their one child, John, and his parents. Upon reaching Erie, Pennsylvania, they purchased a horse, hav- ing brought a wagon with them from Swit- zerland, and hauled their possessions from Erie to Allegheny County, but the mem- bers of the party made the journey afoot. John Bauder was a cooper by trade, as was his father, and he also followed car- pentering some years. He engaged in the dairy business in Allegheny County, but finally sold out there and moved to near Portersville, Butler County, where he owned some 500 acres of land. He lived and farmed there until his death at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. Bauder died there at the age of seventy-six years. She was born in Switzerland, and was a daugh- ter of John Willama. Thirteen children, as follows, were born to them, all being born in this country but the eldest: John, deceased; Anna, deceased; Jacob; Nicho- las; Mary; Frederick; Henry; William; Charles; Samuel, deceased; Edward; Sam- uel, and one who died in infancy.

William Bauder received his education in the schools of Butler County, and farmed there until 1863. He enlisted for nine months' service in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, participating with that regiment in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, as well as numerous minor engagements. He subsequently re- enlisted as a member of the Sixth Heavy Artillery, or the Two Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the end of the war. Shortly after his return from the war he was mar- ried and settled on a farm in Butler County, where he farmed until 1889. He then purchased his present place of thirty- two acres adjoining Rose Point, where he conducts a high-class summer resort. He has one of the prettiest places in the county, it being near Muddy Creek Falls

and McConnell's Mill, affording excellent fishing and boarding. In the summer months he has as guests a number of the leading families of nearby cities, who en- joy the recreation, baths and sports there to be obtained.

In 1866 Mr. Bauder was joined in mar- riage with Miss Anna Pisor, a daughter of Joseph Pisor, who was a farmer of But- ler County. The following are the issue of their marriage: Henry R., who married Elizabeth Marshall and has four children, Clarence, Ellsworth, Marie and Chester; Kate, deceased; Ellen, deceased; one who died unnamed; Charles, who married Tresse Lorain, and has a daughter, Guela ; Harry, who married in Oklahoma and has a son, Francis William; James, who mar- ried Ida Shaffer and has one child, Ver- leigh; Edwin Nicholas, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, who married Ma- bel Elder and has three children, Elizabeth, Stiner and William Elder; and Sarah is the wife of Ralph Weller. In political af- filiation Mr. Bauder is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Pres- byterian Church at Portersville. Frater- nally he has been a member of Lodge No. 909, I. O. O. F., at Portersville, since 1872.

S. CLARK McCREARY, a prosperous farmer residing on eighty-eight acres of land in Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, was one of the patriots who went forth in defense of the Union in the War of the Rebellion not to return from the conflict unscathed. He sustained the loss of his right leg above the knee, but with a soldier's fortitude and without complaint he turned his attention to peaceable pursuits and achieved suc- cess. He is a native of Neshannock Town- ship, born December 8, 1838, is a son of. Thomas and Jane (Lindsey) McCreary, and a grandson of Samuel McCreary.

Samuel McCreary, the grandfather, was the first of the family to take up his resi- dence in Lawrence County, coming from Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1802. He settled in the woods in what is now Hick-

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ory Township, erected a cabin and set about the task of clearing his farm of its timber and underbrush, a herculean task known only to the pioneer. He served with credit during the War of 1812. His wife's given name was Margaret, and they were married prior to their arrival in this new western country.

Thomas MeCreary was born in Neshan- nock Township, November 7, 1808, and en- gaged in farming there all his life, his farm being located along the creek in the eastern part of the township. He died in January, 1899. He was a Whig, later a Republican in politics, and served as super- visor, overseer of the poor, and as school director. He married Jane Lindsey, a daughter of George Lindsey, she being a native of what is now Wilmington Town- ship, Lawrence County. Seven children blessed this union, six of whom arrived at maturity, namely: S. Clark; Margaret (Pattison), of Union Township; George L., a member of Company F, One Hun- dredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who was wounded in the battle of Spott- sylvania, and died while in the service; Baxter, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Henry, of New Castle, and Nancy, deceased wife of Thomas Pomeroy, of Oregon. Religiously, Mr. McCreary and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder about forty years.

S. Clark McCreary was educated in the schools of the township and remained on the home farm until the war. He enlisted August 31, 1861, in Company F, One Hun- dredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battles of James Island, S. C .; Second Bull Run; and Chantilly, in which engagement he lost his limb. He re- ceived an honorable discharge December 4, 1862, and returned to the home place, where he remained until his marriage. He then located in New Castle and served as prothonotary from 1872 until 1879. In 1878 he purchased his present farm, which then consisted of ninety-six acres, and here he has since resided. He follows general

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 67

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