Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 77

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 77

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

ruary, 1890. They were parents of eight children, as follows: Alexander, Robert, James, William, John, Uriah, Charles and Hugh, all of whom are deceased except Alexander, Uriah and Charles.

Alexander McClaren received his early educational training in the primitive schools of his native locality, of the log type with slab desks and benches. Upon leaving school he continued to work on the home farm until after his marriage, and in 1859 rented the place on which he now lives. He purchased this property of his father-in-law in 1884, and has resided here continuously since. He has been very suc- cessful in his business ventures, and is one of the progressive men of Slippery Rock Township. He takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the development and im- provement of the community, and has served several terms as school director.

Mr. McClaren was united in marriage with Nancy C. Ewing, daughter of Joseph Ewing, who was one of the pioneers of Slippery Rock Township. Politically, he has been unswerving in his support of Re- publican principles, believing that in their supremacy lies the prosperity of this coun- try. In religious attachment, he and his estimable wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

JONATHAN H. MERSHIMER, whose excellent farm containing fifty-eight and one-half acres, is situated about one-eighth of a mile east of Princeton, was born Au- gust 10, 1859, on the old Mershimer place, just west of Princeton, and is a son of Se- bastian and Nancy (Wilkinson) Mer- shimer.

Adam Mershimer, the grandfather of Jonathan A., was a son of Adam, who was born in Germany, and when he came to America settled in the territory near the eastern line of Pennsylvania. There his son Adam was born, who later participated in the Revolutionary War, and as a reward for his services was granted land in Law- rence County, which is still known as the

old Mershimer place. On that place Se- bastian Mershimer was born and reared. For some years he worked at shoemaking at Princeton, but later engaged in farming, purchasing land near Princeton, on which he lived until seventy years of age. The last ten years of his life were spent in Princeton, where he died. He married Nancy Wilkinson, a daughter of Samuel Wilkinson, and they had a family of five children, namely: Adam, Jane, Samuel, Charles and Jonathan, all of whom are de- ceased except the last named. Sebastian Mershimer was married (second) to Mrs. Jane Stickle, who was the widow of Will- iam Stickle, who was killed while serving in the Civil War. Three children were born to this union: Joseph, Francis and Lawrence, all living.

Jonathan H. Mershimer obtained his education in the country schools and then learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed at Princeton for some six years. He then bought the Alexander Frew farm in Slippery Rock Township, where he has since resided. Mr. Mershimer mere- ly oversees the work on his farm, having practical farmers to attend to the crops and raising of stock.

Mr. Mershimer married Mary Shaffer, who is a daughter of the late Jacob Shaf- fer, who formerly was a farmer in this sec- tion. They are members of the Presbyte- rian Church at Princeton. In politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES M. WATSON, formerly super- intendent of the Lawrence County schools and now one of Wilmington Township's excellent farmers, resides on his valuable property which contains eighty-five acres of fine land, situated about two miles from New Wilmington, on the Mercer and Fay highway. He was born October 30, 1844, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of William Jamison and Martha (McBurney) Watson.

William J. Watson was a farmer on the old Watson homestead. He was a son of

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James and a grandson of John Watson, who was the original settler on the place and who cleared it from the native forest. James Watson, the grandfather of James M., was filling the office of sheriff of Mer- cer County at the time of his death.

James M. Watson enjoyed excellent edu- cational advantages, attending Westmin- ster College and the advanced schools of Grove City and Edinboro, graduating at the latter, in 1883, third member in a class of thirty-three. During the Civil War he served under Capt. J. R. Kemp for eleven months and eleven days, being mustered in and out at Pittsburg.

In 1864 Mr. Watson was married to Elizabeth Graham, who was a daugh- ter of John and Margaret Graham, and they had three children: Anna Martha, who married George E. Dan- nels, principal of the Highland Ave- nue School, has three children, Eugene, Gordon and Helma; Nellie, who married M. D. McCarthy, has two children, Helen and Margaret, and Margaret, who married C. W. Wilson, resides in Wilmington Township. Mrs. Watson died in 1895. Mr. Watson was married, secondly, to Mary J. Bingham, who is a daughter of James A. and Sarah M. (Totton) Bingham, and they have three sons, James B., Ralph E. and Theodore C. Mr. Watson is one of the leading members of the Presbyterian Church at New Wilmington, and is much interested in the Sabbath-school work.

SAMUEL W. MAYBERRY, one of New Castle's respected citizens, who has occu- pied his pleasant home at No. 107 Laurel Avenue since 1906, and who came to the city in 1903, was formerly a resident of Union Township, Lawrence County, where he was born December 6, 1849. His par- ents were William and Hannah (Kildue) Mayberry.

William Mayberry was born in Union Township, Lawrence County, and was a son of Thomas Mayberry, who resided at Harbor Bridge, having settled in that sec-

tion when the forest covered all the land. William Mayberry continued to reside in Union Township until 1854, when he moved to North Beaver Township, where he died in May, 1889, having been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for many years. He was a man of sterling character, capable as a farmer and as a citizen, and he was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hillsville. Both he and wife, who had died in 1887, were held in the high- est esteem by all who knew them. Of their children the following six survive: Mary A., who is the wife of T. H. Karisher, of Youngstown; James K., who resides at To- peka, Kan .; Samuel W .; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Emmett McCready, of Youngs- town; Olive, who is the wife of H. H. Hoffmaster, of Youngstown, and Charles O., of Cleveland.

Samuel W. Mayberry accompanied his parents to North Beaver Township and attended the public school at Bessemer in his boyhood. For many years he followed farming and dairying and for a short time was associated with the Farmers' Supply Company, of New Castle.

On February 23, 1872, Mr. Mayberry was married to Emma McDonald. who was born in Edenburg, Pa., and is a daughter of James and Martha (Kerr) McDonald. James McDonald was born in Lawrence County and was a son of Arnold McDon- ald, an early settler. Of the children of James and Martha McDonald, four sur- vive, namely: Clarissa, wife of David G. Duff, of New Castle; Emma; Charles P., a resident of Kansas City, Mo., and Loret- ta, wife of P. A. Thompson, of New Cas- tle. To Mr. and Mrs. Mayberry were born four children, as follows: Ostie, who re- sides in Columbiana County, Ohio; Nora E., who is the wife of C. E. Hoffmaster, of Mahoning Township; Vernon S., who resides at Norfolk, Va., and Edice, who is the wife of James Ball, of New Castle.

In politics Mr. Mayberry is affiliated with the Democratic party. Both he and wife are members of the First Methodist

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Episcopal Church at New Castle and are valued members also of the city's pleasant social circles.

WILLIAM G. GUTHRIE, a representa- tive citizen of Ellwood City, who fills the responsible position of superintendent of the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Com- pany, of Ellwood City, was born in Arm- strong County, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1868, and is a son of Hugh and Fannie E. (Sheakley) Guthrie.

The father of Mr. Guthrie was born in. Armstrong County, near the Butler Coun- ty line, while the mother was born in But- ler County, near the Armstrong County line. The father still survives, aged sixty- one years, but the mother passed away in September, 1905, aged fifty-nine years. Seven of their children still survive, name- ly : Elmer, who resides at Petroleum, But- ler County ; Millard G., who resides in the Pennsylvania oil fields; William G .; Annie M., wife of George Haeffner, resides in Chicago, Ill .; Ida M., wife of H. E. Hut- chison, resides in West Sunbury, Butler County, Pennsylvania; Etta, wife of Silas Munn, lives at Robinson, Ill .; Eva W., wife of James Guthrie (of the same name but no relation), lives near Brookville, Jeffer- son County, Pennsylvania; Daniel W., and Samuel S., died young; and a son and daughter died before being named.

William G. Guthrie was reared on the home farm in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and attended the neighborhood schools through boyhood. When he left the farm he went into the oil fields and worked in the Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio fields for four years. In 1892 he came to Ellwood City and continued in the oil business until Au- gust, 1898, when he became identified with what was then termed the Manufacturers' Gas Company, which later became the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company. Mr. Guthrie has been superintendent of this concern for the past ten years, its busi-

ness being the supplying of light and of heat for all purposes, from natural gas.

In August, 1891, Mr. Guthrie was mar- ried to Miss Susanna J. Welsh, of Butler County, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. Guthrie is a Republican, and he has served three years as a member of the City Coun- cil. Coming here in the year following the laying out of the city, he has watched with interest its remarkable development, and has assumed his share of the urgent duties of good citizenship. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he belongs also to the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

WILLIAM F. BECK, whose beautiful farm of 100 acres of well cultivated land lies on the State Line Road about two and one-half miles northeast of Petersburg, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, was born on this farm May 7, 1871. His parents were Andrew and Fredericka (Haag) Beck.

Andrew Beck was born in Germany and in boyhood accompanied his parents to America. His father, Daniel Beck, settled on the present home farm in North Beaver Township, where he lived until after the death of his wife, when he yearned for his native land and went back to Germany, where he died. In early manhood, Andrew Beck left the farm and went to Pittsburg, where he attracted the attention of James Wood, then a large manufacturer and man of fortune, and served him for several years as his private coachman. After Mr. Beck returned to North Beaver Township he was married to Fredericka, daughter of John Haag, the latter of whom was also born in Germany. The mother of William F. Beek was born in Unity Township, Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, but when she was about twelve years old her parents moved to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and settled on land adjoining the Beck farm. Two children were born to Andrew Beck and wife, Susan and William F., the

WILLIAM G. GUTHRIE.

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former of whom married Alva Beight. The father died on the home farm in 1884 and the mother, in November, 1906, at the home of Mrs. Beight.

William F. Beck has resided on this farm all his life, obtaining a public school education in the neighborhood. He car- ries on general farming and buys and sells cattle. His standing as an agriculturist is high and as a citizen is equally so. He married Irene Macklin, who is a daughter of Emanuel Macklin, of North Beaver Township, and they have one son, Fred- erick. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the Petersburg Lutheran Church, of which he is a trustee.

SAMUEL JOHN DOUGLASS, a vet- eran of the Civil War and a well known resident of Big Beaver Township, Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, is living in re- tirement, after many years of activity, on his farm about three-fourths of a mile southwest of Wampum. He was born in that township, December 4, 1840, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (McCoy) Douglass, and a grandson of James Douglass.

The paternal grandfather of Samuel J. Douglass was of German descent and came to Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, from some point in the East. He was the father of the fol- lowing children: James, John, Washing- ton, Samuel and Mary, the latter being the wife of John Carpenter. All of this fam- ily are now deceased. The father of Samuel J. Douglass was born in Lawrence County and at an early age learned shoe- making, a trade he followed most of his days. Although he maintained a shop, he traveled extensively through the country, going from house to house, and at times he would remain long enough to make shoes for an entire family. He was married to Elizabeth McCoy, who was born on the old home farm in Lawrence County, and was a daughter of James McCoy, who came from Ireland and purchased a farm in this

county. He was a very prosperous man and made three or four voyages between Ireland and this country. Mrs. Douglass died in 1863, at the age of sixty-two years, and was survived many years by her hus- band, who died in 1886, at the age of sev- enty years. They had the following chil- dren: Samuel John and Mary Ann, wife of Samuel Ault, of Sharpsville.

Samuel J. Douglass was reared in his native township, and attended the old "Hatchet Track" log school, after his father had moved to Newport. His winter months were spent in working at shoemak- ing, and during the summer he worked among the farmers. February 19, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Second Lieutenant J. C. Cubbison, and was discharged June 25, 1865. His regiment was captured at Plym- outh, N. C., but fortunately for him he was absent from its ranks at the time, being sick in a hospital. He continued in the service until the close of the war, then returned to his home in Lawrence County. He engaged in railroad work, being in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad for a period of twelve years, and at the same time he owned his farm of twenty-five acres. He retired from business activity in 1886 and has his farm rented.

August 31, 1865, Mr. Douglass was joined in marriage with Margaret Black, who was born near New Castle, Pa., De- cember 22, 1842, and is a daughter of An- drew and Mary (Johnston) Black. Her father was born in Ireland in 1796, and her mother in 1801. They were married in their native land, and shortly after the birth of their first child they emigrated for America. They settled in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, when the canal was being built. and he assisted in its construc- tion. He died at the age of sixty years, and she at the age of eighty-six. They were parents of ten children, the oldest of whom died in Ireland. The others are: David, Robert, William, Mary, Eliza, Mar-

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garet, Thomas, Jane, Washington. Mr. Douglass and his wife have a son, Howard, born March 12, 1867. The latter married Sadie Black and has four children: Nel- lie, Gladys, Charles and Clyde. Frater- nally Mr. Douglass is a member of Wam- pum Post, G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics. Both he and his family are Pres- byterians.

JOHN S. MARTIN, residing in his handsome residence at No. 177 Park Ave- nue, North Hill, New Castle, is one of the city's valued and esteemed citizens. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1847, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Robison) Martin, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania.

The father of Mr. Martin brought his family from Mercer to Lawrence County in the spring of 1861 and engaged in farming in Mahoning Township, near Hillsville, until his death, which took place July 23, 1867. He was a son of Hugh Martin, who crossed the mountains from Eastern Penn- sylvania, and settled in North Beaver Township seventy-nine years ago. Thomas Martin and wife had eight children, the survivors being: Robert J., living at Col- ton, Cal .; James R., residing at New Cas- tle : Cyrus L., living at Hillsville; Parme- lia J., wife of Edward Miller, living at Springfield, Ohio, and John S. The fol- lowing are deceased : Samuel B., Annie E. and Mary.

John S. Martin was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Lawrence County and he completed his education in the schools of Hillsville. For many years following he engaged in agricultural pur- suits and for fourteen years he also acted as superintendent of the George W. John- son Limestone Company, of Hillsville. He has ever been active in all that concerns the welfare and progress of his section and on numerous occasions has been his party's choice for public office. In 1873 he was elected constable and tax collector on the Republican ticket and served as such for

nine consecutive years. In 1898 he re- moved to New Castle. He continues to be interested in agriculture but no longer de- votes close attention to it. His beautiful home in New Castle is situated in one of the most attractive sections of the city.

Or October 27, 1869, Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca J. Fox, who was born in Butler County, Penn- sylvania, and is a daughter of the late Daniel Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have one daughter, Nora M., who married Frank Kelly, of Allegheny, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have two children: Gladys R. and John M. Mr. Martin is a member of the First Baptist Church at New Castle and is a member of its board of trustees.

JOHN ARMSTRONG, a representative farmer of Slippery Rock Township, resides on a farm of seventy-three acres located about eight miles east of the city of New Castle. He was born near Waggletown, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1853, is a son of Alexander and Char- lotte B. (Kennedy) Armstrong, and a grandson of Alexander Armstrong, Sr., the latter being a native and lifelong resident of Lawrence County.

Alexander Armstrong, Jr., was born on the old homestead near Waggletown, and attended the primitive schools of that period. After leaving school he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he fol- lowed many years in connection with farm- ing. He married Charlotte B. Kennedy, a daughter of William Kennedy, an early agriculturist of the county, and they be- came parents of the following children: Lawrence, who resides on the old Arm- strong homestead; John; the next died in infancy; Joseph, deceased; William, de- ceased; Elizabeth (Baker), who resides near Eastbrook; Jennie (Gibson), who lives near Croton; Elmer, deceased; Rob- ert, of Hickory Township, Lawrence County ; Mary Estella, who died aged three years; and Alice, who also lives at the old home. Alexander Armstrong spent his en-

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tire life on the same farm, and both he and his wife died there.

John Armstrong received his educational training in the public schools, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. He helped farm the home place until he reached the age of twenty-eight, then purchased a farm in Slippery Rock Township, on which he lived some four years. At the end of that time he sold out and purchased his present farm of seventy- three acres, from M. McMillen. He made many desirable improvements on the place and has carried on general farming in a highly successful manner. He is a pro- gressive and publie spirited man, and en- joys the good will and esteem of his neigh- bors and friends to a remarkable degree.

Mr. Armstrong was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Emma R. Taylor, a daughter of Samuel Taylor, who was a prominent farmer of Slippery Rock Town- ship. No children were born to bless their union, but two were adopted and given parental care and affection. The adopted daughter, Winnifred May, is deceased, and the son, Elmer G., assists in the work of the farm. Politically, Mr. Armstrong is an ardent Republican. In religious faith and fellowship he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

MRS. MARY E. POPPINO, one of New Wilmington's most respected and es- teemed residents, occupies a beautiful, commodious residence, which is situated near the center of the town. Mrs. Poppino has been a resident of New Wilmington since 1856, but she was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania.

The parents of Mrs. Poppino were Ben- jamin and Maria (Agnew) Junkin. Her father was a distinguished jurist in Venan- go County and served as associate judge. She is the third from youngest daughter in a family of nine children-three girls and six boys-and five of her brothers served in the Civil War. She is identified through her mother's family with those

noted Confederate officers, during the Civil War, Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Colonel Preston.

In 1856 Mary E. Junkin was united in marriage with Dr. Seth Poppino, who was a graduate of the Cleveland Medical Col- lege and who was engaged in practice at New Wilmington until his death. They were the parents of six children, namely : Sarah L., deceased; Anna Mary, who re- sides with her mother; Hattie, deceased, who is survived by her husband, Prof. Alexander McClelland (they had one child, Louis, now deceased) ; Martha P., who married Rev. J. H. Spencer, and has three children-Warren P., James H. and Don- ald A .; and Charles W. and James J., both of whom are deceased.

Mrs. Poppino owns two valuable farms, one of these being situated on the Bend Road in Mercer County, about one mile north of New Wilmington, and the other, containing thirty-three acres, also in Mer- cer County, adjoining New Wilmington. Mrs. Poppino is an active and valued mem- ber of the First United Presbyterian Church and has been an active member of the W. C. T. U. since its organization. She is noted for her many charities and for her interest in many of the city's benevolent enterprises.

JOHN S. MAIN, general farmer, resid- ing on his well cultivated place containing forty-six acres, which is situated in North Beaver Township, on the line road which separates Ohio and Pennsylvania, about one mile south of the Mt. Jackson and Springfield Road, is a highly esteemed citi- zen of this section. Mr. Main was born August 13, 1851, in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Wilson) Main.

The father of Mr. Main was a farmer and came to Lawrence County in 1859. John S. Main has thus been familiar with an agricultural life, in all its departments, since boyhood. In 1891 he purchased his present farm, which was formerly the

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property of his father-in-law, William Pitts. Mr. Main was married (first) to Almina Elizabeth Pitts, who died in the spring of 1899. She was a daughter of William and Sylvia Pitts, the former of whom was long one of the leading men of this section. For thirteen years Mr. Pitts was a magistrate in North Beaver Town- ship, and for some fourteen years he taught school, both in English and Ger- man. Mr. Main was married, secondly, to Mrs. Jemima Hutchinson, who was the widow of Curtis Hutchinson, and a daugh- ter of John Bay. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Main, Calvin Sidney Le- roy. Mr. and Mrs. Main are members of the Petersburg Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a class leader.

JAMES CAMPBELL STEVENSON, ex-Register and Recorder of Lawrence County, has been an honored and useful citizen of New Castle for the past thirty- four years. He was born September 20, 1838, in Plain Grove Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is the oldest child born to his parents, Robert and Eliza Ann (Deniston) Stevenson.

The Stevenson family is of English ex- traction and it was established in America by John Stevenson, who settled near what became the historic battlefield of Brandy- wine, probably in 1750. He was the great- grandfather of James C. Stevenson, of New Castle. He was a member of the State Legislature and died in Hagerstown, Md., in March, 1785, when on his way home from Philadelphia.

Robert Stevenson, son of John, and grandfather of James C., was three years old when his parents, in 1780, moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania, set- tling on Pigeon Creek. When he was twen- ty-one years of age he married Miss Eliza- beth Scott and came to what is now Law- rence County, then a wild and unsettled region, and subsequently engaged in farm- ing between New Castle and Pulaski. In 1824 he traded farms with Hugh Wallace,

moved to Plain Grove Township and died on that farm in 1862. His wife died in 1841.

Robert Stevenson (second), son of Rob- ert and father of James C., was born near New Wilmington, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, August 15, 1809, and died at Plain Grove, November 30, 1887.

Not every one can trace so clear and hon- orable an ancestry as Mr. Stevenson, nor has every one led so eventful. and useful a life from the activities of which he now has retired. Reared on the home farm until eighteen years of age and given only such advantages as then were afforded in the country schools, he became a successful teacher himself, but when the Civil War was precipitated he closed his school in April, 1861, and offered his services as a soldier, but was taken sick before he was mustered into the army. On August 28, 1861, Mr. Stevenson again enlisted, enter- ing Company E, One Hundredth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, contracting for three years or during the war, re-enlisting De- cember 31, 1863, and in the same company he faithfully served until his honorable discharge on July 24, 1865, at that time having the rank of second sergeant.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 77

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