Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 5

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 5

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After Colonel Taggart's death Mrs. Taggart bought the Martin property on Queen street, Northumberland, where she took up her residence. To Col. David and Anna P. (Cowden) Taggart were born four children : Helen T. is the widow of David H. Clark and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y .; John C. died when six years old; Hanna C. H. is unmarried and makes her home in Northumber- land; James is also a resident of that place.

JAMES TAGGART, son of Col. David Tag- gart, was born Feb. 22, 1862, in Northumberland borough, and there received the greater part of his education in the public schools. He completed the freshman year at the University of Lewisburg (now Bucknell University), after which he began to take an active part in the management of his father's affairs, the latter's property including three large farms, gardens, fine herds of cattle, etc., and being the only son he was given a large share of the responsibility from an early age. Though but twenty-six years old when his father died, the care of the large estate fell upon his shoulders, but he proved himself equal to the task, and has conducted all the details of its manage- borough, serving as school director and doing his inent in a most able manner. He is a prominent duty as a public-spirited citizen. He died at citizen of the borough, a Republican in politics. Northumberland June 30, 1888, and is entombed and influential in the various circles in business in the Taggart mausoleuni in Riverview cemetery. and social life with which he is identified.

On May 5, 1848, David Taggart married Anna On March 8, 1892. Mr. Taggart married Mary P. Cowden, daughter of John H. Cowden and E. Gulick, danghter of William G. and Ellen (Zer-

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

fing) Gulick, of Northumberland, but earlier of joining counties he by no means confined his work Rush township, this county, where her grandpar- ents, Charles and Hannalı (Morgan) Gulick, re- sided. Mr. and Mrs. Taggart have no children.

Matthew Huston, father of Mrs. Hannah Collin (Huston) Taggart, was born July 21, 1:59, in Warminster township, Bucks Co., Pa., and on March 25, 1786, he married Hannah Cox, who was born April 5, 1762, in Kingessing township, preme court. No distractions, no unforeseen and Philadelphia county. They lived in Woolwich sudden difficulties, ever disconcerted him or took township, Gloucester Co., N. J., for some time, the his mind off the issue at stake. In cross-examin- first two children being born there. They had the ation he seldom failed to produce the desired tes- following family: Andrew C., born March 27, 1787; Mary L., born Aug. 10, 1788 (died Feb. 26, 1790) ; Cynthia, born July 28, 1:90 (died Aug. 31, 1791) ; Charles A., born Aug. 31, 1793 (died March 17, 1795) ; Hannah Collin, born Feb. 22, 1796 (died Nov. 28, 1870).

GREENOUGH. The Greenougli family rep- resented at present in Sunbury by William H. a conspicuous place among the notable men of Greenough, a business man of that borough, has his day. not been a numerous one, but its members have been distinguished in local professional and finan- cial circles, Ebenezer Greenough and his son, William I. Greenough, having been brilliant legal practitioners, whose association with the North- umberland county bar covered more than half a century. With the legal career of Eben William Greenough, son of William I. Greenough, the name was connected with the legal profession for the better part of a century.

Ebenezer Greenough, great-grandfather of Wil- liam H. Greenough, was born Dec. 11, 1783, in Massachusetts, and graduated at Harvard in 1804. Soon afterward he left Haverhill on horseback for Pennsylvania, in which State he made his first location at Wilkes-Barre, accepting the po- sition of principal of the academy at that place immediately after his arrival. During his con- nection with that institution he commenced the study of law under Ebenezer Bowman. Remov- ing to Sunbury in the latter part of the year 1806, he completed his professional preparation under Charles Hall, was admitted to the Northumberland county bar Jan. 19, 1808, and was continuously engaged in the practice of the law from that time until his death, Dec. 25, 1847. He was a man of large education and high intellectual qualities, versatile, forceful, commanding, and lic soon at- tained a position of pre-eminence. among the le- gal fraternity which he maintained by his superior abilities and acquirements until the close of his life. His familiarity with the land laws of Penn- sylvania was so thorough that he was noted for his skill in the trial of ejectment cases for the de- termination of titles under conflicting surveys : but though concerned in almost every important case of the kind in his home county and the ad-

to that class of litigation, being as frequently en- gaged and equally successful in general civil and criminal cases. So noted was he for his clearness, logic and force in argument, for self-possession under the most trying circumstances, that in his later years he was often asked by attorneys of other counties in the Northern district to assist in the presentation of their cases before the Su-

timony from a witness ; in addressing a jury he ap- pealed to their intelligence rather than to senti- ment, and he had the faculty of making his views appear so logical as to be incontrovertible. With the exception of one term in the State Legislature, to which he was elected in 1831, on the Whig tick- et, he held no public position, his fame resting up- on his professional achievements, which won him

He was a warm friend of Samuel J. Packer, and they worked much together in matters of vital interest affecting the public welfare. Dur- ing his service in the Legislature he was a leading advocate of internal improvements in Pennsylvania and active in the formation of manufacturing and corporation laws and he was the author of the Lateral Railroad law, although this was probably written after he left the Legislature: though he was not subsequently interested officially in public affairs they interested him none the less, and his influence was an appreciable factor for or against any cause. He accumulated what in his day was considered a handsome fortune. Mr. Greenough married Abigail Israel, a native of Delaware, born Dec. 12, 1:91, and she survived him many years. dying in 1868. Their family consisted of one son and five daughters.

William I. Greenough, son of Ebenezer, was born, May 27, 1821, at Sunbury. He attended the acad- eniy at that place, and later those of Wilkes-Barre and Danville, after which he entered Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1839. He studied law for three years under his father be- fore his admission to the Northumberland county bar, Aug. 2. 1842, and from that time on was a successful attorney and counselor at Sunbury. Like his father, though interested in public ques- tions and matters affecting the general welfare, he himself avoided official responsibilities, giving his entire time to the profession for which he proved so eminently fitted. He was best known as a counselor, and throughout his career was as- sociated in the trial of many of the most im- portant cases of the county. His methods in pre- senting a case in court were much the same as those followed by his father. His arguments were noted for the absence of unnecessary verbiage and

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irrelevant matter of any kind, presented as if they and William H. living with their grandmother, were facts that needed only to be stated, not logic Mrs. Greenougli, until her death. laid before a jury to persuade them to his cause. . WILLIAM HEWITT GREENOUGH was born For a number of years he was selected as master in iu Sunbury March 30, 1884. He received his early education in private schools in Philadelphia, later attending Trinity College, at Hartford,

chancery in many of the leading cases in North- umberland county, a tribute to "his judicial qual-

ifications no less than a compliment to his sound . Conn., and from his youth has been in active busi- deliberative judgment." Originally a Whig in politics, he became a Republican upon the organi- zation of the party and supported its principles the rest of his life. He died in 1893.

On Sept. 21, 1852, Mr. Greenough was married at Danville, Pa., to Mary C. Baldy, who was born there Sept. 16, 1827, daughter of the late Peter Baldy, of Danville, and died May 20, 1910, at her home on Chestnut street, Sunbury. Mr. and Mrs. Greenough had two sons, William and Eben Wil- liam, the former of whom died in infancy. They settled in Sunbury immediately after their mar- riage, so that Mrs. Greenough had been a resident 'of the borough for almost sixty years at the time of her recent death, and during the greater part of that time had occupied the home near the First Reformed church, where she died. In her eighty-

ness in Sunbury. He has large real estate hold- ings, in the borough, and is associated with various business enterprises. Since . April, 1905, he has been a director of the First National Bank. Since March 20, 1909, he has been president of the Sunbury and Selinsgrove Electric Street Rail- way Company. He is a member of Maclay Lodge, No. 632, F. & A. M., at Sunbury, and a member of the Temple Club, of which he was the first pres- ident. Mr. Greenoughi has one of the finest law li- braries in the county, having his father's, grand- father's and great-grandfather's libraries, a most complete and valuable collection.

JOHN MCCLEERY, late of Milton, North- umberland county, was among the useful citizens whose memory will long be gratefully cherished third year at the time of her demise, she had been in the borough where his entire life was passed. in failing health for some time, but was not seri- Coming of a family which had for two generations preceding him maintained its position among the leading influences for progress and good in the community, he lived up to its best traditions. and has left a name typical of the race from which he sprang and a credit to the life he led. ouly ill until the last three weeks. She was buried in Pomfret Manor cemetery. A devout member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, she was one of its most devoted workers and liberal supporters, and the present prosperity of the parish is due in large measure to her generosity. She built and The McCleery family is of Scotch-Irish Presby- terian stock. The early ancestors left Scotland at the time of the religious persecutions and took refuge in the North of Ireland. Michael Mc- Cleery, a native of Coleraine, Ireland, came to America when a young man with his brother John. The latter served as a captain in the Revolutionary war, and was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Michael McCleery went first to Virginia and final- lv settled on the Concstoga, in Lancaster county, Pa. His wife's name was Jeanette. equipped the parish house on South Fourth street, as a memorial to her husband. But her interest in her fellow beings was not limited to what she could do through the church. Her charity and sympa- thies were broad, extending to all who needed or deserved them, and though quietly and unosten- tatiously performed her many good deeds will live in the hearts of the recipients for all time. Her kindness and consideration made her benefactions doubly gratifying to the poor and distressed. She was a welcome presence among all classes. Mrs. Greenough encouraged many material improve- ments in the borough by her influence and sup- port and her name will long be remembered with gratitude by all who knew her.

John McCleery, son of Michael and Jeanette, born Oct. 13, 1767, at the forks of the Conestoga in Earl township. Lancaster county, grew up there, attending the subscription schools in his youth. .When a young man he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Harrisburg, whence early in the nine-

EBEN WILLIAM GREENOUGH, son of Wil- liam I. and Mary C. (Baldy) Greenough, was teenth century he removed to Milton, Northuni- born at Sunbury July 3. 18-, and died there berland county. He was one of the pioneer busi- April 4, 1905: lie is buried at Pomfret Manor . ness men at that point, opening a general mercan- . cemetery. He was a graduate of Princeton Uni- tile etablishment at the southeast corner of South versity, and like his distinguished father and Front street and Broadway, and his business was typical of the times, his dealings in 'produce and grain reaching large proportions. Transportation facilities in those days were very primitive. there being neither canals nor railroads, and he shipped his grain and produce down the river to market in large arks built for the purpose. trading them grandfather entered the legal profession, practic- ing until his recent death. He laid out the bor- ough of Marion Heights, in Mount Carmel town- ship. He married Elizabeth Swann Hewitt, daughter of Horatio Hewitt, a native of England, and she died in June, 1889. They had three chil- dren, Mary, William H. and Suzette Reeves, Mary for merchandise in the larger citics. Retiring

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA .

from merchandising, he purchased a farm south time became the home of his son John (whose of Milton, which later formed a part of the Wil- widow now occupies it) and in which he spent his liam Cameron estate and is now owned by J. C. later days. In political sentiment he was original- Packer. He erected good buildings and followed ly a Whig, becoming a Republican on the forma- farming there the rest of his days, dying June 21, tion of the new party. 1851.

On Sept. 23, 1802, Mr. McCleery married, at

On Oct. 2, 1828, Dr. McCleery married Margaret Pollock, daughter of William Pollock Lytle Ferry, Mary Lytle, who was born there and sister of James Pollock, one time governor March 16, 1774, daughter of Joseph and Sarah of Pennsylvania, and to this union were born (Morrison) Lytle : the ceremony was performed the following children: Mary, born Sept. 9, 1830, by. Rev. Nathan Souden. Mrs. McCleery's pater- nal ancestors were English, while on the mater-

married Joseph D. Potts, of Philadelphia ; James Pollock, born Nov. 13, 1832, was for years nal side she was of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. in successful medical practice at Milton; Sarah, and Mrs. McCleery are buried in the Harmony born Nov. 5, 1834, is deceased ; John is mentioned cemetery. at Milton. They had children as fol- below; William P., born April 27, 1836, was a lows: William; Sarah, born Feb. 18, 1805, who captain in the 18th Regiment, United States In- married John L. Watson : Joseph, born Jan. 10, fantry, during the Civil war, and later served 1807: Jane, born Feb. 4, 1809, who married Rer. against the Indians on the Western plains, but David X. Junkin ; Elizabeth, born Sept. 10, 1811; and Mary, born March 16, 1814, who married Rev. Nathan Shotwell.

he resigned his commission in 1868, was for some

time in business at Troy, Pa., and died May 31,

1907, at Milton, Pa .; Julia J., born Oct. 18, 1841,

William McCleery, M. D .. eldest son of John, was the wife of Gen. Jesse Merrill. The mother was born July 31, 1803, at Halifax, Dauphin Co., of this family died in 1842, at the age of thirty-

Pa. Ile was a young child when he came with six. his parents to Milton, where the remainder of his in the famous old Milton Academy, then under

life was passed. He received his early education April 8, 1837, at Milton, and there received his

early education, attending the Milton Academy. the principalship of Rev. Dr. David Kirkpatrick, Later he went to Tuscarora Academy, at Juniata, and took the classical course at Princeton Uni- versity, graduating in 1858. His next few years were devoted to teaching and reading law. Imme- diately after graduating from college he became assistant principal of the Milton Academy under Rev. W. T. Wylie, and at the same time read law with Hon. James Pollock. Soon after he was admitted to the bar the Civil war broke out, and although he had entered upon the practice of his profession under the most favorable circumstances, with every promise of immediate success, lie did not hesitate about entering the Union service when the calls for troops came. The Pollock Guards were organized at Milton under the first requisition, but were not accepted, the complement of the county having been filled. A second effort was made to enter the service, and on May 15, 1861, the company left for Harrisburg, going by canal boat. They were again rejected, and re- turned to Milton, but having signified their will- ingness to enlist for three years they were as- signed to the Reserve Corps, and on June 1. 1861, again went to Harrisburg, where they were mus- tered in as Company H, 34th Pennsylvania (5th Reserve) Infantry, with John McCleery and Ilarry B. Paxton as captains. Captain MIc-

which excellent school was the alma mater of many Pennsylvanians who became prominent. His higher literary training was received at Washington College, Washington, Pa., and he then took up the study of medicine under Dr. James S. Dougal, of Milton. He completed the course at Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1827, aft- er which he was associated in practice with his old preceptor at Milton for several years. His 'skill and personal qualities brought him wide popul- larity and patronage and he continued in the ac- tive practice of medicine until 1857, in which year he turned over, his professional interests to his son, Dr. James Pollock McCleery, who was a prominent physician of the borough for almost fifty years, retiring in 1905 because of poor health. Dr. McCleery lived in retirement for a time after abandoning his profession, taking a much needed rest, but his mind was too energetic to find relief in complete inactivity. While practicing he had become interested in the lumber business, and in 1844 he erected the first steam sawmill ever es- tablished on the west branch of the Susquehanna, at Milton, on what is'now the site of the Ameri- can Car & Foundry Company's plant. He soon turned his attention to the operation of this mill, in which he was most successfully engaged to the Cleery took an active share in all the movements end of his days, dying Dec. 4, 1867. He was a of his command, which saw service in the cam- paigns in Maryland and West Virginia in the summer of 1861, and in the summer of 1862 was engaged in the seven days' fight before Rich- mond. He was at Mechanicsville and Gaines' man of enterprising and progressive spirit, dili- gent in whatever he undertook, and was efficient in business as he had been in professional pur- suits. He occupied the brick residence which in

John McCleery, son of Dr. William, was born

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mill, June 26 and 27, 1862, and in the fierce en- fering was for the good of his country. His counter at Newmarket Cross Roads (Glendale), death, which occurred Dec. 29, 1907, at Atlantic June 30tli, where he was twice severely wounded, City, was doubtless a happy relief to him, but it was a loss to his family, his friends and his com- munity which will long be regretted. Mr. Mc- Cleery was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in political faith a Republican. Socially he united with the G. A. R. and the Union Veter- ans' Legion. being shot through the thigh and receiving seri- ous injury to his spine by a fragment of shell. That day he fell into the hands of the enemy, and was confined in Libby prison, where he re- mained until released on parole, in July. In August he was exchanged, and in September re- ported for duty, rejoining his regiment near Fredericksburg, Md. But his injuries and im- prisonment had rendered him quite unfit for field service and he was ordered home for further con- valescence. Finding that his disability was ap- parently permanent, he reluctantly resigned on

On June 6, 1866, Mr. McCleery married Mary Helen Marr, and to them were born two children, Edward Heber and Margaret Pollock. Edward Heber MeCleery was born July 25, 1867, in Mil- ton, and there attended public school and a select school taught by Prof. Elias Schneider. Later Nov. 25, 1862. Later, however, as his health he went to Lawrenceville Academy, in New improved somewhat, he was mustered in as a lieu- Jersey, entered Princeton, in the class of 1888, tenant colonel with the 28th Emergency Regiment, and then entered upon his medical studies at Jef- at Harrisburg, giving valuable service in that capacity during the invasion of the State in 1863.

ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1890. He has , since been practicing medicine at Kane, Pa .. where he has met with the most gratifying suc- cess." Margaret Pollock McCleery married Hazel ? Baldwin, and they reside in Corning. N. Y. They . have one daughter, Mary Shaw Baldwin.

Mrs. McCleery still resides in the old home at Milton. She is a daughter of David and Hettie L. (Davis) Marr, granddaughter of William Marr and great-granddaughter of Joseph Marr.

reputation for gentlemanliness which he well de- west branch of the Susquehanna river to Turbut served and which won him universal respect.

His military service over, Mr. McCleery re- turned home and took up the practice of the law, in which he was actively engaged until 1891. His energy and intelligence also found an outlet in the promoting and pushing of large enterprises, many of which have been a substantial foundation for the prosperity which Milton enjoys to-day. His influence and encouragement were sufficient to gather support for a number of the most im- portant undertakings in the place, and thus, as early as 1864, he was one of the founders of the Milton Car Works, with which he was long identi- Joseph; and Alem, a prominent attorney, who fied. He . was also among the founders of the served two terms in Congress.

township, Northumberland county, where he pur- chased of the widow of Francis Turbut a tract of 739 acres, a portion of the estate known as "the Colonel's reward." It being a choice piece of- land, he paid five pounds per acre. In 1793 he settled thereon with his family, and there he passed the remainder of his life, dying Sept. 3. 1:96. He married Susanna Price, who was born April 27, 1754, and died Dec. 27, 1826. They had six children: Mary, who married Robert Martin : Hannah, who married William Hull : David; William, grandfather of Mrs. McCleerv:

David Marr. father of Mrs. McCleery, was born on the old homestead. He became a prosperous farmer, owning two fine farms, but later took

Milton Rolling Mills, a director of the Milton Water Works, and for years president of the Mil- ton Trust & Safe Deposit Company, which was organized through his efforts Feb. 17, 1887. He up railroad contracting and eventually became a continued as president of that concern until woolen manufacturer at White Deer Mills, in physically disabled for the duties of the office, his Union county, Pa. He died at the age of forty- injuries finally resulting in paralysis, so that he seven. Mr. Marr was twice married, his first union being with Hettie L. Davis, by whom he A. Grier; Mary Helen, widow of John McCleery: William, who died in infancy: and Rebecca, who also died young. By his second marriage. to Harriet Matchin, Mr. Marr had five children : was compelled to withdraw from all such activi- ties. For the last twenty years of his life he had four children : Annie Eliza, who married John suffered continuously, but thongh dependent throughout this long period upon those around him for the slightest office he was patient, never murmuring at his affliction or its canse, thoughi he drew comfort froni the thonght that his suf- William, Alem, Brainard. Alfred and Jeanette.

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As a soldier Captain McCleery measured up to the highest standards of efficiency, bringing to his duties such intelligence and good judgment. as to win at once the approving notice of his su- perior officers. Though firm in matters of disci- pline, he commended himself to the members of his command by his strict impartiality and his manifest interest in their welfare. In every en- gagement in which he took part he gave convine- ing proof of flawless courage. His pleasant rela- tions with his fellow officers gave him an enviable

Joseph Marr was born June 15, 1750, in North- ampton county, Pa., and in 1793 came up the

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

COL. GEORGE B. CADWALLADER, now gade. 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Poto- living retired in the borongh of Sunbury, was mac; as post quartermaster at Dechant, Tenn., long prominent.in the affairs of that community, and Atlanta, Ga .; was in charge of transportation during Sherman's niemorable march; in charge of national cemeteries at Seven Pines ( Fair Oaks) and Hollywood: in. charge of quartermasters' depots at Cleveland, Ohio, and Richmond, Vir- ginia. in his earlier years in various business relations, for a number of years before his retirement as superintendent of the Sunbury Water Company, and for several years in his official capacity of chief burgess. He attained the rank of colonel by brevet during the Civil war, entering the Union service as first lieutenant and rising by merit.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 5

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co. Number of Pages: 1090

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090