USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 40
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(IV) Benjamin Franklin Engle, son of Washington and. Lorinda (Todd) Engle, was born in Brighton township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, April 22, 1857. He was reared on the farm, attending the public schools of Industry township, and from his earliest years displayed unusual ability along scholarly lines. Upon the completion of his education he com- menced teaching school and was thus employed for a period of three terms. He then became connected with the fruit growing industry with which he was associated thirteen years in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He also erected a number of greenhouses in Brighton township in 1894. In 1899 he came to Rochester, Beaver county, where he erected a greenhouse at No. 160 Freedom Alley, and commenced on this small scale a business which has grown to large proportions. He now has approximately fifteen thousand square feet of glass, in addition to extensive hotbeds and cold frames, and has been very successful. He has never desired to hold public office, he is Independent in political belief. His wife is a member of the United Pres- byterian Church, and he is a member of the International Bible Students Association.
Mr. Engle married, November 2, 1892, Ellen May Taggart, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Ross and Isabel (Martin) Tag- gart, early residents of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Engle have had children : Mildred, born February 2, 1894, was graduated from the Rochester High School, and is now a teacher in the Rochester public schools; Grace, born January 6, 1896, spent one and a half years in the Rochester High School and is now a student in the Slippery Rock State Normal School.
South LAthues
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Joseph Lincoln Holmes is a descendant of the Irish family HOLMES of the name settled in Pennsylvania by Joseph Holmes, a native of Ireland, who came to Independence township with his wife, Jennie (McComb) Holmes. They had married in their native land and after their immigration their entire lives were spent in Indepen- dence township. He was a cooper by trade, and acquired a tract of land heavily wooded with fine white oak, which he cleared and sold at a hand- some profit. For services in the War of 1812 he was granted one hundred and sixty acres of land by the government. A sun dial which he erected is still in possession of the family. Children: John, Maria, Lazarus, Rachel, Joseph, George, James, Leander, Milo A.
(II) Leander Holmes, son of Joseph L. and Jennie (McComb) Holmes, was born in Independence township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where his entire life was spent. Educated in the common schools of the township, then in a very primitive condition, he early in life forsook the schoolroom in favor of the workshop and learned the carpenter's trade, specializing in " boat building. In this department of his occupation he became most adept, and his services were much sought by concerns constructing river craft for use on the neighboring streams. Later in life he became a farmer, cultivat- ing the old homestead. He was a member and regular attendant of the United Presbyterian Church. He married Mary, daughter of Daniel and Esther (Kane) McCallister. Daniel McCallister was a merchant of In- dependence township, later moving his place of business to Mechanicsburg. Children of Daniel McCallister : Mary, of previous mention, married Leander Holmes; Ella, Jane, Henrietta. Children of Leander and Mary (McCal- lister) Holmes : Jennie, Margaret, Joseph Lincoln, of whom further; Esther, Milo, Henrietta, and Elizabeth.
(III) Joseph Lincoln Holmes, third child and eldest son of Leander and Mary (McCallister) Holmes, was born in Independence, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1861. He attended the public schools of the township and also Beaver Academy, completing his education in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, whence he was graduated in 1887. Two years later he made Beaver the scene of his practice and has there ever since continued, guarding the interests of his large clientele with faithfulness and honor. His legal talents are recognized in the city, and among his brethren of the bar his reputation is even more secure, since from the eminence of knowledge they can pass an exact judg- ment upon his ability. A Republican in politics, he leads the party in his county as chairman of the county committee, and in local affairs he is no less prominent, having for twelve years been a member of the town council. For one term he was also a member of the board of education, and at the present time serves on the board of trustees of Beaver College. His only business connection is as a director of the First National Bank, in whose ruling body his wise and conservative judgment is an important element. As a member of the town council Mr. Holmes is an energetic worker for
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all municipal improvements, giving his hearty support to all such projects; in his labors for the party his influence is county-wide; and of the fruits of his legal endeavors many have tasted, the combination of his activities giving to Beaver a citizen of solid worth. He married, September 21, 1887, Alice J. Ewing ; children : Hazel and Alice.
The Magee family belonged to that vast army of Scotch MAGEE Covenanters, the founders of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scot- land, who in the latter part of the seventeenth century sought refuge from religious persecution in the northern counties of Ireland, from whence many emigrated to America, settling principally in Pennsylvania and the Carolinas, between 1720 and 1800. The Magees remained in Ireland for a number of generations, and about the middle of the eighteenth century were seated at Rathmullen, in the extreme north of county Donegal. One branch of the Magee family was founded in Philadelphia by Michael Magee, in 1795; another by Colonel W. A. Magee, an officer in the English army, who settled in the same city about 1755; and the branch under discussion in this sketch came here in recent years, the progenitor of the family being Stuart Magee, of New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania.
(I) Stuart Magee, grandfather of the above mentioned Stuart Magee, spent his entire life in Ireland, where his death occurred about 1878. He married Nancy Jackson, whom he survived several years, and they had children: Archibald; George, of further mention; John; Stuart; Jack- son, who emigrated to America, settled at Bolesville, Pennsylvania, and died there; Matilda; Alice; Eliza.
(II) George Magee, son of Stuart and Nancy (Jackson) Magee, was born in Ireland in 1823, died there in 1906. He held the position of fore- man on a bleach green, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He married Jane Coleman, born in Ireland in 1818, died in that country in 1886. They had children: Nancy, deceased; Eliza, deceased; Stuart, of further mention; Margaret, deceased; Rosa ; John; William.
(III) Stuart (2) Magee, son of George and Jane (Coleman) Magee, was born in Ireland, August 15, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of his native country, and at a suitable age found employment on a bleach green, the manufacture of fine linen being the principal industry of that section of the country. Later he was appointed as a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which corresponds to our public police force, and is under government supervision. In 1872 he emigrated to the United States, coming directly to New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for about one year. Removing to Pittsburgh in 1873, he was for a period of seven and one-half years in the employ of Bailey Farrell & Company, manufacturers of lead pipe, sheet lead, etc. He re- turned to New Brighton in 1880, and was for some years employed by the Kennedy Keg Factory, and in 1886 established himself in business inde- pendently. He opened a grocery store, and his methods were so progressive
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and successful that he now owns his own place, his store being forty by fifty feet in extent, and fully and finely stocked with a varied assortment of every- thing necessary to the conduct of this line of business, In political matters Mr. Magee is a Prohibitionist, and is now serving as a member of the board of health. His religious affiliations are with the United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Magee married (first) in 1876, Elizabeth Hardy, born in Ireland, died in New Brighton, August 29, 1896. There were no children by this marriage. He married (second) Mary E. McCaw, born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and they have had children: Frances, born January 23, 1901 ; William George, born July 12, 1902, died July 8, 1906.
The name of Tracy originated in France, where it was known TRACY three hundred years ago. It was brought to America by many immigrants, the earliest of these making their home in New England. Others of the name migrated from France to England, and then to Ireland, and made their way to America by way of those countries, and are now to be found in all parts of the United States.
(I) Jeremiah Tracy, born in Belmont county, Ohio, was a farmer dur- ing the greater part of his life. He gave his political support to the Demo- cratic party, and was a member of the Church of Christ. He married Piety Lacy, and had children: Joshua; Sheridan B., of further mention; Thomas W .; Sarah O., married Samuel Sawyers; Elijah; Nancy Jane.
(II) Sheridan B. Tracy, son of Jeremiah and Piety (Lacy) Tracy, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, November 13, 1834, and received his education in Monroe county, Ohio. He also was a farmer, and like his father was a Democrat and a member of the Church of Christ. He married, April 14, 1859, Sarah A. McMahon, born near Woodsfield, Ohio, November 4, 1837, of Irish parentage. They had children: Ida Idella, born February 28, 1860; Thomas William, April 19, 1862; Alice Louretta, October 21, 1864; Florence Mae, April 26, 1867; Frederick McMahon, October 10, 1870; Forrest Lacy, of further mention.
(III) Forrest Lacy Tracy, youngest child of Sheridan B. and Sarah A. (McMahon) Tracy, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, January 2, 1874. He was educated in the public schools of his native county and in the County Normal School, and was thus well and practically equipped for the battle of life in the business world. His first employment was with The Myers Company, sewer pipe manufacturers, at Toronto, Ohio, as a laborer, and at the end of two years he entered the service of the American Sewer Pipe Company, Toronto, Ohio, in a similar capacity. With this concern he worked from one position upward to others until in July, 1909, he was sent to New Brighton, Beaver county, for the same company, as shop foreman in that city. In 1912 he was appointed to the office of superintendent of the company's plant at New Brighton, a position he is filling at the present time. Like his ancestors for several generations, he is a member of the Church of Christ, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church. Mr. Tracy married, April 25, 1895, at Round Bottom, Ohio, Dorothy, daughter of William and Margaret Clegg, the former a farmer; she is a sister of Lina and George Clegg. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy have children : Mattie Lucile, Arthur D., Robert Edwin.
HUNTER The Hunter family, which is finely represented at the present time in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, is of Scotch-Irislı ancestry, the Scotch stability, mental vigor, physical energy and endurance being blended with the geniality, the warmheartedness and the versatility of the Irish blood, and this has given us a people whose physical, mental and moral qualities have made them influential wherever they have lived. At the time when the first Hunters came to the western part of Pennsylvania, that part of the country was an almost unbroken wilderness but it was a region which was attracting the attention of a large portion of the Scotch-Irish immigrants. Very many of them had settled in Pittsburgh, some of them coming there prior to the Revolutionary War. A large number of settlements were at this time being made in the valleys of the streams that unite at Pittsburgh. For to these hardy, energetic, ambi- tious people the obstacles which nature presented to the pioneer and settler were but an attraction and a stimulus. They saw the wealth hidden in the mountains and growing upon the hillsides and accepted the challenge which nature seemed to throw down to those who had the nerve, the brawn and the brain to come and take it. The Hunter family in review here inter- married with the Knox family, of which John Knox, the Scotch covenanter was a member, and the direct line also contained the names of two famous surgeons, one of whom, John Knox, was one of the first to successfully perform the operation of bone grafting.
(I) John Hunter was born in Tyrone county, Ireland, and came to America with his family in 1791. He settled in the Cumberland Valley. He had married in Ireland, Margaret Hunter, also born in county Tyrone, and among their children were: John, see forward; Robert, who was a gen- eral in the War of 1812.
(II) John (2) Hunter, son of John (1) and Margaret (Hunter) Hunter, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, and was eighteen months old when he came to this country with his parents. He removed to Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania, locating on a farm by the side of Four Mile Square. He became the owner of eleven hundred acres there, and later erected a house which is still in use. Like his father, he was an influential farmer. He married Jennie Johnston.
(III) Robert J. Hunter, son of John (2) and Jennie (Johnston) Hunter, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and cultivated the home- stead farm. He married Lucinda Cross, also a native of Beaver county. The Cross line is as follows: Samuel Cross Sr., grandfather of Mrs. Hun- ter, took part in the War of the Revolution and in the War of 1812. He and his wife, Margaret (Cannon) Cross, were of English birth, and came to
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America about 1769. He located in the Shenandoah Valley, where he was a farmer, then crossed the mountains in 1798 and settled in Chippewa town- ship; in 1807 they removed to Brighton township, Beaver township, where they were pioneer farmers. Samuel Cross Jr. was born in the Shenandoah Valley, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Rachel Lee Inman, who was also born in the Shenandoah Valley, daughter of Abram and Nellie Inman, of Ireland, who came to America about 1767, lived in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, until 1791, when they removed to Beaver county.
(IV) Robert D. Hunter, son of Robert J. and Lucinda (Cross) Hunter, was born six miles west of Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1864. He was educated in the public schools and showed especial ability in all studies having to do with mathematics. For a time he was engaged in farming, and also raised cattle for a period of about five years. He next established himself in the wholesale feed business in New Brighton, with which he was identified for a period of twelve years. The contracting bus- iness next engaged his attention, in which he is still successful to a remark- able degree. Among his business enterprises is a directorhip in the Trust Company of Allegheny and the General Electric Company. While he is a staunch Republican, he has held office but once, when he was supervisor. He and his family are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hunter married (first) in 1887, Annie Christopher, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and had children: Earl Russell and Howard Dalton. He married (second) March 10, 1910, Emma Louise Fickes, of Steubenville, Ohio.
STAUFFER According to tradition the Stauffers owe their origin to a generation of knights called "Stauffacher," at Hohen- staufen, Germany, and it is presumed by genealogists that all the Stauffer pioneers that immigrated to America at various times, have the same common origin and are more or less remotely connected.
(I) The first member of this particular branch of the Stauffer family of whom we have record was of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, later re- moving to Butler county in the same state, where he was a farmer and where his death occurred. He raised a large family.
(II) David H. Stauffer, son of the preceding, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1813, died at Conestoga. He attended the district schools of Butler county but his education was a very limited one, as was frequently the case in country sections in those days. He followed the occupation of farming, and went to Canada in early manhood. There he owned a farm of one hundred acres which he cultivated until he was sixty years of age, when he retired, removing to Conestoga. He mar- ried, in 1836, Maria Shelley, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1819, daughter of - Shelley, well known in Lancaster county, and a direct descendant of the O'Briens. She died in 1909. They had children:
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John, born March 4, 1837, deceased; Polly, January 3, 1839, died young ; Elizabeth, August 23, 1840; Isaac J., November 2, 1842; Josiah S., De- cember 2, 1844; Zephaniah, December 23, 1846, died young; Levi, December 4, 1849; Jacob S., see forward; Angela, December 16, 1852; Abraham S., April 8, 1855 ; Samuel S., May 19, 1857; Malinda, August 15, 1859; Melvina, December 20, 1861.
(III) Jacob S. Stauffer, son of David H. and Maria (Shelley) Stauffer, was born in Ontario, Canada, November 12, 1851. There he received an excellent education in the public schools, and was himself engaged in teach- ing for about one year. He then entered the provision business in Milver- ton, was thus occupied two years and then took up farming, which he fol- lowed for about five years in Canada. He then removed to Sanilac county, Michigan, where he farmed very prosperously for a period of five years. His next removal was to Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the provision business and has since been identified with that line very successfully. In 1896 he removed to Beaver and carried on the same business. He is also interested in other business enterprises, and is a stockholder in the Edgemoor Sand & Gravel Company, of West Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1909 he had a fine residence erected for himself, in which he is still living. He has been prominent in local politics as a supporter of Independent principles, and has served the community as a member of the town council.
Mr. Stauffer married, in 1872, Amanda Weber, and they have had chil- dren: 1. Zephaniah, born September 21, 1873; married Anna Tyler; chil- dren : Ralph and Arthur. 2. Clara Jane, born 1875; married Henry Sepp; no children. 3. Elma, married Charles Krohe; children: Gordon and Fred. 4. Allen, married Ruby Reed; one child, Estella. 5. Le Roy, born 1890.
Yorkshire, England, has for many years been the family seat
SMITH of this branch of the family of Smith, only the latest genera- tions of the name having left the ancient home to take up American residence.
(I) The first of the name to receive mention is Jonas Smith, a lifelong surveyor of Yorkshire, England, his name appearing upon many of the public documents of that shire. He married in Yorkshire and among his children was Alexander, of whom further.
(II) Alexander Smith, son of Jonas Smith, married Sarah Ellsworth, and among their children was Ephraim, of whom further.
(III) Ephraim Smith, son of Alexander and Sarah (Ellsworth) Smith, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1817, died near New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1880. He was educated in England, there grew to maturity, and married. His occupations in his native land were those of surveyor, a profession he learned from his father, and woolen manufac- turer. When he came to the United States his wife did not accompany him, but waited in England until he should have decided upon and estab-
A.J. Smith
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lished a permanent home. Soon after his arrival he joined a party of sur- veyors leaving for the west, and for some time was employed in surveying and laying lines in the Louisiana territory, acquired from France by the purchase of 1803, after his return from that region settling in Butler county, Pennsylvania. Here his wife joined him after a separation of six years, and he, in partnership with several others, established a woolen mill in Butler county, from which enterprise he withdrew a few years later and moved to Fallston, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where for a time he was employed in a woolen mill, later becoming the sole proprietor of such an establishment, continuing in its management for many years. He was also at one time part owner of a brick yard, his son and he operating it in partner- ship. He married, in England, Ann Lee, born in Yorkshire, England, about 1820, died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1888, surviving her husband eight years. They were the parents of several children, one of whom was Alexander F., of whom further.
(IV) Alexander F. Smith, son of Ephraim and Ann (Lee) Smith, was born in Wolf Creek, Butler county, Pennsylvania, in July, 1839, died July 20, 1901. His education was obtained in the public schools of New Brighton, Beaver county, and in the private schools of the locality, and as a young man he entered the woolen manufacturing business with his father, con- tinuing therein until the sale of the mill in 1868. He then became a sales- man in a pottery, after that engaging in clay shipping, supplying such estab- lishments as that in which he had formerly been employed, operating as the A. F. Smith Clay Company until his death, in partnership with his father owning a brick yard. He and his wife were communicants of the Methodist Protestant Church, and in public affairs he was actively interested, for several years holding the office of justice of the peace. At the time of the Civil War he was a member of the state militia, going to the front with that organization. Mr. Smith was ever a well-liked member of the community in which he lived, was known as an energetic, successful, business man, and was universally respected for his upright and straightforward life.
He married, in 1866, Hannah R., born in Harbor Creek township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Lydia (Chambers) Backus, both natives of the same place, he born in 1810, died in 1903, she born in 1813, died in 1901. John Backus was a son of Myron Backus, who was a grandson of Ebenezer Backus, a barrister of England, who was the first of his line to come to the United States. He had several sons, who made their homes in various parts of the country, the descent from Ebenezer to Myron being through a son Joseph. Myron Backus was born in New York, about 1790 settling in Harbor Creek township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, on a tract of land deeded him by the government, and there lived until his death, which occurred in 1851, the same year as that of his wife, Hannah (Patter- son) Backus, who was born in Ireland and was brought to this country by her parents when thirteen years of age. Lydia (Chambers) Backus, wife of John Backus, was a daughter of Ezekiel and Rebecca (Stewart)
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Chambers, of Scotch-Irish descent, Ezekiel being a son of Benjamin Cham- bers, who early settled in Pennsylvania, either at Chambersburg or Harris- burg. Ezekiel and a brother were early settlers of Erie county, Pennsyl- vania, jointly becoming owners of four hundred acres of government land in that locality. Children of Alexander F. and Hannah R. (Backus) Smith : Perry A., Ellen Lydia, Myra A., Edward, Mary Celia, Bessie, Lee Backus.
For a number of generations the Hammond family, now HAMMOND of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, has been connected with the agricultural interests of the state of Pennsylvania, although in later years they have also been prominent in other fields.
(I) John Hammond, born February 24, 1793, was one of the pioneer settlers of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio township. He was a farmer, having cleared the virginal forest from his homestead when he took possession of that tract of land. He married Margaret Neilson, who was born December 27, 1792.
(II) David Hammond, son of John and Margaret (Neilson) Ham- mond, was born in the southern part of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio township, same county. He was the owner of a farm which he cultivated very successfully, and served three years as a soldier in a cavalry regiment during the Civil War. During one engagement he was wounded in the knee. For many years he served as an elder in the United Presbyterian church, and he was a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party. He married Margaret Ann McFarland, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, both of whose parents were born in Ireland, and came to this country with two children. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond had children: John E., Robert W., Ira Newton, see forward; James P., William L., Margaret J., Lena M.
(III) Ira Newton Hammond, son of David and Margaret Ann (Mc- Farland) Hammond, was born in Ohio township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, February 12, 1871. He received his education in the public schools of his native township. He was a very young man when he first engaged in the contracting business, but the success he achieved along these lines encouraged him to identify himself with it permanently, which he has done, and reaped a rich reward for his efforts. He is also interested to a certain extent in farming, and the land which he cultivates is very productive. An- other enterprise with which Mr. Hammond is connected is an Amusement Company, and still another is the grocery business and oil interests. Mr. Hammond is an earnest member of the United Presbyterian church, and a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party, taking a great interest in whatever concerns the welfare of the community. He married, September 2, 1903, Luana Hunter, and they have children: Newton P. and Robert Hunter.
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