Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 41

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 ed
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mrs. Hammond is a daughter of Robert J. and Lucinda (Cross) Hunter, he born in Ohio township, Beaver county, and she in Brighton

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township. She is a granddaughter of John and Jane (Johnston) Hunter, both natives of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he was a farmer. Her maternal grandparents were Samuel and Rachel (Inman) Cross, he of Hamilton county, Ohio, and migrated to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, early in his life; she and her parents and the other members of the family came down the Ohio river and located in Beaver county, where she married, in 1807. One of the daughters of this family was scalped by the Indians. Samuel Cross served as a constable, and he also took an active part in the War of 1812.

McCANDLESS This is an old and honored family of Ireland, and is now in its fifth generation in this country. The first generation came to the United States when their chil- dren were small, and settled in Butler county, Pennsylvania.

(II) Robert McCandless was born in Ireland, and was a very young child when he came to this country with his parents. He was educated and grew to maturity in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and followed the occupa- tion of farming. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Center town- ship, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McCandless married Mary, daughter of Joseph Jack, of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and had children : George J., of further mention; Jane, married Samuel Irwin and died in Butler county; Mary, married Eli Eagle and lives in Unionville, Butler county, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, married Frank Fligger and died in Butler county ; one, died unnamed.

(III) George J. McCandless, son of Robert and Mary (Jack) McCand- less, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1838, died in Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1898. Like his father he engaged in farming, and after his marriage bought about one hundred and fifteen acres of land in Butler county, on which he lived many years. He then purchased an old grist mill in Conoquenessing township, and operated this about ten years. In 1888 he removed to Beaver Falls, where he lived a retired life until his death. During the Civil War he was a soldier in Company B, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, served for a period of seven months, during which time he was an active participant in several skirmishes, and was then honorably discharged by reason of ill health. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He had been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for some years. Mr. McCandless married, September 30, 1862, Samantha Young, born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1843, now living in Beaver Falls, where she is a member of the United Presby- terian church. They had children: Addison Young, of further mention ; Joanna, married Wesley Raisley, and lives in College Hill; Marcus William, a grocer, lives in Beaver Falls, married Mary Cox; Robert Presley, a grocer in Beaver Falls; Beriah Nelson, superintendent of a nail mill at Struthers,

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Ohio; Oren Leonidas, a grocer in Beaver Falls; Josiah Couvert, a sales- man, married Mary Jane Snyder, and lives in Beaver Falls; James, died at the age of fourteen years; Samantha Jane, died at the age of nineteen months; Edith Lena, died at the age of seven weeks; an unnamed child, deceased; Sylvester Merle, a plumber, resides with his mother.

Robert Young, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Samantha (Young) Mc- Candless, was born in Ireland and came to America in his early youth. He settled in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, where he became an extensive land owner and farmer. He married there and had children. Matthew Young, son of Robert Young, and father of Mrs. McCandless, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and learned the trade of tanning. He became the owner of a tannery in Wolf Creek township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and in addition he had a farm of seventy-five acres, which he cultivated. He died there at the early age of thirty-seven years. He was a Democrat in political matters, and a member of the Covenanters church. He married Joanna Couvert, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, who resided on the farm in Mercer county until one year prior to her death, at the age of seventy-eight years, when she lived with her daughter Saman- tha in Butler county, having never remarried. She also was a member of the Covenanters church. She was a daughter of Colonel John Couvert, who was a veteran of the War of 1812. He lived about four miles from Centerville on a large farm which he owned and cultivated, and died there when more than ninety-four years of age. He was a Presbyterian. Mr. and Mrs. Young had children: Sylvester M., a merchant, died at New Castle, Pennsylvania ; Caroline, married James Vogle, and died in Mercer county; Matilda, married William McKee, and died in Mercer county ; Amanda, died unmarried at the age of twenty-six years; Sarah Jane, mar- ried James Johnson, and died at Oil City, Venango county, Pennsylvania; Samantha, married Mr. McCandless, as above mentioned; Marcus C., a carpenter and contractor, lives at Youngstown, Ohio; Professor William H., an instructor in music, of New Castle, Pennsylvania.

(IV Addison Young McCandless, son of George J. and Samantha (Young) McCandless, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of his native township, and was engaged in farming until he had attained the age of twenty-eight years. In 1890 he removed to Beaver Falls and there established himself in the grocery business at No. 2100 Twelfth avenue, where he has been located since that time, and is now the oldest grocer in business in that part of the town. He commenced his business on a small scale, and it is due to his ex- cellent business methods and enterprising ideas that it has now attained its present proportions. About 1893 he erected a two-story building, twenty by forty feet, and in addition to a full line of groceries, handles hay, feed, etc. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. McCandless married, March 23, 1888,

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Annie, born in England, a daughter of William and Harriet Heaven, who came to this country when Mrs. McCandless was a young child, and settled in Butler county, Pennsylvania. Children of Mr. and Mrs. McCandless : Ida Samantha, married, January 1, 1914, Philip Brandenberg, employed in the United States postoffice at Beaver Falls; Verda Loretta, Addison Sylvester, Hazel Marie, J. Harold.

The German element has been of a most decided importance BIMBER in the settlement and development of the state of Pennsyl- vania as is plainly shown in the names of numerous localities. (I) Philip Bimber was born in Germany and came to the United States at a very early age. At first he settled at Monaca from whence he removed to Marion township, and there bought a farm from his wife's people. He was a Democrat in political belief, and for many years served as a justice of the peace. He and his wife both belonged to the United Evangelical Protestant church. Mr. Bimber died in Rochester, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, while living with a daughter. He married Sarah Schrum, who died in Marion township. They had children: George Frederick, who lives in Ellwood City, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania; Herman H., of further mention; Sarah, married Frederick Winnell, and died on a farm in Beaver county ; Amelia, married Peter Goettman, and lives on a farm near Har- mony, Butler county, Pennsylvania; Paulina, married George West and lives in Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania.

(II) Herman H. Bimber, son of Philip and Sarah (Schrum) Bimber, was born at Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1847, died suddenly in Marion township, 1911. He was raised on a farm, attended the public schools, and was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade, acquiring this knowledge in Pittsburgh and Zelienople, Pennsylvania. He folowed this occupation for some years, then rented a farm which he operated about two years. In 1882 he removed to Eastvale, Beaver county, and there opened a general store, on a large scale, this including a bakery and a butcher shop. He continued in this line of business up to his death, and was very successful, his wife and children lending necessary assistance. He erected a substantial frame building just at the end of the bridge, and when this was destroyed by fire, had it rebuilt, but this time used brick in place of the frame style of construction. After his death, his widow con- tinued the business. In 1911 he purchased the old homestead owned by his father in Marion township, and while looking after this was struck by a street car near Pine Run Crossing, and in a few hours died from the effects of his injuries. He was a Democrat, and at one time served as a councilman at Eastvale. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife attended the United Evangelical Protestant church.

Mr. Bimber married, in 1871, Catherine, born in Marion township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of George and Margaret (Frish- korn) Remler, both born in Germany, came to this country while young

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and married here. They settled on a farm in Marion township, where his death occurred, his widow removing to Zelienople, where she died. Mr. and Mrs. Bimber had children: Amelia, married Al Freeman, lives in East- vale, and has two children, Herman W. G. and Pearl Viola; William H., engaged in the butcher business in Beaver Falls, married Jennie Fegley; Bertha, died in infancy; George Frederick, lives at home with his mother; Herman Walter, a butcher and stock dealer in Eastvale, married Mary Marcus, their only child being Ruth Catherine; Julia Catherine, died in infancy; Harry, died in infancy; Catherine Pearl, died in infancy.

The Gonnelly family, of Beaver Falls, Beaver county, GONNELLY Pennsylvania, is of Irish origin, and has been located in this country somewhat more than half a century. During this time the three generations which have made the United States their home and country, have not only become allied with some of the best families, but they have also by their own personal worth and actions placed themselves in the forefront of those who are entitled to be recognized as the representatives of the American people and American principles.

(I) John Gonnelly lived and died in Ireland, where he was a farmer. He and his wife were members of the Catholic church. Both were born in the county of Roscommon, where he married Margaret Butler, and had children: Patrick, who emigrated to America, was an active participant in the Civil War, and was killed July 3, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg; John, a machinist, died at Dunkirk, New York; James, of further mention; Michael, was also killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Mary, married George Higgins, resided in Buffalo, New York, where she died; Margaret, widow of Martin Higgins, lives in Dunkirk, New York; Sarah, married Simon Cummings, and died in Cleveland, Ohio.

(II) James Gonnelly, son of John and Margaret (Butler) Gonnelly, was born on the paternal farm in county Roscommon, Ireland, died in Bridgewater, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1878. He came · to this country in early manhood, and found employment with the Erie Rail- road Company, with whom he remained from 1847 until 1870. During the greater part of this time he held the positions of assistant yardmaster and yardmaster at Dunkirk, New York. In 1870 he removed to Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he was busied in various occupations, then to Redbank, where he worked for the railroad company. In 1877 he located at Bridge- water, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and entered the employ of the Pitts- burgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company, a position he held at the time of his death. He cast his vote regularly for the candidates of the Democratic party, and he and his wife were members of the Catholic church. He was also a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Mr. Gonnelly married at Hornell, New York, Margaret Meakim, born in Ireland, died while living with her son, in 1905. She was the daughter of John and Cecelia

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(Hunt) Meakim, both born in county Leitrim, Ireland, from whence they emigrated to America. Both were members of the Catholic church, and he was a farmer. They had children: Edward, a retired boot and shoe mer- chant, lives in Philadelphia; John, a laborer, died in Philadelphia; Samuel, died in Chicago, Illinois; William, died in New York, where he had been a captain on the police force, and was known as "The Little Captain"; Joseph, a machinist, died in Dunkirk, New York, at the age of eighty-five years; Margaret, mentioned above, the only daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Gon- nelly had but one child, John James, of further mention.

(III) John James Gonnelly, only child of James and Margaret (Meakim) Gonnelly, was born in Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, New York, June 7, 1853. He received a thorough education in the public schools, and upon the completion of his education entered the employ of the Low Grade Branch of the Allegheny Railroad Company at Redbank, Pennsylvania. His first position was that of a laborer, from which he was advanced to that of brakeman, which he held until 1877. At this time he came to Bridge- water, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, with his father, and entered the service of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company. In 1880 he commenced working in the stone quarry, an employment he continued until about 1884, when he returned to the service of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company, and was made foreman. He still holds this position and is now the oldest foreman in this division. In the year 1905 Mr. Gonnelly had a fine buff brick residence erected at No. 4736 Fourth avenue, College Hill, in which he resides, and he also owns the houses on either side of this one. He has gradually become a very prosperous man in worldly affairs, and is also the proprietor of a restaurant at the end of the car line at Morado, Beaver county. In national affairs Mr. Gonnelly supports the Democratic party, but in local matters he prefers to vote independently. For many years he has been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and dur- ing twenty-one years of this period was president of the local division. He and his wife are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, of New Brighton, Beaver county.

Mr. Gonnelly married, in April, 1882, Catherine, born in Louisville, Kentucky, daughter of James and Catherine McDonald. They have had children: James, living with his parents, is a clerk for the American Bridge Company ; Margaret, married Albert Smith, has one son, Charles, and lives at College Hill; Kathryn, married John A. Farthing, has two children, John and Elizabeth, and lives in Beaver Falls; John, a fireman in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Mary; Sarah, who was graduated from the Beaver Falls High School, resides at home, is now engaged as a teacher near Beaver, Beaver county; Joseph, a student in the interests of the Westinghouse Electric Company; Edward, an assistant to his father ; Helen, a student at the Beaver Falls High School; Beatrice, Lucile and Agnes Jean, all attending College Hill public school.

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KNIFFEN

Rye, Westchester county, New York, and all the surround- ing vicinity, is rich in spots of peculiar interest to the Knif-

fen family, various well-known landmarks having been given that name in the early history of the locality, when Kniffen's Cove and Kniffen's Hill were familiar to all. This was the residence of the family from 1666, when a member of the old Dutch family came thither from Stratford, Connecticut, and there made his home. It was in that county that all of the succeeding generations of the name lived, Samuel Kniffen, a prominent farmer and wealthy land-owner, enlisting in the American army at the time of the Revolution from that place. Here, too, was born Le Grand, son of Gnet and Mary Field Kniffen, November 14, 1834, his father having farmed the old homestead in Westchester county all his life. That property is now in the possession of his daughter, whose residence is in New York City.

Le Grand Kniffen was born in Westchester county, New York, No- vember 14, 1834, died December 20, 1908. He was educated in the local schools of his birthplace, and being of a naturally studious disposition was sent to college. His earnest concentration early in life took the form of invention, some of his first efforts being agricultural implements of a highly improved and practical nature. While still a young man he invented and patented a refrigerating process suitable for railroad cars, so that perish- able goods might be transported without danger of being rendered worth- less by high temperatures. At that time not nearly the amount of shipping was done as is ordinary at the present time, and the full value of his appli- ance of well-known principles was not at once apparent, and he disposed of his patent rights at a very low figure. Today cars of almost the same de- sign as that which he had planned to use are an indispensable feature of mercantile transactions, without which many of the delicacies of the tables of the wealthy would never reach the market, nor indeed many of the necessities. He then moved to Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was there employed in the Rochester Plow Works, supervising the con- struction of agricultural implements, several of his own invention and de- sign. Among the last machines that he invented before his brilliant and active mind was forever stilled by death was a mower that is now built and sold by a Chicago firm, Mrs. Kniffen receiving a royalty upon all sold under her husband's patents. Mr. Kniffen was an inventor of genius, his ideas all running in practical channels, each capable of conversion into capital. No detail was too small for his most minute attention, no principle too abstruse for his comprehensive grasp, and each of his patents showed deep, original and intelligent thought. Mr. Kniffen was a Mason and had at- tained the thirty-second degree in that order.

Mr. Kniffen married (second) Mrs. Sarah Arilla (Dickson) Parting- ton, of Gary, Minnesota, widow of Ross Partington. Mr. Partington was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in Company E, Sixty-first Regi- ment, Third Brigade, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He met an acci-

Eng by 6 9. Williams & Bre KTX

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dental death after returning home from the front. Mrs. Kniffen, daughter of George and Mary (Donley) Dickson, was born near Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, and was brought by her parents to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.

There were several people by the name of Moon who came MOON to this country in the earlier half of the eighteenth century, some of them settling in Rhode Island, and from that section of the country their descendants migrated to other regions. Some settled in the northern part of New York, and from there, gradually going farther south, finally made their homes in the state of Pennsylvania.

(I) Dr. Robert Allison Moon was born in Rensselaer county, New York, and there reached young manhood. Earnestly desiring to enter the medical profession, and not finding the needful opportunities in his native county, he went west, to Knoxville, Ohio, and there took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of an elder brother, Dr. Arnold C. Moon. Having completed the necessary course of lectures and obtained his license to practice, Dr. Moon came to Hookstown, Pennsylvania, in 1845, and there established himself in the practice of his chosen profession. His efforts in this direction met with success, and he acquired a large practice, and con- tinued in Hookstown until 1875. In that year he removed to Beaver Falls, continuing his practice there with the same degree of success until his death, October 26, 1892, at which time he had been engaged in active practice for almost half a century. Dr. Moon married Sarah Sterling, born February 2, 1829, daughter of William Sterling, born in Ireland, emigrated to America. He was a farmer by occupation, settled in Greene township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and there his death occurred. Dr. and Mrs. Moon had chil- dren: Addison S., of further mention; Helen M., married (first) Rev. James S. Brandon, a minister of the United Presbyterian church, (second) William A. McCormick, and now lives in Mercer, Mercer county, Penn- sylvania.

(II) Dr. Addison S. Moon, only son of Dr. Robert Allison and Sarah (Sterling) Moon, was born at Hookstown, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1859, died at Beaver Falls, July 17, 1901. He was educated in the public schools of Hookstown and Beaver Falls, attended the Beaver Seminary and Westminster College, and commenced the study of medicine under private tuition and in the office of his father. Matriculating at the Western Reserve, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was graduated from the medical department of this institution in the class of 1884, the degree of Doctor of Medicine being conferred upon him. He at once commenced the practice of his profession in Beaver Falls, in association with his father, then aban- doned it for a time in order to take a special course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York. Returning to Beaver Falls, he resumed his practice, and was actively identified with this until his death in his forty-second year. At that time he was one of the leading physicians of the county, and was beloved by all who knew him. He was

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frequently called in consultation by his professional brethren, and was con- tinually engaged in research and study along the lines of his professional work. He served as the medical examiner for the Prudential Life In- surance Company and for the Western Mutual Life Association of Chicago. In political opinion he was a Republican, but took no part in public affairs, deeming that he was best serving the interests of the community by giving his close and undivided attention to his professional labors. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania State Med- ical Society, Beaver County Medical Society, and was secretary of the last named organization. Dr. Moon married, May 17, 1888, Lulo A. Perrott, whose ancestral history follows this sketch. They had children: Merl P., born March 4, 1891, now a student at Geneva College; Alta Sterling, born June 1, 1894, died July 12, 1894.

(The Perrott Line.)

(I) Richard Perrott was born in Ireland and came to America at the age of twelve years. He made his home in Philadelphia and there learned the trade of weaving. Soon afterward he removed to Beaver county, set- tling at Elder's Mills, where he continued his trade and amassed a consider- able fortune. He was the owner of his own home and was considered a leader in the community. His death occurred while he was with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Thomas F. Elder. Mr. Perrott married prior to coming to Beaver county, Jemima Pierce, of Philadelphia, a member of the Baptist church at Acretown, Ohio, who died at the home near Elder's Mills. They had chil- dren: Sarah, married a Mr. Hartman; Mary Ann, married Thomas F. Elder, died in Beaver county ; Samuel, died at the age of four years ; Richard, a retired farmer, lives on the old Elder homestead in Beaver county ; Thomas R., of further mention.

(II) Thomas R. Perrott, son of Richard and Jemima (Pierce) Perrott, was born at Chartiers, Pennsylvania, and grew to the age of seventeen years in Beaver county. He learned the millwright's trade, then traveled many years in the West, especially in Iowa, putting up mills in various places. He was a mechanic of remarkable ability and his services were in great demand. When the Beaver Falls Cutlery Plant was put up by the Economites, Mr. Perrott was given charge of the erection, and put in place every wheel. He made patterns for all the leading works in the valley. He was advanced in years when he retired from this life of activity, and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Moon, until one year prior to his death, when he returned to his earlier home at No. 824 Second avenue. There he died, August 4, 1911, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a staunch Repub- lican, and a member of the American Order of United Workmen. He was essentially a man of domestic tastes, and a most devoted and loving husband and father. Mr. Perrott married Mary A., born in Beaver county, died July 17, 1883, daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Moore) Martin, who were among the early prominent citizens of Beaver county. Mr. Perrott never remarried, and his daughter, Lulo A., kept house for her father after the

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death of her mother until she married Dr. Moon. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Perrott were: Lulo A., who was graduated from the Beaver Falls High School, married Dr. Addison S. Moon (see Moon II) ; Sally, died in infancy ; Charles M., a furnace dealer, lives in Beaver Falls ; Thomas E., a mechanic, unmarried; Hal St. Claire, chief clerk for the Martsolf Furniture Company, lives in Beaver Falls; Nellie and Georgia, died in in- fancy; M. Edna, a bookkeeper and stenographer, unmarried, lives with Mrs. Moon.

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Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 41

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 ed Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 ed
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: