USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 43
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He married Grizzy H. McCurdy, who died October 8, 1885, daughter
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of William McCurdy, a pioneer farmer of Brighton township. Mrs. Kerr was a true helpmeet and a woman worthy of all eulogies so freely bestowed upon her. The three survivors of their children are: William W., of whom further; Rev. Nathaniel P., an eminent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mary, married George McCaskey.
(IV) William W. Kerr, eldest son of Thomas G. and Grizzy H. (Mc- Curdy) Kerr, was born in Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1833, now a resident of Beaver Falls, a most wonderfully well pre- served man of eighty-one years. He was educated in the public schools of Freedom and naturally became interested in the business his father so long conducted, boat building. He did not adopt his particular trade, how- ever, but became a woodworker, serving an apprenticeship to a ship car- penter and following that trade from 1849 until 1877. In that year he re- tired to engage in commercial life as bookkeeper, later as merchant until his retirement. He continued his residence in Freedom until 1886, then moved to Beaver Falls, his present home. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masonic Order, acting politically with the Re- publican party.
He married, in 1856, Nancy J. Devenney, daughter of Thomas and Abigail Devenney, of New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Chil- dren: Thomas C., postmaster at Freedom in 1880, an office filled by his father in 1858; Olive S., now residing in Beaver Falls with her father and brother ; Myra E., married John W. Langley, and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Brookline). Five other children of William W. Kerr are de- ceased, namely: Carrie Josephine, Cora Belle, John Franklin, Edwin Stan- ton, Mary Maud.
FLEMING James Fleming, a native of county Down, Ireland, came to the United States about the year 1850, and upon his ar- rival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, located on Seventh av- enue, just where the Pan Handle Railroad is now depressed. He was a grocer and general trader, making trips to the south and west, buying and shipping goods to Philadelphia. He was associated with two others in this line of business. While he was in the south during the Civil War, he was compelled to enter the Confederate service, and he was never heard from again. He had married in Ireland, Rebecca Walker, also a native of county Down, and they had children: Nancy Jane, who was blown into the air and instantly killed when the arsenal at Pittsburgh was destroyed; Mary, died young; Robert Douglas, see forward; James.
(II) Robert Douglas Fleming, son of James and Rebecca (Walker) Fleming, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1857. He was educated in the public schools of the sixth ward of that city. Upon the completion of his education he was apprenticed to learn the trade of tinning, in which he became very proficient, following it in Freedom and in Ro- chester, altogether for a period of thirty-five years. In 1910 he engaged in
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the wholesale liquor trade, and for the greater part of his business life has also been identified with oil interests. For several years he was interested in some of the fine producing wells in this section of the State, and in 1913 helped drill eight wells. He owns an interest in a fruit farm. Mr. Fleming is Independent in his political opinions, yet he is held in such high esteem by all classes of citizens that he has been elected to public office by both Republicans and Democrats. He has served as a member of the Rochester council for eleven years, was re-elected, but declined to serve, and during this period he acted as president of council. He is a member of the Order of Owls and Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Mr. Fleming married, August 3, 1881, Elmira Engle, of Industry town- ship, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. They have children: David Engle, James Carlyle, M. D., Merle, Richard Overton, Rilla Rea, Robert D. Jr., Esther Wilson, Elmira, Charles T.
YOUNG The name of Young in various forms of spelling is to be met with frequently in this country and different parts of Europe. Bestowed originally on its bearer to distinguish him from someone older, but bearing the same Christian name, it finally became a fixture without reference to its original signification. As a general thing, the bearers of this name have been industrious, energetic, honest and upright men, and have had the respect and confidence of their neighbors.
(I) Anders Johnson, father of John Peter Young, who took that sur- name, a custom prevalent in Sweden when they enter the military service, was born in Sweden, where his entire life was spent, his death occurring in August, 1913, at the age of ninety-four and a half years. He was a farmer and land owner, and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. He married Eingard Nelson, who died about the year 1900, at the age of seventy-five years. Of their thirteen children, several died in infancy, and altogether six died before reaching the age of eight years. The others are: John Peter, of further mention; Lars John, Alfred, Carl August, Gustava, Ida.
(II) John Peter Young, son of Anders and Eingard (Nelson) John- son, was born in Western Jutland, Sweden, March 9, 1841. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native country, and was then apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade which he followed successfully for a number of years. In April, 1871, he emigrated to America, arriving at New Jersey, where he was employed on the railroad for one year and then worked for a time in the railroad shops. In the spring of 1876 he removed to the city of New York, where he continued at the carpenter's trade until 1882, at which time he removed to Nebraska, and for a period of five years lived on land he had taken up there. He then rented this farm and worked at his trade until 1894, when he came to Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and there settled at College Hill. For a time he continued to follow his trade, but has now been living retired for some
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years. He is a Prohibitionist in political matters, and once served as street commissioner. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and while living in Sweden he was a member of the militia. Mr. Young married (first) in Sweden, in 1867, Gustava Benson, born in Sweden, died in Nebraska, in 1892. He married (second) in 1894, Elazan White, whose ancestral history follows. Children, who were all by first marriage: Seven, who died young, the oldest of these being twenty-three and a half years old at the time of death; Matena, now the widow of Charles Peter- son, who has four daughters and one son, all living in Nebraska.
(The White Line.)
(I) John White, grandfather of Mrs. Elazan (White) Young, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1791, at which time he was in early manhood. He was one of the earliest settlers in Beaver county, his first location being on the present site of Patterson Heights, and he later removed to where Morado is now located. In the course of time he was the owner of about four hundred and fifty acres of land on which the bridge works and the town of Morado now stand. His land extended to Wallace Run on the north, to the town of Oakville on the west, and east to Beaver river. Much of this land is still in the possession of various members of the White family. He was a man of wide reading and learning and exerted a marked influence in the community. When he came to Beaver county it was a wilderness, and he came across the moun- tains with a team and wagon. He was able to take his team to his abiding place, but was obliged to leave his wagon, as there were no roads of any kind, and the horse tracks were impassable for wagons. Mr. White mar- ried Elizabeth Kelso, who was a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania.
(II) Thomas White, son of John and Elizabeth (Kelso) White, was born on the homestead farm in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, died April 26, 1887. He was called upon to encounter all the hardships of the pioneer days, and assisted his father bravely to clear the land and then cultivate it. He inherited eighty-two acres of bottom land, close to the Beaver river, and on that he put up substantial buildings, among them being a stone house erected about 1853 and still standing. It is now occupied by his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Young. Mr. White was a staunch Republican, and an active worker in all matters concerning the public wel- fare. He served in a number of local public offices, among them being that of school director, and it was in his honor that White township was so named. Mr. White married Elizabeth Bannon, born at Bridgewater in 1814, died in the stone house mentioned above, March 3, 1887, daughter of Jeremiah Bannon, the first foundryman of the Beaver Valley. They became the parents of ten children, of whom five died before reaching the age of twelve years, the others being: Chamberlain, born in 1834, died in 1887, went to California in 1858 and acquired great wealth, later was in the army for a while, then was elected sheriff and later chief of police of Beaver Falls, an office he held until his death; Jeremiah, a farmer, died in Beaver
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county ; Elazan, married Mr. Young, aforementioned, and lives on the old homestead; Margaret, widow of T. A. Smith, and lives in Beaver Falls; Thomas, a contractor, lives in Vandergrift, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania.
CAMP The Camp family of Beaver county is one which has made its mark in many directions, greatly to the benefit of the section in which it has lived as well as to the country at large. They have been active in the commercial and industrial lines, and when the country was in need of defenders this family furnished its full quota.
(I) Michael Camp was born in Hanover, Germany, 1804, where the earlier years of his life were spent, and he died in May, 1879, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was a man of six feet three inches in height, and while still in Germany was a member of the bodyguard of the King. He was a shoemaker by trade, and when he came to the United States he landed in Philadelphia, later removed to Butler county, Pennsylvania, and at the end of a few years migrated to Beaver county, where the remainder of his life was spent. During the last few years he had lived with his son Michael. He affiliated with the Democratic party, and was a member of the Lutheran Church. He married, about 1823, Barbara Schlesman, and had children: Michael, see forward; Catherine, married Dr. Frick, both now deceased; Mary, born at sea, married John F. Miller, both deceased ; Martin, who was a soldier during the Civil War, lives in Chicago, Illinois; Christopher, a soldier in the Civil War, died at Beaver Falls; Henry, a shoe- maker and merchant, lives at Glasgow, Pennsylvania; Margaret, widow of Benjamin Dawson, lives in Rochester; John, was killed while in discharge of his duties in the Civil War; Barbara, married James Robinson, and lives in Pasadena, California.
(II) Michael (2) Camp, eldest child of Michael (1) and Barbara Camp, and the only child born to them in Germany, was born in 1828, and at the time of his death was one of the best known men in Beaver county. In his youth he had learned the trade of moulding brick and he followed this occupation for a considerable time. Later he became a hotel keeper, and for many years was the owner and manager of the Pavilial Hotel in Rochester. He was one of the oldest business men in the county at the time of his death, and for four or five years had been the general agent of the Rochester Fire Insurance Company. He sold out about ten years prior to his death to Christian Clark, who changed the name to St. James Hotel, under which it is run at the present time. He was a member of the Democratic party, and served his borough as a councilman several times. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Camp married Margaret Wise, born in Switzerland, came to this country as a very young girl. They were married in Rochester, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania. There was but one child of this marriage, but Mrs. Camp had several children by a previous marriage.
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(III) Henry Michael Camp, only child of Michael (2) and Margaret (Wise) Camp, was born in Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1853. He received a good education in the public schools of his sec- tion, and his earlier years were spent in the hotel conducted by his father. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to learn the machinists' trade, and pursued this occupation for a period of five years. He then re- turned to his home in order to assist his father in the conduct of the hotel, and was thus employed until the sale of the hotel. Since that time he has been importantly identified with a number of enterprises of varied char- acter. He was one of the organizers of the Rochester Heat and Light Company, was elected as its first superintendent, and continued in this office until the company was merged into the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company. During this period he was one of the organizers of the People's Electric Street Railway Company, now a part of the Pittsburgh Railways Company of the Beaver Valley, and was for a considerable period of time its managing superintendent. He was also one of the organizers of the Ohio River Bridge Company which erected the bridge which spans the river at this point at the present time and is now owned by the county, and was a director and vice-president of the company. He succeeded his father as a director of the Big Beaver Bridge Company until this was ac- quired by the county. He was one of the organizers of the Rochester Flint Vial and Bottle Works, which later changed its name to the Point Bottle Works, and is now defunct. He assisted in the organization of the Keystone Tumbler Company, which was later merged into the National Glass Company, He was one of the organizers of the Olive Stove Works, but no longer holds official position with this corporation. He is one of the directors of the People's National Bank of Rochester, also one of the or- ganizers and stockholders of the Freedom Trust Company, now known as the St. Clair National Bank, and is one of the five men who organized the Steubenville Bridge Company, of Steubenville, Ohio, and is treasurer and manager of this company at the present time; was one of the organizers of the Beaver County Telephone Company, and for three years was its gen- eral manager, and it now has the reputation of being one of the very best in the entire country ; it has automatic 'phones and underground construc- tion. Mr. Camp was an active factor in extending its connection in every direction. Its country lines are constructed according to an improved sys- tem for farmers known as "The Selective System" or Individual Ringing. Mr. Camp is also a stockholder of the Rochester Trust Company and one of its organizers, and is the owner of a large quantity of real estate in Ro- chester and Rochester township. He has always been a staunch Democrat, and while he has never cared to hold public office he has been a member of the borough council in the past. His religious affiliations are with the Lutheran Church, and he was for a period of twelve years a member of the church council, during which administration he was a member of Thiel College, Greenville, Pennsylvania, and served six years. He served as
Van De Campo
Jillice Camp
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treasurer of the church eight years, during this period being a member of the building committee when the present beautiful church edifice was built, considered the most beautiful edifice in Rochester. He is a member of Rochester Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master, and he is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and has been its representative to grand council since its organization in Rochester, 1879.
Mr. Camp married, May 15, 1879, Tillie E. Schneider, born in Ro- chester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Lewis and Mary (Mengle) Schneider, both natives of Germany, the former from Coblents, coming to America at the age of fourteen years, while his wife was still younger when she came from Rosendaull, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Camp have had children: 1. Charles, who lives in Rochester, is switchboard man- ager for the Beaver County Telephone Company; married Edna Gordon, and has children: Henry, Gordon, Glenn. 2. Merle Etta, died at the age of four and a half years. 3. Emma Marie, died in infancy.
The members of the Hall family were among the pioneer set- HALL tlers of the state of Pennsylvania, and their representatives are
to be found in all parts of the United States at the present time. (I) William Hall came to Beaver county when he was obliged to make the journey by wagon and the entire country was still a wilderness. Deer and all sorts of game were plentiful. He cleared the land on which he settled and used it for farming purposes. He married Betty Hawthorne.
(II) Samuel Hall, son of William and Betty (Hawthorne) Hall, was born at Semples, Pennsylvania, and also followed the occupation of farm- ing. He married Sarah Bolan, and had ten children. Mrs. Hall was the daughter of William and Margaret (Swagor) Bolan, who were also among the early settlers of the county. They cleared much land near Woodlawn, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and made their home in that section. This was about one hundred years ago.
(III) Ebenezer Hall, son of Samuel and Sarah (Bolan) Hall, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1859. He received a somewhat limited education in the public schools of his district, and from his earliest boyhood was engaged in making his own way. He now is the owner of about fifty acres of land near Woodlawn, which he has cleared and uses it for general produce and for a fruit farm. He has also acquired other farms and has prospered exceptionally well. He takes a deep interest in whatever is of note in daily occurrences, and is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. He and his wife are members and regular attendants at the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hall married, about 1878, Eliza- beth Powell, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and they have had children : I. Ada, married William J. Smith, a farmer; children: Mina, Elizabeth, Amanda, Birdie, John B., Ruth M .; they reside in Hopewell township. z. Alice, married David Hinman, of Hopewell township; children: Anna B., Mary E., Philip, Barney, Clarence, Alice. 3. David. 4. Ebenezer. 5. Lottie
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E., married Ross Maratta; children : Ethe. M., Ruth M. 6. Philip, married May Davidson; child, Melvin G. 7. Tiny. 8. Myrtle. 9. Rose. Mrs. Hall is the daughter of Daniel Powell, and granddaughter of Jacob Powell. Jacob Powell married - Emerich, who was born in Sewickley township, and was of German descent. The Powell family was always connected with the United Brethren Church, while the Emerichs affiliated with the German Church, Daniel Powell married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Susan (Coppersmith) Lighthill, of Philadelphia. They were married at Brush Creek and then made their home in Beaver county. The Light- hills owned a farm of forty acres, and two of their sons served in the Civil War, one of them being killed. One of the grandmothers of Eliza- beth (Powell) Hall was Betty Baker, who lived near Philadelphia and later settled at Brush Creek.
McCALLISTER David McCallister, who was born in Ireland, came to this country with his wife in the year 1792. He took up a tract of land of approximately six hundred acres, a part of which is still in the possession of his descendants, He cleared this land and erected thereon a comfortable log house, in which he lived until his death at a ripe old age. He was buried in the Service Church graveyard, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Family tradition has it that he was in active service in the Continental army during the Revolution. He married, in Ireland, Ellen - and had children : Cornelius, see forward; William, David, James, John, Mary, Ellen, Martha.
(II) Cornelius McCallister, eldest child of David and Ellen McCallister, was born on the ocean while his parents were on their way to America. He was also a farmer, taking a share of the land which had been granted to his father, and improving this in every possible manner. Later he went to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, locating this side of Sharon Church, and there his death occurred. He married Anna, daughter of John Vandervert, and they had children: Sarah, who died in childhood; David, deceased; Eliza, deceased; Mary, living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; John, see forward; Eleanor, deceased ; Martha Coraopolis; Sarah, deceased.
(III) John McCallister, son of Cornelius and Anna (Vandervert) Mc- Callister, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. There he obtained distinction in the public schools which he attended, and after he had engaged in farming, he took charge of the younger members of the family. He became the owner of considerable property in Pittsburgh, and altogether bought and sold more than two hundred acres in Allegheny county. He was not alone successful as a farmer, but the same success attended his efforts in the raising of sheep and cattle. He had joined the church at a very early age, was active in its interests, and his efforts were of especial service in developing the choir work. In political matters his influence was also beneficially felt throughout the community in behalf of the interests of the Republican party. Mr. McCallister married, in 1840, Mary Springer,
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born on the farm on which she still resides, and the following spring they took up their residence on this land. They have had children: 1. Anna Catherine, widow of Stephen McCray; one daughter, Etta B., wife of Field- ing Pennell. 2. Mary J., deceased. 3. William James, of Newcastle; mar- ried Minnie Crawford. 4. George Wesley, deceased; married Anetta Mc- Chaster; children : Carl and Frank. 5. John Albert, of Hopewell township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, married Edith Wallace; children: Mary Isa- bell and Kate Millard. 6. Ella Hice, wife of Frank Smith, of Monaca; children: Howard, Grace, Ruth, Elizabeth. 7. Henry Cornelius, resides in Oklahoma; married Sarah Ann Gill; one son, Duane. 8. Nora O., wife of Charles Crawford, of East End, Pittsburgh; children: Thelma, Della M., Charles McAllister, Calvin Duane. Mrs. McAllister is the daughter of Michael Springer, born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, who married Catherine Hice, born near Pittsburgh. The grandfather of Mrs. McCallister was Michael Springer, of Germany, who came to Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, in the early settlement days and took up a tract of land, on a part of which his granddaughter is now living. He married Susan Sunderland, daughter of Henry and Mary Sunderland, also of Ger- many. Mr. McCallister died in 1900.
Since its arrival in this country the Staub family has been STAUB identified with various industrial branches, and in all of them the members have evinced an energy and determination worthy of emulation.
(I) Frank Staub, born in Germany, learned the trade of a blacksmith in his native land. He practiced it there for a time, then deciding that there were more opportunities in the New World for a young man of energy and ambition, he came to America and located for a time in the state of New Jersey, from which he migrated to Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania. There his death occurred. He was the owner of five horses, which his sons drove in connection with railroad teaming. He married Catherine Lockhart, and had four children. His wife was also a native of Germany. After his death, about 1850, his widow and the children removed to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where they made their home in Moon township.
(II) Charles Staub, son of Frank and Catherine (Lockhart) Staub, was born in New Jersey, March 22, 1845. From his earliest years he was obliged to work and assist in the support of the family. During the very little leisure time at his disposal he attended the schools of New Jersey and Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and being possessed of an intelligent mind and retentive memory, he profited greatly during this attendance. At the age of eleven years, when the majority of boys are thinking of nothing but play, he was driving one of his father's horses on grade work on railroad construction, and also drove a cart on the old railway from Wellsville to Bellaire.
Mr. Staub enlisted in 1864 in Company A, Seventeenth Cavalry, and
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served until the close of the war; captured at Fishers Hill, Virginia, and was in prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, for three and one-half months. After the war he went to steamboating on the Missouri river, and followed steamboating for about forty-five years on the Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio rivers, boating all the way from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, and from Cairo to St. Louis; he rose to the position of mate.
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