USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 47
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Dr. Swan married, June 16, 1887, Jean, daughter of Hugh W. and Cornelia C. (Henry) Mckean, of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and sister of Harry W. and Albert H. Mckean. Children: 1. Lucille, born March 28, 1888; a graduate of New Brighton High School and who at- tended Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. 2. Harold Mckean, born August 1, 1889, died April 17, 1899. 3. Albert W., born August II, 1894; a graduate of New Brighton High School, now a student at State College, class of 1916. 4. Theodore, born January 20, 1896; graduate of New Brighton High School, class of 1913, now a student in University of Pittsburgh, class of 1917. 5. Charles W., born May 23, 1898. 6. Edward A., born May 6, 1900. 7. Robert K., born March 10, 1905.
The Kennedy family had a fourfold founding in the KENNEDY United States, when in 1796 four brothers of the name came to this country from the North of Ireland, the family home, all of the four settling in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. One of them, William, was the ancestor of the Kennedy line following, and settled near Armagh, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, marrying and becoming the father of children. The maiden name of his wife was Peddicord, and she bore him: Samuel, of whom further; James and Sarah.
(II) Samuel Kennedy, son of William Kennedy, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, about 1810. He followed the occupation of his father, farming, and was a resident of his native county until June 1, 1877, then moved to Peabody, Kansas, in 1896 moved to Winfield, Kansas, died there in January, 1898. His religious faith was the Presbyterian, and he and his wife were strict observers of that religion. He married Amelia, daughter of Edmund Paige. Mr. Paige was born in Devonshire, England, in 1790; his wife was born the same year in Exeter, England. They were married in Dartmouth, England, in 1815. All of his children were born in England, and with his wife accompanied him when he came to the United States in 1831. Their voyage consumed seven weeks, their port of entry being Philadelphia, whence they came by wagon to Brush Valley township,
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Indiana county, Pennsylvania, settling on land near the village of Mechanics- burg, and there died. Children of Edmund Paige: John D., Edmund Jr., Nicholas, Elizabeth, Amelia, of previous mention, married Samuel Ken- nedy; Susan. Children of Samuel and Amelia (Paige) Kennedy: Francis P., deceased; William Johnson, a real estate dealer of Winfield, Kansas; Elizabeth, deceased; John P., of whom further.
(III) John P. Kennedy, youngest of the four children of Samuel and Amelia (Paige) Kennedy, was born in Greenville, Indiana county, Penn- sylvania, and in that neighborhood grew to maturity. Apprenticing him- self to the carpenter's trade, he faithfully served the years necessary to become a thorough master of the craft, but after becoming a journeyman did not work at his trade for many years, although it has ever been the basis of his success and prosperity. In 1884 he moved to Blairsville, Penn- sylvania, and there began contracting, conducting several independent build- ing operations with profit. In conjunction with his building and contracting he managed a retail lumber yard which he owned, and through this added to his material goods considerably. In April, 1906, he journeyed to Long Beach, California, where for six years he was engaged in architectural de- signing and building. In September, 1912, he moved to Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, where he has since lived, continuing in the same business. Mr. Kennedy has been prominently identified with the National Guard of Penn- sylvania, his connection therewith dating from 1875, when he became a private in the service, the following year being promoted to first sergeant, Company D, Thirteenth Regiment. He has been in active service several times, in 1877 being with his company in the Pittsburgh riots. He was commissioned second lieutenant of Company D, Tenth Regiment, and was mustered out of service with the entire company in 1881. This did not end his relation with state military matters, for in 1887 he was instrumental in the organization of a company in Blairsville, and when the company was admitted to the state body as Company D, Fifth Regiment, on February 7, 1888, he was elected captain, serving with his command for thirty days at the Homestead riots of 1892. When a complete reorganization of the Pennsylvania National Guard took place in 1893 he was promoted to the rank of major of the Fifth Regiment, seeing active duty in the Punxsu- tawney riots of 1894, and continuing to hold his rank until the war with Spain. In April, 1898, he entered the United States Volunteer service as major of the Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, United States Volun- teers, and during the Spanish-American War was stationed with the Fifth at Chickamauga, the force being mustered out of service, November 12, 1898, he as senior major of the regiment. Mr. Kennedy was a sturdy pillar of the Republican party until 1912, when he cast his fortunes with the National Progressive party, to which he lends hearty allegiance. For thirty-six years he has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and in the organization of that faith in Greenville and Blairsville, Penn-
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sylvania, Long Beach and Los Angeles, California, he has held official posi- tion, being now a member and officer of the church at the last named place. He is a man of genial nature, generous feelings and actions, wit and humor, his jovial qualities tempered by his more substantial traits of uprightness, honesty and unswerving moral integrity.
Mr. Kennedy married, December 25, 1876, Hannah, born in Cherry Hill township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas S. and Jane (McBeth) Mckesson, the former named a son of John and Sara (Simpson) Mckesson, and the latter named a daughter of James (a native of Ireland) and Sally (Curry) McBeth, of Philadelphia. Thomas S. Mc- Kesson was a carpenter and cabinet-maker, and lived for many years in Connellsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred in 1905, when he had attained a greatly advanced age. Children of Thomas S. Mckesson: I. John A., a carpenter, lives in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. 2. Hannah, of previous mention, married John P. Kennedy. 3. Melissa, married J. P. Shirley, and is now deceased. 4. Sarah (Sadie), married J. A. Wilson, and lived in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Children of John P. and Hannah (Mckesson) Kennedy: 1. Edmund A., lives in Cali- fornia. 2. Clair M., a dealer in stocks and bonds, lives in Blairsville, Penn- sylvania. 3. John D. P., of whom further. 4. and 5. Flora Melissa and Bertha Jean, live unmarried with their parents.
(IV) John D. P. Kennedy, son of John P. and Hannah (Mckesson) Kennedy, was born in Greenville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1883, and when an infant was taken to Blairsville, Pennsylvania, where his early life was spent and where he attended and graduated from the high school, receiving his diploma with the class of 1900. For a year he was associated with his father in business, then entered Pennsylvania State University, where for two years he studied civil engineering. He then returned to Blairsville and was his father's assistant in his retail lumber yard until 1906, after which he was in business in Pittsburgh for two months. In 1907 he came to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and was employed by the Beaver Falls Planing Mill Company as bookkeeper. His rise in this bus- iness has been rapid and reflects credit upon his able service, he having been made treasurer of the company in 1909, while two years later the ad- ditional duties of general manager were added to his responsibilities. The company with which he is now prominently identified has been trading since its establishment in 1867, having been incorporated under its present title in 1893. Firmly founded, with an honorable record covering nearly half a century, and officered by men of acknowledged standing among their bus- iness associates, the concern is one of the leaders in its line, and conducts a flourishing retail lumber and planing mill business. That there is an eminent position awaiting Mr. Kennedy in the life of Beaver Falls, where he has already displayed sterling worth, is undoubted, for he possesses aggressive- ness, perseverance and enthusiasm to a degree that will place him in a
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position both commanding and with infinite resources for serving his fellows. He is a trustee of the United Presbyterian Church of Beaver Falls, and is the teacher of the Baraca Bible class, composed of young men of the church and Sunday school. He is a Republican in political action and sympathy, is a member of the Tamaqua Club, and holds a place upon the board of directors of the Columbia Building and Loan Association. His activities outside of his business life are indicative of a man of well chosen interests and one whose aims are high and worthy of fulfillment, and his influence is ever cast upon the side of right and honor. His only fraternal relations are with his college fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, for which he was chosen during his college years.
Mr. Kennedy married, September 19, 1906, Sara A., born in Blairs- ville, Pennsylvania, daughter of James B. and Rebecca (McFarland) Tor- rance, residents of Blairsville, Pennsylvania, where he is connected with the People's Gas Company. Children of John D. P. and Sara A. (Torrance) Kennedy: I. Donald Torrance, born October 26, 1910. 2. Robert Mc- Kesson, born August 29, 1912. The family home is at No. 1127 Sixth avenue, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
PETTLER The progenitors of Dr. Samuel H. Pettler, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, were of German and Hebrew nationality. His grandfather, David Pettler, born in Germany near the border between Germany and Poland, grew to manhood there and married. He fought in the war between Russia and Turkey, and remained in his native land, following his trade of miller until 1884. He married Mary Müller, born in Poland, and after the birth of several of his children came with his family to the United States. This was in the year 1885, his settle- ment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, being made in the same year. Later he located at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a dairy until his retirement from business, and where he is now (1914) residing. Children : Jacob, Peter, of whom further; Frederick, Philip, Abraham, Anna, married Charles Morris ; Lillian.
(II) Peter Pettler, son of David and Mary (Müller) Pettler, born in Poland, Europe, is now a prosperous business man of Beaver Falls, Penn- sylvania. On coming to the United States, he lived for a time in Pitts- burgh, but soon afterward moved to Beaver Falls where he has since been actively engaged as iron founder, dealer in machinery and mill supplies, manufacturer of wire goods. He married Sarah Bell Fenmore; children : Sophia, married Dr. B. B. Handmacher, of Cleveland, Ohio; Louis C .; Isaac W .; Samuel H., of whom further; Nellie M., married Robert Rose- man, of Youngstown, Ohio; Jacob; Mashel F .; Matilda, deceased; Eugene ; Caroline M .; Lynn.
(III) Dr. Samuel H. Pettler, son of Peter and Sarah Bell (Fenmore) Pettler, was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1889. After
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finishing a high school course in Beaver Falls, he entered Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1912, having specialized in dermatology. After graduation he became interne at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, remaining until 1913, when he returned to Beaver county, locating at New Brighton, where he at once established an office for the practice of his profession, and where he is becoming well known as a skillful and reliable physician. Dr. Pettler holds membership in the American Institute of Homoeopathy and in the Homoeopathic Society of Beaver county, of which he is now president; he is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and a mem- ber and former president of the Greek letter society, Pi Upsilon, Rho Philadelphia Chapter.
Dr. Pettler married, March 16, 1913, Gertrude, daughter of Hyman and Ella Stack, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. One child, Arthur Morton, born January 7, 1914.
The immigrant Scotch-Irish settlers were in many respects WILSON a remarkable people. They were plain, frugal, frank and somewhat rough, yet they possessed great vivacity and quick- ness of parts. They were distinguished for their hospitality, firmness, valor and fidelity, and no people sustained a higher degree of moral and political respectability. The descendants inherit many of the highest and best char- acteristics of their forefathers.
(I) John Wilson was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States when he was sixteen years of age. He landed at Philadelphia and made his home there for many years. He was a shoemaker by trade. After his second marriage he removed to Pittsburgh, and after the death of his second wife to New Lisbon, Ohio, where he died aged about seventy-two years. Mr. Wilson married (first) in Philadelphia, Sarah Holmes, a native of the state of Maryland, who died in Philadelphia in 1849; he married (second) Elizabeth Berry, who died in 1856. By his first marriage he had a number of children, and among those who grew to maturity were: Benja- min C., of further mention; Eliza Jane, now the widow of William Frazier Barkley, of New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Barkley and his wife were married in New Brighton, June 17, 1872, and moved into the house in which she now lives, and where he died at the age of eighty years, February 7, 1913.
(II) Benjamin C. Wilson, son of John and Sarah (Holmes) Wilson, was born in Philadelphia, in 1841, died at Youngstown, Ohio, December 23, 1875. His education was acquired in public schools, and he came to Pittsburgh with his father and went with the family to Ohio. He enlisted in the Seventh Ohio Regiment and served more than three years. He then made his home in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his removal to Youngstown, Ohio. He was killed on the railroad. In politics he was a Republican, and had for many years been a member of the Inde-
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pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was past noble grand. Mr. Wilson married, in New Brighton, June 17, 1867, Martha Bennett, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1840. She was a daughter of William and Jane (Bradley) Bennett, both born in Beaver county, Penn- sylvania. William Bennett was a carpenter by trade, and also the owner of a number of canal boats. He bought the land on which Frank Benjamin Wilson is now living, at an early day, and erected a fine residence on it. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had children: Mary, Martha, mentioned above; Eliza, Lavina, Ella, Cynthia, Frank, Charles, Emma. William Bennett died in 1901 at the age of eighty-seven years. His parents were pioneer settlers of Beaver county, and both died at Bennett's Run.
(III) Frank Benjamin Wilson, son of Benjamin C. and Martha (Ben- nett) Wilson, was born in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1873. He was educated in the New Brighton public schools, and after various occupations became a freight brakeman in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, retaining this position about six years. In 1908 he commenced his work as a post office messenger in New Brighton, a responsible office which he is still filling to the entire satisfaction of his superior officers. In politics a Republican, he has served his community seven years as a member of the school board. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Protestant Church, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias of New Brighton, the Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has built a beautiful and commodious house at what was at that time the corner of Tenth street and Fifth avenue. Mr. Wilson married, in 1898, Ella Wolf, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1874. She is a daughter of John Louis and Mary V. (Mygrant) Wolf, and a granddaughter of Henry J. Wolf, who with his wife were early settlers of Beaver county, and died at Crow's Run, near Freedom, coming from east of the mountains and settling at Crow's Run before there were any railroads, the only way to Pittsburgh being by means of a trail. Mary V. (Mygrant) Wolf came with her parents from the east end of Pittsburgh in a canal boat to Freedom, Beaver county, Mrs. Ellen (Blashford) Mygrant and Jane (Gibson) Blashford, mother and grandmother of Mary V. (Mygrant) Wolf, came to Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, when it was infested by Indians, and they settled in East Liberty. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: Edward Benjamin, born November 17, 1901 ; Alice Elizabeth, born August 1, 1905.
The name Potter is one of the oldest and most numerous in POTTER the United States, no less than eleven settlers of that name coming to New England during the seventeenth century. The branch herein recorded does not date to these settlers, however, but to Robert Potter, who came from Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1774, settling soon afterward in Allegheny county, where he died leaving issue: James, John, Adam.
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(II) James Potter, son of Robert Potter, was born in Western Penn- sylvania about 1775. He grew to manhood in Allegheny county, later resided in Venango county, remaining there until 1812, when he moved to Beaver county, his home until death. He was a stone mason by trade and a con- tractor. After his removal in 1812 to his farm, four miles from Beaver, he erected a stone house thereon which is yet standing. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church as were his children. He died in In- dustry township and is buried in the Old Beaver Cemetery. He married (first) Mary Quigley, who bore him seven children: Robert, of whom further; James, John K., Enoch, Calvin, Emily, Margaret. He married (second) a Miss Christie, who bore him one child, Hannah, now (1913) the only survivor of the family. Both wives died in Industry township.
(III) Robert (2) Potter, eldest son of James Potter and his first wife, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, in 1806. When six years of age the family removed to Beaver county, where he attended the public schools and became a civil engineer, surveyor and farmer. In 1836 he purchased a farm in Raccoon township, on which he lived until his death, fifty-eight years later, January 1, 1894, aged eighty-eight years. He was one of the prominent men of the county, served one appointive and one elective term as county commissioner ; was justice of the peace of Raccoon township for thirty years, also school director and supervisor. He was a Democrat, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a man of irreproach- able character.
He married (first) in 1835, Mary Irvin Braden, born in Raccoon township, daughter of John Braden, a farmer of the township. She died in 1843. He married (second) in 1855, Rosanna, daughter of James and Agnes (Baker) Reed, born in Raccoon township, died in Rochester, Penn- sylvania, February 15, 1903. James Reed was a farmer of the township. Mrs. Potter was one of a family of seven children : Harriet, married Daniel Baker; Jennie, married Cornelius Weygandt; Washington B., married Eliza Kerr; Rosanna, married Robert Potter; John, married Ruth Ann Allen; Bettie, married John Bryan; Jesse, married Martha Jane Kennedy. By his first marriage Robert Potter had children. 1. Lieutenant James, killed at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, during the Civil War, an officer of Com- pany A, Seventeenth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry. 2. John B., died October 20, 1902, married Margaret Shroads. 3. William B. 4. Emily, married Walter S. Dunn. 5. Mary, died in infancy. By second marriage: 6. Ida Mary, died unmarried, December 13, 1887. 7. Robert Calvin, mar- ried Maude L. Calhoun and has George A., Charles M., Ida Belle. 8. Washington M., of whom further.
(IV) Washington M. Potter, youngest son of Robert (2) Potter and his second wife, Rosanna (Reed) Potter, was born in Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1864. He obtained a good public school education in the township schools, where his early life was spent. After completing his studies he taught three terms in the public
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schools, then entered Washington and Jefferson College, taking the regular course one year and the scientific course two years. He spent some time in the West, taught school in Iowa three terms, afterward beginning the study of law under John M. Buchanan, of Beaver. He continued his study for two years, passed the required examinations and was admitted to the Beaver county bar, January 13, 1896. On April 1, 1896, he located at Freedom, where he is well established in the practice of his profession, and closely identified with the business interests of that thriving borough. Learned in the law and skillful in its application, Mr. Potter is highly re- garded among his professional brethren, and is firmly established in public confidence. He is a Democrat in politics, served as chairman of the Beaver County Democratic Committee for three years and is one of the strong in- fluential men of his party. His business connections outside his profession are with the Freedom National Bank, which he serves as director, and with the Mutual Building and Loan Association of Beaver County, of which he is the solicitor, an office he has held since 1898. He is a member of Edith Lodge, No. 812, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Freedom, in which he has passed all the official chairs, and of Quay Camp, Woodmen of the World, of Beaver. In religious faith he is a member of St. John's Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church, of Freedom, his wife also being a communicant of that faith and congregation.
He married, May 6, 1900, Cora A. Mengel, born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Catherine' (Hartman) Mengel. John Mengel, born in Germany, now lives retired in Freedom, aged eighty-four years, but well preserved and active. His wife, Catherine, was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died in Freedom, September 14, 1912. Children of John Mengel: Margaret, married George F. Mengel; John Albert, married Louisa Mengel; Edward D .; Lillian L., married Frank Brandt; George F., married Annie Matthews; Cora A., of previous mention; Elmer J., married Olive Strock; Euretta; Laura, de- ceased; another who died in infancy. The children of Washington M. and Cora A. Potter are: Catherine Hartman, born in Freedom, May 13, 1905; Mary Mengel, born October 10, 1913.
PURDY James Purdy, the first of this line of whom we have record,
was born in Ireland in 1755. At the age of twelve years he left his native land in the company of his father and mother and two sisters, With the exception of James the entire family died on the voyage to the New World, and James Purdy landed at New York City alone. He went to an aunt who resided in Philadelphia, and was reared in that city. The cause of American Independence aroused his deepest sympathy, and he rose to the rank of colonel in the Continental army when he was but twenty-one years of age. For a time he lived in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and in 1815 removed to Finley township, Allegheny county, which was then a part of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. There he
John Pravdy
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acquired a large tract of land, which he cleared for farming purposes, and on which he died. In Philadelphia he had married Agnes Farmer, and among his children were: Archibald, who was a school teacher, and Farmer, of whom further.
(II) Farmer Purdy, son of James and Agnes (Farmer) Purdy, re- ceived a part of his education under his brother Archibald. He took up farming as an occupation and was also extensively engaged in sheep rais- ing. He removed to Frankfort Springs in 1839, and there had a farm of approximately one hundred and forty-seven acres. This was largely de- voted to grazing purposes, as he generally had a flock of between four and five hundred sheep. He was a self-made man, having had no fortune of any kind when he started in his line of business, and became a very pros- perous man. While his education had not been a very extensive one, he had richly supplemented it by extended and carefully selected reading, and was one of the most wide-awake men of his section. In farming matters and in sheep raising he was looked up to as an authority. He had a robust constitution and attained the unusual age of ninety-two years. He had joined the United Presbyterian Church at the age of twenty-one years, and from that time never missed a communion. He was an elder in the church, and often was chosen as a delegate to the general assembly. In his earlier years he gave his political allegiance to the Whig party, but upon the forma- tion of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and at times was chosen to the office of judge of elections. Mr. Purdy married (first) in 1828, Esther Richmond, and had children: James, deceased; John, see forward; Wil- liam, a soldier in the Civil War, was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania; Margaret Jane, Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Isabella, Esther. All the daughters with the exception of Esther died before reaching the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Purdy married (second) Mary Frazier, and had children: Maria, Sarah, Andrew, who died in infancy.
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