USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 54
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(III) James McAnlis, son of Robert McAnliss, was born near Ennis- killen, county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1771, died in Big Beaver township, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. He was reared and educated in his native land, and there married, his wife and seven children accompanying him to the United States about 1821, coming first to Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania. From this city they proceeded, part of the family on foot, the younger ones on horseback, to Big Beaver township, then Beaver, now Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. There he purchased five hundred acres of land, the most of which is still held by those of the name McAnlis. He here con- structed a log house, which was later replaced by a more substantial and ornamental one of stone, the latter serving as a kitchen at the home of the late John Galbraith McAnlis, James McAnlis was a successful farmer, the able assistance of his sons saving him goodly sums in that he was only com- pelled to hire extra labor at harvest times, when it was necessary to take immediate advantage of each day of favorable weather. He possessed a natural love for literature which, though never cultivated, overlooked all but the best works of the best loved authors. He was like his father, a member of the Covenanter church, and his children later affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian church, the Covenanter and Reformed Presbyterian church being the same. At his death he bequeathed to each of his sons one hundred acres of land, and to each of his daughters twenty-five acres, each
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son subsequently purchasing the interest of one of his sisters, making the share of each one hundred and twenty-five acres. He married Susan Sleith, a native of Ireland, and had children, all but the last born in Ireland: I. John, married Margaret Slater. 2. William, married Margery Young. 3. Robert, born in 1813, married Jane Patterson, a native of Ireland, and passed his life on the farm in Lawrence county inherited from his father. His son James, a resident of Wampum, Pennsylvania, has served two terms in the legislature of Pennsylvania, and was the originator of the lately passed bill restricting the marriage of relatives. 4. Jane, married Robert Young. 5. Eliza, married Isaac Kirkpatrick. 6. Susan, married James Patterson. 7. James, of whom further. 8. Margaret, married James Luke.
(IV) James (2) McAnlis, son of James (1) and Susan (Sleith) Mc- Anlis, was born in county Armagh, near Newton Hamilton, Ireland, Novem- ber 20, 1820, died in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1905. He was but three months old when the family left the homeland, and he was carried in his mother's arms from Philadelphia, their port of entry, to Big Beaver township, Lawrence county, his mother riding on one of the horses bought for the trip. He was reared to manhood in the latter place, and after becoming a quarter owner of the homestead farm he began its culti- vation independently, having previously farmed for his father, and there lived until his death, aged eighty-four years. He was cheerful, generous and genial, and had many firm friends in that locality, whose high regard he held until the day of his death. Even those of his own age called him "Uncle Jimmy," and it was by this name that he was universally called and tenderly remembered after his departure from his earthly walk. In him was the physical might of his Scotch ancestors revived, and though he was of little more than medium height, there was enormous strength and vitality con- cealed beneath his breadth of shoulders and depth of chest, a store of power upon which he drew to the end of his days, performing active labor on his land when he was seventy-five years of age. He was the owner of one of the few threshing machines in that locality, and in harvest time made the rounds of his neighbors' farms, getting their grain into marketable con- dition. He was a member of and an elder in the Reformed Presbyterian church. It was ever a matter of comment among his friends that, although he was in reality such a desirable and loyal citizen, legally he lived an alien, for he never made application for his naturalization papers, and was never officially made a citizen of the United States.
He married, May 25, 1847, Maria Davidson, born June 19, 1817, died September 3, 1881, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Houston) Davidson. James Davidson was a son of William Davidson, born in Ireland, there grew to manhood and married. William Davidson married Mary Ramsey, a widow, Ramsey being her maiden name, his wife having borne her former husband two children, surnamed Ramsey, who died in infancy. William Davidson, his widowed mother, his wife, and his two eldest children, Ro- sanna and James, his family accompanied by two of his brothers, James and
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Robert, came to the United States in 1786-87. They settled first in Red- stone, near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, then moved to Mckeesport, and finally to Lawrence county, there arriving in April, 1794, the farm which they first purchased is now owned by a descendant, William Davidson. The journey to the western part of the state was made in an interesting manner. The two eldest children, Rosanna and James, walked beside the two horses, the father leading the first animal, on the back of which was strapped the bedding and utensils used by the family at meal times and at night, while in each end of a leather bag or wallet, pouched at the extremities and hung over the horse's back, were the two children too small to walk, Esther and Mary. The mother of the family rode the second horse, holding in her arms her six weeks old infant. William Davidson and his wife lived on the farm in Lawrence county until their deaths, his taking place August 10, 1826, aged eighty-three years, hers February 10, 1831, aged seventy-four years. Children : Rosanna, married John Hamil; James, of whom further; Esther, married John White; Mary, married Thomas Silliman; Martha, married Charles Silliman; Jane, married Alexander Silliman, the third of three sis- ters to marry three brothers; Lydia, married Jeremiah Wilson, and had a son, Joseph, who was in business in New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, where three of his daughters and a son still reside. There were also three other girls, William and Mary (Ramsey) Davidson having been the parents of nine daughters and one son. James Davidson was born in Ireland, February 13, 1780, died in September, 1866; was reared on the home farm in Lawrence county, obtaining his education in Beaver, in later life becoming a farmer and surveyor. He was a soldier in the American army in the second war with Great Britain, and after his return from the front organ- ized a company of militia at Mount Jackson, of which he was first made captain and later major. His church was the Associate Reformed, and politically he was a Whig and Republican. He married, December 4, 1810, Elizabeth Houston, a native of Ireland, who died in 1864. Children of James and Elizabeth (Houston) Davidson: 1. William Findley, born Feb- ruary 26, 1812, died in Kansas, November 16, 1873; a surveyor, school teacher and farmer ; married Harriet Newell Dungan, born in August, 1824; he and his family moved to Kansas, November 16, 1868, and five years later to a day he died. They were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are living at the present time. 2. Jane, born in December, 1813, died unmarried in September, 1895. 3. Thomas Houston, born February 2, 1816, died February 2, 1889; a merchant and farmer; married Anna Mehard, deceased; their son, William Mehard, who entered educational work, hav- ing been recently elected superintendent of the public schools of Pittsburgh, whither he came from Washington, D. C., where he held a similar position. 4. Maria, of previous mention, married James McAnlis. 5. James Ramsey, born November 1, 1818, died February 22, 1893; married, February 28, 1872, Elizabeth M. Leonard, who resides in Newcastle, Pennsylvania ; they had two children: Elizabeth, born in November, 1872, died October 3,
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1912; Dell, born in November, 1873; James Ramsey Davidson was a car- penter, politically a Republican, and a member of the United Presbyterian Church. 6. Samuel Houston, born March 2, 1820, died February 20, 1890; a farmer; married Harriet McClelland, born March 21, 1830, died Jan- uary 9, 1911, and they were the parents of five children. Children of James and Maria (Davidson) McAnlis: 1. James Davidson, of whom further. 2. John Galbraith, born December 27, 1849, died April 28, 1908; lived on the homestead farm. 3. William Kirk, born May 1, 1856, lives in Kansas.
(V) James Davidson McAnlis, eldest of the three sons of James and Maria (Davidson) McAnlis, was born in Big Beaver township, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1848. He attended the McAnlis district school and remained on the home farm until he was fifteen years of age, the duties that were laid upon him tending to strengthen his frame and im- prove his health, which had been delicate in his early youth. At the age of fifteen he went to Newcastle and learned the jeweler's art with D. I. Campbell, proprietor of a jewelry store in that place, and in 1869 located in Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, establishing in the jewelry bus- iness on Seventh avenue. This is still the location of the store of J. D. McAnlis & Son, Mr. McAnlis having admitted his son, Howard Forbes, into partnership, and in the forty-five years of its continuance at that place the section has become the business center of the city. Since the founding of the business Beaver Falls has grown from a village of six hundred inhabitants to a city of the third class, and the development of the bus- iness of Mr. McAnlis has been in its proper proportion, predicated upon thorough knowledge of all of the varied departments thereof by the mem- bers of the firm. Since the admission of Howard Forbes McAnlis into the firm an optical department has been added, still further widening the scope of the firm's activities. The building owned and occupied by Mc- Anlis & Son is a large, modern, two-story brick one, while the interior of the store is as near perfect in its appointments as one could imagine, an immense stock, consisting of all kinds of gold and silver jewelry, pre- cious stones, silverware and cut glass being attractively displayed. Mr. McAnlis was at one time part owner and director of a foundry, and was one of the organizers, in 1883, of the Keystone Driller Company, of which he is a director and president. The Keystone Driller Company is one of the most prominent industries of Beaver Falls, its products having a world- wide reputation. Mr. McAnlis and his wife are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and he was one of the organizers of the church of that denomination in Beaver Falls, of which he has since been an elder. Upon moving to College Hill he was one of the organizers of another church of that same denomination, to which he now belongs.
Mr. McAnlis married Nancy Perzanna Forbes, born in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Wylie) Forbes, her father a farmer and wool and grain dealer. Children: I. Mabel Forbes, died aged twenty-four years; married Rev. James G.
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Reed, and had one child, Howard McAnlis Reed. 2. Florence Mary, mar- ried Marion Noyes Hurd, and lives in Beaver Falls; children: James Mc- Anlis, Marian Elizabeth, Nancy McAnlis, John Martin. 3. Howard Forbes, married Edna M. Gault; children : James Wylie, born July 23, 1906; Mar- garet Patterson, born March 21, 1912. 4. Elizabeth Forbes, married Dr. William John Sterrett, a practicing physician of East Pittsburgh; chil- dren: James McAnlis, Sarah Elizabeth, William John Jr.
The Hartzel family, a branch of which is now resident in HARTZEL Beaver county, Pennsylvania, has been connected with the interests of the state of Pennsylvania for many generations. They were at first located in the eastern portion of the state, from whence they migrated further west and became pioneer settlers in the western por- tion.
(I) George Hartzel, who was born in Lehigh township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, traveled by wagon, in 1751, to the western part of the state, and settled in Marion township, Beaver county, where he was one of the earliest settlers. He purchased a large tract of land which he cleared for farming purposes, and spent the remainder of his life there. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, and a man of influence in the community. He married Katherine Krohen, and had children: George, Jacob, John, see forward, and six daughters.
(II) John Hartzel, son of George and Katherine (Krohen) Hartzel, was educated in the public schools of Marion township, and from his earliest years assisted his father in the cultivation of the homestead farm. He fol- lowed the occupation of farming throughout his life, and died in 1903 at the age of eighty-four years. He was the owner of a farm of three hun- dred and fifty acres of land, this being a part of the original tract. He was active in working for the interests of the Democratic party and was honored by election to a number of local offices. His religious affiliation was with the Reformed Church. He married Dorothea Knauff, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and they had children: George, Catherine, Michael, John, Henry, Margaret, Herman, Jacob, William Andrew, see forward.
(III) William Andrew Hartzel, son of John and Dorothea (Knauff) Hartzel, was born in Marion township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 16, 1859. After acquiring a substantial education in the public schools of Beaver county, Mr. Hartzel was apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinet making in Butler county, Pennsylvania. For a period of seven years he worked uninterrupedly at the bench, and in 1885 went to Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and established himself in business as a fur- niture dealer and undertaker. For a time he conducted this business all alone, then sold a half interest in it to his brother Henry, and in 1892 the firm of Hartzel Brothers was organized for the sale of furniture and as undertakers. Mr. Hartzel and his wife are members of the English Luth-
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eran Church. In political matters he is a Democrat, and served as a mem- ber of the town council for a three-year term, fifteen years ago. The cause of education is one in which he has always been deeply interested, having been elected a school director and served eight years, and is now serving a six-year term. His fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, American Mechanics, Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Hartzel married, in 1885, Matilda Zehner, and has had children: Amy Olive, Laura May, Eva Sophia and Helen Grace. Energy is num- bered among the chief characteristics of Mr. Hartzel, and has been one of the most important elements in his success. He is now enjoying a liberal patronage in his line of business, and his success is the merited reward of a properly directed life.
The Atwood family of earlier days was a representative ATWOOD one of New England, and there are many of the name still holding residence in that region, but of the line recorded in this sketch preference and professional demands have taken many far from the family seat and have compelled residence elsewhere. Then, too, death has claimed its inevitable toll, the combination of causes greatly de- creasing the numbers of those of the name in their old home. This chronicle begins with John Atwood, who lived probably in Chatham, Massachusetts, a fisherman, follower of the sea until his later years, when he purchased a farm, conducted operations on a small scale, and engaged in the manufac- ture of salt. He married Mehitable Boylston, and from this union came two sons, John William, of whom further, and Samuel, who married Eliza- beth Eldridge, and spent his entire life in Chatham, Massachusetts, being an extensive land owner, cultivating many acres, and the proprietor of a meat market.
(II) John William Atwood, eldest of the two sons of John and Mehitable (Boylston) Atwood, was born in Chatham, Massachusetts, in 1822, died in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1883. He became the possessor of an excellent education through his attendance at the public schools of Chatham, being a graduate of the high school at that place, and after com- pleting his studies apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade. Becoming a duly accredited carpenter, he did not long pursue his trade, accepting a pedagogical position in the Chatham public schools, work for which his youthful zeal in study and later private preparation had admirably quali- fied him. He resigned his position to go to the front at the time of the Civil War, enlisting in the Forty-third Massachusetts Regiment. He was only in active service for nine months, at the end of that time returning to Massachusetts, moving from Chatham to West Bridgewater, where he es- tablished a flour mill, conducting that business for one year. Quintard & Ward, a coal firm of Somerville, Massachusetts, offered him a place in their organization, which he accepted, and in that place he and his family
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made their home until 1868. In that year his employers sent him to Jersey City, New Jersey, as superintendent of the company's yards in that city, that being the home of the family until his death. He had never lost his interest in matters educational, gained when he was an instructor in Chatham, and becoming closely connected with such subjects in his new home, he was tendered the principalship of the public schools of Jersey City. To this proposition he gave his earnest and prayerful consideration, finally announcing his acquiescence to the desires of the board of education, and resigned his position with Quintard & Ward. He did not lay down the reins of authority until failing health compelled it one year before his death, and his practical and intelligent management of the school system of that city is the key to its later greatness. He gathered about him instructors of standing and ability, introduced a method of cooperation between the different schools, installed new courses of study, advocated trials of new subjects, and in many ways raised the plane of the city's schools, his wonder- ful results obtained by his indescribable power of instilling his own dynamic enthusiasm into his co-workers and of spurring them on to redoubled efforts. He was a Republican in political faith, and as the candidate of that party was returned victor from the polls in the election for state senator while a resident of Massachusetts, Barnstable county being the district he repre- sented in the legislature. His church was the Congregational, later the -Dutch Reformed, of which he was an elder, for many years superintendent of the Sunday school, and leader of the choir. He was a man of many in- terests, had a powerful influence among his fellows, always allying with the powers of right, and performed well the part that was allotted to him in life.
He married Abigail Doane, born in Orleans, Massachusetts, in 1821, died in 1889. Children: 1. Henry, died aged two years. 2. William Henry, deceased, married Elizabeth Havens, lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Cleveland, Ohio. 3. Heman D., died in 1876, aged twenty- two years. 4. John Abiel, of whom further. 5. Abigail Mehitable, mar- ried William S. Cranmer, and lives in Summerville, New Jersey.
(III) John Abiel Atwood, fourth child and son of John William and Abigail (Doane) Atwood, was born in Chatham, Massachusetts, February 8, 1857. His education, preparatory to college entrance, was received in the public schools of Jersey City, of which his father in later years was principal, and Hasbrouck's Institute, of that city, the college at which he later matriculated being the New York University of New York. After his graduation from that institution in 1878, with an engineer's diploma, he was employed in the construction of the various elevated systems, now so important and popular a feature of New York's transportation facilities. His next operation was in North Carolina, a party of engineers being sent to that state to survey for and lay the tracks of the Elizabeth City & Nor- folk Railroad, an interstate line connecting Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with Norfolk, Virginia. In March, 1881, he returned north and was em-
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ployed as draughtsman by the West Shore railroad in the offices of that line in Syracuse, for the three following years being engaged in the active construction of the road. Surveying for a proposed line between Youngs- town and Attica, New York, occupied four months, after which he was one of the engineers in charge of the construction of the Tenth Avenue Cable Railroad in New York City, work requiring eighteen months for completion. For the two following years he rendered service to the Chau- tauqua Lake Railroad, at Jamestown, New York, the next year being passed in Cleveland, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. Still in the employ of this same road he was sent to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was made engineer of construc- tion on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad, in 1896 being promoted to the position of chief engineer, in which he still continues. Although his business keeps him in Pittsburgh a large part of the time, as well as on the road, his residence is in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, a com- fortable, attractive dwelling of modern design. In the active prime of his life, Mr. Atwood has gained a position of trust and responsibility in his profession and has left behind him an honorable record of achievement. His political party is the Republican, and he is a member of the Presby- terian Church.
Mr. Atwood married Jane, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Cushing) Ivers, of Concord, New Hampshire. Children: 1. William B., born Jan- uary 29, 1882; married Ellen Fay Boyd, of New Brighton, and lives at Seneca Falls, New York. 2. Julia, born January 17, 1885; married J. Marvin Peters, and lives in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania. 3. Edna Cleve- land, born May 30, 1889; lives at home, unmarried.
The Edie family has been represented in this country for many EDIE generations, the various members of it having been prominently identified with professional, financial and industrial undertakings, and they have been highly esteemed members of all the communities in which they have resided, and have done their share to develop them.
(I) Guian Edie, who was born in Steubenville, Ohio, was engaged in farming for a number of years. He then removed to Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, where he established himself in the real estate business, with which he was identified for a long time prior to his death. . He married Margaret Bonner, and they had children: Robert, a physician, practicing in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; James, in the real estate business in Pittsburgh; William, also in the real estate business in Pittsburgh ; Joseph Austin, of further mention: Captain Guy, of St. Louis; Margaret Ann, widow of John Nevin, of Beaver county, died in Beaver, March 21, 1914, at the age of ninety-four; Elizabeth, unmarried, still living in North Side, Pittsburgh.
(II) Rev. Joseph Austin Edie, son of Guian and Margaret (Bonner) Edie, was born in Clinton, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in August,
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1827, and died at his home in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1895. His education was a liberal one, and was commenced in the public schools of Hookstown, Beaver county, from which he went to the Mead- ville and Franklin (Athens, Ohio) colleges, and finished his theological course in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. New York was the scene of his first ministerial activities, and from the very commencement of his career he was very successful as a preacher. He was connected with Monmouth College, and was a member of the College Board for a period of twenty- two years. He served as secretary of the Educational Board of the United Presbyterian Church for fourteen years. He had charge of the religious services in the army during two winters of the Civil War, in the interests of the Christian commission. His second pastorate was at Clayton, Illinois, where he remained ten years. Returning to Beaver county in 1879, his last charge was at Four Mile, in that county, and his death cast a deep gloom over the community.
Rev. Joseph A. Edie married, May 8, 1860, Sarah Ann Hodgens, born at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1836, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Graham) Hodgens, the former born in 1803, in Germantown, Penn- sylvania, died in 1854, the latter, born in Taylorstown, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1804, died in her hundredth year. Mrs. Edie had two brothers and five sisters: John, married Rhoda Thomas; Rachel G., married Rev. J. H. Nash; Isabella, married E. A. McCleese; Mary Ellen, deceased; Martha Jane, married Rev. W. W. Ralston, formerly pastor of Bridgewater Pres- byterian Church; Esther, married Dr. E. T. Jeffers; Samuel, M. D. Rev. Joseph A. and Sarah Ann (Hodgens) Edie had six children: Mary Leanna, a teacher in Allegheny; John B .; Hallie B., married Louis E. Grim, de- ceased, a sketch of whom follows; Margaret Lorena, lives with her mother; William H., now in Alaska; Guy Thomas, born in 1873, died in 1876. John B. Edie is president of the Purity Drug Company, in the Terminal Building, Pittsburgh, and married Harriet McConnell of Mckeesport. Mrs. Edie now lives in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania.
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