USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 3
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(IV) James Shannon, son of John Adams and Susan (Ewing) Shan- non, was born in Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1866. The public schools of his section furnished him with a sound, prac- tical education, and he gained his farming knowledge by actual experience from his earliest years, his entire life being spent on a farm. He now is the owner of a fine place of one hundred and forty acres, on which he raises fruit and general produce, and makes of this a profitable under- taking. He is a member of the Service United Presbyterian Church. His political opinions are those of the Republican party, and he has served as a member of the school board for the past six years.
Mr. Shannon married, in 1893, Minnie Ramsey, and they have had children as follows: Lossie, John A., Harper, Blanche, Elizabeth, Walker.
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James Kerr was born in Scotland and came to the United KERR States when he was in his early manhood. He was a farmer and teamster at Salineville, Ohio, about fifteen miles from Wells- ville, where he died at the age of seventy-three or seventy-four years, and was buried at Monroeville. In political matters he was a consistent Re- publican, and his religious affiliation was with the Methodist Church, to which his wife also belonged. His wife, born in Ireland, died in Saline- ville, Ohio, aged about seventy-one or seventy-three. Children: Margaret, who died unmarried at the age of eighty-six, at Salineville, and is buried there; Thomas J., see forward; John, deceased, was a resident of Saline- ville, Ohio.
(II) Thomas J. Kerr, son of James Kerr, was born in Salineville, Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1841, and died at Wellsville, March 13, 1896. He attended the public schools of Salineville, supplemented his education there with extended and diversified reading, and was considered a man of superior education. He engaged in railroad work, commencing with the position of brakeman, or station caller as they were then termed, until he rose to that of conductor, serving altogether for a period of forty-four years, during thirty-eight of which he was a conductor. During the Civil War he enlisted, but his father secured his discharge, considering him too young to endure the strain of army life. He gave his political support to the Republican party. Mr. Kerr married Elizabeth McLain, born in Hammondsville, Ohio, daughter of Samuel Mclain, who was a stockman and farmer. He drove stock over the mountains while railroads were yet in their infancy, and died in Hammondsville. He married Mary Maple, and they had children: Jane, married Daniel Snow; Elizabeth, married Mr. Kerr, see above; Jefferson, married (first) Jennie Householder, (second) Belle Jackson, lives in Queen City; Carrie, married (first) George Jackson, (second) James Hyman, lives in Wellsville; Albert, died in infancy; Daniel, died young; Samuel, married, has one child, Jesse, lives in Queen City. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have had children: Margaret, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, married William Harron, a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and has children: Thomas and Illa; William, see forward; Mary, lives in East Liverpool, Ohio, married Frank Koontz, in the pro- vision business, and has children: Thomas, Helen, Mary; Roy Samuel, lives in Wellsville, is an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and married Leona Moore. The mother of these children lives in Wellsville where she is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
(III) William Kerr, son of Thomas John and Elizabeth (McLain) Kerr, was born in Hammondsville, Jefferson county, Ohio, July 4, 1872. His early years were spent in Wellsville, where he attended the public schools, and then took up the business of teaming. He continued this for a time, then engaged in railroad work, but returned to his former occu- pation, with which he has been identified in Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, for the past twelve years. Two years ago he also established
W. M. Ker
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himself in the livery business, being the owner of the only livery barn in Freedom, and has been very successful in this new enterprise. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and served three years as a borough councilman; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has a number of fraternal affiliations, all of Freedom, among them being the following: Trainmen's Brotherhood, Woodmen of the World, William Penn Club, Improved Order of Eagles, and Order of the Moose. Mr. Kerr married, November 1I, 1896, Ida Belle Graham, born in Enon, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1877, daughter of Franklin and Etta Jane (Smith) Graham. Mr. Graham was born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1839, was married in August, 1862, and is now a machinist in Free- dom. Mrs. Graham was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1838, and is now living in Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. They had children: I. Harry, born Angust 16, 1865, is a railroad man and lives in Pittsburgh; married Hulda Zirkel, who died March 18, 1914, and their children are: Helen and Lamont. 2. Clarence, born January 31, 1868; a railroad engineer; lives in Alliance, Ohio; married Jennie Reader, and has children: Clyde and Lawrence. 3. Franklin, born May 6, 1871, died in 1877. 4. Addie Maria, born December 31, 1872, died in 1877. 5. John Wilson, born April 16, 1875; an engine man; lives in Freedom. 6. Lee, born October 9, 1880, died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have children: Frankland Fay, born September 13, 1899, and Russell Edwin, born June 14, 1906, both attending the Freedom graded school.
The Gorsuch family has been closely and beneficially iden-
GORSUCH tified with the interests of the communities in which they have lived ever since their arrival in this country.
(I) David Gorsuch, the immigrant ancestor of the family, was born in Scotland, and lived for a time in the eastern part of the state of Penn- sylvania, later coming across the mountains with his family and settling in Allegheny county.
(II) Robert Gorsuch, son of David Gorsuch, was but six years of age at the time of this migration, and practically his entire life has been spent in the western part of the state. In his earlier years he was engaged in digging coal in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, later coming to Service and pur- chasing a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Upper Service. This was entirely timber land, and he was obliged to fell the trees and clear a space in order to erect the log house in which he and his family lived. Having cleared a sufficient space to make a productive farm, he was ac- customed to "pack" to Pittsburgh, taking all night for the journey. He would take to the market in Pittsburgh seventy-eight cents worth of butter, and with the money thus realized would purchase and bring home all of those necessaries which the farm could not produce. He remained on the Upper Service farm about a quarter of a century, and about 1830 he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres in Murdocksville,
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where he spent the remainder of his life. He married (first) Elizabeth McCoy, and had children: John, Robert, James, Rachel. He married (second) Nancy Searight, who died when Samuel was about eight years of age, leaving children as follows: Eliza Jane, Margaret, Samuel, see forward; David, Martha, Mary Ann. Mr. Gorsuch married (third) Nancy Cooper. No children by this marriage.
(III) Samuel Gorsuch, son of Robert and Nancy (Searight) Gorsuch, was born on a farm in Independence township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, January 13, 1845. He was educated at the Gorsuch school, and at an early age commenced to assist in the farm labors. The live-stock of the farm had an especial interest for him, and as he grew older he de- voted himself more exclusively to the breeding of fine and highly valued varieties. He has a flock of thoroughbred Delan sheep which won a repu- tation many years ago. He has made many improvements on the farm which he originally occupied and it is now one of the finest of its kind and size in the township. He is a strong supporter of Republican principles, and has held official position a number of times. He was health officer for this township and for Hanover for a period of five years, and had charge of twenty-one schools. He also served as justice of the peace for thirty- seven years. For more than thirty years he has been a member of the Session of Mount Olivet, and is the oldest living member. He and his family are members of Mount Olivet Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Gorsuch married, in 1878, Martha J., daughter of John Brenton, of Independence township. Children: Mary A., married Robert Miller, of Independence township; Wilson R., died at the age of twenty-five years.
The name of McElhaney is of Scotch or Irish origin,
MCELHANEY persumably the former, and the representatives of this family in the United States have inherited the best traits of their ancestors, as their thrift and business ability have amply proved.
(I) George McElhaney, the first of the name of whom we have of- ficial record in this country, settled on a large tract of land prior to 1800 and this is still in possession of the family.
(II) William McElhaney, son of George McElhaney, was the owner of eight hundred acres of land at the time of his death, a part of this being in the state of Ohio. He was born in Independence township, and when he went to the farm which he later occupied he was obliged to blaze his way through the trackless forest, and clear the land of the timber with which it was overgrown. At the time of the Mexican War he enlisted in the American army, but after his arrival at Lake Erie, he hired a sub- stitute and returned to his family. Two of his brothers-William and Alexander-were drafted during the progress of the Civil War, and also sent substitutes. Mr. McElhaney married Lydia Strauss, also a resident of Independence township, but a native of Eastern Pennsylvania.
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(III) George (2) McElhaney, son of William and Lydia (Strauss) McElhaney, was born on a farm in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, next to the one on which his son, W. J., now resides. He was educated in the district schools, and at an early age assisted with the labors of the home farm. He had a tract of six hundred acres of land which he cultivated to good advantage. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Woods) McCoy, all natives of Beaver county, in which Mr. McCoy was a pioneer settler.
(IV) W. J. McElhaney, son of George (2) and Elizabeth (McCoy) McElhaney, was born in Independence township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1845. The public schools furnished him with a good practical education, and upon its completion he engaged in farming. In this he has been very successful, but he has not rested on these laurels. The field of cattle raising appealed to him as being an interesting and lucrative one, and in this he has not been mistaken. He has a farm of four hundred and thirty acres in Independence township and a further farm of one hundred and eighteen acres, and this is all devoted to general farming, to the raising of short horns, and largely to the breeding of sheep, of which he has many fine varieties. He had installed all the most modern improvements on his farms, and work on them is simplified and made prac- tical to the utmost. A part of Mr. McElhaney's farm was the old home- stead of his grandfather McElhaney, in fact all but thirty-two acres of what he owns was the property of his grandfather. He has made his own way from boyhood, and established himself independently when he was but twenty-three years of age, renting a farm of his father for eight years, paying two hundred dollars per year; he then bought the place and has since made his home on the same. His patriotism has been a dis- tinguishing trait in his character. In the public affairs of the township and the county he has also been active in behalf of the Republican party, and has been honored with public office a number of times. Among these offices may be mentioned: Road commissioner several times, auditor and school director, in each and all of which he did excellent service. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian.
Mr. McElhaney married, in 1867, Elizabeth Miller, and they have had children: Mary; George, deceased; Margaret; Calvin; Anna; Ethel; Howard, deceased.
Elijah Barnes was born in Raccoon township, Beaver county, BARNES Pennsylvania, and was a farmer for many years. During the Civil War he was a member of Company F, Forty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served through the entire contest. He had an arm taken off at the battle of Gettysburg, and was taken prisoner on another occasion. He married Mary Dunn, a native of Scot- land, and had children: Ella M., Robert, Walter, see forward; Elvira. He affiliated with the Republican party, and he and his family were mem-
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bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mary (Dunn) Barnes was the daughter of Walter and Ellen ( Brownlee) Dunn, both born in Scotland, who came to the United States in 1847 and located near Sewickley, Penn- sylvania. Later they removed to Bellowsville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Dunn was a farmer both in Scotland and America, and they had fifteen children.
Walter Dunn Barnes, son of Elijah and Mary (Dunn) Barnes, was born in Vanport, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1868. For a time he attended the public schools in Bridgewater, and at the age of nine years he was sent to an orphans' school at Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until he was ten years of age, then transferred to Butler. He then came to the farm on which he is residing at the present time in Shippingport, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and there learned the blacksmith's trade. He worked at Beaver Falls for six years, then went to McCleary, and there followed his calling for a period of eighteen years. In the spring of 1913 he purchased one hundred acres of land, on which he is now living, and engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has always been active in local political matters, and has held the offices of assessor, collector and constable for a number of years. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, is a member of the United Presby- terian Church, and of the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Barnes married, February 9, 1898, Jennie Ewing, daughter of David and Sarah A. (Thornburg) Ewing, of Raccoon township (see Ewing III).
(The Ewing Line.)
The Ewings came to America at a very early date and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania. They migrated to Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, in 1787, and took up farming in Beaver county, about 1802, on Raccoon creek. This was the paternal great-grandfather of the present generation, and after a time he presented to the local government what is now Raccoon township, and resided in that region until his death.
(II) John Ewing, son of the preceding, was in active service during the War of 1812, and was discharged after he had been crippled while in service. He was a member of the Service United Presbyterian Church. He married Jane McCallister, of Irish descent.
(III) David Ewing, son of John and Jane (McCallister) Ewing, was born in Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the district schools. He was a cooper by trade, but also active as a farmer, and bought one hundred and fifty acres of land. He was an active worker in the Republican party, and served many years as justice of the peace. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He mar- ried Sarah A., born in Raccoon township, daughter of Elisha and Nancy (Bounton) Thornburg, and granddaughter of James and - (Veasey) Thornburg. Children: Rufus; Stanton F., see forward; Elizabeth K .; Ellis and Willis, twins, the latter deceased; Jennie, married Walter Dunn Barnes (see Barnes).
(IV) Stanton F. Ewing, son of David and Sarah A. (Thornburg)
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Ewing, was born in Raccoon township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 28, 1862. His early education was obtained in the public schools and this was supplemented by tuition in a private school at Shippingport. He took up farming in the township and is now located on the farm which had belonged to his father. Like his father, he has taken an active in- terest in the community affairs as a member of the Republican party, and has served as school director, supervisor, and as county commissioner, 1909- IO-II. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ewing married, in 1889, Elvira Barnes and they have children: Hester Mary, Sarah Leona, Nellie Brownlee, Myra Jane, Henry Freemont, Elizabeth Vern.
CONKLE The records of the lives of our ancestors are of interest to the modern citizen, not alone for their historical value, which is great, but for the inspiration and example which they afford. Among those who have come to this country from Europe, those from the land of Germany or from German speaking countries, have done particularly excellent service. They have been frugal, thrifty and indus- trious, and have always worked for the best interests of the communities in which they have resided. To this class belongs the Conkle family.
(I) Henry Conkle, who was born in that part of Russia where the German language is spoken most frequently, was a very young child when he came to America with his parents, who settled in Ohio. In that state he grew to manhood. When he had attained man's estate, he removed near Hookstown, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he took up about one hundred and seventy-five acres of land from the government. He cleared this, which was a wilderness when it came into his possession, erected sub- stantial log buildings as a dwelling house, barn, etc., and died on this land in 1840. He was noted as an Indian scout and hunter, and his grandson, James McCready Conkle, still has in his possession some of the weapons used by Mr. Conkle. Mr. Conkle was twice married, his second wife surviving him. Children by first marriage: Betsey, who married - Lewis, and died in Ohio; Sarah, married - Shalk, and died near Hooks- town; Polly, married - Glenn, and died near Hookstown; John, of further mention; Jacob; Samuel, died in East Liverpool, Ohio; George, died in Iowa. Children of second marriage: Henry, died on the home- stead; William; Mattie, married - Twiford, and died in Iowa; Mar- garet, died unmarried.
(II) John Conkle, son of Henry Conkle and his first wife, was born near Hookstown, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, about 1796, died about 1885. After his marriage he settled on a part of the family homestead, and there erected a fine log house. He cultivated this property for many years, and late in life removed to Hookstown, where his death occurred. He married Catherine Pursley, born in 1812, near Greensburg, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, the only daughter of her father by a sec-
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ond marriage, and died many years before her husband. They had chil- dren: Henry, a carpenter, died in Nebraska; Mary Ann, married - Hubbell, and died in Hookstown; Jacob, died in infancy; Margaret, mar- ried Peter Cook, and died in Hookstown; John, a carpenter, died in Urbana, Illinois; James McCready, of further mention; Milton, died while in service during the Civil War; William, a soldier, and later a steamboat steward, died in Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Vincent, an old soldier, now lives in East Liverpool, Ohio; Robert, deceased, was a soldier in the Civil War and served three years in that conflict.
(III) James McCready Conkle, son of John and Catherine (Pursley) Conkle, was born near Hookstown, Greene township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, September 10, 1832. After completing his education in the public schools near his birthplace, he was apprenticed to learn the car- penter's trade, with which he was occupied until 1852. He then became a millwright, and followed this calling for a period of eight years, after which he went to work as a pattern maker. In 1864-65 he was engaged in transportation work on the Mississippi river for the government. He next settled at Island Run, Elk county, Pennsylvania, where he drilled for oil and remained one year. Removing to Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1867, he has lived there since that time. He followed his calling, however, in both Beaver Falls and in Pittsburgh. Some time ago he retired from active business interests, and now lives at No. 920 Eighth avenue. He erected several buildings on Seventh avenue, but has sold all of these with the exception of one. Mr. Conkle is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Conkle married, July 26, 1866, Mary McKeage, born in Industry, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1849, daughter of Robert Mc- Keage, born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He came to Industry in 1847, and removed to Glasgow in the same county, in 1860. He was a cooper by trade, following this occupation all of his life, and died in Philadelphia, whither he had removed. He married Hannah, daughter of Nathaniel and Maria Ruth, both natives of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he was a tailor. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Conkle, Robert McKeage, was also a cooper by trade, and died in Philadelphia; he married Mary Hetzel, both being natives of Norristown. Mrs. Hannah (Ruth) McKeage died in Coraopolis. Mr. and Mrs. Conkle had children: Charles E., a molder, lives in Beaver Falls; Walter B., a molder, lives in Beaver Falls; Paul, died in infancy ; Roy E., a clerk, lives with his parents.
The Shane family, which is now represented in Beaver county, SHANE Pennsylvania, has been noted for some generations for the faithful manner in which they perform their duties in the various stations of life to which they have been called. They came origin- ally from Ireland, and the fine dominant traits of that nation are still ap- parent.
Jamesth. Conkle
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(I) John Shane was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1822, and died 1913, in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. His education was acquired in the district schools of his day, and for many years he was occupied with farming. After the death of his first wife he worked at his trade of car- pentry, then removed to Swaynesville, where he worked as a wagon maker. He then removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he entered the em- ploy of the Alton Taylor Machine Company as a wagon builder, and then again as a carpenter. He was a member of the Service Church during the years he lived in that town, and joined the Mansfield Church when he removed there. He enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War, and served a ninety-day term. Mr. Shane married (first) Mary Ewing, (second) Belle Wycoff. Children by first marriage: John Henry, de- ceased; Helen Jane; Angeline; Caroline, died in early youth; Cornelius Calvin, see forward. Children by second marriage: Presley, deceased; Wil- liam.
(II) Cornelius Calvin Shane, youngest child of John and Mary (Ew- ing) Shane, was born in Service, Raccoon township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, September 27, 1857. He was but three years of age at the time of the death of his mother, and he was taken to the farm of his maternal grandparents, John and Jane (McCallister) Ewing, and there his childhood and youth were spent, and there he attended the public schools and acquired his education. His grandparents were among the pioneer settlers of that section of the country and were held in high esteem. The homestead farm consisted of three hundred acres and was considered one of the fine farms of that region. Mr. Ewing died in 1866. Mr. Shane has always been engaged in farming and stock raising. He has one farm at Shippingport, Beaver county, which comprises one hun- dred acres, and another of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, both in a fine state of cultivation for general produce. He keeps these two farms up to the mark in every particular, providing them with the latest im- provements in farm implements and machinery and with the necessary buildings. The house which is used as a residence at the present time was erected by William Ewing in 1886. He has been a very public-spirited citi- zen, and as a representative of the Republican party, he has been elected and appointed to a number of public offices, which he has filled with dignity and with satisfaction to all concerned. He served as assessor and collector of the township for a period of eight years, and was constable for six years. He is a liberal member of the Mount Pleasant United Presbyterian Church, and a regular attendant.
Mr. Shane married, in the spring of 1881, Mary, daughter of John Kennedy, a stone mason of Greene township. They have been blessed with the following named children: William E., who lives in Monaca, Beaver county ; Wallace L., Lyle K., Frederick W., Lester C., at home.
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The Henderson family of whom this review treats is HENDERSON of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the family having been orig- inally of Scotland, from whence it migrated to Ireland, and ultimately came to this country.
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