USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 49
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The Norman family of Locke had its inception in England, LOCKE in the invasion and subsequent conquering of that country by William the Conqueror, there living for four hundred years. In 1485, because of religious upheaval and the attendant dangers, persecu- tions, and discomforts, the Lockes left England and made their home in Scotland, there residing until the departure of the American emigrant for the American shore. Thus the family has at least kept pace with what is generally termed the westward march of progress and civilization, for in the past eight and a half centuries it has covered a westward distance of some three thousand miles, and, reaching the western continent, has diffused and scattered until it extends to almost all parts of the United States. In Pennsylvania the name of Locke has been an honored one since soon after the founding of the city of Philadelphia, and in all departments of public service or private endeavor those bearing the name have added to the glory of an illustrious ancestry. The first American ancestor of whom there is definite and authentic record is William, who was born near Germantown, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the colonial forces in the Revolutionary War, and at the close of that conflict made his home near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, afterward near, the present town of McKee's Rocks, and in 1792, after his marriage, in what was then the lower part of Mercer county, a section now included within the boundaries of Law- rence county. He purchased land that was originally a part of the Mowry tract, the actual expense to him being but a small fraction of the actual worth of the land, the government assuming the major part of the cost, because of his voluntary service in the war for independence. His trade was that of weaver, and the only buildings he erected on his land were a
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cabin for the use of himself and family, and a weaving-house where he could pursue his occupation free from all disturbance. It is related that his wife brought from their home a lilac-bush, which, even after all the years that intervene, still thrives, and has given birth to innumerable other shoots that grace the lawns and yards of the locality. He married Isabel Hamilton, and had issue, among his children being five sons-William, James, John, David, and Chauncey.
(III) James (2), son of James (1) and Isabel (Hamilton) Locke, was born in Scott township, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, about 1796, died in 1852. In his boyhood he attended the public schools of the vicinity, and when but a lad enlisted as a drummer boy in the American army, then about to enter upon our second war with England. He served until the close of the war, and was with Harrison's land forces at the battle of Lake Erie. He then returned to Lawrence county, where he spent the rest of his life, receiving a share in the home farm at the death of his father. He purchased the interests of his co-heirs and became the sole owner of the farm, bequeathing it in turn to his sons. Of these, James and David eventually became the only owners, the former, the only one of the children living at the present time, making his residence there, having rebuilt the farmhouse erected by his father. James (2) Locke married, and among his children were William, David, James John, and Jesse.
(III) David, son of James (2) Locke, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1838, died September 19, 1905. For his day his education was remarkably liberal, embracing courses of study in the public schools of his native place, in a private school, and finally at Prospect Academy, under the tuition of Dr. Asa Patterson, who is still living at Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. At the completion of his studies he entered the pedagogical profession, and for twenty-two years was engaged in the pursuit of the same, with the exception of one year spent in the Union army at the time of the Civil War, in Company B, 134th Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry. In this service he attained the rank of cor- poral, and during the latter part of his enlistment was placed on the hos- pital corps. Here the exposure to disease and the exhausting nature of his unaccustomed duties so weakened his ordinarily sturdy physique that he contracted typhoid fever. This was still further complicated by an attack of pneumonia, producing that combination of diseases dreaded by phy- sicians and nurses, typhoid-pneumonia. The effects of the fever were so weakening and his vitality was so low that the doctor in charge of the hospital refused to grant him a certificate to rejoin his company, and in December, 1862, he was given his honorable discharge. He was totally incapacitated for work requiring any great amount of physical exertion, and upon his return from the army took up his former occupation of teach- ing; this he continued for the following seventeen years. He was a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, with the
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rank of quartermaster-sergeant. After his retirement from active teach- ing and other affairs, his sons assumed the management of his interests. His political faith had always been Democratic, but at the organization of the Prohibition party he became one of the most ardent supporters of the new cause, its doctrines of personal temperance being exemplified in his own life, and its political platform one which he always sought to further. In February, 1905, he was elected justice of the peace on the Prohibition ticket, but died before taking up the reins of office. His election was a tribute to his popularity with his neighbors and the regard in which he was held by them, rather than the result of party strength, for the locality was by no means solid in its support of Prohibition candidates. He had affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church when he was ten years of age, and until 1888 remained true to the doctrines of that faith, but in that year there was much dissension and inward strife in the church organiza- tion. Rather than lower the ideals of his religious life by participation in petty jealousies and quarrels, he left the religion of his first choice and allied himself with the Presbyterian church, later becoming an elder. Mr. Locke's life was one of uprightness and honor, spent in industrious pursuit of his profession, in which he never became so deeply engrossed but that he found ample time to discharge the duties of good citizenship. His path in life was laid along lines of the most unswerving fairness to his fellow- men, and his every act met with the approval of his large circle of friends. But more than that, the humbleness that characterized his whole career, that never allowed him to assume personal credit for any achievement, must have found favor with Him who taught the lesson of humility in such a perfect manner.
Mr. Locke married Ellen McCalmont, born October 7, 1846. Children of David and Ellen Locke: I. Hannah Adella, married Theodore Keifner, and resides in Sharon, Pennsylvania. 2. James McCalmont, a foreman in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, stationed in the employ depart- ment at Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. 3. Belle Brown, married William Stoner, and lives in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. 4. David Clyde, of whom further. 5. Samuel Audley, married Mae Pizor; lives on the old home- stead with his mother. 6. Thomas Ellis, a farmer of Mercer county ; mar- ried Bertha Eppinger. 7. Offutt Hunter, supervising principal of the Wood- lawn schools.
(IV) David Clyde, son of David and Ellen (McCalmont) Locke, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1874. He was educated in the public schools, and was graduated therefrom and from the Slippery Rock State Normal School. He was also graduated from the Grove City College, receiving the degree of A. B. His first occupation was as a teacher, this position being obtained when he was seventeen years of age, and in that profession he has continued all his life. His work has taken him to Butler county, where he taught for several years in Whitestown, Forward township, in the common and high schools of Zelienople, and at Evans
David 6. Locke.
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City, where he was principal of a summer normal school for teachers. For the nine years from 1898 to 1908, he was supervising principal of the Monaca schools, in 1908 being elected county superintendent, an office to which he was re-elected in 1911, and again in 1914 for a term of four years. Mr. Locke inherits a vast amoun of ability from a father who was prominent in educational work for a long period of time, and has had well- deserved success in his chosen profession. As head of the county school system he has greatly improved its efficiency, and has inaugurated many modern innovations tending toward the development in the district of a school system second to none in the state. His ideas are modeled along practical lines. well suited to the practical education of the day, and are producing the best of results in the county. Mr. Locke keeps well abreast of all the educational movements of the day, taking an active interest in the State Educational Association and the State Superintendents' Associa- tion, to both of which he belongs. His religious beliefs are Presbyterian, his church being at Monaca. He was a trustee of that organization, and at present is an elder, and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is also prominent, belonging to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, Junior Order United Amer- ican Mechanics, of which he is past councillor, and the Masonic order. In the latter fraternity he belongs to Rochester Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master ; Eureka Chapter, No. 167, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; Hiram Council, Royal and Select Masters, of New Castle; Beaver Valley Commandery, No. 84, Knights Templar; and Pennsylvania Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret. He also holds membership in the Beaver County Agricultural Association.
Mr. Locke's efforts in the position he has so completely filled for the past six years have met with the highest approval of the state authorities, and have borne excellent fruit. Besides being a most able county superin- tendent, he is an extremely popular one and has many firm friends among the principals and teachers whose work it is his duty to oversee. During the present year ( 1914) he is a member of the legislative committee of the State Educational Association.
June 11, 1914, Mr. Locke was united in marriage with Miss Georgina Naomi Groleau, a daughter of George and Louise Groleau, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Locke is a graduate of the California State Normal School, California, Pennsylvania, Class '08, and also of Grove City College, class 1914.
This name is one which is known in various sections of
BECKERT Germany, and is chiefly connected with agricultural interests. Various members of this family have emigrated to America, and have proven themselves desirable citizens, and have aided in raising the standard of the communities in which they have resided.
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(I) Leo Beckert, who was born in the duchy of Hessen, Germany, spent his entire life in his native land, where he was a farmer and land owner, and died in 1901. He married Elizabeth Becker, a native of the same place, who died in 1890. The had children: Pauline, born 1869, died aged eighteen years; John (see forward); Joseph, a bricklayer, lives in Germany; Maria, unmarried, lives in Germany; Regina, is in a convent; Adelbert, a missionary, when last heard from was in Japan; Clemens, a son, died in infancy.
(II) John, son of Leo and Elizabeth (Becker) Beckert, was born in the Duchy of Hessen, Germany, October 16, 1871. He received a substan- tial and practical education in the public schools of his native town, and at a suitable age was apprenticed to learn the trade of bricklaying. He also served three years in the German army, as prescribed by law. Returning to his former occupation, he followed it for a period of nine years, then, as- suming that the United States offered better opportunities for advancement to a man of ambition and energy, he emigrated to this country, in the spring of 1903. For the space of two months he lived at Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, then removed to Rochester township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, where he rented a farm of sixty-three acres, and continued this lease until 1911. His methods were excellent and successful, and in 1911 he purchased this farm outright, and is on the high road to prosperity. He devotes considerable time to dairy farming, and has about eight acres planted in fruits, mainly grapes. In politics he is a Progressive, and in religion a Catholic. Mr. Beckert married, in 1894, Katie, born in West- phalia, Germany, March 24, 1861, a daughter of Wilhelm and Maria (Clyde) Hightcamp, the former a shoemaker, and both of whom died in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Beckert have had children: Frederick, born in 1897; Henry, 1901 ; Carl, 1903.
John George Fresch, who was born in Germany, about the
FRESCH year 1820, and at the age of twenty-eight years emigrated to the United States, lived for a time in Philadelphia and for the space of one year at Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He then removed to Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and was employed for a time as a mason on the Pittsburgh & Fort Wayne railway culverts. Later he purchased a farm, on land now occupied by William Fisher, sold this, and bought one hundred acres of land from William Richards, on the hill back of Freedom. He erected a house and barn, and lived there until his death, in 1893. He was principally engaged in dairy farming, never having less than twelve to fifteen cows, and was very enterprising and successful. He was prominent in the community, affiliating with the Republican party, and for some time held the office of road supervisor. He and his wife were members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Fresch married, in Ger- many, Mary Hege, born in 1820, died in 1873. They had children: One, died in infancy ; Catherine, died in childhood ; John J., see forward; Henry,
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is a carpenter, lives in Freedom, married Georgiana Johnson, has six chil- dren ; Daniel, died in childhood; Anna, married Jacob Smith, lives on the homestead with her brothers; George W., see forward; Jacob, died in infancy.
(II) John J. and George W. Fresch, sons of John George and Mary (Hege) Fresch, were born, the former June 23, 1852, the latter August 17, 1860. They were both attendants at the public schools, then John J. became a student at Beaver College, while George W. attended the Iron City Business College. Both assisted their father in the cultivation and management of the farm, and upon his death, with their sister Anna, be- came joint owners of the estate. Both are staunch Republicans, and John J. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Neither is married, and their sister Anna has charge of the home for them. They are very methodical and up-to-date in their management of the farm, and have been very successful.
The name of Miller is one of frequent occurrence in the
MILLER United States, and especially in the state of Pennsylvania. Many of the families bearing it came to this country originally from England, but there is also a large number who are of German descent, the original spelling of Mueller or Moeller having become changed to Miller in the course of time.
(I) David Miller, the progenitor of the branch under discussion here, was born in Germany and came to America many years ago. He arrived at Philadelphia, from whence he went to Butler county, Pennsylvania, but soon removed to Marion township, Beaver county, in the same state, where he purchased one hundred and twenty-five acres of land. This was in the wilderness at the time of his purchase, and he was one of the pioneer settlers of that region. After clearing the timber from a portion of this tract he erected a log cabin as a dwelling house; and other log buildings as the necessities of his farm cultivation demanded. These buildings were later replaced by substantial frame ones. Mr. Miller married in Germany, and had children: William, see forward; Michael, died in Marion town- ship; David, died at New Brighton, Beaver county; Jacob, died in Iowa; Adam, removed from the township, and all trace of him has been lost; Mary, married Charles Longnecker, and died in Beaver county; Catherine, married Martin Flenner, and died in Butler county, Pennsylvania; Mar- garet, married Henry Scheibner, and died at Beaver Falls.
(II) William, son of David Miller, was in all probability born in Germany, from whence he came to this country as a very young child with his parents. After his marriage he settled on the old Miller homestead, which he has kept in fine condition and greatly improved. He was a pioneer in the fruit raising industry of that section of the country, and died about 1855. He married Elizabeth Blinn, a native of Germany who was brought here as a young child by her parents, and who married (sec-
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ond) Jacob Klein. She was a daughter of Daniel and Margaret Blinn, who emigrated to America and settled near Unionville, in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where they bought a farm of more than one hundred acres. They cleared and improved this and lived there until their deaths. Both were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. They had children: Elizabeth, mentioned above as having married Wil- liam Miller; Philip, a farmer, died in Butler county, Pennsylvania; Henry, died in New Sewickley township, Beaver county; Jacob, died in Marion township, Beaver county; Daniel, lives near the old homestead; Adam, re- tired, lives near Eastvale; Christian, a farmer, died near Rochester, Beaver county ; Louisa, married Charles Falk, and died in Kansas. William and Elizabeth (Blinn) Miller had children: William, a coal miner, lives in Eastvale; Philip, see forward; Henry, a painter by trade, died in New brighton, Beaver county; Caroline, married George Householder, and lives near New Brighton, Beaver county. By her second marriage, Mrs. Eliza- beth (Blinn) (Miller) Klein had children: Jacob, a farmer, lives in Chip- pewa township, Beaver county; Charles, a farmer near New Brighton, Beaver county ; Mary, married Henry Stuber, and lives in New Brighton, Beaver county.
(III) Philip, son of William and Elizabeth (Blinn) Miller, was born in Marion township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1849. He was educated in the public schools of his section, and assisted his father on the homestead farm. After leaving school he spent five years making a special study of gardening and fruit growing, and about 1868 purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Chippewa township, Beaver county, on which he has resided since that time. He makes a specialty of fruit growing, devoting ten acres exclusively to this branch, and is also engaged in general farming. He is a valued member and stockholder of the Beaver County Agricultural Association. In political matters he is independent, preferring to form his own opinions, and has been honored with the office of supervisor three terms. He is a member of the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Miller married (first) in 1869 or 1870, Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Harris, of Beaver county. Mrs. Miller died June 10, 1884, and he married (second) November 25, 1886, Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Krieg. By the first marriage he had children: Mary, married Harry Bonzo, resides in Beaver Falls; William H., a carpenter, lives in East Liverpool, Ohio; Matilda, married Stephen Moltrup, and lives in Beaver Falls; Charles P., a soldier during the Spanish-American War, on duty at the Philippine Islands, died at home in 1912; Margaret, married David Hotchkin, and lives in Meadville, Pennsylvania ; Daniel, a farmer and painter, lives in Brighton township, Beaver county; Walter, twin of Daniel, died at the age of three months. Children by the second marriage: Sophia, married Orville Wal- ton, and lives in Beaver, Pennsylvania; Mabel Melinda, married James Bradshaw, and lives in South Beaver township, Beaver county; Edna, at home.
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The name of Kennedy is one which has been borne by KENNEDY English, Scotch and Irish, but the particular branch under review here had its origin in Ireland. Major James Ken- nedy was born in Ireland, and came to the United States during the first years of the nineteenth century. He settled on Brady's Run, Brighton township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and from that district enlisted for service in the War of 1812. At the close of the war he returned to the peaceful occupation of farming, and became the owner of about three hundred and sixty acres of land. He erected a grist mill and a saw mill, managed them personally until his death, and also erected another mill on the same run, in Chippewa township, for his son Samuel. He was one of the most influential men in the township, and supported the Whig party. His farming operations were also extensive and he was very successful with them. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His death oc- curred about 1856. He was twice married, and had children by first mar- riage: James, died in Chippewa township; Samuel, a farmer, died in Iowa at the age of seventy-five years; Thomas, see forward; Matthew, a mill- wright, died in Brighton township; Eliza, married Samuel Mitchell, died while on a visit in Iowa; Annie, married Samuel Baxter, and died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. By second marriage there were children: Robert, a dentist, died in Minnesota; William, deceased, was a merchant in New Brighton.
(II) Thomas Kennedy, son of Major James and Mary (Wilson) Kennedy, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1812, died in 1893. After his marriage he settled upon a farm in the southwest part of Chip- pewa township, this land having been given him by his father, and he cul- tivated this until his death. He married, in Beaver county, Margaret Campbell, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, died there about 1882. They had children: Robert and James, who died in infancy ; Joseph F., a farmer of South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania ; Thomas, lives on the homestead; Isaac, see forward; Mary, who never married, also lives on the homestead. Margaret (Campbell) Kennedy was a daughter of Robert and Isabel or Margaret (Smith) Campbell, both natives of Germany. They were both young when they came to this country and were married in the United States. They settled on Little Beaver creek, in the western part of Beaver county, where he owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and died near Philippsburg, Penn- sylvania. They had children: Henry, died at the age of ninety-five years in Putnam county, Missouri; William, died in Industry township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania ; Jacob, died at Pike's Peak, Colorado; John, was drowned in early manhood; Isaac, died in Gallia county, Ohio; Margaret, married Mr. Kennedy, as above stated; Catherine, married John Robinson, and died in Iowa; Mary, married Isaac Elder, and also died in Iowa.
(III) Isaac Kennedy, son of Thomas and Margaret (Campbell) Ken-
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nedy, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to maturity. For some time after his marriage to Almeda Hill, the family lived in South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He and his wife then separated and his present residence is unknown. Mr. Kennedy lives in East Palestine, Ohio. They had children: Lou, married George David- son, and lives in Poland, Ohio; Dora, married Ralph Fisher, and lives in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania; Ida, married Francis Calhoun, and lives in Virginia; Curtis Cass, see forward; Clyde, employed on the railroad and lives in New Galilee, Pennsylvania; George, a clerk in a grocery store, lives in East Palestine, Ohio; Charles, lives with his mother.
(IV:) Curtis Cass Kennedy, son of Isaac and Almeda (Hill) Ken- nedy, was born in South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1880. Educated in the public schools, he was at an early age as- sisting practically with the farm labors. For a time he rented farms and after his marriage he became the manager of a farm of ninety acres, the old Bradshaw place, which had been inherited by his wife. In 1910 he established a corn shredder on this property, and in 1913 added a thresh- ing outfit, and these additional labors are keeping his time very fully oc- cupied. He married Birdie Bradshaw (see Bradshaw line III), and they have one child, George.
(The Bradshaw Line.)
(I) Robert Bradshaw was a native of Ireland and came to this country in the early settlement days. With his wife and family he located in South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, which was at the time a densely wooded section. He obtained a tract of four hundred acres of land, paying one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and there made a clearing near a spring. He erected a log cabin which was later replaced by a hewed log house twenty-four feet square. This was situated near the present home of T. J. Bradshaw, one of his grandsons. At the time of his death he had sold three hundred acres of the original tract. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He married, and had children, as follows: Robert, died on the original home- stead; Thomas, see forward; Susan, married William Rayl, and died in Ohio township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; Mary, married John Douglas, and died in Meigs county, Ohio; Ann, married James Louthan, died in Darlington; Susan, married George Swoggers.
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