USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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BOYD This is another branch of the Boyd family descending from William Boyd, of Virginia, who canic in 1784. a land owner and slave owner of Bullskin township, surveyed to him in June, 1786, as "Spring Hill."
(II) James, son of William Boyd, was a farmer of Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He married and had male issue.
(III) George W., son of James Boyd, was born in Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he became a prosperous farmer, retiring late in life to Mount Pleas- ant, Pennsylvania, where he built a large brick house which was his residence until death. He was a member of the Baptist church and a man of influence. He married Martha Smith, February 18, 1846; she was also a Baptist. Children: I. James Smith, of whom further. 2. Catherine May, born 1848; mar- ricd George Slirader, a farmer, and moved to Ohio; both living. 3. Emily, born March 3, 1851; deceased; married John Mock, now a farmer of Ohio. 4. Smith, born April 25. 1853; married and now living in West Vir- ginia. 5. Mary, born March II. 1855; mar- ried Peter Lacas, of Scottdale, whom she sur- vives. 6. Demsey, born August 17, 1857: married May McMasters; he is a merchant of Merrittstown, Pennsylvania; both living. 7. Martha, born February 7, 1860; married
John Metcalf, a traveling salesman, now re- siding at Lawrence, Kansas. 8. George M., born December 24, 1861 ; married and died in Joplin, Missouri.
(IV) James Smith, son of George W. and Martha (Smith) Boyd, was born near Morgan Station in Upper Tyrone township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1846. He attended the local public school and grew to manhood on the home farm. After his marriage he lived two years on his father's farm, then until February, 1855, lived at Det- wiler's Mills as manager of Grandfather Det- wiler's farm, and also did the mill hauling. In 1855 he moved with his family to near Cawker City, Kansas, where he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. He prospered, and in 1893 purchased an additional two hun- dred and forty acres on which he moved and lived until 1906. In that year he sold his one hundred and sixty acre farm and bought one hundred acres near Wichita, Kansas. He has devoted himself mainly to raising alfalfa, that wonderful crop that has brought prosperity to the west. He also conducts a line of general farming operations on his two farms. He is a Republican in politics and has served on the school board for many years. He is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church, as is his wife.
He married Susan Catherine Detwiler, born at Detwiler's Mills, Bullskin township, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1852, daughter of Samuel and grandmother -of Henry and Susan (Stauffer) Detwiler. Henry Detwiler was born in Germany, came to the United States about 1800, settling in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was a miller, and shortly after coming to Fayette county built a log mill close to the present mill. He also built a log house and cleared part of his land, but confined himself very closely to milling. His children: 1. Samuel, of further mention. 2. Joseph, died a young man. 3. Henry, died a young man. 4. John S., an extensive stock dealer and farmer, owning at his death nearly three thousand acres of good land; he mar- ried Catherine Atkinson. 5. Jacob, moved to Wadsworth, Ohio, where he now resides; in 1849 he joined the "goldseekers," journeyed to California, but illness compelled his return, first to Ohio, then to Pittsburgh. 6. Martin, lived and died at Moyer, Fayette county. 7. Betsey, married Henry Fretts and lived in
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Fayette county, Pennsylvania, until her death. 8. Sarah, married George Atkinson. Samuel, eldest son of Henry Detwiler, in- herited the mill from his father, whose trade of miller he also followed. He built other imiils on the site of the old log mill and also carried on extensive farming operations. He is a devoted member of the United Brethren church and a man of considerable influence. He married Elizabeth Fretts, who also sur- vives. Their children: I. Henry, an attorney of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; married Jose- phine Van Gundy. 2. Susan Catherine, of previous mention. 3. Elizabeth, died unmar- ried. 4. John Fretts, a physician of Union- town, Pennsylvania. 5. Anna, married Frank Burkhart. 6. Joseph M., married Mary Comp. 7. Smith, married (first) Lorena Newcomer, now deceased; he married (second) in June, 1912, Olive Fretts, of Scottdale. 8. Samuel M., married Alice Walters. Children of James Smith Boyd: I. Albert Mason, of whom fur- ther. 2. Harry Ellsworth, born October 3, 1875; now living on his father's two hundred and forty acre farm in Kansas; married Della Cram. 3. Frank Hanby, born January 3, 1878; now assistant superintendent at the Waltersburg Coke Works in Fayette county; married Laura Humphreys. 4. Bessie Marie, born July 7, 1879: married Edward Anderson, an employee in the freight department of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Scottdale, Penn- sylvania. 5. Samuel Detwiler, born October 31, 1881; now manager of a plumbing estab- lishment at Denver, Colorado; married Mattie Keller. 6. Ruth Van Gundy, born October 14, 1884; residing with her parents. 7. John Clyde, born October 22, 1885; died in in- fancy. 8. Anna Josephine, born September 12, 1886; married Mark Bohrer, a tinner, now residing at Smith Center, Kansas. 9. Ralph Harper, born October 31, 1890; residing at home; unmarried. IO. Azalia Belle, born April 1, 1893; resides at home. II. Max Dewey, born May 15, 1896; resides at home. (V) Albert Mason, eldest son of James Smith and Susan Catherine (Detwiler) Bovd, was born near Morgan Station in Upper Ty- rone township. Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1874. He was a year old when his parents moved to Detwiler's Mills, where his boyhood days were passed and his early education acquired at the Gault school in Buckskin township. He was ten years of age
when the family moved to Kansas, where he completed his studies in excellent public schools. His father then was cultivating about six hundred acres of land, and as the eldest son, Albert M., soon became his valued and trusted assistant. He, however, insisted upon having an education, attended Cawker City high school, where he was graduated in 1894. He then attended Kansas State Nor- mal at Emporia, and taught school for three terms. He returned to Fayette county in 1898 and entered the employ of the Union Supply Company at Leisenring No. 3, remain- ing eleven months. He then engaged with the W. J. Rainey Company in their store at Elmi Grove, Fayette county, as meat cutter. After two years he was appointed payroll clerk, serving as such eleven months, then be- came yard boss at the coke works, continu- ing one year. In June, 1903, he was appointed manager of the Elm Grove store, a responsi- ble position, which he now most acceptably fills. His home is in Elm Grove, and he also owns a tract of 320 acres in Kansas. He is a Republican in politics and has served as school director. He is a Mason of high degree, be- longing to James Cochran Lodge, No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons, at Dawson; Con- nellsville Chapter, No. 283, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Uniontown Commandery, Knights Templar; Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, and Pittsburgh Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he holds the thirty- second degree. He is a member of Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and interested in all the work of his church.
He married, September 19, 1907, Melissa McBurney, born in Franklin township, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert and Susan (Bute) McBurney. Children: Susan Mildred, born September 15, 1908; Grace Antoinette, November 7, 19II.
BOYD This branch of the Boyd family is of Irish birth and parentage. The Bovds were originally from Scotland, but settled in the north of Ireland several generations ago. The first of this line of whom we have record was David Boyd, born in County Down, Ireland, about 1837. He was an only child, received a good educa- tion in the public schools, and has always followed farming as an occupation. He yet resides near the scene of birth fairly well pre-
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MBoyd.
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served for a man of his years. He is a Liberal in politics, and a communicant of the Pres- byterian church. He married Anna McBur- ney, born in County Down, Ireland, died in 1889, aged sixty years. Children: Archibald, died in Ireland aged twenty-two years; mar- ried a Miss Iiben. Mary. William, of whom further. Margaret. David. John. Samuel. Robert. Ellen. Jane, died in infancy. All of these living children reside in their native land except William, he being the only one who emigrated to the United States.
(II) William, son of David and Anna (Mc- Burney) Boyd, was born in County Down, Ireland, August 2, 1866. He attended the public schools of the town and grew up a farmer. At the age of twenty, in 1886, he came to the United States, finding his way to western Pennsylvania. He entered the employ of the Carnegie Steel Company at Larimer's Station, Westmoreland county, re -. maining one year, then was transferred to Douglass Station on the Youghiogheny river, remaining twelve years. In the early years after coming to Pennsylvania, he attended the night schools, adding greatly to his edu- cational acquirement. About the year 1900 he entered the service of the H. C. Frick Coke Company, continuing until 1911. In November, 1911, he was elected justice of the peace of New Salem, Menallen township, which office now engages his time. He was the first of the justices elected under the new law making the term one of six years instead of four. He has served as school director and was assessor of district No. 3, Menallen township, four years, expiring in 1911. He is a Republican in politics and has always been an active party worker. He is an elder of the Presbyterian church, his wife and oldest children also being members of that church. He is a man of high character and holds the unvarying respect of his community.
He married, October 6, 1897. Mary Weigel, born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (Pitts- burgh, North Side), daughter of Conrad Wei- gel, born in Germany, came to the United States, engaged in mercantile business in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife Mary survives him, and with her youngest daugh- ter, Kate, continues the business established by her husband. Louisa, the oldest daughter, married Thomas Manning, and resides at
Robbin's Station, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania; Mary was the second of the three daughters of Conrad Weigel. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd: I. Gladys, born July 21, 1897; Winfield Conrad, July 23, 1899; William, November 5, 1901; Joseplı David, April 10, 1905; James Samuel, December 10, 1910. The family home is at New Salem.
MCFARLAND This family descends from a Scotch-Irish an- cestry. They first set- tled in Greene county, Pennsylvania, where John McFarland, grandfather of John J. Mc- Farland, of Vanderbilt, Fayette county, was born. A McFarland figured in the whiskey rebellion in Greene county and was killed in one of the conflicts with the authorities.
(II) John McFarland, the first of whom rec- ord is found, lived and died in Greene county, Pennsylvania, where he married and left issue.
(III) Jacob, son of John McFarland, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1823, died 1880. He worked at farming in his younger days, then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed the remainder of his life, residing at Mapleton, Greene county, and doing an extensive lumber and contracting business. He was a Democrat, and with his wife a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Susan Brown, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1822, died September 4, 1911, daughter of Jonathan Brown. of Greene county. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Children: Rebecca, deceased; Mary Ann, married Job Chisbo: John J., of whom further; Jesse, mar- ried Jennie Turney; James Lindsay, deceased; Caroline, deceased; Sarah Ellen, deceased; Melinda, married E. W. Waters; Miner, de- ceased; Thomas, deceased; Alice, married W. K. Shaw; Jacob, married Annie Crowley: Willianı, married Alice Morris.
(IV) John J., son of Jacob and Susan (Brown) McFarland, was born in Mapleton, Greene county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1850. He was educated in the public schools. He engaged in the lumber business, operated a planing mill and was a contractor and builder of prominence in Uniontown, Penn- sylvania. In 1892 he engaged in the hotel business, continuing at Uniontown and at Dunbar. Pennsylvania, until 1900, when he disposed of his interests, came to Vanderbilt,
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Fayette county, where he has since been the owner and proprietor of the Vanderbilt Hotel. He is an active Democrat served six years as mercantile appraiser of Fayette county; was presidential elector in 1896 when William J. Bryan made his first campaign for the presidency; delegate to many state and county conventions of his party and is still influential in party politics.
He married (first) in 1877, Anna Van Horn, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, who died in 1887. He married (second) Jennie, horn May II, 1865, daughter of Dr. B. A. Feichtner, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Children of first marriage: Frank J., now re- siding in Dunbar; Caroline, married Earl Ober, of Uniontown; Anna Winifred, mar- ried Harry Cochran, of Dawson, Pennsylva- nia. Children of second marriage: Lindsey F., born November 18, 1889; John E., born December 16, 1896.
Frederick Struble, the first STRUBLE member of this family about whom we have definite infor- mation, was born in Philadelphia. He was licensed in the September sessions of 1806 to keep tavern in Fayette county, and this he did at McClellandtown. It is not known whom he married. He had a child, Asbury, of whom further.
(II) Asbury, son of Frederick Struble, was born at McClellandtown, January 5, 1809, died December 3, 1889. In German town- ship, Fayette county, he owned five hundred acres of land, and was not only one of the most extensive, but also one of the most suc- cessful farmers in the county at that tinie. He was a Democrat. He married (first) Sprote, (second) Sarah Ann Smith, of Find- lay, Ohio. Children, seven by first wife and by second wife the following: Asbury R., born June 21, 1856; George Willey, of whom further; Emma Virginia, married Professor James M. Hantz; they live at Greensboro.
(III) George Willey, son of Asbury and Sarah Ann (Smith) Struble, was born in Ger- man township, April 1, 1858. He was brought up in German township, and there he attended public school. Afterward he entered the agricultural department of the Pennsylvania State College, where he obtained a scientific agricultural education. Returning home he engaged in farming and he has continued
steadily in this work, and the combination of sound theory and practical experience has given him great success in agriculture. His own home farm, of about three hundred acres, has all been put into an excellent state of cul- tivation and is one of the finest farms in the county. Seventeen acres have been sold from his first holdings, having been bought by the railroad for right-of-way. Besides this fine farm, Mr. Struble owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres near Merritstown, Pennsyl- vania; five hundred acres in Preston county, West Virginia, and one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota. Naturally he is a well-known man throughout Fayette county. He has always carefully studied the business aspect of farming. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. In politics Mr. Struble is a Democrat, and he has served as school director twenty-five years.
He married, in September, 1890, Anne, daughter of William McShane, who died No- vember 27, 1911. She was, a member of the Presbyterian church. Their only child died in infancy.
LYNN Judge David Lynn, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, founded
this family in America. He came from Dublin, Ireland, and settled in Fred- erick county, Maryland, where he became prominent. He was a judge under the crown and held office at the time of the Stamp Act agitation.
(II) Andrew, son of Judge David Lynn, was born in Ireland, and came to Maryland, where he died, leaving issue: Andrew (2), of whom further; William and James.
(III) Colonel Andrew (2) Lynn, son of Andrew (1) Lynn, grew to manhood in Mary- land. He came to Fayette county with his brothers, William and James Lynn. William was a revolutionary soldier, and settled near Louisville, Kentucky. James settled in In- diana, while Andrew remained in Fayette county, where he came in 1761, and entered a large tract of land, as did his brother Will- iam, by the method known as "Tomahawk- ing." William's tract was in Washington township, extending to the Monongahela river, including the site of Freeport, now Fayette City. When he moved to Kentucky he sold three hundred acres to his brother, Colonel Andrew Lynn. His "Tomahawk"
Isaac Lynn
Levis ELyun
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claim held good until 1769, when he made application to have it surveyed. His petition was granted, and on August 2, 1769, it was surveyed, being the first authorized survey ever made by the government in Fayette county under the law of 1769. Besides this the Colonel owned his own "Tomahawk" claim and several hundred acres in Redstone and Jefferson townships, including a mill site. When the revolutionary war broke out Andrew enlisted in the Continental army and rose to the rank of a commissioned officer. He served throughout the entire war and was with Washington at Yorktown. During his
thorities compelled his wife to comply with the law requiring every owner of a mill site to either erect a mill or abandon the site to the state. She pluckily faced the situation, and by the time her husband returned from the war the mill was completed and grinding flour and feed for the public. He resumed his agricultural life and devoted himself to the improvement of his farm. He died in 1794, and was buried in the family graveyard on one of his farms, known as Crabtree Bot- tom, in the "New Purchase," where, about 1814, his excellent wife was laid by his side. He married Mary Ashercraft, daughter of Peter and Mary (Ashercraft) Johnson, of Maryland. Children: 1. Nancy Ann, who be- came the third wife of the Rev. John Corbly, a Baptist minister; at one time her husband was confined in Culpeper jail for preaching the doctrine of complete separation of church and state. After his release he came to Greene county, Pennsylvania, where he es- tablished the Baptist church at Gerrards Ford, and preached the gospel until his death. 2. William. 3. Andrew (3). 4. John, who, in the fall of 1791, became a member of the United States service during the Indian uprisings, and was selected as one of eight scouts by his commander at Fort Wheeling, Virginia, to ascertain the movements of the hostile Indians, and while on duty in Ohio was shot through the heart while lying under the same blanket with John Crawford, the latter escaping without injury. John Lynn was a warm friend of Crawford's, and upon the birth of a son in Crawford's family he was named John Lynn Crawford, in accord- ance with a sacred pledge made by Mr. Craw- ford twelve years before. 5. Ayers, of whom
further. 6. Captain Isaac, who fought with Commodore Perry at the battle of Lake Erie, and won a medal for distinction in that cam- paign.
(IV) Ayers, son of Colonel Andrew (2) Lynn, was born in Redstone township, Fay- ette county, September 15, 1772, died No- vember 28, 1840. He built a stone house upon his farm in Redstone, which is yet standing and occupied, and there several suc- ceeding generations were also born. He was a farmer all his life, owned a large farm and was a prosperous, substantial citizen. He was a Whig in politics and always active in absence from home during the war the au -. public life. In religious faith he was a Bap- tist. He married Charlotte McFarran, born in Hancock, Maryland, August 30, 1780, died January 6, 1855, at Canton, Illinois, while on a visit there to her daughter, Nancy C. Coch- ran. They left issue as follows: John J .; Samuel Mc .; Nancy C., married a Mr. Coch- ran; Louisa J .; Mary; Isaac, of whom fur- ther; William; Alexander Mc .; Andrew; Har- riet S .; Dr. James J. and Robert W.
(V) Isaac, son of Ayres Lynn, was born in the old stone house on the home farm in Redstone township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, November 15, 1816, died December 20, 1891. He was a prosperous farmer of Red- stone, a Whig in politics, later a Republican, holding many local offices. He was a Baptist in religion, and a man of high standing in his community, as the Lynns have always been. He married, February I, 1844, Rebecca, born October II, 1821, near Greensboro, Greene county, Pennsylvania, died September 27, 1865, daughter of Lewis and Rachel (Jones) Evans. In 1898 the family home was estab- lished in Uniontown, where the three living daughters reside. Children, the first born in the stone house: 1. Lewis Evans, of whom further. 2. Louisa Johnson, born September 2, 1846. 3. Charlotte Jane, born September 12, 1848; died October 10, 1849. 4. Rachel Evans, born June 6, 1851. 5. Eliza Bell, Jan- uary 28, 1855. 6. Robert Wasson, November 14, 1857.
(VI) Lewis Evans, eldest son of Isaac Lynn, was born in Redstone township, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1844. He was educated in the public schools and grew to manhood on the home farm, and for many years followed agriculture as an oc- cupation. In 1890 he moved to Uniontown,
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and has since been engaged in coke and coal land operations. He has prospered in busi- ness and stands well in his community. He belongs to lodge, chapter, commandery and shrine of the Masonic order, is a member of the Presbyterian church and a Republican in politics.
He married, February 6, 1872, Nancy M., born August 25, 1850, died August 14, 1888, daughter of Jacob and Marjorie (Harper)' Henderson, of Dunbar township, Fayette county. Children: 1. Jacob H., born Novem- ber 20, 1872, in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania; educated in the com- mon shcools and entered the University of Virginia at Morgantown. Later he engaged in the coal and coke business; is now located in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, at Langhorne, where he has a fine estate, "Lynnwood." He still holds his interests in the coal and coke business. He married Alberta D. Hogg, daughter of Charles Hogg, of Cadiz, Ohio; no issue. 2. Mary Rebecca, born September 2, 1874; married Dr. Gregg A. Dillinger, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; has one child, Bes- sie A. 3. Robert I., died in infancy.
This family is believed to be of DILS German ancestry, although the name lias been greatly changed no doubt since its introduction into this country. The earliest record is of Philip Dils, who married Mary Hagar, in what was then Springhill township, Fayette county, and set- tled in the same township about 1807. He came from near Parkersburg, West Virginia, and died in 1857, in Nicholson township, Fayette county, where descendants yet reside. He was a successful farmer and left each of his five children a good farm. Philip Dils and wife both lived to a good old age. Children: Ann; Benjamin, of whom further; Henry; Peter; Mary.
(II) Benjamin, son of Philip and Mary (Hagar) Dils, was born in Nicholson town- ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1811. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and after leaving school assisted his father on the home farm of one hundred acres. This he inherited upon his father's death and conducted extensive stock raising operations, supplying the meat dealers of the nearby towns and also making large ship- ments to the cities. In politics he was a Den-
ocrat and served his township as school di- rector. He married Elizabeth, daughter of George and Hannah (Larch) Gans. Children: Philip; Paul; John; William; George; Ben- jamin: Mary Ann, married J. A. Gilbert ; Hannah, married Alexander Moser; Franklin Pierce; Leander, of whom further; Maria; Michael.
(III) Leander, son of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Gans) Dils, was born on the old home- stead farm in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1854. He obtained his education in the public schools, and after reaching man's estate took entire charge of the home farm; later, in 1908, pur- chasing a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres, which he now conducts very success- fully. He is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry and of the Baptist hcurch. His polit- ical party is the Democratic. The only office he ever held was that of road supervisor, to which he was re-elected several times. He married, in 1881, Elizabeth Poundstone, born October 16, 1858, daughter of William and Mary (De Bolt) Poundstone. Children: I. Jennie L., married Le Roy Brown. 2. Philip Lawrence, died in infancy. 3. Ida, lives at home. 4. Alvin Crow, twin of Ida, lives in Georges township. 5. Leanna Elizabeth, lives at home. 6. Vanie R., lives at home.
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