USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 12
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other, a death scene, coffin, etc., and a notice of dates, births and death beneath. The dates were all in the year 1700. Francis, one of the sons of Dr. John McCormick, was born April 17, 1734; one of his two wives was a Miss Province, after whom his son Province was named. Province McCormick served in the war of 1812 with the rank of colonel. The name Province was also perpetuated in the family of William McCormick, but spelled Provance.
(II) William, son of Dr. John McCormick, was born about 1736, he being the next son to Francis, born 1734. He was probably born in Virginia, as the record of the deed men- tioned was 1740. He came to southwestern Pennsylvania about the year 1770, and was the first settler within the limits of the later borough of Connellsville, preceding by a few years Zachariah Connell, in whose honor the town was named. William McCormick came to Connellsville from Winchester, Virginia, bringing with him a number of pack-horses, which he employed in the transportation of salt and iron and other commodities from Cumberland, Maryland, to the Youghio- ghney and Monongahela river settlements. There were no railroads, and Cumberland was the nearest point on the old National Pike. He settled on the Connellsville side of the river, building his first home of logs on the river bank directly opposite the home of Colonel William Crawford, on the west side of the Youghiogheny river, in 1767, at Stewart's Crossing, later the borough of New Haven, now a part of the city of Connells- ville. He died in 1816, aged about eighty years. He married Effie, daughter of Colonel William Crawford, the revolutionary officer and famous Indian fighter, whose life and tragic death at the hands of his savage foes. has inspired the pen of so many writers. Colonel Crawford's coming to Western Pennsylvania antedated William McCor- mick's by several years, while his coming to. Stewart's Crossing was about fourteen years. later than William Stewart's, who lived there in 1753 and 1754. Another daughter of Colonel William Crawford married Zacha- riah Connell, who came soon after 1770 and made his home with Colonel Crawford until his marriage to Ann Crawford in 1773; later, between 1773 and 1778, he moved to the east side of the river, locating on a tract of land
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designated in his warrant of survey as "Mud Island." William and Effie (Crawford) Mc- Cormick had eleven children, including a son Provance.
(III) Provance, son of William McCormick, was born July 29, 1799, in Connellsville, where he dicd in 1887. He was a man of good edu- cation and versatile talent. In early life he le:rued the carpenter's trade, but after a few years gave it up. He was the first manufac- turer of coke in the Connellsville region, and in 1842 built the first beehive oven construct- ed in the United States. From his small be- ginning has grown the now enormous output that taxes the carrying capacity of the several railroads entering the coke region of Penn- sylvania. For many years he was justice of the peace, and served one term as associate judge of Fayette county. He married Susan Bowers, born near Connellsville, died 1868, of German descent among their children was a son, Joseph T. .
(IV) Joseph Trevor, son of Provance Mc- Cormick, was born in Connellsville, Pennsyl- vania, November 23, 1830, died May 4, 1904. He received a good education in the public schools, and after completing his studies tauglit school for several years in Connells- ville. Later he established in the drug busi- ness, continuing for several years, then se- cured an appointment as draughtsman in the Department of Internal Affairs at Harrisburg, holding it five years. In 1866 he entered into a partnership with James McGrath and estab- lished the Connellsville Machine & Car Com- pany, manufacturing all machinery used in the mining of coke and transportation of coal. This was one of the largest enterprises of Con- nellsville and was always a prosperous one. Mr. McCormick was treasurer, Mr. McGrath. superintendent, each owning a half interest ests, the most important being his connection Mr. McCormick had other and varied inter- with the Second National Bank of Connells- ville, of which he was president until his death. He was a member of the Masonic order, of which he was one of the charter members in Connellsville. In politics he was always a Democrat. He married, at Connellsville, Oc- tober 27, 1855, Susan Newmyer, who survives him, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Stick- ler) Newmyer, both born in Bullskin town- ship, Fayette county. Jonathan Newmyer.
born 1790, was a leading farmer of his town- ship, son of Peter Newmyer, who came from eastern Pennsylvania to Bullskin township during the revolutionary war and purchased a large farm. Children of Joseph Trevor Mc- Cormick: 1. Karl C., died 1891. 2. Mary Maud, married Rev. John M. Scott; children: John M., Jean, Donald M., Roger M., Karl M., and Malcolm M. 3. Louis Provance, of whom further.
(V) Dr. Louis Provance McCormick, youngest son of Joseph Trevor McCormick, was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Au- gust 7, 1866. His early education was ob- tained in the public schools, after which lie attended Mt. Pleasant Institute in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, later attending Bridgeton (New Jersey) Institute, whence he was graduated, class of 1886. He chose medi- cine as his profession and entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1891. He at once began practice, locating at Connellsville, where he is now located and well established as a skillful, popular practitioner. At the out- break of the Spanish-American war he was as- sistant surgeon of the Tenth Regiment, Penn- sylvania National Guard. He volunteered for service with his regiment, was mustered into the United States service at Mount Gretn ., Pennsylvania, May 5, 1898, mustered out Au- gust 22, 1899, at San Francisco, California. He served with the Tenth in the Philippines, and was in the battie and taking of Manila by the land forces. He was assigned February 4, 1899, to the United States gunboat "Laguna de Bay," and during Aguinaldo's insurrection saw active service, particularly between Feb- ruary 4 and the following June, in twenty-six engagements. From August 6 to 14. 1898, he was in charge of the Manila ambulance service. From August 14, 1898, to the fol- lowing February 5, 1899, he was on duty at the Reserve Hospital at Manila. In August, 1899, the regiment returned to the United States and was mustered out at San Fran- cisco. Dr. McCormick is still in service in the National Guard as surgeon, with the rank of major. After the war he returned to Con- nellsville and re-established his practice, hav- ing offices in the Second National Bank Build- ing. He is on the surgical staff of the Cottage State Hospital at Connellsville, was president
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of the board of health for several years, and is a member of the Fayette county and Penn- sons, Uniontown Commandery, Knights sylvania State medical societies, and the American medical association. He is promi- nent in the Masonic order, belonging to King Solomon's Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, Connellsville Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- Templar; Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, and Pittsburgh Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree; and is a noble of Syria Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is commander of the local society of the Army of the Philippines. He is a Democrat, but ex- tremely independent in political action.
He married, February 1, 1906, Kathryn Fel- singer, born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1882, daughter of Ja- cob and Clara Felsinger, both born in Phila- delphia. Children of Dr. Provance McCor- mick: Helen, born January 2, 1907; Martha, March 12, 1909.
MCCORMICK
The McCormicks of Red- stone township, Fayette county, spring from James
McCormick, who settled at an early date. He is credited with the ownership of land in Jef- ferson township in 1780 and in Franklin town- ship in 1785. In 1787 he was naturalized as a citizen. He died in 1847, aged eighty-five years. His children, seventeen in number, settled in various parts of Fayette county; several in Redstone township.
(II) John C., son of James McCormick, was a house carpenter of Redstone and a farmer noted for the excellence of his agricul- tural methods. In fact, his farm south of Cook's Mills, during his ownership there was regarded as a model. He was an ardent Pres- byterian, and one of the founders of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church of Pleasant View, Menallen township. He was assessor of Redstone township in 1847, and also served as school director. He died in 1876, leaving issue.
(III) Samuel, son of John C. McCormick, was born November 2, 1820, died 1881. He grew up a farmer and spent his life engaged in agriculture and kindred pursuits. He was en- ergetic and very successful in his business operations. He owned the old Sharpless farm,
later bought the old Davis farm (where his children were reared), and finally bought the old Hess homestead near New Salem, where lie died in 1881. He was a strong Democrat, and a Presbyterian. He married Margaret Hess, born February 4, 1820, died in Cali- fornia, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1910. Chil- dren: I. Mary, born November 1, 1845; mar- ried Henry Johnson, a farmer of Menallen township, Fayette county. 2. Elliott Evans, of whom further. 3. Mary Jane, born June 25, 1857, died April 6, 1897.
(III) Elliot Evans, only son of Samuel and Margaret (Hess) McCormick, was born in Redstone township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, January 20, 1854. He passed his early life on the home farm and obtained his edu- cation in the common schools. In after life lie became a successful farmer and took an unusual interest in machinery and its applica- tion to farming. His political party was the Democratic, and he and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist church. He died April 5, 1890.
He married, November 15, 1877, Eliza- beth J. Scott, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Samuel Scott, who emigrated to Butler county, Pennsylvania, from Scotland. Children: 1. Elizabeth J., of previous mention. 2. Emmett, deceased; was a teacher in Butler and Beaver Falls, Penn- sylvania. 3. Samuel E., a master mechanic near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. Jennie Porter. 5. Annie, married John Wagner, de- ceased, and lives in Butler county. 6. Mar- garet, deceased. Children of Elliot Evans and Elizabeth J. (Scott) McCormick: I. Samuel O., of whom further, 2. George E., born Au- gust 29, 1880; married July 11, 1903, Ruth Hatfield. 3. Emmett Scott, born December TI, 1882: assistant train despatcher on Pitts- burgh, Virginia & Charleston railroad at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. Jessie Brown, born December 3, 1887; associated in feed business with brother at New Salem; mar- ried July 17, 1907, Louisa Murphy, daughter of M. A. Murphy, of Franklin township.
(IV) Samuel O., son of Elliot Evans and Elizabeth J. (Scott) McCormick, was born in Redstone township, Fayette county, October 3, 1878.
He was educated in the public schools of Redstone township and later com-
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pleted a course in Duff's business college at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His early life was passed on the home farm helping his father, and upon the death of the latter he took en- tire charge of the home farm for about two years.
For five years following he was employed by. Jesse P. Brown, of New Salem, then entering the mercantile business, held a position with the Shamrock Supply Company, leaving there to accept a situation as assistant to the super- intendent at the Buffington plant of the H. C. Frick Company. After two years' employ- ment with the Union Supply Company he en- tered the feed and builders'. supplies business at New Salem in partnership with Mr. Stev- enson, under the firm name McCormick & Stevenson. They opened their store at Boyd's Mill, and at the end of a year Mr. McCor- mick purchased his partner's interests. He ias built up a large and remunerative busi- ness, covering all the territory included be- tween Redstone creek on the north, Browns- ville on the west, Carmichaels, Greene county, on the south, and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, on the east. He is a Republican in politics, and has held several local offices, among them the following: Postmaster at Salem for five years, school director in independent district for four years, and road supervisor of Me- nallen township, in which capacity he has built the first piece of state road in the county. He is a member of the Christian church in New Salem; is superintendent of the Sunday school, superintendent of the board of finance, and superintendent of the mission school at Shamrock, Pennsylvania. As a power for good in the church his value cannot be over- estimated, and his congenial, pleasing manner gives him much liberty and freedom of action in his Sunday school work. He is a fine type of the successful business man, the Christian gentleman and the good citizen.
He married, June 29, 1904, Evelyn B., daughter of Oliver C., a boot and shoe manu- facturer of McClellandtown, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth (Huhn) Harn, of German town- ship. Children: Evelyn B. (of previous men- tion); Emmons Blaine, manager of Lamson Store Service Company, Atlanta, Georgia. Child of Samuel O. and Evelyn B. (Harn) McCormick: Elizabeth, born October 20, 1907.
This family name is of FAIRCHILD Scotch origin, and until the settlement in England was Fairbairn, "bairn" being the Scotch equivalent of "child." The coat-of-arms is an ancient one, and denotes in heraldry three pilgrimages to the Holy Land and three pris- oners taken by knights of the family during the Crusades. Thomas Fairchild, ancestor of the American family, and his first wife, were among the first settlers of Stratford, Connec- ticut, coming in 1639 from England, where a branch of the Scotch family settled in the fif- teenth century. He became a prominent man, and in 1659 the general court honored him with the prefix "Mr."
.
He married (first) in England, about 1639, Sarah, daughter of Robert Seabrook, (second) Katherine Craig, of London, England. He died December 14, 1670, and his widow mar- ried (second) Jeremiah Judson. Children of Thomas Fairchild and his first wife: I, Sam- uel, born August 31, 1639; said to have been the first white child born in Stratford, Con- necticut. 2. Sarah, born February 19, 1641; married Jehiel Preston. 3. John, born May, 1644, died young. 4. Thomas (2), born Feb- ruary 21, 1645; married Susan -- , who sur- vives him and married (second) Samuel Nich- ols. 5. Dinah, born July 14, 1648, died 1703; married Benjamin Corey. 6. Zachariah, of whom further. 7. Emma, born October, 1653. Children by second wife: Joseph, born April 18, 1664; John, June 8, 1666; Priscilla, April 20, 1669.
(II) Zachariah, son of Thomas Fairchild and his first wife, Sarah Seabrook, was born in Stratford, Connecticut, December 14, 1651, died June 3, 1703. He married, November 3, 1681, Hannah, daughter of John Beach. She survived him and married (second) May 5, 1708, John Burritt. Children of Zachariah Fairchild: I. Mehitabel, born March 21, 1682, died September 27, 1684. 2. Hannah, born August 1, 1685. 3. David, March, 1688. 4. Agnes, October 1, 1691. 5. Caleb, Septem- ber 10, 1693; settled at Whippany, New Jer- sey, and died there May 1, 1777. 6. James, born February 12, 1695. 7. Mary, May 7, 1698. 8. Zachariah (2), of whom further. 9. Abiel, born July 15, 1703.
(III) Zachariah (2), son of Zachariah (1) Fairchild, was born at Stratford, Connecticut,
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settled at Morris Plains, Morris county, New Jersey, where he died August 6, 1777. He married (first), Deborah , born 1707, died April 3, 1757; (second) widow Lydia Hathaway, in August, 1757; she was born 1724, died May 22, 1769. Children of first wife: 1. Jane, married Silas Goble, 1744 2. Mary, married Benjamin Hathaway. 3. Phin- eas, of whom further. 4. Abigail, married Jonathan Conklin. 5. David, born May 6, 1734; married (first) November 9, 1757, Cath- erine Gregory, born March 13, 1735, died February 18, 1800; (second) Nancy Loper. 6. Katurah, married Philip Hathaway. 7. Rhoda, born November 4, 1737; married Jededialı Gregory. 8. Abel, born November 4; 1739; married (first) Esther Gard, (sec- ond) Elizabeth With Zachariah (2) and his children the prominence of the Fair- childs as a Morris county, New Jersey, fam- ily, began.
(IV) Phineas, son of Zachariah (2) and his first wife, Deborah Fairchild, was born 1730, died in Morris county, New Jersey, Novem- ber 12, 1801. He was a prominent citizen of Morris county, New Jersey. He married Sarah -, born 1729, died November 2, 1811. Children: Abigail, born December 24, 1754, married David Hurd; Deborah, born February 22, 1757, married William Hubbard; Sarah, born February 22, 1759, drowned 1769; Mary, born June 12, 1761, married Caleb Tuttle; Timothy, born July 22, 1763, married Stephen Mehitabel Tuttle; Stephen, of whom further; Esther, born No- vember 20, 1766, married Jonathan Dean; Charlotte, born October 10, 1768, married Loammi Chesterline; Justus, born July 20, 1771, died November 22, 1772; Sarah, born February 26, 1773, died May 6, 1861, married December 15, 1795, Peter Tompkins.
(V) Stephen, son of Phineas and Sarah Fairchild, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, November 30, 1764. He served in the revolution, but not as an enlisted man, being but fifteen at the time, but one of his older brothers in the army was taken sick, and while he was home being nursed back to health Stephen took his place in the army. His service was recognized, and in her old age his widow was granted a revolutionary pension, which she drew until her death. One of his brothers was with Washington the dreadful winter at Valley Forge. Stephen
Fairchild was a shoemaker by trade, and after attaining manhood he moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, settling at what is now East Liberty. He married, late in life, Eliza- beth Jillet. Children: Twins, Alexander and Andrew; Alexander owned a farm on the mountain above Dunbar, Fayette county, and married (first) Catherine Logan.
(VI) Andrew, son of Stephen and Eliza- beth (Jillet) Fairchild, was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1823, died June 5, 1892. He grew to manhood in East Liberty, attended the pub- lic schools, and in early life worked at cab- inet making. He then bought a saw mill on Dickerson Run, which he operated for ten years. He engaged in undertaking, was jus- tice of the peace, and so continued until his death. He was a strong Democrat of the Jackson type, and a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. During the civil war he contracted mail routes in West Virginia, which he sub-contracted to other parties, visiting Buchanan and Beverly for that purpose, and there having excitng adventures with guerrillas. He married (first) Eliza Jane Evans, who died at the age of twenty years. He married (second) Mar- tha Brewer, born in Perry township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 1825, died 1856. He married (third) Sarah Brewer, a sister of Martha, his second wife. Martha and Sarah were daughters of Aaron and Elizabeth Brewer. Their father in early life was a wagoner on the old National Pike, but after his marriage settled on a farm in Franklin township, Fayette county. In later years he moved to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he settled on a farm and died. The family were from Eastern Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Martha Brewer was the second of a family of twelve children. Children of An- drew Fairchild and his first wife, Eliza Jane Evans: 1. Daughter, died unmarried. 2. Susan, after her mother's death was taken and reared by her grandmother Evans; she mar- ried Stewart Worthington. Children of sec- ond wife, Martha Brewer. 3. Elizabeth, mar- ried Rudolph Wariaka and moved to Cali- fornia, where both died. 4. Aaron J., of whom further. 5. Joel Evans, now living in California, engaged in orange growing at Redlands, also a carpenter and builder; mar- ried Florence Hutchinson. Children of third
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wife, Sarah Brewer: 6, Martha, died Septem- ber 9, 1875, aged sixteen years seven months thirteen days. 7. Harriet, married Samuel Snedeker, deceased. 8. Anna, married Jacob Strawn, and lives in Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania. 9. Sarah, died in infancy. 10. John A., now living at Pocohontas, Illinois, where he owns and operates a flour mill.
(VII) Aaron Jillet, son of Andrew Fair- child and his second wife, Martha Brewer, was born at East Liberty, Fayette county, January II, 1852. He spent his early life at East Liberty and there attended the public schools. He learned the trade of carpenter in his father's mill and followed it until he was thirty-five years of age. At that time he purchased a small piece of ground near Dick- erson Run, to which he steadily added until he owned seventy-five acres. Here he en- gaged in the dairy business for a time with but indifferent success. Recently he has been engaged in operating real estate adjoining Dickerson Run, and in this has been very successful. He votes the Prohibition ticket and is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry.
He married, December 25, 1873, Susan Strickler, born in Franklin township April 12, 1855, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Snyder) Strickler. Children: 1. Leroy Oglevee, born October 30, 1874; married Rachel Johnson; he is a civil engineer in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Chillicothe, Ohio. 2. Elbert Strickler, born January 19, 1876; married Anna Simpson, and lives in Wilson, Pennsylvania, a contract- ing carpenter. 3. Bessie Pearl, born Septem- ber 10, 1879; married Clyde Brown, a farmer 01 Franklin township. 4. Wilford Cleveland, born February 5. 1884, civil engineer in the employ of the American Bridge Company at Toledo, Ohio. 5. Cora Belle, born October 28, 1887; lives with parents.
HAIR The earliest record of this fam- ily to be found gives Daniel Hare as the immigrant ancestor from Ireland, settling in Dunbar township. He had been a weaver in his native land and soon after settling in Dunbar township was offered a large tract of land for a pony and a web of Irish broadcloth which he had in his possession, but probably from reasons of sen-
timent refused to accept the offer. He was unable to follow his trade in this country and attracted by the fertility of the soil engaged in agriculture, soon owning a great deal of land in the vicinity of Paul Works.
(II) Joseph, son of Daniel Hare, was born in Fayette county, and married Susan Foster, born in Lancaster county; both are buried in the old Cumberland Presbyterian church cemetery at Vanderbilt. Children: (This generation spelled the name Hair). I. Dan- iel, born and died in Dunbar township. 2. David, died young. 3. James, moved to Washington county, and there died at a very old age. 4. John W., of whom further. 5. Susan, born and died in Dunbar and Franklin townships; married John Barricklow. 6. Mary, born and died in Dunbar township; married Jacob Leighty. 7. Eliza, died young. 8. Elizabeth, deceased; married R. M. Boyer. Joseph Hare was a lifelong Democrat, and served as road supervisor, and once was a candidate for associate judge of Fayette county.
(III) John W. Hair, son of Joseph and Susan ( Foster) Hars, was born in Dun- bar township. He engaged in farming with his brother James on land given them by their father, who continued to be with them until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and held the office of county commissioner for some time, and also was school director many years. He moved to Franklin township and lived there on the old Rankin farm until the time of his death. His only lodge was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Annie Stoner, who still remains his widow, living in Dunbar township. Children: I. Agnes, married George Edwards (deceased): lives at Dickerson Run. 2. Emma, married William Work; lives at Cadiz. Ohio. 3. Alfred W., of whom further. 4. Jesse D., married 5. Christian, unmarried, and living at home with mother. 6. Mary, married David Hughes, a conductor of the Lake Erie rail- road; lives at Glassport, Pennsylvania. 7. Annetta, married Benjamin McManus, a tele- graph operator; lives at Dickerson Run. 8. Samuel, engaged in milk business at Dicker- son Run. 9. John W .. employed by brother Alfred W. 10. Anna Grace, at home. Four others died in infancy.
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(IV) Alfred W., son of John W. and Annie (Stoner) Hair, was born in Dunbar township, November 21, 1868. He was educated in the public schools of Vanderbilt, and grew to youthful manhood on his father's farm. He was employed for two years as a mercantile clerk by W. J. Rainey, at Vanderbilt, and for the following two years was employed by the Brown & Cochran Coal Company as check- weighman at the Nellie Works. He then moved to Dunbar township, where he rented land and engaged in general farming until 1902, when seeing the possibilities in that section for a reliable dairyman he started a dairy business. In the spring of 1905 he pur- chased a farm of one hundred fifteen acres near Dawson, and has continued in the same business ever since. He keeps a herd of about twenty fine bred Holsteins and Jerseys, and does a profitable retail business at Vander- bilt and Dickerson Run. His milk is pro- duced under the very best conditions from high-class stock, and because of the excellency and cleanliness of his dairy facilities, the pos- sibility of contamination is reduced to a mini- mum.
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