USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 20
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Holland. James Parshall named in his will sons, Israel and David, also a "beloved daughter Mary."
(XIV) David, son of James Parshall, was born in 1682, died January 25, 1725 or 1726. He married, about 1705, Mary, daughter of David and Martha Youngs. She was born 1685, died April 21, 1725. She was a great- granddaughter of Lion Gardiner, and a daughter of Colonel John, son of Rev. John Youngs. David Parshall's will, probated March 16, 1725 or 1726, mentioned sons, David, Jonathan and "his daughters" with- out naming them.
(XV) David (2), eldest son of David (1) Parshall, made his will March II, 1759; it was probated February 28, 1760, and named David (3), Desire, Elias, Sebil, James, Mehit- able, John; David's wife was Sebil White, to whom he was married December 6, 1736.
(XVI) Elias, son of David (2) Parshall, was probably born at Southold, Long Island, resided there until 1779, then temporarily moved to Connecticut to avoid the British. A document extant dated September 21, 1779, recites: "That he is a friend of the United States: that he had lately built a small vessel of twenty tons for trade; that by means of the threats and usage from the enemy, he dared not remain longer on said island, and has, therefore, brought over part of his family and effects on board said vessel to this state for liberty of landing and safe protection." The council of safety granted his petition, but there are no records to show when he returned to Long Island. He married, and had sons Elias (2), Lewis and Daniel, the last two drowned in 1813 with nine others.
(XVII) Elias (2), son of Elias (1) Par- shall, was born on Long Island about 1776, died at McClellandtown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 1854. He removed in 1797 to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Until the re- moval to Fayette county, the family had been seafaring men, now they became farmers, builders and merchants. They settled in German township, where he followed farming and merchandizing. He married and left issue, including a son Elias (3).
(XVIII) Elias (3), son of Elias (2) Parshall, was born in Morris county, N. J., 1797, died at McClellandtown, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1882. He grew up a farmer and in the
Elias Parshaft.
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flourishing days of the National Pike operated a number of teams on that historic road. He was a large land owner, farmer and stock dealer. He became influential and wealthy. He was a Whig, later a Republican. He was one of the pillars of the Baptist church and liberal in his donations. He mar- ried, in 1817, Hannah Matilda Grove, born in Masontown, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1800, died April 28, 1881, daughter of John and Mary (Brown) Grove. Children : 1. Vin- cent, born December 12, 1817; he moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 1878, purchased an estate of six hundred and eighteen acres and ended his days there; married Eliza Ann Crow, and left issue. 2. Harvey, born July 19, 1819, died June 5, 1822. 3. William Grove, of whom further. 4. Reuben, born November 9. 1823. died un- married April 26, 1884. 5. Emily, born Sep- tember 25, 1825, died in Toledo, Ohio, June 12, 1902; married John T. Worthington. 6. Mary, born August 30, 1827, died September 29, 1883; married Thomas W. Lyons, and . lived in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. 7. James M .. born August 22, 1829, died February II, 1903; married Mary Higginbotham. 8. Maria, born May 7, 1831, died September 16, 1873; married William Porter, and lived at Merrittstown, Pennsylvania; no issue. 9. Hamilton, born January 10, 1833, died Octo- ber 2, 1833. 10. Nelson, born February 22, 1834, died July 2, 1834. 11. Elizabeth, born March 9, 1836; married George (2) Porter (see Porter VII), and lived in Uniontown. 12. Caroline, born January 27, 1838, died August 10, 1900; married Thomas N. Wettner, and lived in German township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 13. Hannah Matilda, born February 2, 1840, died October 28, 1844. 14. Stephen Calvin, born February 13, 1842, died November 9, 1844. 15. Sarah Helen, born April 11, 1844: married Melancthon J. Crow, and moved to Grand Ridge, Illinois; he died April 8, 1884: no issue. 16. Luretta, born August 17, 1845, married Dr. George Wash- ington Neff, of Masontown, Pennsylvania.
(XIX) William Grove, son of Elias (3) Parshall, was born in German township, Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1821, died July 4, 1883. He was educated at Jefferson College; read low under General Joshua E. Howell; was admitted to the Fay-
ette bar in 1847, and continued in active suc- cessful practice all his life. He was an active Republican, and influential. He served on the county committee, was often chairman and a frequent delegate to party, county and state conventions. He was an able lawyer and a man of high character. He married Martha A. Hawks, born February 14, 1836, who survives him, daughter of Jonathan Hawks, a native of Massachusetts. Children: Three died in childhood; Emily, born Novem- ber 8, 1874, died October 8, 1908, mar- ried Frank Raymond Crow; children: Martha Lonisa, born January 10, 1903, and Frank Raymond, born May 29, 1905; William W., of further mention.
(XX) Williani W., son of William Grove Parshall, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1866. He received his early and preparatory educa- tion in the public schools of Uniontown, where his boyhood and youth was passed. He then entered Cornell University, whence he was graduated B. S., class of 1888. He then began the study of law under the direction of W. G. Guiler, of Uniontown, continuing until his admission to the Fayette county bar in 1890. He at once began the practice of his profession in Uniontown, and continued without interruption up to the present time. He is qualified to practice in all state and federal courts and commands a large influen- tial clientele. He has large business interests. independent of his profession; is director of the Second National Bank of Uniontown ; president of the First National Bank of Smithfield; director of the McKeefry Coke Company; director of the United Connells- ville Coke Company ; has a large interest in the Puritan Coke Company ; a large operat- ing company, and in various other coal and coke companies of his section. He stands high among his professional brethren of the bar, and is an energetic capable man of af- fairs. He is a Republican in politics, has served as a frequent delegate to party conven- tions and as a member of the Fayette County Central Committee. He is a member of the Episcopal church, as is also his wife, both being active and efficient workers. His club is the Uniontown Country. Both he and his wife are members of the Laurel Club. Their house is situated one mile south of Union-
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town on the National road, and is a most beautiful and attractive suburban home. The property first owned by Elias Parshall, great-grandfather of William W. Parshall, in German township, is now owned by W. W. Parshall.
Mr. Parshall married, June 1I, 1902, Amelia, daughter of Henry and Maria (Daw- son) Baldwin, of Springfield, Ohio. Chil- dren: William B. (2), born April 30, 1903; Louise B., born December 10, 1904; Law- rence, born May 19, 1907; Henry Baldwin, June 15, 1909; Edward Rodney, October 30, 1910.
This branch of the Porter
PORTER family, of which John R. Por- ter is a representative, de- scends from John Porter, born in England, 1690, came to America, and settled at Balti- more, Maryland, in 1715.
(II) John (2), son of John (1) Porter, was born about 1720 at Baltimore, and settled in Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1782. He married Nancy, a daughter of Moses Mc- Kenzie, and left eight children.
(III) Caleb, son of John (2) Porter, was born in Maryland about 1760. He lived at Ellicotts Mills, near Baltimore, Maryland, and about the year 1800 came to Pennsyl- vania, where he purchased twelve hundred acres of land in Westmoreland county, on which he built a stone house. This house with part of the original purchase is yet held in the Porter name. He married and had a large family. Two of his sons, James and Joseph Porter, served in the Union army dur- ing the civil war.
(IV) Peter, son of Caleb Porter, was born about 1795 at Ellicotts Mills, near Baltimore, Maryland, died at Jacob's Creek. Pennsyl- vania, July 3, 1889. He was brought to West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, by his parents in 1800. He followed farming all his life, althoughi two of his brothers. Ezra and Nathan, were pioneer boat builders with yards on the Ohio river, near Pittsburgh. In 1847 or 1848 Peter Porter moved to a farm at Jacob's Creek, where he lived until his death in 1889. He was a well known and highly respected man and was successful in his business affairs. He married Isabella Mc- Creery, born about 1804, at Cherry Tree, In- diana county, Pennsylvania, died January 3,
1889. They had four sons and four daugh- ters. Sons: Elliott; Hudson; Elias, de- ceased; he enlisted from Clearfield, Pennsyl- vania, in the Eleventh Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, and served in the civil war; John Ritchie, of whom further. Daughters: Harriet, married James T. King and resides at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania; Emma, re- sides in Pittsburgh, Missouri; Margaret, inarried Willian Reed, of Lafayette county, Pennsylvania.
(V) John Ritchie, son of Peter Porter, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, August 9, 1844. He was educated in the public schools at Jacob's Creek and re- mained on the paternal farm until attaining legal age, then entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as fire- man on a locomotive. He soon left the Balti- more & Ohio for a better position with the Pennsylvania railroad, remaining three years. He then returned to the employ of the Balti- more & Ohio and has been continuously 'with that road until the present date (1912). He has passed through successive grades of promotion in the transportation department, attaining the position of passenger con- ductor, having held the latter position many years, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest conductor in the company's employ. He is well known in his home city and to the traveling public and is held in universal esteem. He has had many thrilling experi- ences in his long career "on the rail." not having gained his title of "veteran" without experiencing every sensation that falls to the lot of the modern railroad man. He is a Democrat and a Mason.
He married, April 15, 1874, Caroline Mc- Beth, born in Normalville, Pennsylvania, daughter of John A. and Anna (Nickle) Mc- Beth, and granddaughter of George Nickle. Children: 1. Anna Mae, born May 25, 1875, died February 16, 1902: married F. T. Evans, of Connellsville. 2. J. Donald, born March
20, 1877; now engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Connellsville; married Myrtle May Pfeifer. 3. Roy M., died in in- tancy, April 3, 1878. 4. Ralph Ewing, born April 28, 1879; married Olive Boyd, April 15, 1907. 5. Elmer Reed, born September 9, 1885. 6. Imogene A., born July 10, 1899. 7. Kathryn M., born September 18, 1891.
Porter Homestead
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There are bany different
PORTER
branches of the Potter family
in Fayette county tracing to English and Irish progenitors. One branch entered the county from the south, another from New York state and still another from Indiana. The larger branch is the southern family, of which Phineas Porter is recorded as being overseer of the poor of Dunbar township in 1803.
(I) Phineas Porter was born in Maryland He was a tanner. He came to Fayette county about the year 1800 and established a tannery in Dunbar township. All the salt used in the tanning process had to be carried over the mountains on horseback, the tanned leather being sent to market in the same way until the opening of the National Pike about 1822. He married Susan McNutt, who was of Irish descent, the Porters being Scotch-Irish. Children: 1. Phineas, married Hannah Bunker and moved to Appamoose county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. 2. Jolın, married Lowry and joined his bro- ther in Iowa. 3. Sarah, married Joseph Mc- Farland and moved in the old-fashioned prairie schooner to join her brothers in Iowa. 4. Moses, of whom further.
(II) Moses, son of Phineas and Susan (McNutt) Porter, was born in Dunbar town- ship. Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1807, died in October, 1875. He grew to manhood on the home farm, learned tanning from his father and later the shoemaker's trade, but did not follow it after his marriage. His health failed him and he was obliged to seek out-of-door employment. He was first manager of the "Woolen Mill Farm," on which New Haven was later built. He then cultivated for five years the farm on which the village of Wheeler is built. He prospered and saved enough money to purchase a farm in Dunbar township. He moved to his own farm in 1849, continuing there until his death. He was energetic and thrifty, hold- ing the respect of his community. He was a Democrat in politics, serving in the offices of assessor and school director.
He married Elizabeth Murphy, born on the farm on the National Pike now known as the county farm, December 14, 1814, died February 4. 1906, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Mason) Murphy. Three Murphy brothers came to Fayette county from Mary-
land about the time of the American revo- lution, Jacob, William and Asa. They set- tied near where Mount Braddock now is and were getting along finely until suddenly at- tacked by the Indians. Jacob escaped, Asa was killed outright and William hid in a brush pile and was not found. William was so frightened at his perilous adventure that he returned to Maryland and never again re- turned to Pennsylvania. Jacob Murphy was a well-to-do farmer and owned ten slaves, whom lie employed in his farming operations. Elizabeth, his wife, was born in Fayette county in the stone house her father, Isaac Mason, an early iron master, had erected in 1802 on the present site of Mount Braddock. Isaac Mason built the first iron furnace erected in Dunbar and operated it many years. Elizabeth (Mason) Murphy was a de- voted, prominent Methodist, and on one oc- casion entertained at her home the entire Methodist conference then in session nearby. Children of Jacob Murphy: I, Rev. Jacob, a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 2. Ross, married Anna McCormick and moved to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, where he was constable for many years. 3. Thomas, a farmer, married Matilda Patter- son, of Perryopolis. 4. Isabel, married John Taylor and died one year later. 5. Sarah, died young. 6. Allen, died young. 7. Eliza- beth, of previous mention, wife of Moses Porter. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Porter: 1. Emily, married J. Phinley Patton, a farmer, both deceased. 2. Ann H., married William Gaddis, a farmer of North Union township. 3. Susan, married J. N. Miller, a veteran of the civil war and later editor of the Sac Sun, Sac City, lowa, where they now reside. Chil- dren: Blaine, married Miller Stadt, of Wichita, Kansas: Cuyler, a printer of Wichita. 4. Irwin R., married Joanna Ryner and they now reside on their own farm in Montgomery county, Missouri. 5. Ewing B., of whom further mention. 6. Louisa B., resides in Uniontown with her brother, Ewing B. 7. Aaron T., married Lydia Hackney and resides on his farm near Emporia, Kansas. 8. Sarah Ellen, died un- married.
(III) Ewing B., fifth child of Moses and Elizabeth (Murphy) Porter, was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, February 26, 1850. He was educated
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in the public school, grew to manhood on the home farm, continuing his residence there until 1831 He then became manager of mine faims for the H. C. Frick Coke Com- pany, and during the next ten years had charge of forty iarms owned by the company. In 1895 he becanie manager of the "Tower Hill" farm of seven hundred and twenty-five acres, continuing there eleven years until 1906, when the farm, rich in coal deposits, was sold; the price paid was twelve hundred dollars per acre. Since 1907 Mr. Porter has resided in Uniontown in charge of real estate. He is a confirmed third party Pro- hibitionist and for thirty years has voted ac- cording to his principles, being one of the oldest voters of that party in the county. He was for many years a member of the East Liberty congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and a faithful, devoted Christian. He married, June 11, 1878, Susan Phillips, born in North Union town- ship in 1855, daughter of William S. and Eliza (Swan) Phillips, both born in that township. Child: Kennedy E., born March 3, 1879; a farmer of North Union township; he married Ella Dawson and has children: Wil- liam and Robert Ewing. The family home of the Porters is at No. 78 Mine street, Union- town.
The Welsh family of Thomas THOMAS date far into antiquity. While the descendants of Sir Rhys Thomas, E. G., who lived during the reigns of Henry VII and VIII of England, claim for him an extant pedigree going back to Adam, the historical line probably begins with Urien Rheged, a British prince, living, according to the best authorities, in the sixth century after Christ. While the links con- necting him with Sir Rhys may not all be of equal certainty, it is the uniform judgment of all writers upon Welsh history and gene- ology that Sir Rhys descended from Urien, son of Cynvarch, a prince of the North Britons, in Cambria, on the borders of Strath Clyde, who, driven out by the invasion of the Saxons in the Sixth century, took refuge in Wales. Urien, his eldest son, is called by the Welsh bards "brave as a lion, gentle as a niaid." The Welsh name him one of "the three bulls of conflict," and "the three pillars of battle." His greatest feat was the expul-
sion of the Irish-Scots from the territory be- tween the Tawe and Savery rivers. From these early warriors there is an unbroken line of descent to Sir Rhys ap (son of) Thomas, born 1449. He is the acknowledged head of the Thomas family of Wales, from whom the numerous family of Thomas de- scend. He was brave, wise and politic, uniting the branches of his own family and acquiring unbounded popularity. He main- tained an establishment in keeping with his great wealth, having nineteen hundred ten- ants bound by their leases to attend him at the shortest call, and, that brief warning hav- ing been given, he could bring into the field five thousand disciplined men mounted and armed. He took sides with the Earl of Richmond and fought by his side at the bat- tle of Bosworth Field, August 22, 1485. In fact, he broke the attack of King Richard on the Earl's person, and is said to have slain King Richard at the moment of his reaching the Earl. Be as it may, the new king was very grateful to Sir Rhys, and loaded him with gifts and honors. He rose to high power and continued a glorious career as a soldier. He was appointed to the highest honors in Wales and there reigned in royal style. He is buried in the Church of Grey Friars, at Caermarthen, where a most re- markable monument indicates the spot. His will was probated July 5, 1525. He left six sons and three daughters. From these sons of Sir Rhys Thomas came the families of Wales bearing the name, and from these latterday families of Wales the many families in the i United States. These families are found all over the country, Pennsylvania having a fam- ily of ironmasters of the name known as the Thomas family of Catasauqua. Maryland and Virginia have many families of the name tracing to Wales, and some of them to Glamorganshire. The family is strong in England, and a branch settled in Italy, where they are known as Tomasi. The family is also prominent in Wales and exceedingly numerous.
The family herein traced, from the first to come to the United States, were natives of North Wales, the father of John Thomas be- ing a mining superintendent in charge of lead nunes until his early death at the age of forty years. He lived and died in Wales, a man of strong character, and a devout member of
1
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the established Church of England. He had and his guerillas. He was a member of the two sons, William Henry and John. William Henry emigrated to the United States, but after his arrival at Philadelphia all trace of him was lost and nothing can be told of him. His younger brother John, who came in 1847, made a diligent search for his brother, but without success. It is probable that he went west and founded one of the Thomas fan- ilies of that section. The Thomas brothers of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, are of pure Welsh blood, father and mother both being born, one in North, the other in South Wales. The Beynon family also has an ancient Welsh history, but theirs is a history of life on the seas. Both branches of the family furnished a soldier to the great conflict between the states, while from the same Welsh ancestry came General ("Pap") Thomas, the hero of Chickamauga and of many other hard-fought battles. The record of this branch of the family in the United States, although cover- ing but two generations, is most creditable, and proves that the traits of courage and am- bition did not die with the ancient hero, Sir Rhys ap Thomas. The American history be- gins with Jolin, father of John L., William H. and Robert O. Thomas, of Fayette county, of whose lives a detailed account follows.
(I) John Thomas was born in North Wales, January 21, 1821, died in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1906. He attended school in his boyhood, but his father died when he was young and the lad early became a wage earner. He worked first in the lead mines, but later went to South Wales, where lie worked at coal mining, becoming a skilled miner. He there met his future wife, but they were not married until after coming to the United States. In 1841 he emigrated to this country, settling in Pittsburgh, South Side, where he worked at his trade in the old Keel- ring mines near by. He married, in 1851, and moved to Coulter, Allegheny county, then an inviting coal field, convenient to the river. He continued a miner all his life, becoming mine overseer and having interests in coal mines in that district. He prospered and was a highly respected, honorable citizen. Dur- ing the war between the states he enlisted in the Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Ar- tillery, Company F, and served over a year, seeing hard service in the Virginia campaign and on detached service in pursuit of Mosby
Methodist Episcopal church, and an active, devoted Christian worker. For twenty-five years he was superintendent of the Sunday school, filling that office continuously during that period.
Ile married, in Pittsburgh, South Side, in IS51, Elizabeth Beynon, born in South Wales in 1826, died in Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, September 7, 1875, daugliter of Wil- liam and Mary Jane Beynon, both natives of South Wales. Her father was of a Welsh seafaring family, some of them being in com- mand of ships. Children of William Beynon: I, William (2), emigrated to the United States and is now in the coal business in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. 2, Ann, married Rob- ert Knox, in their native land, but in 1870 came to the United States, settling in Pitts- burgh. They were then quite aged, but being financially independent, came to visit with their children, who had preceded them many years. Their children: Jane, married and iived in Easton, Pennsylvania, where her hus- band was killed accidentally; she married (second) George Davis, a master roller in the steel mills at Pittsburgh; Thomas, a steel roller of Pittsburgh, deceased; Agnes, mar- ried Rhiniman Buck, a steel worker of Pitts- burgh; William, Alice and May remained in Wales. 3. Jane, married John Morgan, in Wales, came to the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, where he engaged in the retail coal business, owning his own mine. 4. Alice, married William Thomas, an iron worker of South Wales, where both died; two of their children came to the United States; John, an iron worker at Homestead, and Alice, who later returned to Wales. 5, Elizabeth, who married John Thomas, of previous mention. After her sister Jane and her husband, John Morgan, came to the United States in 1843, they sent back to Wales glowing accounts to their relatives. In 1847 Elizabeth and her mother and uncle William Beynon sailed for the United States, coming on the same boat with John Thomas, who had known them in Wales. The Beynons settled in Pittsburgh, where others of their family were living. William Beynon, brother of Elizabeth, en- listed in Company F, Fifth Regiment, Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery, with his brother- in-law, John Thomas, and served during the entire war.
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Children of John and Elizabeth Thomas: I, Mary Jane, born in Pittsburgh, South Side, died aged three years. 2, John L., of whom further. 3, William Henry, of whom further. 4, Robert O., of whom further. 5, James B., born June 10, 1862, lives at Coulter, Pennsyl- vania; now located at Mckeesport, Pennsyl- vama, cashier for Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad; married Victoria Black, of Coulter, 6, Eliza Jane, died aged three years.
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