USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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He married, February 29, 1865, Mary Ellen, daughter of Moses and Louisa (Bai- ley) Nixon. Moses Nixon was a farmer of Fayette county, owning a farm in Georges township that later was sold to the Oliphant
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Furnace Company, their plant being erected thereon. He died in 1859. Louisa Bailey was a daughter of Eli and Perry (Gregg) Bailey, a Quaker family, formerly of Greene county, Pennsylvania, later of Georges township, Fayette county, where they owned a large farm. Children of Moses and Louisa Nixon: I. William, married Mary Means and lives in the state of Montana. 2. Frances, married Azell Freeman and resides at Mount Pleas- ant, Henry county, Iowa. 3. Perry Louise, deceased, married William Dawson and lived in German township, Fayette county. 4, Amanda, married Charles Freeman and re- sides in Denver, Colorado. 5, Presley, de- ceased, married Carrie Presley and removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. 6. Emily, married Jacob Painshaw and resides in Mount Pleas- ant, Iowa. 7. Moses Taylor, a farmer of Georges township, married Fanny Collins. 8. Mary Ellen, married Albert H. Smith, of previous mention. She survives her husband and resides with her son, Daniel Ray Smith, in Connellsville. 9. Samuel Gregg, a farmer of South Union township, Fayette county, married Anna Williams. 10. Anna Virginia, married Thomas Ringman, a farmer near Mount Pleasant. 11. Victorine, married Will- iam Lawhead, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. 12. Died in infancy. 13. Died in infancy. 14. Died in infancy. 15. Died in infancy. Chil- dren of Albert H. and Mary Ellen Smith: I. Walter Scott, born November 29, 1868, now of Owego, New York. 2. C. Sheldon, born June 29, 1870, now residing in Mckees- port, Pennsylvania. 3. Samuel W., born Jan- uary 30, 1874, now of Uniontown, Pennsyl- vania. 4. Bessie May, born August 20, 1879, resides in Mount Sterling, Pennsylvania. 5. Ida Victorine, born January 23, 1881, died May, 1881. . 6. Daniel Ray, of whom further mention. 7. Albert Presley, born November 22, 1893.
(III) Daniel Ray, sixth child of Albert H. and Mary Ellen (Nixon) Smith, was born at Highhouse, near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1885. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of the different towns in which his parents resided during his boyhood, complet- ing his studies in the Connellsville schools. After arriving at a suitable age he began learning the plumber's trade, serving his ap- prenticeship under F. T. Evans, with whom he remained seven years. Having now the
expert knowledge and experience necessary, he located in Dawson, Pennsylvania, and be- gan business for himself. He shortly after- ward returned to Connellsville, where on May 15, 1910, he established in business at No. 313 West Main street, conducting a general plumbing business and dealing in gas fitting and plumbing supplies, becoming well known and building up a good business. He is a Democrat, but independent in local politics. He belongs to the Christian church. He is unmarried. The family home is at No. 406 Highland avenue, where he resides with his widowed mother.
This family name is one found in STONE every part of the United States, and is one particularly honored. Congressmen, senators and governors are frequent in thic list of noted men of the name, while literature, journalism and the profes- sions have gained added lustre from their achievements.
This record deals with a West Virginia- Pennsylvania branch, although the principal character was born in the state of Missouri. Western Pennsylvania has furnished the world with startling instances of the rapid de- velopment of men from depths of compara- tive obscurity to heights of dazzling altitude, but conditions of exceptional opportunity and special privilege added largely to their un- doubted ability. In the career herein traced conditions exceptionally unfavorable had to be overcome and success literally forced from unwilling fortune. How well a crippled boy has fought the battle of life, gained the vic- tory and reached an honorable position at lit- tle over forty years of age is a story worth the telling.
(1) Henry Stone, the first of the line here under consideration, was a native of Germany, from whence he emigrated to this country in young manhood, locating in Loudon county, Virginia, where he engaged in agriculture. After remaining there a few years he removed to Monongalia county, West Virginia, and there he also engaged in farming, added to which he did considerable teaming in the early days of the National Pike. His death occurred on his farm of forty acres, located near Maidsville, which he owned and tilled. Hle married Margaret Murphy. Children: Joseph, served in the war of 1812: John,
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served in the war of 1812; Jacob, served in the war of 1812; George; Henry; James, of whom further; Sarah; Polly.
(II) James, son of Henry and Margaret (Murphy) Stone, was born near Maidsville, on the old Stone farm, in 1806, died in 1872. He was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood, and later learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed in connection with farming, continuing thus throughout the active years of his life. He was a Democrat in politics. He married Jane Childs, a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Abram Childs, who lived near the White Rocks. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Stone: Sarah, married Joseph Parker; Joseph, mar- ried Margaret Parker; John, unmarried, who was last heard of in Iowa in 1872; Emanuel, married Jane Humphrey; Solon, of whom fur- ther; Theodore, married Julia Wade.
(III) Solon, son of James and Jane (Childs) Stone, was born at Maidsville, West Virginia, September 13, 1841. He grew to manhood in his native state, and followed farming. When the war between the states called for every man to show his colors, he enlisted in the Union army, June 7, 1861, as a private of Company A, Sixth Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry, at Morgantown, West Virginia. He served his three years' term of enlistment and was honorably discharged at Wheeling, Au- gust 13, 1864. He re-enlisted at New Brigh- ton, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1864, in Company K, Fiftieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to serve "during the war." He was honorably discharged and mustered out at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1865, the war being over. He was engaged during his first engagement in many battles and skirmishes, including the bottles of McDowell, Franklin, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Bull Run (first and second), Hedgeville, Rocky Gap, Mill Point, Droop Mountain, and rode in the noted 'Salem Raid." During his sec- ond enlistment he fought at Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, Virginia, Fort Steadman, and at the battles just preceding Lee's surrender. His service was long and arduous, serving in both branches, cavalry and infantry.
He resided at various times in the states of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Missouri, and after the war he removed to Iowa, where he engaged in forming. Later he moved to Missouri, where he engaged in railroad con-
struction. He returned to West Virginia in 1873 and was engaged in farming there until 1879, when he removed to the Connellsville coke region and was employed as manager and in different capacities in the coke and coal fields since that time. He is a member of the Church of Christ (Scientist), and in politi- cal faith is a Republican.
Mr. Stone married, at Bald Hill, Greene county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1866, Zana Magdelena Dean, born at Maidsville, West Virginia, June 17, 1847, eldest daughter of Samuel Dean, born at Maidsville; a farmer all his life, a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist church; he married, at Smithfield, Pennsylvania, in 1843, Elizabeth Dusenberry. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Dean: Sam M., Katherine, Mary L. and Zana M. Isaac Dean, father of Samuel Dean, married Zana La- zelle, daughter of William and · (Car- hart) Lazelle. Isaac Dean was a son of John Wilson Dean. Elizabeth (Dusenberry) Dean was a daughter of Samuel and Dorothy (Breakiron) Dusenberry, the latter a daughter of Frederick and (Carr) Breakiron. Samuel Dusenberry was a son of John Dusen- berry, who married Sarah Carhart. This an- cestry carries to the earliest colonial days and includes English and French progenitors. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Stone: Frantz Sie- gel, born December 7, 1866; Oliver Perry, July 14, 1868; William Arthur, of whom fur- ther; James Francis, September 13, 1872; Elizabeth Jane, March 12, 1875; Zana Mary, September 13, 1877; Clyde Victor, May 10, 1880; Ella May, May 31, 1882; Sarah Love, December 4, 1884; Euphemia, January 15, 1886; Samuel Mack, May 22, 1889; Minnie Amy, July 28, 1891.
(IV) William Arthur, son of Solon and Zana M. (Dean) Stone, was born in Carroll county, Missouri, July 17, 1870. He attended the public schools of Hopwood, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, but being one of the eldest of a family of twelve, he was com- pelled to seek employment at an early age. He was but ten years of age when he began work in the coke yard at McClure Station. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He followed coke burning and mining until he attained the age of seventeen years, then began working in a saw mill, where he had the great misfortune to lose his left leg. This was a most serious handicap for the young
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man, as his education at that time was exceed- ingly limited. But the loss of his leg, or the lack of education did not mean that there was' no future for one so ambitious and stout- hearted. As soon as he had recovered from his accident he began attending school in Hopwood, under the instruction of Nixon Canan, who took a deep interest in the boy, and whose kindly interest Mr. Stone has never forgotten. Later he took a special course of three months under the direction of Miss Hannah Jeffries, whose aid was of greatest value. Lack of means now compelled him to quit school and again become a wage earner. In his crippled condition few occupations were available, and as the one offering the best inducenients he chose subscription book sell- ing. The book he gave his principal effort to sell was the "Golden Censor," whose contents he committed to memory. He sold a great many copies of this and other works of a gen- eral nature. When delivering he seized the opportunity to become familiar with their con- tents, and many nights were passed in this way, not for the sake of reading, but to add to his store of knowledge. This course of reading was most beneficial and strengthened liis mental equipment as nothing else within his means could. He became known as a successful salesman, and his services were se- cured by the Union Publishing Company of Chicago to appoint and manage agents. He accumulated a few hundred dollars, which he invested in a grocery business and lost. Hc then became an itinerant vendor of special- ties, spending five years in street selling in the different cities of the United States. He again accumulated some capital and located at Hop- wood, Pennsylvania, and again engaged in storekeeping. To this he added timber spec- ulation. He prospered, and became financially interested in the People's Bank of Fayette County at Uniontown. afterward merged with the Citizens' Title & Trust Company of that city, of which he is vice-president. Mr. Stone has other business interests of importance, being heavily interested in the mining and manufacturing of coke. Starting most humbly and meeting with the most unfriendly fortune at the outset of his career, he has attained a position of trust and honor solely through his own indomitable will, his untiring industry and the courage to take up arms against ad- verse fortune. His career is an object lesson
in "grit" that will nerve others to greater ef- fort. He is a member of the Methodist Prot- estant church, and a Republican in politics.
Mr. Stone married, at Buffalo, New York, August 16, 1893, Bertha May Ingles, born in Hopwood, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 12, 1876, daughter of Andrew Stewart and Charlotte Jane Ingles. Andrew S. Ingles was a merchant, now a real estate dealer of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Stone is an only child, a sister having died in infancy. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Stone: Wendell Alien, born April 22, 1894: Bertha Yolande, January 31, 1897: Nina Ethelyn, December 28, 1898; Arthur Elwood, April 7, 1901; Al- bert Thonias, May 13, 1903.
FUEHRER This family springs from one of the numerous Fuehrer families of Germany, de- scendants of Johan Michael Fuehrer, a royal landscape architect, who died December 12, 1720, at Minden in Westphalia, Prussia, Ger- many. His descendants are found among the highest classes in Germany and include offi- cials, army officers and many professional men. They are so numerous throughout the Empire that they have held annual reunions for several years, and have a regular organi- zation. The secretary of the association is a minister of the gospel, Rev. A. Fuehrer, re- siding at Klein Schmalkalden, Germany, who has a genealogical family tree of all those with whom he is in correspondence. Any of the family who will write him (in German) and can give him the place their father or grand- father was born, can obtain a great deal of information. A small fee, less or about a dol- lar annually, will obtain permanent member- slin in the association.
(I) The Fayette county family descend from John Fuehrer, born near Berlin, Ger- many, thirty miles distant, in a small village, December 14, 1818, son of a German farmer who lived and died in his native land. John Fuehrer grew to manhood in Germany, where he received a good education and learned the tailor's trade. In 1836, being then aged eighteen years, he left home and fatherland. coming to the United States, set- tling finally in Schuylkill county, Pennsyl- vania, at the town of Maqua. where he opened a custom tailor shop. He combined with his business the teaching of instrumental
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music, principally the violin, and was an ac- complished performer on many brass and stringed instruments. He enlisted as a mu- sician during the war between the states, be- ing attached to the band of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel Coulter, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, commanding. He became leader of the band and served his whole term of enlistment with the Eleventh Regiment. After becoming a naturalized cit- izen he became affiliated with the Democratic party, but cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and ever afterward acted with that party. After he married he moved to Burke- ville, Virginia, settling on a farm which he cultivated until his death. He married, in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, Margaret Rhinemuller, born in Germany, in an adjoin- ing province to her husband's birthplace, Sep- tember 27, 1827, died in Virginia, daughter of Nicholas Rhinemuller, a small farmer of Ger- many, where he lived and died. Children of John Fuehrer: I. George, of whom further. 2. John W., a resident of Adelaide, Pennsyl- vania. 3. Augusta, married Thomas Cann, of Richmond, Virginia; 4. Peter, a farmer near McKeesport, Pennsylvania. 5. Richard Coul- ter, a resident of Richmond, Virginia. 6, Lewis, a resident of West Leisenring, Penn- sylvania. 7, Harry, a resident of Mckeesport, Pennsylvania.
(II) George, eldest son of John and Mar- garet Fuehrer, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1848. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Schuylkill and Carbon counties, attending until the age of thirteen years, then became a breaker boy at the anthracite coal mines, attending school at night. He next became mule boy, driv- ing both in and outside the mines; then ran a mine pump for a time, which ended his min- ing career. He obtained a position driving a delivery wagon, then as clerk in a Luzerne county store. He then formed a partnership with another young man, and pooling their savings had sufficient capital to start a small country store. They prospered in business and added a saw mill to their operations. In 1881 he came to Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, and soon secured a good position as manager of a store at Leisenring, No. 1, for the Connellsville Coke and Iron Com- pany. He continued in this position eight years, then became yard boss at Morgan Sta-
tion for the H. C. Frick Coke Company. He then resigned and came to Connellsville, where he began business as an insurance so- licitor. In a short time he established his own office and insurance agency, to which he added real estate dealings in 1896. He prospered, and still continues both lines, in- surance and real estate, having built up a strong agency representing the best foreign and home companies. His real estate opera- tions as owner and dealer have been many and varied in character, but skillfully man- aged and profitable. He has been located in the Title and Trust Company Building since 1900, having been the first tenant to occupy offices in that edifice. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in politics a Republican. He belongs to lodge and chapter of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, Heptasophs and Royal Arcanum.
He married, October 17, 1870, Margaret Johnson, born in Schuylkill county, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Thomas and Mary Jolin- son; her father was born in England, her mother in Germany. Children: I. Dora, born July 28, 1871, died March 31, 1873. 2. Caroline (Caine), born May 10, 1873, married Charles Michael. 3. Charles W., born March 19, now living in Youngwood, Pennsylvania. 4. Anna Margaret, born May 30, 1877; mar- ried Clarence Marietta. 5. George H., born November 6, 1879; married Mattie Paine, Child: George (3), born July 28, 1905. 6. Bessie May, born November 11, 1881; mar- ried Harry Kencaid, of Youngwood, Penn- sylvania. Children: Paul, Helen, Donald. 7. Mary Gertrude, born July 26, 1884, died December 31, 1886. 8. Bertha Blaine, born June 13, 1892. 9. Ralph Howard, born De- cember 3, 1894.
BARBER There are several distinct fam- ilies of this name in the United States-the Barbour family of Virginia, which claims descent from John Barbour, one of the earliest Scotch poets and historians, -- the New Jersey family, the Rhode Island family, and the Pennsylvania family. A fifth family came to America from Scotland, in which were three brothers,- James Barber, who settled in New York; David and John, who settled in Centre coun- ty, Pennsylvania. Judge John Barber held the first court in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, in
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1800. The spelling of the name in the early records of Virginia was Barber. Some time previous to the year 1688 Robert "Barbar," a cordwainer, came it is supposed from York- shire, England, and settled in the vicinity of Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Society of Friends and soon became prominent in the Chester meeting. The earliest record found of him is in the minutes of a Quarterly Meeting, held in Walter Fau- cit's house in Chester, on the sixth of the twelfth month, 1687. He was one of the committee appointed to supervise the build- ing of the first meetinghouse in Chester and was taxable in 1693. He built a substantial brick house on the northeast corner of Edg- mont avenue and Second street, adjoining the latter day Edgmont House in the city of Chester. He married Hannah Ogden in 1690, and died without issue in the year 1709.
(II) Robert (2), second son of John "Bar- bar," of Yorkshire, England, came to Penn- sylvania about 1699, to join his uncle Robert "Barbar," mentioned above, as an apprentice to the shoemaker's trade. At the death of his uncle, Robert, he inherited a considerable portion of his estate and soon took his uncle's place in public and religious affairs. He seems to have entered actively into politics at an early age. He was a candidate for sheriff in 1719; was elected coroner of Chester county, October, 1721 ; elected member of the board of assessors of Chester county, 1721. It was while acting in this capacity that he discovered the land on the Susquehanna that he afterward purchased. In 1726 he took up five hundred acres, where the city of Colum- bia now stands. John Wright and Samuel Blunston left Chester and Darby for Cones- toga. in order to begin a settlement at Sha- wanah, upon the twelfth day of September, 1728. The tradition is that Robert Barber preceded them and selected the site. They were all members of the Society of Friends. He moved just below where Columbia now stands in 1728, taking a certificate from the Chester Meeting, but never delivered it to any meeting in Lancaster county. He contin- ued in politics, and at a council held in Phila- delphia, May 8, 1829, was appointed the first sheriff of Lancaster. He was for many years one of the foremost men of Lancaster county in all public enterprises, but gradually with- drew from public notice, devoting the latter
years of his life to the care and support of his large family. He died at Columbia, Penn- sylvania, September, 1749. aged fifty-seven years. He was buried in the old "Brick Graveyard," but being a Friend his grave was unmarked. He married, May 17, 1718, Hannah, daughter of William Tidmarsh. Children: Eleanor, born 1718; John, 1720; Robert, of whom further; Thomas, born 1724; Nathaniel, 1727 ; Elizabeth, 1729; Mary, 1732; Sarah; James; Samuel.
(III) Robert (3), son of Robert (2) and Hannah (Tidmarsh) Barber, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1722. He was the first lieutenant of the first company formed at Tinicum Island, Pennsylvania, 1775, of which his brother, James, was cap- tain, his brother, Samuel, second lieutenant, and his son, John, a private. He took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsyl- vania, July 1, 1777. He received sixty-two acres of ground from his mother, October 14, 1761, and built the brick house still standing in Columbia. He died there, October 4, 1782. He married, September 26, 1746, Sarah, born December 2, 1729, died October, 6, 1793, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wright) Taylor. Children: 1. Hannah, born, Septem- ber 17, 1747, died in infancy. 2. Eleanor, born 1749. 3. Hannah (2), died in infancy. 4. Robert (4), of whom further. 5. John, private in the Hemphill township company in 1775, fought at the battle of Long Island, 1776, died November 20, 1796, unmarried. 6. Samuel, born 1756, died unmarried, 1801. 7. Hannah (3), born 1758, died 1803. 8.
Thomas, born 1760, died 1827. 9. Elizabeth, born 1762, died 1838. 10. James, died in in- fancy. II. Sarah, born 1766, died unmarried, 1841. 12. Susan, born 1769, died unmarried, 1824. 13. Rhoda, born, 1775, died unmar- ried, 1849.
(IV) Robert (4), eldest son of Robert (3) and Saralı (Taylor) Barber, was born in Co- lumbia, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1751. He took the oath of allegiance to Pennsylvania in Hemphill township, July 1, 1777. In com- pany with his brother, Thomas, he moved to Northumberland county (now Union), Penn- sylvania, in 1785, in which year he was taxed on four horses, two cows and five hundred and eighty acres of land. In 1791 he built a sawmill on his farm on White Spring Run. In 1797 he built a grist mill on the same
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stream. In 1805 and 1806, in partnership with Solomon Heise of Columbia, he built on Penn's creek the largest flouring mill in his county, also a sawmill. He served as a mag- istrate several years, being commissioned jus- tice of the peace for Buffalo township, No- vember 29, 1792. He occupied the same farm fifty-six years. He was known far and near as "Squire" Barber, a man of strong character and great influence among the early settlers. He died in Union county, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1841. He mar- ried, September 23, 1775, Sarah, born in Co- lumbia, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1754, died May 25, 1818, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Mary Bethel Boude. Children: I. John, died in infancy. 2. Samuel, born 1777, died 1782. 3. Sarah Boude, born January 10, 1779, died November 2, 1860, married Benja- min Chambers. 4. Mary Boude, born No- vember 13, 1780, died May 1, 1852, married Joseph Chambers. 5. Eleanor, died in in- fancy. 6. John. 7. Thomas A., born Feb- ruary 20, 1785, died April 5, 1872, married Elizabeth Clingan. 8. Samuel, born June 21, 1787, died March 24, 1846, married Mary Van Valzah. 9. Elizabeth, born February 28, 1789, died unmarried July 5, 1867. 10. Han- nah, born March 9, 1791, died unmarried July 26, 1826. 11. Eleanor, born April 21, 1793, died unmarried August 25, 1872. 12. James Wright, born in Buffalo Valley, August 5, 1795, moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, in 1843, died May 30, 1877; married a rela- tive, Susan Barber.
(V) This generation settled in Greene county, Pennsylvania. The records are in- complete and the name cannot be supplied, although it is believed to have been John. The settlement was in Cumberland town- ship, prior to or about 1800. The Greene county settler married and left issue.
(VI) Henry Barber, son of the foregoing, was born in Cumberland township, Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1810. He was reared a farmer and for several years was so engaged. He then learned the trade of cop- persmith, which he followed in connection with farming. He married and had issue: John; Joseph; Robert; Andrew, of Dearths- town, Pennsylvania; Fannie, married Jarrett Cumley, lives in Masontown, Pennsylvania; Lavina ; James M., of whom further.
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