USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Genealogical and personal history of Fayette county, Pennsylvania > Part 25
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(VII) James M., son of Henry Barber, was
born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 3, 1841. He moved in 1863 to German township and from there to Luzerne town- ship, Fayette county, where he now resides. He is master of two trades, that of stone mason and carpenter. He has a long and honorable record in the civil war, enlisting at its outbreak and serving through its entire four years. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious faith Presbyterian. He mar- ried, 1862, Rebecca, born in Maryland, died April 26, 1837, daughter of Caleb Lancaster, a farmer of Maryland, who after his daugh- ter's marriage moved to Fayette county. Children: 1. John W., of whom further. 2. Mary, born 1864, married Calvin Norman and lives in German township. 3. Henry, a farmer of Luzerne township. 4. Maria, mar- ried Andrew Griffith, and lives in Luzerne township. 5. Elizabeth, married Luther Hunter. 6. Ettie, married Louis Gadd, a merchant of Luzerne township.
(VIII) John William, son of James M. and Rebecca (Lancaster) Barber, was born in German township, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, March 19, 1863. When he was five years of age his parents moved to Luzerne township, and there in the public schools he obtained his education. For a time he con- ducted a store, but in 1903 sold out and pur- chased a farm of one hundred and ten acres, on which he now conducts general farming operations, specializing, however, in fruit- growing. He takes great pride and delight in his orchards, which are the best and most productive in that section of the county. He is a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Church of the Brethren. He married Margaret Burwell, born in Greene county, daughter of Abner, a farmer and Lucinda (Kepler) Burwell. Children: John, lives in Brownsville; Henry, Jacob, James, Lucv. Mary, Ruth; all living at home excepting John.
Philip Henry SELLERS Sellers was born in 1704 at Weinheim, Germany. This date is ob- tained from the records of Indian Creek church, Franconia township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where it is stated he died in 1769, aged sixty-five years. Philip H. spelled his name Soller, but the English form is invariably Sellers. His arrival in
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Pennsylvania is recorded in "Colonial Rec- ords of Pennsylvania," vol. iii., p. 332. Sep- tember II, 1728, a number of Palatines with their families, about ninety, immigrated in the ship, "James Goodwill," David Crocket, mas- ter, from Rotterdam, last from Deal, whence she sailed June 15. The name of Philip Hein- rich Sellers appears in the list. He was mar- ried before coming to Pennsylvania, the Christian name of his wfe being Catharina. Several of their children were born in Ger- many. After spending a short time in Phila- delphia he purchased a tract in Bucks county on the north branch of the Perkiomen. He died in 1769 and is buried in the graveyard of Indian Creek church, Franconia, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was survived by his wife, Catharina, who died in 1773. Both their wills are on file in Philadelphia. Chil- dren: Philip, Leonard, Philip Henry, John, Paul, Peter, Jacob, Elizabeth, Magdalena and Margaret. It is from one of these sons that William U. Sellers descends, probably through Jacob, who settled first in Juniata, now Mifflin county, descendants settling later in Bedford county. Little is known of the grandfather further than he was a wheel- wright, married, and died in Bedford county, leaving issue.
(II) Augustus Sellers was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He worked on the home farm, later learning the cooper's trade which he followed until enlisting as a soldier in the civil war. He was a private of One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and six months. He saw hard service with the Army of the Potomac and fought at Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg and many other battles and skirmishes. After the war he returned to Pennsylvania and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He now lives on a small farm at Ursina, Pennsylvania, and does a general teaming business. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah, daugh- ter of William Lenhart, a crippled shoe- maker, who gave two of his sons to his coun- try. Others of his sons enlisted, but two were killed in battle, the others returning in safety. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Children of Augustus Sellers: William U., of whom further; Jennie E., resides at home; Lee, a hotel served one term as register and recorder of
keeper at Confluence. Their first born, a daughter, died in infancy.
(III) William U., eldest son of Augustus Sellers, was born in Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, November 8, 1869. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Ursina, and he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad as a boy. In 1884 he entered the train service and has passed through several grades of service, now being a freight con- ductor. Since entering the train service he has made his home in Conneilsville. He is a member of the Order of Railway Conduc- tors, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a Demo- crat, and an attendant of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which his wife is a member
He married, June 10, 1896, Emma Brant, born at Bedford Mills. Bedford county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Ella Brant. Children: Ruth Mae. born July 24, 1898; Frank H., October 11, 1902; Charles Samuel, November 14, 1904; Martha Vir- ginia, August 18, 1910.
JOHNS The American progenitor of the Johns family in Uniontown was Napoleon Johns, born in France,
emigrated to the United States, settling first in New Jersey, later in Fayette county, Penn sylvania. He married and had issue.
(II) Major Peter A. Johns, son of Napo- leon Johns, was born in New Jersey and came to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, with his parents, when a boy. He was well edu- cated and secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he passed four years and was graduated. After some time spent in the army he resigned and was otherwise engaged until the outbreak of the Mexican war, when he enlisted as a private and served with dis- tinction, being mustered out as first lieuten- ant. He returned to Fayette county after the war, and a few years later began the study of law in the office of Joshua Howell, a leading attorney of Uniontown. He con- tinued his legal study until December 7, 1857, when after examination he was admitted to the Fayette county bar. He began and con- tinued practice in Uniontown until his death, although much of his time was spent in the public service of his county and State. He
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Fayette county, eight years as postmaster of Uniontown under President Grant's adminis- trations, and was several times elected to the state legislature from Fayette county. When the war between the states broke out, he at once offered his services, entered as lieuten- ant of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves, served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out as major. He died September 20, 1876, leaving a record of unsullied man- hood and faithful official and military service.
He married Susan Marietta, born in Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, died January 4, 1897. Children: Napoleon, died in child- hood; William, died in childhood; Mary, died in childhood; Emmett, deceased, married Mary Ashcraft and had a child, William, all are deceased; Frank, deceased; Marietta, deceased, succeeded her father as postmas- ter; George, deceased; Charles, deceased; Margaret, living in Derry, Pennsylvania; Phillip Sheridan, deceased, married and left two daughters, Geraldine and Georgie; Peter A., of whom further.
(III) Peter A. (2) (Doll), youngest child of Major Peter A. (1) and Susan (Marietta) Jolins, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1861. He was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies at Madi- son academy, Uniontown. He learned the printer's art, but did not continue at-his trade very long. He invested in a draying outfit and for two years was engaged in that busi- ness. Since 1886 his life has mainly been given to the public service of Fayette county. In that year he was appointed chief deputy, under Sheriff Miller, resigned March 4, 1887, to become court crier (Mr. Johns was the first Republican to serve in that office in Fay- ette county). He continued court crier until November, 1889, when he resigned to become deputy collector of internal revenue for the western district of Pennsylvania. He served in this position until 1892, then resigned and engaged in the hotel business in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He remained at the hotel until 1896, when he sold out his inter- ests, returned to Uniontown, where in Jan- uary of that year he was appointed chief dep- uty under Sheriff Fred S. Chalfant, serving during Mr. Chalfant's term of office. In 1898 he was a candidate at the primaries for the nomination for sheriff, but lost by a narrow margin. In 1899 he was nominated by the
Fayette Republican county convention for the office of register and recorder, winning against two competitors, on the first ballot by a vote of 126 out of 156 delegates. On motion of the defeated candidates his nomi- nation was made unanimous. The campaign following was hard fought, but in the final summing up Mr. Johns led his Democratic opponent by 857 votes. He filled the office most efficiently for three years, and after re- tiring again engaged in the hotel business.
· He opened and maintained a house of en- tertainment in Uniontown until 1907, when he sold out for the third time. He contested for the office of sheriff of Fayette county. He was the successful candidate for the nom- ination and at the ensuing election led all other Republican candidates on the ticket, and won by a majority of 1,520. He en- tered upon the duties of his office, January I, I908. He was the last sheriff of Fayette county to serve under the old "Fee bill" sys- tem and the first under the law making the sheriff's term of office four years. He has established several precedents that are worthy of mention. He is the first sheriff who did not live in the jail, but kept there a warden and matron. He appointed the first woman deputy sheriff in the county (his daughter, Lucy Beach Johns), and the first woman clerk ever to serve in the sheriff's office (Miss Martha Grier, of Dunbar town- ship).
He has given the county efficient service in every position he has ever filled and re- tired from office with the entire respect of the courts he served and the people whose inter- ests were committed to his care. He has always been a strong party man and has done valiant service in upholding Republican prin- ciples in his county and state. He can always be found in the thickest of the fight and has been the leader in many a hard fought politi- cal battle. In 1909 and 1910 he was chair- man of the county committee and a delegate to the Republican national convention at Chi- cago in 1912. Victory has not always fol- lowed in his path, but he is a good loser and is ready for the next battle of the ballots. He is now (1912) closing up the unfinished busi- ness of the sheriff's office recently quitted. He is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and trustee of Union- town lodge.
PA Johns.
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He married, September 20, 1882, Mary Knight Cunningham, of Uniontown. Chil- dren: Marietta, died March 4, 1894; Lucy Beach, the first woman deputy sheriff in Fay- ette county ; Druanna.
ELY This ancient English family traces authority to Nicholas De Ely, who was Bishop of Worcester, 1268, and of Winchester until his death, 1280. There is a great deal written also to show the de- scent from a Norman youth, Tasillo, who ap- peared at Buda, the capital of Hungary, in 550 A. D., and took service under the Hun- garian monarch, Theodoric, who gave him the hand of his daughter, Brunehilda, in mar- riage. The name is found in all periods of English history after the eleventh century and was borne by many eminent men.
The American ancestor is Richard Ely, of Plymouth, Devonshire, England, who emi- grated to America between 1660 and 1663; his son, Richard, accompanied him. He was for a time in Boston, later settling at Lyme, Connecticut. He was a widower when he came to New England, his wife Joanna (maiden name supposed to have been Phipps) having died in Plymouth, England, January 7, 1660. He had an estate of three thousand acres of land, including what was later called Ely's Ferry. He took part in public affairs, was a devout Christian and lived a Godly life. He married (second) in Boston in 1664, Mrs. Elizabeth Cullick, widow of Captain John Cullick, who for some time was secretary of the Colony of Connecticut and one of the most noted men in the Colony. She died November 12, 1683; he died November 24, 1684. Children, all by first wife: I. Rich- ard, of whom further. 2. William, baptized October, 1647, died 1717; married Elizabeth Smith. 3. Judith, baptized September 6, 1652, died June 21, 1655. 4. Daniel, died in infancy.
(II) Richard (2), son of Richard (1) Ely, was born in 1636, baptized in Plymouth, Eng- land, June 19, 1637. He accompanied his fa- ther from England and resided with him at Lyme. He married Mary Marvin, born 1666, eldest daughter of Lieutenant Reinold Ely, a large land owner and prominent in town af- fairs, and his wife, Sarah (Clark) Ely, of Lyme. Children: 1. Samuel, born October 21, 1686, married Jane Lord. 2. Mary, born
November 29, 1689; married Niles. 3. Sarah, born June 13, 1695; married Gen- eral Jonathan Gillett. 4. Richard, of whom further. .
(III) Deacon Richard (3) Ely, youngest son of Richard (2) Ely, was born at Lyme, Connecticut, October 27, 1697, died February 24, 1777. He was a man of deep piety and great Christian activity. He was generally known as "Deacon" perhaps to distinguish him from his cousin, Captain Richard Ely. He married (first) Elizabeth (Phoebe) Peck, who died October 8, 1730. He married (second) October 26, 1732, Phoebe Hubbard, of Middletown, Connecticut, fourth in de- scent from George Hubbard, one of the orig- inal settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. She died August 28, 1779, aged sixty-eight years (tombstone). Children of first wife: I. Elizabeth, born October 11, 1724; married Colonel Samuel Selden, captured at the battle of Long Island and died a prisoner in New York. 2. Esther, died aged ten years. 3. Ezra, born January 22, 1728, married (first) Sarah Starting, (second) Anna Starting. 4. Mary, died in infancy. Children of second wife: 5. Richard, born September 30, 1733; married Jerusha Selden. 6. Seth, of whom further. 7. Elihu, died in infancy. 8. Elihu, born November 15, 1737; married Anna Ely. 9. Josiah, born July 20, 1739; married (first) Phoebe Dennison; (second) Elizabeth Ely, widow of Reuben Lord. 10. Robert, born June 26, 1741; married Jerusha Lay. II. Phoebe, born May 16, 1743; married James D. Colt. 12. Hepzibah, born June 6, 1745; married John Pratt. 13. Rev. David, born June 7, 1749; married Hepzibah Mills. All the children of Deacon Richard and Phoebe Hubbard lived to an advanced age; all met in 1813 at the home of the eldest brother, Rev. Richard Ely, and the youngest brother, Rev. David Ely, of Huntington, Connecticut, . preached a sermon on the occasion, he being then near seventy years of age.
(IV) Seth, second son of Deacon Richard (3) and Phoebe (Hubbard) Ely, was born in Lyme, Connecticut, December 11, 1734, died January 3, 1821. After his marriage he set- tled in North Lyme where both are buried. He was appointed captain in the Third Com- pany of the town of Lyme in the Third Con- necticut Regiment. He married Lydia Rey- nolds, born at Norwich, Connecticut, Decem-
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ber 16, 1736, sixth daughter of John and Lydia (Lord) Reynolds, died March 23, 1815. Children: 1. John, born 1763; graduate of Yale, 1786, and a minister of the Congrega- tional church; married Mary Lord. 2. Seth, of whom further. 3. Richard, died aged four years. 4. Richard (2), died in infancy. 5. Ebenezer, died unmarried. 6. Lydia, born September 12, 1766; married Judge Matthew Griswold, second son of Governor Matthew Griswold. 7. Abigail, born 1768; married George Beckwith. 8. Phoebe, died aged seven years. 9. Deborah, born December 19, 1781 ; married Enoch Sill.
(V) Seth (2), second son of Seth (1) and Lydia (Reynolds) Ely, was born at North Lyme, Connecticut, 1764, died 1847. He settled in Lyme after marriage, later migrat- ing to Ripley, New York. He is called Colonel Seth by some writers. He married, in 1799, Phoebe Marvin, born 1772, died 1852, daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Sel- den) Marvin, a granddaughter of Colonel Samuel Selden, of the revolution. Children: I. Selden, born March 7, 1800; married Sta- lira Esther Griffin and lived in Ripley, New York. 2. Elizabeth Colt, born 1802; died 1855; married, 1832, Rufus Hills. 3. Phoebe Hubbard, born 1804; married Matthew Gris- wold. 4. Lydia, died in infancy. 5. Seth Elisha, of whom further. 6. Ebenezer, born 18II, died 1822. 7. Abigail Deborah, born 1813, died 1879; married (first) 1848, Henry M. Gregory, married (second) 1865, Abner Lord Ely.
(VI) Seth Elisha, son of Seth (2) and Phoebe (Marvin) Ely, was born in 1808 in New York state. He came later to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he was living in 1829. He married and had issue, including a son, Washington, of whom further.
(VII) Washington, son of Seth Elisha Ely, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1829. He was educated in the public schools, and learned the carpenter's trade. He was a soldier of the civl war, serving a full term of enlistment. In 1853 he was living in Wood county, West Virginia, later return- ing to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was a Republican in politics. He married Sarah McClain, born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. Among their chil- dren was Joseph Seth, of whom further.
(VIII) Joseph Seth, son of Washington
and Sarah (McClain) Ely, was born in Wood county, West Virginia, September 17, 1853. In 1855 his parents moved to Meigs county, Ohio, and in 1865 returned to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and has spent his mature years engaged principally in agriculture and contracting operations, also extensively interested in lumber and stone. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served as tax collector of the borough of Point Marion since 1901. He married
Children: Carrie May, born May 29, 1877; John W., December 28, 1878; Nina V., May 6, 1882; Sarah G., November 2, 1884, died December 24, 1885; Russell, April 28, 1888, died January 28, 1892.
The Lindsays of Connells- LINDSAY ville, Pennsylvania, herein recorded are of direct Irish ancestry, for many generations natives of the Emerald Isle, but beyond that tracing to the Lindsays of Scotland, a family of prominent mention in Scotch history. The first of his branch to come to the United States was John, the father of John (2) Lindsay, of Con- nellsville, Pennsylvania. James Lindsay, his paternal grandfather, was born, lived and died in Ireland, leaving issue.
(II) John, son of James Lindsay, was born in Ireland and remained in his native land until about 1840, when he emigrated to the United States in a sailing vessel that con- sumed eight weeks on the passage. After landing he made his way to Western Penn- sylvania, where he was employed as a team- ster for several years; then entered the em- ploy of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chi- cago Railroad Company at Allegheny City (now Pittsburgh, north side), continuing until stricken with a partial paralysis that left him incapable of physical effort. He lived in this helpless condition fourteen years, dying in 1889, the direct cause being a broken leg, the result of a fall. He was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, as was his wife. He married, in Pennsylvania, Margaret Smith, also born in Ireland, who died in 1887. Her father died in Ireland, and she came to the United States with her mother. Chil- dren, all born in Pennsylvania: I. James, a
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resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. 2. John (2), of whom further. 3. Elizabeth, married John McCune. 4. Jane, married Kecelty and resides in Norfolk, Virginia; has children.
(III) John (2), son of John (1) Lindsay, was born in Allegheny City (Pittsburgh, north side), Pennsylvania, in 1850. He was educated in the public schools, and when quite a young man learned the carpenter's trade with Smith Crisswell & Company, prominent contractors of that section. In 1876 he came to Connellsville, entered the em- ploy of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany as a carpenter, and so continties at present (1912), having in 1886 been promoted foreman. His term of service with the com- pany covers a continuous period of thirty-five years, which entitles him to the well-earned title of "veteran." He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, September 18, 1879, Mary B. Cooley, born in Connells- ville, daughter of William and Letty Cooley, oldtime residents of Fayette county. Chil- dren: I. Bessie D., died aged five months, July 10, 1881. 2. John Howard, born April 18, 1882, now chief clerk of division engineer, Baltimore & Ohio, at Connellsville. 3. Mary M., born October 12, 1884, died September 22, 1889. 4. Helen E., born March 21, 1891. 5. Gertrude, January 29, 1894.
HOOP The. Hoop family of Connellsville descend from German ancestors, John Hoop being of the second generation in the United States.
(I) Conrad Hoop, his father, was born in Germany, and in 1844 came to the United States, settling in the state of Maryland. He worked at various occupations such as brew- ing, coal mining, etc., until 1863. He then came to Connellsville, where for twenty years after he was successfully engaged in the gro- cery business. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and an energetic, up- right man of business. He married Mary Landis, born in Germany, came to the United States where she had relatives living in Cum- berland, Maryland, and died in 1895. Chil- dren: John, of whom further; Conrad; Henry: Mary; Elizabeth; Katherine and Mar- garet, both deceased; a son, died in infancy. (II) John, eldest son of Conrad and Mary
(Landis) Hoop, was born in Allegheny coun- ty, Maryland, January 20, 1848. £ He was educated at the Poplar Lane school house. On arriving at suitable age he learned the blacksmith's trade at Uniontown, Pennsyl- vania, beginning in 1867, and serving an ap- prenticeship of three years. In 1870 he came to Connellsville, where he established a shop and smithing business, continuing success- fully until the present time. In I911 lie erected his present commodious shop on South Fourth street, having previously been located on Main street. He is now one of the oldest smiths in the city and commands an extensive patronage.
He is a friendly rival of John Cunningham for the title of "the oldest smith," both having served their terms of apprenticeship in Uniontown, and both locating in and passing their business lives in Connellsville. He is a member of the Pres- byterian church and a Republican. He has held public office almost continuously, serv- ing in about every borough office except mayor or chief burgess. He was a member of the first common council, elected after the consolidation of the Ashman addition to the borough of New Haven with Connellsville, and has served several terms in that body. He is a man of thoroughly businesslike habits and is highly regarded.
He married, October 17, 1870, Sarah Ann Caruthers, born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Caruthers, who came there from New Jersey. Children: 1. John H., married Lillian Zoller, and now resides in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Child: John G. 2. James C., deceased. 3. Willam C., married Margaret Soles, and now resides in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania; child, Harriet. 4. Charles Centennial, born in 1876, married Anna Davis, and now resides in California, Pennsylvania ; children, Sarah V. and Charles. 5. Clarence E., resides in Beaver county, un- married. 6. Della Mae. residing with her parents.
The emigrant ancestor of the
BRITTON Brittons of South Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, was George Britton, born in Fermanagh county, Ireland, in 1794, died in West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. He married there in 1824 Catherine Laird, born in County Cavan in 1806, died in 1872. He was a miller and
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lived in Ireland until May, 1848, then he came to the United States, settling in Washington county, Pennsylvania. In September of the same year his wife and six children came, leaving two, William and George, in the old country. The following year, 1849, they joined the others in Washington county.
Children: 1. Jane, married James Brown and lived in New Castle, Pennsylvania; chil- dren: Charles; John, a member of the Penn- sylvania legislature, twice elected mayor of New Castle and two terms postmaster of the same city; Lizzie; Kate; James; Ella. 2. William, of whom further. 3. George, now living in West Brownsville; married (first)
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